Who We Are

Deborah Gordon

Since 1987 Deborah has been listed in Best Lawyers in America (published annually by Woodward & White) as one of the best employment lawyers in the United States. She is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, widely considered to be the premiere legal professional organization in America comprised of the best of the trial bar in the United States and Canada, and has received the highest rating possible, "AV", from Martindale-Hubbell’s peer review national Legal Directory. She has been admitted to the bar of the United States Supreme Court.

Deborah Gordon has specialized in employment and civil rights law for over 30 years. She was formerly Assistant Attorney General for the State of Michigan, Civil Rights/Civil Liberties Division and a Senior Trial Attorney for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Deborah has had a long, successful track record in the courtroom and in front of juries.

  • Deborah is a previous President of the Labor and Employment Council of the State Bar of Michigan, which represents approximately 2000 labor and employment attorneys throughout Michigan. 

  • Deb is a board member of the Accounting Aid Society, Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society Board of Directors, the Federal Bar Association, American Board of Trial Advocates, the Wayne County Case Evaluation Tribunal Plaintiff’s Selection Committee, and the Michigan Association of Justice. She formerly served on the Federal Bar Association Board of Directors.

  • In 2016 Deborah received the Jean King Leadership Award given by the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan “In Commendation for Visionary Leadership in the face of Opposition and Outstanding Efforts Toward the Advancement of Women and the Legal Profession." 

She has authored or co-authored the following publications: Sexual Harassment Law and Practice, a Michigan Practitioner’s Guide; Employment Litigation in Michigan; Michigan Causes of Action Formbook (Employment Claims chapter); Advising the Older Client (Age and Handicap Discrimination chapter); and Attorney Fee Agreements in Michigan Forms and Practice Guide (Employment Litigation chapter), all published by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education.

Sometimes these people with all this power have to learn to behave…to know when to say, sorry, we made a mistake.

TRIAL WORK AWARDS:

  • Michigan Lawyers Weekly, January, 2016

  • Michigan Lawyers Weekly, January, 2015

    (obtained one of the top ten verdicts of the year.)

  • Top Verdicts in the State of Michigan for 2013

  • Michigan Lawyers Weekly, February, 2013

    (obtained third and eleventh largest verdicts of the year)

Widely considered the preeminent civil rights and employment attorney in the state.

Sarah Gordon Thomas

Sarah graduated cum laude from Wayne State University Law School and belongs to the Order of the Coif. She is currently a member of the Labor and Employment Section of the State Bar of Michigan.

Before joining Deborah Gordon Law, Sarah clerked for Eastern District of Michigan Judge Avern Cohn.  She earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan. 

Elizabeth Marzotto Taylor

Elizabeth graduated summa cum laude from Wayne State University Law School and belongs to the Order of the Coif. She is currently a member of the Labor and Employment Section of the State Bar of Michigan. 

Before joining Deborah Gordon Law, Elizabeth spent several years as an Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist for the U.S. Army. She is a graduate of the James Madison College at Michigan State University. 

Marc E. Thomas

Marc Thomas is of counsel to Deborah Gordon Law and partner at the firm of Bendure & Thomas.

Marc has extensive experience in taxation, business law, trusts and estates, pension law, and litigation of all types. He has been admitted to the bar of the United States Supreme Court.

He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan Sections on Business Law, Litigation, Probate & Estate Planning, and Taxation and the American Bar Association Sections on Litigation, Real Property, Trust & Estate Law.

Marc graduated from Michigan State University and received a law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy.

He was Editor-In-Chief of the Journal of Urban Law at Detroit Mercy and a Clarence M. Burton Scholar. He obtained an L.L.M. in tax law from Wayne State University. Marc was a law clerk to the Hon. Lawrence Gubow, U.S. District Court Judge.

Marc is also a member of the Michigan State University Varsity Alumni Club (Intercollegiate Baseball and Lacrosse and Freshman Ice Hockey).

MARC’S AREAS OF PRACTICE INCLUDE:

  • Tax controversies

  • Pension & retirement plan disputes

  • Business litigation

  • Estate planning

  • Probate