Butzel Adds Labor and Employment Attorney in Firm’s Detroit Office
DETROIT, Mich. – Butzel continues to grow with the addition of senior attorney Christian A. Bashi in the firm’s Detroit office. Bashi brings significant experience representing Fortune 500 employers in high-stakes litigation, internal investigations, and complex workplace disputes across the country. He combines strategic judgment with aggressive advocacy to help employers navigate challenging legal issues while advancing their business and operational objectives. Working closely with executives, in-house counsel, and human resources leaders, he provides practical counsel on matters involving substantial legal, financial, and reputational risk.
Bashi defends employers against individual and multi-plaintiff claims involving discrimination, retaliation, employment torts, and wage-and-hour violations in federal and state courts, arbitration, and administrative proceedings. He also prosecutes and defends claims involving restrictive covenants, including noncompetition, nonsolicitation, and confidentiality agreements.
His litigation experience spans jurisdictions throughout the United States and includes claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), and state and local employment laws. He has second-chaired trials involving retaliation, employment torts, and breach of contract, and has represented employers before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the US Department of Labor (DOL), and state human rights agencies.
Beyond litigation, Bashi conducts sensitive internal investigations and advises employers on compliance risks associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations. He is known for translating complex legal issues into practical guidance that helps employers make informed decisions when business operations and reputations are at stake.
Prior to joining Butzel, Bashi practiced at a premier global law firm in New York City, where he represented employers in sophisticated litigation, investigations, and other high-stakes matters involving significant legal, operational, and reputational risk. Earlier in his career, he served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable J. Phil Gilbert of the US District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.
Bashi is a member of the National Employment Law Council (NELC) and was named a Fellow in 2024. He earned his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School, where he was a member of the Michigan Law Review, and his B.A. from the University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts.
