Bio

Charles L. Bogren is a Co-leader of Plunkett Cooney's Governmental Law Practice Group and a member of the Labor & Employment Practice Group who focuses primarily in this complex and diverse area of the law and related litigation.

A member of the firm’s Grand Rapids office, Mr. Bogren’s expertise includes the defense of municipalities and other public entities in First Amendment disputes, due process claims, Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act matters, employment related litigation, and a particular focus on civil rights suits brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

In addition to his public sector practice, Mr. Bogren has extensive experience handling Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Michigan Department of Civil Rights investigations, as well as handling commercial and business litigation, including contract disputes, Title VII cases, Equal Pay Act claims, labor disputes and Americans with Disabilities Act suits.

Admitted to practice law in Michigan’s state and federal courts as well as in the State of Illinois and its federal courts, Mr. Bogren is a member of multiple sections of the State Bar of Michigan, including the Government Law, Business Law and Litigation divisions. Mr. Bogren routinely speaks and writes about his areas of expertise and regularly provides training to police agencies on a diverse range of issues, including topics such as Fourth Amendment searches and seizures and internal affairs investigations.

A member of numerous professional organizations, Mr. Bogren routinely presents on a variety of topics in his areas of expertise, and he frequently provides training to law enforcement agencies on a range of issues such as use of force and First Amendment protections. Mr. Bogren also has the distinctions of being identified by Best Lawyers in America as a "One to Watch" in the area of municipal law since 2026 and by Michigan Super Lawyers magazine as a Rising Star in State/Local/Municipal since 2023.

Representative Client Work

  • Represented municipal governments, corporations, partnerships and other businesses in commercial and employment matters, including cases concerning contract claims, fraudulent transfers and shareholder oppression suits
  • Obtained Summary Judgment in federal court on behalf of a municipal executive accused of Title VII discrimination by three subordinates.
  • Counseled government clients on matters ranging from public/private partnerships to the inception of a police force to the drafting of proposed millage rate increases
  • Obtained summary disposition on behalf of municipal client accused of Open Meetings Act violations
  • Successfully defended police officer in a drug death case concerning sufficiency of medical care provided, resulting in a published Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals decision in client’s favor
  • Obtained summary judgment in multiple federal court cases for police officers in use of force cases under the Fourth Amendment
  • Conducted internal investigations and reviews of the use of deadly force for law enforcement agencies
  • Successfully defended corporation from conversion claims and shareholder oppression claims
  • Obtained summary disposition on behalf of corporate client dismissing claims of wrongful termination, age discrimination and due process violation allegations
  • Successfully obtained dismissal of a municipality in a flooding case based on governmental immunity doctrines
  • Successfully argued dismissal of claims in the federal court
  • Defended a municipality in a suit over the integrity of its elections process and ultimately granted summary disposition and a dismissal of the case
  • Drafted local ordinances and advised municipalities and building authorities on land use disputes and zoning issues

Professional Affiliations

  • DRI (Governmental Liability and Employment and Labor Law Committees)
  • Illinois State Bar Association (Labor and Employment Law Section)
  • State Bar of Michigan (Business Law, Government Law and Litigation sections)
  • Kalamazoo County Bar Association

Community Involvement

  • Kalamazoo County Bar Association Legal Aid Clinic
  • Special Olympics of Michigan

Articles and Lectures

  • “Kindred Spirits - Tricks & Treats for Public and Private Employers,” Panelist, Plunkett Cooney's Labor, Employment & Government Law Practice Group Seminar, Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center, East Lansing, MI, Nov. 5, 2025

  • Police Chief Legal Update, Co-presenter, Law Enforcement Action Forum Fall Conference, Sept. 26, 2024

  • "Legal Update: Search & Seizure 2024," Co-presenter, Michigan Municipal League, Liability & Property Pool, Sept. 20, 2024
  • "Legal Update: Qualified Immunity 2023," Co-presenter, Michigan Municipal League, Liability & Property Pool, Sept. 21, 2023

Credentials

Education

  • University of Kansas Law School, J.D., 2018
    • Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy, Business Manager and Staff Editor
    • University of Kansas School of Law Moot Court Council, Member
  • University of Michigan, B.A., 2012

Admissions

  • Illinois, 2021
  • Michigan, 2018
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 2018
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 2018
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 2021
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 2021

Honors/Awards

Honors & Recognitions

  • Michigan Super Lawyer Rising Star in State/Local/Municipal; Michigan Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters publication, 2023 - 2025
  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™ – Commercial Litigation, Governmental Relations Practice, Labor and Employment Litigation and Municipal Law, 2025

Insights

Speaking Engagements