Firm History

Sachs Waldman, Professional Corporation, has its origins in the mid-1920's with a single practitioner, Nicholas J. Rothe. Mr. Rothe was regarded by many as Michigan 's first labor union lawyer, a reputation initially earned by keeping pickets and strikers out of jail. From these humble beginnings, the firm has grown to more than 30 lawyers, with a main office in Detroit, Michigan and a branch office in Pontiac. The firm remains the preeminent labor relations firm on the labor side in Michigan and one of the leading such firms in the nation. The April 1983 issue of The American Lawyer described the firm as one of the "great specialty firms" of the nation.

For more than 40 years the firm has served as General Counsel to the Michigan State AFL-CIO and continues to represent large numbers of its affiliates, serving as general, special or regional counsel to international unions or their locals such as the United Auto Workers, American Federation of Teachers, Bricklayers and Allied Craftsworkers, Cement Finishers, Fire Fighters, Utility Workers, Electrical Workers, Laborers, Musicians, Machinists, Sheet Metal Workers, and Amalgamated Transit Workers. Its labor relations practice is diverse and includes substantial litigation for both public and private sector unions, administrative agency proceedings, negotiations, drafting, etc. Additionally, Sachs Waldman represents a large number of jointly trusted multi-employer Taft-Hartley plans such as pension plans, health and welfare plans, prepaid legal plans and others. The firm also has a governmental affairs practice, and it serves as General Counsel to the Michigan Democratic Party and many affiliated organizations and candidates. Over the years the firm has been involved in many landmark constitutional law cases, including legislative apportionment, congressional apportionment, public sector agency shop, remedial workers compensation laws, voter registration laws, free speech, etc., many of these in the U.S. Supreme Court. Theodore Sachs drafted Michigan 's basic labor relations laws.

The firm has a very substantial and successful personal injury litigation practice, including motor vehicle liability, No Fault benefits, medical malpractice, premises liability, product liability and general tort litigation. The firm also specializes in the representation of injured workers and their families in industrial and construction accident litigation. The firm specializes in the representation of injured seafarers and Maritime Workers in Admiralty cases, as well as injured Railroad Workers in FELA cases. The firm handles a substantial number of wrongful discharge and employment discrimination claims, both in organized and unorganized settings.

The firm is known as a progressive, vigorous and effective representative of labor organizations and their members, as well as a significant force in plaintiff's personal injury law litigation.