Download my Contact Information

Mediation

o: 231-947-0400
e: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Expertise:

Mr. Racine retired from the practice of law in 2018 and now limits his work to serving as a facilitative mediator. In his prior law practice, he specialized primarily in employment and labor law and negligence defense.

AV peer-review rated in Martindale-Hubbell. Listed in “The Best Lawyers in America” – labor and employment law and mediation.

Education:

University of Detroit, A.B., 1971

University of Michigan, J.D., 1975

Experience:

Mr. Racine began practicing law in Traverse City in 1975. His practice in public and private sector management-side employment and labor law included, among others, discrimination matters, discipline and termination, collective bargaining negotiations and contract issues, grievances and arbitrations. He represented employers in courts and before federal and state administrative agencies. His negligence defense practice focused primarily in the areas of auto negligence, products liability and premises liability and included many successful jury trials. He also served as an arbitrator of insurance, real estate and construction cases.

Mediation:

Mr. Racine enjoys assisting people in resolving their disputes through the process of facilitative mediation, which often leads to a more timely, less expensive and more satisfying outcome than is achieved through a traditional trial in court. Since receiving his initial mediator training in 1994, he has served as the mediator in more than a thousand cases involving business disputes, real estate, contracts, municipal, personal injury, malpractice, insurance, discrimination, construction and probate matters. He is currently listed as an approved general civil mediator by several circuit, district and probate courts and was recently honored to receive the 2019 Mediator of the Year award from the 13^th Circuit Court.

Additional Professional Info:

Mr. Racine is a current member of the State Bar of Michigan and the Grand Traverse-Leelanau-Antrim Bar Association (President, 1985-1986; Chair, Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, 2004-2012) and a past member of the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (Board of Directors, 1990-1992) and the Michigan Public Employer Labor Relations Association. For many years he served the Legal Aid Clinic as a pro bono attorney and Conflict Resolution Services, Inc. as a volunteer mediator and quality assurance observer. He previously served on the Michigan Supreme Court Mediation Rule Committee (1994-1995).

Civic and Charitable Activities:

Mr. Racine currently serves as the Chair of the Garfield Township Planning Commission and is on the Joint City of Traverse City/Garfield Township Planning Commission. He is a past president of the Rotary Club of Traverse City, has served on the Board of Rotary Charities of Traverse City, on many other non-profit and municipal boards and has been a United Way volunteer, Cherry Festival volunteer, coach of children’s hockey and baseball teams, and served on church committees.