By Julie Freer
Legal News
When Jennifer Stocker became a managing partner of Barnes & Thornburg's Michigan offices in November 2023, she knew continuing the 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 the commitment to diversity and community initiatives.
“We live and work by the values that have guided the firm for nearly 100 years,” she said.
That means delivering first-class client services, attracting talented attorneys and business professionals, and giving back to the community in a variety of ways.
"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 became interested in the law while working for a law firm while obtaining her undergraduate degree at Calvin College.
She obtained her J.D. from Valparaiso University Law School and began her career in Colorado and later Kansas City. In 1999, her husband’s work landed them in Grand Rapids.
In addition to her leadership roles, Stocker maintains an active labor and employment practice, defending companies across the country in a wide variety of complex 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 (FMLA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), 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 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 firm 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, and the Michigan League for Public Policy.
“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.”
Stocker points out many communities in West Michigan are yet to be known for having 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.
Barnes & Thornburg former associate attorney Trevor Mason learned about the program when he attended a meeting of the Black Law Student Association while at Michigan State University College of Law, and he now returns to MSU each year to give this same 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,” he said.
“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 joined the firm full time in 2020, said programs like this can be instrumental in changing this narrative.
Participating in the program is a win-win for individuals and the firm, 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 September 5, 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.”
Barnes & Thornburg also is a proud supporter of service veterans and their families, and works with nonprofit Out Side In, which provides equine-assisted therapy to veterans (and others) who are 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 2023, she knew continuing the 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 the commitment to diversity and community initiatives.
“We live and work by the values that have guided the firm for nearly 100 years,” she said.
That means delivering first-class client services, attracting talented attorneys and business professionals, and giving back to the community in a variety of ways.
"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 became interested in the law while working for a law firm while obtaining her undergraduate degree at Calvin College.
She obtained her J.D. from Valparaiso University Law School and began her career in Colorado and later Kansas City. In 1999, her husband’s work landed them in Grand Rapids.
In addition to her leadership roles, Stocker maintains an active labor and employment practice, defending companies across the country in a wide variety of complex 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 (FMLA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), 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 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 firm 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, and the Michigan League for Public Policy.
“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.”
Stocker points out many communities in West Michigan are yet to be known for having 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.
Barnes & Thornburg former associate attorney Trevor Mason learned about the program when he attended a meeting of the Black Law Student Association while at Michigan State University College of Law, and he now returns to MSU each year to give this same 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,” he said.
“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 joined the firm full time in 2020, said programs like this can be instrumental in changing this narrative.
Participating in the program is a win-win for individuals and the firm, 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 September 5, 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.”
Barnes & Thornburg also is a proud supporter of service veterans and their families, and works with nonprofit Out Side In, which provides equine-assisted therapy to veterans (and others) who are 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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