Areas of Practice
Industries
Bar Admissions
- Michigan
Court Admissions
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
Education
University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 1985, cum laude
Michigan State University School of Labor and Industrial Relations, MLIR, 1980
The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, B.S., 1976
Robert A. Boonin, a member in Dykema's Detroit and Ann Arbor offices, concentrates his practice on labor and employment litigation. In addition, Mr. Boonin is experienced in public contract and education law. As a result, he has represented public and private sector clients across the country in over thirty jurisdictions. His public sector clients include universities, community colleges, K-12 school districts, charter schools as well as cities and townships.
Mr. Boonin has successfully represented clients in wrongful termination, employment discrimination, wage and hour, tenure proceedings and other employment-related lawsuits and claims. He has also represented employers in labor grievance arbitrations, labor negotiations, unfair labor practices and representational proceedings and labor strikes.
Clients quoted in Best Law Firms 2018 note that Mr. Boonin "serves as an extension of my business, with a thorough understanding of my legal needs and business objectives." He has been named a 2019 "Lawyer of the Year" in Detroit for Litigation - Labor and Employment by The Best Lawyers in America©, recognized as one of the "Top 100 Lawyers in Michigan" and is a frequent lecturer to the American and Michigan Bar Associations, the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, the Society of Human Resource Management, the American Society of Employers, trade associations and other groups on labor and employment law on topics such as handling a unionized workforce, wage and hour compliance, sexual harassment, and the ADA.
Experience
Represented a private equity investor in complicated effort to purchase a major OEM's glass manufacturing operations in North America
Represented numerous clients, including hospitals and other health care institutions, retail businesses and manufacturers in collective and class actions nationwide under both federal and state law in claims for unpaid overtime pay
Obtained summary judgment in an ADEA and retaliation matter
Obtained a summary disposition on behalf of a major school district
Served as lead counsel in multiple FLSA collective actions
Won an appeal setting a new precedent under the Michigan Revised School Code
Involved in labor and employment matters in two plant divestitures
Negotiated over 100 collective bargaining agreements
Successfully represented numerous employers in arbitration cases involving terminations and other disciplines, layoffs, promotions, work rule and other contract interpretation matters
Successfully represented employers in wage and hour collective actions
Lead counsel in labor and employment discrimination and FMLA cases, as well as DOL, NLRB, MESC, MDCR, EEOC and teacher tenure matters
Counsel clients in compliance on labor and employment laws, education laws, and the Michigan Open Meetings and Freedom of Information Acts
Served as lead counsel for governmental units and vendors in matters involving the privatization of services and operational divisions in the public sector
Handled numerous bid protest disputes in government contract cases
Seminars & Speeches
- December 3, 2020
- September 30, 2020
- September 24, 2020
- May 7, 2020
- Webinar: COVID-19 Updates: Labor & Employment Issues, LeadingAge MichiganApril 1, 2020
- Oak-Mac HR Association Lunch & Learn PresentationOctober 15, 2019
- October 10, 2019
- Wage and Hour Compliance: A DOL Update and Ways to Avoid Overtime Liability Landmines, SHRM 2019 Annual ConferenceJune 24, 2019
- January 24, 2019
- Paid Sick Leave and Minimum Wage Increase – Recent Developments in the Michigan Legislature, Detroit Labor and Employment Relations Association (LERA) Breakfast SeriesOctober 25, 2018
- FLSA: New DOL Initiatives and Update, Schoolcraft CollegeAugust 9, 2018
- Wage and Hour Compliance: A DOL Update and Ways to Avoid Overtime Liability, SHRM 2018 Annual ConferenceJune 18, 2018
- June 13, 2018
- 2018 Wage and Hour Update: Hot Topics and Trends, American Society of Employers 8th Annual Compensation & Benefits ConferenceMay 23, 2018
- The Year in Review for Human Resources Professionals, 43rd Annual ICLE Labor & Employment Law InstituteApril 19, 2018
- Fair Labor Standards Act Update, 43rd Annual ICLE Labor & Employment Law InstituteApril 19, 2018
- June 7, 2017
- FLSA Hot Topics, Panel Moderator, ABA Section of Labor and Employment LawJune 1, 2017
- FLSA Update, Institute of Continuing Legal Education 42nd Annual Labor & Employment Law Institute, Northville, MichiganApril 20, 2017
- FLSA Hot Topics, ABA’s Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee Midwinter MeetingFebruary 23, 2017 and June 1, 2017 webinar
- The New DOL Overtime Exemption Regulations Are in Flux - Now What?, American Conference Institute’s 29th National Forum on Wage & Hour Claims and Class Actions, Miami, FloridaJanuary 26, 2017
- The New DOL Overtime and White Collar Exemption Regulations: They’re Here, Now What?, American Conference Institute’s 29th National Forum on Wage & Hour Claims and Class Actions, Miami, FloridaJanuary 26, 2017
- Radical Changes to the Legal Landscape are Causing HR Officials Angst, seminar, Greater Ann Arbor SHRM, Ann Arbor, MichiganNovember 15, 2016
- Are Independent Contractors on ‘Life Support’, American Employment Law Council 2016 Annual Conference, Naples, FloridaOctober 21, 2016
- October 13, 2016
- New Rules: Overtime Exemptions and the New Salary Level, Washtenaw County Bar Assn., Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Chamber of Commerce, and Ann Arbor SPARKOctober 10, 2016
- New Rules, New Problems – What to Anticipate Under the FLSA’s New Regulations…and More, ASE’s 5th Annual Employment Law WorkshopSeptember 21, 2016
- June 16, 2016
- June 13, 2016
- June 9, 2016
- Playing By The (New) Rules: Navigating the DOL's Overtime Exemption Regulations, CLE Seminar, Dykema, Chicago, IllinoisJune 9, 2016
- Update on Developments under Fair Labor Standards Act, University of Michigan Annual Labor & Employment Law Institute, Ann Arbor, MichiganApril 14-15, 2016
- Avoiding Overtime Pay Liability: The Latest Enforcement and Regulatory News for the DOL and Common Compliance Landmines Every Employer Should Avoid, Michigan HR Day Conference, Lansing, MichiganApril 13, 2016
- March 31, 2016
Publications
- May 27, 2020State Bar of Michigan
- Winter 2017State Bar of Michigan Labor and Employment LawNotes
- Winter 2017Lawnotes, State Bar of Michigan's Labor & Employment Law Section
- March 13, 2015http://www.dykema.com/assets/htmldocuments/FOIAAmendments_White%20Paper.3.2015.pdf
- January 16, 2015Law360http://www.law360.com/articles/609327/nlrb-is-showing-more-interest-in-nonunion-employers
- December 9, 2014Metropolitan Corporate Counselhttp://www.metrocorpcounsel.com/articles/31071/unanimous-supreme-court-finds-time-spent-security-screenings-not-compensable
- "Alternative Dispute Resolution," Chapter Co-Editor, Fifth and Sixth Editions, Lindemann, Weirich and Grossman's treatise, Employment Discrimination (Bloomberg BNA)
- "National Origin Discrimination" Fourth Edition, Lindemann and Grossman's treatise, Employment Discrimination (Bloomberg BNA)
- Fair Labor Standards Act Contributor and Chapter Editor (2006-12 Supplements, Bloomberg BNA), American Bar Association Treatise
- Board of Editors, Bloomberg BNA The Fair Labor Standards Act, Third EditionDecember 22, 2013
- "Wage and Hour Law for Michigan Public Employers," Michigan Public Employment and Labor Relations Law (MPELRA)
- "The Constitutional Constraints in Dealing with Drug Abuse in the Schools," Michigan Bar Journal
News
- January 4, 2021
- September 10, 2020
- September 8, 2020
- September 2, 2020
- September 1, 2020
- June 26, 2020
- May 4, 2020
- April 1, 2020
- February 14, 2020
- December 12, 2019
- July 23, 2019
- April 12, 2019
- April 5, 2019
- March 8, 2019
- Rob Boonin Weighs in on Proposed Overtime Regulations in The National Law Journal and Yahoo Finance!March 7, 2019
- March 7, 2019
- January 11, 2019
- November 15, 2018
- October 4, 2018
- June 26, 2018
- June 18, 2018
- March 28, 2018
- March 16, 2018
- February 23, 2018
- January 11, 2018
- December 26, 2017
- September 28, 2017
- September 5, 2017
- August 4, 2017
- July 11, 2017
- July 5, 2017
- June 12, 2017
- June 8, 2017
- June 8, 2017
- April 20, 2017
- January 27, 2017
- December 6, 2016
- Robert Boonin Quoted in SHRM Article about New Administration’s Stance Regarding Overtime LitigationDecember 5, 2016
- December 1, 2016
- December 1, 2016
- November 23, 2016
- November 17, 2016
- November 14, 2016
- November 11, 2016
- October 14, 2016
- October 3, 2016
- September 26, 2016
- June 27, 2016
- Robert Boonin Quoted in SHRM Predictions about Effect of Overtime Regulations on Congressional StaffJune 27, 2016
- June 7, 2016
- June 2, 2016
- June 1, 2016
- May 18, 2016
- July 1, 2015
- January 28, 2015
- January 16, 2015
- January 5, 2015
- Will Address Wage and Hour Compliance, and Use Mistakes by Others to Highlight "Best Practices"May 21, 2014
- Presents at ICLE's 39th Annual Labor & Employment Symposium; Addresses 6th Annual Michigan HR Day ConferenceMay 15, 2014
- Dykema Attorney Shares Perspectives on Variety of Labor and Employment Litigation Topics, Including Collective Bargaining Agreements, Wage and Hour Collective Actions, and Recent Trends at the NLRB and Department of LaborFebruary 4, 2014
- Expresses Hope that Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division Will “Retrench” from Current Tough Stance on Regulatory ComplianceJanuary 31, 2014
Alerts
- August 6, 2020
- May 7, 2020
- Guidance Focuses on Concurrent Leave Issues, Hours to be Paid During Leaves, and Regular Rates of Pay ApplicableApril 23, 2020
- April 6, 2020
- April 6, 2020
- April 3, 2020
- March 30, 2020
- March 30, 2020
- March 27, 2020
- March 26, 2020
- December 27, 2019
- December 20, 2019
- September 24, 2019
- July 26, 2019
- May 8, 2019
- March 29, 2019
- March 21, 2019
- March 8, 2019
- December 14, 2018
- September 7, 2018
- July 3, 2018
- May 21, 2018
- April 4, 2018
- March 7, 2018
- December 18, 2017
- September 6, 2017
- August 31, 2017
- June 7, 2017
- December 20, 2016
- November 23, 2016
- June 28, 2016
- May 18, 2016
- May 5, 2016
- March 15, 2016
- September 14, 2015
- March 20, 2015
- March 13, 2015
- January 8, 2015
- December 19, 2014
- December 11, 2014
- December 9, 2014
- May 28, 2014
- April 28, 2014
Press Releases
- September 18, 2020
- 18 Attorneys Earn “Lawyer of the Year” HonorsAugust 20, 2020
- Firm Ranked as One of the Top 10 in the Nation for Consumer Class ActionsApril 23, 2020
- August 22, 2019
- 18 Attorneys Earn “Lawyer of the Year” HonorsAugust 15, 2019
- June 28, 2019
- April 25, 2019
- September 7, 2018
- 13 Attorneys Earn “Lawyer of the Year” HonorsAugust 15, 2018
- May 3, 2018
- September 5, 2017
- 10 Attorneys Receive “Lawyer of the Year” HonorsAugust 15, 2017
- August 9, 2017
- May 26, 2017
- September 1, 2016
- 14 Attorneys Receive “Lawyer of the Year” HonorsAugust 15, 2016
- May 27, 2016
- September 8, 2015
- 12 Attorneys Receive “Lawyer of the Year” HonorsAugust 18, 2015
- May 28, 2015
- November 20, 2014
- September 2, 2014
- Firm Receives 10 “Lawyer of the Year” HonorsAugust 18, 2014
- January 7, 2014
Blog Posts
- Are Parts of Paid COVID-19 Leave Regulations in Jeopardy? Federal Court Rejects Parts DOL’s FFCRA Regulations, Employers Brace for Possible Fallout
- National “Strike for Black Lives” Planned for Monday, July 20
- Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Not Impacted by Employees Who Won’t Return to Work, If Properly Documented
- DOL Issues More FFCRA Compliance Guidance on Paid Leaves
- Ironing out the Details: The Department of Labor Updates and Adds to Its FFCRA Guidance Faqs
- Michigan Governor Issues Executive Order Creating Protected Class of COVID-19 Positive Employees
- A Timely Reminder: Employee Complaints About Working Conditions Are Protected
- In the Nick of Time: Department of Labor Issues Temporary Regulations Interpreting the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
- New Wage and Hour Division Opinion Letters Provide Clarity on the FLSA “Regular Rate of Pay” Requirements
- As Employers Work Towards Compliance, The Department of Labor Provides Third Guidance Regarding the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act
- The NLRB Ends 2020 With a Bang!
- January 1, 2020, Means New Pay Rules – Are You Ready?
- Department of Labor Announces Final Rule Changing Salary Level Tests
- Chicago Adopts “Fair Work Week Ordinance”
- Freedom to Gig: New Department of Labor Opinion Bolsters Employers’ Ability to Classify “Virtual Workers” as Independent Contractors
- The Michigan Saga Continues: The Constitutional Validity of the New Michigan Paid Medical Leave Act and New Minimum Wage Law Heads to the Michigan Supreme Court
- Auto-Deduction for Employee Meal Breaks Can Work for Hospitals, but be Careful!
- DOL Proposes Another Major FLSA Rule Change: This Time on Calculating the “Regular Rate of Pay” for Overtime
- Final Countdown to Comply with Michigan’s Paid Medical Leave Act: Are Your Policies and Postings Ready?
- DOL Finally Proposes New White Collar Exemption Regulations
- Michigan Legislature Amends State Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave Acts
- Michigan Legislature Adopts Minimum Wage Increases and Paid Sick Leave: Political Poker Is Alive and Well in Michigan
- Clarity on Legality of Work Rules Under NLRA has Arrived!
- Supreme Court Strikes “Knock-Down Blow” to Public Sector Unions
- The DOL’s Wage & Hour Division “Dusts-Off” Shelved Opinion Letters
- The New NLRB Takes Major Swings at "Obama Board" Initiatives
- New FLSA Regulations Dealt a Knock-Out Blow
- Is “Comp-Time” in the Private Sector Just Over the Horizon?
- New FLSA Regulations Enjoined!
- One Down, One to Go: Courts Weigh In on Enjoining DOL Persuader and FLSA Exemption Rules
- NLRB Continues to Make Non-Union Employers Nervous
- The New Overtime Regulations Are Now Official
- Supreme Court Upholds Sampling in FLSA Cases
- The Proposed New Overtime Pay Exemption Rules: What's the Latest Scoop
- U.S. Department of Labor Proposal Rewrites Overtime Exemption: Employers Beware!
- One Month into NLRB’s New Ambush Election Rules: Non-Unionized Employers’ Fears are Realized
- NLRB Shows Expanded Interest In Nonunion Employers
- 2015 Brings Significant Changes To Wage Laws
- NLRB Adopts “Quickie Election Rules”: Its Threat Was, After All, A Promise
- NLRB Reverses Itself: Employer Email Systems Now Can be Used by Employees for Union-Related Communications.
- Unanimous Supreme Court Finds Time Spent for Security Screenings is Not Compensable
- Sixth Circuit Limits Enforcement of Key Employment Contractual Waivers in FLSA Cases
- Would You Like Franchisors With That? – NLRB May Super-Size Complaints Against Restaurants Bearing Name Of Fast Food Giant
- Summer Is Here – Now Is A Good Time To Review Intern Programs
- Minnesota's Women’s Economic Security Act: What To Know and How to Comply
- New Technology Nightmare -- Right to Telecommute As A "Reasonable" Accommodation Under the Americans With Disabilities Act
- EEOC Clarifies Position On Employer Obligations To Accommodate Religious Garb and Grooming At Work
Memberships & Involvement
ABA Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee, ABA Labor & Employment Law Section, Employer/Defense Co-Chair, 2020
Wage and Hour Defense Institute of the Litigation Counsel of America, Co-Founder and Member, 2007-Present; Chair, 2010-2013
State Bar of Michigan, Labor and Employment Law Section, Member 1985-Present; Council Member 2005-Present, Chair, 2013-2014
American Bar Association, Member Labor and Employment Law Section, Committee Member, Committee on Federal Labor Standards Legislation, 1985-Present; Co-Chair, FLSA Subcommittee, 2016-Present; Chapter Editor of The Fair Labor Standards Act, 2006-Present; Co-Editor in Chief of The Fair Labor Standards Act Midwinter Report, 2016-Present
Bloomberg BNA Treatise "The Fair Labor Standards Act," Board of Editors, 2018-Present
National Association of College and University Attorneys, Member 2005-Present
Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Advisory Board on Labor and Employment Law, Member, 2002-Present
American Employment Law Council, Member, 1999-Present
Michigan Council of School Attorneys, Member and Co-Founder, 1987-Present; Chair, 1991
Labor and Employment Relations Association (formerly IRRA, Detroit Chapter), Member
Washtenaw County Bar Association, Member; Co-Chair Trial Practice Section 2005-2010; Chair Labor and Employment Law Section 2001-2003
Community/Civic Activities
- Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber of Commerce, Member, Public Policy Committee; Member, 2005-Present; Board of Directors, Member 2008-Present; Executive Board, 2014-Present
- Main Street Area Association, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Member, Board of Directors, 2008-Present
- Ann Arbor YMCA, Member 1998-Present; Member, Personnel Committee,2005-Present; Chair, Personnel Committee 1998-2005; Member, Marketing Committee, 2000-2005; Member, Executive Committee, 2001-2005
- American Red Cross, Washtenaw County Chapter, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Member, Development Committee, 2005-2007
- Washetenaw Literacy, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Member Board of Directors, 1995-1998
Awards & Recognition
Named a Leading Lawyer in Labor & Employment Law by Chambers USA, 2020
Named as "Lawyer of the Year" in Labor and Employment Litigation by The Best Lawyers in America® in 2019. Copyright 2015 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Employment Law - Management and Labor and Employment Litigation, 2010-Present, Copyright 2015 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC
Named a Top Lawyer by dbusiness Magazine for Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment, 2015 & 2018
Named a Michigan Leading Lawyer in the areas of Employment: Management and Labor: Management Law by the Leading Lawyers Network, 2014-2017. Law Bulletin Publishing Company
Recognized by Best Lawyers in America®, Copyright 2013 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC as "Lawyer of the Year" for Litigation - Labor and Employment Law, 2012; and for Employment Law - Management, 2014
Named a leading Labor and Employment Lawyer by Chambers USA, 2010-2019
College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, Fellow, 2008-Present
Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow, 2006-Present; President, 2007-2008
Recognized on Michigan Super Lawyers® "Top 100 List," 2017-2018, 2020
Recognized in Michigan Super Lawyers® for Employment & Labor: Employer; Employment Litigation: Defense, 2006-Present
Recipient of an AV® Preeminent™ Rating by Martindale-Hubbell