Laurel F. McGiffert

For residents and businesses across Michigan, navigating the complexities of legal disputes, particularly those involving intricate areas like medical liability, employment law, or civil rights, demands the guidance of highly experienced and reputable legal professionals. When you're seeking a lawyer who combines extensive trial experience with a deep understanding of Michigan's legal landscape, having a well-established firm and a recognized attorney by your side can be invaluable. That's where Laurel F. McGiffert, a distinguished senior trial attorney and former Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Plunkett Cooney, stands as a notable figure in the Michigan legal community.

Laurel F. McGiffert has built a formidable career spanning decades, consistently recognized for her legal acumen, trial advocacy, and contributions to the legal profession. While the provided information does not include direct client reviews, her extensive professional background and numerous accolades speak volumes about her capabilities. This article aims to provide you, our Michigan neighbors, with a comprehensive overview of Laurel F. McGiffert's professional profile within Plunkett Cooney. We'll detail her conveniently located Detroit office, outline the specialized services she offers, highlight the exceptional qualities and achievements that make her a prominent legal professional, and provide clear contact information so you can easily connect with the firm.

Understanding the expertise and history of legal professionals is a crucial step in making informed decisions about your legal representation. We invite you to read on and learn more about Laurel F. McGiffert and the robust legal services available through Plunkett Cooney, right here in Detroit, Michigan.

Location and Accessibility

Laurel F. McGiffert practices at the highly respected law firm of Plunkett Cooney, centrally located at 535 Griswold St #2400, Detroit, MI 48226, USA. This prominent address places her office within the vibrant and easily accessible Financial District of downtown Detroit. For individuals and businesses throughout Michigan, particularly those in the bustling Detroit metropolitan area, this location offers significant advantages in terms of convenience and ease of access.

Griswold Street is a well-known thoroughfare in Detroit's central business core, positioning Plunkett Cooney amidst numerous other professional offices, government buildings, and judicial facilities. This strategic location simplifies the process for clients, often reducing travel time and the stress associated with legal appointments. The area is highly integrated with Detroit's comprehensive public transportation network. The QLine (M-1 Rail) runs nearby, offering a convenient transit option for many, while numerous bus routes also serve the downtown area, making the office readily accessible for those relying on public transit.

For clients traveling by car, downtown Detroit provides a variety of parking garages and surface lots within comfortable walking distance of 535 Griswold Street. While finding parking in any major urban center can sometimes require planning, the availability of options in this area helps ensure that clients can typically find suitable parking relatively easily. The building itself is part of Detroit's revitalized and professional downtown landscape, offering a welcoming and efficient environment for legal consultations. This ease of access from multiple transportation avenues underscores Plunkett Cooney's commitment to ensuring their legal services, including those provided by Laurel F. McGiffert, are within reach for all Michigan residents who need their expert assistance.

Services Offered

Laurel F. McGiffert is a senior trial attorney at Plunkett Cooney with extensive experience across several specialized areas of law. Her practice primarily focuses on litigation and defense, making her a formidable advocate in complex legal disputes. Her key service areas include:

• Medical Liability (Medical Malpractice Defense): This is a significant concentration of her practice. She defends numerous hospitals, doctors, and other healthcare professionals in medical malpractice lawsuits. Her expertise spans claims involving surgery, psychiatry, pathology, hematology, emergency medicine care, gynecology, and more, encompassing hospitals, clinics, and physicians' offices. She also presents seminars on topics like nursing documentation, informed consent, and record keeping.
• Labor and Employment Law (Defense): She defends both public and private employers in labor and employment matters, including trials and arbitrations. Her experience includes successfully trying cases involving claims of alleged sexual harassment, race, and sex discrimination, and retaliation.
• Municipal Law (Defense): She represents municipal employers in various legal matters, including civil rights claims. An example includes successfully trying an employment matter involving alleged sexual harassment for a municipal employer.
• Civil Rights (Defense): Her practice includes defending clients in civil rights litigation. This is often intertwined with municipal and employment law cases, particularly those involving claims against public entities or employers.
• General Litigation: As a senior trial attorney, she handles a broad range of civil litigation defense, ensuring clients are well-represented in court or through alternative dispute resolution.
• Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR): Ms. McGiffert has extensive experience representing clients in Michigan's Alternative Dispute Resolution system. She also serves as an independent arbitrator and mediator in ADR hearings, showcasing her ability to resolve disputes outside of traditional courtroom settings.
• Trial Practice and Appellate Work: Her long career as a trial attorney, with success in jury trials, highlights her capability to effectively litigate cases from inception through resolution, including appellate review if necessary.

Her extensive experience and focus on defense litigation make her a key asset for institutions and employers seeking robust legal representation in these complex fields.

Features / Highlights

Laurel F. McGiffert possesses an impressive array of features and highlights that underscore her standing as a highly accomplished and respected legal professional in Michigan:

• Extensive Trial Experience (Nearly 40 Years): With a legal career spanning nearly 40 years as an accomplished trial attorney, Ms. McGiffert brings a wealth of hands-on courtroom experience to her cases. This extensive background in civil litigation, particularly in defense, is a significant asset.
• Senior Partner at Plunkett Cooney: She is a senior partner at Plunkett Cooney, one of the Midwest's oldest and largest law firms, which itself has a long-standing reputation for providing business and litigation services. She joined the firm in 1989 and became a partner in 1991, becoming the firm's first African American woman partner.
• Leadership in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI): Ms. McGiffert served as Plunkett Cooney's first Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (a role she transitioned into after her trial career), reflecting her commitment to fostering a more diverse and inclusive legal profession. She was recognized by Crain's Detroit Business as one of their "2023 Notable Leaders in DEI" and by Savoy magazine as one of the "2022 Most Influential Black Lawyers."
• Consistent Prestigious Recognitions: She has been consistently named in "The Best Lawyers in America®" for multiple years (e.g., 2006-2025 in Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants, and Litigation - Labor and Employment). She has also been selected to "Michigan Super Lawyers" from 2007 to 2025.
• AV Preeminent® Rating from Martindale-Hubbell: This is the highest possible rating from Martindale-Hubbell, signifying the highest level of professional excellence, ethical standards, and legal ability.
• Recognized as a Top Lawyer: Dbusiness Magazine has recognized her as a "Top Lawyer" in Medical Liability, Labor & Employment, Municipal Law, and General Litigation for multiple years, including 2010.
• Expertise in Complex Defense: Her experience includes successfully defending major hospitals in the Detroit metropolitan area, trying employment matters for municipal employers, and handling alleged wrongful death cases, demonstrating her capability in high-stakes defense litigation.
• Educator and Mediator/Arbitrator: Ms. McGiffert has been an instructor for the Michigan Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) on numerous topics and has served as an independent arbitrator and mediator, highlighting her depth of knowledge and versatility in dispute resolution.
• Community and Bar Association Involvement: She is actively involved in numerous professional affiliations, including the State Bar of Michigan (Ethics Committee), Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, and Wolverine Bar Association, and has served on the boards of non-profits like Oakland Mediation Center and Power Company Kids Club.

These extensive achievements and contributions firmly establish Laurel F. McGiffert as an exceptionally distinguished and influential legal professional in Michigan.

Promotions or Special Offers

As a senior trial attorney at a large and established firm like Plunkett Cooney, and given Laurel F. McGiffert's extensive experience and prominent professional standing, the firm typically does not advertise traditional "promotions" or "special offers" in the same way a retail business might. Legal services of this caliber, particularly in complex defense litigation, are highly specialized and structured based on the intricate needs of the clients, who are often large organizations, corporations, or public entities.

However, what highly reputable firms and attorneys always offer, and what is a valuable "service" for potential clients, is an initial consultation or discussion. While the provided information does not explicitly state whether Laurel F. McGiffert or Plunkett Cooney offers a free initial consultation for all types of inquiries, it is a standard practice to engage in preliminary discussions to assess a potential case or client need. During such an engagement, prospective clients can:

• Discuss the nature of their legal concern with an attorney.
• Receive a preliminary assessment of whether the firm's expertise aligns with their needs.
• Understand the potential scope of work and the firm's approach to similar matters.
• Inquire about the firm's fee structure, which for this type of high-level litigation and defense work, would typically involve hourly rates or other retainer agreements.

The value in contacting a firm with the reputation and experience of Plunkett Cooney and an attorney of Laurel F. McGiffert's stature lies in the quality of the initial strategic insights and the assurance of speaking with a leading expert in the field. To ascertain the exact details of their consultation policy and fee arrangements for your specific needs, the most appropriate step is to directly contact Plunkett Cooney using the provided contact information.

Contact Information

For residents and organizations in Michigan seeking expert legal counsel from Laurel F. McGiffert at Plunkett Cooney, connecting with her office is made convenient through their accessible contact details:

Address: 535 Griswold St #2400, Detroit, MI 48226, USA

Phone: (313) 965-3900

Mobile Phone: +1 313-965-3900

The provision of a main office phone number, which is also listed as a mobile phone, highlights the firm's central communication channel. Located in a prominent Detroit building, the firm ensures that direct contact is straightforward. When reaching out, it is advisable to have a brief overview of your legal concern ready. This will allow their professional team to direct your inquiry efficiently and connect you with the appropriate attorney or department within Plunkett Cooney, ensuring you receive the specialized attention your case may require. This direct access is key to initiating discussions for complex legal matters.

Conclusion: Why this place is suitable for locals

For individuals, businesses, and organizations across Michigan, particularly those in the Detroit metropolitan area, Laurel F. McGiffert at Plunkett Cooney represents a highly suitable and distinguished choice for legal representation, especially in complex defense litigation. Her suitability for locals is rooted in her vast experience, specialized expertise, and deep ties to the Michigan legal community.

Firstly, her practice's prime location at 535 Griswold St #2400 in downtown Detroit offers unparalleled convenience and accessibility. For any Michigander, this central and easily reachable address ensures that professional legal consultations are within easy reach, minimizing travel burdens for intricate legal matters. Being situated in a prominent, long-established firm in the heart of Detroit signifies a deep understanding of Michigan's judicial system, local court procedures, and the specific legal landscape relevant to the state.

More significantly, Ms. McGiffert's nearly 40 years of experience as a senior trial attorney, coupled with her specialized focus on medical liability, labor and employment law, municipal law, and civil rights defense, makes her an invaluable asset for relevant clients. Businesses, healthcare providers, and public entities in Michigan facing high-stakes litigation in these areas can benefit immensely from her proven track record of successfully trying cases and securing favorable outcomes, including multi-million dollar verdicts. Her expertise as an arbitrator and mediator also offers valuable options for alternative dispute resolution, a pragmatic approach often preferred by clients.

Furthermore, Ms. McGiffert's consistent recognition as a "Super Lawyer," "Best Lawyer in America," and her AV Preeminent® rating by Martindale-Hubbell attest to her exceptional legal ability and ethical standards, as judged by her peers. Her leadership role in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at Plunkett Cooney also demonstrates a commitment to broader community values, which can resonate with local organizations and individuals who prioritize working with firms that reflect these principles.

In essence, Laurel F. McGiffert offers Michigan locals and entities a rare combination of profound legal expertise, extensive courtroom experience, and a respected standing within the legal community, all from a conveniently located office in Detroit. For those facing complex legal challenges, particularly in defense litigation, she embodies the kind of highly capable and esteemed legal professional that our state's sophisticated legal needs often require.