Craig H. Lubben has been practicing law since 1981.  Mr. Lubben’s practice is focused on representing businesses, business owners, executives and other individuals in business and employment lawsuits in state and federal court in Michigan and in various alternative dispute forums. He has held various leadership roles at Miller Johnson including serving as co-Managing Member of the firm from 2018 through 2020.

Education

Mr. Lubben received his law degree, cum laude, from Northwestern University School of Law in 1981, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif and a member of the Board of Editors of the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology.  He received his undergraduate degree from Calvin College.  Mr. Lubben is admitted to practice in all Michigan State, federal, and appellate courts.

Defending Employers  

Mr. Lubben possesses extensive experience defending employers in complex workforce controversies, including harassment, discrimination, breach of fiduciary duty, and tortious interference claims.  He utilizes processes ranging from facilitative mediation to summary judgment to trials to achieve a resolution that meets the employer’s goals. In an era where jury trials are becoming rare, he has successfully obtained jury verdicts for a wide range of employers.  Examples include a jury verdict in favor of a hospital wrongfully accused of race discrimination in connection with the discharge of a physician and a jury verdict in favor of a steel manufacturer accused of allowing sexual harassment of  a female production worker.

Business Dissolution, Shareholder Oppression and other Business Disputes

Mr. Lubben represents business owners in a wide range of commercial disputes.  He has represented both minority and majority shareholders in cases to separate their business interests. In one case, he helped the majority shareholder of a radio station to acquire the interest of the minority shareholder.  In another case, he helped two equal owners of a medical practice to divide their practice. His environmental experience includes defending a golf course owner against claims of environmental contamination in connection with soil erosion into Lake Michigan during construction.  In addition to trial work, Mr. Lubben has an extensive alternative dispute resolution practice.  He has represented clients in a variety of commercial arbitrations.

Hospital Medical Staff Privileges

In the health care area, he has acted as a hearing officer advising a physician panel in connection with a physician challenge to the termination of hospital medical staff privileges.  He has also represented hospitals in proceedings to terminate physician medical staff privileges.

Professional Affiliations, Activities and Honors

Mr. Lubben is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and has held various leadership positions including serving on both the State Bar of Michigan’s Board of Commissioners, and its Representative Assembly.  He was appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court to serve on the Attorney Discipline Board from 2008 to 2014. In his last year of service, he was appointed to serve as Vice-Chairperson.  He is currently serving as a Trustee of the Michigan State Bar Foundation whose mission is to improve access for all to the justice system, including support for civil legal aid to the poor, law-related education, and conflict resolution.

Mr. Lubben is also a member of the American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association for the Western District of Michigan and the Kalamazoo County Bar Association.  As a member of the Federal Bar Association, Mr. Lubben has served as a trial advocacy instructor for the Hillman Advocacy Program and served a term as Program Chair.  He is a Past President of the Kalamazoo County Bar Association.

Mr. Lubben was named as Best Lawyers Kalamazoo Litigation – Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year in 2024, 2021, 2018, 2016 and 2014. Mr. Lubben is recognized as a Michigan “Super Lawyer” for business litigation and was named to the Top 100 Michigan Super Lawyers list in 2006, and again from 2015 to 2018. He was also named a “Leader in the Law 2012” by Michigan Lawyers Weekly based on criteria such as exemplify the noble tradition of the legal profession, and inspire and lead others with their skill and character.  He is a Fellow of several distinguished law-related organizations: the American Bar Foundation and the Michigan State Bar Foundation. Mr. Lubben has been named in “The Best Lawyers in America®” for commercial litigation, ethics and professional responsibility law, litigation – antitrust, litigation – labor and employment, litigation – mergers and acquisitions, litigation – real estate, and products liability litigation – defendants.    In 2009, he received the NALS Foundation’s esteemed Scales of Justice Award.  In 2010, he was the recipient of the Miller Johnson’s Cummiskey Spirit of Service Award recognizing his significant and outstanding contributions to the community through volunteering.