Daniel Tukel, Butzel Long Photo

Daniel B. Tukel’s practice is devoted to representing public and private employers in state and federal discrimination, civil rights and wrongful discharge litigation, and in traditional labor matters such as collective bargaining, labor arbitrations, and union organizational drives.

Overview

For more than four decades, Daniel Tukel has served clients in the areas of Education and Labor and Employment Law. Dan is experienced in all aspects of Labor and Employment Law, statutory compliance, and in creating, implementing, and administering employee handbooks and other personnel policies and practices. He possesses specialized experience in representing colleges and universities in litigation involving student dismissal, including claims of violation of due process and equal protection, discrimination, failure to accommodate, denial of tenure, and in detenure proceedings.

Clients benefit from Daniel’s strong litigation skill and lengthy record of prevailing in matters before state and federal trial and appellate courts. He is renowned among his peers for his litigation successes and is also recognized for achieving positive resolutions in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) matters. Over the course of his extensive career, Daniel has represented clients at arbitrations, mediations, and hearings in various administrative agencies including the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), National Mediation Board (NMB), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR), Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC), and the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA). He has served as a private arbitrator and private facilitator in various employment matters.

Mr. Tukel is a Shareholder located in the firm’s Troy office and serves as a Co-Chair of Butzel’s Labor and Employment Practice Department. He is recognized among the preeminent lawyers in Michigan and throughout the country by numerous well-respected legal industry publications for his work in Employment Litigation Defense, Labor and Employment, Education, and Civil Rights Law.

Dan frequently shares his knowledge on a wide range of employment and labor issues, sharing industry updates via Butzel Client Alerts and through serving as a lecturer at a variety of forums. He has served on the faculty of the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) and has authored numerous publications pertinent to the education and labor and employment sectors. He holds long-standing memberships in the National Association of College and University Attorneys, American Employment Law Council, Michigan Council of School Attorneys, and is a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.

Credentials

Education

University of Michigan Law School, J.D., cum laude

University of Michigan, A.B., with High Honors and High Distinction

Admissions

  • Michigan
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan

Memberships

  • National Association of College and University Attorneys
  • American Employment Law Council
  • Michigan Council of School Attorneys
  • American Bar Association, Labor and Employment and Litigation sections
  • State Bar of Michigan, Labor and Employment and Litigation sections
  • Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association
  • Oakland County Bar Association

Awards & Recognitions

Awards & Recognitions

Fellow, College of Labor and Employment Lawyers

Fellow, State Bar of Michigan Foundation

Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business - Labor & Employment, 2019-2024

The Best Lawyers in America®: Lawyer of the Year, Labor Law - Management, 2022

The Best Lawyers in America®: Employment Law – Management; Labor Law - Management; Litigation - Labor & Employment, 2008-2025

Michigan Super Lawyers, Employment Litigation Defense, 2008-2022, 2024

Michigan Super Lawyers, Top 100 Attorneys in Michigan, 2014, 2015, 2020, 2023

DBusiness Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit - Civil Rights Law, 2011-2013; Labor and Employment Law, 2011-2017, 2019-2023; Litigation - Labor Employment Benefits, 2017, 2021, 2022

Experience

  • In case of first impression, obtained summary judgment in favor of cargo airline carrier of claim for retaliatory discharge in violation of the Railway Labor Act, based on statute of limitations.
  • Obtained summary disposition in favor of major University on claims for gender discrimination and retaliation.
  • Defended regional newspaper in defamation case
  • Successfully defended national media client in claim for violation of Sarbanes-Oxley Act before the United States Department of Labor.
  • Jury trial verdict in favor of major University in gender discrimination case. Affirmed by Michigan Court of Appeals.
  • Obtained summary disposition in favor of national retailer on claims for race discrimination, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence.
  • Represented higher education clients in negotiation of collective bargaining agreements for full time faculty; adjunct faculty and administrators.
  • Trial verdict in favor of major University on claim alleging wrongful discharge/breach of employment contract.
  • Obtained summary disposition in favor of national media client on claims for gender discrimination, retaliation and violation of Sales Representative Commission Act.
  • Successfully defended a motion for summary disposition for a major university before the Michigan Court of Appeals.
  • Successfully represented national service provider in overturning trial judgment for plaintiff in claim for race discrimination - failure to promote before Michigan Court of Appeals.
  • Obtained summary disposition in favor of major University on claims for sexual harassment and breach of employment contract, affirmed, Michigan Court of Appeals.
  • Summary disposition affirmed by the Michigan Court of Appeals

News & Events

News

Speaking Engagements

Alerts & Publications

Client Alerts

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