Butzel Long
Dana L. Davis, Recruiting, Diversity and HR specialist with Butzel Long, was recently nominated to re-join the local Board of the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) as the new president-elect of the Human Resources Association of Greater Detroit (HRAGD), an 800-member professional organization. Davis’ term as president will begin in July 2011.
Davis began her career at Butzel Long in 2005 as a Human Resources coordinator and advanced to her present position as Recruiting, Diversity and HR specialist. She serves on the firm’s Diversity & Retention Committee as well as the Recruiting Committee.
Davis also is the Corporate Partnership chair of The Michigan Diversity Council (MIDC), a unique resource for organizations that both value and seek to effectively manage diversity.
Davis earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Spanish – double major from the University of Michigan. In addition, Davis earned a Professional Certification in Human Resources (PHR). She is currently working on a Master’s in Management with a concentration in Strategic Leadership at Walsh College.
Davis is active with several professional organizations including the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources (Greater Detroit NAAAHR); and, the Michigan Women’s Foundation (MWF), among others.
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Foster, Swift, Collins, & Smith, P.C.
Foster, Swift, Collins, & Smith P.C. is pleased to announce the addition of attorney Alicia W. Birach to it’s Farmington Hills office.
Birach’s primary practice area will be workers’ compensation. Before joining the firm, Birach held internships with the Serious Fraud Office in London, England, KPMG in Detroit and the Central Michigan University Internal Audit. She was also a summer associate with Foster Swift in 2009.
She earned her law degree from Wayne State University Law School in 2010, and her undergraduate degree — in business administration — from Central Michigan University in 2006.
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Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP
Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, and Cohn LLP is pleased to announce that several of its attorneys have been named by “Best Lawyers in America” (Best Lawyers) as “Best Lawyers of the Year” for 2011 in their respective practice areas.
Below is the list of local Honigman attorneys named “Best Lawyers of the Year,” the practice area for which they are being honored and the community where they received this honor:
• David Foltyn – Corporate Governance and Compliance Law, Detroit.
• William O. Hochkammer – Insurance Law, Detroit.
• Donald J. Kunz – Securities Law, Detroit.
• Jeffrey H. Miro – Corporate Law, Bloomfield Hills.
• Cyril Moscow – Banking Law, Detroit.
• Alex L. Parrish – Mergers & Acquisitions Law, Detroit.
• Joseph M. Polito – Environmental Law, Detroit.
Honigman is also pleased to announce that Christopher R. Kazanowski has joined the firm as an attorney in its Labor and Employment Department. He will concentrate his practice on assisting with a wide range of labor and employment issues.
Kazanowski earned his law degree from Emory University School of Law and a B.A. from the University of Michigan in History and Political Science. He is admitted to both the State Bar of Michigan and the State Bar of Georgia.
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Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss, P.C.
Alexander E. Blum has joined Southfield-based Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer, Weiss P.C. as an associate in the firm’s litigation practice group. Jaffe CEO Richard Zussman made the announcement.
Blum graduated with his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Chicago. He earned his law degree from Wayne State University Law School.
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Garan Lucow Miller P.C.
James R. Lilly has joined Garan Lucow in the firm’s Troy office. Lilly earned his B.A. from Western Michigan University, and his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.
Lilly has practiced exclusively in the area of insurance coverage litigation for more than 20 years.
Within the area of insurance coverage, his practice has a particular emphasis on federal and state transportation insurance claims, and advertising injury coverage. Lilly has represented clients on multi-million dollar claims in jurisdictions across the United States and Canada.
Additionally, Garan Lucow is pleased to announce that “Best Lawyers” has named James L. Borin as the Detroit Area Personal Injury Litigator of the Year for 2011.
Only a single lawyer in each specialty in each community is being honored as the “Lawyer of the Year.”
Also, the firm congratulates the following attorneys that have been selected by “Best Lawyers for 2011:”
• David N. Campos.
• Boyd E. Chapin Jr.
• Dennis P. Partridge.
• Rosalind Rochkind.
• Daniel S. Saylor.
• Roger A. Smith.
• Michael D. Wade.
• Peter B. Worden Jr.
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Howard & Howard
Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC is pleased to announce that Jacob P. Woolbright has joined the firm. He will practice out of the firm’s Royal Oak Office.
Woolbright concentrates his practice in intellectual property law with a focus on patent preparation and prosecution. Woolbright’s expertise spans from complex chemical processes and mechanical devices to pharmaceutical formulations and computer based methodologies.
Woolbright has engineering experience in the automotive, cosmetic, chemical, and paper industries, and has worked at Amway, Hercules Chemical and Webasto Thermosystems before joining Howard & Howard.
Woolbright received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Michigan Technological University and his law degree from Michigan State University College of Law. He also spent a semester abroad in London, England where he studied international intellectual property law issues.
Woolbright also enjoys writing on a wide variety of intellectual property topics, and has appeared on Law 360 and IP Law and Technology for his scholarship on intellectual property issues.
Woolbright is licensed to practice in the state of Ohio, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio and before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Additionally, Howard & Howard is pleased to announce that Michael J. Minna and Randall J. Peck have been promoted from Intellectual Property interns to associates with the firm. They will both practice out of the firm’s Royal Oak Office.
Minna concentrates his practice in intellectual property law with an emphasis on preparing and prosecuting U.S. and foreign patent applications primarily in the mechanical arts. In addition to preparing and prosecuting patent applications, Minna is experienced in counseling clients on patent matters such as freedom to operate, infringement and invalidity opinions.
Minna joined Howard & Howard in 2007 as an intern in its intellectual property law internship program. As an intern, he trained in the practice of patent law by preparing and prosecuting patent applications under close supervision of senior partners while attending law school in the evenings. Minna earned his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 2010. He received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Michigan State University in 2002.
Prior to joining Howard and Howard, Minna worked for Professional Engineering Associates as a staff engineer (2004-2007) and Orchard, Hiltz & McCliment, Inc. as a project engineer (2002-2004).
Peck concentrates his practice in intellectual property law with a focus on patent preparation/prosecution and opinion work, primarily in the chemical arts. He has experience with diverse technologies, including silicones, adhesives, gels, resins, thin films, medical devices, manufactured wood products, automotive paints and coatings, coil coatings, foams and elastomers, nanoparticles, and various chemical compositions and processes.
Peck joined Howard & Howard in 2007 as an intern in its intellectual property law internship program while attending law school. In 2010, he earned his law degree with a concentration in intellectual property and communications law, from Michigan State University College of Law.
Peck received his B.S. in chemical engineering from Michigan Technological University in 2006. While an undergraduate, he had work experience with Boston Scientific Corporation and Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics in polymer extrusion and molding. Peck also conducted undergraduate research for Michigan Technological University relating to pyrometallurgy and minerals processing.
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Maddin, Hauser, Wartell, Roth, & Heller P.C.
Nine attorneys from Southfield-based Maddin, Hauser, Wartell, Roth, & Heller P.C. have been selected for inclusion in the seventeenth edition of The “Best Lawyers in America®” 2011.
The recipients, and the categories in which they were honored, include:
• Steven D. Sallen, president and chief executive officer and Executive Management Committee member, Real Estate Law.
• Michael W. Maddin, president Emeritus and Executive Management Committee member, Real-Estate Law.
• Mark R. Hauser, managing director and Executive Management Committee member, Real-Estate Law.
• Richard J. Maddin, Shareholder, Land Use & Zoning Law and Real-Estate Law.
• Harvey R. Heller, shareholder and Executive Management Committee member, Legal-Malpractice Law and Insurance Law.
• Lowell D. Salesin, shareholder and Executive Management Committee member, Real-Estate Law.
• Charles M. Lax, shareholder, Employee-Benefits Law
• John E. Jacobs, Shareholder, Real-Estate Law.
• Steven M. Wolock, shareholder, Legal-Malpractice Law and Professional-Malpractice Law.
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Nemeth Burwell P.C.
Ingrid K. Brey, Of Counsel attorney at Detroit-based employment law firm Nemeth Burwell P.C. has been named by the Best Lawyers in America® as the “Detroit Area Best Lawyers Immigration Lawyer of the Year for 2011.” Brey has been included on the annual “Best Lawyers in America®” list since 1999 in the specialty area of immigration law.
Brey focuses her practice exclusively on immigration law. Specifically, she represents employers who seek to employ foreign nationals within the United States. She also advises employers on worksite immigration compliance and enforcement issues.
Brey is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and has served as chair of AILA’s Michigan Chapter, chair of the National Physician’s Committee and on various national liaison committees, including the Department of Labor, Nebraska Service Center, and Department of State, where she was charged with liaisoning with the Waiver Review Division on J-1 visa waiver issues. In 2007, Brey acted as AILA liaison with the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City.
She has published numerous articles on immigration law, including a chapter in the Institute of Continuing Legal Education’s handbook, Employment Law in Michigan. In January, 2009 Brey’s article, Immigration Law for the Employment Lawyer, appeared in the Michigan Bar Journal. She is a frequent speaker on immigration law and presents yearly at the national American Immigration Lawyers’ Conference and other national immigration conferences throughout the U.S.
Brey earned her law degrees from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School and Georgetown University Law Center. She earned her bachelor’s degree in social science from Michigan State University.
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Dykema
Dykema announces that The following four attorneys are among those receiving the highest point totals in the “Michigan Super Lawyers” nomination, research and blue ribbon review process.
The Dykema attorneys receiving this recognition are:
Maria B. Abrahamsen, whose practice is devoted to representation of health care facilities and practitioners in corporate and regulatory matters, with emphasis on medical staff, reimbursement, and regulation of hospital-physician financial relationships. She is a member of the firm’s Executive Board and was Leader of the Health Care Practice Group from 2000 to 2004. Abrahamsen’s practice is located in the Bloomfield Hills office.
Kathryn J. Humphrey, whose Michigan-based practice includes complex and high-stakes matters in aviation, pharmaceuticals, automotive and industrial products, construction and commercial disputes, and environmental litigation. She has successfully defended product liability claims concerning chemicals, natural gas, automobiles, trucks, general aviation aircraft, airline, executive jet and cargo aircraft, paper-making machinery and materials handling equipment.Humphrey has served for six years as a Practice Group Leader for the 150-member Litigation Practice Group. She practices out of the Detroit office.
Margaret Adams Hunter, who heads the Employee Benefits Practice and is the Assistant Practice Group Leader of the Tax Department. She focuses on the design, implementation and administration of pension plans, welfare plans, fringe benefit plans, stock compensation plans and executive compensation arrangements for publicly owned, nonprofit, private and governmental employers. She works closely with automotive suppliers in the negotiation of unfunded liability securitization claims by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). Hunter’s practice is located in the Detroit office.
Marilyn Peters is one of the leaders of the firm in complex commercial litigation, including various business, financial institution and supplier disputes, has worked on putative class action in the consumer protection and financial areas, in federal and state courts both in Michigan and other states, has handled all aspects of such litigation, including review of contract rights, negotiations, preliminary injunction hearings, and trials. She has done complex commercial litigation for some of the firm’s largest banking clients, has represented mortgage brokers and investment advisors in putative class actions, and has represented other clients, including General Motors Corporation, in numerous supplier and contract issues. Peters practices from the Bloomfield Hills office.
Additionally, Eric Carver, a member of Dykema’s Taxation and Estate and Corporate Finance Departments, was elected secretary and treasurer of the Financial and Estate Planning Council of Metropolitan Detroit (FEPCMD), effective January 1, 2011.
Carver has served for the last five years on the FEPCMD’s Board of Directors. He was elected unanimously to serve a one-year term for both offices. The election took place at the FEPCMD’s Annual meeting on Nov. 9.
“I’m pleased to take on these responsibilities because I believe the work the FEPCMD does is valuable to our clients, our communities and our profession,” said Carver. “I look forward to continuing to work with the Board of directors to achieve the Council’s goals.”
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Foster, Swift, Collins, & Smith, P.C.
Foster, Swift, Collins, & Smith P.C. is pleased to announce the addition of attorney Alicia W. Birach to it’s Farmington Hills office.
Birach’s primary practice area will be workers’ compensation. Before joining the firm, Birach held internships with the Serious Fraud Office in London, England, KPMG in Detroit and the Central Michigan University Internal Audit. She was also a summer associate with Foster Swift in 2009.
She earned her law degree from Wayne State University Law School in 2010, and her undergraduate degree – in business administration – from Central Michigan University in 2006.
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May, Simpson & Strote PC
Ronald P. Strote of May, Simpson, & Strote PC in Bloomfield Hills, has been named Detroit Area Best Lawyers Construction Lawyer of the Year for 2011. Best Lawyers is honoring a single lawyer, in selected practice areas, in large legal communities as “Lawyer of the Year.”
Strote has also been recognized as a “Michigan Super Lawyer” in construction law for each year the designation has been available to Michigan attorneys and has been designated as one of the top 100 lawyers in the state for the past three years. In addition to his client representation, Strote is an active arbitrator and mediator, on the panels for the American Arbitration Association and certified as a mediator by the International Mediation Institute, The Hague, Netherlands.
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Warner, Norcross, & Judd LLP
For the fifth consecutive year, Warner, Norcross, & Judd LLP has improved its ranking on The National Law Journal survey of the Top 250 Law Firms in the country.
Warner Norcross moved up five places to 180 in the annual ranking of the largest law firms. Warner Norcross reported 224 attorneys in six offices throughout the state and ranks as the fifth largest law firm in Michigan.
“Warner Norcross continues to grow steadily and deliberately, which is directly attributable to the strength of our clients, the diversity of our practice areas and our flexibility in firm management,” said Managing Partner Douglas E. Wagner. “We have developed alternative fee arrangements that allow us to focus on results, rather than billable hours – a shift that our clients appreciate.
“Additionally, we continue to add experienced attorneys to strengthen key practice areas. We are investing in recruiting, retention and attorney and staff development to ensure we have the best legal minds to meet the changing demands of the marketplace.”
Over the past five years, the law firm has added nearly 50 attorneys and significantly expanded its presence in Southfield and Sterling Heights. Warner Norcross has also established several new practices during this time, including the Health Care Reform Task Force, Economic Incentives, Records Information Management, Legislative and Policy Development and others.
In addition, Warner Norcross recently welcomed eight new attorneys to the law firm, including two who will practice in the Southfield office. All of them have been admitted to the State Bar of Michigan.
The new Southfield attorneys are:
Zubin F. Billimoria, who earned his law degree from Wayne State University Law School. He earned a postgraduate diploma from The College of Law of England and Wales in Guildford in the United Kingdom.
He also has a bachelor of arts in German studies from the University of Birmingham, also in the U.K. Prior to joining Warner Norcross, he worked as an attorney in London.
Katherine L. Brooks, who earned her law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and a bachelor of science in environmental biology and zoology from Michigan State University. She held a judicial externship with U.S. Court of Appeals Judge David W. McKeague, Sixth Circuit.
