Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani welcomes three partners who join the firm's Employment Law practice group in the Detroit office. The group includes Gregory M. Meihn, Melinda A. Balian, and Matthew T. Wise, formerly of the Detroit office of Foley Mansfield.
Detroit Office Co-Managing Partners, John Eads and Julia Sabatini could not be more pleased by the addition of these new partners to the Detroit team. “Their experience and stature in the Detroit community and throughout the state of Michigan will complement the firm’s national platform which continues to serve our clients’ needs throughout the country,” commented John Eads.
Gregory M. Meihn focuses his transactional and litigation practice in the core areas of Employment and Education Law. He also has an active Construction Law practice. Mr. Meihn represents and consults with insurance companies, cities, townships, municipalities, schools, and employers on employment and labor issues including but not limited to discipline, harassment, terminations, unions, discrimination, retaliation, unemployment, employment hiring practices, non-competition agreements, and issues involving Michigan Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, Title VII, ADEA, ADA, and related statutes. In addition to his successful employment and labor practice, he represents insurance companies, residential and commercial construction companies, rock crushing operators, and construction supply companies with regard to public jobs, bonded jobs, federal and state compliance issues, mold defense, construction defect, defective products, third party claims, Michigan Builders Trust Fund Act claims, and related matters. His trial experience is significant as he has litigated through trial and/or arbitration in excess of 66 matters (bench and jury) relating to employment and labor and construction defect claims. He is well respected in Michigan by judges and fellow lawyers and was recently accorded the status of “Master Litigator” by the American Inns of Court.
Melinda A. Balian focuses her practice in employment law and litigation. She has assisted numerous organizations in taking a proactive approach in managing the workforce to protect against employment-based claims by establishing policies and procedures to provide employers the maximum legal protections afforded under applicable federal and state laws. She has also litigated numerous matters defending both private and municipal entities against claims involving wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, Michigan Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, Title VII, ADEA, ADA, Michigan Persons With Disabilities Civil Rights Act, civil rights claims brought pursuant 42 U.S.C. 1983, prisoner claims and other related matters. In addition, she regularly counsels clients pertaining to employee issues involving discipline, terminations, unemployment, employment hiring practices, non-competition agreements, employment manuals and other related issues. Ms. Balian also has extensive experience in handling administrative claims with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. Ms. Balian represents clients directly or through appointment as defense counsel by their insurance carriers. Ms. Balian practices in both state and federal courts and her appellate experience includes matters before the Michigan Court of Appeals, the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Michigan Supreme Court. In addition to private practice, Ms. Balian sits as a Magistrate at the 52/3 District Court, a position to which she was appointed in 1998.
Matthew T. Wise focuses his primarily litigation-centric practice in the defense of labor and employment disputes and municipal matters. His extensive practice includes experiemce with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, and the National Labor Relations Board. His employment litigation practice also involves appearance in all phases of litigation regarding claims of discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation, employment hiring practices, non-compete and non-solicit agreements, and issues involving Michigan Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, Title VII, ADEA, ADA, and related state and federal statutes, as well as general consulting, training, and consulting for employers. Knowledgeable in all phases of complex litigation, Mr. Wise also has extensive experience in the areas of class action litigation, estate planning, business consulting, premises liability and product liability litigation, dram shop, automobile/no-fault defense and general civil litigation.
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