Robert C. Stone is the Chair of the Labor and Employment Law Department of Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge. Bob has represented public and private sector employers for over thirty years throughout Michigan and the Midwest both in administrative proceedings and before State and Federal courts. Bob’s expertise extends to the full range of labor and employment law issues, including union organizing campaigns, unfair labor practice charges, contract negotiations, contract administration, grievance arbitrations, Act 312 arbitrations, strike litigation, personnel policies, wage and hour claims, civil rights, disabilities accommodation, drug testing, employment contracts, wrongful discharge, affirmative action plans, plant closing laws, employee benefits, immigration compliance, and unemployment compensation.
Bob is also a frequent speaker to professional organizations on a variety of labor and employment law topics.
Bob and his wife, Jan, have one daughter, Sarah.
Admitted to Practice
- Wisconsin Bar Association, 1975
- State Bar of Michigan, 1978
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 1978
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky, 1978
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin, 1978
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1979
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, 1989
Education
- Wake Forest University (B.A., 1972)
- University of Tennessee (J.D., 1974); Recipient of Jurisprudence Award in Criminal Procedure.
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association (Member, Labor and Employment Law Section)
- State Bar of Michigan (Member, Labor and Employment Law Section)
- State Bar of Wisconsin (Member, Labor and Employment Law Section)
- Grand Rapids Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- Association for Human Resource Management (Member, Board of Directors, 1997)
- Employers’ Association of Grand Rapids, Human Resource Group
- Michigan Public Employer Labor Relations Association
- Industrial Relations Research Association
- Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (Member, Labor and Employment Section)
- EEOC Facilitative Mediator (through the National Center for Dispute Settlement)
Community Affiliations
- Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce (Former Chair, Board Assistance Committee; Former Co-Chair, Student Employment Committee)
- Grand Rapids East Rotary (Former Member, Board of Directors)
- Grand Rapids East Rotary Charities (Former Member, Board of Directors
- Michigan Association of Rehabilitation Organizations
Previous Professional Experience
- Deputy Labor Counsel – State of Wisconsin
