Joshua Leadford is a member of the firm’s Employment and Labor Section.

He was admitted to the bar in 2011 and has significant experience representing employers in the private and public sectors; from local businesses to large national corporations. Josh’s practice focuses on traditional labor law, collective bargaining, grievance arbitrations, and counseling employers on all matters concerning employment and labor law compliance and defense.

Practice related activities

Joshua’s experience includes supporting executives and human resource leaders in all aspects of labor and employment law.  He is accessible and provides real-time advice to employers to formulate strategy to resolve employment issues.  His objective is to be useful to his client in an efficient way.

Collective Bargaining

Joshua has represented employers as designated bargaining representative in numerous bargaining matters.  He routinely settles contracts that preserve managements rights and protect an employer’s ability to operate efficiently.  Joshua works with all levels of management to identify collective bargaining goals and to develop a bargaining strategy to secure those goals.

Labor Arbitration

Joshua regularly defends employers in labor arbitration matters involving discharge, discipline, and the application of collective bargaining agreements.  He has secured successful decisions on many complicated and sensitive discharge matters involving long-tenured employees.  His practical, yet detailed, analysis and written argument has resulted in favorable decisions for his clients in arbitrations over the interpretation and application their collective bargaining agreements.

Labor and Employment Defense

Joshua also represents employers in litigation and administrative proceedings before the NLRB, MERC, EEOC, and other federal and state agencies.  He routinely resolves matters in the early stages of litigation, avoiding the expense and distraction of trial.

Education and Clerkships

Joshua earned Juris Doctor, Magna Cum Laude, from Cooley Law School in 2011. While in law school Joshua clerked for the Michigan Employment Relations Commission. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Central Michigan University in 2008.

Prior to joining the firm Joshua was a partner with a nationally-recognized, boutique labor and employment defense firm.