Michigan’s Chief Deputy Attorney General Brings 30 Years of Public Policy, Litigation Experience
Dykema, a premier Midwest-based law firm, today announced the addition of Gary Gordon to the firm’s Government Policy Department. Gordon, who will be based in Dykema’s Lansing office, most recently served as Chief Deputy Attorney General for the State of Michigan where he was responsible for oversight of all law divisions and operations for the Department.
"As the policy and legal advisor to the Attorney General, Gary brings the firm thirty years of major election law, constitutional law and public policy litigation experience," said Rex E. Schlaybaugh Jr., Dykema’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "His deep knowledge will have a solid impact on the continued growth and success of both the Lansing Office and the Government Policy Department."
"Gary has a well-established reputation as an accomplished lawyer and as one of the state’s leading election law lawyers," said Len Wolfe, Co-Director of Dykema’s Government Policy Department. "He is respected within the legislative and legal community and we are excited he has decided to join our substantial team."
Dykema’s Government Policy Department includes more than thirty attorneys and government relations professionals with substantial experience working with all branches of government. Based in Michigan, Illinois, and Washington, DC, the department’s government relations professionals promote their clients’ interests through both traditional and innovative channels to formulate legislative, regulatory, and political strategies. Gordon, who brings three decades of significant election law, constitutional law, and public policy litigation experience to the Government Policy Department, is the second high-profile addition to the group in recent weeks. Last month, the firm added former Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman and New Mexico Attorney General Hal Stratton to the practice.
About Gary Gordon
Gordon joined the Attorney General’s office in 1975 as a law clerk and then staff attorney for the Environmental Division. From 1978 though 1984, he served as a staff attorney in the Public Service, and Public Employment & Elections divisions, representing the Public Service Commission staff in judicial appeals and administrative hearings relating to all matters of utility regulation, including securities issuance, rate cases, and environmental aspects of pipeline routing. He also represented various state departments and agencies in employment litigation and election litigation, and offered day-to-day legal advice to the Department of State, Bureau of Election.
In 1984, Gordon was appointed Assistant in Charge of the Public Employment, Elections & Tort Division, a position he held for the next 20 years. During this time he was responsible for representing the State of Michigan, all departments and agencies -- including the Legislature and Judiciary -- in all employment discrimination related issues. He argued several cases in the Michigan Supreme Court, the federal Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and scores of appearances on behalf of the state and its agencies in various federal district courts, the Court of Appeals, circuit courts, and before administrative agencies.
In 2003, Gordon became Governmental Affairs Bureau Chief, adding the divisions of Civil Rights & Civil Liberties, Corrections, Highway Negligence, Labor and Transportation to his area of responsibility. He was named Chief Deputy Attorney General in March 2005.
As Chief Deputy Attorney General he was responsible for overseeing all law divisions and operations for the Department of Attorney General. He was legal advisor to the Attorney General; worked with the Governor’s office, lobbyists, legislators, constituents, client agencies, and private practitioners on a myriad of issues, and was in charge of all case management, significant legal and tactical decisions including whether to initiate or settle cases. He also had direct oversight of the appellate and opinions operations of the Department of Attorney General.
Throughout his time at the Attorney General’s office, Gordon has drafted and edited opinions of the Attorney General, written scores of appellate briefs, drafted briefs for filing with the United States Supreme Court, and argued cases before the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, the Michigan Supreme Court, and the Michigan Court of appeals. He has assisted in drafting, editing, and reviewing legislation administrative rules, and policies for the various departments and agencies, rendered legal advice to virtually every state department and agency, and appeared in every court level in the State of Michigan and before numerous adjudicatory commissions of both the state and federal government.
