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Reginald M. Turner

Member Emeritus - Retired
fax +1 313.309.6818

During his distinguished career, Reginald Turner represented corporate and governmental clients in litigation regarding commercial, employment, labor, class action, and public policy matters.

A highly accomplished government affairs advocate and strategic advisor, Reginald also represented corporate clients in federal, state, and local matters. He has significant government service experience at all three levels. Reginald served as a White House Fellow under President Bill Clinton and worked for U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretaries Henry Cisneros and Andrew Cuomo. He has also had gubernatorial, mayoral, and county executive appointments in Michigan.

Reginald served as President of the American Bar Association from 2021-2022. He has served as the State Delegate for Michigan in the American Bar Association House of Delegates, and as chair of the ABA House of Delegates Rules & Calendar Committee, the Committee on Issues of Concern to the Profession, and the Committee on Credentials and Admissions. Reginald is also a past chair of the ABA Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession and the Commission on the Lawyer’s Role in Assuring Every Child a Quality Education. Reginald served as editor of the labor law chapter of the fourth edition of the ABA’s Business & Commercial Litigation treatise.

From 2000-2003, Reginald represented Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer on the Detroit Board of Education. In 2003, Governor Jennifer Granholm appointed Reginald to the Michigan State Board of Education, and he won a statewide election for a full term in 2006.

Education

J.D., University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1987
B.S., Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, 1982

Recognitions

Named among The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation; Employment Law – Management; Government Relations Practice; Labor Law – Management; Litigation – ERISA; Litigation – Labor and Employment; Litigation – Municipal (2019, 2012-2023)

The Best Lawyers in America (2003-2021)

Selected to the Michigan Super Lawyers list for Employment & Labor (2005-2021)

DBusiness Top Lawyers

Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Lawyer of the Year (2005)

Named Detroit, Michigan’s Government Relations Practice “Lawyer of the Year” in the 2019 and 2021 editions of The Best Lawyers in America®

Named a Leading Lawyer in Michigan by Leading Lawyers℠ (2022)

Memberships

American Bar Association, Immediate Past President

American Bar Foundation, Life Benefactor Fellow

American Bar Association, Member House of Delegates, Member Labor and Employment Section

American Bar Association, Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity, Chair, 2011-2014

American Constitution Society, Michigan Chapter

Comerica, Inc., Board of Directors

Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Vice Chairman

Detroit Institute of Arts, Emeritus Director

Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, Member Labor and Employment Section

Detroit Public Safety Foundation, Chair, 2016-2021

Federal Bar Association, Member Labor Section

Hudson-Webber Foundation, Trustee

Levin Center at Wayne State University Law School, Advisory Board Member

Masco Corporation, Board of Directors

National Bar Association, Past President; Member Labor and Employment Section

National Bar Institute, Board of Directors

State Bar of Michigan, Past-President; Member Labor and Employment Section

United Way for Southeastern Michigan, Board of Directors, Past Chair

University of Michigan Law School, Hargo Scholarship Committee

State Bar Licenses

Michigan

Court Admissions

U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit
U.S. District Ct., E.D. of Michigan
U.S. District Ct., W.D. of Michigan

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