Stephen M. Thompson

Stephen M. Thompson is of counsel in the Minneapolis, Minnesota, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Stephen is a seasoned employment attorney with more than 25 years of experience advising businesses and individuals on a wide range of labor, employment, and business law matters. His practice focuses on employee relations, human resources counseling, workplace investigations, affirmative action, and complex employment litigation.

Stephen regularly represents clients in federal and Minnesota state courts, serving as lead counsel in employment disputes from initial case assessment through discovery, motion practice, trial, and appeal. His litigation experience includes claims involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, whistleblower actions, wage and hour issues, and contract disputes. He has also argued cases before the United States Court of Appeals and the Minnesota Court of Appeals.

In addition to his litigation practice, Stephen is a trusted advisor to employers on day-to-day workplace issues. He works closely with leadership and human resources professionals to navigate sensitive employee relations matters, conduct workplace investigations, and implement effective policies and procedures. He advises on discipline and termination decisions, and helps organizations mitigate risk while maintaining practical, business-oriented solutions.

Stephen has significant experience in affirmative action compliance, including preparing affirmative action plans, managing audits, and advising on regulatory requirements. He also provides proactive training to employers on topics such as harassment prevention, discrimination, and workplace best practices.

Before returning to private practice, Stephen held senior roles within a large corporate environment, where he managed employment investigations, led teams of investigators, and advised business leaders on complex employee relations and legal issues. This in-house experience provides him with a practical understanding of the operational and strategic challenges employers face.

Stephen is experienced in alternative dispute resolution and has participated in mediation, arbitration, early neutral evaluations, moderated settlement conferences, and other resolution processes. He is known for his strong advocacy, practical judgment, and ability to effectively negotiate and resolve disputes.