Giarmarco, Mullins, & Horton, P.C.
Elizabeth (Liza) A. Favaro, member of the Business Litigation Group of Giarmarco, Mullins, & Horton PC, has been elected as partner. Favaro is a trial lawyer with experience in employee termination issues, such as non-compete and trade secret violations, as well as shareholder disputes, business break-ups, and real property disputes.
Favaro’s clients include healthcare providers, medical device and supply manufacturers and distributors, and businesses in highly technical industries. Favaro has tried a number of cases, has experience in complex and class action litigation and has worked on a variety of significant appeals.
Michigan Super Lawyers has recognized Favaro as a Rising Star for the years 2009 through 2012.
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Neuman Anderson P.C.
Neuman Anderson P.C., a Birmingham-based business law firm specializing in complex commercial litigation, announced that Kenneth F. Neuman has been recognized as a 2013 Top Lawyer by DBusiness magazine in the practice areas of Business Litigation and Commercial Litigation. This is the second consecutive year he has earned the honor.
Neuman concentrates his practice in complex commercial litigation and business consulting, with a focus on corporate, real estate/construction, accounting and forensic issues, and contract disputes. He has more than 25 years of litigation experience and has obtained multiple verdicts and arbitration awards in excess of $1 million, including an $11 million breach of contract action judgment and a $3 million judgment in a suit involving a civil fraud case.
Neuman is a registered certified public accountant (CPA) and spent several years with one of the “big eight” accounting firms prior to beginning his legal career. He has been named a Michigan Super Lawyer for five consecutive years and recognized in the 2012 and 2013 editions of The Best Lawyers in America®. Neuman is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, Michigan Association for Justice, and American Association of Attorney-Certified Public Accountants.
He is a graduate of Michigan State University and Wayne State University Law School.
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Giarmarco, Mullins, & Horton, P.C.
Paul A. Thursam, an associate attorney at Giarmarco, Mullins, & Horton PC, has been appointed by the Grosse Pointe Shores City Counsel as a Board of Review Member for 2013. He previously served as an alternate in 2011. Thursam practices real property law, and represents banks and borrowers. Thursam also serves on the Executive Committee for the Italian American Bar Association of Michigan.
Thursam has been recognized as a “Top Lawyer” by DBusiness magazine for 2012 and 2013. He is also a Super Lawyer-Rising Star for 2013.
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Mantese & Associates PC
Rogers Mantese & Associates PC announced that shareholder David L. Rogers and associate Rolf E. Lowe were named to the 2012 Michigan Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars® lists, respectively, by Super Lawyers Magazine.
Rogers, who was selected for his work in health care law, has been selected among Michigan Super Lawyers in each of the publication’s seven years rating attorneys in this state.
Rogers focuses his practice primarily on representing Michiganhealth care organizations, professionals and businesses in matters including contracts, third party payer audits and reimbursement, and legislative issues.
Rogers, a graduate of Wayne State University Law School, is the former chair of the State Bar of Michigan Health Care Law Section, of which he was named a Fellow in 2011. In addition, he is a former faculty member of the Department of Internal Medicine Residency Program at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, chair of the University’s Irvin D. Reid Honors College Board of Visitors, and member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, American Health Lawyers Association, and Federal, Detroit Metropolitan and Oakland County Bar Associations.
Lowe was recognized as a Rising Star for the fourth consecutive year. Just 2.5 percent of Michigan attorneys are named to this list. Lowe concentrates his practice primarily on representing health care providers and professionals in professional licensing matters, labor and employment matters associated with health care, civil rights claims, administrative actions, business matters, health care compliance matters and compliance committee operations, hospital staff privilege actions, civil litigation and mediation.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and his law degree from Wayne State University Law School. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, American Health Lawyers Association, and Michigan Public Employers Labor Relations Association.
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Bodman PLC
Bodman PLC has been recognized by the Detroit Free Press and Crain’s Detroit Business as one of Michigan’s best places to work.
The Free Press recently named Bodman a “Top Work Place” for 2012 based on an anonymous survey covering various aspects of employee satisfaction including firm leadership, communications, ethics, advancement opportunities, and pay and benefits. Bodman, which also won the Top Work Place designation in 2010 and 2011, is one of only 35 mid-size employers statewide to win the 2012 award.
Crain’s Detroit Business has named Bodman a “Cool Place to Work” following an anonymous employee survey focusing on corporate culture and communications, job satisfaction, work environment, firm leadership, training and development, and other areas. Bodman is one of only 16 employers statewide to be named a Cool Place to Work in the large employer (more than 250 persons) category.
Both publications also analyzed each employer’s personnel policies and benefits as part of the evaluation process.
“We place a lot of emphasis on maintaining a comfortable and enjoyable work environment,” said Bodman’s Chairman Ralph E. McDowell. “It goes beyond typical employee benefits. We try to communicate to each person that they are valued and appreciated. It’s the right thing to do, it enhances our culture of collaboration and teamwork, and it is reflected in the high quality of our work.”
Crain’s Detroit Business cited one particular Bodman tradition - an annual Staff Appreciation Day featuring gifts, food, manicures and massages – as one of the firm’s strengths. The firm also offers employees periodic themed luncheons, such as an annual celebration of the Detroit Lions’ first regular season game at Ford Field, which is also home to Bodman’s headquarters.
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Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP
James E. Stewart has joined Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, and Cohn LLP as a partner in the firm’s Litigation Department. He brings to Honigman more than 30 years of experience in media law, intellectual property and commercial litigation.
Throughout his career, Stewart has handled numerous high-profile litigation matters for multinational corporations and Fortune 100 companies. He has a national reputation in media law and recently served as the executive committee president for the National Defense Counsel section of the Media Law Resource Center. In addition, he has experience in breach of confidentiality provisions and trade secret misappropriations, particularly representing automotive suppliers.
Stewart has been honored in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, in Best Lawyers in America, in Michigan Super Lawyers and in DBusiness’ “Top Lawyers.”
He earned his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and a B.S. from the United States Military Academy.
Stewart joins Honigman from Thompson & Knight LLP in Bloomfield Hills and was previously with Butzel Long where he led the media law practice and at one time served as chair of its Litigation Department.
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Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss, P.C.
Sarah S. Weston, a partner at Southfield-based Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer, & Weiss PC, has been named by Michigan Lawyers Weekly a 2012 Up & Coming Lawyer. Jaffe CEO Bill Sider made the announcement.
Weston was honored at a luncheon on Dec. 6 at the Detroit Marriott Troy as one of 20 lawyers who have made a substantial impact during their first 10 years of practice and appeared poised for even greater things in their career.
Weston is a member of the firm’s finance, corporate and real estate practice groups, specializing in finance, electronic banking, business law and general corporate matters. She counsels financial institutions and businesses on mobile payments, merchant-acquiring, electronic fund transfers, loyalty cards and payment systems and merger and acquisition matters. Weston also represents both buyers and sellers of merchant portfolios and businesses in the payments industry.
A published author and regular speaker, Weston is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the ISO Best Practices Committee for the Electronic Transactions Association based in Washington, D.C. The committee is responsible for identifying and communicating issues that affect the independent sales organization community, as well as recommending programs, services and events that would best meet the needs of the target market segment.
Weston earned her bachelor’s degree with honors from James Madison College at Michigan State University and is a graduate of Michigan State University College of Law. She is also co-chair of Jaffe’s Women’s Caucus Group, in this role she facilitates networking and educational opportunities at the firm to advance women’s professional goals.
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Butzel Long
Butzel Long attorney and shareholder Patrick A. Karbowski will be a featured speaker during the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) 2013 Michigan Continuing Education Program for Real Estate Professionals on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013 in Novi. Karbowski’s presentation is titled, “Seller Financing: Sometimes It Makes Cents (and Dollars).” Butzel Long is a sponsor of the program.
“It will be an interactive discussion on the methods and pitfalls of seller financing in the sale of shopping centers and strip malls,” said Karbowski.
His practice includes both transactions and litigation, with concentrations in the areas of real estate and general business. Karbowski is listed in The Best Lawyers in America and Chambers USA for Real Estate.
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. In 2012, Karbowski was awarded the C. Robert Wartell Distinguished Service Award at the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan’s annual summer conference.
Karbowski is a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan, the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, and the Oakland County Bar Association.
Karbowski graduated from the Wayne State University School of Law in 1987. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Central Michigan University.
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Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss, P.C.
Andrew T. Hayner has joined Southfield-based Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer, & Weiss PC, as an associate in the firm’s corporate group. Jaffe CEO Bill Sider made the announcement.
Since 2010, Hayner worked as a legal intern in the office of the Michigan Attorney General – Corporate Oversight Division. In this role, he focused and developed his knowledge on anti-trust and insurance issues at the state level.
Hayner earned his law degree from Michigan State University College of Law. Hayner also attended the University of Detroit Mercy, where he earned his Master of Art’s degree in liberal studies and a bachelor’s degree in political science and history.
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Warner, Norcross, & Judd LLP
A local partner from the law firm of Warner, Norcross, & Judd LLP has been ranked among the top Super Lawyers in the seventh annual publication of Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine.
Mary Jo Larson, who concentrates her practice on employee benefits law, was featured as one of the Top 50 Women Michigan Super Lawyers.
She was among the 61 Warner Norcross attorneys selected for the peer-review award, which recognizes those attorneys who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.
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Miller Canfield
The law firm of Miller Canfield was honored to serve as co-bond counsel for the Michigan Finance Authority’s (MFA’s) successful refinancing of Michigan’s entire federal unemployment insurance loan. In June, the MFA closed on its largest fixed rate bond deal ever, enabling the state to repay a $3.2 billion Unemployment Trust Fund loan – and creating significant savings for Michigan employers.
The transaction won The Bond Buyer’s coveted “Deal of the Year” award at a December 5 ceremony in New York. The Bond Buyer is a highly regarded national trade publication covering the municipal bond industry. The financing also won The Bond Buyer’s “Midwest Deal of the Year” award. This is the second year in a row that Miller Canfield was involved in a Bond Buyer “Deal of the Year.” The firm served as bond counsel to the small issuer Deal of the Year in 2011.
“We congratulate the staff of the Department of Treasury and Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs in putting together this innovative financing. We were honored to be asked to serve as co-bond counsel on the transaction,” said Christopher J. Dembowski, a principal in Miller Canfield’s Lansing office. Dembowski and David P. Massaron served as counsel on the bond issue.
According to The Bond Buyer, the transaction represents the best the national municipal market has to offer in terms of innovative thinking.
Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Director Steven Hilfinger said, “Restoring solvency to the Unemployment Trust Fund was critical in moving the state forward and significantly reducing the current and future burden on employers, both through interest savings and the restoration of FUTA tax credits.”
The 2012 Bond Buyer awards considered deals that closed between Oct. 1, 2011 and Sept. 30, 2012. The contest drew some 90 nominations for transactions ranging in size from a few million to billions of dollars. One finalist was selected from each of the five regions covered by The Bond Buyer. One issue was recognized as winner in the small issuer category. Small deals are those completed by issuers with annual revenue of $70 million or less.
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Rader, Fishman, & Grauer PLLC
Melissa Atherton has been named an associate at Rader, Fishman, & Grauer PLLC, an intellectual property firm representing companies worldwide.
Atherton’s practice will focus on domestic trademark prosecution, trademark enforcement and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office proceedings.
Prior to joining Rader, Fishman, & Grauer, Atherton was an English language instructor for corporate executives in South Korea before completing internships at two Michigan law firms.
Atherton is a member of the State Bar of Michigan. She is also a member of the New Hampshire Bar Association.
Atherton earned her law degree from University of New Hampshire School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in economics and English from University of Windsor.
Additionally, Paul M. Ratzmann has been named a senior attorney at the Bloomfield Hills office of Rader, Fishman, & Grauer.
Ratzmann’s practice will focus on patent prosecution with an emphasis on mechanical and electro-mechanical components. He has experience drafting and prosecuting patents for a wide range of medical equipment and devices, as well as hybrid vehicles and electrical motors.
Prior to joining Rader, Fishman, & Grauer, Ratzmann was a patent attorney with an intellectual property firm in Milwaukee. Before this, he was a product development engineer with General Electric where his research in medical equipment and components resulted in 11 patents. Ratzmann was also a research engineer at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Illinois where he worked closely with staff physicists and collaborating universities.
Ratzmann is the author of “Thermal analysis of the CDF SVX II silicon vertex detector,” which appeared in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research (1996) and redefined traditional views of cooling in radiation-damaged biased silicon devices.
Ratzmann is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin and State Bar of Missouri. He earned his law degree from Marquette Law School, and both a Master of Science in solar engineering and Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from University of Wisconsin-Madison.
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Dickinson Wright PLLC
Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce that The Bond Buyer selected The Michigan Finance Authority’s multibillion dollar refinancing of the state’s federal unemployment insurance loan as the 2012 National Deal of the Year.
Dickinson Wright attorneys Terence M. Donnelly, Kester K. So, and Thomas V. Yates served as co-bond counsel to the Michigan Finance Authority on the bond issue. The Michigan Finance Authority’s $3.3 billion of unemployment obligation assessment revenue bonds allowed the state to save millions of dollars in interest costs associated with a loan from the federal government for unemployment insurance benefits. It served as a model for subsequent transactions by other states in the municipal bond market.
The 2012 awards, which considered deals that closed between Oct. 1, 2011 and Sept. 30, 2012, drew approximately 90 nominations throughout the nation for transactions ranging in size from a few million to billions of dollars. One finalist was selected from each of the five regions covered by The Bond Buyer. The entries were evaluated by The Bond Buyer’s editors and bureau chiefs. They looked for deals that involved innovation, the ability to pull complex transactions together under challenging conditions, deals that could or did serve as a model for other financings, and the public purpose for which a transaction’s proceeds were used.
The transaction also won the Deal of the Year award for the Midwest region.
Dickinson Wright’s municipal law & finance practice consists of a team of lawyers with a national reputation as one of Michigan’s top bond counsels. Its lawyers have served as bond counsel in virtually every type of public financing transaction. Additionally, the team acts as underwriter’s counsel, trustee’s counsel, counsel to credit enhancement providers, counsel to purchasers of municipal bonds and borrower’s counsel in connection with all types of tax exempt and tax credit bond financings. The lawyers have been recognized by both Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers in the areas of municipal law & finance.
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