In Memoriam: William Saxton

Former Butzel Long Chairman and CEO William M. Saxton, who had a 60-plus year career with the firm, died April 15 in Arizona. Most recently, he was Counsel and a Director Emeritus of the firm.

“Bill was a chief architect of the modern-day Butzel Long, yet had deep respect for our long and storied history,” said president and CEO Justin G. Klimko, “He had countless career achievements and was a leader, visionary, mentor and gifted writer. He was lauded among his peers and well respected by members of the judiciary.  Despite his impressive achievements, he especially enjoyed mentoring young attorneys, who appreciated the opportunity to learn from a truly great attorney.”

Saxton graduated from The University of Michigan (B.A., 1949; J.D., 1952). He joined Butzel Long in 1952 and was a litigator, negotiator and counselor. He enjoyed national pre-eminence as an expert in the labor and employment law field and was an accomplished litigator outside of that field. He successfully argued the 1974 case of Milliken v Bradley before the U.S. Supreme Court, which dealt with the controversial topic of cross-district school busing.

Saxton bridged multiple generations at the firm. He started when the two named partners, Leo Butzel (who joined the firm in 1896) and Tom Long (who joined in 1909), were still practicing with the firm, and he continued to contribute into the 21st century.  He was an instrumental figure in the growth of Butzel Long in the 70s and 80s, in size and prominence. He served as Managing Partner while the firm was a partnership and as president, CEO and a member of the Board of Directors following conversion to a professional corporation in 1982.

Saxton was elected a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a Fellow Emeritus of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, a Life Fellow of the Michigan Bar Foundation and a member of the American Law Institute. 

In 1996, he was awarded the Nathan B. Goodnow Award by the Detroit Bar Association in recognition of a career that exemplifies the highest standard of the legal profession and significantly impacted the law and life of the community.

In 1998, he received the Distinguished Service Award from the State Bar of Michigan Labor and Employment Law Section in recognition of his “long established commitment to excellence, highest ethical principles and major contributions to the practice of labor and employment law.” 

One of Saxton’s most significant honors was when he received the State Bar of Michigan’s Champion of Justice Award in 2003 for integrity and adherence to the highest principles and traditions of the legal profession and professional accomplishments.