William R. Thomas

William R. Thomas, a partner with Starr, Butler, Alexopoulos & Stoner, PLLC, focuses his practice on the defense of employment claims, representing employers against discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims. He also practices in the areas of professional liability, commercial litigation, and general litigation. Mr. Thomas also has successfully handled appeals in the Michigan Court of Appeals and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

In 2018, Michigan's Institute for Continuing Education appointed Mr. Thomas to its Labor & Employment Law Advisory Board.

Mr. Thomas received his law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2013, magna cum laude. During law school, he served as a Senior Associate Editor for the Thomas M. Cooley Law Review, and was also a member of the National Mock Trial and Jessup International Moot Court teams. He also worked as a judicial intern for the Washtenaw County District Court in 2012, and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in 2013. Mr. Thomas received his undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado in 2009. After law school, Mr. Thomas worked for a boutique law firm specializing in employment law and general litigation.

Practice Areas

• Employment Practices Liability
• Employment and Labor Law
• Professional Liability
• Miscellaneous Errors & Omissions
• Appeals
• Business Torts & Commercial Litigation
• General Liability

Education

• Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D., 2013
• University of Colorado, B.A., 2009

Admitted to Practice

• All Michigan state courts
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

Achievements

• The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch (2021-22)

Professional Memberships

• State Bar of Michigan
• Oakland County Bar Association
• Michigan Institute for Continuing Education - Labor & Employment Law Advisory Board

Publications

• "How Much Time is a Reasonable Time to Heal? The Status and Future of a Medical Leave of Absence as a Reasonable Accommodation in Michigan," Labor and Employment LawNotes, Labor and Employment Law Section - State Bar of Michigan (Vol. 30, No. 1; Spring 2020)