LEGAL PEOPLE

Farmington Hills-based Trott & Trott PC recently announced the addition of Melissa Byrd and Petrea Tompkins to the firm's bankruptcy and executive departments. Trott & Trott President and Managing Partner David A. Trott made the announcement. Byrd joins Trott as a litigation attorney concentrating her practice in the areas of bankruptcy and mortgage creditors' rights. Byrd earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan Dearborn and her law degree from the Ave Maria School of Law. Prior to joining Trott, she served as an attorney with Troy-based Wolfson Bolton PLLC, where she focused her practice in the areas of bankruptcy and insolvency law, debtors' and creditors' rights, and commercial litigation. Tompkins joins Trott as an attorney in the executive department, working with general and corporate counsel on policies, procedures and compliance. Tompkins earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Western Michigan University and her law degree from the Michigan State University College of Law. Prior to joining the firm, she served as a solo practitioner focusing on the areas of criminal defense and estate planning. * * * Potestivo & Associates PC is honored to be presented with the "2011 Crain's Cool Places to Work" award, once again. Together with their staff, the firm proudly accepts this recognition which is administered by the American Society of Employers. This bi-annual, state-wide competition is initiated by employee nominations, and is followed by an in-depth questionnaire which gathers data in areas including organizational structure, company culture, employee benefits, work-life balance, and office environment. Potestivo & Associates PC was grouped in the 51-250 employee category and named to this short list along with 12 other companies of similar size. Winners were featured in the Sept. 5th edition of Crain's Detroit Business and at the Crain's Cool Places to Work Ceremony which honors all winners. This event takes place on Thursday, Nov. 10, at The Henry Ford in Dearborn. Brian A. Potestivo, president - managing attorney, stated that, "We are honored to be distinctly recognized for our loyalty to our employees and to this great state of Michigan. Our management team dedicates this award to our hard working staff." * * * Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, and Cohn LLP is pleased to announce that Jennifer Benedict, a Partner in the firm's Health Care Department, has been elected Chair of the Board of Trustees of Notre Dame Academy in Toledo, Ohio. Notre Dame Academy, a Catholic college preparatory high school, sponsored by the Sisters of Notre Dame, promotes the holistic development of young women for leadership and service by providing an exceptional educational experience. Benedict, named by "Michigan Super Lawyers" as a rising star from 2008 through 2011, represents a variety of health care providers, including hospitals, hospice providers, ambulatory surgery centers and physicians. She represents health care providers in connection with affiliations, mergers and acquisitions; assists health care facilities with state licensure and Medicare and Medicaid enrollment; counsels hospitals in connection with developing policies and medical staff bylaws and rules and regulations; and advises health care providers regarding compliance matters including the Stark Law, Anti-kickback Statute and HIPAA. Benedict was named "Outstanding Young Healthcare Lawyer" by Nightingale's Healthcare News, a monthly newsletter for professionals serving the healthcare industry and healthcare executives. She earned her law degree from the University of Toledo College of Law and she graduated with a B.A. from Oberlin College. In addition, Honigman has been recognized as one of "Metropolitan Detroit's 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For (Best and Brightest)" by the Michigan Business and Professional Association (MBPA) for the second consecutive year. The firm was selected from more than 1,000 total nominees. "We are very pleased to be recognized as one of 'Metropolitan Detroit's 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For," said Honigman's Chairman and CEO David Foltyn. "We are even more pleased that as part of the award selection process our staff and attorneys expressed their satisfaction with and enthusiasm for our objective to provide a high level of challenge, collegiality, opportunity and recognition." Honigman is also pleased to announce that Kathryn A. Katz, an attorney in the firm's Trusts and Estates Department, has been elected to the Detroit Institute of Arts' Founders Junior Council Board of Directors. The Founders Junior Council is a group of young professionals dedicated to making the DIA more accessible to more people. At Honigman, Katz counsels individuals on various aspects of estate and wealth transfer planning, including the preparation of wills and trusts, and the formation and operation of private foundations and public charities. Katz earned her law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and a B.A. in History and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin. Honigman also announces that Hayley L. Nyeholt has joined the firm as an attorney in its Litigation Department. She will be located in the firm's Detroit office. Nyeholt will concentrate her practice on a full range of commercial litigation matters. She joins Honigman after clerking for U.S. District Court Judge John Feikens, Eastern District of Michigan. She earned her law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Michigan. She has been admitted to practice in the state of Washington, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and her admittance to the State Bar of Michigan is pending. * * * Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce that 74 of the firm's attorneys have been included in The Best Lawyers in America 2012. "Dickinson Wright congratulates the 74 firm attorneys ranked among the best lawyers in the country," said William T. Burgess, Dickinson Wright's chief executive officer. "They have superior legal talent and combined track record that make Dickinson Wright an outstanding law firm. We're extremely proud to have so many attorneys included on this prestigious list. Our clients, as well as our peers, recognize Dickinson Wright for consistently delivering excellent client service and exceptional results." Local Dickinson Wright attorneys recognized on this year's list include: Detroit office * Dennis W. Archer, Commercial Litigation, Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management, Labor and Employment Litigation. * Richard M. Bolton, Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law. * William T. Burgess, Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Bankruptcy Litigation. * Lawrence G. Campbell, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation. * James N. Candler Jr., Real Estate Law. * Bernadette M. Dennehy, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law. * Phillip DeRosier, Appellate Practice. * David R. Deromedi, Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management. * Verne C. Hampton II, Corporate Law. * Mark R. High, Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law. * Edgar C. Howbert, Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law. * Steven G. Howell, Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Bankruptcy Litigation * Timothy H. Howlett, Employment Law - Management, Labor and Employment Litigation. * W. Anthony Jenkins, Corporate Law. * Kathleen A. Lang, Commercial Litigation. * John K. Lawrence, Banking and Finance Law. * Thomas G. McNeill, Commercial Litigation, Banking and Finance Litigation, Mergers and Acquisitions Litigation, Securities Litigation. * Sharon R. Newlon, Environmental Law, Environmental Litigation. * James A. Plemmons, Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law. * Jerome M. Schwartz, Corporate Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law, Securities Regulation. * William P. Shield Jr., Banking and Finance Law. * James P. Spica, Trusts and Estates Litigation, Trusts and Estates. * Theodore B. Sylwestrzak, Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law. * Bruce C. Thelen, International Trade and Finance Law. * Kathryn S. Wood, Employment Law - Management, Labor and Employment Litigation. * L. Paul Zinn, Antitrust Litigation. Troy office. * Margaret A. Coughlin, Environmental Law, Environmental Litigation. * Roger H. Cummings, Corporate Law, International Trade and Finance Law. * Stephen E. Dawson, Real Estate Law * Terence M. Donnelly, Municipal Law, Public Finance Law. * Deborah L. Grace, Employee Benefits Law. * Henry M. Grix, Trusts and Estates. * Hanley M. Gurwin, Family Law. * Craig W. Hammond, Banking and Finance Law, Public Finance Law. * William H. Honaker, Intellectual Property Law, Patent Litigation, Patent Law, Trademark Law. * Monica J. Labe, Real Estate Law. * Judith F. Layne, Trusts and Estates. * Elise S. Levasseur, Immigration Law. * Cynthia A. Moore, Employee Benefits Law. * John H. Norris, Environmental Law, Natural Resources Law, Oil and Gas Law. * Edward H. Pappas, Arbitration, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Real Estate Litigation, Mediation. * Robert V. Peterson, Real Estate Law. * Daniel D. Quick, Commercial Litigation. * Larry J. Stringer, Immigration Law. * Laurence E. Winokur, Real Estate Law. * Katheryne L. Zelenock, Banking and Finance Law, Real Estate Law. Additionally, W. Anthony Jenkins, member and chief diversity officer at Dickinson Wright, PLLC, was appointed to the NCAA Division I Infractions Appeals Committee. His service began Sept. 1 and will continue through Sept. 2014. Each NCAA division has its own infractions appeals committee and they are independent bodies that serve as the optional but final step in the rules enforcement process. The committees are made up of representatives from the membership and general public(one member). The public representative is normally a lawyer with no connection to the NCAA. There are five members on each committee and serve three-year terms, up to nine years. * * * Butzel Long attorneys and shareholders Robert A. Hudson and Robert H. Schwartz are contributors to the "Michigan Business Formbook," Third Edition, published by the Institute for Continuing Legal Education (ICLE). Hudson and Schwartz have been contributors to this widely used publication since its inception. Schwartz is a contributing author of the chapter on Professional Entities and, Hudson is a co-editor of the book which includes organizational forms for all major types of business entities. Based in Butzel Long's Detroit office, Hudson serves as chair of the firm's Corporate Department. Hudson represents domestic and foreign public and private companies and high-technology companies in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, e-commerce and general business matters. He has experience in securities matters including numerous public and private equity and debt offerings, venture capital finance, compliance, reporting requirements, going private transactions, investment management, the organization of hedge funds and corporate governance matters. Hudson regularly assists foreign-based companies in connection with U.S. and cross-border transactions, joint ventures, distribution and sale arrangements and trade matters. His industry expertise includes manufacturing, high-technology including software, Internet and computer services, financial services, automotive and real estate investment trusts. Hudson is a graduate of Wayne State University (B.A. 1969; law degree, 1972). Based in Butzel Long's Bloomfield Hills office, Schwartz's practice includes corporate and health care activities. He has experience in business planning, mergers and acquisitions and in assisting health care and hospital clients in the health care regulatory areas including reimbursement, fraud and abuse, and hospital physician relations, among others. He also works on various international matters. The Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) appointed Schwartz to the Committee on Hospital-Physician Alignment and the Health Information Strategy Committee. Schwartz also has authored a number of articles for various publications for the American Bar Association and American Health Lawyers Association, and is a frequent lecturer on various topics relating to health care. Schwartz graduated from Wayne State University Law School (1972) and Wayne State University (B.A., 1969). He is admitted to practice in Michigan and New York. Additionally, Butzel Long attorney Robert M. Nemzin has been appointed to two leadership positions by the American Bar Association's (ABA) Section of Real Property, Trust & Estate Law. Nemzin will serve as co-vice-chair of the Estate Planning and Administration for Business Owners, Farmers and Ranchers committee in the Business Planning Group. In addition, he will serve as vice-chair of the Young Lawyers Network. Nemzin also served as a Fellow in the ABA Real Property, Trust & Estate Fellows Program. Moreover, Nemzin will be a featured speaker during the ABA Section of Taxation and Real Property, Trust & Estate Law, Trust & Estate Division Joint Fall CLE Meeting October 20-22, 2011 in Denver. Nemzin will participate in a panel presentation on the use of additional federal gift and estate tax exemption in business succession planning. Based in Butzel Long's Bloomfield Hills office, Nemzin concentrates his practice in the areas of Estate and Succession Planning, Tax and Corporate law. Nemzin earned his law degrees from New York University School of Law (2007) and University of Detroit Mercy School of Law (2006). Nemzin is admitted to practice in Michigan and New York. He is also a member of the American Bar Association, Section of Taxation. He's also a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the New York State Bar Association. Nemzin is a frequent speaker on matters regarding Estate and Succession Planning, Tax and Corporate law. Nemzin's presentations include: "Leveraging Leveraging Increased Federal Gift Tax Exemptions for Gifts and Sales of Closely Held Business Interests in 2011" at the 2011 ABA RPTE Spring Symposia; "The Lifecycle of a Family Business Owner: Birth, Midlife Crisis, Death and Beyond!" at the 2010 ABA RPTE Spring Symposia; "Planning with Tenancies in Common - An Alternative to an FLP?" at the ABA Tax/RPTE 2009 Joint Fall CLE meeting; and, "Recent Developments in Estate Planning and Estate Administration with Closely-Held Businesses" at the ABA Tax/RPTE 2008 Joint Fall CLE meeting. * * * Secrest Wardle is pleased to announce that the following attorneys in its Municipal Law Department will be listed in the 2012 edition of "The Best Lawyers in America." In addition, Secrest Wardle's Municipal Department received a "Tier 1 Ranking" in the areas of Family Law, Litigation-Land Use and Zoning, Litigation-Municipal, and Municipal Law. Selection follows a peer-review process. Those listed in the category of Municipal Law include: William P. Hampton, attorney for the Cities of Bloomfield Hills and Auburn Hills, and attorney for the Townships of Bloomfield, and West Bloomfield; Thomas R. Schultz, attorney for the Cities of Novi and Farmington; Derk W. Beckerleg, Tax Tribunal specialist and assistant attorney for the Cities of Auburn Hills and Bloomfield Hills; Gary L. Dovre, attorney for the Villages of Lake Orion and Bingham Farms and attorney for the Township of West Bloomfield; and first-year recognized Steven P. Joppich, city attorney for Farmington Hills and township attorney for Oakland and Independence townships. Hampton, who has been named in "The Best Lawyers in America" since 1995, is also listed by the publication in the areas of Commercial Litigation, Family Law, Land Use and Zoning, and Real Estate Law. * * * The law firm of Miller Canfield announces that principal Michael P. McGee has been appointed to the boards of directors for the Turnaround Management Association, Michigan Chapter, and for Michigan Saves, Inc. At Miller Canfield, McGee has more than 25 years of legal experience specializing in public finance matters. His clients include cities, villages, townships, community colleges and other public entities in areas such as infrastructure finance, transportation, public/private economic development and intergovernmental agreements. He earned his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School, M.P.P. from the Institute for Public Policy Studies (Ford School) and A.B. from the University of Michigan. * * * Nemeth Burwell PC, a Detroit law firm exclusively serving employers in the areas of labor and employment law, announces the firm has been named a leading Diversity-Focused Company by Corp! Magazine, a Michigan-based business news print and e-publication. The firm was honored at Michigan's Salute to Diversity annual event held on Aug. 30th at the MGM Grand Detroit. Nemeth Burwell, led by attorneys Patricia Nemeth and Linda G. Burwell, was recognized for its position as the largest woman-owned law firm in Michigan to exclusively represent management in the prevention, resolution and litigation of labor and employment disputes. The firm was also honored for its longstanding commitment to the City of Detroit and its efforts to get less experienced attorneys engaged in Detroit's corporate community. Additionally, Patricia Nemeth was interviewed by R. J. King, editor of DBusiness Magazine, for the video series View from the Top. View from the Top features the Southeast Michigan region's leading business owners, CEOs and thought leaders discussing a variety of business issues affecting the Detroit Metropolitan region. Nemeth was interviewed about the increase in EEOC complaints regarding the Genetic Information Non-Disclosure Act (GINA), employment matters impacting employers in the workplace today and the history of the founding of Nemeth Burwell. The interview, which was taped at Nemeth Burwell's Detroit riverfront office, can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIgDaFgm9lc. Published: Mon, Sep 12, 2011