By Julie Freer
Legal News
When Jennifer Stocker became a managing partner of Barnes & Thornburg's Michigan offices in November of 2023, she knew continuing the firm's commitment to community service would be a top goal.
Stocker, who has 30 years of experience as a labor and employment attorney, joined the firm in 2010 and is familiar with its commitment to diversity and community initiatives.
“At Barnes & Thornburg, we live and work by the values that have guided the firm for nearly 100 years,” said Stocker.
That means delivering first-class client services, attracting talented attorneys and business professionals, and giving back to the community.
“Supporting local communities is not only socially responsible but it also creates an atmosphere of satisfaction that comes with giving back and contributing to the greater good,” said Stocker, who is based out of the Grand Rapids office.
Stocker and her husband Jeff Farmer have four adult children, and two grandchildren. She became interested in the law while working for a law firm while obtaining her undergraduate degree at Calvin College.
"I was part of the accounting department when the new associates — all about my age — joined the firm," remembers Stocker. "It was a light bulb moment for me, and I thought, 'I can do that!'"
She obtained her J.D. from Valparaiso University Law School and began her career in Colorado and later Kansas City, as the couple moved for Jeff's job. In 1999, his work landed them in Grand Rapids.
Balancing a growing family and successful career wasn't always a straight line, Stocker says, but she has no regrets about the journey.
"I have always believed in the potential to maintain a meaningful work and personal life," she said. "I pride myself on the fact that, while challenging, I could find some semblance of allegiance to both. I am committed to encouraging and supporting attorneys and staff in their quest to meet family needs while maintaining a successful career."
In addition to her leadership roles, Stocker maintains an active labor and employment practice, defending companies in a variety of employment litigation in state, federal and appellate courts, and before state and federal administrative agencies.
Her litigation and dispute resolution experience includes the defense of the Family and Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
She also provides pre-litigation counseling, risk management and avoidance advice, alternative dispute resolution, and trial and appellate counsel.
In 2020, the firm established the non-profit Barnes & Thornburg Racial and Social Justice Foundation, to combat racism and social injustice with an initial $75,000 in personal commitments from firm leadership.
The foundation has continued to raise funds from team members, totaling over one million dollars to date, awarded in grants of $50,000 each to organizations based in communities where the firm has offices.
These organizations include the Youth Arts Alliance, providing healing-centered arts workshops. It also includes the Michigan League for Public Policy. The grants have supported efforts related to racial equity, incarceration, domestic violence, poverty, homelessness, and diversity in the legal profession, among other advocacy areas.
"Determining the local community organizations Barnes & Thornburg supports is not a one-size-fits-all process for a variety of reasons," said Stocker. "For example, the work we do through our Foundation begins with input from our attorneys and staff. We focus on organizations that effect, promote and advocate for racial and social justice. The vetting process through the Foundation also provides the firm with a pipeline of organizations that our offices can support in various other ways."
Many communities in West Michigan are yet to be known for high diversity percentages in the legal community. One way Barnes & Thornburg is combatting that is through the Minority Clerkship Program sponsored by the Grand Rapids and Floyd Skinner bar associations.
Former Barnes & Thornburg associate attorney Trevor Mason learned about the program at a meeting of the Black Law Student Association at Michigan State University College of Law.
"It was a great opportunity for first-year law students to learn about these programs in the West Michigan legal community," said Mason, who returns to MSU each year to give this presentation.
“Lawyers from minority and historically underserved backgrounds offer perspective and ingenuity that can bring a breath of fresh air to a legal profession that can be slow to change. Unfortunately, people of color at various stages of their legal careers do not have many attorneys who look like them in the West Michigan legal community. Worse, they don’t see many attorneys of color in high-level positions such as partners or managing partners, leaving younger attorneys of color feeling that there are few opportunities in law firms and little opportunity for advancement.”
Mason, who worked for the firmfull-time from 2020 through October of 2024, said programs like this can be instrumental in changing this narrative.
Participating in the program is a win-win, said Stocker.
"It offers firms a wider talent pool, a broader diversity of thought and perspectives and drives innovation, all of which add value to solving today's evolving legal issues," she said.
This year Barnes & Thornburg is supporting two new initiatives through sponsorships — The Grand Rapids Art Museum's Diversity and Equity Acquisition Fund and the West Michigan Black Legal Summit.
"The Diversity and Equity Acquisition Fund will enable the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) to strategically grow its collection and present more inclusive stories relevant to the community," said Stocker. "The inaugural West Michigan Black Legal Summit, held on Sept. 5, 2024, is designed for lawyers, judges, law students and legal professionals dedicated to strengthening the Black legal community in West Michigan. The summit delved into key topics such as mental health, practice development and community engagement, providing participants with essential insights and tools to enhance their careers and positively impact the community."
The firm works with nonprofit Out Side In, which provides equine-assisted therapy to veterans (and others) suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The program also adopts retired thoroughbred racehorses and pairs them with retired service members.
“Goin’ Dark, a coffee stout brewed with barrel-aged coffee beans to represent the many night missions accomplished by military personnel, is still brewed today in honor of veterans and their families.”
Legal News
When Jennifer Stocker became a managing partner of Barnes & Thornburg's Michigan offices in November of 2023, she knew continuing the firm's commitment to community service would be a top goal.
Stocker, who has 30 years of experience as a labor and employment attorney, joined the firm in 2010 and is familiar with its commitment to diversity and community initiatives.
“At Barnes & Thornburg, we live and work by the values that have guided the firm for nearly 100 years,” said Stocker.
That means delivering first-class client services, attracting talented attorneys and business professionals, and giving back to the community.
“Supporting local communities is not only socially responsible but it also creates an atmosphere of satisfaction that comes with giving back and contributing to the greater good,” said Stocker, who is based out of the Grand Rapids office.
Stocker and her husband Jeff Farmer have four adult children, and two grandchildren. She became interested in the law while working for a law firm while obtaining her undergraduate degree at Calvin College.
"I was part of the accounting department when the new associates — all about my age — joined the firm," remembers Stocker. "It was a light bulb moment for me, and I thought, 'I can do that!'"
She obtained her J.D. from Valparaiso University Law School and began her career in Colorado and later Kansas City, as the couple moved for Jeff's job. In 1999, his work landed them in Grand Rapids.
Balancing a growing family and successful career wasn't always a straight line, Stocker says, but she has no regrets about the journey.
"I have always believed in the potential to maintain a meaningful work and personal life," she said. "I pride myself on the fact that, while challenging, I could find some semblance of allegiance to both. I am committed to encouraging and supporting attorneys and staff in their quest to meet family needs while maintaining a successful career."
In addition to her leadership roles, Stocker maintains an active labor and employment practice, defending companies in a variety of employment litigation in state, federal and appellate courts, and before state and federal administrative agencies.
Her litigation and dispute resolution experience includes the defense of the Family and Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
She also provides pre-litigation counseling, risk management and avoidance advice, alternative dispute resolution, and trial and appellate counsel.
In 2020, the firm established the non-profit Barnes & Thornburg Racial and Social Justice Foundation, to combat racism and social injustice with an initial $75,000 in personal commitments from firm leadership.
The foundation has continued to raise funds from team members, totaling over one million dollars to date, awarded in grants of $50,000 each to organizations based in communities where the firm has offices.
These organizations include the Youth Arts Alliance, providing healing-centered arts workshops. It also includes the Michigan League for Public Policy. The grants have supported efforts related to racial equity, incarceration, domestic violence, poverty, homelessness, and diversity in the legal profession, among other advocacy areas.
"Determining the local community organizations Barnes & Thornburg supports is not a one-size-fits-all process for a variety of reasons," said Stocker. "For example, the work we do through our Foundation begins with input from our attorneys and staff. We focus on organizations that effect, promote and advocate for racial and social justice. The vetting process through the Foundation also provides the firm with a pipeline of organizations that our offices can support in various other ways."
Many communities in West Michigan are yet to be known for high diversity percentages in the legal community. One way Barnes & Thornburg is combatting that is through the Minority Clerkship Program sponsored by the Grand Rapids and Floyd Skinner bar associations.
Former Barnes & Thornburg associate attorney Trevor Mason learned about the program at a meeting of the Black Law Student Association at Michigan State University College of Law.
"It was a great opportunity for first-year law students to learn about these programs in the West Michigan legal community," said Mason, who returns to MSU each year to give this presentation.
“Lawyers from minority and historically underserved backgrounds offer perspective and ingenuity that can bring a breath of fresh air to a legal profession that can be slow to change. Unfortunately, people of color at various stages of their legal careers do not have many attorneys who look like them in the West Michigan legal community. Worse, they don’t see many attorneys of color in high-level positions such as partners or managing partners, leaving younger attorneys of color feeling that there are few opportunities in law firms and little opportunity for advancement.”
Mason, who worked for the firmfull-time from 2020 through October of 2024, said programs like this can be instrumental in changing this narrative.
Participating in the program is a win-win, said Stocker.
"It offers firms a wider talent pool, a broader diversity of thought and perspectives and drives innovation, all of which add value to solving today's evolving legal issues," she said.
This year Barnes & Thornburg is supporting two new initiatives through sponsorships — The Grand Rapids Art Museum's Diversity and Equity Acquisition Fund and the West Michigan Black Legal Summit.
"The Diversity and Equity Acquisition Fund will enable the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) to strategically grow its collection and present more inclusive stories relevant to the community," said Stocker. "The inaugural West Michigan Black Legal Summit, held on Sept. 5, 2024, is designed for lawyers, judges, law students and legal professionals dedicated to strengthening the Black legal community in West Michigan. The summit delved into key topics such as mental health, practice development and community engagement, providing participants with essential insights and tools to enhance their careers and positively impact the community."
The firm works with nonprofit Out Side In, which provides equine-assisted therapy to veterans (and others) suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The program also adopts retired thoroughbred racehorses and pairs them with retired service members.
Barnes & Thornburg also partnered with Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo, to plan and host a celebration for Grand Rapids area veterans at the Grand Rapids Art Museum. The event coincided with Bell’s Goin’ Dark stout release as part of the brewery’s celebration series in honor of military members and veterans.
“Goin’ Dark was initially conceived, developed, brewed and packaged by a committee of more than 20 Bell’s Brewery employees who served in the military, are currently enlisted, or are military family members," said Stocker.
“Goin’ Dark, a coffee stout brewed with barrel-aged coffee beans to represent the many night missions accomplished by military personnel, is still brewed today in honor of veterans and their families.”
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