Theresa Smith Lloyd

Theresa Smith Lloyd joined Plunkett Cooney in 1981 and has been a partner since 1986. She serves as Plunkett Cooney’s Labor and Employment Law Practice Group Leader

Ms. Lloyd represents corporations, municipalities, non-profit organizations and individuals in all types of employment matters. Her practice includes defending charges filed against employers with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Department of Labor, and the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, as well as others. 

Ms. Lloyd also defends clients in cases filed in federal and state court involving all types of discrimination, retaliation, whistleblower’s claims, employment contract issues and other employment claims. Additionally, she provides ongoing advice and counsel in the areas of hiring, firing, employee investigations and discipline. 

Representative Client Work

• Provides employment counsel to a number of national corporations, which includes providing ongoing advice on hiring, discipline and termination, quarterly training of management and supervisory employees, and an annual review and revision of employment policies and practices.
• Successfully defended clients in class action suits involving the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Americans with Disability Act (ADA)
• Tried more than 50 employment cases to verdict 

Professional Affiliations

• American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section
• American Law Firm Association, Employment Law Committee
• Elected Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
• Elected Advocate, American Board of Trial Advocates
• State Bar of Michigan, Labor Relations Law Section
• The Florida Bar
• Women Lawyers Association of Michigan
• Oakland County Bar Association, Employment Law Section
• Wayne County Circuit Court Case Evaluator
• American Arbitration Association, Neutral Arbitrator, Commercial and Employment Matters
• National Center for Dispute Resolution
• Inforum (previously the Women’s Economic Club)

Community Involvement

• Trustee, Michigan Arthritis Foundation, 2001 – present.
• Chair, Michigan Arthritis Foundation; 2004-2009

Publications and Lectures

• National Lecturer on Wrongful Discharge, Employment Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, Employment Torts and Immigration Issues for numerous organizations, including the American Law Firm Association, Labor Relations Information Systems, Lorman Education Services, the Michigan Association of CPAs, and the Michigan Restaurant Association
• “What Companies Should Know About Assigning Employees to Positions in other countries,” American Law Firm Association, Scottsdale, AZ, March 2009.
• “Cutting Edge Issues in Employment Litigation, Including Emerging Tactical Issues,” American Law Firm Association, Half Moon Bay, CA, November 2007
• “Defending Employment Practices Cases,” American Law Firm Association, Chicago, IL, May 2007
• “A Decent Proposal? Taking an Employment Law Claim to Verdict,” American Law Firm Association, Tucson, AZ, March 2006
• “Compendium of Significant Employment-Related Case Law and Statutes,” American Law Firm Association, 2000-2009
• “Preventing, Minimizing and Remedying Employment Claims,” Michigan Association of CPAs, Novi, MI, January 2005
• “Under Siege: Preventing, Remedying and Defeating the Employment Claims of the Global Workforce,” American Law Firm Association, New Orleans, LA, November 2004
• “Eliminating Liability For Restaurant and Bar Owners/Operators in Michigan,” Lorman Education Services, July 2000
• “The Trend in Harassment Cases: Hostile Work Environment Based on Age and Handicap is Actionable Under Federal and State Law,” Defense Research Institute Newsletter, December, 1998
• “ Michigan Employment Law,” Co-editor, Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Co., 1992
• “Legal Research and Writing,” Instructor, Detroit College of Law, 1980
• “Uniform Commercial Code Form Book,” Co-editor, 1978

Alternative Dispute Resolution Experience

Since 1985, Ms. Lloyd has served as a mediator, case evaluator, and arbitrator specializing in labor and employment matters.  During that time, she has mediated, evaluated, and arbitrated hundreds of cases involving all types of labor and employment issues.

Additionally, since 1995 she has served as a neutral arbitrator for commercial and employment matters with the American Arbitration Association.

Alternative Dispute Resolution Training

AAA Arbitrator Ethics & Disclosure, 2008; AAA Arbitration Awards:  Safeguarding, Deciding & Writing Awards, 2008; Institute For Continuing Legal Education, General Civil Mediation Training, 40 hours, Plymouth, MI, June 2007; AAA Chairing an Arbitration Panel: Managing Procedures, Process & Dynamics, 2006; Dealing With Delay Tactics in Arbitration, 12/05; Pro Se: Managing Cases Involving Self-Represented Partes, 12/04; Arbitrator Update 2003; AAA Employment Arbitrator II Training, Boston, 11/02; AAA Arbitrator I Training-Fundamentals of the Arbitration Process, Detroit, 1/02; National Center for Dispute Resolution, ADR Training Detroit 1998, 1995 

Publications

• Recommendations for Minimizing and/or Avoiding Workplace Violence

Speaking Engagements

• Sexual Harassment, Lies and Social Media Mock Trial - Nov. 10
• Conducting Employment Investigations
• Backlash - Discrimination, Retaliation & Whistleblowers Liability Webinar

News

• Plunkett Cooney attorneys among Michigan ‘Super Lawyers’ 2011
• Plunkett Cooney attorneys among Michigan 'Super Lawyers' 2010
• Plunkett Cooney attorneys among Michigan ‘Super Lawyers’ 2009
• Plunkett Cooney attorneys among Michigan 'Super Lawyers' 2008
• Plunkett Cooney Attorneys Named 2007 Michigan 'Super Lawyers'