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Christopher R. Trudeau

Health care Attorney at Grand Rapids, MI

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About Christopher

Learn Christopher’s areas of practice.

4
Practice areas
  1. Contracts and agreements
    40%
    I am expert in creating clear legal documents that the public can understand. For over a decade, I've taught law students how to draft such documents, and I've published the only U.S. study on the public's preference for legal communication. What's more, I've drafted many contracts over that decade spanning from consent forms and NDAs to employment agreements and commercial contracts.

    19 years

  2. Health care
    40%
    I an expert in informed consent, and I specialize in reducing organizational risk by designing clear, health-literate communication processes that better inform the patient and better protect the organization. I frequently speak and consult with many healthcare organizations. For example, I've spoken for the Institute of Medicine on informed consent and health literacy, and I've recently spoken for the FDA's Risk Communication Advisory Committee on how to effectively reduce risk.

    12 years

  3. Employment and labor
    15%
    Before becoming a law professor, I practiced labor & employment law. I routinely represented companies in employment claims involving sexual harassment, employment discrimination, the Whistleblower's Protection Act, and the Fair Labor Standards Act.

    10 years

  4. Appeals
    5%

I am a health-literacy lawyer, plain-language consultant, and law professor.  I create clear, user-friendly legal documents that people can understand. It is very rewarding to take a hard-to-read document and turn it into something that is usable. Over the years, I've drafted all sorts of documents: from employment and labor agreements to healthcare consent forms, life-science agreements, user agreements, and all sorts of corporate contracts. 

I am an expert on informed consent and often speak on how to create effective organizational processes that both engage the patient and better protect the healthcare organization. I have spoken for the Institute of Medicine and the FDA on informed consent, risk communication, and best practices for communicating clear messages to the public. Additionally, I have presented seminars and webinars for many health organizations, such as United Health Group, Maximus, and the Institute for Healthcare Advancement. 

As a law professor, I have taught many subjects over my twelve years in academia. I teach Property, Torts, and each one of my school's legal writing courses.  

Simply put, I am a strategic communicator. I know how to use words to help people accomplish their goals. I'm an expert healthcare drafter, plain-language writer, and editor. I also am an effective public speaker, who knows how to engage audiences and convey technical information in clear, practical ways. So if you're looking to infuse clear communication into all facets of your organization, please contact me. Together, we can help your organization succeed. 

Photos and videos

Licensed for 19 years
State MI
Status Active in Good Standing
Acquired 2003
Updated 02/23/2023

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

Contact Christopher

Similar lawyers nearby

Western Michigan University - Thomas M. Cooley Law School
111 Commerce Ave SW
Grand Rapids, MI, 49503

Reviews

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Cost

Rates
  • Hourly Rates $ 200-350 per hour
  • Pro bono 10 %

Resume

AVVO RATING 8.0 (Excellent)

Work Experience

  • Tenured Professor
  • Western Michigan University - Thomas M Cooley Law School
  • 2004 - Present
  • Associate Attorney
  • Plunkett & Cooney
  • 2001 - 2004

Education

  • Thomas M. Cooley Law School
  • J.D. -- Summa Cum Laude
  • 2002

Associations

  • American Bar Foundation
  • Fellow
  • 2016 - Present
  • Michigan Bar Foundation
  • Fellow
  • 2014 - Present
  • State Bar of Michigan, Publications and Website Advisory Committee
  • Committee Members
  • 2009 - Present

Languages Spoken

  • English

Honors and Awards

  • 2016 Scholarship Grant Recipient
  • LexisNexis
  • 2016
  • 2010 Scholarship Grant Recipient
  • LexisNexis/ALWD/LWI
  • 2010
  • Adult Volunteer of the Year Award
  • Capital Area United Way
  • 2007

Speaking Engagements

  • Business Law Institute
  • Making the Case for Plain Language: How Clear Legal Communication Will Help Your Practice
  • 2016
  • Bioethics Conference
  • Ethical Communication in Human-Subjects Research
  • 2016
  • FDA Risk Communication Advisory Committee
  • Risky Business: Prioritizing Risk Information in FDA-Mandated Documents
  • 2016
  • FDA Training Session
  • Persuasive Evidence for Using Plain Language in the FDA
  • 2014
View all speaking engagements

Attorney endorsements

Received (1)
Given (1)
Endorse Christopher
Contracts and agreements Attorney | Jun 22
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I feel extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to endorse Christopher Trudeau. As a professor, he is the best of the best, bar none, and as an attorney, his continuous work perfecting the idea of plain-language, user-friendly legal documentation is something to be admired and regularly implemented. He is a consummate professional who possesses a brilliant legal mind along with the ability to effortlessly communicate complex issues in a clear, unambiguous and understandable fashion. The positive impact that he has had on my legal career is incalculable, and I strongly urge anyone in need of his legal services to look no further. I can assure you that you will not be disappointed."
Divorce and separation
Grand Rapids Health care Lawyer Christopher R. Trudeau
Christopher R. Trudeau
Health care Attorney
Grand Rapids, MI
Licensed for 19 years