LEGAL PEOPLE

Williams, Williams, Rattner, & Plunkett PC MAY A. SAAD, an attorney at WILLIAMS, WILLIAMS, RATTNER, & PLUNKETT PC was elected to the Board of Directors of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS). ACCESS is one of the nation's premier Arab American organizations. Saad focuses her law practice in the areas of commercial litigation, family law, corporate and real estate, immigration and international law. Saad speaks both Arabic and French fluently and is a Michigan Supreme Court certified translator. Prior to joining WWRP, Saad served as a judicial intern to U. S. District Court Chief Judge Gerald E. Rosen, Eastern District of Michigan. Saad earned her B.A. from Filière Francophone de Droit in 2003 and her law degree from Wayne State University Law School in 2010. ---------- Potestivo & Associates P.C. POTESTIVO & ASSOCIATES PC is pleased to announce the hiring of their 21st attorney, KIM BATCHA. Batcha will serve as an associate attorney in the firm's Litigation Department, where her focus will be on federal debt collections, commercial litigation, and real estate litigation. Prior to her new role, Batcha served as a law clerk in the firm's Illinois office since September 2009. She earned her law degree from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois, as well as a Bachelor of Arts from Western Michigan University. Brian Potestivo, president-managing attorney, stated, "Kim is a wonderful addition to our team of talented and hardworking attorneys. We are now 21 attorneys strong and continue to grow in both Michigan and Illinois to better serve our clients." ---------- H. Joel Newman, PLLC H. JOEL NEWMAN, PLLC, a law firm specializing in complex business litigation, recently announced that it has moved into a new office, located at 370 E. Maple Rd. in Birmingham. Principal H. JOEL NEWMAN, who established the firm in July, made the announcement. The new location, which better accommodates the growing firm, provides expanded technology and office space to effectively serve clients in commercial litigation, shareholder and partnership disputes, attorney malpractice and stockbroker fraud cases. Newman has won multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements for his clients, including the defense of an automotive company in a case brought by two major mobile home manufacturers seeking millions in damages. Newman earned a law degree from the University of Michigan and a bachelor's degree from Wayne State University. Newman is a member of the State Bar of Michigan (Masters, Business Law, Litigation and Real Property Sections), the American Constitution Society and the Oakland County Bar Association. ---------- Gregory J. Reed Law Attorney GREGORY J. REED, the founder of Keeper of the Word Foundation and MSU alumnus, was the featured panelist speaker amongst nationwide scholars at MSU's Kellogg Center on Dec. 2. Reed presented the missing files/chapters of Malcolm X's Autobiography, primary sources and X's introduction along with the Mecca Redemption letter redacted from the "Autobiography of Malcolm X" that were never published. Reed presented an abbreviated coverage of the missing files at the Audubon Ballroom in New York where Malcolm X gave his last speech to a standing room crowd on Malcolm X's 85th birthday in May 2010. Reed rescued Malcolm X's Autobiography manuscript along with the three missing chapters and unpublished writings of Malcolm X A.K.A. Malik Shabazz at the Alex Hale Estate auction. The literary acquisition was the largest of its kind in the 20th Century. A part of Reed's rescued mission was Malcolm X's eulogy, expressing his hope for America's humanity and the Negro. Forty-five years after Malcolm X's passing, the chapters are being released for the first time. MSU requested Reed to cover the topic, "Malcolm X's Lost Files" and submit a related paper corresponding with MSU's edited volume series for scholars. Reed is the author of 16 books, many are award winners. ---------- Barris, Sott, Denn & Driker PLLC Detroit law firm BARRIS, SOTT, DENN, & DRIKER PLLC is pleased to announce that its associate MELONIE L. MCKENZIE Stothers was selected as one of twenty "Up & Coming Lawyers" by Michigan Lawyers Weekly for 2011. Stothers graduated from Syracuse University College of Law in 2002 and Michigan Technological University with a bachelor of science in mathematics in 1999. Her practice covers all aspects of commercial litigation, with a special emphasis on electronic discovery. She has served as vice present and a board member of It's My Heart-Metro Detroit and now volunteers with the Children's Heart Foundation, raising support and awareness of congenital heart defects. ---------- Michigan Supreme Court Eleven area women leaders will be honored by the Michigan Business and Professional Association at its 16th Annual "Women and Leadership in the Workplace" Conference and Awards program on Jan, 26, at The Henry, in Dearborn. Among the honorees will be Michigan Supreme Court Justice MARILYN J. KELLY who will be recognized under the category of Civic and Community Affairs. The event is held to promote high professional standards, encourage leadership, provide education and assure equal advantages for women. More than 500 women are expected to attend the event. ---------- Attorneys Title Agency (ATA) Farmington Hills-based ATTORNEYS TITLE AGENCY (ATA) recently announced that it has acquired the assets of Portage, Mich.-based Pinnacle Title Agency. ATA President WILLIAM ROBINSON made the announcement. The transaction, which closed on December 1, enhances the ATA footprint in a market that has long intrigued the title insurance provider. "Though we have a significant presence in West Michigan through our affiliate Midstate Title Agency, the Kalamazoo market was yet-untapped prior to this acquisition," said Robinson. "We feel this region has significant growth potential and partnering with the great team at Pinnacle is a phenomenal entry point." Pinnacle was owned and operated by George Amar, a title insurance professional with more than 35 years of experience in the industry. Amar and his expert staff will be valuable additions to the ATA team. Pinnacle Title Agency will operate as an ATA office, supervised by the agency's Southwest Michigan manager, Terry Pingel. ---------- Thomas M. Cooley Law School Two Michigan circuit court judges who teach at THOMAS M. COOLEY LAW SCHOOL are recipients of the school's Frederick J. Griffith III Adjunct Faculty Award. Oakland County Circuit Court Judge COLLEEN A. O'BRIEN and Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Rosemarie E. Aquilina have been chosen to receive this year's award. Despite the demands of a busy circuit court docket, O'Brien has taught pre-trial skills at the Auburn Hills campus for 11 consecutive terms. O'Brien is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Detroit College of Law. After a 17-year career as a litigation attorney, she was elected to the Oakland County Circuit Court bench in 1998 where she continues to serve. ---------- Howard & Howard HOWARD & HOWARD ATTORNEYS PLLC is pleased to announce that SHELLY L. HOKENSTAD has joined the firm. She will practice out of the firm's Royal Oak Office. Hokenstad specializes in obtaining and enforcing intellectual property rights throughout diverse technologies including computer software, digital projection systems, microprocessors, semiconductor fabrication and packaging, integrated circuits, computer networking, antennas, telecommunications, optics, digital and analog circuits, printing technologies, medical devices, alarm systems, computer architecture, cellular technologies and a variety of automotive technologies such as: fuel cell systems, electronic stability control systems, traction control systems, anti-lock brake systems, collision preparation systems, autonomous driving systems, adaptive cruise control systems, lane keeping systems and human machine interfaces. Hokenstad is versed in all areas of intellectual property law including development and implementation of intellectual property strategies, worldwide patent preparation and prosecution, and preparation of legal opinions regarding freedom to practice, infringement and validity. She also has experience in all aspects of patent litigation. Before beginning her law career, Hokenstad was an electrical project engineer with Kimberly-Clark Corporation. As an engineer, she was responsible for implementing machine control systems for capital investment projects and providing electrical engineering support for manufacturing operations. Hokenstad earned her B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin in 1995 and her law degree from Franklin Pierce Law Center in 2002. She is a registered patent attorney, admitted to practice in the State of Michigan. Published: Mon, Dec 12, 2011