Hall Render
On Tuesday, Sept. 28, Hall Render Shareholder Mark R. Adams will speak at the 2010 Construction Industry Conference, hosted by the Michigan Association of CPAs.
Adams is an accomplished professional in the areas of real estate law, business law, commercial transactions and taxation. One of his major accomplishments outside of law is his Certified Public
Accountant designation. Prior to practicing law, he served as a Certified Public Accountant for more than five years.
Adams will speak on residential, commercial and corporate tax implications that come with foreclosures, forgiveness of debt and short sales.
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Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, and Cohn LLP
Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, and Cohn LLP is pleased to announce that Laura A. Brodeur-McGeorge, a partner in the firm’s Labor and Employment Department, has been appointed as a member of the State Bar of Michigan’s Client Protection Fund Committee from Oct. 1, 2010 to Sept. 30, 2013. The committee reimburses clients who have been victimized by lawyers who violate the profession’s ethical standards and misappropriate funds entrusted to them.
Brodeur-McGeorge focuses her practice on counseling clients on employment matters, employee health and safety issues, contract disputes, trade secrets and restrictive covenants. She also litigates employment matters in federal and state courts and before various administrative agencies and arbitration tribunals.
In addition to her position on the State Bar of Michigan Client Protection Fund Committee, Brodeur-McGeorge is a Fellow of the Oakland County Bar Foundation and is a member of the American Bar Association, Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association and the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan.
Brodeur-McGeorge earned her law degree from Wayne State University Law School and a B.S. in management from Oakland University.
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Butzel Long
Four Butzel Long attorneys have been named for the first time to “The Best Lawyers in America®” 2011 edition. The attorneys include Linda J. Armstrong, Eric J. Flessland, Patrick A. Karbowski, and Thomas L. Shaevsky.
Detroit office
Armstrong, a shareholder, concentrates her practice in the area of business and family immigration law, including all aspects involved with the international movement of personnel; immigration consequences of corporate restructuring, mergers and acquisitions; employer and workplace compliance issues, including I-9 and H-1B public access file investigations; inbound and outbound work-authorized immigrant and nonimmigrant matters; and labor certification. Armstrong is a member of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee and the firm’s Global Automotive Industry Group.
Armstrong provides on-site training to business clients on numerous topics, including U.S. nonimmigrant visas; U.S. permanent resident processing; employer compliance issues, including I-9 completion and compliance and H-1B public access file compliance; and outbound general strategic planning.
Flessland, a shareholder, concentrates his practice primarily upon representing heavy construction contractors and their trade associations in the public and private sectors. He has experience representing construction contractor clients on public and private works projects literally from inception through close out. Flessland’s extensive experience extends to insurance and suretyship issues affecting the construction industry, and has drafted a wide range of contract agreements for project owners, contractors, and subcontractors.
Flessland’s representation of firm clients covers a wide range of public and private matters including enforcement of competitive bidding procedures on local- and state-funded public works projects; project level claims analysis, claim preservation and avoidance counseling; complex construction claims litigation; and contract dispute resolution. Flessland provides legal and legislative consultation on issues affecting the heavy civil construction industry.
Bloomfield Hills office
Karbowski, a shareholder, focuses his practice on both transactions and litigation, with concentrations in the areas of real estate and general business.
Karbowski has served as the chairperson of the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan and is an ex officio member of its governing Council, as well as a member of many of its committees including its Pro Bono and ADR Committees. He is a member of the Real Estate Advisory Board for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education. He also has served as an adjunct professor of law teaching Real Estate Transactions at the Ave Maria School of Law. Karbowski has frequently written and lectured on various real estate topics for several professional and industry organizations.
Shaevsky, a shareholder, practices in the area of employee benefits. He advises profit and nonprofit employers, as well as individuals, on compliance and planning issues pertaining to a wide range of retirement and welfare plan issues. His experience includes counseling on fiduciary duty compliance, prohibited transaction avoidance and correction, reporting and disclosure issues, mergers and acquisitions due diligence, QDROs, as well as COBRA, HIPAA, and other benefits issues. Shaevsky represents clients undergoing IRS and U.S. Department of Labor audits.
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Dykema
Dykema recently announced that 69 of its lawyers have been ranked by their peers as leaders in their respective fields in the newly published Woodward/White “Best Lawyers in America” guide. The legal referral guide includes 14 attorneys based in Dykema’s Bloomfield Hills office: Maria B. Abrahamsen (Health Care Law); Michael G. Cumming (Trusts and Estates); Robert L. Duty (Labor and Employment Law); James P. Feeney (Alternative Dispute Resolution, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation and Product Liability Litigation); Alan M. Greene (Land Use & Zoning Law, Real Estate Law); Dennis M. Haffey (Commercial Litigation); Howard B. Iwrey (Antitrust Law); Joel D. Kellman (Real Estate Law); Gerald T. Lievois (Mergers & Acquisitions Law, Securities Law); D. Richard McDonald (Securities Law); Marilyn A. Peters (Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation); Ronald L. Rose (Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law); Sheryl L. Toby (Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law); and Stephen L. Tupper (Information Technology Law).
Abrahamsen, member of the Health Care practice group, focuses her practice on representation of health care facilities and practitioners in corporate and regulatory matters, with emphasis on medical staff matters, reimbursement, and regulation of hospital-physician financial relationships. She is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association; Health Care Financial Management Association, Eastern Michigan; State Bar of Michigan; and the Oakland County Bar Association. Abrahamsen earned her law degree, and her B.A. from the University of Michigan.
Cumming, member of the Taxation and Estates practice group, focuses on estate planning, probate and trust administration and related tax matters. He also represents clients in probate and trust contests, and premarital agreement negotiations. Cumming is the former editor of the Michigan Probate and Estate Planning Journal. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and is a member of the following: The Financial and Estate Planning Council of Metropolitan Detroit, the Taxation Sections of the American Bar Association and the State Bar of Michigan, the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association and the Probate and Estate Planning Advisory Committee of the Institute for Continuing Legal Education. Cumming earned his B.B.A. from the University of Michigan and his law degree from the University of Notre Dame.
Duty’s practice focuses on the following areas: Employment Litigation, Negotiation of Executive Contracts, Employment Consulting on Mergers and Acquisitions, Non-Compete/Trade Secret Litigation, Contract Negotiations with Labor Unions, Employment Practices Liability Insurance, and General Labor and Employment advice and services. He is a resident expert in the State of Michigan on Equal Employment Law for The Experts ForumTM, a comprehensive web-based risk management platform available to thousands of employers and several major insurance carriers around the country. Duty earned his B.A. from the University of Colorado and a law degree from American University.
Feeney, director of the firm’s National Litigation Practice, has appeared in more than 1,500 cases throughout the United States, and has tried approximately 70 complex civil matters to verdict. Feeney represents corporations in the defense of both individual and class action suits alleging a wide variety of tortious and contractual violations resulting in claims for compensatory and punitive damages. Representative clients include automobile manufacturers, media companies and pharmaceutical companies. Feeney received his B.A. and his law degree from the University of Michigan.
Greene is a member of the Real Estate practice group and is the firm’s director of professional personnel. Greene’s practice focuses on real estate development and construction projects, including zoning and land use matters, regulatory proceedings and litigation involving real estate and construction matters. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the Oakland County Bar Association. Greene earned his A.B. from the University of Michigan and his law degree from Wayne State University.
Haffey, for years the director of Dykema’s Litigation Department, focuses on general business litigation in jury and bench trials in federal and state courts as well as arbitrations, with an emphasis on shareholder and owner rights, securities fraud, accounting malpractice, sales commission disputes, supply chain claims, and disputes arising from commercial transactions. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan, and the Oakland County Bar Association. Haffey received his B.A. and his law degree from the University of Michigan.
Iwrey, member of the Litigation practice group and head of the firm’s Antitrust and Trade Regulation practice area, focuses on all aspects of antitrust, trade regulation and franchising law. His experience includes both litigation and counseling in mergers, joint ventures, dealer and franchise termination, tying, monopolization, price fixing, price discrimination and franchise disclosure and registration issues.
Iwrey is a past chairperson of the State Bar of Michigan Antitrust, Franchising and Trade Regulation Section. Iwrey earned his A.B. and his law degree from the University of Michigan.
Kellman’s practice focuses on real estate and commercial lending with an emphasis on real estate development; construction lending; traditional real estate lending; and transactions with tax and related incentives on behalf of developers and lenders. Kellman represents non-profit community development groups engaged in neighborhood redevelopment and also practices in the areas of commercial leasing and loan work-outs and restructuring. He earned his B.A. from Kenyon College and a law degree from the University of Michigan.
Lievois represents companies in complex financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, and general corporate and contract matters. His extensive experience in M&A work for public and private companies is particularly valuable to clients who are involved in critical stages of their company’s lifecycle. Lievois has provided legal counsel in negotiated acquisitions, leveraged buyouts and recapitalizations. He also represents issuers in public and private securities offerings, secured and unsecured debt offerings, and high-yield debt offerings. Lievois also represents venture capital and other private equity funds in acquisition transactions and provides general corporate counsel to private equity portfolio companies. He received a B.A. from Michigan State University and a law degree from Wayne State University.
McDonald, leader of the Securities-Public Company practice area, focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and corporate securities transactions. McDonald counsels public companies and Director Special Committees on all aspects of corporate governance as well as SEC reporting, disclosure and compliance issues. McDonald also represents privately-held businesses and emerging companies in venture capital, joint venture, bank financing, shareholder arrangements and general corporate matters. McDonald earned his B.A. from Wittenberg University, his M.A. from Syracuse University, and his law degree from the University of Michigan.
Peters is the Managing Member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office. Her practice focuses on complex commercial litigation with an emphasis on major construction cases and general business disputes litigation, including shareholder claims, supplier disputes, and general contract litigation. Peters previously served on the firm’s Executive Committee. Peters earned her B.A. from Wayne State University and her law degree from the University of Michigan.
Rose is the co-leader of the Bankruptcy practice group and a member of the firm’s Real Estate Workout Team. He is a fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy and holds the distinction of being named a Best Lawyer in America for the 26 years that it has been published. His experience includes bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, and commercial matters, covering issues arising under the Inform Commercial Code and the Bankruptcy Code. Rose has represented parties in complex commercial and corporate transactions and in significant bankruptcy litigation. Rose earned his law degree from the University of Michigan and his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Economics.
Toby is the co-leader of the Bankruptcy and Corporate Restructuring practice group. Toby is known for her approach in providing creative solutions to creditors, debtors and lenders in addressing troubled company situations. Toby is a frequent national speaker and consultant in her field. She has been recognized by awards such as: Named “Michigan Super Lawyer” in Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights by Law & Politics (2007 & 2008); in 1999 selected to Crain’s Detroit Business “40 Under 40” list; in 1999 received honorable mention as one of the country’s Outstanding Young Bankruptcy Professionals by Turnaround and Workout Publications; featured in an article in the March 5, 2004 Daily Bankruptcy Review “Mover and Shaker of the Week”; served in numerous positions for national and local organizations such as co-chair, American Bankruptcy Institute, Commercial Fraud Task Force Committee, 2007-2008; member, Board of Directors, American Bankruptcy Institute Central States Division; chair, Michigan Network - International Women’s Insolvency/Restructuring Confederation and numerous other positions. Toby earned her B.A. from Michigan State University and her law degree from Wayne State University.
Tupper is a member in the Corporate Finance practice group and is the leader of the firm’s Privacy, Data Security, and E-Commerce practice and the Aviation Transactions and Finance team. His practice focuses on electronic commerce, technology development and licensing, mergers and acquisitions, outsourcing relationships, aviation and aerospace, and general corporate law matters. His experience comes in part from ten years with commercial banks and one of the world’s premier e-commerce and outsourcing providers. He is a past chair of the Information Technology Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. Tupper is a pilot with advanced ratings, and he serves as a major and assistant legal officer for the Michigan Wing of Civil Air Patrol (USAF Auxiliary). Tupper received his B.A. from Albion College, his M.B.A. from Western Michigan University, and his law degree from Wayne State University.
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Fabrizio & Brook PC
Jonathan L. Engman of Fabrizio & Brook PC has been appointed chairman of the Real Property Committee of the Oakland County Bar Association. Engman has been a member of the Oakland County Bar Association since 1998.
He was vice chairman last year and subsequently appointed to chairman for the 2010-2011 term by the board.
Engman is a shareholder of Fabrizio & Brook PC. He is the supervising attorney for the Real Estate Department where he oversees all foreclosure and REO files for the firm.
Marc P. Jerabek of Fabrizio & Brook PC has been appointed vice chairman of the Real Property Committee of the Oakland County Bar Association. Jerabek has been a member of the Oakland County Bar Association since 2004.
He was nominated by fellow attorneys for vice chairman and subsequently appointed by the board to vice chairman for the 2010-2011 term.
Jerabek is a senior associate of Fabrizio & Brook PC. He is the managing attorney for the Eviction Department.
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Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen, & Loewy PLLC
Scott F. Cooper and Christian S. Allen of the law firm Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen, & Loewy PLLC will be included in the 2011 edition of “The Best Lawyers in America” in the category of Immigration Law.
Cooper is the managing partner for the Troy office of national law firm Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen, & Loewy PLLC; he has been repeatedly included in “The Best Lawyers in America” publication.
Cooper’s practice focuses on employment-based immigration and immigration-related compliance for a broad range of clients from Fortune 100 companies, universities and national research, cultural and health care institutions to senior executives, professionals, entrepreneurs and investors. Cooper is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and Michigan Association of International Educators. He is an adjunct professor of Law at the University Of Detroit Mercy College Of Law and a faculty member at the Michigan Institute for Continuing Legal Education.
Allen is an associate attorney with Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen, & Loewy PLLC; he joined the firm in 2010. Allen has been repeatedly awarded by “The Best Lawyers in America.” His practice focuses on all aspects of nonimmigrant and immigrant sponsorship for individual and corporate clients alike. He is a member of American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the State Bar of Michigan International Law Committee and the Oakland County Bar Association Immigration Law Committee. He is also a Department of Labor liaison and AILA treasurer; and an adjunct professor at Oakland University in Rochester.
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Patricia E. Kefalas Dudek & Associates
Patricia E. Kefalas Dudek of Patricia E. Kefalas Dudek & Associates in Farmington Hills, has become a member of the Council of Advanced Practitioners (CAP). Membership in CAP is available only to preeminent elder law attorneys who have made substantial contributions to elder or special needs law. Requirements include being an NAELA member for a minimum of 10 years, AV rated by Martindale Hubbell and either an NAELA Fellow or Certified Elder Law Attorney.
Dudek attended the 2010 NAELA CAP Conference, an opportunity to learn and network with other advanced Elder and Special Needs Law practitioners from all over the country. The meeting was held Aug. 20-21, in Chicago.
Dudek’s practice concentrates in elder law, Medicaid and estate planning, estates/trust administration, probate, administrative law, and disability advocacy. Dudek represents people in securing the support services they need to play, work and live fully in their communities through Medicaid litigation, Pooled Account Trusts, and Self Determination. Her practice includes advising and preparing estate planning documents, including special needs trusts; representation in Medicaid hearings to secure appropriate services, administration of estates, trusts, guardianship, conservatorship, and other protective arrangements, and contested litigation in these areas. Dudek often provides written and oral testimony on legal and public policy issues pertaining to her clientele.
Dudek was the author of the model contracts for Michigan’s Medicaid Self Determination Initiative. These contracts facilitate control over Medicaid service budgets and allows for creative solutions for housing and supports.
Another creative solution used by Dudek on behalf of her clients is the use of a Pooled Accounts Trust for Medicaid planning. She was the first attorney in Michigan to draft one of these trusts and to secure approval for Medicaid by both the Social Security Administration and the State of Michigan. Dudek advises on the administration of special need trusts in creating public/private solutions for the support service and housing needs of elders and people with disabilities.
She serves as a board member of United Cerebral Palsy of Metropolitan Detroit, is an active member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and was honored with the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Powley Elder Law Award in Fall 2005. She achieved Fellow status with the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys in spring 2009.
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Plunkett Cooney
“The Best Lawyers in America®” has named several Plunkett Cooney attorneys to its 2011 roster of top practitioners.
Plunkett Cooney partners Michael P. Ashcraft Jr.; William D. Booth; Charles W. Browning; Jerome A. Galante; James R. Geroux; Robert G. Kamenec; Jack S. Levey; Stanley C. Moore III; Christine D. Oldani; Mary Massaron Ross; James C. Thomas and Kenneth M. Mattson were recently notified about their selection as “Best Lawyers.” Plunkett Cooney has the distinction of one partner being named to the best lawyers list for 20 or more years, as well as one new attorney in 2011.
New to the list from Plunkett Cooney in 2011 is partner Mattson who was nominated for his expertise in medical malpractice law. He has handled cases in state and federal court pertaining to a range of medical services, including industrial medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics-gynecology, podiatry, chiropractic, neurology, plastic surgery, orthopedic surgery, family practice, internal medicine, ophthalmology, physical medicine, pathology, radiology, psychology, psychiatry and dentistry.
Mattson also handles geriatric and elder care cases, which deal with nursing care facilities and independent living, as well as issues relating to physical therapy and falls.
Seven members of Plunkett Cooney’s Bloomfield Hills office have also received the “Best Lawyer” designation, including Booth, who has been included on the list for more than 20 years in the area of personal injury litigation. Booth is a past president of the Oakland County Bar Association, a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Society of Barristers.
Nominated for his expertise in appellate law, Bloomfield Hills partner Kamenec currently serves as Plunkett Cooney’s Insurance/Professional Liability Department Leader. He is a member of the American Academy of Appellate Attorneys and a past “Lawyer of the Year,” as selected by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
Ashcraft, who currently serves as the firm’s Professional Liability Practice Group leader, was selected for his outstanding work in legal malpractice law. He concentrates his practice in the defense of attorneys and accountants in malpractice claims both directly and through insurance carriers.
Browning, who currently serves as co-chair of the firm’s Insurance Coverage Practice Group, was selected for his work in the area of insurance law. He is responsible for managing the firm’s relationships as coverage counsel for several major property and casualty insurance companies.
Galante has been honored as a Best Lawyer in the category of personal injury litigation. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) and a past president of the IADC Foundation Board. He focuses his practice in the areas of construction law and product liability and has developed a litigation and trial practice.
Moore, nominated for his expertise in the areas of labor and employment law, exclusively represents management in union and non-union settings in both the private and public sectors. He is a member of the National Labor Relations Board Region 7 Practice and Procedure Committee, is a former chair of the Oakland County Bar Association Employment Law Committee and is a former council member of the Labor and Employment Law Section Council of the State Bar of Michigan.
Geroux, who is a partner in the firm’s Detroit office, has been named among the “Best Lawyers” for workers’ compensation defense, the area in which he exclusively represents employers directly and through their insurance providers. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan Workers’ Compensation Section Council, and he is a past National Chairman of ALFA International’s Workers’ Compensation Practice Group National Steering Committee.
Also a partner in the firm’s Detroit office, Oldani, has been recognized again on the 2010 “Best” Lawyers list in the area of appellate law practice. She has more than 100 published decisions to her credit. During her more than 30 years in practice, Oldani, who is a Fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Attorneys, has drafted numerous amicus curiae briefs on behalf of municipal clients. She has also drafted legislation and consulted extensively on legislative issues.
Joining Oldani from the firm’s Detroit office is partner Massaron Ross, who currently serves as the firm’s Appellate Law Practice Group Leader and a member of Plunkett Cooney’s Board of Directors. She has argued numerous appellate cases, which have resulted in more than 50 published decisions. A Fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Attorneys, Massaron Ross has the distinction of serving as second vice president for the Defense Research Institute, which is an international organization of attorneys defending the interests of business and individuals in civil litigation.
An Of Counsel member of Plunkett Cooney’s Detroit Office, Thomas is one of Michigan’s most accomplished criminal defense attorneys and has been included on the “Best Lawyers” list for his non-white collar and white-collar criminal defense work. He is the 2007 Gilman Award recipient, which is presented annually by the Federal Bar Association, Michigan Chapter to outstanding practitioners in the area of criminal law. He has also received the “Defender of Justice Award” from the National Lawyers Guild and the “Justice for All Award” from the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan, an organization for which he currently serves as a member of its board of directors.
