Legal People

The law firm of Miller Canfield announces that principals Matthew P. Allen and Joseph D. Gustavus recently spoke at the Michigan State University (MSU) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Alliance Conference in Lansing. Allen's presentation was "Commercial & Public Interest Use of IP in the Information Age: Understanding Title to Inventions Among Industry, Universities, Researchers, and the Government." Gustavus presented on "ITAR + Export Controls Trends and Developments for Universities." The all-day conference included remarks from the FBI Detroit Office and MSU President Lou Anna Simon. Allen resides in Miller Canfield's Troy office and is a business, securities, and intellectual property litigator and trial lawyer who has tried and arbitrated a wide variety of intellectual property, securities, and business disputes in a wide array of forums. His intellectual property litigation experience includes representing companies in international corporate espionage investigations and prosecutions, and in national and international IP litigation and arbitration. He received his law degree from Wayne State University Law School and his B.A. from the State University of New York College at Fredonia. Gustavus resides in the firm's Troy office and is a corporate attorney representing multinational clients primarily in the automotive, defense, aerospace, software and information technology sectors. He assists clients with their complex domestic and international acquisitions and commercial transactions, ITAR and export control compliance issues, corporate governance and with building, demonstrating, and protecting the value of their intellectual property rights. He earned his law degree from Wayne State University Law School and his B.A. from Michigan State University. Miller Canfield also announces that Christopher M. Trebilcock, a principal and deputy practice group leader of the Employment + Labor Group (Detroit office), has been named to Crain's Detroit Business 40 Under 40 list of professionals for 2012. Trebilcock was recognized for his community leadership as the former president of the Detroit Institute of Arts Founders Junior Council, as well as his superior litigation skills as Crain's highlighted his successful effort on the legal team to resolve multiple Open Meetings Act lawsuits involving a public authority in Southeast Michigan. Trebilcock litigates labor and employment disputes in federal and state courts and in administrative agencies across the country. His appellate experience includes oral arguments before the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Michigan Court of Appeals. He also manages arbitrations and administrative proceedings; conducts collective bargaining negotiations; and advises clients on all types of labor and employment issues. He also has extensive experience working with schools and universities and advising public entities and elected officials. He is recognized for his employment and labor law work in Best Lawyers and Michigan Super Lawyers. He earned his law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law and his B.A. from Alma College. In addition, Miller Canfield announces that Anna M. Maiuri, principal and leader of the Energy, Environmental and Regulatory Group (Troy and Lansing offices), has been named one of Michigan Lawyers Weekly's Women in the Law for 2012. This honor was awarded to 20 Michigan attorneys, not only for professional success, but also for striking a balance that includes giving back to the profession. Maiuri considers this award as an "honor, especially considering the high caliber of talent amongst the recipients this year." Maiuri served as chair of Miller Canfield's managing directors for three of her four years on the management team from 2006-2009. As an environmental and regulatory lawyer with more than $2 billion in transactions to date, she has experience in helping corporations, business owners and operators assess environmental liabilities when purchasing, selling or leasing assets both across the country and around the world. She has been recognized for her environmental and regulatory work in Best Lawyers and as a "Top 50 Women" and "Top 100 Lawyer" in Michigan Super Lawyers. She earned both her law degree and B.A. from Wayne State University. Miller Canfield also announces that attorney and CPA, Gregory A. Nowak, recently received two distinguished awards for his public service. On Sept. 29, Nowak received the Cowger Leadership Award from the American Cancer Society (ACS) for his outstanding contribution to the ACS' fundraising effort, serving as finance chair for the past two years. On Oct. 1, he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MACPA) for his contributions to the accounting profession in Michigan. He is the past chair of the board of the MACPA. As a principal at Miller Canfield, Nowak is an expert on state and local tax issues. With more than 20 years' experience, he focuses his practice on both structural tax planning and state tax controversy matters. Throughout his career, he has represented many major companies on multistate tax matters including clients in the manufacturing, retail, and transportation industries. He has litigated and negotiated issues involving all of Michigan's major taxes, has played an active advisory role in most of the significant Michigan tax controversies in recent years, and has also served as a tax policy advisor to the Michigan legislature and Snyder administration. He is a longtime member of the MACPA and received their Hoatlin Award in 2008 and Special Recognition Award in 2009. He is chair of the Detroit Regional Chamber Tax Committee and a member of the council of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He is a member of the boards of the Detroit Historical Society and the Accounting Aid Society, and treasurer of the Detroit Yacht Club. He earned his law degree from Wayne State University Law School and his B.A. from Michigan State University. * * * On Monday, Oct. 8, the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association Foundation announced that Judge Victoria A. Roberts will be the recipient of the 8th annual Dennis W. Archer Public Service Award. The award will be presented to Roberts on Tuesday, Dec. 4, during the Foundation's annual gala reception. "Love us or hate us - the public comes to lawyers at the first sign of trouble in their lives," said Roberts. "So, there is a tremendous need to continuously improve our profession because of the demands placed on us, and to serve in ways that improve the communities in which we live. The Archer Award has gone to esteemed members of our profession who take these obligations seriously, and I am honored to be included in their ranks." Roberts was commissioned as United States District judge of the Eastern District of Michigan by President Bill Clinton in 1998 and received the position through a unanimous Senate vote. Prior to her appointment, Roberts' career in public service included work as a research attorney for the Michigan Court of Appeals, an assistant U.S. attorney for Michigan's Eastern District, and general counsel for the transition team of former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer after his election in 1993. As a volunteer, Roberts is a current Master of the Bench for the American Inns of Court. A past member of the Boards of Directors of both Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Fair Housing Center of Detroit, Roberts currently serves on her bench's Pro Bono Committee and as a Trustee of the Michigan State Bar Foundation. From 1996-1997, Roberts served as the 62nd president of the State Bar of Michigan, the first African-American woman to hold the position. A frequent speaker and lecturer, Roberts has been a faculty member for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, the Trial Advocacy Workshop of the United States District Court-Eastern District of Michigan, and the Federal Bar Association's Federal Law Program and Summer Associate Program. She has taught in Kenya and Serbia, and is scheduled as a lecturer at the University of Michigan Law School for the Winter 2013 semester. In addition to this year's Archer Award, Roberts is a recipient of Michigan Lawyers Weekly's Lawyers of the Year Award as well as the two highest honors conferred by the State Bar of Michigan: The Roberts P. Hudson and Champion of Justice awards. * * * Larry Bennett, shareholder in the Litigation Section of Giarmarco, Mullins, & Horton PC was elected as an officer of the Insurance and Indemnity Section of the State Bar of Michigan. Bennett's practice focuses on litigation issues involving environmental hazards, defective products, and unsafe practices that result in physical and economic injury. He has been involved in cases challenging the safe design of aircraft and automobiles; the health impact of contaminated home and business environments; and injuries resulting from construction, trucking, or other wrongful conduct. He is also involved in complex commercial or business litigation including insurance coverage disputes, disability insurance claims, challenges to telecommunication billing practices, and shareholder disputes. Bennett has served on numerous committees with respect to litigation related issues, including the Civil Justice Reform Act Advisory Group for the United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan. He has been a frequent speaker at seminars involving litigation related topics. He has also served as an arbitrator and a mediator for the Wayne County Mediation Tribunal Association, the Oakland County Bar Association, and the Macomb County Bar Association. Bennett has been recognized as a Best Lawyer in America by U.S. News. He is also recognized as a Top Lawyer by DBusiness and voted a Super Lawyer for 2009 through 2012. * * * Butzel Long attorney and shareholder Sean H. Cook will be a featured speaker during the Walsh Institute Leadership Center's Business Transitions Annual Conference from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 1, at Walsh College's Troy campus. Butzel Long is a sponsor of the Leadership Center. The Conference will focus on business transitions from all angles - preparation, process and preferred results. To register, visit: www.thewalshinstitute.com/businessLIVE Cook's presentation is titled, "Skeletons in the Closet or Hidden Treasure Trove?" This session will discuss the importance of discovering the true facts about one's company well before the official due diligence process begins. "Whenever a business organization goes through a transition, third parties - whether new investors, lenders, government entities or buyers - will want to conduct a due diligence review," said Cook. "The review will delve into all aspects of the business. When such a review is conducted, any unfavorable situations may be uncovered that could affect timing, pricing or even threaten the transition from occurring. The review could also uncover a treasure trove of valuable contract terms or untapped intellectual property, for instance, that could enhance the transition if known to the business organization." Cook's practice includes federal and state tax planning and controversy; general corporate law which covers shareholder and owner issues, choice of entity analysis and formation and dissolution transactions; commercial law covering contract review and UCC issues; merger and acquisitions; succession planning; estate and trust planning and administration; non-profit entities, and general tax planning and consultation. In the succession planning area, he has handled generation wealth transfers through a variety of mechanisms from traditional gifting to recapitalizations and family partnerships. In addition, Cook is a CPA with more than eight years experience with a national firm and a metro Detroit firm. This CPA background adds an extra dimension when representing clients because of his "practical experience" with complex tax rules and his experience with financial and accounting issues. Cook has published a number of legal articles. In addition, he is a member of the State Bar of Michigan Taxation Section, the American Bar Association, and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He is a former adjunct professor at Walsh College, and served on the board of the Walsh College Alumni Association and as its President in 2000. He is currently a member of the Walsh College President's Advisory Council. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MACPA) (2009-2012) and is the immediate past chair of the MACPA Federal Tax Task Force. Cook graduated from Wayne State University Law School (1995), Walsh College (M.S., Taxation, 1989) and University of Michigan (B.A., 1987). He was named by DBusiness as a Metro Detroit Top Lawyer for Tax Law and Nonprofit/Charities Law. * * * Thomas H. Howlett, a partner at The Googasian Firm PC, has been selected as a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. Howlett specializes in plaintiff litigation, primarily focusing on catastrophic injury cases and consumer class actions. A 1984 graduate of Harvard College, Howlett received his law degree from University of Michigan Law School in 1990. Prior to practicing law, Howlett worked as a newspaper reporter at The Dallas Morning News and Los Angeles Times. Howlett also is vice-president of the Oakland County Bar Association, and chair of the State Bar of Michigan's Law and the Media Committee. * * * Gov. Rick Snyder recently appointed Emily McIntyre to serve on the Michigan Crime Victim Services Commission for three-year terms. The commission oversees the Crime Victim Compensation Program, which helps pay out-of-pocket medical expenses, grief counseling, lost earnings, funeral bills and crime scene clean-up to eligible crime victims who suffered from a physical injury. The commission also oversees Victim Rights grants, which fund victim advocates throughout the state and the Michigan Crime Notification Network. It also manages the federally-funded Victims of Crime Assistance grants, which go to statewide programs that support victims of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault and underserved victims of crime. McIntyre will represent community-based victim advocates and Democrats, replacing Janet Praefke. McIntyre is a victim rights supervisor for the Oakland County Prosecutor. She has served as a victim rights advocate for 26 years and was selected as one of the first three paralegal victim advocates by then-Oakland County Prosecutor L. Brooks Patterson. McIntyre has a paralegal certification from Oakland University. Her term expires Sept. 27, 2015. Each person on the five-member commission serves a three-year term, and no more than three members can be of the same political party. Appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the state Senate. * * * For the eighth consecutive year, the Michigan Business & Professional Association (MBPA) has named Plunkett Cooney as one of "Metropolitan Detroit's 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For." The MBPA honored the 101 Best and Brightest companies its a human resources symposium and awards luncheon on Thursday, Sept. 27 at the Henry Hotel in Dearborn. The "101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For" honor is presented annually in several markets, including Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta and Houston, as well as nationally. An independent research firm evaluates each company's entry based on key measures in various categories. They include compensation, benefits and employee solutions; employee enrichment, engagement and retention; employee education and development; recruitment, selection and orientation; employee achievement and recognition; communication and shared vision; diversity and inclusion; work-life balance; community initiatives and strategic company performance. Additionally, 17 Plunkett Cooney attorneys were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2013. Nominated by colleagues as standouts in their respective fields, local Plunkett Cooney partners Michael P. Ashcraft Jr.; William D. Booth; Charles W. Browning; Jerome A. Galante; James R. Geroux; Donald J. Hutchinson; Robert G. Kamenec; Kenneth M. Mattson; Stanley C. Moore, III; Christine D. Oldani; Mary Massaron Ross; Scott H. Sirich; and Thomas P. Vincent. Ten members of Plunkett Cooney's Bloomfield Hills office have also received the "Best Lawyer" designation, including Vincent, who is new to the list of best lawyers. Vincent has served as a member of the firm's Board of Directors since 1999. He has successfully represented numerous Fortune 500 companies, as well as many other clients in the areas of business litigation, complex general litigation, and labor and employment litigation in both state and federal courts. Booth, who has been included on the list since 1987, was named again to the Best Lawyers® list in the area of personal injury litigation. One of the firm's most accomplished litigators, 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. He recently received the Outstanding Achievement Award, which was presented to him by the Council of the Negligence Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. Nominated for his expertise in appellate law, Bloomfield Hills partner Kamenec currently serves as Plunkett Cooney's Insurance/Professional Liability/Governmental Law Department leader. He is a member of the American Academy of Appellate Attorneys and a past "Lawyer of the Year," as named by Michigan Lawyers Weekly, a leading publication serving the state's legal industry. Joining Kamenec from the firm's Bloomfield Hills 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 president-elect for the DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar, which is an international organization of attorneys defending the interests of business and individuals in civil litigation. Ashcraft, who currently serves as the firm's Professional Liability Practice Group Leader and as a member of Plunkett Cooney's Board of Directors, was selected for his expertise in legal malpractice law. He concentrates his practice on 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 nominated 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. For over 29 years, Browning has represented and counseled insurance carriers in countless complex insurance coverage matters throughout the United States. Galante has been honored as a Best Lawyer once again 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 an extensive litigation and trial practice. Hutchinson has been recognized by "Best Lawyers" for his work in bankruptcy litigation. Hutchinson focuses his practice in the areas of bankruptcy and finance, with particular emphasis on loan restructuring, enforcement and insolvency. He represents numerous clients in Chapter 11, Chapter 7, and Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases, as well as in creditors' assignments, international insolvency proceedings, and out-of-court workouts. Mattson was honored 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. Moore, included as a leader 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. Sirich, who serves as the firm's Construction Law Practice Group leader, was selected for his expertise in construction litigation. Sirich represents architectural and engineering design firms, construction managers, general contractors, subcontractors, owners, and developers in all construction matters both directly and through insurance carriers. He focuses his practice in the areas of construction law, architects and engineers' liability, insurance law, mold/toxin liability, occupational health and safety law and general litigation. Geroux, who is a partner in the firm's Detroit office, has been named among the "Best Lawyers" for workers' compensation law, the area of practice 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 once again by "Best Lawyers" for her expertise in the area of appellate law practice. She is one of Michigan's most accomplished appellate attorneys with over 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. Published: Mon, Oct 22, 2012