Overview
Labor, Employment and Education Attorney
Pat's practice concentrates on the full spectrum of civil rights issues including race, gender and disability matters, free speech and electronic privacy issues in the workplace. In addition to litigation, he also does traditional labor work, including negotiation and arbitration, both for public and private sector clients. He also maintains a strong background in education law, representing school districts, community colleges and colleges and universities, both with respect to employment issues as well as student issues.
For more information, please contact Pat White at 616/336-6615 or jpwhite@varnumlaw.com
Leadership
Honors & Recognitions
Best Lawyers in America® since 2005
Best Lawyers in America®, Grand Rapids Employment Law - Management, 2012, 2016; Grand Rapids Labor Law - Management, 2013
College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, fellow
Grand Rapids Magazine's Top Lawyers, Labor and Employment Law, 2020
Leading Lawyers: Employment Law - Management; Labor Law - Management; School Law
Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated
Michigan Super Lawyers® since 2011
Professional Affiliations
American Bar Association: Labor Relations Section; Litigation Section, EEO Subcommittee
Grand Rapids Bar Association, Labor Section
Michigan Association of School Boards, Council of School Attorneys, past president
Michigan Employment Relations Commission, Advisory Council, past member
National Association of School Boards, Council of School Attorneys
National Association of College and University Attorneys
State Bar of Michigan, Labor Relations Law Section
Community Involvement
Community Rebuilders, Board president
Senior Neighbors, Inc., past Board president
News & Publications
News
Publications
Practice Areas
Industries
Education
University of Illinois College of Law
Urbana, Illinois
J.D., magna cum laude, 1981
Master of Labor and Industrial Relations, 1981
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan
M.A., Elementary Education, with highest honors, 1976
Phi Kappa Phi
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
B.A., with distinction, 1973
Bar Admissions
- Michigan
Court Admissions
- All Michigan state courts
- United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
- United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
- United States Supreme Court