Jeffrey S. Kopp is one of the nation’s most accomplished business counselors. A partner in the Detroit office, Jeff advises corporate leadership teams on the human resources, employment, and commercial issues that can disrupt operations, increase cost, and create litigation risk. His practice focuses on helping clients solve complex workplace problems, manage supply chain, warranty, and contract disputes, and make practical decisions that protect the business while advancing company objectives. He is a member of the firm’s Labor & Employment and Litigation Practices.
Jeff works with employers to prevent and resolve disputes before they escalate, and when litigation is unavoidable, he brings substantial trial and arbitration experience to bear. He has handled hundreds of labor arbitrations and unfair labor practice proceedings before the NLRB and has successfully litigated in courts nationwide. He has significant experience in trade secret and non-compete litigation, including obtaining injunctive relief in disputes involving departing employees, restrictive covenants, and alleged misuse of confidential information. Jeff also regularly conducts detailed internal investigations involving sensitive workplace and business issues.
Jeff frequently counsels employers on practical strategies to reduce risk, respond to government scrutiny, and navigate high-stakes workplace issues involving leave and accommodation, wage and hour, FMLA, ADA, OSHA, EEO, unemployment, and workers’ compensation retaliation matters. He also advises clients on labor and employment issues arising in mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions, and brings substantial experience handling commercial disputes for automotive and manufacturing clients. In addition, he has authored Practical Law articles on the Davis-Bacon Act and the Service Contract Act and is a trusted resource for addressing prevailing wage and government contractor compliance at the federal and state levels. He is a member of the firm’s Manufacturing Sector, Automotive Industry Team, and the Affirmative Action Compliance and Trade Secret/Non-Compete Task Forces.
Representative Experience
Jeffrey’s notable recent engagements successfully representing:
- Automotive suppliers in obtaining a favorable settlement and jury verdicts in multimillion-dollar warranty and recall disputes.
- Manufacturing clients in defending investigations before the Department of Labor regarding alleged FMLA violations and wage and hour complaints.
- An automotive supplier in the defense of litigation alleging claims for interference and retaliation under the FMLA.
- A construction client in a Davis Bacon Act audit and investigation by the Department of Labor.
- Automotive suppliers in obtaining numerous summary judgment victories in age, sex, disability, and race discrimination lawsuits.
- Various manufacturing and hospital clients concerning FMLA, ADA accommodation, and military leave and benefits issues under USERRA.
- Federal contractors in obtaining favorable desk, on-site, wage and hour and Service Contract Act audits.
- Manufacturing clients in numerous injunctive relief proceedings related to the enforcement of the company’s rights against departing employees who were alleged to have, among other things, violated their employment agreements and misappropriated trade secrets.
- Manufacturer in prosecution of claims against former employees for breach of fiduciary duty and other torts related to the former employee’s start-up of a competing business.
- Private equity companies in handling all aspects of labor and employment transitions in mergers and acquisitions and corporate transactions.
- A defense contractor and manufacturer in obtaining successful results in numerous labor grievance discharge arbitrations.
Awards and Recognition
- Named to DBusiness Top Lawyers (2025)
- Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the fields of Employment Law — Management and Litigation — Labor and Employment (2021 – 2024)
- Selected for inclusion in the Michigan Super Lawyers® lists (2013 – 2016)
- Recognized as the Barrister of the Year in 2007 and 2008
- Received the State Bar of Michigan’s Unsung Hero Award in 2012 for his efforts in leading various pro bono initiatives
Affiliations
- State Bar of Michigan
- Detroit Bar Association
- Barristers Organization (former board member and president)
- Member, Board of Governors, West Point Society of Michigan
- Lifetime member, Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Detroit Legal Services Clinic (pro bono services)
- Graduate, Leadership Detroit XXVIII
- Former board member, Arkay
Community Involvement
Jeff retired as a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, where he served in numerous JAG officer assignments, including as the International Law/Rule of Law Advisor to the Army’s Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute at the U.S. Army War College. He also served as the Commander of the 91st Legal Operations Detachment (JAG) in Darien, Illinois. He deployed to Iraq in 2008 as the Detainee Operations Counsel at Camp Cropper in Baghdad. Among other awards, Jeffrey is a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal.
Presentations and Publications
Jeffrey frequently writes and lectures about a variety of topics, including FMLA and ADA accommodation issues.
- Speaker, “Emerging Employment Law Issues,” 48th Labor and Employment Law Institute, Michigan State Bar (April 14, 2023).
- Author, “Government Contracts: Service Contract Labor Standards Compliance,” Thomson Reuters Practical Law, May 2023.
- Author, “Davis Bacon Act: Overview,” Thomson Reuters Practical Law, December 2022.
- Co-author, “ADA Website Accessibility: What Businesses Need to Know,” Journal of Management Policy & Practice (October 5, 2020)
- Co-author, “Key employment issues facing employers in the automotive industry,” Thomson Reuters® Westlaw® Journal (April 2, 2020)
- Speaker, “FMLA Intermittent Leave Issues: Strategies for Preventing Abuse,” Clear Law Institute (January and June 2019)
- Speaker, “Joint Employer Issues,” 2015 State of the Law: Tools to Minimize Risks and Maximize Your Role, Association of Corporate Counsel (ACCA) – Michigan (November 18, 2015)
- Contributor, “Experts Give Their Solutions to Difficult Workplace Problems,” What’s Working in Human Resources (November, 2015)
- Presenter, “Tackling Difficult FMLA Intermittent Leave Issues: Strategies for Preventing Abuse,” (September 10, 2015)
- Speaker, “FMLA Intermittent Leave: Preventing Abuse While Mitigating Interference or Retaliation Claims,” Strafford Webinar (February 26, 2014)
- Speaker, “FMLA Abuse: How to Spot It – and Stop It,” BLR FMLA Abuse Webinar (March 2011)
- Co-author, “Implementing a Drug and Alcohol Testing Program — Things to Consider,” Employment Law Update – Foley & Lardner LLP Legal News (December 2010)
- Author, “The Expanding Reach of the OFCCP — Are You a Government Contractor?,” Employment Law Update – Foley & Lardner LLP Legal News (November 2010)
- Speaker, “When Johnny (or Joanna) Comes Marching Home Again: Are You on Top of USERRA,” Foley & Lardner LLP Web conference (June 2009)
- Speaker, “Labor and Employment Year in Review,” Fourth Annual State of the Law Update, Association of Corporate Counsel (ACCA) – Michigan (April 2009)
- Editor in chief, Teenagers and the Law Handbook (2008)
Thought Leadership
Jeff Kopp is the Detroit Office hiring partner and is a member of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee. He also is the office Professional Responsibility Partner. He previously served as the Detroit Office Litigation Department Chair.
/Passle/63109459f636e905f41c4854/MediaLibrary/Images/2026-03-31-21-22-22-364-69cc3b0e0b3e684d9a0aef55.png)
Coming Soon to Procurement Contracts – A Contract Clause Prohibiting Certain DEI Activities
The ADA Accommodation Gap: Why Employers Struggle and How a Better Process Can Help
/Passle/6719612c5e4bbe2174a65d17/MediaLibrary/Images/2025-06-09-18-59-46-629-68472f22ab796b483adc82c2.jpg)
Attorney General Memo to Federal Agencies Provides Further Insight Into “Illegal” DEI Programs
Foley Represents Intra Group of Companies in Acquisition by Gleason Corporation
Foley Represents Sorcero in Strategic Acquisition of Axiom Health
