Columns
THE EXPERT WITNESS: The Ghost of Ponzi, part two of a look into scams
November 22 ,2024
It seems that whenever times get tough, more
con-artists promising castles-in-the-air emerge from the woodwork.
Personally, I, Dr. Sase, missed out on the opportunity to lose our life
savings through Bernie Madoff’s version of the Ponzi scheme. Unlike
Steven Spielberg and many others, I was not invited to participate in
the Madoff scheme.
:
By Dr. John F. Sase
with
Bryan Lagalo, contributing writer
Gerard J. Senick, contributing editor
Julie Sase, copy editor
William Gross, research
“Currency Exchange [C]enter is looking for responsible, bright and progressive representatives [in the] territory of [the] U.S. Our company provides an opportunity for U.S. citizens to purchase internet currencies such as Web-Money, E-Gold and etc. We need a person that will be in charge of a payment process [when] clients purchase an Internet Currency of particular services that they have chosen ... [Our representatives assist] customers [in] purchasing Internet Currencies in order to have access to particular services and products unavailable [outside of the] U.S.”
It seems that whenever times get tough, more con-artists promising castles-in-the-air emerge from the woodwork. Personally, I, Dr. Sase, missed out on the opportunity to lose our life savings through Bernie Madoff’s version of the Ponzi scheme. Unlike Steven Spielberg and many others, I was not invited to participate in the Madoff scheme. However, many of us more pedestrian citizens, looking for alternatives to failed opportunities such as “Flipping Real Estate” and other touts on late-night infomercial, have received emails like the one above. Usually, we hit our deletes key and move on. However, I recently attended a presentation on the life and scams of Charles Ponzi offered by my former graduate assistant Bryan Lagalo. So, when I read the above “scam-mail” I thought to myself, “It’s the ghost of Ponzi!”
Before watching Bryan’s PowerPoint show, I knew as much about Charles Ponzi as the average investor—virtually nothing more than I could express in a single paragraph. However, that has changed since watching “Charles Ponzi: The Life of an Infamous Schemer” with a small group of academics that fought to hold back the laughter of disbelief over a con-artist whom I can describe only as a completely amoral sociopath. In this light, I asked Mr. Lagalo, currently a doctoral candidate in Economics at Wayne State University, to participate in this month’s column.
Aaay! It’s the Ponz! (Apologies to Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli)
In recent months, the term “Ponzi scheme” has appeared rampantly on Wall Street and widely spread throughout the popular press and the political arena. The name of Ponzi has spread so profusely that a Google search of the single word Ponzi generates over 20,000 news results. For example, even the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) defines a Ponzi scheme as “[A] type of illegal pyramid scheme named for Charles Ponzi, who duped thousands into investing…. Decades later, the Ponzi scheme continues to work on the ‘rob-Peter-to-pay-Paul’ principle, as money from new investors is used to pay off earlier investors until the whole scheme collapses.”
Most likely, many business, law, and economics professionals share a familiarity concerning the notorious premise of these schemes described by the SEC. However, most readers probably possess only a cursory knowledge of the original investment vehicles used by Ponzi to dupe investors.
Therefore, for our readers we chronicle both Ponzi the person and Ponzi the scheme, that has made his name synonymous with fraudulent and unsustainable investment scams.
Born in Lugo, Italy in 1882, Ponzi immigrated to the United States at the age of twenty-seven. Reportedly, having gambled away his life savings during his passage to America, he arrived in 1903 with little but his name. According to Mary Darby in her article In Ponzi We Trust (Smithsonian magazine, December 1998), Ponzi stated in a New York Times interview that “I landed in this country with $2.50 in cash and $1 million in hopes, and those hopes never left me.” He learned English while working at odd jobs along the East Coast. However, after one employer eventually fired Ponzi from his job as a waiter for stealing and for shortchanging customers, Ponzi decided to move to Montreal, Canada.
In Montreal, Ponzi took a job as an assistant teller and worked his way up to manager of the newly-opened Banco Zarossi. The owner, Luigi Zarossi, started his bank to accommodate the growing number of Italians immigrating to Canada. The bank’s business expanded quickly because Zarossi offered 6% interest on deposits—double the average rate offered by competing banks at that time. Eventually, Ponzi discovered that Zarossi offered high rates simply to attract large deposits that he used to cover interest payments on poorly-made real estate loans (sound familiar?) Soon after this episode, Zarossi fled to Mexico taking much of the bank’s money with him.
Jobless and broke, Ponzi forged a check for $423.58 ($10,500 adj.) made out to himself. Subsequently, after presenting it for payment the Canadian police arrested him. For the benefit of his family back in Italy while serving three years in a Quebec prison, Ponzi contrived a cover-up story in a letter to his mother explaining that he had found a job as an assistant to a prison warden. However, Mama Ponzi eventually discovered the truth.
Upon his release in 1911, Ponzi returned to the United States. However, merely ten days after leaving the Canadian prison, American authorities arrested him for smuggling Italian immigrants across the border from Canada. He then spent two more years of incarceration in the Atlanta Prison in Georgia. Having served his time, Ponzi moved to Boston where he met Rose Maria Gnecco. Though Charles Ponzi and Rose got to know one another seemingly well, Ponzi neglected to tell Rose about his time behind bars. However, Ponzi’s mother sent Rose a letter describing the matter in its entirety. Nevertheless, in spite of this new information Rose married Ponzi in 1918. Over the course of the next year, Ponzi worked at various jobs before developing an idea that resembled the Yellow Pages of present day. His company attempted to sell advertising space in a circulated catalog that listed various businesses. However, this idea did not catch on in Boston and the company soon failed.
Prelude to the Famous Scheme
At least for Ponzi, fortune began to change for the better in August of 1919 when he received a letter from a company in Spain inquiring about his failed catalog idea. More importantly than this inquiry, the letter contained an International Reply Coupon (IRC). The basic function of an IRC allowed a person in one country (Spain) to send prepaid postage for reply to someone in another country (United States). Although Ponzi received an IRC priced in pesetas, the Spanish currency at that time, the U.S. Post Office exchanged IRCs for postage priced in stronger U.S. dollars.
After World War I, more than sixty countries accepted IRCs and agreed upon regulated postage-exchange rates that reflected currency-exchange rates. However, during those years many European countries experienced high levels of inflation. As a result, currencies from countries like Spain and Italy suffered significant devaluation relative to the dollar, though the IRC postage-exchange rates remained the same. This discrepancy provided Ponzi with the opportunity for arbitrage. In respect to this specific event, he noted, “I wrote a man in Spain ... and in reply received an international exchange coupon which I was to exchange for American postage stamps with which to send a copy of the publication. The coupon in Spain cost the equivalent of about one cent in American money, I got six cents in stamps for the coupon here. Then I investigated the rates of exchange in other countries ....”
Upon this realization, Ponzi developed a simple plan. He enlisted friends and family to buy cheap IRCs in Italy and send them to him in the U.S. where he could redeem them at higher value U.S. dollars. Ponzi boasted that the net returns easily exceeded 400%, even after the subtraction of transaction costs. Furthermore, nothing in his plan was illegal—at least not technically.
Immediately, Ponzi quit his job and borrowed money to mail to his relatives in Italy. In his letter to them, he explained that they should send him as many IRCs as possible. Then, Ponzi sold his arbitrage idea to several friends in Boston, promising that he would provide a 100% return in only ninety days. Ponzi used the funds that he collected to start a company that he registered as the Securities Exchange Company (SEC). (Ironically, his company shared its acronym with the Securities and Exchange Commission founded by the Federal government a decade-and-a-half later).
Originally, Ponzi limited his issue to notes bearing small principal amounts such as $50, $100, $1000. However, once his business accelerated, he left a line blank on the notes to allow investors to enter whatever amount they wanted to invest. Through his new company, Ponzi offered investors a 50% return after forty-five days or a 100% return after ninety days, on virtually any principal amount. This castle-in-the-air offer encouraged a Federal postal inspector to visit Ponzi at his business and voice government concern that selling millions of IRCs may not prove legal. In retort, Ponzi explained that the IRC coupons could always be exchanged in other countries outside of the jurisdiction of the U.S. Post Office. Even so, this initial investment scheme contained substantial holes. In his treatise on Ponzi, Mark Knutson points out that 1) In 1920 the nations that accepted IRCs announced new postal exchange rates in order to reflect the large devaluation in their currencies. 2) U.S. Post Offices limited their issues of IRCs to ten per visit. 3) Due to the immense volume of IRCs needed per transaction to ensure a profit, the transaction costs eliminated any significant arbitrage profit (“The Remarkable Criminal Financial Career of Charles K. Ponzi,” www.mark-knutson.com, 1996).
Because of these impediments, Ponzi would have realized that transporting, unloading, and redeeming the needed volume of IRCs at a post office would prove prohibitive. Furthermore, his own business records indicate that he actually purchased only a small number of IRCs. Fortunately for Ponzi, most people previously had neither used an IRC nor knew much about them. This public ignorance greatly masked these fundamental problems involved with IRC arbitrage. As a result, investors flocked quickly into Ponzi’s office.
The Rise and Fall of Ponzi’s Scheme—Robbing-Peter-to-Pay-Paul
Most historians attribute Ponzi’s early success to his ability to sell his scheme. As with any shyster, Ponzi used the promise of false hopes and half-truths to lure investors. However, he took his scheme a step further by performing a “dog-and-pony” show, laden with “smoke and mirrors.” Well known for his charisma, Ponzi charmed audiences with his animated sales pitches. Furthermore, he advertised his scheme to the general public rather than singling out a few wealthy investors. To edify his reputation, Ponzi openly defended the legitimacy of his business by personally guaranteeing all matured payments.
Immediately, Ponzi’s scheme accelerated as investors lined up at his office door. He dazzled them with the virtues of the apparent concreteness and freedom from risk possessed by his postage investment vehicle. With dollars pouring into his business, Ponzi actually managed to pay off some of the initial investors. In turn, unable to personally handle this increasing volume of sales, Ponzi hired agents and rewarded them with generous commissions. Quickly, his agents went to work and produced a flow of funds from cities and towns throughout New England. The success of Ponzi’s scheme grew exponentially. Though in February of 1920, his business only collected $5,000 ($62,200 in 2009 terms), by March it realized $30,000 ($373,200), and by May, $420,000 ($5,225,000).
The revenues continued to increase exponentially. In the first week of July alone, sales agents funneled $1 million ($12.5 million) into the firm.
Though most beneficiaries reinvested their earnings, some investors occasionally would demand their matured returns. The various historical sources indicate that in the early months of his investment scheme, Ponzi did pay out cash returns to any investor requesting them. Fortunately, for Ponzi, this strategy served to fuel the fire and kept most clients reinvesting. As long as he continued to appease a few investors with payouts, his other investors appeared to remain content. At least on paper, these investors continued to earn a return while the Ponzi scheme maintained its reputable façade.
Many naïve and neophyte investors mortgaged their homes and turned over the proceeds and other lifesavings to the Securities Exchange Company. Meanwhile, Ponzi drew upon the funds to support his lifestyle of a millionaire. He used company funds to pay for first-class passage to move his mother from Italy to the United States and to purchase a lavish air-conditioned mansion with a heated pool. Of course, a simple audit not only would have shown that Ponzi stole money from his company, but also that the business itself experienced substantial losses. Blinded by their own greed, investors continued to dump funds into the company—funds more than sufficient to keep the firm afloat, temporarily.
As a result of Ponzi’s enormous success, some people began to question how he consistently could generate extraordinary returns over such a short span of time. In his book, “Ponzi, the Boston Swindler,” (McGraw-Hill, 1975) Donald Dunn states that a Boston financial writer wrote a story suggesting that Ponzi’s investment scheme probably violated the law. Ironically, Ponzi sued the paper for slander and won $500,000 ($6.2 million) since the burden of proof lay on newspaper writers at that time. Furthermore, given the total volume of IRCs needed for Ponzi to pay double returns to most investors, local, state, and federal government officials suspected fraud. However, since each requested payout had thus far been met, authorities could not produce any evidence of lawbreaking.
Immediately after this initial governmental investigation, Ponzi faced a lawsuit filed against him by Joseph Daniels, a local furniture dealer. Daniels claimed that he personally loaned Ponzi $200 to start the Securities Exchange Company in return for a share of its future profits. Although the court sided with Ponzi, many parties began to wonder how he rose from poverty to millionaire status in a matter of months. As doubts grew, a small run took place on his business. However, Ponzi paid off each “recalcitrant” investor and the run subsided. As a result, this episode boosted the confidence of other investors—confidence that strengthened with the publication of a positive article in the Boston Post reporting that Ponzi had warded off this run. His Securities Exchange Company flourished, taking in $250,000 ($3.1 million) per day.
Despite the fact that Ponzi prevented a run earlier that same month, the Suffolk County District Attorney, Joseph C. Pelletier, began to investigate Ponzi’s business in late July 1920. The D.A. persuaded Ponzi to stop collecting new funds and to allow State officials to audit his books. One could speculate that Ponzi agreed to this plan because refusing it would have raised serious doubts as to the legitimacy of his business. On the other hand, the auditors ultimately discovered that he had failed to keep accurate records anyway. In a last ditch effort, Ponzi assured the public that he maintained millions of dollars in overseas deposits accounts to cover his business and deposit liabilities.
The beginning of the end came on 26 July when the Boston Post began to run a series of articles that raised difficult-to-answer questions as to how Ponzi operated his business. The Boston Post hired an analyst from Barron’s, the financial newspaper, to evaluate the Securities Exchange Company.
Upon investigation, the analyst discovered that Ponzi did not invest in his own company and subsequently questioned why, instead, he shared his seemingly great idea with the general public. Mark Knutson pointed out that the District Attorney asked Ponzi a question that put his explanations to the test. If Ponzi maintained large deposits in various banks while operating a profitable scheme, why would he want to solicit additional investment? Ponzi’s answer revealed its deficiency, but nobody seemed to notice: Ponzi lamely responded that he had not used the money, but would eventually need the people.
Next, the analyst from Barron’s estimated that Ponzi’s company needed 160 million IRCs to cover the deposits and promised returns to every investor. To worsen matters for Ponzi, the U.S. Post Office reported that only 27,000 IRCs circulated at the time and that none of the participating foreign post offices had recently sold or redeemed large quantities of IRCs. Finally, the analyst admitted that even if the U.S. Post Office provided inaccurate information, the required operating costs of the scheme would eliminate any potential arbitrage profits.
The resulting series of Boston Post articles triggered another run on the Securities Exchange Company. Not surprisingly, his charm and wit again saved the company from complete collapse. As investors crowed into his offices, Ponzi calmly handed out coffee and donuts while making payments to any investors request them. After paying out about $2 million worth of claims, the investor panic receded after a few days and many clients remained without withdrawing their principle or returns. In short order, Ponzi hired William H. McMasters, a high-profile publicity agent formerly of the Boston Post, to help restore the reputation of Ponzi’s business as well as Ponzi’s own public image.
However, with this action Ponzi inadvertently signed his company’s death warrant. In the course of his work, McMasters had discovered documents which proved that Ponzi’s investment scheme only worked if he used incoming new funds to make the payouts to previously situated investors.
McMasters sold this story to the Boston Post for $5,000 ($62,200) pronouncing Ponzi to be a “financial idiot… [and] hopelessly insolvent.” On 11 August 1920, the newspaper ran an article alleging that Ponzi’s business lacked deposits sufficient to pay off every investor. It reported a shortfall that amounted to as much as $4.5 million ($56 million). In addition, the newspaper reported on Ponzi’s criminal record from Montreal, as well as the time he spent in the Atlanta prison.
After the Post story appeared, a final run took place upon the Securities Exchange Company. Despite Ponzi’s claim to investors of “mountains of money available,” his bank accounts stood overdrawn by $442 thousand ($5.5 million) at the end of the day. Furthermore, State auditors disclosed that Ponzi business remained about $7 million ($87 million) in debt. In the face of inevitable and unavoidable financial collapse, some observers wondered why Ponzi had failed to ‘skip town.’ Knutson explains that “Normally in a scheme of this sort, it is the perpetrator’s objective to abscond with the funds as the scheme is at its peak. While authorities eventually had Ponzi watched to prevent his premature exit, his failure to flee in late July remains inexplicable. During this time he demonstrated a remarkable charm and facility for deceit as he manipulated his finances, investors, investigators, reporters, and the general public.” It appears that some swindlers prefer to remain in the spotlight. The following day, Ponzi surrendered himself to Federal agents.
U.S. officials charged Ponzi with over eighty counts of mail fraud. On 1 November 1920, he agreed to a plea bargain by pleading guilty to a single count of mail fraud. The judge denounced Ponzi’s scheme and sentenced him to serve five years in a Federal prison. Following his release after serving three and a half years for good behavior, the State of Massachusetts arrested him on twenty-two counts of larceny. Because of the deal with the Federal government, Ponzi had assumed that his plea-bargain deal covered all federal and state charges. Therefore, he sued the State of Massachusetts under the claim of double jeopardy. In 1921, the Supreme Court ruled against Ponzi, allowing the state charges to remain. After several cases had ensued, the state ultimately sentenced him to serve seven to nine years in prison.
“The Wretch Concentered All in Self,
Living, Shall Forfeit Fair Renown,
And Doubly Dying Shall Go Down
To the Vile Dust From Whence He Sprung,
Unwept, Unhonor’d and Unsung.”
—Sir Walter Scott, The Lay of the Last Minstrel: A Poem, 1805
Despite Ponzi’s impending incarceration, Federal authorities decided to deport him after finding out that he had never obtained U.S. citizenship. While released on bail, Ponzi fled Boston (without notifying his wife) and secretly moved to Jacksonville, Florida. There, he changed his name and launched a new, though short-lived, scheme selling swampland to real estate investors. In due time, Florida officials charged Ponzi for securities violations. Finding him guilty, they sentenced Ponzi to serve a year in state prison. Again, he skipped bail. However, this time he attempted to leave the country. Authorities caught Ponzi and returned him back to Boston. Massachusetts officials opted to have him complete his seven year prison sentence before finally deporting Ponzi back to Italy.
After his release from prison, Ponzi eventually arrived back in Italy in 1934. However, his wife had divorced him, deciding to remain in Boston. In Italy, he attempted to ply a few new schemes, but later took a job at the Treasury department under the Mussolini regime. Not surprisingly, Ponzi made poor financial decisions at this job, embezzling an unknown amount before escaping to Brazil in order to avoid severe punishment at the hands of the fascist government. In Brazil, Ponzi worked as a translator until a severe heart attack forced him to spend his last few years in a charity hospital in Rio de Janeiro.
In his last interview Ponzi told the press, “Even if they never got anything for it, it was cheap at that price. Without malice aforethought I had given them the best show that was ever staged in their territory since the landing of the Pilgrims! It was easily worth fifteen million bucks to watch me put the thing over.” By 1948, a brain hemorrhage had left Ponzi almost entirely paralyzed and blind. Soon after, he died on 18 January 1949.
Charles Ponzi had immigrated to America with “$1 million in hopes,” but never worked an honest day in his life—he simply moved from scheme to scheme. Over the course of thirty-one years, authorities convicted him of forgery, smuggling illegal immigrants, mail fraud, larceny, securities violations, before finally deporting Ponzi back to Italy—charged as an illegal immigrant. During the years that he resided in the United States and Canada, he served a more than fifteen years (50% of his time) in prison.
Over the decades, the term “Ponzi Scheme” has evolved into our synonym for any act in which financial market manipulators swindle trusting investors out of millions or billions of dollars through pyramid schemes. However, part of the blame lies with the people that invested in his company. In addition to deceitful promoters, Burton Malkiel explains in his book, “A Random Walk Down Wall Street” (W.W. Norton, 9th ed., 2007) that bubbles require “infectiously greedy, susceptible, get-rich-quick investors.” Charles Ponzi and others over the years may have cheated people out of their life savings. Nevertheless, investors handed over their money to him and proceeded to continually reinvest in the hope of higher and higher unrealized paper gains. Except for a handful of reporters and government officials, apparently no one asked pointed, in-depth questions about Ponzi’s business practices. What we can take away from this story of the Ponzi scheme remains a lesson, perpetually taught and re-taught to investors in financial markets around the world: “If something’s too good to be true, it probably is.”
So, You Wanna’ Get Rich Quick?
If you think that signing on as a “bright and progressive representative” of the Currency Exchange Center mentioned in the opening quote will bring you riches by working two to four business days per week with a guaranteed tax-free income of $24 thousand per year plus 5% to 10% of each transfer from customers processed—think again! In researching this “company,” I learned about and joined an online blog organization known as Fraud Watchers (www.fraudwatchers.org). This group holds forth their guiding principles as: “1) Provide an informational and supportive community for persons who have, directly or indirectly, fallen foul of fraud. 2) Improve awareness of internet frauds and scams amongst our users and the general public, including but not limited to Advanced Fee Fraud, Fake Lotteries, Bogus Employment Schemes, Internet Dating Scams, Money Laundering Schemes, and Fake Auctions. 3) Co-operate with law enforcement agencies wherever possible to help victims report their frauds, and also additionally to thwart fraudulent schemes in progress whenever and wherever possible. 4) Use every resource available to bring fraudsters and scammers to justice.”
We paraphrase one member (identity protected) who explains this one simple but clever scam as follows. No legitimate business needs to pay 5% to 10% for transfers because far cheaper and safer alternatives exist. Though the company claims to be based in Japan, the UK, and other first world economies, Nigerian and Eastern European gangs actually run this scam. The “representative scam” represents a variation on the traditional check fraud scam. This scam takes advantage of a misconception held by many, if not most, people. A widespread belief exists that banks verify a check as genuine if it “clears” and the money shows up in that bank’s account. However, the fact remains that a check can bounce even after that event.
Furthermore, the person depositing the check, not the bank, remains completely liable for any resulting losses.
The scammers mail their “representatives” fake checks from “customers” to deposit in their personal or business accounts. The victims believe that they are forwarding payments from the customers of their employer, the Currency Exchange Center, but because the victims bear complete liability, these representatives really forward their own money, as neither a legitimate buyer nor seller actually exists.
The bank makes the funds available in a depositor’s account—on a provisional basis. In effect, the bank lends the funds to the depositor against the promise a valid check backed by sufficient funds. However, the depositor bears the full liability if the check proves fraudulent. Often, the perpetrators write the checks using blank check forms stolen from legitimate businesses. Provided the business has sufficient funds in its account, the check will clear initially. The bank may make the full amount of the check available.
After the check clears, the representative wires 90% to 95% of the face amount to a bank account in another country. For example, if a victim has deposited a $50,000 check and wired $45,000 to Japan, he or she will owe $50,000 to the bank—a loss of $45,000 for the person assuming that they have kept their $5,000 commission in the account. Meanwhile, the bank of deposit forwards the original check to the holder of the account on which it is drawn. At this time, the company may determine that the funds have been debited from its account for a check that it never wrote. As expected, the holder reports the check fraud to their bank.
Because of time delays in the banking system, checks can bounce for up to six months after issue. However, by that time the money has long left the country while the representative remains to absorb the losses. The culprit “company” normally places its receiving accounts in the names of individuals or companies of different names. Over a relatively short period, the thieves can withdraw the cash using an ATM card in another country, leaving little evidence as to where funds vanished. To ensure their obscurity, the crooks may use recipient companies with Far Eastern identities because many countries in that region have a combination of weak banking oversight and strong banking privacy laws that make it easy for criminals to obscure the identity of the real account holder. Alas, the Ghost of Ponzi remains “alive and well” throughout many corners of the world.
————————
Dr. John F. Sase teaches Economics at Wayne State University and has practiced Forensic and Investigative Economics for twenty years. He earned a combined M.A. in Economics and an MBA at the University of Detroit, followed by a Ph.D. in Economics from Wayne State University. He is a graduate of the University of Detroit Jesuit High School (www.saseassociates.com).
Gerard J. Senick is a freelance writer, editor, and musician. He earned his degree in English at the University of Detroit and was a supervisory editor at Gale Research Company (now Cengage) for over twenty years. Currently, he edits books for publication (www.senick-editing.com).
Julie G. Sase is a copyeditor, parent coach, and empath. She earned her degree in English at Marygrove College and her graduate certificate in Parent Coaching from Seattle Pacific University. Ms. Sase coaches clients, writes articles, and edits copy (royaloakparentcoaching.com).
with
Bryan Lagalo, contributing writer
Gerard J. Senick, contributing editor
Julie Sase, copy editor
William Gross, research
“Currency Exchange [C]enter is looking for responsible, bright and progressive representatives [in the] territory of [the] U.S. Our company provides an opportunity for U.S. citizens to purchase internet currencies such as Web-Money, E-Gold and etc. We need a person that will be in charge of a payment process [when] clients purchase an Internet Currency of particular services that they have chosen ... [Our representatives assist] customers [in] purchasing Internet Currencies in order to have access to particular services and products unavailable [outside of the] U.S.”
It seems that whenever times get tough, more con-artists promising castles-in-the-air emerge from the woodwork. Personally, I, Dr. Sase, missed out on the opportunity to lose our life savings through Bernie Madoff’s version of the Ponzi scheme. Unlike Steven Spielberg and many others, I was not invited to participate in the Madoff scheme. However, many of us more pedestrian citizens, looking for alternatives to failed opportunities such as “Flipping Real Estate” and other touts on late-night infomercial, have received emails like the one above. Usually, we hit our deletes key and move on. However, I recently attended a presentation on the life and scams of Charles Ponzi offered by my former graduate assistant Bryan Lagalo. So, when I read the above “scam-mail” I thought to myself, “It’s the ghost of Ponzi!”
Before watching Bryan’s PowerPoint show, I knew as much about Charles Ponzi as the average investor—virtually nothing more than I could express in a single paragraph. However, that has changed since watching “Charles Ponzi: The Life of an Infamous Schemer” with a small group of academics that fought to hold back the laughter of disbelief over a con-artist whom I can describe only as a completely amoral sociopath. In this light, I asked Mr. Lagalo, currently a doctoral candidate in Economics at Wayne State University, to participate in this month’s column.
Aaay! It’s the Ponz! (Apologies to Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli)
In recent months, the term “Ponzi scheme” has appeared rampantly on Wall Street and widely spread throughout the popular press and the political arena. The name of Ponzi has spread so profusely that a Google search of the single word Ponzi generates over 20,000 news results. For example, even the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) defines a Ponzi scheme as “[A] type of illegal pyramid scheme named for Charles Ponzi, who duped thousands into investing…. Decades later, the Ponzi scheme continues to work on the ‘rob-Peter-to-pay-Paul’ principle, as money from new investors is used to pay off earlier investors until the whole scheme collapses.”
Most likely, many business, law, and economics professionals share a familiarity concerning the notorious premise of these schemes described by the SEC. However, most readers probably possess only a cursory knowledge of the original investment vehicles used by Ponzi to dupe investors.
Therefore, for our readers we chronicle both Ponzi the person and Ponzi the scheme, that has made his name synonymous with fraudulent and unsustainable investment scams.
Born in Lugo, Italy in 1882, Ponzi immigrated to the United States at the age of twenty-seven. Reportedly, having gambled away his life savings during his passage to America, he arrived in 1903 with little but his name. According to Mary Darby in her article In Ponzi We Trust (Smithsonian magazine, December 1998), Ponzi stated in a New York Times interview that “I landed in this country with $2.50 in cash and $1 million in hopes, and those hopes never left me.” He learned English while working at odd jobs along the East Coast. However, after one employer eventually fired Ponzi from his job as a waiter for stealing and for shortchanging customers, Ponzi decided to move to Montreal, Canada.
In Montreal, Ponzi took a job as an assistant teller and worked his way up to manager of the newly-opened Banco Zarossi. The owner, Luigi Zarossi, started his bank to accommodate the growing number of Italians immigrating to Canada. The bank’s business expanded quickly because Zarossi offered 6% interest on deposits—double the average rate offered by competing banks at that time. Eventually, Ponzi discovered that Zarossi offered high rates simply to attract large deposits that he used to cover interest payments on poorly-made real estate loans (sound familiar?) Soon after this episode, Zarossi fled to Mexico taking much of the bank’s money with him.
Jobless and broke, Ponzi forged a check for $423.58 ($10,500 adj.) made out to himself. Subsequently, after presenting it for payment the Canadian police arrested him. For the benefit of his family back in Italy while serving three years in a Quebec prison, Ponzi contrived a cover-up story in a letter to his mother explaining that he had found a job as an assistant to a prison warden. However, Mama Ponzi eventually discovered the truth.
Upon his release in 1911, Ponzi returned to the United States. However, merely ten days after leaving the Canadian prison, American authorities arrested him for smuggling Italian immigrants across the border from Canada. He then spent two more years of incarceration in the Atlanta Prison in Georgia. Having served his time, Ponzi moved to Boston where he met Rose Maria Gnecco. Though Charles Ponzi and Rose got to know one another seemingly well, Ponzi neglected to tell Rose about his time behind bars. However, Ponzi’s mother sent Rose a letter describing the matter in its entirety. Nevertheless, in spite of this new information Rose married Ponzi in 1918. Over the course of the next year, Ponzi worked at various jobs before developing an idea that resembled the Yellow Pages of present day. His company attempted to sell advertising space in a circulated catalog that listed various businesses. However, this idea did not catch on in Boston and the company soon failed.
Prelude to the Famous Scheme
At least for Ponzi, fortune began to change for the better in August of 1919 when he received a letter from a company in Spain inquiring about his failed catalog idea. More importantly than this inquiry, the letter contained an International Reply Coupon (IRC). The basic function of an IRC allowed a person in one country (Spain) to send prepaid postage for reply to someone in another country (United States). Although Ponzi received an IRC priced in pesetas, the Spanish currency at that time, the U.S. Post Office exchanged IRCs for postage priced in stronger U.S. dollars.
After World War I, more than sixty countries accepted IRCs and agreed upon regulated postage-exchange rates that reflected currency-exchange rates. However, during those years many European countries experienced high levels of inflation. As a result, currencies from countries like Spain and Italy suffered significant devaluation relative to the dollar, though the IRC postage-exchange rates remained the same. This discrepancy provided Ponzi with the opportunity for arbitrage. In respect to this specific event, he noted, “I wrote a man in Spain ... and in reply received an international exchange coupon which I was to exchange for American postage stamps with which to send a copy of the publication. The coupon in Spain cost the equivalent of about one cent in American money, I got six cents in stamps for the coupon here. Then I investigated the rates of exchange in other countries ....”
Upon this realization, Ponzi developed a simple plan. He enlisted friends and family to buy cheap IRCs in Italy and send them to him in the U.S. where he could redeem them at higher value U.S. dollars. Ponzi boasted that the net returns easily exceeded 400%, even after the subtraction of transaction costs. Furthermore, nothing in his plan was illegal—at least not technically.
Immediately, Ponzi quit his job and borrowed money to mail to his relatives in Italy. In his letter to them, he explained that they should send him as many IRCs as possible. Then, Ponzi sold his arbitrage idea to several friends in Boston, promising that he would provide a 100% return in only ninety days. Ponzi used the funds that he collected to start a company that he registered as the Securities Exchange Company (SEC). (Ironically, his company shared its acronym with the Securities and Exchange Commission founded by the Federal government a decade-and-a-half later).
Originally, Ponzi limited his issue to notes bearing small principal amounts such as $50, $100, $1000. However, once his business accelerated, he left a line blank on the notes to allow investors to enter whatever amount they wanted to invest. Through his new company, Ponzi offered investors a 50% return after forty-five days or a 100% return after ninety days, on virtually any principal amount. This castle-in-the-air offer encouraged a Federal postal inspector to visit Ponzi at his business and voice government concern that selling millions of IRCs may not prove legal. In retort, Ponzi explained that the IRC coupons could always be exchanged in other countries outside of the jurisdiction of the U.S. Post Office. Even so, this initial investment scheme contained substantial holes. In his treatise on Ponzi, Mark Knutson points out that 1) In 1920 the nations that accepted IRCs announced new postal exchange rates in order to reflect the large devaluation in their currencies. 2) U.S. Post Offices limited their issues of IRCs to ten per visit. 3) Due to the immense volume of IRCs needed per transaction to ensure a profit, the transaction costs eliminated any significant arbitrage profit (“The Remarkable Criminal Financial Career of Charles K. Ponzi,” www.mark-knutson.com, 1996).
Because of these impediments, Ponzi would have realized that transporting, unloading, and redeeming the needed volume of IRCs at a post office would prove prohibitive. Furthermore, his own business records indicate that he actually purchased only a small number of IRCs. Fortunately for Ponzi, most people previously had neither used an IRC nor knew much about them. This public ignorance greatly masked these fundamental problems involved with IRC arbitrage. As a result, investors flocked quickly into Ponzi’s office.
The Rise and Fall of Ponzi’s Scheme—Robbing-Peter-to-Pay-Paul
Most historians attribute Ponzi’s early success to his ability to sell his scheme. As with any shyster, Ponzi used the promise of false hopes and half-truths to lure investors. However, he took his scheme a step further by performing a “dog-and-pony” show, laden with “smoke and mirrors.” Well known for his charisma, Ponzi charmed audiences with his animated sales pitches. Furthermore, he advertised his scheme to the general public rather than singling out a few wealthy investors. To edify his reputation, Ponzi openly defended the legitimacy of his business by personally guaranteeing all matured payments.
Immediately, Ponzi’s scheme accelerated as investors lined up at his office door. He dazzled them with the virtues of the apparent concreteness and freedom from risk possessed by his postage investment vehicle. With dollars pouring into his business, Ponzi actually managed to pay off some of the initial investors. In turn, unable to personally handle this increasing volume of sales, Ponzi hired agents and rewarded them with generous commissions. Quickly, his agents went to work and produced a flow of funds from cities and towns throughout New England. The success of Ponzi’s scheme grew exponentially. Though in February of 1920, his business only collected $5,000 ($62,200 in 2009 terms), by March it realized $30,000 ($373,200), and by May, $420,000 ($5,225,000).
The revenues continued to increase exponentially. In the first week of July alone, sales agents funneled $1 million ($12.5 million) into the firm.
Though most beneficiaries reinvested their earnings, some investors occasionally would demand their matured returns. The various historical sources indicate that in the early months of his investment scheme, Ponzi did pay out cash returns to any investor requesting them. Fortunately, for Ponzi, this strategy served to fuel the fire and kept most clients reinvesting. As long as he continued to appease a few investors with payouts, his other investors appeared to remain content. At least on paper, these investors continued to earn a return while the Ponzi scheme maintained its reputable façade.
Many naïve and neophyte investors mortgaged their homes and turned over the proceeds and other lifesavings to the Securities Exchange Company. Meanwhile, Ponzi drew upon the funds to support his lifestyle of a millionaire. He used company funds to pay for first-class passage to move his mother from Italy to the United States and to purchase a lavish air-conditioned mansion with a heated pool. Of course, a simple audit not only would have shown that Ponzi stole money from his company, but also that the business itself experienced substantial losses. Blinded by their own greed, investors continued to dump funds into the company—funds more than sufficient to keep the firm afloat, temporarily.
As a result of Ponzi’s enormous success, some people began to question how he consistently could generate extraordinary returns over such a short span of time. In his book, “Ponzi, the Boston Swindler,” (McGraw-Hill, 1975) Donald Dunn states that a Boston financial writer wrote a story suggesting that Ponzi’s investment scheme probably violated the law. Ironically, Ponzi sued the paper for slander and won $500,000 ($6.2 million) since the burden of proof lay on newspaper writers at that time. Furthermore, given the total volume of IRCs needed for Ponzi to pay double returns to most investors, local, state, and federal government officials suspected fraud. However, since each requested payout had thus far been met, authorities could not produce any evidence of lawbreaking.
Immediately after this initial governmental investigation, Ponzi faced a lawsuit filed against him by Joseph Daniels, a local furniture dealer. Daniels claimed that he personally loaned Ponzi $200 to start the Securities Exchange Company in return for a share of its future profits. Although the court sided with Ponzi, many parties began to wonder how he rose from poverty to millionaire status in a matter of months. As doubts grew, a small run took place on his business. However, Ponzi paid off each “recalcitrant” investor and the run subsided. As a result, this episode boosted the confidence of other investors—confidence that strengthened with the publication of a positive article in the Boston Post reporting that Ponzi had warded off this run. His Securities Exchange Company flourished, taking in $250,000 ($3.1 million) per day.
Despite the fact that Ponzi prevented a run earlier that same month, the Suffolk County District Attorney, Joseph C. Pelletier, began to investigate Ponzi’s business in late July 1920. The D.A. persuaded Ponzi to stop collecting new funds and to allow State officials to audit his books. One could speculate that Ponzi agreed to this plan because refusing it would have raised serious doubts as to the legitimacy of his business. On the other hand, the auditors ultimately discovered that he had failed to keep accurate records anyway. In a last ditch effort, Ponzi assured the public that he maintained millions of dollars in overseas deposits accounts to cover his business and deposit liabilities.
The beginning of the end came on 26 July when the Boston Post began to run a series of articles that raised difficult-to-answer questions as to how Ponzi operated his business. The Boston Post hired an analyst from Barron’s, the financial newspaper, to evaluate the Securities Exchange Company.
Upon investigation, the analyst discovered that Ponzi did not invest in his own company and subsequently questioned why, instead, he shared his seemingly great idea with the general public. Mark Knutson pointed out that the District Attorney asked Ponzi a question that put his explanations to the test. If Ponzi maintained large deposits in various banks while operating a profitable scheme, why would he want to solicit additional investment? Ponzi’s answer revealed its deficiency, but nobody seemed to notice: Ponzi lamely responded that he had not used the money, but would eventually need the people.
Next, the analyst from Barron’s estimated that Ponzi’s company needed 160 million IRCs to cover the deposits and promised returns to every investor. To worsen matters for Ponzi, the U.S. Post Office reported that only 27,000 IRCs circulated at the time and that none of the participating foreign post offices had recently sold or redeemed large quantities of IRCs. Finally, the analyst admitted that even if the U.S. Post Office provided inaccurate information, the required operating costs of the scheme would eliminate any potential arbitrage profits.
The resulting series of Boston Post articles triggered another run on the Securities Exchange Company. Not surprisingly, his charm and wit again saved the company from complete collapse. As investors crowed into his offices, Ponzi calmly handed out coffee and donuts while making payments to any investors request them. After paying out about $2 million worth of claims, the investor panic receded after a few days and many clients remained without withdrawing their principle or returns. In short order, Ponzi hired William H. McMasters, a high-profile publicity agent formerly of the Boston Post, to help restore the reputation of Ponzi’s business as well as Ponzi’s own public image.
However, with this action Ponzi inadvertently signed his company’s death warrant. In the course of his work, McMasters had discovered documents which proved that Ponzi’s investment scheme only worked if he used incoming new funds to make the payouts to previously situated investors.
McMasters sold this story to the Boston Post for $5,000 ($62,200) pronouncing Ponzi to be a “financial idiot… [and] hopelessly insolvent.” On 11 August 1920, the newspaper ran an article alleging that Ponzi’s business lacked deposits sufficient to pay off every investor. It reported a shortfall that amounted to as much as $4.5 million ($56 million). In addition, the newspaper reported on Ponzi’s criminal record from Montreal, as well as the time he spent in the Atlanta prison.
After the Post story appeared, a final run took place upon the Securities Exchange Company. Despite Ponzi’s claim to investors of “mountains of money available,” his bank accounts stood overdrawn by $442 thousand ($5.5 million) at the end of the day. Furthermore, State auditors disclosed that Ponzi business remained about $7 million ($87 million) in debt. In the face of inevitable and unavoidable financial collapse, some observers wondered why Ponzi had failed to ‘skip town.’ Knutson explains that “Normally in a scheme of this sort, it is the perpetrator’s objective to abscond with the funds as the scheme is at its peak. While authorities eventually had Ponzi watched to prevent his premature exit, his failure to flee in late July remains inexplicable. During this time he demonstrated a remarkable charm and facility for deceit as he manipulated his finances, investors, investigators, reporters, and the general public.” It appears that some swindlers prefer to remain in the spotlight. The following day, Ponzi surrendered himself to Federal agents.
U.S. officials charged Ponzi with over eighty counts of mail fraud. On 1 November 1920, he agreed to a plea bargain by pleading guilty to a single count of mail fraud. The judge denounced Ponzi’s scheme and sentenced him to serve five years in a Federal prison. Following his release after serving three and a half years for good behavior, the State of Massachusetts arrested him on twenty-two counts of larceny. Because of the deal with the Federal government, Ponzi had assumed that his plea-bargain deal covered all federal and state charges. Therefore, he sued the State of Massachusetts under the claim of double jeopardy. In 1921, the Supreme Court ruled against Ponzi, allowing the state charges to remain. After several cases had ensued, the state ultimately sentenced him to serve seven to nine years in prison.
“The Wretch Concentered All in Self,
Living, Shall Forfeit Fair Renown,
And Doubly Dying Shall Go Down
To the Vile Dust From Whence He Sprung,
Unwept, Unhonor’d and Unsung.”
—Sir Walter Scott, The Lay of the Last Minstrel: A Poem, 1805
Despite Ponzi’s impending incarceration, Federal authorities decided to deport him after finding out that he had never obtained U.S. citizenship. While released on bail, Ponzi fled Boston (without notifying his wife) and secretly moved to Jacksonville, Florida. There, he changed his name and launched a new, though short-lived, scheme selling swampland to real estate investors. In due time, Florida officials charged Ponzi for securities violations. Finding him guilty, they sentenced Ponzi to serve a year in state prison. Again, he skipped bail. However, this time he attempted to leave the country. Authorities caught Ponzi and returned him back to Boston. Massachusetts officials opted to have him complete his seven year prison sentence before finally deporting Ponzi back to Italy.
After his release from prison, Ponzi eventually arrived back in Italy in 1934. However, his wife had divorced him, deciding to remain in Boston. In Italy, he attempted to ply a few new schemes, but later took a job at the Treasury department under the Mussolini regime. Not surprisingly, Ponzi made poor financial decisions at this job, embezzling an unknown amount before escaping to Brazil in order to avoid severe punishment at the hands of the fascist government. In Brazil, Ponzi worked as a translator until a severe heart attack forced him to spend his last few years in a charity hospital in Rio de Janeiro.
In his last interview Ponzi told the press, “Even if they never got anything for it, it was cheap at that price. Without malice aforethought I had given them the best show that was ever staged in their territory since the landing of the Pilgrims! It was easily worth fifteen million bucks to watch me put the thing over.” By 1948, a brain hemorrhage had left Ponzi almost entirely paralyzed and blind. Soon after, he died on 18 January 1949.
Charles Ponzi had immigrated to America with “$1 million in hopes,” but never worked an honest day in his life—he simply moved from scheme to scheme. Over the course of thirty-one years, authorities convicted him of forgery, smuggling illegal immigrants, mail fraud, larceny, securities violations, before finally deporting Ponzi back to Italy—charged as an illegal immigrant. During the years that he resided in the United States and Canada, he served a more than fifteen years (50% of his time) in prison.
Over the decades, the term “Ponzi Scheme” has evolved into our synonym for any act in which financial market manipulators swindle trusting investors out of millions or billions of dollars through pyramid schemes. However, part of the blame lies with the people that invested in his company. In addition to deceitful promoters, Burton Malkiel explains in his book, “A Random Walk Down Wall Street” (W.W. Norton, 9th ed., 2007) that bubbles require “infectiously greedy, susceptible, get-rich-quick investors.” Charles Ponzi and others over the years may have cheated people out of their life savings. Nevertheless, investors handed over their money to him and proceeded to continually reinvest in the hope of higher and higher unrealized paper gains. Except for a handful of reporters and government officials, apparently no one asked pointed, in-depth questions about Ponzi’s business practices. What we can take away from this story of the Ponzi scheme remains a lesson, perpetually taught and re-taught to investors in financial markets around the world: “If something’s too good to be true, it probably is.”
So, You Wanna’ Get Rich Quick?
If you think that signing on as a “bright and progressive representative” of the Currency Exchange Center mentioned in the opening quote will bring you riches by working two to four business days per week with a guaranteed tax-free income of $24 thousand per year plus 5% to 10% of each transfer from customers processed—think again! In researching this “company,” I learned about and joined an online blog organization known as Fraud Watchers (www.fraudwatchers.org). This group holds forth their guiding principles as: “1) Provide an informational and supportive community for persons who have, directly or indirectly, fallen foul of fraud. 2) Improve awareness of internet frauds and scams amongst our users and the general public, including but not limited to Advanced Fee Fraud, Fake Lotteries, Bogus Employment Schemes, Internet Dating Scams, Money Laundering Schemes, and Fake Auctions. 3) Co-operate with law enforcement agencies wherever possible to help victims report their frauds, and also additionally to thwart fraudulent schemes in progress whenever and wherever possible. 4) Use every resource available to bring fraudsters and scammers to justice.”
We paraphrase one member (identity protected) who explains this one simple but clever scam as follows. No legitimate business needs to pay 5% to 10% for transfers because far cheaper and safer alternatives exist. Though the company claims to be based in Japan, the UK, and other first world economies, Nigerian and Eastern European gangs actually run this scam. The “representative scam” represents a variation on the traditional check fraud scam. This scam takes advantage of a misconception held by many, if not most, people. A widespread belief exists that banks verify a check as genuine if it “clears” and the money shows up in that bank’s account. However, the fact remains that a check can bounce even after that event.
Furthermore, the person depositing the check, not the bank, remains completely liable for any resulting losses.
The scammers mail their “representatives” fake checks from “customers” to deposit in their personal or business accounts. The victims believe that they are forwarding payments from the customers of their employer, the Currency Exchange Center, but because the victims bear complete liability, these representatives really forward their own money, as neither a legitimate buyer nor seller actually exists.
The bank makes the funds available in a depositor’s account—on a provisional basis. In effect, the bank lends the funds to the depositor against the promise a valid check backed by sufficient funds. However, the depositor bears the full liability if the check proves fraudulent. Often, the perpetrators write the checks using blank check forms stolen from legitimate businesses. Provided the business has sufficient funds in its account, the check will clear initially. The bank may make the full amount of the check available.
After the check clears, the representative wires 90% to 95% of the face amount to a bank account in another country. For example, if a victim has deposited a $50,000 check and wired $45,000 to Japan, he or she will owe $50,000 to the bank—a loss of $45,000 for the person assuming that they have kept their $5,000 commission in the account. Meanwhile, the bank of deposit forwards the original check to the holder of the account on which it is drawn. At this time, the company may determine that the funds have been debited from its account for a check that it never wrote. As expected, the holder reports the check fraud to their bank.
Because of time delays in the banking system, checks can bounce for up to six months after issue. However, by that time the money has long left the country while the representative remains to absorb the losses. The culprit “company” normally places its receiving accounts in the names of individuals or companies of different names. Over a relatively short period, the thieves can withdraw the cash using an ATM card in another country, leaving little evidence as to where funds vanished. To ensure their obscurity, the crooks may use recipient companies with Far Eastern identities because many countries in that region have a combination of weak banking oversight and strong banking privacy laws that make it easy for criminals to obscure the identity of the real account holder. Alas, the Ghost of Ponzi remains “alive and well” throughout many corners of the world.
————————
Dr. John F. Sase teaches Economics at Wayne State University and has practiced Forensic and Investigative Economics for twenty years. He earned a combined M.A. in Economics and an MBA at the University of Detroit, followed by a Ph.D. in Economics from Wayne State University. He is a graduate of the University of Detroit Jesuit High School (www.saseassociates.com).
Gerard J. Senick is a freelance writer, editor, and musician. He earned his degree in English at the University of Detroit and was a supervisory editor at Gale Research Company (now Cengage) for over twenty years. Currently, he edits books for publication (www.senick-editing.com).
Julie G. Sase is a copyeditor, parent coach, and empath. She earned her degree in English at Marygrove College and her graduate certificate in Parent Coaching from Seattle Pacific University. Ms. Sase coaches clients, writes articles, and edits copy (royaloakparentcoaching.com).
COMMENTARY: Arbitration demystified: A comprehensive introduction
November 22 ,2024
This is the first article in a
12-part series on domestic arbitration, offering a clear guide through
each stage of the process. In this installment, “Arbitration
Demystified: A Comprehensive Introduction,” provides an overview of
arbitration and offers a thorough exploration of the process. Stay tuned
for Part 2: “The Arbitration Agreement: Drafting Effective Clauses,”
coming next month.
:
By Harshitha Ram
This is the first article in a 12-part series on domestic arbitration, offering a clear guide through each stage of the process. In this installment, “Arbitration Demystified: A Comprehensive Introduction,” provides an overview of arbitration and offers a thorough exploration of the process. Stay tuned for Part 2: “The Arbitration Agreement: Drafting Effective Clauses,” coming next month.
Arbitration has become a cornerstone of dispute resolution, offering a cost-effective, flexible, and private alternative to traditional court litigation. It is a process that allows individuals and businesses to settle disputes efficiently through a neutral third party, known as an arbitrator, whose decision (award) is typically final and binding. This article provides an overview of arbitration, the legal framework that supports it, and its key differences from litigation.
The Federal Arbitration Act (FAA), passed in 1925, forms the backbone of arbitration law in the U.S. The FAA enforces arbitration agreements, mandates that courts honor such agreements, and limits judicial review of arbitration awards. The FAA was enacted in response to business frustration with slow, costly litigation by making arbitration agreements legally enforceable, overcoming courts’ previous reluctance. It has a broad scope, covering nearly any commercial activity involving interstate commerce, thus federalizing many disputes and making arbitration clauses widely enforceable. It also establishes a strong presumption in favor of arbitration, requiring courts to stay proceedings and compel arbitration when a valid agreement exists. Section 10 of the FAA allows courts to vacate arbitration awards only on narrow grounds: corruption, arbitrator bias, misconduct, or exceeding authority, thereby limiting court interference and preserving arbitration’s integrity. The FAA preempts state laws that conflict with its pro-arbitration stance—a power consistently upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court—ensuring that federal arbitration policy applies nationwide. However, The Dodd-Frank Act of 2010 introduced important restrictions on mandatory arbitration in certain financial contracts, signaling a shift toward stronger consumer protection. Despite the FAA’s strong backing of arbitration, courts can still invalidate clauses deemed “unconscionable” if they are excessively unfair, with interpretations varying by state. This oversight reinforces arbitration’s credibility, ensuring fairness and balance within the process. By providing judicial safeguards, arbitration is seen not just as a streamlined alternative to litigation, but as a system grounded in equitable principles, protecting all parties involved.
Not every state has its own distinct arbitration act, but many have adopted versions of the Uniform Arbitration Act (UAA) or its updated version, the Revised Uniform Arbitration Act (RUAA), as the basis for their arbitration laws. The Michigan Uniform Arbitration Act (MUAA), closely aligned with the Revised Uniform Arbitration Act (RUAA), modernizes Michigan’s arbitration framework by offering streamlined processes and robust safeguards. It provides judicial oversight at key stages, such as compelling arbitration and vacating awards, but limits court involvement to preserve arbitration’s efficiency. Unique features include strong disclosure requirements for arbitrators to ensure impartiality, broad arbitrator powers to issue remedies and manage discovery flexibly, and the ability to grant interim relief to prevent harm while arbitration is pending. The MUAA emphasizes the finality of awards, with limited grounds for vacating them, ensuring swift and predictable resolutions. Additionally, while confidentiality is not automatic, parties may agree to keep proceedings private. Overall, the MUAA balances party autonomy with fairness, making arbitration in Michigan an efficient, credible alternative to litigation.
These state acts provide a consistent framework for arbitration across state jurisdictions, aligning closely with the FAA to ensure that arbitration agreements and awards are enforceable at both the state and federal levels. Additionally, the New York Convention facilitates the enforcement of international arbitration awards, ensuring the process is recognized globally.
At its core, arbitration is a private, consensual process. Unlike litigation, which unfolds publicly in courts, arbitration allows disputes to be resolved in a confidential setting. It is highly valued for its flexibility: parties can select arbitrators with subject matter expertise, establish procedural rules, and decide on the location of hearings. This adaptability leads to quicker and more efficient dispute resolution. One of arbitration’s greatest advantages is confidentiality. This is particularly significant in business disputes where sensitive information or trade secrets are at stake. Unlike court proceedings, which are part of the public record, arbitration can be kept private, protecting the reputations and interests of the parties involved.
Arbitration offers several advantages over litigation, including greater speed and efficiency, as it avoids lengthy court delays and lacks an appeal process. It can also be more cost-effective due to streamlined procedures and reduced discovery costs, despite the expense of hiring arbitrators.
Arbitration provides flexibility, allowing parties to choose their arbitrator and tailor the process, and maintains confidentiality, protecting sensitive information unlike public court trials. However, arbitration awards are generally final, with limited appeal options, which enhances certainty but reduces recourse for errors. Discovery in arbitration is typically limited, which can save time and costs but may restrict evidence-gathering compared to formal litigation procedures.
Although arbitration may involve initial costs and limited recourse for appeals, it still remains a preferred choice for parties desiring a streamlined, adaptable dispute resolution method. As arbitration continues to evolve and grow in prominence, understanding its mechanisms and advantages is crucial for businesses, legal practitioners, and individuals involved in disputes. In our next installment, we will explore “The Arbitration Agreement: Drafting Effective Clauses,” offering insights into creating strong arbitration agreements that set the foundation for a successful resolution.
————————
Harshitha Ram is an international disputes attorney, arbitrator, mediator, lecturer in law, and the president of the Global Arbitration Mediation Academy (GAMA). She serves as the chair of the ADR Section of the Detroit Bar Association and is the publications chair for the Arbitration Committee of the American Bar Association. To learn more or to connect with her, visit: www.harshitharam.com.
This is the first article in a 12-part series on domestic arbitration, offering a clear guide through each stage of the process. In this installment, “Arbitration Demystified: A Comprehensive Introduction,” provides an overview of arbitration and offers a thorough exploration of the process. Stay tuned for Part 2: “The Arbitration Agreement: Drafting Effective Clauses,” coming next month.
Arbitration has become a cornerstone of dispute resolution, offering a cost-effective, flexible, and private alternative to traditional court litigation. It is a process that allows individuals and businesses to settle disputes efficiently through a neutral third party, known as an arbitrator, whose decision (award) is typically final and binding. This article provides an overview of arbitration, the legal framework that supports it, and its key differences from litigation.
The Federal Arbitration Act (FAA), passed in 1925, forms the backbone of arbitration law in the U.S. The FAA enforces arbitration agreements, mandates that courts honor such agreements, and limits judicial review of arbitration awards. The FAA was enacted in response to business frustration with slow, costly litigation by making arbitration agreements legally enforceable, overcoming courts’ previous reluctance. It has a broad scope, covering nearly any commercial activity involving interstate commerce, thus federalizing many disputes and making arbitration clauses widely enforceable. It also establishes a strong presumption in favor of arbitration, requiring courts to stay proceedings and compel arbitration when a valid agreement exists. Section 10 of the FAA allows courts to vacate arbitration awards only on narrow grounds: corruption, arbitrator bias, misconduct, or exceeding authority, thereby limiting court interference and preserving arbitration’s integrity. The FAA preempts state laws that conflict with its pro-arbitration stance—a power consistently upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court—ensuring that federal arbitration policy applies nationwide. However, The Dodd-Frank Act of 2010 introduced important restrictions on mandatory arbitration in certain financial contracts, signaling a shift toward stronger consumer protection. Despite the FAA’s strong backing of arbitration, courts can still invalidate clauses deemed “unconscionable” if they are excessively unfair, with interpretations varying by state. This oversight reinforces arbitration’s credibility, ensuring fairness and balance within the process. By providing judicial safeguards, arbitration is seen not just as a streamlined alternative to litigation, but as a system grounded in equitable principles, protecting all parties involved.
Not every state has its own distinct arbitration act, but many have adopted versions of the Uniform Arbitration Act (UAA) or its updated version, the Revised Uniform Arbitration Act (RUAA), as the basis for their arbitration laws. The Michigan Uniform Arbitration Act (MUAA), closely aligned with the Revised Uniform Arbitration Act (RUAA), modernizes Michigan’s arbitration framework by offering streamlined processes and robust safeguards. It provides judicial oversight at key stages, such as compelling arbitration and vacating awards, but limits court involvement to preserve arbitration’s efficiency. Unique features include strong disclosure requirements for arbitrators to ensure impartiality, broad arbitrator powers to issue remedies and manage discovery flexibly, and the ability to grant interim relief to prevent harm while arbitration is pending. The MUAA emphasizes the finality of awards, with limited grounds for vacating them, ensuring swift and predictable resolutions. Additionally, while confidentiality is not automatic, parties may agree to keep proceedings private. Overall, the MUAA balances party autonomy with fairness, making arbitration in Michigan an efficient, credible alternative to litigation.
These state acts provide a consistent framework for arbitration across state jurisdictions, aligning closely with the FAA to ensure that arbitration agreements and awards are enforceable at both the state and federal levels. Additionally, the New York Convention facilitates the enforcement of international arbitration awards, ensuring the process is recognized globally.
At its core, arbitration is a private, consensual process. Unlike litigation, which unfolds publicly in courts, arbitration allows disputes to be resolved in a confidential setting. It is highly valued for its flexibility: parties can select arbitrators with subject matter expertise, establish procedural rules, and decide on the location of hearings. This adaptability leads to quicker and more efficient dispute resolution. One of arbitration’s greatest advantages is confidentiality. This is particularly significant in business disputes where sensitive information or trade secrets are at stake. Unlike court proceedings, which are part of the public record, arbitration can be kept private, protecting the reputations and interests of the parties involved.
Arbitration offers several advantages over litigation, including greater speed and efficiency, as it avoids lengthy court delays and lacks an appeal process. It can also be more cost-effective due to streamlined procedures and reduced discovery costs, despite the expense of hiring arbitrators.
Arbitration provides flexibility, allowing parties to choose their arbitrator and tailor the process, and maintains confidentiality, protecting sensitive information unlike public court trials. However, arbitration awards are generally final, with limited appeal options, which enhances certainty but reduces recourse for errors. Discovery in arbitration is typically limited, which can save time and costs but may restrict evidence-gathering compared to formal litigation procedures.
Although arbitration may involve initial costs and limited recourse for appeals, it still remains a preferred choice for parties desiring a streamlined, adaptable dispute resolution method. As arbitration continues to evolve and grow in prominence, understanding its mechanisms and advantages is crucial for businesses, legal practitioners, and individuals involved in disputes. In our next installment, we will explore “The Arbitration Agreement: Drafting Effective Clauses,” offering insights into creating strong arbitration agreements that set the foundation for a successful resolution.
————————
Harshitha Ram is an international disputes attorney, arbitrator, mediator, lecturer in law, and the president of the Global Arbitration Mediation Academy (GAMA). She serves as the chair of the ADR Section of the Detroit Bar Association and is the publications chair for the Arbitration Committee of the American Bar Association. To learn more or to connect with her, visit: www.harshitharam.com.
COMMENTARY: Lying has become ingrained in the soul of a certain political party
November 22 ,2024
This column, admittedly, should have been written 10 years ago when Donald Trump first appeared on our national political radar.
Since then, the media have continually referred to those who endorsed Trump’s lies as Republicans.
:
Since then, the media have continually referred to those who endorsed Trump’s lies as Republicans.
By Berl Falbaum
This column, admittedly, should have been written 10 years ago when Donald Trump first appeared on our national political radar.
Since then, the media have continually referred to those who endorsed Trump’s lies as Republicans.
But they are not Republicans; they are liars. When you deny basic facts, such as the results of an election, you are not expressing a commitment to Republicanism.
Lying is not a political philosophy.
Indecency is not a political philosophy.
Incivility is not a political philosophy.
Mauling women is not a political philosophy.
Corruption is not a political philosophy, and neither is fraud.
When you refuse to vote to impeach a president who tried to blackmail a foreign leader, (Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky) by demanding he investigate a U.S. politician (Joe Biden) you are not expressing a political philosophy. You are an accessory to a crime.
When you refuse to vote to impeach a president who incited a riot on the Capitol you are not a Republican; you are complicit to a crime.
Now, I strongly support a two-party system. I believe that divergent political views strengthen our democracy. We need a robust, constructive
dialogue on policies. Neither side always has the right answers.
Between 1970-74, I worked for the Republican administration of Governor William G. Milliken, who died in 2019, and his lieutenant governor, James H. Brickley, who passed away in 2001. (I was Brickley’s administrative aide writing speeches and handling media relations.)
Both were highly principled public servants, deeply respected by not only Republicans but Democrats as well. As a result, Milliken, before term limits, became the longest serving governor in Michigan’s history (14 years).
Milliken understood the different between embracing Republicanism, which he did with a passion, versus criminal and immoral behavior.
As a result, recognizing Trump’s depravity in 2016, Milliken endorsed the Democratic candidate for president, Hillary Clinton. In doing so, he stressed he was not abandoning his political beliefs, but he would not condone, embrace or support the corruption and perversion of Trump.
In explaining his decision, Milliken said:
“This nation has long prided itself on its abiding commitments to tolerance, civility and equality. We face a critically important choice in this year’s presidential election that will define whether we maintain our commitment to those ideals or embark on a path that has doomed other governments and nations throughout history. I am saddened and dismayed that the Republican Party this year has nominated a candidate who has repeatedly demonstrated that he does not embrace those ideals.”
Unbelievably, the Grand Traverse County Republican Party (Milliken lived in Traverse City) adopted a resolution, stating that Milliken’s “status as a Republican will no longer be recognized.”
Then we have Jeff Flake, the former U.S. Republican senator from Arizona, who, like Milliken, opposed Trump from the very beginning because he understood the difference of staying true to political principles and deviant/depraved behavior.
After announcing, in 2017, that he would not seek reelection because he knew he would lose his seat, Flake observed in a passionate speech on the Senate floor:
“No longer can we compound attacks on truth with our silent acquiescence. No longer can we turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to these assaults on our institutions. An American president who cannot take criticism — who must constantly deflect and distort and distract — who must find someone else to blame — is charting a very dangerous path. And a Congress that fails to act as a check on the President adds to the danger.”
In supporting Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, he said:
“Conservatives, if we believe in anything, we believe in the rule of law. That’s the kind of primary tenet of our platform. And when you have a former president who loses an election and then tries to overturn that election, that’s the antithesis of belief in the rule of law. So, that’s kind of a threshold issue.”
Let’s not forget Republican Utah Senator Mitt Romney, the only senator who voted to impeach Trump for abuse of power in 2020. Highly emotional, close to tears and trying not to choke up, he told his colleagues:
“…My promise before God to apply impartial justice required that I put my personal feelings and biases aside. Were I to ignore the evidence that has been presented, and disregard what I believe my oath and the Constitution demands of me for the sake of a partisan end, it would, I fear, expose my character to history’s rebuke and the censure of my own conscience.”
So, as we prepare for the next Trump administration, let us hope that the media begin to understand the difference between Republicanism and supporting criminality.
Perhaps they will challenge those who profess, “I am a conservative and that’s why I think the election was stolen.”
On the face of it, such a statement makes no sense; never did, but we have been fed this kind of political hogwash for years.
It is time to call out the Republicans — oops the liars — for what they are. Maybe, just maybe, a few of them will begin to understand the difference.
Am I naïve!
————————
Berl Falbaum is a veteran journalist and author of 12 books.
This column, admittedly, should have been written 10 years ago when Donald Trump first appeared on our national political radar.
Since then, the media have continually referred to those who endorsed Trump’s lies as Republicans.
But they are not Republicans; they are liars. When you deny basic facts, such as the results of an election, you are not expressing a commitment to Republicanism.
Lying is not a political philosophy.
Indecency is not a political philosophy.
Incivility is not a political philosophy.
Mauling women is not a political philosophy.
Corruption is not a political philosophy, and neither is fraud.
When you refuse to vote to impeach a president who tried to blackmail a foreign leader, (Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky) by demanding he investigate a U.S. politician (Joe Biden) you are not expressing a political philosophy. You are an accessory to a crime.
When you refuse to vote to impeach a president who incited a riot on the Capitol you are not a Republican; you are complicit to a crime.
Now, I strongly support a two-party system. I believe that divergent political views strengthen our democracy. We need a robust, constructive
dialogue on policies. Neither side always has the right answers.
Between 1970-74, I worked for the Republican administration of Governor William G. Milliken, who died in 2019, and his lieutenant governor, James H. Brickley, who passed away in 2001. (I was Brickley’s administrative aide writing speeches and handling media relations.)
Both were highly principled public servants, deeply respected by not only Republicans but Democrats as well. As a result, Milliken, before term limits, became the longest serving governor in Michigan’s history (14 years).
Milliken understood the different between embracing Republicanism, which he did with a passion, versus criminal and immoral behavior.
As a result, recognizing Trump’s depravity in 2016, Milliken endorsed the Democratic candidate for president, Hillary Clinton. In doing so, he stressed he was not abandoning his political beliefs, but he would not condone, embrace or support the corruption and perversion of Trump.
In explaining his decision, Milliken said:
“This nation has long prided itself on its abiding commitments to tolerance, civility and equality. We face a critically important choice in this year’s presidential election that will define whether we maintain our commitment to those ideals or embark on a path that has doomed other governments and nations throughout history. I am saddened and dismayed that the Republican Party this year has nominated a candidate who has repeatedly demonstrated that he does not embrace those ideals.”
Unbelievably, the Grand Traverse County Republican Party (Milliken lived in Traverse City) adopted a resolution, stating that Milliken’s “status as a Republican will no longer be recognized.”
Then we have Jeff Flake, the former U.S. Republican senator from Arizona, who, like Milliken, opposed Trump from the very beginning because he understood the difference of staying true to political principles and deviant/depraved behavior.
After announcing, in 2017, that he would not seek reelection because he knew he would lose his seat, Flake observed in a passionate speech on the Senate floor:
“No longer can we compound attacks on truth with our silent acquiescence. No longer can we turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to these assaults on our institutions. An American president who cannot take criticism — who must constantly deflect and distort and distract — who must find someone else to blame — is charting a very dangerous path. And a Congress that fails to act as a check on the President adds to the danger.”
In supporting Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, he said:
“Conservatives, if we believe in anything, we believe in the rule of law. That’s the kind of primary tenet of our platform. And when you have a former president who loses an election and then tries to overturn that election, that’s the antithesis of belief in the rule of law. So, that’s kind of a threshold issue.”
Let’s not forget Republican Utah Senator Mitt Romney, the only senator who voted to impeach Trump for abuse of power in 2020. Highly emotional, close to tears and trying not to choke up, he told his colleagues:
“…My promise before God to apply impartial justice required that I put my personal feelings and biases aside. Were I to ignore the evidence that has been presented, and disregard what I believe my oath and the Constitution demands of me for the sake of a partisan end, it would, I fear, expose my character to history’s rebuke and the censure of my own conscience.”
So, as we prepare for the next Trump administration, let us hope that the media begin to understand the difference between Republicanism and supporting criminality.
Perhaps they will challenge those who profess, “I am a conservative and that’s why I think the election was stolen.”
On the face of it, such a statement makes no sense; never did, but we have been fed this kind of political hogwash for years.
It is time to call out the Republicans — oops the liars — for what they are. Maybe, just maybe, a few of them will begin to understand the difference.
Am I naïve!
————————
Berl Falbaum is a veteran journalist and author of 12 books.
COMMENTARY: Shooter drill misfires badly at state hospital
November 22 ,2024
We’ve all suffered
through false alarms, whether planned or not, but the Michigan
Department of Health and Human Services is paying for its part in one in
particular to the tune of a multi-million-dollar settlement.
:
By Marie E. Matyjaszek
We’ve all suffered through false alarms, whether planned or not, but the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is paying for its part in one in particular to the tune of a multi-million-dollar settlement.
On October 4, the state agreed to pay a $13 million settlement to patients and employees of the Hawthorn Center in Northville Township who claimed they were terrorized by an unannounced active shooter drill in 2022.
While the Hawthorn Center is now defunct, it was fully operational right before Christmas in 2022 when patients and staff heard bellowed over the speakers that two armed men were inside the facility and that shots had been fired. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the Hawthorn Center was a state-run children’s psychiatric hospital.
The element of surprise is often helpful when trying to effectively plan for any type of emergency. However, given America’s history with mass shootings and gun violence, and considering that this was literally a children’s psychiatric hospital, leaving out that it was a drill was utterly devastating. It gets worse too – the police didn’t even know it was a drill. So, when 911 was called and families were texted by terrified kids and staff, the police rushed to the scene in body armor and weapons used in response to this type of crisis.
It's hard to imagine the horror faced by the staff and children, who were already suffering from mental health issues. The hospital even went so far as to have two individuals pose as shooters, but thankfully they were not armed.
The settlement will award 50 children approximately $60,000 each, and 90 staff members with more than $50,000 each. In addition, 24 other individuals will receive lesser amounts. Disturbingly, the director who organized the drill reportedly still works for the state.
In a statement released from the Department of Health and Human Services, officials admitted the error of their ways:
“The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services takes the health and safety of our staff and patients very seriously, and felt it was in the best interest of all involved parties to settle this matter. We regret that our patients, staff and community were negatively affected by the unfortunate incident in December 2022. We commend our staff who worked quickly to engage law enforcement partners and the responding agencies who worked to resolve the situation.
“Following the incident, MDHHS offered Critical Incident Stress Management to Hawthorn staff, which included information about Employee Assistance Program resources that could provide behavioral health services to those affected by the event. The Joint Commission requires the state psychiatric hospitals conduct a hazard vulnerability analysis at least every two years to identify potential emergencies, including active shooter exercises. MDHHS is working on improved training and exercise processes as part of updating its emergency operations policies.”
While no amount of money will erase the trauma caused that day, the incident will certainly change how drills are handled in the future.
————————
Marie E. Matyjaszek is a judicial attorney at the Washtenaw County Trial Court; however, the views expressed in this column are her own.
We’ve all suffered through false alarms, whether planned or not, but the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is paying for its part in one in particular to the tune of a multi-million-dollar settlement.
On October 4, the state agreed to pay a $13 million settlement to patients and employees of the Hawthorn Center in Northville Township who claimed they were terrorized by an unannounced active shooter drill in 2022.
While the Hawthorn Center is now defunct, it was fully operational right before Christmas in 2022 when patients and staff heard bellowed over the speakers that two armed men were inside the facility and that shots had been fired. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the Hawthorn Center was a state-run children’s psychiatric hospital.
The element of surprise is often helpful when trying to effectively plan for any type of emergency. However, given America’s history with mass shootings and gun violence, and considering that this was literally a children’s psychiatric hospital, leaving out that it was a drill was utterly devastating. It gets worse too – the police didn’t even know it was a drill. So, when 911 was called and families were texted by terrified kids and staff, the police rushed to the scene in body armor and weapons used in response to this type of crisis.
It's hard to imagine the horror faced by the staff and children, who were already suffering from mental health issues. The hospital even went so far as to have two individuals pose as shooters, but thankfully they were not armed.
The settlement will award 50 children approximately $60,000 each, and 90 staff members with more than $50,000 each. In addition, 24 other individuals will receive lesser amounts. Disturbingly, the director who organized the drill reportedly still works for the state.
In a statement released from the Department of Health and Human Services, officials admitted the error of their ways:
“The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services takes the health and safety of our staff and patients very seriously, and felt it was in the best interest of all involved parties to settle this matter. We regret that our patients, staff and community were negatively affected by the unfortunate incident in December 2022. We commend our staff who worked quickly to engage law enforcement partners and the responding agencies who worked to resolve the situation.
“Following the incident, MDHHS offered Critical Incident Stress Management to Hawthorn staff, which included information about Employee Assistance Program resources that could provide behavioral health services to those affected by the event. The Joint Commission requires the state psychiatric hospitals conduct a hazard vulnerability analysis at least every two years to identify potential emergencies, including active shooter exercises. MDHHS is working on improved training and exercise processes as part of updating its emergency operations policies.”
While no amount of money will erase the trauma caused that day, the incident will certainly change how drills are handled in the future.
————————
Marie E. Matyjaszek is a judicial attorney at the Washtenaw County Trial Court; however, the views expressed in this column are her own.
Legal People ...
November 22 ,2024
Butzel attorney Debra A. Geroux was a co-presenter
during a Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA) webinar on Wednesday,
November 13. Geroux along with Scott Wrobel, managing member, N1
Discovery, presented a program titled, “The Nuts & Bolts of
Cybersecurity and Incident Response-Preparation, Identification and
Remediation of the Inevitable Cyber Attack.”
:
Butzel attorney Debra A. Geroux was a co-presenter
during a Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA) webinar on Wednesday,
November 13. Geroux along with Scott Wrobel, managing member, N1
Discovery, presented a program titled, “The Nuts & Bolts of
Cybersecurity and Incident Response-Preparation, Identification and
Remediation of the Inevitable Cyber Attack.”
Geroux is co-chair of Butzel’s Health Care Industry Team. Her health care practice focuses on health care compliance, cybersecurity and privacy, and statutory reporting obligations. She has assisted health care practitioners in defense of state and federal debarment, fraud, waste and abuse investigations and litigation, licensing and credentialing, government and commercial payor audits and a host of other health care issues. She has experience in supply chain and source contracting for a large Michigan-based health system, including negotiations of its IT contracts.
Geroux earned her Certified in Healthcare Privacy Compliance (CHPC) designation from the Compliance and Certification Board. She also earned a Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC) designation.
In addition, Butzel has received national recognition in the 2025 “Best Law Firms,” rankings by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®.
Butzel is ranked in multiple legal specialties in the Ann Arbor, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing and Troy offices.
Below is a list of Butzel’s nation and local 2025 Best Law Firm rankings:
—National Tier 2
Securities Regulation
—National Tier 3
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Employment Law – Management
—Metropolitan Tier 1
• Detroit
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
Employment Law – Management
Immigration Law
International Trade and Finance Law
Labor Law – Management
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Mass Tort Litigation/ Class Actions – Defendants
Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Securities Regulation
Grand Rapids
Commercial Litigation
Mediation
Lansing
Litigation – Construction
• Troy
Appellate Practice
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/ Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Employment Law – Management
Environmental Law
Health Care Law
Immigration Law
Labor Law – Management
Litigation – Antitrust
Litigation – Environmental
Litigation – Health Care
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Real Estate Law
Trusts and Estates
Geroux is co-chair of Butzel’s Health Care Industry Team. Her health care practice focuses on health care compliance, cybersecurity and privacy, and statutory reporting obligations. She has assisted health care practitioners in defense of state and federal debarment, fraud, waste and abuse investigations and litigation, licensing and credentialing, government and commercial payor audits and a host of other health care issues. She has experience in supply chain and source contracting for a large Michigan-based health system, including negotiations of its IT contracts.
Geroux earned her Certified in Healthcare Privacy Compliance (CHPC) designation from the Compliance and Certification Board. She also earned a Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC) designation.
In addition, Butzel has received national recognition in the 2025 “Best Law Firms,” rankings by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®.
Butzel is ranked in multiple legal specialties in the Ann Arbor, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing and Troy offices.
Below is a list of Butzel’s nation and local 2025 Best Law Firm rankings:
—National Tier 2
Securities Regulation
—National Tier 3
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Employment Law – Management
—Metropolitan Tier 1
• Detroit
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
Employment Law – Management
Immigration Law
International Trade and Finance Law
Labor Law – Management
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Mass Tort Litigation/ Class Actions – Defendants
Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Securities Regulation
Grand Rapids
Commercial Litigation
Mediation
Lansing
Litigation – Construction
• Troy
Appellate Practice
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/ Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Employment Law – Management
Environmental Law
Health Care Law
Immigration Law
Labor Law – Management
Litigation – Antitrust
Litigation – Environmental
Litigation – Health Care
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Real Estate Law
Trusts and Estates
—Metropolitan Tier 2
• Detroit
Appellate Practice
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Construction Law
Corporate Compliance Law
Corporate Governance Law
Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law
Health Care Law
International Mergers & Acquisitions
Litigation – Construction
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Securities/ Capital Markets Law
• Troy
Banking and Finance Law
Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
Corporate Governance Law
Litigation – Trusts and Estates
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Tax Law
—Metropolitan Tier 3
• Detroit
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Litigation – Trusts & Estates
Tax Law
Grand Rapids.
Arbitration
• Troy
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Butzel is also pleased to announce that attorney and shareholder Thomas A. Kabel has been named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s “Leaders in the Law” Class of 2024.
Kabel, who serves on Butzel’s Board of Directors and is a former chair of the firm’s Corporate/ Real Estate Practice Department, concentrates his practice in the area of commercial real estate and real estate-related finance. He has been involved in all facets of acquisition, disposition, leasing, financing and development of real property throughout his career.
His real estate practice spans a range of areas and clients, representing developers, automotive companies, manufacturing companies, and colleges and universities in all aspects of their real estate needs. He also has experience representing commercial lenders in conventional financing and has served as bank counsel on numerous industrial revenue and other tax-exempt financings.
Kabel is certified by the Small Business Administration to close SBA loans under the SBA’s 504 loan program. He is the author of “Equitable Subrogation: Why the Refinance Lender’s Security Interest May Not be as Secure as it Thinks” (Michigan Real Property Review) and has participated as a speaker and/or author in numerous seminars and other continuing legal education programs over the years.
He is the former chair of the State Bar of Michigan’s Real Property Law Section. Kabel is a member of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys and of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the American Bar Association.
Kabel’s honors include recognition by The Best Lawyers in America®, Real Estate Law, 2016-2025; Oakland County Executive’s Elite 40 Under 40, Class of 2014; Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Senior Statesperson Real Estate, 2015, 2018-2023; Michigan Super Lawyers, Rising Star in Real Estate, 2012; Michigan Super Lawyers, Real Estate, 2013-2024; and, DBusiness Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit, Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law, 2011-2012, 2014, 2016-2018, 2020-2023; Banking & Financial Service Law, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021.
Kabel is a graduate of Wayne State University Law School (1999) and Grand Valley State University (B.S. 1995).
• • •
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP has been named as one of the 2025 “Best Law Firms” by Best Lawyers®.
Warner’s Bloomfield Hills and Detroit offices were recognized as top-tier law firms.
In Troy, Warner’s Bloomfield Hills office was recognized for bankruptcy and creditor debtor rights/insolvency and reorganization, commercial litigation, corporate, family, intellectual property litigation, real estate and trusts and estates.
The Detroit office was recognized for bankruptcy and creditor debtor rights/insolvency and reorganization, bankruptcy litigation, closely held companies and family businesses, commercial litigation, corporate, employee benefits, environmental, health care law and litigation, mass tort litigation/class actions, patent law, regulatory enforcement litigation, tax law and trust and estates.
Warner also had 120 attorneys listed in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025. Attorneys from each of the firm’s nine offices were featured in the 2025 listings, which were released earlier this year.
• • •
Michigan-based business law firm Williams, Williams, Rattner, & Plunkett PC is pleased to announce that five firm attorneys have been named to DBusiness magazine’s Top Lawyers list for 2025.
The WWRP attorneys acknowledged for their excellence, followed by their respective Top Lawyers category, include:
Robert B. Labe – Trusts and Estates
Jason C. Long – Real Estate Law
Jerome P. Pesick – Land Use & Zoning
Richard D. Rattner – Land Use & Zoning
C. Kim Shierk – Real Estate Law
The Top Lawyers recognition follows other legal accolades for these attorneys earlier this year, including 2024 Super Lawyers and 2025 Best Lawyers.
In another firm distinction from DBusiness, President and Managing Partner John W. Crowe was included in the magazine’s annual Detroit 500.
WWRP is also pleased to announce that the firm has again been highlighted among top-tier law firms by Best Lawyers® in the 15th edition of the United States Best Law Firms®. In the newly released annual rankings, the firm is pleased to announce it has been recognized with Tier 1 placement in seven legal areas:
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
Family Law
Land Use and Zoning Law
Litigation – Real Estate
Real Estate Law
To be eligible for 2025 Best Law Firms, there must have been at least one lawyer listed in the current edition of The Best Lawyers in America and be in a Best Law Firms ranked practice area/metro area. In August, WWRP announced that 13 partners were named 2025 Best Lawyers with additional “Lawyer of the Year” honors awarded to C. Kim Shierk.
• • •
Management-side labor and employment law firm Nemeth Bonnette Brouwer PC is pleased to announce that the firm has been recognized as one of Metropolitan Detroit’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® in 2024. With this current announcement, Nemeth Bonnette Brouwer has achieved Best and Brightest accolades for 23 years.
“We are incredibly proud and honored to celebrate our 23-year legacy of being recognized as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For,” Managing Partner Deborah Brouwer said. “From working with employers, we’ve learned the importance of prioritizing a positive workplace culture that has supportive policies and practices and fosters an environment that makes employees feel productive and fulfilled. This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to those values, and we look forward to continuing this tradition of excellence for years to come.”
Nemeth Bonnette Brouwer was also recently named among Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s Best Women-Led Law Firms.
• • •
Senior attorney L. Jeffrey Zauberman recently joined the Business Transactions & Planning Practice Group of Plunkett Cooney.
A business attorney for nearly 40 years, Zauberman focuses his practice on the representation of borrowers and lenders in matters involving revolving lines of credit, term debt, real estate secured loans, and senior, mezzanine and acquisition financing. He also advises clients in connection with multifamily projects, hotels, shopping centers and self-storage facilities in Michigan and other states.
In addition, Zauberman has experience in all aspects of real estate law, including development, acquisitions, sales, leasing, sale-leaseback transactions, letter of credit transactions, and workouts.
Zauberman received his law degree from the University of Detroit School of Law in 1986. He completed the Bar Admission Course at the Law Society of Upper Canada in 1983 and 1984. In 1982, Zauberman received his Bachelor of Law degree from the Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto.
• • •
The Dobrusin Law Firm is honored to announce that it has been named a Metropolitan Tier 1 firm, the highest rating available for Troy in Copyright Law, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent, Patent Law, and Trademark Law in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®.
Earlier this year, Eric Dobrusin, Erin Klug, Kristen Pursley, and Rebecca Wilson were recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, and Katherine Pacynski, Paul Palinski, and Daniela Walters were recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America—each for the fifth year running.
• • •
Foster Swift is pleased to announce that DBusiness Magazine has included Julie Fershtman in its 2025 edition of the “Top Lawyers” in Metropolitan Detroit. Fershtman is listed in the magazine’s Insurance Law category.
Fershtman practices out of Foster Swift’s Southfield office. A lawyer for 38 years, she has tried cases before juries in four states. Michigan Super Lawyers lists her among the “Top 100 Michigan Super Lawyers” and “Top 50 Michigan Women Super Lawyers.” She has been included in The Best Lawyers in America in categories of Commercial Litigation and Insurance Law for several years.
Fershtman is a past president of the State Bar of Michigan and has been a speaker at conferences in 29 states. She is also the author of four law-related books, including two books published by the American Bar Association.
• • •
McDonald Hopkins is proud to welcome Hannah Babinski as a new associate in the Detroit office. She previously worked at the firm as a clerk during her law school years.
Babinski is a part of McDonald Hopkins’ Litigation Department and the firm’s national Data Privacy and Cybersecurity team. She focuses her practice on helping clients proactively manage personal, sensitive and confidential information to minimize the risk of a data privacy incident. She also counsels clients on efficient and effective incident response service. Additionally, Babinski ensures compliance on the ever-evolving state, federal and international privacy and breach notification laws.
“I chose McDonald Hopkins for multiple reasons, with the primary reason being that during my time clerking with the firm, I was able to watch the associates and members interact in a way that broke down the feeling of separateness between the two levels of seniority and resulted in an approachable atmosphere. It’s a close-knit team and I am thrilled to be a part of it,” Babinski said.
• • •
Kemp Klein has been recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®:
—Regional Tier 1
• Troy
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Elder Law
Family Law
Litigation – Trusts and Estates
Real Estate Law
Tax Law
Trusts and Estates
—Regional Tier 2
• Troy
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Litigation and Controversy – Tax
—Regional Tier 3
• Troy
Appellate Practice
Arbitration
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Land Use and Zoning Law
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
In addition, Kemp Klein is pleased to announce that 24 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the DBusiness Magazine 2025 list of Top Lawyers.
Amanda Afton Martin was recognized for Tax Law
Robert S. Zawideh was recognized for his work in Trust and Estates
Richard C. Bruder was recognized for his work in Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Raymond L. Morrow was recognized for his work in Litigation – Construction
Ralph A. Castelli was recognized for his work in Corporate Law
Norman D. Orr was recognized for his work in Bankruptcy and Creditor / Debtor Rights Law
Neal Nusholtz was recognized for Tax Law
Michael D. Umphrey was recognized for Tax Law
Matthew W. Frank was recognized for Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Mark R. Filipp was recognized for Labor and Employment Law
Joseph P. Buttiglieri was recognized for Mediation and Trust & Estates
James P. Davey was recognized for Litigation – Construction
Faith M. Gaudaen was recognized for Litigation – Construction
Edward M. Nahhat was recognized for Appellate Law
David D. Marsh was recognized for Real Estate Law
Cynthia L. Umphrey was recognized for Trust & Estates and Corporate Law
Casey W. Callahan was recognized for Trusts and Estates
C. Leslie Banas was recognized for Real Estate Law
Brian H. Rolfe was recognized for Litigation – Commercial
Brian R. Jenney was recognized for Trusts and Estates
Austin W. Probst was recognized for Trusts and Estates
Amy W. Stawski was recognized for Family Law
William B. Acker was recognized for his work in Tax Law
Alan A. May was recognized for Trusts and Estates
• • •
Varnum partner J. David Garcia has been named to the 2024 Class of Leaders in the Law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
As a member of Varnum’s Litigation and Trial Practice Team, Garcia handles multimillion-dollar cases and has trial experience in state and federal courts and arbitration forums. He litigates cases involving contractual and partner/shareholder disputes, misappropriation of trade secrets and intellectual property claims, accounting malpractice and other complex commercial matters.
Garcia’s courtroom successes include representing a publicly traded Tier-1 automotive supplier in a dispute with a Fortune 100 manufacturer over a terminated merger agreement. Following a partial seven-week federal jury trial, he secured a $20 million settlement in the client’s favor – the largest reported settlement in Michigan that year.
He also routinely advises and defends large accounting and consulting firms against claims concerning tax and attest services. Recently, Garcia obtained a complete dismissal and a substantial six-figure award of attorneys’ fees for an accounting firm client accused of malpractice and breach of fiduciary duties.
Varnum is also pleased to announce Kathryn Ahlbrand has joined the firm’s Tax Planning, Compliance and Litigation Practice Team as an associate in the Birmingham office.
Ahlbrand’s practice includes tax compliance and audit support, as well as planning engagements for large multinational corporations and partnerships, focusing on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, integrations and operating model effectiveness. Prior to joining Varnum, she began her career with two “Big 4” accounting firms focusing on International Tax and Transactions.
She has overseen quarterly international tax reporting and audit engagements for multinational corporations in accordance with U.S. GAAP. She has experience in tax compliance matters including returns and informational reporting for international entities. Ahlbrand has also supported the tax-free spin-off of a major automotive mobility company, providing guidance through complex transitions.
Ahlbrand earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Wayne State University in 2015 and her law degree from Michigan State University Law School in 2019.
• • •
Dawda Mann is proud to announce that 21 attorneys have been recognized in the 2024 Michigan Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists. This year’s honored attorneys include (rising Star designations noted with *):
Kristen L. Baiardi* (Business Litigation)
Kylie E. Bergmann* (Real Estate)
Alfredo Casab (Business/Corporate, 6th year)
Randal R. Cole (Employment & Labor, 11th year)
Brian J. Considine (Environmental, 8th year)
Edward C. Dawda (Business/Corporate, 19th year)
Daniel M. Halprin (Real Estate, 5th year)
Samuel Kokoszka* (Real Estate)
Christopher R. Martella (Real Estate, 1st year)
Jeffrey D. Moss (Tax, 8th year)
John Mucha III (Civil Litigation: Defense, 15th year)
Michael Piggins* (Civil Litigation: Defense)
Glenn G. Ross (Estate & Probate, 8th year)
Susan J. Sadler (Environmental, 19th year)
Marc K. Salach (Business/Corporate, 5th year)
Wayne S. Segal (Real Estate, 18th year)
Richard M. Selik (Real Estate, 14th year)
Tyler D. Tennent (Land Use/Zoning, 11th year)
Erin Bowen Welch* (Real Estate)
Frances Belzer Wilson (Business Litigation, 4th year)
John F. Youngblood (Franchise/Dealership, 17th year)
• • •
For the 15th year in a row, Honigman has been named as one of the nation’s leading law firms in multiple practice areas by Best Lawyers® on the “Best Law Firms” list. Honigman’s Insurance and Real Estate Departments were recognized with National Tier 1 honors, 19 national rankings in total, and 49 regional rankings across seven of the firm’s offices.
Honigman’s national and local rankings include:
—National Tier 1
Insurance Law
Real Estate Law
—National Tier 2
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions
Litigation - Real Estate
Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
Litigation and Controversy - Tax
Securities Regulation
Trademark Law
—National Tier 3
Appellate Practice
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Environmental Law
Health Care Law
Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
Litigation - Intellectual Property
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Securities / Capital Markets Law
—Metropolitan Tier 1
• Detroit
Antitrust Law
Appellate Practice
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Commercial Transactions / UCC Law
Corporate Compliance Law
Corporate Governance Law
Corporate Law
Employment Law - Management
Environmental Law
Government Relations Practice
Health Care Law
Immigration Law
Information Technology Law
Insurance Law
International Mergers and Acquisitions
Land Use and Zoning Law
Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
Litigation - Antitrust
Litigation - Bankruptcy
Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions
Litigation - Real Estate
Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
Litigation - Securities
Litigation and Controversy - Tax
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Real Estate Law
Securities / Capital Markets Law
Securities Regulation
Tax Law
• Bloomfield Hills
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Copyright Law
Corporate Law
Family Law
Litigation - Intellectual Property
Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions
Litigation - Patent
Litigation - Securities
Litigation - Trusts and Estates
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Nonprofit / Charities Law
Patent Law
Real Estate Law
Tax Law
Trademark Law
Trusts and Estates
—Metropolitan Tier 2
• Detroit
Banking and Finance Law
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Franchise Law
Privacy and Data Security Law
—Metropolitan Tier 3
• Detroit
Litigation - Labor and Employment
• • •
Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce that 57 of the firm’s attorneys have been included in DBusiness 2025 Top Lawyers.
Below is a list of local Dickinson Wright lawyers included in this year’s list:
• Detroit
Allison R. Bach, Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Aaron V. Burrell, Labor and Employment Law
Christopher A. Cornwall, Construction Law
David R. Deromedi, Labor and Employment Law
Phillip J. DeRosier, Appellate Law
Patrick B. Green, Litigation - Commercial
K. Scott Hamilton, Appellate Law
Mark R. High, Corporate Law
Steven G. Howell, Banking & Financial Services Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law
Timothy H. Howlett, Labor and Employment Law
Andrew W. MacLeod, Tax Law
Sharon R. Newlon, Environmental Law
James A. Plemmons, Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law
William P. Shield Jr., Banking & Financial Services Law
Theodore B. Sylwestrzak, Banking & Financial Services Law
Bruce C. Thelen, International Trade Law
L. Pahl Zinn, Antitrust Law
• Troy
Roger H. Cummings, International Trade Law
J. Benjamin Dolan, Litigation – Real Estate
Deborah L. Grace, Employee Benefits Law
Roberta P. Granadier, Employee Benefits Law
Eric W. Gregory, Employee Benefits Law
Craig W. Hammond, Public Finance Law
Erin A. Johnson, Real Estate Law
Monica J. Labe, Real Estate Law
Elise S. Levasseur, Immigration Law
Elizabeth L. Luckenbach, Trusts & Estates
Michael J. Lusardi, Real Estate Law
Christopher C. Maeso, Real Estate Law
James A. Martone, Litigation – Commercial
Eric McGlothlin, Public Finance Law
Cynthia A. Moore, Employee Benefits Law
Joseph R. Owens, Trusts & Estates
Edward H. Pappas, Arbitration
Ariana Deskins Pellegrino, Litigation – Intellectual Property
Joseph J. Pytel, Intellectual Property and Patent Law
Daniel D. Quick, Commercial Law
Michael T. Raymond, Mergers & Acquisitions Law
William L. Rosin, Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Kimberly J. Ruppel, Health Care Law
AnnMarie Sanford, Environmental Law
Dawn Faxon Singer, Real Estate Law
Lynn Capp Sirich, Family Law
Joan Cripe Skrzyniarz, Trusts & Estates
Kimberly M. Slaven, Intellectual Property and Patent Law
Michael Vogt, Land Use & Zoning Law
Peter H. Webster, Land Use & Zoning Law
Mark E. Wilson, Health Care Law
Kathryn S. Wood, Labor and Employment Law
Katheryne L. Zelenock, Real Estate Law
• • •
Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that the firm has been ranked in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms® both nationally and in multiple Michigan markets.
Best Law Firms ranked Bodman as a leader in the following national and local areas:
—National
Banking and Finance Law
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
—Metropolitan Tier 1
• Detroit
Banking and Finance Law
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Litigation-Banking & Finance
Litigation-Bankruptcy
Litigation-Environmental
Litigation-Trusts & Estates
Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
Nonprofit/Charities Law
Real Estate Law
Trusts & Estates Law
• Troy
Banking and Finance Law
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Employment Law-Management
Labor Law-Management
Litigation-Banking and Finance
Litigation-Trusts & Estates
Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Real Estate Law
Trusts & Estates Law
Bodman is also pleased to share that Reem S. Aburukba, Yasmine H. Choucair, Carson V. Garguilo, Tatianna A. Gore, Grace N. Heidorn, and Tara L. Zrepskey have joined the firm as associate attorneys.
Garguilo, Gore, Heidorn, and Zrepskey are based in the Detroit office and Aburukba and Choucair in the Troy office. All six new associates participated in Bodman’s 2023 summer associate program.
Aburukba is an associate in Bodman’s Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice Group. She represents clients involved in commercial litigation matters. Aburukba is a graduate of University of Michigan Law School and also received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan. As a law student, she served as a law clerk for Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Tracy Van den Bergh.
Choucair is an associate in the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group. She represents businesses and financial institutions in connection with commercial and industrial real estate transactions and in real estate finance matters. Choucair graduated from University of Michigan Law School and received her undergraduate degree from University of Michigan-Dearborn.
Garguilo is an associate in the firm’s Banking Practice Group. She focuses her practice on representing financial institutions in connection with commercial loan originations. She graduated from Michigan State University College of Law and received her undergraduate degree from University of Michigan-Dearborn.
Gore is an associate in Bodman’s Enterprise Procurement Group. She represents business clients in connection with a variety of commercial transactions, including the drafting and negotiation of vendor contracts for a broad range of goods and services. Gore graduated from Wayne State University Law School and also received her undergraduate degree from Wayne State University.
Heidorn is an associate in the firm’s Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice Group. She represents clients involved in complex commercial litigation matters. Heidorn graduated from Chicago-Kent College of Law and received her undergraduate degree from Michigan State University.
Zrepskey is an associate in the Business and Exempt Organizations and Impact Investing practice groups. She represents a variety of corporate clients in connection with the structuring and negotiation of complex transactions and on general organizational and business matters. Zrepskey graduated laude from University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and received her undergraduate degree from Oakland University. While in law school, she interned with Michigan Supreme Court Justice Brian K. Zahra.
• • •
Miller Canfield is pleased to announce that Joshua M. Carlisle has joined the firm as an associate in the firm’s Corporate and Transactions Group, where he will focus on supporting clients in the areas of export controls and sanctions. With a background in customs compliance and trade regulations, Carlisle brings experience from his work in both the automotive and trade advisory industries.
Carlisle joins Miller Canfield from General Motors, where he served as a customs analyst and, on an interim basis, customs counsel. In these roles, he developed and implemented global compliance protocols across supply chains and provided strategic guidance on U.S. antidumping and countervailing duties. He also brings experience from his prior positions with Buckland Customs Brokers and Sandler & Travis Trade Advisory Services, where he developed processes to enhance compliance and transparency for international trade.
Carlisle earned his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. He is also a licensed customs broker and holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Michigan State University.
• • •
Dykema recenty announced that the firm was nationally ranked in 15 practice areas in the 2025 Best Law Firms list and received a total of 153 metropolitan rankings representing various areas of law.
Dykema’s nationa dn local recognized practices are listed below:
—National Tier 1
Commercial Litigation
Land Use & Zoning Law
—National Tier 2
Banking and Finance Law
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Corporate Law
Financial Services Regulation Law
Litigation - Real Estate
Patent Law
Real Estate Law
—National Tier 3
Environmental Law
Insurance Law
Litigation - Intellectual Property
Litigation and Controversy – Tax
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Securities / Capital Markets Law
—Metropolitan Tier 1
• Bloomfield Hills
Arbitration
Banking and Finance Law
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Immigration Law
Land Use & Zoning Law
Litigation - Antitrust
Litigation - Banking & Finance
Litigation - Bankruptcy
Litigation - Land Use & Zoning
Litigation - Real Estate
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Real Estate Law
Trusts & Estates Law
• Detroit
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Corporate Law
Employment Law - Management
Environmental Law
Labor Law - Management
Land Use & Zoning Law
Litigation - Environmental
Litigation - Labor & Employment
Litigation - Real Estate
Litigation - Securities
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
Mediation
Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Privacy and Data Security Law
Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Tax Law
—Metropolitan Tier 2
• Bloomfield Hills
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
Employment Law - Management
Energy Law
Immigration Law
Litigation - Antitrust
Litigation - Labor & Employment
Litigation - Patent
Patent Law
Project Finance Law
• Detroit
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Education Law
Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
Litigation and Controversy - Tax
Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
Real Estate Law
Securities / Capital Markets Law
—Metropolitan Tier 3
• Bloomfield Hills
Litigation - Patent
• • •
Taft Detroit Technology and Artificial Intelligence Chair and Partner Jeremy Bisdorf will speak at the DBusiness Breakfast Series 2024 at the Book
Tower Detroit on Dec. 4. Bisdorf will speak on a panel discussing how individuals can leverage AI for business and career success.
Bisdorf provides strategic legal and business advice to clients to maximize the value of their patents, trademarks, copyrights, and other proprietary information. He serves as general counsel and a trusted advisor to a variety of privately-held businesses in different industry segments where technology and know-how are key business assets.
In his practice, Bisdorf counsels clients on contracts, national and international intellectual property protection, business negotiations, licensing matters, business formation issues, corporate governance, ownership transfers, and tax planning strategies.
• • •
Giarmarco, Mullins, & Horton PC has been recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®.
Giarmarco, Mullins, & Horton PC received the following rankings in the 2025 Best Law Firms®:
—Regional Tier 1
• Troy
Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Education Law
Family Law
Health Care Law
Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Real Estate Law
Tax Law
Trusts and Estates
—Regional Tier 2
• Troy
Litigation – Insurance
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions
—Regional Tier 3
• Troy
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Litigation – Real Estate
Litigation – Trusts and Estates
• • •
Collins Einhorn Farrell PC is pleased to announce that ten of its colleagues have been named to the 2025 “Top Lawyers” list by DBusiness magazine:
David C. Anderson – Legal Malpractice Law
Theresa M. Asoklis – Legal Malpractice Law
Donald D. Campbell – Legal Malpractice Law
Trent B. Collier – Appellate Law
Michael J. Cook – Appellate Law
Jeffrey R. Hicks – Legal Malpractice Law
Clayton F. Farrell – Product Liability
James J. Hunter – Legal Malpractice Law
Michael J. Sullivan – Product Liability
Nicole E. Wilinski – Insurance Law
In addition, CEF’s Appellate Practice Group has been recognized nationally for the 9th year in a row. CEF received the following rankings in the 2025 U.S. News-Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms”:
—National Tier 3
David C. Anderson – Legal Malpractice Law
Theresa M. Asoklis – Legal Malpractice Law
Donald D. Campbell – Legal Malpractice Law
Trent B. Collier – Appellate Law
Michael J. Cook – Appellate Law
Jeffrey R. Hicks – Legal Malpractice Law
Clayton F. Farrell – Product Liability
James J. Hunter – Legal Malpractice Law
Michael J. Sullivan – Product Liability
Nicole E. Wilinski – Insurance Law
In addition, CEF’s Appellate Practice Group has been recognized nationally for the 9th year in a row. CEF received the following rankings in the 2025 U.S. News-Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms”:
—National Tier 3
Appellate Practice
—Metropolitan Tier 1
• Detroit
Appellate Practice
Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law
Insurance Law
Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
Litigation – Insurance
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
—Metropolitan Tier 2
• Detroit
Commercial Litigation
—Metropolitan Tier 3
• Detroit
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• • •
Maddin Hauser is pleased to be recognized for its work across several practice areas in the newly released 2025 edition of Best Law Firms©. The firm is ranked regionally in 16 practice areas and proudly notes that ten areas received Tier 1 recognition, the highest tier possible.
—Metropolitan Tier 1
• Detroit
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Employment Law – Individuals
Franchise Law
Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
Litigation – Bankruptcy
Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
Real Estate Law
Trusts and Estates
—Metropolitan Tier 2
• Detroit
Commercial Litigation
Insurance Law
—Metropolitan Tier 3
• Detroit
Corporate Law
Employment Law – Management
Land Use and Zoning Law
Tax Law
• • •
Intellectual property law firm Fishman Stewart PLLC is pleased to announce that two firm attorneys have been recognized as DBusiness Top Lawyers for 2025.
Receiving Top Lawyers honors, followed by category of distinction, are:
Barbara L. Mandell: 2025 Top Lawyer in “Litigation–Intellectual Property”
Mandell has more than 35 years of experience in complex litigation. Her practice is focused on litigating, arbitrating and counseling her clients on patent, trademark and licensing matters as well as antitrust law.
Michael B. Stewart: 2025 Top Lawyer in “Intellectual Property & Patent Law”
A co-founder of the firm, master’s level engineer, and registered patent attorney, Stewart has more than 30 years of experience as a valued strategic adviser to CEOs and senior executives across the globe. He led the firm’s targeted recruiting campaign this year, which attracted top IP talent to Fishman Stewart from across the country and answered increased client demand with strengthened capabilities in Artificial Intelligence, chemistry, and electrical and computer arts.
In addition to DBusiness Top Lawyers accolades, the pair was included on 2024 Leading Lawyers, 2024 Michigan Super Lawyers, and 2025 Best Lawyers lists along with other attorneys from the firm.
Fishman Stewart is also pleased to announce the firm has again earned recognition as a tier-ranked law firm in Best Lawyers® newly-minted 15th edition of the United States Best Law Firms®. In this current release, Fishman Stewart repeated Tier 1 rankings at the metropolitan level in two categories:
Litigation – Intellectual Property
—Metropolitan Tier 1
• Detroit
Appellate Practice
Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law
Insurance Law
Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
Litigation – Insurance
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
—Metropolitan Tier 2
• Detroit
Commercial Litigation
—Metropolitan Tier 3
• Detroit
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• • •
Maddin Hauser is pleased to be recognized for its work across several practice areas in the newly released 2025 edition of Best Law Firms©. The firm is ranked regionally in 16 practice areas and proudly notes that ten areas received Tier 1 recognition, the highest tier possible.
—Metropolitan Tier 1
• Detroit
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Employment Law – Individuals
Franchise Law
Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
Litigation – Bankruptcy
Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
Real Estate Law
Trusts and Estates
—Metropolitan Tier 2
• Detroit
Commercial Litigation
Insurance Law
—Metropolitan Tier 3
• Detroit
Corporate Law
Employment Law – Management
Land Use and Zoning Law
Tax Law
• • •
Intellectual property law firm Fishman Stewart PLLC is pleased to announce that two firm attorneys have been recognized as DBusiness Top Lawyers for 2025.
Receiving Top Lawyers honors, followed by category of distinction, are:
Barbara L. Mandell: 2025 Top Lawyer in “Litigation–Intellectual Property”
Mandell has more than 35 years of experience in complex litigation. Her practice is focused on litigating, arbitrating and counseling her clients on patent, trademark and licensing matters as well as antitrust law.
Michael B. Stewart: 2025 Top Lawyer in “Intellectual Property & Patent Law”
A co-founder of the firm, master’s level engineer, and registered patent attorney, Stewart has more than 30 years of experience as a valued strategic adviser to CEOs and senior executives across the globe. He led the firm’s targeted recruiting campaign this year, which attracted top IP talent to Fishman Stewart from across the country and answered increased client demand with strengthened capabilities in Artificial Intelligence, chemistry, and electrical and computer arts.
In addition to DBusiness Top Lawyers accolades, the pair was included on 2024 Leading Lawyers, 2024 Michigan Super Lawyers, and 2025 Best Lawyers lists along with other attorneys from the firm.
Fishman Stewart is also pleased to announce the firm has again earned recognition as a tier-ranked law firm in Best Lawyers® newly-minted 15th edition of the United States Best Law Firms®. In this current release, Fishman Stewart repeated Tier 1 rankings at the metropolitan level in two categories:
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Trademark Law
In addition, Fishman Stewart is pleased to welcome John McGrath Jr. to the firm to serve in the new role of supervising relationship manager. The announcement was made by Managing Partner Michael Stewart.
McGrath brings a variety of complementary career experiences to the new role, including organizational development, HR, marketing and branding, sales strategy, enterprise software implementation and workplace culture-building endeavors. At Fishman Stewart, he works with attorneys on business development initiatives that support firm growth and strengthen client and firm relationships. Additionally, he oversees select firm operational efforts, including the coordination of internal resources and external agencies to maximize firm communications, recruiting efforts, and overall operational efficiency.
Active in the community, McGrath is a board member, Macomb County Habitat for Humanity, and a board member, Advancing Macomb, where he also serves as the board treasurer. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Florida.
• • •
Roy Sexton, director of Marketing at Clark Hill and 2024 international immediate past president of the Legal Marketing Association, has been named to the INvolve Outstanding 100 LGBTQ+ Executives Role Model List for 2024. This is his second year in a row that Sexton has been recognized by the organization.
The Outstanding LGBTQ+ Role Model Lists supported by YouTube showcase LGBTQ+ business leaders and allies who are breaking down barriers and creating more inclusive workplaces across the world. They aim to represent the wide range of impactful and innovative work being done for inclusion across different countries, organizations and sectors, and celebrate the diverse range of inspiring individuals who have made it their personal mission to make a difference.
In their recognition, INVolve wrote, “Roy Sexton leads Clark Hill PLC’s marketing, branding and communications efforts. In 2024, Roy was named one of Corp! Magazine’s ‘Most Valuable Professionals in Michigan.’ He was listed in Crain’s Detroit ‘Notable LGBTQ in Business’ in 2021 and ‘Notable Leaders in Marketing’ in 2023. In 2022, Clark Hill’s marketing campaign received Best Marketing Campaign from Managing Partners’ Forum in London, celebrating professional services organizations. The campaign was noted for its focus on values, diversity, inclusion. Roy hosts the monthly Expert Webcast series All the World’s YOUR Stage: Authentic Culture Drives Authentic Growth, discussing the importance of inclusion, allyship, authenticity, personal/professional branding with nationally recognized executives and thought leaders. Each episode has a monthly reach of at least 20,000 impressions. In 2023, Roy was the international president of the 4,000-member Legal Marketing Association. Throughout his tenure, Roy prioritized DEI issues, putting them front and center on all education and messaging efforts.”
INvolve is a consultancy and global network driving diversity and inclusion in business. Through the delivery of advisory solutions, awareness workshops, talent development programs, INvolve drives cultural change and create inclusive workplaces where all individuals can succeed.
About the recognition, Sexton said, “I’m thrilled to have been named amongst these incredible LGBTQIA+ leaders for the second year in a row. People often fail to realize the importance of visibility and representation. These awards aren’t about the momentary personal ‘sugar rush’ of recognition. Rather they demonstrate to the business community the essential value of celebrating those willing - and brave enough - to integrate the personal and professional sides of their lives. And more importantly, to talk about it. As a young gay man in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, such a list would have given me far greater confidence that there would be a place for me in this world. I’m grateful – and hopeful – that I in turn can serve some small role in helping send that message to the LGBTQIA+ community today.”
In addition, Fishman Stewart is pleased to welcome John McGrath Jr. to the firm to serve in the new role of supervising relationship manager. The announcement was made by Managing Partner Michael Stewart.
McGrath brings a variety of complementary career experiences to the new role, including organizational development, HR, marketing and branding, sales strategy, enterprise software implementation and workplace culture-building endeavors. At Fishman Stewart, he works with attorneys on business development initiatives that support firm growth and strengthen client and firm relationships. Additionally, he oversees select firm operational efforts, including the coordination of internal resources and external agencies to maximize firm communications, recruiting efforts, and overall operational efficiency.
Active in the community, McGrath is a board member, Macomb County Habitat for Humanity, and a board member, Advancing Macomb, where he also serves as the board treasurer. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Florida.
• • •
Roy Sexton, director of Marketing at Clark Hill and 2024 international immediate past president of the Legal Marketing Association, has been named to the INvolve Outstanding 100 LGBTQ+ Executives Role Model List for 2024. This is his second year in a row that Sexton has been recognized by the organization.
The Outstanding LGBTQ+ Role Model Lists supported by YouTube showcase LGBTQ+ business leaders and allies who are breaking down barriers and creating more inclusive workplaces across the world. They aim to represent the wide range of impactful and innovative work being done for inclusion across different countries, organizations and sectors, and celebrate the diverse range of inspiring individuals who have made it their personal mission to make a difference.
In their recognition, INVolve wrote, “Roy Sexton leads Clark Hill PLC’s marketing, branding and communications efforts. In 2024, Roy was named one of Corp! Magazine’s ‘Most Valuable Professionals in Michigan.’ He was listed in Crain’s Detroit ‘Notable LGBTQ in Business’ in 2021 and ‘Notable Leaders in Marketing’ in 2023. In 2022, Clark Hill’s marketing campaign received Best Marketing Campaign from Managing Partners’ Forum in London, celebrating professional services organizations. The campaign was noted for its focus on values, diversity, inclusion. Roy hosts the monthly Expert Webcast series All the World’s YOUR Stage: Authentic Culture Drives Authentic Growth, discussing the importance of inclusion, allyship, authenticity, personal/professional branding with nationally recognized executives and thought leaders. Each episode has a monthly reach of at least 20,000 impressions. In 2023, Roy was the international president of the 4,000-member Legal Marketing Association. Throughout his tenure, Roy prioritized DEI issues, putting them front and center on all education and messaging efforts.”
INvolve is a consultancy and global network driving diversity and inclusion in business. Through the delivery of advisory solutions, awareness workshops, talent development programs, INvolve drives cultural change and create inclusive workplaces where all individuals can succeed.
About the recognition, Sexton said, “I’m thrilled to have been named amongst these incredible LGBTQIA+ leaders for the second year in a row. People often fail to realize the importance of visibility and representation. These awards aren’t about the momentary personal ‘sugar rush’ of recognition. Rather they demonstrate to the business community the essential value of celebrating those willing - and brave enough - to integrate the personal and professional sides of their lives. And more importantly, to talk about it. As a young gay man in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, such a list would have given me far greater confidence that there would be a place for me in this world. I’m grateful – and hopeful – that I in turn can serve some small role in helping send that message to the LGBTQIA+ community today.”
Legal People ...
November 15 ,2024
Butzel attorney and former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Kurtis T. Wilder
has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Hastings Insurance, a
regional property casualty insurance company based in Hastings,
Michigan.
:
Butzel attorney and former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Kurtis T. Wilder
has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Hastings Insurance, a
regional property casualty insurance company based in Hastings,
Michigan.
Wilder is a shareholder with Butzel. He concentrates his practice in litigation, appeals, and mediation and facilitation. He serves as a neutral mediator/arbitrator with New Era ADR, a digital advanced dispute resolution platform. Wilder has been a Senior Lecturing Fellow at Regent University School of Law and has appeared as a commentator on Dan Abrams Live.
Wilder served a one-year term as chair of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He was named to the Executive Committee in 2022.
Wilder served on the Michigan Supreme Court following his appointment by Governor Rick Snyder on May 9, 2017 through December 31, 2018. Prior to that time, Wilder served as a judge for 25 years on both the Michigan Court of Appeals and the Washtenaw County Trial Court.
Wilder, the 112th justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, graduated from the University of Michigan with an A.B. degree in Political Science in 1981, and from the University of Michigan Law School with his law degree in 1984.
Wilder was named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s Hall of Fame Class of 2021. He also is included in The Best Lawyers in America, Appellate Practice, 2021-2023 and DBusiness magazine’s Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit, Appellate Law, 2020-2024; Arbitration, 2020-2022.
Wilder served as chair of the Interlochen Center for the Arts Board of Trustees from 2021-2024. Previously, he served as first vice-chair and chair-elect. He also serves as chair-elect of the Board of Directors of the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan, and will become AAUM’s board chair in September 2025.
Wilder has memberships in the Fellows of the Michigan State Bar Foundation; the Association of Black Judges of Michigan; the Federalist Society, Board of Advisors, Lawyers Division-Michigan Chapter; Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Gamma Rho Boule; and the Wolverine Bar Association.
Wilder is a former board chair of the State of Michigan Community Corrections Advisory Board, National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, and Nonprofit Enterprise at Work. Wilder is an elder and Chancel Choir member at First Presbyterian Church of Plymouth.
• • •
Wayne State University Law School Professor Laura Bartell will be inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy (ACB) in its 36th Class. The induction ceremony will take place in Washington, D.C., during the College’s Annual Meeting in March 2025.
After earning her law degree from Harvard Law School, where she served as an officer on the Harvard Law Review, Bartell clerked for Judge Alvin B. Rubin of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Bartell then practiced law in New York, eventually becoming a partner at Shearman & Sterling, where she specialized in bank financing and bankruptcy.
In 1996, Bartell joined Wayne Law’s faculty, where she has made contributions to the academic and legal communities. In 2017, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts appointed her as the associate reporter of the Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules to the Judicial Conference of the United States. Bartell also served as the dean of faculty for the American Board of Certification and is a member of numerous distinguished legal organizations, including the American Law Institute and the American Bankruptcy Institute.
In addition to her scholarly work, Bartell serves on the Board of Directors and supervises the student program for Access to Bankruptcy Court, a nonprofit organization that provides experienced bankruptcy attorneys (sometimes paired with students) free of charge to low-income individuals seeking bankruptcy relief in the Eastern District of Michigan.
Upon her induction, Bartell expressed her gratitude, stating, “I am truly honored to be inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy. This recognition reflects not only my work but also the supportive environment fostered at Wayne Law. I am humbled to contribute to our academic community and to work alongside such dedicated colleagues who inspire me every day. This award serves as a reminder of our shared commitment to excellence in the field and the importance of advancing our profession together.”
• • •
Collins Einhorn Farrell PC is pleased to announce that attorney Katie Stearns has joined the firm.
Stearns is an associate in the firm’s Insurance Coverage and Professional Liability Practice Groups. Her practice focuses on commercial and complex litigation matters.
Stearns also provides coverage opinions and advice to insurer clients She has litigated a variety of commercial disputes including shareholder oppression, conversion matters, and contract disputes. She has experience in the courtroom across the State of Michigan.
Stearns attended the University of Michigan and received a B.A in Political Science and Economics. She received her law degree from Wayne State University Law School.
• • •
Varnum partner Kathleen Cieslik (Birmingham) has been elected to serve a three-year term as a Council Member of the Probate and Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan.
The council oversees Michigan’s probate and estate planning attorneys, focusing on education, law development, and Michigan appellate court decisions.
Cieslik has been an active member of the Probate and Estate Planning Section, currently chairing the Electronic Wills Committee and contributing to legislation for Michigan’s Uniform Power of Attorney Act. Her committee work also includes involvement with Citizens Outreach; Guardian, Conservatorship & End of Life; Nonbanking Entity Trust Powers; the Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal Act; and the Uniform Community Property Disposition at Death Act.
In her trusts and estates practice at Varnum, Cieslik assists individuals and multi-generational families with customized estate planning and provides counsel to fiduciaries on managing trusts and estates. An experienced litigator, she frequently handles probate matters, both routine and contested, throughout Southeast Michigan.
Cieslik’s other affiliations include the Board of Directors for the Planned Giving Roundtable of Southeast Michigan, the Oakland County Bar Association, and the Financial and Estate Planning Council of Metro Detroit. She is also a member of the Detroit Regional Chamber’s 45th Leadership Detroit Cohort.
• • •
Employee benefits and ERISA law firm J.J. Conway Law is pleased to announce that principal attorney, founder, and litigator John Joseph (J.J.) Conway has been recognized among DBusiness magazine’s Top Lawyers for 2025. Conway was named in the employee benefits law category.
As his firm wraps up a milestone 25 years in 2024, the nationally recognized trial attorney has witnessed the power of employee benefits to not only heal but help preserve financial stability for those in greatest need of coverage. He has navigated the legal complexities of disability, employee health benefits, and ERISA law—ranging from wins in autism services coverage for children to employee benefits protection during the City of Detroit bankruptcy, to mental health coverage for children suffering from life-threatening severe behavioral health conditions. Additionally, he has most recently advocated for clients in cases fighting for disability insurance coverage for Post-COVID-Conditions (PCC) and for new mothers whose disabilities are pregnancy or post-pregnancy related.
The DBusiness honor follows other legal accolades that Conway received this year, including 2024 Leading Lawyers and 2024 Super Lawyers.
• • •
Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce it received 24 national rankings and 58 rankings in Southeast Michigan in the 2025 Best Law Firms® report by Best Lawyers.
Below are Dickinson Wright’s 2025 Best Law Firms national and local rankings:
—National Tier 1
Appellate Practice
Construction Law
—National Tier 2
Banking and Finance Law
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Land Use & Zoning Law
Litigation – Bankruptcy
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Labor & Employment
Litigation – Real Estate
Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Real Estate Law
Tax Law
Trademark Law
Trusts & Estates Law
—National Tier 3
Copyright Law
Employment Law – Management
Environmental Law
Labor Law – Management
Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Securities Regulation
Technology Law
—Tier 1
• Detroit
Appellate Practice
Banking and Finance Law
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Corporate Governance Law
Corporate Law
Employment Law – Management
Environmental Law
International Mergers & Acquisitions
International Trade & Finance Law
Labor Law – Management
Litigation – Bankruptcy
Litigation – Labor & Employment
Mergers & Acquisitions Law
• Troy
Arbitration
Banking and Finance Law
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Health Care Law
Litigation – Banking & Finance
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Litigation – Real Estate
Mediation
Patent Law
Real Estate Law
Trusts & Estates Law
—Tier 2
• Detroit
Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
Litigation – Antitrust
Litigation – Intellectual Property
• Troy
Land Use & Zoning Law
Litigation – Patent
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
Municipal Law
Nonprofit/Charities Law
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Securitization and Structured Finance Law
Trademark Law
—Tier 3
• Detroit
Litigation – Environmental
• Troy
Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
Family Law
Immigration Law
Wilder is a shareholder with Butzel. He concentrates his practice in litigation, appeals, and mediation and facilitation. He serves as a neutral mediator/arbitrator with New Era ADR, a digital advanced dispute resolution platform. Wilder has been a Senior Lecturing Fellow at Regent University School of Law and has appeared as a commentator on Dan Abrams Live.
Wilder served a one-year term as chair of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He was named to the Executive Committee in 2022.
Wilder served on the Michigan Supreme Court following his appointment by Governor Rick Snyder on May 9, 2017 through December 31, 2018. Prior to that time, Wilder served as a judge for 25 years on both the Michigan Court of Appeals and the Washtenaw County Trial Court.
Wilder, the 112th justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, graduated from the University of Michigan with an A.B. degree in Political Science in 1981, and from the University of Michigan Law School with his law degree in 1984.
Wilder was named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s Hall of Fame Class of 2021. He also is included in The Best Lawyers in America, Appellate Practice, 2021-2023 and DBusiness magazine’s Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit, Appellate Law, 2020-2024; Arbitration, 2020-2022.
Wilder served as chair of the Interlochen Center for the Arts Board of Trustees from 2021-2024. Previously, he served as first vice-chair and chair-elect. He also serves as chair-elect of the Board of Directors of the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan, and will become AAUM’s board chair in September 2025.
Wilder has memberships in the Fellows of the Michigan State Bar Foundation; the Association of Black Judges of Michigan; the Federalist Society, Board of Advisors, Lawyers Division-Michigan Chapter; Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Gamma Rho Boule; and the Wolverine Bar Association.
Wilder is a former board chair of the State of Michigan Community Corrections Advisory Board, National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, and Nonprofit Enterprise at Work. Wilder is an elder and Chancel Choir member at First Presbyterian Church of Plymouth.
• • •
Wayne State University Law School Professor Laura Bartell will be inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy (ACB) in its 36th Class. The induction ceremony will take place in Washington, D.C., during the College’s Annual Meeting in March 2025.
After earning her law degree from Harvard Law School, where she served as an officer on the Harvard Law Review, Bartell clerked for Judge Alvin B. Rubin of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Bartell then practiced law in New York, eventually becoming a partner at Shearman & Sterling, where she specialized in bank financing and bankruptcy.
In 1996, Bartell joined Wayne Law’s faculty, where she has made contributions to the academic and legal communities. In 2017, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts appointed her as the associate reporter of the Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules to the Judicial Conference of the United States. Bartell also served as the dean of faculty for the American Board of Certification and is a member of numerous distinguished legal organizations, including the American Law Institute and the American Bankruptcy Institute.
In addition to her scholarly work, Bartell serves on the Board of Directors and supervises the student program for Access to Bankruptcy Court, a nonprofit organization that provides experienced bankruptcy attorneys (sometimes paired with students) free of charge to low-income individuals seeking bankruptcy relief in the Eastern District of Michigan.
Upon her induction, Bartell expressed her gratitude, stating, “I am truly honored to be inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy. This recognition reflects not only my work but also the supportive environment fostered at Wayne Law. I am humbled to contribute to our academic community and to work alongside such dedicated colleagues who inspire me every day. This award serves as a reminder of our shared commitment to excellence in the field and the importance of advancing our profession together.”
• • •
Collins Einhorn Farrell PC is pleased to announce that attorney Katie Stearns has joined the firm.
Stearns is an associate in the firm’s Insurance Coverage and Professional Liability Practice Groups. Her practice focuses on commercial and complex litigation matters.
Stearns also provides coverage opinions and advice to insurer clients She has litigated a variety of commercial disputes including shareholder oppression, conversion matters, and contract disputes. She has experience in the courtroom across the State of Michigan.
Stearns attended the University of Michigan and received a B.A in Political Science and Economics. She received her law degree from Wayne State University Law School.
• • •
Varnum partner Kathleen Cieslik (Birmingham) has been elected to serve a three-year term as a Council Member of the Probate and Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan.
The council oversees Michigan’s probate and estate planning attorneys, focusing on education, law development, and Michigan appellate court decisions.
Cieslik has been an active member of the Probate and Estate Planning Section, currently chairing the Electronic Wills Committee and contributing to legislation for Michigan’s Uniform Power of Attorney Act. Her committee work also includes involvement with Citizens Outreach; Guardian, Conservatorship & End of Life; Nonbanking Entity Trust Powers; the Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal Act; and the Uniform Community Property Disposition at Death Act.
In her trusts and estates practice at Varnum, Cieslik assists individuals and multi-generational families with customized estate planning and provides counsel to fiduciaries on managing trusts and estates. An experienced litigator, she frequently handles probate matters, both routine and contested, throughout Southeast Michigan.
Cieslik’s other affiliations include the Board of Directors for the Planned Giving Roundtable of Southeast Michigan, the Oakland County Bar Association, and the Financial and Estate Planning Council of Metro Detroit. She is also a member of the Detroit Regional Chamber’s 45th Leadership Detroit Cohort.
• • •
Employee benefits and ERISA law firm J.J. Conway Law is pleased to announce that principal attorney, founder, and litigator John Joseph (J.J.) Conway has been recognized among DBusiness magazine’s Top Lawyers for 2025. Conway was named in the employee benefits law category.
As his firm wraps up a milestone 25 years in 2024, the nationally recognized trial attorney has witnessed the power of employee benefits to not only heal but help preserve financial stability for those in greatest need of coverage. He has navigated the legal complexities of disability, employee health benefits, and ERISA law—ranging from wins in autism services coverage for children to employee benefits protection during the City of Detroit bankruptcy, to mental health coverage for children suffering from life-threatening severe behavioral health conditions. Additionally, he has most recently advocated for clients in cases fighting for disability insurance coverage for Post-COVID-Conditions (PCC) and for new mothers whose disabilities are pregnancy or post-pregnancy related.
The DBusiness honor follows other legal accolades that Conway received this year, including 2024 Leading Lawyers and 2024 Super Lawyers.
• • •
Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce it received 24 national rankings and 58 rankings in Southeast Michigan in the 2025 Best Law Firms® report by Best Lawyers.
Below are Dickinson Wright’s 2025 Best Law Firms national and local rankings:
—National Tier 1
Appellate Practice
Construction Law
—National Tier 2
Banking and Finance Law
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Land Use & Zoning Law
Litigation – Bankruptcy
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Labor & Employment
Litigation – Real Estate
Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Real Estate Law
Tax Law
Trademark Law
Trusts & Estates Law
—National Tier 3
Copyright Law
Employment Law – Management
Environmental Law
Labor Law – Management
Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Securities Regulation
Technology Law
—Tier 1
• Detroit
Appellate Practice
Banking and Finance Law
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Corporate Governance Law
Corporate Law
Employment Law – Management
Environmental Law
International Mergers & Acquisitions
International Trade & Finance Law
Labor Law – Management
Litigation – Bankruptcy
Litigation – Labor & Employment
Mergers & Acquisitions Law
• Troy
Arbitration
Banking and Finance Law
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Health Care Law
Litigation – Banking & Finance
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Litigation – Real Estate
Mediation
Patent Law
Real Estate Law
Trusts & Estates Law
—Tier 2
• Detroit
Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
Litigation – Antitrust
Litigation – Intellectual Property
• Troy
Land Use & Zoning Law
Litigation – Patent
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
Municipal Law
Nonprofit/Charities Law
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Securitization and Structured Finance Law
Trademark Law
—Tier 3
• Detroit
Litigation – Environmental
• Troy
Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
Family Law
Immigration Law
• • •
The Dobrusin Law Firm
is proud to announce that seven of its attorneys have been recognized
on the 2025 Top Lawyers list by DBusiness. The attorneys and their areas
of recognition are:
Eric M. Dobrusin – Intellectual Property and Patent Law
Eric M. Dobrusin – Intellectual Property and Patent Law
Dobrusin,
founding shareholder of The Dobrusin Law Firm, has more than 35 years
of experience in intellectual property law, with a focus on patent
counseling and strategic patent prosecution. His professional experience
spans materials science, biomedical, automotive technologies, and food
processing and packaging. Dobrusin also has a background in alternative
dispute resolution, having served as a special master and mediator in
intellectual property cases.
Erin Klug – Intellectual Property and Patent Law
Klug
is an intellectual property attorney who advises clients ranging from
large corporations to solo entrepreneurs on patent, trademark, and
copyright matters. She has experience in mechanical and electrical arts,
particularly in the automotive, medical device, and consumer goods
industries. Klug also prepares license agreements and opinions on patent
clearance, novelty, and infringement and is adept at resolving IP
disputes.
Katherine M. Pacynski – Intellectual Property and Patent Law
Pacynski practices patent law, focusing on mechanical, chemical, and materials science arts. She represents a diverse clientele, from garage inventors to multinational corporations, helping them protect their innovations. Pacynski drafts patent applications, negotiates with the USPTO and foreign patent offices, and manages IP portfolios.
Paul J. Palinski – Intellectual Property and Patent Law
Palinski is a registered patent attorney with a background in mechanical engineering and manufacturing operations. He concentrates on patent counseling and strategic patent prosecution in mechanical, biomedical, and electromechanical technologies. Palinski represents a range of clients from multinational companies to individual inventors. Before practicing law, he worked as an engineer in the automotive industry.
Kristen L. Pursley – Intellectual Property and Patent Law
Pursley, managing shareholder of The Dobrusin Law Firm, leads the firm with a commitment to client satisfaction and innovative problem-solving. She advises clients on patent, trademark, and copyright matters, focusing on industries such as automotive, medical devices, and consumer products.
Daniela M. Walters – Intellectual Property and Patent Law
Walters advises on all areas of transactional intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and IP agreements. She represents clients from start-ups to established corporations, helping them build strong IP portfolios. Walters has experience in mechanical arts, electromechanical devices, and computer technology.
Rebecca L. Wilson – Copyright Law
Wilson is a copyright and trademark attorney who helps businesses protect and enforce their brands. She advises on branding initiatives and handles trademark prosecution from inception to registration. Wilson works with a diverse clientele, from clothing designers to cannabis companies, and is known for her ability to negotiate favorable outcomes and avoid costly litigation.
The Dobrusin Law Firm is also honored to announce that it has been named a Metropolitan Tier 1 firm, the highest rating available in its region, for Troy in Copyright Law, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent, Patent Law, and Trademark Law in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®.
Earlier this year, Eric Dobrusin, Erin Klug, Kristen Pursley, and Rebecca Wilson were recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, and Katherine Pacynski, Paul Palinski, and Daniela Walters were recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America—each for the fifth year running.
• • •
Foster Swift attorney Ray H. Littleton has been selected to the “Leaders in the Law” Class of 2024 by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
Littleton’s practice area consists of commercial and general litigation and health care law. He helps businesses and organizations address a wide range of litigation matters and disputes, specializing in five key areas: insurance, health care, transportation, warranty claims, and employment disputes.
In 2022, Littleton was unanimously elected to serve as president for James E. Hunter Association, a Southeast Michigan nonprofit that awards scholarships to local high school students and to provide need-based educational grants for the local community through contributions and donations.
Littleton is the chair of Foster Swift’s Diversity Committee and in consecutive years (2023-2024) Foster Swift was recognized as Mansfield Certified Plus by Diversity Lab, an international organization dedicated to advancing DEI.
• • •
Miller Johnson has been recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®.
Miller Johnson received the following local rankings in the 2025 Best Law Firms:
—Regional Tier 1
• Detroit
Litigation – Real Estate
Patent Law
—Regional Tier 2
• Detroit
Commercial Litigation
Employment Law – Management
Trademark Law
—Regional Tier 3
• Detroit
Litigation – Securities
• • •
McDonald Hopkins has been honored as one of the country’s leading law firms by Best Lawyers®.
—National Tier 1
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
—National Tier 2
Banking and Finance Law
Commercial Litigation
Patent Law
—National Tier 3
Corporate Law
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Litigation- Real Estate
Real Estate Law
—Metropolitan Tier 1
• Detroit
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Litigation
Litigation - Labor & Employment
Litigation - Real Estate
—Metropolitan Tier 2
• Detroit
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Employment Law - Individuals
Employment Law - Management
Real Estate Law
• • •
BSP Law is proud to be named as a Best Law Firm for 2025 by Best Lawyers.
The firm’s Troy office was named in Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, and Appellate Practice. The Troy office was also named in Tier 2 for Product Liability Litigation – Defendants.
• • •
Art O’Reilly, a partner in Jones Day’s Business & Tort Litigation Practice, has been recognized by Michigan Lawyers Weekly in its 2024 list of “Leaders in the Law.”
O’Reilly’s practice focuses on health care, technology, and automotive and mobility industry litigation. His recent representations include a big win on behalf of a health system in a provider-antitrust case—securing a complete defense judgment and an award of attorney fees. He also is advising a pioneering electric vehicle battery manufacturer on its entry into North America, a global automaker seeking to expand its business footprint, and a leading cryptocurrency exchange.
In the community, O’Reilly has served on the board of directors of various community and cultural organizations, including: the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, as secretary and director; the Detroit Bar Association, as president and director; and the DMC Foundation (Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan) as treasurer and director.
O’Reilly also has helped lead teams of clients and lawyers in Laredo, Texas, as part of Jones Day’s pro bono Border Project which assists asylum seekers to obtain safe and lawful entry into the United States.
• • •
Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that DBusiness Magazine has included 77 of the firm’s attorneys on its 2025 Top Lawyers list.
Local Bodman attorneys included in DBusiness Top Lawyers 2025, with the practice areas for which they were nominated, are listed below by office.
—Detroit office
Courtland W. Anderson (Franchise Law)
Hebba Aref (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Marc M. Bakst (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law)
Jonathan S. Berg (Commercial Law)
Kelly M. Burnell (Trusts and Estates)
Andrew H. Curoe (Trusts and Estates)
Sarah L. Cylkowski (Litigation-Insurance)
Brandon M. Dalziel (Health Care Law)
Laurence B. Deitch (Corporate Law)
Robert J. Diehl Jr. (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law)
Forrest O. Dillon (Antitrust Law)
Fredrick J. Dindoffer (Environmental Law)
Christopher J. Dine (Nonprofit/Charities Law)
Nathan D. Dupes (Environmental Law)
Aaron D. Graves (Labor and Employment Law)
Scott P. Gyorke (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Joseph J. Kochanek (Banking & Financial Service Law)
David P. Larsen (Trusts and Estates)
Melissa A. Lewis (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Kelly M. Lockman (Real Estate Law)
Jay B. Long (Tax Law)
Julia C. Massaro (Trusts and Estates)
Ralph E. McDowell (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law)
Nicholas P. McElhinny (Antitrust Law)
Adam B. Norlander (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Christopher J. Rambus (Trusts and Estates)
Jeffrey G. Raphelson (Litigation-Commercial)
Noel J. Ravenscroft (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law)
Thomas J. Rheaume Jr. (Appellate Law)
Damali A. Sahu (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Joseph J. Shannon (Litigation-Commercial)
Erica J. Sarver (Environmental Law)
Bonnie S. Sherr (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Larry R. Shulman (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Annalise Lekas Surnow (Health Care Law)
Brian R. Trumbauer (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law)
Jaimee L. Witten (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law)
—Troy office
Celeste E. Arduino (Nonprofit/Charities Law)
Donovan S. Asmar (Appellate Law)
J. Adam Behrendt (Litigation-Banking and Finance)
John T. Below (Labor and Employment Law)
David C. Bosman (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Gene P. Bowen (Mergers & Acquisitions Law)
Barbara A. Bowman (Public Finance Law)
Robert J. Cambridge (Securities Law)
Steven R. Cole (Tax Law)
Michael G. Costello (Insurance Law)
Anthony P. Cracchiolo (Trusts and Estates)
Michelle Thurber Czapski (Insurance Law; Litigation-Insurance)
Stephen P. Dunn (Litigation-Commercial)
Gary S. Fealk (Labor and Employment Law)
Gregory J. Gamalski (Real Estate Law)
Jennifer M. Hetu (Copyright Law; Intellectual Property and Patent Law)
Michelle L. Kolkmeyer (Labor and Employment Law)
Ryan M. Olson (Mergers & Acquisitions Law)
Kenneth J. Sachs (Employee Benefits Law)
Nicholas P. Scavone Jr. (Real Estate Law)
Rebecca C. Seguin-Skrabucha (Labor and Employment Law)
Andrew Z. Spilkin (Real Estate Law)
Thomas J. Tallerico (Litigation-Antitrust)
Melissa M. Tetreau (Labor and Employment Law)
Thomas Van Dusen (Litigation-Commercial)
David B. Walters (Employee Benefits Law)
• • •
Dykema is proud to share that the World Services Group (WSG) appointed Laura Baucus as chair of its North American Regional Council for 2024-2025. As chair, Baucus will lead a series of monthly meetings, develop strategies to promote the collaboration between WSG firms, and assist with planning the organization’s annual North America Regional meeting.
At Dykema, Baucus serves as director of Dykema’s 100+ Automotive Industry Group. She also formerly served as a past leader of the firm’s financial services litigation practice, and founded the firm’s supply chain group. Baucus is also a past co-leader of the firm’s Women’s Business Initiative in Michigan. Baucus has a unique hybrid practice concentrating on supply chain disputes and transactions, complex contract litigation, and consumer financial services litigation.
Baucus has experience advising manufacturers throughout the supply chain. She has negotiated and litigated hundreds of supply chain disputes and contracts, always with a focus on helping the client achieve its ultimate goal—which is typically an uninterrupted supply chain.
Her financial services practice focuses on large-volume portfolio litigation management, including representing national mortgage servicers, credit card issuers, and other financial institutions in consumer litigation. As an experienced legal project manager, Baucus has managed thousands of consumer financial services actions throughout her career.
Baucus earned a law degree from Wayne State University Law School and a B.A. from the Catholic University of America.
• • •
Clark Hill PLC received national and regional rankings in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms.
—National Tier 1
Admiralty and Maritime Law
Appellate Practice
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Energy Law
Immigration Law
Insurance Law
Labor Law – Management
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Trusts and Estates
—National Tier 2
Banking and Finance Law
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Corporate Law
Employment Law – Management
Real Estate Law
—National Tier 3
Litigation – Environmental
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Patent Law
—Tier 1
• Detroit
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Corporate Law
Employment Law – Management
Labor Law – Management
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Nonprofit / Charities Law
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Trusts and Estates
• Troy
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Education Law
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Employment Law – Management
Litigation – Insurance
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Litigation – Trusts and Estates
Real Estate Law
Trusts and Estates
—Tier 2
• Detroit
Arbitration
Banking and Finance Law
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Immigration Law
Land Use and Zoning Law
Litigation – Trusts and Estates
Mediation
Real Estate Law
• Troy
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Family Law
Labor Law – Management
Litigation – Banking and Finance
—Tier 3
• Detroit
Appellate Practice
Government Relations Practice
• • •
Jordan Bolton, a partner in Taft’s Detroit office, has been named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s “Leaders in the Law” list.
Bolton counsels clients in high-stakes litigation, while managing risks and resolving disputes arising out of client operations. In addition, He frequently serves as outside general counsel and as an arbitrator and mediator. He represents clients in a variety of industries, including automotive, construction, financial services, franchise, health care, manufacturing, private equity, real estate, retail, technology, and transportation.
When informed of the honor, Bolton commented “It is an honor to receive this recognition from one of the leading legal publications in the state, and I am humbled to accept it as recognition of the hard work of my colleagues without whom success would not be possible.”
In addition, Taft Southfield partners Jim Waggoner and Aaron Sherbin will speak at the 2024 Business Owner Success Summit at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham on November 21.
Waggoner will serve as a moderator for the session “Building the Right Team.” Sherbin will speak as a panelist for the session “Pre-Transitional Planning: What is my After Tax Number?”
Waggoner’s practice focuses on a range of corporate matters including corporate structure and governance, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and general commercial transactions. He advises on complex business matters for a diverse client base, which ranges from small privately held companies to large publicly traded companies. Waggoner frequently counsels clients on matters involving entity formation, limited liability company and buy-sell agreements, policies and procedures, labor and employment, and business succession planning.
Sherbin’s practice is focused on estate planning, trust and estate administration, probate litigation, wealth preservation and transfer strategies. He also provides business and tax planning services for entrepreneurs, closely-held companies, family businesses and family offices. He offers succession planning, post-mortem planning, and asset protection planning. Sherbin also serves as a mergers and acquisitions transactional attorney focusing on federal tax law, buy-sell agreements, operating agreements, and shareholder agreements.
Taft is also pleased to announce that it has been recognized in the Best Lawyers® 2025 “Best Law Firms.”
—National Tier 1
Appellate Practice
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Corporate Law
Employment Law – Management
Environmental Law
Health Care Law
Labor Law – Management
Land Use and Zoning Law
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Litigation – Real Estate
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Patent Law
Securities / Capital Markets Law
Tax Law
Trademark Law
Trusts and Estates
Venture Capital Law
—National Tier 2
Advertising Law
Banking and Finance Law
Information Technology Law
Litigation – Banking and Finance
Litigation – Bankruptcy
Litigation – Environmental
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs
Real Estate Law
Securities Regulation
—National Tier 3
Insurance Law
Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity
Litigation – Securities
—Tier 1
• Detroit
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Insurance Law
Land Use and Zoning Law
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Insurance
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Real Estate Law
Tax Law
Trusts and Estates
• • •
Kitch Attorneys & Counselors PC proudly announces that Mark Wisniewski has been recognized in Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s Managing Partners Spotlight.
Reflecting on this honor, Wisniewski said, “Just like representing a client in a legal matter, the key to success in running a large law firm is constant communication. When you are constantly communicating, you will all be on the same page and you will all be working for the same goal. At Kitch, our top-notch management team is constantly working with each other to identify issues and present solutions. My job as the CEO is to make sure that our management team, staff, and attorneys have the resources to identify problems and the resources to implement solutions.”
Since 2014, Wisniewski has served as the chair and chief executive officer of Kitch. With more than 30 years of experience, he co-chairs the firm’s Asbestos Liability and Mass Tort defense practice.
Kitch is also pleased to announce that the following attorneys have been recognized as Top Lawyers by DBusiness for 2024 in their practice areas:
Greg Drutchas – Health Care Law
Terence P. Durkin – Labor and Employment Law
Christina A. Ginter – Appellate Law
Katharine Gostek – Appellate Law
John Paul Hessburg – Health Care Law
Meghan Kennedy Riordan – Immigration Law
Carina M. Kraatz – Construction Law
Ahndia Mansoori – Immigration Law
John M. Sier – Construction Law
• • •
Elaine M. Pohl, a partner and insurance coverage attorney at Plunkett Cooney, was recently selected by Michigan Lawyers Weekly (MiLW) as a member of its 2024 Class of Leaders in the Law.
Pohl maintains a national practice counseling insurers in complex litigated and non-litigated property and casualty disputes. Her coverage experience extends to claims involving professional liability, construction defects, bodily injuries, product liability, environmental contamination, personal and advertising injury, first-party property and allegations of bad faith.
Elected this year to Plunkett Cooney’s Board of Directors, Pohl is also a member of the firm’s Shareholder Evaluation Committee, and she is co-chair of Plunkett Cooney’s formal mentoring program.
Her expertise within the legal industry has resulted in Pohl having the distinction of being named a Best Lawyers in America® for Insurance Law / Insurance Litigation for 2024-2025, a Michigan Super Lawyer Rising Star in Insurance Coverage, and a Michigan Super Lawyers for several years. Michigan Lawyers Weekly also previously honored her in 2018 with its “Influential Women of Law” honor.
Pohl is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan Insurance and Indemnity Law Section (past chair and former board officer), Michigan Licensed Beverage
Association and DRI, the largest bar association of civil defense attorneys and in-house counsel, where she currently serves as the vice chair for its Insurance Law Publications Subcommittee and served as the 2023 chair of the organization’s national Insurance Coverage Practice Symposium in New York City.
A graduate from the Indiana University School of Law in 1999, Pohl received her undergraduate degree from Villanova University in 1996. She is admitted to practice law in state and federal courts in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.
In addition, Plunkett Cooney recently received national recognition by Best Lawyers® as one of its 2025 Best Law Firms.
“It’s an honor to be named among the Best Law Firms in the nation,” said the firm’s President & CEO Jeffrey C. Gerish. “This honor is a tribute to the outstanding work and dedication of our attorneys and staff, and it underscores the great results they achieve each day on behalf of their clients.”
Plunkett Cooney was recognized in the following first- and second-tier categories in Michigan and Ohio:
Appellate Practice
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Corporate Law
Employment Law – Management
Government Relations Practice
Health Care Law
Insurance Law
Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Litigation – Insurance
Litigation – Municipal
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
Municipal Law
Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Real Estate Law
• • •
Garan Lucow Miller PC is pleased to announce that the firm has been recognized by Best Lawyers® as a Best Law Firm in multiple practice areas across the Great Lakes region that it serves and nationally.
Garan Lucow Miller has been ranked as a Tier 1 firm in the Ann Arbor, Chicago, and Detroit metropolitan areas for Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants. In the Detroit metro area, the firm was also ranked as a Tier 1 firm in Appellate Practice and Insurance Law.
The firm was ranked as a Tier 2 firm in the Detroit metro area for Litigation-Insurance and in Northern Michigan for Insurance Law.
In the Chicago and Troy metropolitan areas, Garan Lucow Miller was ranked a Tier 3 firm in Insurance Law.
Additionally, Garan Lucow Miller received a Tier 3 ranking nationally in Appellate Practice.
• • •
Brooks Kushman is proud to announce the firm has been ranked in the 2025 edition of the U.S. News and World Report list of “Best Law Firms” by Best Lawyers.
Nationally, Brooks Kushman holds tier-three rankings in Intellectual Property Litigation and Trademark Law. On the regional level, Brooks Kushman holds tier-one rankings in Intellectual Property Litigation, Patent Litigation, Patent Law, Copyright Law, and Trademark Law in Detroit.
• • •
Best Lawyers® has recognized Kerr Russell as a “Best Law Firm,” having ranked the firm regionally in 21 practice areas.
Kerr Russell’s Appellate, Immigration and Municipal practices all moved to Tier 1 from Tier 2 in previous years. Bankruptcy and Restructuring moved to Tier 2 and Kerr Russell’s Commercial Transactions and Securities practices were newly recognized this year.
The ranked areas include the following:
—Metropolitan Tier 1, Detroit
Appellate Practice
Construction Law
Corporate Law
Health Care Law
Immigration Law
Insurance Law
Litigation – Antitrust
Litigation – Construction
Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
Municipal Law
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
—Metropolitan Tier 2, Detroit
Antitrust Law
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Transactions
Land Use & Zoning Law
Litigation – Bankruptcy
Tax Law
—Metropolitan Tier 3, Detroit
Commercial Litigation
Employment Law – Management
Real Estate Law
Securities Regulation
• • •
Harness IP is pleased to announce that it has been nationally recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®. This is the 13th consecutive year the firm has been included in the publication’s list of the country’s top firms.
Harness IP received national recognition in five practice areas and is regionally ranked in 16 practice areas:
—National Tier 2
Trademark Law
—National Tier 3
Copyright Law
Litigation – Intellectual Property
—Tier 1, Troy
Appellate Practice
Copyright Law
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Litigation – Patent
Patent Law
Trademark Law
• • •
Secrest Wardle is pleased to announce that the firm has been named in the Best Lawyers listing of 2025 Best Law Firms in the following categories:
—Tier 1, Troy
Commercial Litigation
Insurance Law
Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants
Litigation – Insurance
Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
—Tier 2, Troy
Land Use & Zoning Law
Litigation - Municipal
Municipal Law
—Tier 3, Troy
Arbitration
Litigation — Land Use & Zoning
• • •
Maddin Hauser is pleased to announce that Deborah S. Lapin has been elected to serve on the Recreational Boating Industries Educational Foundation’s Board of Directors.
The Recreational Boating Industries Educational Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation established in 1986 by the Michigan Boating Industries Association (MBIA) to advance opportunities for scholarships and training that benefit Michigan’s recreational marine industry.
Traditional scholarships are available to Michigan residents who are students enrolled or enrolling in higher education or trade schools intending to pursue a career in the marine industry. Awards are also available for individuals currently employed in the Michigan marine industry to attend industry training or education programs offered by local, statewide, or national marine organizations.
Lapin is a shareholder and member of Maddin Hauser’s Financial Services and Real Property Litigation group, which serves as a resource— locally, regionally, and nationally—for mortgage lenders and servicers, depository institutions, title insurance companies, construction companies, and commercial landlords/property owners. She specializes in real estate litigation and commercial and contractual disputes. Lapin is a member of the state bars of Michigan, New York, and Connecticut.
Pacynski practices patent law, focusing on mechanical, chemical, and materials science arts. She represents a diverse clientele, from garage inventors to multinational corporations, helping them protect their innovations. Pacynski drafts patent applications, negotiates with the USPTO and foreign patent offices, and manages IP portfolios.
Paul J. Palinski – Intellectual Property and Patent Law
Palinski is a registered patent attorney with a background in mechanical engineering and manufacturing operations. He concentrates on patent counseling and strategic patent prosecution in mechanical, biomedical, and electromechanical technologies. Palinski represents a range of clients from multinational companies to individual inventors. Before practicing law, he worked as an engineer in the automotive industry.
Kristen L. Pursley – Intellectual Property and Patent Law
Pursley, managing shareholder of The Dobrusin Law Firm, leads the firm with a commitment to client satisfaction and innovative problem-solving. She advises clients on patent, trademark, and copyright matters, focusing on industries such as automotive, medical devices, and consumer products.
Daniela M. Walters – Intellectual Property and Patent Law
Walters advises on all areas of transactional intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and IP agreements. She represents clients from start-ups to established corporations, helping them build strong IP portfolios. Walters has experience in mechanical arts, electromechanical devices, and computer technology.
Rebecca L. Wilson – Copyright Law
Wilson is a copyright and trademark attorney who helps businesses protect and enforce their brands. She advises on branding initiatives and handles trademark prosecution from inception to registration. Wilson works with a diverse clientele, from clothing designers to cannabis companies, and is known for her ability to negotiate favorable outcomes and avoid costly litigation.
The Dobrusin Law Firm is also honored to announce that it has been named a Metropolitan Tier 1 firm, the highest rating available in its region, for Troy in Copyright Law, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent, Patent Law, and Trademark Law in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®.
Earlier this year, Eric Dobrusin, Erin Klug, Kristen Pursley, and Rebecca Wilson were recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, and Katherine Pacynski, Paul Palinski, and Daniela Walters were recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America—each for the fifth year running.
• • •
Foster Swift attorney Ray H. Littleton has been selected to the “Leaders in the Law” Class of 2024 by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
Littleton’s practice area consists of commercial and general litigation and health care law. He helps businesses and organizations address a wide range of litigation matters and disputes, specializing in five key areas: insurance, health care, transportation, warranty claims, and employment disputes.
In 2022, Littleton was unanimously elected to serve as president for James E. Hunter Association, a Southeast Michigan nonprofit that awards scholarships to local high school students and to provide need-based educational grants for the local community through contributions and donations.
Littleton is the chair of Foster Swift’s Diversity Committee and in consecutive years (2023-2024) Foster Swift was recognized as Mansfield Certified Plus by Diversity Lab, an international organization dedicated to advancing DEI.
• • •
Miller Johnson has been recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®.
Miller Johnson received the following local rankings in the 2025 Best Law Firms:
—Regional Tier 1
• Detroit
Litigation – Real Estate
Patent Law
—Regional Tier 2
• Detroit
Commercial Litigation
Employment Law – Management
Trademark Law
—Regional Tier 3
• Detroit
Litigation – Securities
• • •
McDonald Hopkins has been honored as one of the country’s leading law firms by Best Lawyers®.
—National Tier 1
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
—National Tier 2
Banking and Finance Law
Commercial Litigation
Patent Law
—National Tier 3
Corporate Law
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Litigation- Real Estate
Real Estate Law
—Metropolitan Tier 1
• Detroit
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Litigation
Litigation - Labor & Employment
Litigation - Real Estate
—Metropolitan Tier 2
• Detroit
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Employment Law - Individuals
Employment Law - Management
Real Estate Law
• • •
BSP Law is proud to be named as a Best Law Firm for 2025 by Best Lawyers.
The firm’s Troy office was named in Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, and Appellate Practice. The Troy office was also named in Tier 2 for Product Liability Litigation – Defendants.
• • •
Art O’Reilly, a partner in Jones Day’s Business & Tort Litigation Practice, has been recognized by Michigan Lawyers Weekly in its 2024 list of “Leaders in the Law.”
O’Reilly’s practice focuses on health care, technology, and automotive and mobility industry litigation. His recent representations include a big win on behalf of a health system in a provider-antitrust case—securing a complete defense judgment and an award of attorney fees. He also is advising a pioneering electric vehicle battery manufacturer on its entry into North America, a global automaker seeking to expand its business footprint, and a leading cryptocurrency exchange.
In the community, O’Reilly has served on the board of directors of various community and cultural organizations, including: the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, as secretary and director; the Detroit Bar Association, as president and director; and the DMC Foundation (Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan) as treasurer and director.
O’Reilly also has helped lead teams of clients and lawyers in Laredo, Texas, as part of Jones Day’s pro bono Border Project which assists asylum seekers to obtain safe and lawful entry into the United States.
• • •
Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that DBusiness Magazine has included 77 of the firm’s attorneys on its 2025 Top Lawyers list.
Local Bodman attorneys included in DBusiness Top Lawyers 2025, with the practice areas for which they were nominated, are listed below by office.
—Detroit office
Courtland W. Anderson (Franchise Law)
Hebba Aref (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Marc M. Bakst (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law)
Jonathan S. Berg (Commercial Law)
Kelly M. Burnell (Trusts and Estates)
Andrew H. Curoe (Trusts and Estates)
Sarah L. Cylkowski (Litigation-Insurance)
Brandon M. Dalziel (Health Care Law)
Laurence B. Deitch (Corporate Law)
Robert J. Diehl Jr. (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law)
Forrest O. Dillon (Antitrust Law)
Fredrick J. Dindoffer (Environmental Law)
Christopher J. Dine (Nonprofit/Charities Law)
Nathan D. Dupes (Environmental Law)
Aaron D. Graves (Labor and Employment Law)
Scott P. Gyorke (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Joseph J. Kochanek (Banking & Financial Service Law)
David P. Larsen (Trusts and Estates)
Melissa A. Lewis (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Kelly M. Lockman (Real Estate Law)
Jay B. Long (Tax Law)
Julia C. Massaro (Trusts and Estates)
Ralph E. McDowell (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law)
Nicholas P. McElhinny (Antitrust Law)
Adam B. Norlander (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Christopher J. Rambus (Trusts and Estates)
Jeffrey G. Raphelson (Litigation-Commercial)
Noel J. Ravenscroft (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law)
Thomas J. Rheaume Jr. (Appellate Law)
Damali A. Sahu (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Joseph J. Shannon (Litigation-Commercial)
Erica J. Sarver (Environmental Law)
Bonnie S. Sherr (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Larry R. Shulman (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Annalise Lekas Surnow (Health Care Law)
Brian R. Trumbauer (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law)
Jaimee L. Witten (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law)
—Troy office
Celeste E. Arduino (Nonprofit/Charities Law)
Donovan S. Asmar (Appellate Law)
J. Adam Behrendt (Litigation-Banking and Finance)
John T. Below (Labor and Employment Law)
David C. Bosman (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Gene P. Bowen (Mergers & Acquisitions Law)
Barbara A. Bowman (Public Finance Law)
Robert J. Cambridge (Securities Law)
Steven R. Cole (Tax Law)
Michael G. Costello (Insurance Law)
Anthony P. Cracchiolo (Trusts and Estates)
Michelle Thurber Czapski (Insurance Law; Litigation-Insurance)
Stephen P. Dunn (Litigation-Commercial)
Gary S. Fealk (Labor and Employment Law)
Gregory J. Gamalski (Real Estate Law)
Jennifer M. Hetu (Copyright Law; Intellectual Property and Patent Law)
Michelle L. Kolkmeyer (Labor and Employment Law)
Ryan M. Olson (Mergers & Acquisitions Law)
Kenneth J. Sachs (Employee Benefits Law)
Nicholas P. Scavone Jr. (Real Estate Law)
Rebecca C. Seguin-Skrabucha (Labor and Employment Law)
Andrew Z. Spilkin (Real Estate Law)
Thomas J. Tallerico (Litigation-Antitrust)
Melissa M. Tetreau (Labor and Employment Law)
Thomas Van Dusen (Litigation-Commercial)
David B. Walters (Employee Benefits Law)
• • •
Dykema is proud to share that the World Services Group (WSG) appointed Laura Baucus as chair of its North American Regional Council for 2024-2025. As chair, Baucus will lead a series of monthly meetings, develop strategies to promote the collaboration between WSG firms, and assist with planning the organization’s annual North America Regional meeting.
At Dykema, Baucus serves as director of Dykema’s 100+ Automotive Industry Group. She also formerly served as a past leader of the firm’s financial services litigation practice, and founded the firm’s supply chain group. Baucus is also a past co-leader of the firm’s Women’s Business Initiative in Michigan. Baucus has a unique hybrid practice concentrating on supply chain disputes and transactions, complex contract litigation, and consumer financial services litigation.
Baucus has experience advising manufacturers throughout the supply chain. She has negotiated and litigated hundreds of supply chain disputes and contracts, always with a focus on helping the client achieve its ultimate goal—which is typically an uninterrupted supply chain.
Her financial services practice focuses on large-volume portfolio litigation management, including representing national mortgage servicers, credit card issuers, and other financial institutions in consumer litigation. As an experienced legal project manager, Baucus has managed thousands of consumer financial services actions throughout her career.
Baucus earned a law degree from Wayne State University Law School and a B.A. from the Catholic University of America.
• • •
Clark Hill PLC received national and regional rankings in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms.
—National Tier 1
Admiralty and Maritime Law
Appellate Practice
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Energy Law
Immigration Law
Insurance Law
Labor Law – Management
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Trusts and Estates
—National Tier 2
Banking and Finance Law
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Corporate Law
Employment Law – Management
Real Estate Law
—National Tier 3
Litigation – Environmental
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Patent Law
—Tier 1
• Detroit
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Corporate Law
Employment Law – Management
Labor Law – Management
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Nonprofit / Charities Law
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Trusts and Estates
• Troy
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Education Law
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Employment Law – Management
Litigation – Insurance
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Litigation – Trusts and Estates
Real Estate Law
Trusts and Estates
—Tier 2
• Detroit
Arbitration
Banking and Finance Law
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Immigration Law
Land Use and Zoning Law
Litigation – Trusts and Estates
Mediation
Real Estate Law
• Troy
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Family Law
Labor Law – Management
Litigation – Banking and Finance
—Tier 3
• Detroit
Appellate Practice
Government Relations Practice
• • •
Jordan Bolton, a partner in Taft’s Detroit office, has been named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s “Leaders in the Law” list.
Bolton counsels clients in high-stakes litigation, while managing risks and resolving disputes arising out of client operations. In addition, He frequently serves as outside general counsel and as an arbitrator and mediator. He represents clients in a variety of industries, including automotive, construction, financial services, franchise, health care, manufacturing, private equity, real estate, retail, technology, and transportation.
When informed of the honor, Bolton commented “It is an honor to receive this recognition from one of the leading legal publications in the state, and I am humbled to accept it as recognition of the hard work of my colleagues without whom success would not be possible.”
In addition, Taft Southfield partners Jim Waggoner and Aaron Sherbin will speak at the 2024 Business Owner Success Summit at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham on November 21.
Waggoner will serve as a moderator for the session “Building the Right Team.” Sherbin will speak as a panelist for the session “Pre-Transitional Planning: What is my After Tax Number?”
Waggoner’s practice focuses on a range of corporate matters including corporate structure and governance, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and general commercial transactions. He advises on complex business matters for a diverse client base, which ranges from small privately held companies to large publicly traded companies. Waggoner frequently counsels clients on matters involving entity formation, limited liability company and buy-sell agreements, policies and procedures, labor and employment, and business succession planning.
Sherbin’s practice is focused on estate planning, trust and estate administration, probate litigation, wealth preservation and transfer strategies. He also provides business and tax planning services for entrepreneurs, closely-held companies, family businesses and family offices. He offers succession planning, post-mortem planning, and asset protection planning. Sherbin also serves as a mergers and acquisitions transactional attorney focusing on federal tax law, buy-sell agreements, operating agreements, and shareholder agreements.
Taft is also pleased to announce that it has been recognized in the Best Lawyers® 2025 “Best Law Firms.”
—National Tier 1
Appellate Practice
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Corporate Law
Employment Law – Management
Environmental Law
Health Care Law
Labor Law – Management
Land Use and Zoning Law
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Litigation – Real Estate
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Patent Law
Securities / Capital Markets Law
Tax Law
Trademark Law
Trusts and Estates
Venture Capital Law
—National Tier 2
Advertising Law
Banking and Finance Law
Information Technology Law
Litigation – Banking and Finance
Litigation – Bankruptcy
Litigation – Environmental
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs
Real Estate Law
Securities Regulation
—National Tier 3
Insurance Law
Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity
Litigation – Securities
—Tier 1
• Detroit
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Insurance Law
Land Use and Zoning Law
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Insurance
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Real Estate Law
Tax Law
Trusts and Estates
• • •
Kitch Attorneys & Counselors PC proudly announces that Mark Wisniewski has been recognized in Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s Managing Partners Spotlight.
Reflecting on this honor, Wisniewski said, “Just like representing a client in a legal matter, the key to success in running a large law firm is constant communication. When you are constantly communicating, you will all be on the same page and you will all be working for the same goal. At Kitch, our top-notch management team is constantly working with each other to identify issues and present solutions. My job as the CEO is to make sure that our management team, staff, and attorneys have the resources to identify problems and the resources to implement solutions.”
Since 2014, Wisniewski has served as the chair and chief executive officer of Kitch. With more than 30 years of experience, he co-chairs the firm’s Asbestos Liability and Mass Tort defense practice.
Kitch is also pleased to announce that the following attorneys have been recognized as Top Lawyers by DBusiness for 2024 in their practice areas:
Greg Drutchas – Health Care Law
Terence P. Durkin – Labor and Employment Law
Christina A. Ginter – Appellate Law
Katharine Gostek – Appellate Law
John Paul Hessburg – Health Care Law
Meghan Kennedy Riordan – Immigration Law
Carina M. Kraatz – Construction Law
Ahndia Mansoori – Immigration Law
John M. Sier – Construction Law
• • •
Elaine M. Pohl, a partner and insurance coverage attorney at Plunkett Cooney, was recently selected by Michigan Lawyers Weekly (MiLW) as a member of its 2024 Class of Leaders in the Law.
Pohl maintains a national practice counseling insurers in complex litigated and non-litigated property and casualty disputes. Her coverage experience extends to claims involving professional liability, construction defects, bodily injuries, product liability, environmental contamination, personal and advertising injury, first-party property and allegations of bad faith.
Elected this year to Plunkett Cooney’s Board of Directors, Pohl is also a member of the firm’s Shareholder Evaluation Committee, and she is co-chair of Plunkett Cooney’s formal mentoring program.
Her expertise within the legal industry has resulted in Pohl having the distinction of being named a Best Lawyers in America® for Insurance Law / Insurance Litigation for 2024-2025, a Michigan Super Lawyer Rising Star in Insurance Coverage, and a Michigan Super Lawyers for several years. Michigan Lawyers Weekly also previously honored her in 2018 with its “Influential Women of Law” honor.
Pohl is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan Insurance and Indemnity Law Section (past chair and former board officer), Michigan Licensed Beverage
Association and DRI, the largest bar association of civil defense attorneys and in-house counsel, where she currently serves as the vice chair for its Insurance Law Publications Subcommittee and served as the 2023 chair of the organization’s national Insurance Coverage Practice Symposium in New York City.
A graduate from the Indiana University School of Law in 1999, Pohl received her undergraduate degree from Villanova University in 1996. She is admitted to practice law in state and federal courts in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.
In addition, Plunkett Cooney recently received national recognition by Best Lawyers® as one of its 2025 Best Law Firms.
“It’s an honor to be named among the Best Law Firms in the nation,” said the firm’s President & CEO Jeffrey C. Gerish. “This honor is a tribute to the outstanding work and dedication of our attorneys and staff, and it underscores the great results they achieve each day on behalf of their clients.”
Plunkett Cooney was recognized in the following first- and second-tier categories in Michigan and Ohio:
Appellate Practice
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Corporate Law
Employment Law – Management
Government Relations Practice
Health Care Law
Insurance Law
Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Litigation – Insurance
Litigation – Municipal
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
Municipal Law
Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Real Estate Law
• • •
Garan Lucow Miller PC is pleased to announce that the firm has been recognized by Best Lawyers® as a Best Law Firm in multiple practice areas across the Great Lakes region that it serves and nationally.
Garan Lucow Miller has been ranked as a Tier 1 firm in the Ann Arbor, Chicago, and Detroit metropolitan areas for Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants. In the Detroit metro area, the firm was also ranked as a Tier 1 firm in Appellate Practice and Insurance Law.
The firm was ranked as a Tier 2 firm in the Detroit metro area for Litigation-Insurance and in Northern Michigan for Insurance Law.
In the Chicago and Troy metropolitan areas, Garan Lucow Miller was ranked a Tier 3 firm in Insurance Law.
Additionally, Garan Lucow Miller received a Tier 3 ranking nationally in Appellate Practice.
• • •
Brooks Kushman is proud to announce the firm has been ranked in the 2025 edition of the U.S. News and World Report list of “Best Law Firms” by Best Lawyers.
Nationally, Brooks Kushman holds tier-three rankings in Intellectual Property Litigation and Trademark Law. On the regional level, Brooks Kushman holds tier-one rankings in Intellectual Property Litigation, Patent Litigation, Patent Law, Copyright Law, and Trademark Law in Detroit.
• • •
Best Lawyers® has recognized Kerr Russell as a “Best Law Firm,” having ranked the firm regionally in 21 practice areas.
Kerr Russell’s Appellate, Immigration and Municipal practices all moved to Tier 1 from Tier 2 in previous years. Bankruptcy and Restructuring moved to Tier 2 and Kerr Russell’s Commercial Transactions and Securities practices were newly recognized this year.
The ranked areas include the following:
—Metropolitan Tier 1, Detroit
Appellate Practice
Construction Law
Corporate Law
Health Care Law
Immigration Law
Insurance Law
Litigation – Antitrust
Litigation – Construction
Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
Municipal Law
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
—Metropolitan Tier 2, Detroit
Antitrust Law
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Transactions
Land Use & Zoning Law
Litigation – Bankruptcy
Tax Law
—Metropolitan Tier 3, Detroit
Commercial Litigation
Employment Law – Management
Real Estate Law
Securities Regulation
• • •
Harness IP is pleased to announce that it has been nationally recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®. This is the 13th consecutive year the firm has been included in the publication’s list of the country’s top firms.
Harness IP received national recognition in five practice areas and is regionally ranked in 16 practice areas:
—National Tier 2
Trademark Law
—National Tier 3
Copyright Law
Litigation – Intellectual Property
—Tier 1, Troy
Appellate Practice
Copyright Law
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Litigation – Patent
Patent Law
Trademark Law
• • •
Secrest Wardle is pleased to announce that the firm has been named in the Best Lawyers listing of 2025 Best Law Firms in the following categories:
—Tier 1, Troy
Commercial Litigation
Insurance Law
Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants
Litigation – Insurance
Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
—Tier 2, Troy
Land Use & Zoning Law
Litigation - Municipal
Municipal Law
—Tier 3, Troy
Arbitration
Litigation — Land Use & Zoning
• • •
Maddin Hauser is pleased to announce that Deborah S. Lapin has been elected to serve on the Recreational Boating Industries Educational Foundation’s Board of Directors.
The Recreational Boating Industries Educational Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation established in 1986 by the Michigan Boating Industries Association (MBIA) to advance opportunities for scholarships and training that benefit Michigan’s recreational marine industry.
Traditional scholarships are available to Michigan residents who are students enrolled or enrolling in higher education or trade schools intending to pursue a career in the marine industry. Awards are also available for individuals currently employed in the Michigan marine industry to attend industry training or education programs offered by local, statewide, or national marine organizations.
Lapin is a shareholder and member of Maddin Hauser’s Financial Services and Real Property Litigation group, which serves as a resource— locally, regionally, and nationally—for mortgage lenders and servicers, depository institutions, title insurance companies, construction companies, and commercial landlords/property owners. She specializes in real estate litigation and commercial and contractual disputes. Lapin is a member of the state bars of Michigan, New York, and Connecticut.
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