Jennifer Sabourin

Practice Areas

Employment and Labor

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consulting

Employment Litigation

Governmental and Public Entities

Human Resources Counseling and Training

Career

Jennifer Sabourin advocates on behalf of employers in every step of the employment relationship. She makes it a priority to learn her clients' business in order to find the right balance of advice and counsel that allows them to meet their business needs, while also remaining compliant with state and federal employment laws. Jennifer defends employers in litigation and agency matters across the country.

She is experienced in providing national training for hourly, management, and executive-level employees; drafting employee handbooks, policies and contracts; and investigating claims of workplace discrimination, harassment, and violence. Jennifer further counsels her clients on best practices in maintaining proactive employee relationships, including hiring, evaluating, disciplining, and terminating employees. She represents employers in discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and violations of wage and hour matters pending in state and federal courts, as well as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and various state employment agencies.

Professional Memberships

Fellow, College of Labor & Employment Lawyers

American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section

•Council, Management Member, Aug. 2017-present

•Equal Employment Opportunity Committee, Planning Committee Member, 2010-present

•Equal Employment Opportunity Committee, Committee Management Co-Chair, Aug. 2015-Aug. 2018

•Equal Employment Opportunity Committee, Committee Management Program Co-Chair, 2014-2015

•National Programming Subcommittee, Employer Vice-Chair, 2012-2014

•ABA 8th Annual Section of Labor & Employment Law Conference, Los Angeles, CA, Workplace Problems & Solutions Track Coordinator, 2013-2014

•ABA 7th Annual Section of Labor & Employment Law Conference, New Orleans, LA, Litigation Track Coordinator, 2012-2013

•Fundamentals Track Coordinator, ABA 6th Annual Section of Labor & Employment Law Conference, Atlanta, GA, 2011-2012

•Equal Employment Opportunity Committee, Planning Committee for National Conference on Equal Employment Opportunity Law, San Francisco, CA 2011-2012

•Equal Employment Opportunity Committee, Marketing Liaison to the Labor and Employment Law Section, 2011

•Litigation Track Coordinator, ABA 5th Annual Section of Labor & Employment Law Conference, Seattle, WA, 2010-2011

•Planning Committee for National Conference on Equal Employment Opportunity Law, New Orleans, LA 2010-2011

•Member, Leadership Development Program, 2010-11

•Equal Employment Opportunity Committee, Employer Co-Chair of Outreach Sub-Committee, 2010

•Equal Employment Opportunity Committee, Employer Co-Chair of Mentoring Sub-Committee, 2009

Federal Bar Association, Eastern District of Michigan Chapter

State Bar of Michigan, Labor and Employment Law Section

Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section

Women Lawyers Association of Michigan

American Employment Law Council, 2010-present, Program Vice-Chair, 2019-2021

Leadership Detroit, Class XXVII, 2005-2006

Dearborn Bar Association, President, 2003-2004; Vice President, 2002-03; Treasurer, 2001-02; 2001 Law Day Chairperson

Publications

"Workplace Violence" (Chapter Co-Author), Employment Law for Michigan Employers, The Institute of Continuing Legal Education, April 2018 Update and 3rd Edition (2017)

"Workplace Harassment Claims" (Chapter Co-Author), Employment Litigation in Michigan, The Institute of Continuing Legal Education, November 2017 Update, 2016 Update, and 3rd Edition (2015)

"Appraising the Performance Appraisal System," American Management Association's AMA Quarterly, Winter 2016-17

"Pre-Hire Employment Practices" (Chapter Author), Michigan Chamber Employment Law Handbook (2016 and 2015 Editions)

"Disability" (Chapter Co-Monitor), Employment Discrimination Law, 5th Edition (2013)

"Hiring" (Chapter Co-Monitor), Employment Discrimination Law, 4th Edition, 2nd Supplement (2009) and 3rd Supplement (2010)

"Discrimination and Harassment" (Chapter Author), Michigan Chamber Employment Law Handbook (2007 and 2005 Editions)

"Miscellaneous Employment Laws" (Chapter Author), Michigan Chamber Employment Law Handbook (2006 Edition)

"Emerging FLSA Trends" (Co-Author), Michigan Bar Journal, January 2005

Personal

University of Michigan-Dearborn, Alumni Affiliate Board, College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters, 1999-2010

Boll Family YMCA, Downtown Detroit, Board of Advisors 2004-09

Michigan Migrant Legal Assistance Project, Board of Directors 1999-2004

Work Highlights

Defended national bank in age discrimination and retaliation claims.

Represented credit union organization in disability and age discrimination litigation.

Advised credit union service provider on nationwide employee handbooks, policies, and HR manuals.

Provided respect in the workplace training for national bank.

Discrimination and Retaliation Claims Against Energy Company

Successfully obtained a complete no cause arbitration award in an 8-count race, age, and disability discrimination, harassment, and retaliation matter.

Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation Claims Against Energy Company

Key member of trial team obtaining a no cause verdict on two of the three claims presented to the jury.

National Shipping Retailer Employment Litigation

Successfully argued to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals that it should affirm the trial court's complete dismissal of employee's claims for gender and age discrimination against a Fortune 500 company.

Failure to Accommodate / Disability Claims Against Energy Company

Prevailed on summary judgment and in the Michigan Court of Appeals on 4-count disability discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claim.

Age and Gender Discrimination and Retaliation Claims Against Energy Company

Obtained summary judgment on multi-count age and gender discrimination and retaliation claim. After the trial court granted a motion for reconsideration reversing the complete dismissal, Jennifer prevailed in the Michigan Court of Appeals to have the previous order granting SJ reinstated, obviating the need for trial.

Discrimination, Retaliation, and Hostile Work Environment Claims Against Energy Company

Obtained summary judgment in federal court on a 4-count claim that was pre-empted by the Labor Management Relations Act.

National Beverage Retailer Employment Litigation

Obtained summary judgment in favor of a national beverage retailer of plaintiff's claims that his employer violated his rights under the Family Medical Leave Act

Public University Employment Litigation

Core member of the litigation team that obtained summary judgment in favor of a public university of plaintiff's claims of national origin discrimination based on the Indian Caste System. Plaintiff's claims of race discrimination, religious discrimination, and retaliation were also dismissed.

Financial Institutions Employment Litigation

Obtained summary judgment of plaintiff's defamation claims on behalf of a financial institution.

National Retail Chain Employment Litigation

Obtained summary judgment in favor of a national retail chain of plaintiff's claims of race discrimination and retaliation. Jennifer successfully defended a national retail client in a race discrimination and retaliation matter brought by a terminated director-level employee and a group of vendors and suppliers. The plaintiffs’ claims in this matter could best be characterized as a moving target. Once defenses were lodged to one claim, the plaintiffs sought amendments to add additional claims. This meant that discovery depositions were critical. By anticipating what additional claims the plaintiffs might seek to add in the future, Jennifer and her team were able to obtain damaging admissions on those unasserted claims. Not only did they get a complete dismissal of the claims, but they also successfully defended the inevitable 11th-hour motion to amend to add the claims they had anticipated in the depositions. Although the plaintiffs demanded $4 million at a voluntary facilitation, they ended up with a complete dismissal of their claims.

Education

Awards