Carolyn M. H. Sullivan
Associate
Education
Michigan State University College of Law
East Lansing, Michigan
J.D., magna cum laude, 2020
Michigan State Law Review, Executive Editor
Grand Valley State University, Frederik Meijer Honors College
Allendale, Michigan
B.A., English, 2016
Bar Admissions
Michigan
Court Admissions
All Michigan state courts
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
Employee Benefits, Labor and Employment Attorney
Carolyn is an attorney on Varnum’s Employee Benefits and Labor Employment Practice Teams. Her practice focuses on advising employers on compliance with employee benefits laws, as well as federal and state labor and employment laws and other workplace matters.
Carolyn counsels employers on qualified and nonqualified retirement plans, including 401(k) plans, defined benefit plans, and employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). She advises on deferred compensation arrangements, executive compensation matters, and compliance with Internal Revenue Code Section 409A. Carolyn also assists employers with health and welfare plan design issues, including high deductible health plans, health savings accounts, and related benefit arrangements.
In her labor and employment practice, Carolyn advises on employee handbooks and policies, discrimination and ADA compliance, workplace complaints and investigations, MIOSHA matters, and wage-hour issues. She litigates and defends employers in federal and state courts, as well as before administrative agencies, including unemployment and EEOC matters.
In addition to her client work, Carolyn is a frequent contributor to employee benefits, labor and employment industry publications.
Professional Affiliations
American Bar Association
State Bar of Michigan
Grand Rapids Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section, past president
State Representative Assembly, Representative for the 17th Circuit
Women Lawyers Association of Michigan Western Region, secretary, through May 2025
Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, Programming Committee, Historic Preservation Committee, through May 2025
Community Involvement
Habitat for Humanity of Kent County, Board of Directors
Presentations
“One Big Beautiful Bill: Tips and Overtime,” Varnum LLP, December 2025
“Hot Topics for Employment Law in 2026,” AHRM, November 2025
“ESTA and I-9,” Great Lakes Ag Labor Services, March 2025
“Earned Sick Time Act Discussion,” Varnum LLP, November 2024
“Understanding Mandatory Reporting Requirements for Amateur Sports Organizations and College Athletic Programs,” ABA State and Local Government Law Section, October 2021
“Annual EEO Case Law Update,” State Bar of Michigan Labor and Employment Midwinter Meeting, contributor, 2020