Legal People

Wayne County 36th District Court
Wayne County 36th District Court Judge Nancy M. Blount has been appointed chief judge of by the Michigan Supreme Court. The new chief judge has named Judge Prentis Edwards Jr. as the 36th District’s chief judge pro tem.
The Michigan Supreme Court appoints the chief judges of the state’s trial courts, in keeping with Michigan Court Rule 8.110. The court appoints chief judges in the fall of each odd-numbered year. Chief judges serve two-year terms beginning on January 1 of each even-numbered year and ending Dec. 31 of the second year. Blount was appointed to fill the rest of a chief judge term that ends Dec. 31, 2013.
Blount, who has served as a judge of the 36th District Court since 1983, earned both undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Michigan. She was admitted to both the State Bar of Michigan and the United States District Court Eastern District in 1975 and to the U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit in 1978. She also served as assistant corporation counsel for the city of Detroit, City of Detroit and as adjunct professor at Wayne State University.
Blount is also a member of the Association of Black Judges of Michigan and the Wolverine Bar Association. In addition, she is involved in community activities as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the Trade Union Leadership Council. She is a life member of NAACP.
Edwards is a lifelong Detroit resident and a graduate of Renaissance High School. He earned his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business and his law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing.
Edwards served as an attorney for the Detroit Public Schools, held a public policy position with the Detroit City Council, served as an assistant prosecuting attorney for Wayne County, and handled community relations in Detroit’s 4th District for the Michigan Senate. Edwards became a District Court judge in 2011 and is currently on administrative assignment handling felony preliminary examinations at Third Circuit Court.
Edwards is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, Wolverine Bar Association, NAACP Detroit Branch, and the Charles H. Wright Museum.

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Miller Canfield
Miller Canfield recently announced that 138 of its lawyers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Poland were selected by their peers for inclusion in the pre-eminent legal referral guide, Best Lawyers 2014.
Miller Canfield has lawyers named in more than 60 categories, is first in the United States in the number of lawyers named in Criminal Defense-Non-White Collar and second nationally in Banking and Finance, Municipal Litigation and Public Finance.
Following is a list of local Miller Canfield lawyers honored in Best Lawyers 2014. Some lawyers were named for the first time this year (*). Others have been recognized in Best Lawyers since its inception in 1983 (**).
 Detroit office.
• Frederick A. Acomb, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Intellectual Property.
• Michael A. Alaimo, Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor & Employment.
• LeRoy L. Asher Jr., Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Real Estate.
• Robin W. Asher, Commercial Litigation.
• Leland D. Barringer, Commercial Litigation.
• Marjory G. Basile, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent, Trademark.
• Jennifer A. Bielfield, Banking & Finance.
• Bruce D. Birgbauer**, Corporate, International Trade & Finance.
• Orin D. Brustad, Employee Benefits (ERISA).
• Harold W. Bulger Jr., Public Finance.
• Beverly Hall Burns, Education, Employment – Management, Labor – Management.
• Michael P. Coakley, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy), Litigation – Securities.
• Thomas D. Colis, Public Finance.
• Donna J. Donati, Employment – Management, Labor – Management.
• Lawrence M. Dudek, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Real Estate.
• W. Mack Faison, Commercial Litigation.
• Adam S. Forman, Employment – Management, Labor – Management.
• Steven M. Frank, Public Finance.
• Joseph F. Galvin, Land Use & Zoning, Litigation – Land Use & Zoning, Litigation – Municipal, Litigation – Real Estate.
• Leonard D. Givens, Employment – Management, Labor – Management.
• Jonathan S. Green, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization.
• Troy L. Harris, Construction .
• Michael W. Hartmann, Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice – Defendants, Professional Malpractice – Defendants.
• Todd A. Holleman, Commercial Litigation.
• Amy M. Johnston, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants.
• Donald W. Keim, Public Finance.
• Douglas M. Kilbourne, Banking and Finance.
• Stephen S. LaPlante, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization, Litigation – Bankruptcy.
• Thomas W. Linn, Banking and Finance.
• David Massaron, Public Finance.
• Anthony J. Mavrinac, Banking and Finance.
• Michael P. McGee, Public Finance.
• Patrick F. McGow, Public Finance.
• Jeffrey M. McHugh, Public Finance.
• Christopher A. McMican, Employee Benefits (ERISA).
• David R. Mitchell, Banking and Finance.
• Adam B. Norlander, Banking and Finance.
• Megan P. Norris, Employment – Management, Litigation – Labor & Employment.
• Gregory A. Nowak, Litigation & Controversy – Tax, Tax.
• A. Michael Palizzi, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Intellectual Property.
• Elisa Angeli Palizzi, Commercial Litigation.
• Michael B. Peterman, Banking and Finance.
• Joel L. Piell, Public Finance.
• Clarence L. Pozza Jr., Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Mergers & Acquisitions, Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy), Litigation – Securities.
• Steven A. Roach, Banking and Finance, Litigation – Banking & Finance.
• Jerry T. Rupley, Education, Public Finance.
• Jennifer L. Sabourin, Litigation – Labor & Employment.
• Larry J. Saylor, Appellate, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Antitrust, Litigation – Intellectual Property.
• Richard J. Seryak, Employment – Management, Labor – Management.
• Kent E. Shafer, Securities Regulation.
• Christopher M. Trebilcock, Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor & Employment.
• Amanda Van Dusen, Banking and Finance, Education, Public Finance.
• Carl H. von Ende, Commercial Litigation, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Banking and Finance.
• Richard A. Walawender, International Trade and Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions.
• Peter W. Waldmeir, Energy.
• Richard W. Warren, Employment – Management, Litigation – Labor & Employment.
• Jerome R. Watson, Employment – Management, Labor – Management, Litigation – Labor & Employment.
• John H. Willems, Employment – Management, Labor – Management.
 
Troy office.
• James L. Allen, Litigation – Banking & Finance, Litigation – Real Estate, Real Estate.
• Matthew P. Allen, Commercial Litigation.
• Frank L. Andrews, Litigation – Environmental.
• Thomas G. Appleman, Corporate, Mergers & Acquisitions, Securities/Capital Markets, Securities Regulation.
• Brad B. Arbuckle, Corporate, Mergers & Acquisitions, Securities/Capital Markets, Securities Regulation.
• Alexander J. Clark, Real Estate.
• Thomas W. Cranmer, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: Non-White-Collar, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Ethics and Professional Responsibility, Litigation – Environmental, Litigation – Securities.
• Gregory V. DiCenso, Litigation – Trusts & Estates, Trusts and Estates.
• Gary R. Glenn, Tax.
• Gerald J. Gleeson II, Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: Non-White-Collar
• Kalman G. Goren, Employee Benefits (ERISA).
• Robert J. Haddad, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants.
• Ronald E. Hodess, Construction, Real Estate.
• Brian H. Holt, Real Estate.
• David D. Joswick, Banking and Finance, Corporate, Mergers & Acquisitions, Securities/Capital Markets, Securities Regulation.
• Kenneth E. Konop, Litigation – Trusts & Estates.
• Matthew F. Leitman, Appellate, Criminal Defense: Non-White-Collar, Criminal Defense: White-Collar.
• Abdu H. Murray, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking & Finance.
• Stephen J. Ott, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants.
• Ronald H. Riback*, Banking and Finance.
• Alison H. Rodney, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants.
• Kenneth J. Sachs, Employee Benefits (ERISA).
• Dawn M. Schulter, Trusts and Estates.
• James A. Simpson, Banking and Finance, Corporate, Real Estate, Securities/Capital Markets, Securitization and Structure Finance.
• David M. Thoms, Litigation – Trusts & Estates, Non-Profit/Charities, Tax, Trusts and Estates.
• Shusheng Wang, Corporate.
• Brian S. Westenberg, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants.
• James W. Williams, Trusts and Estates.

Windsor, Ontario office.
• Bob Baksi*, Corporate.
• Jerry L. Goldberg, Real Estate.
• Jennifer L. Shilson*, Corporate.
• Jeffrey M. Slopen, Corporate.

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Butzel Long
Three local Butzel Long attorneys have been named Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” 2014 in key practice areas. The attorneys include:
• Robert A. Hudson – International Trade and Finance Law – Detroit.
• Justin G. Klimko – Corporate Law – Detroit.
• Thomas L. Shaevsky – Litigation – ERISA – Bloomfield Hills.
Hudson is a shareholder based in Butzel Long’s Detroit office and serves as chair of the firm’s Corporate Department. He 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, doing private transactions, investment management, the organization of hedge funds and corporate governance matters. He 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 has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America since 1997 in the following categories: Corporate Law; International Trade and Finance Law.
Hudson is a graduate of Wayne State University (B.A., 1969) and Wayne State University Law School (1972).
Klimko is Butzel Long’s president and managing shareholder and is based in the firm’s Detroit office. He has experience in securities regulation, corporate financing, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and general corporate matters, fields in which he has practiced since 1980.
He taught corporation law for five years as an adjunct professor at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, frequently lectures and authors articles on business law subjects and has served as general editor of a treatise on Michigan Business Forms and a contributing author for a treatise on Michigan contract law.
Klimko has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America since 1995 in the following categories: Business Organizations including LLCs and Partnerships; Corporate Compliance Law; Corporate Governance Law; Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Securities/ Capital Markets Law, and, Securities Regulation. He also was designated Best Lawyers’ 2012 Corporate Governance Law Lawyers of the Year for Detroit and received a Lexology Client Choice Award for Mergers and Acquisitions for 2013 and the 2009 Stephen H. Schulman Outstanding Business Lawyer Award from the Business Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan.
Klimko graduated from Duke University Law School (1980) and Ohio University (B.A., 1977).
Shaevsky is a shareholder based in the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office and is practice leader of the firm’s Employee Benefits Group. He advises large multinational corporations, physicians and other professional practices, hospitals and other nonprofit employers, as well as individuals, on compliance and planning issues pertaining to a wide range of retirement, pension, and welfare plan issues.
His experience includes counseling on fiduciary duty compliance, prohibited transaction avoidance and correction, reporting and disclosure issues, mergers and acquisitions due diligence, QDROs, as well as COBRA, HIPAA, and other benefits issues. Shaevsky represents clients undergoing IRS and U.S. Department of Labor audits.
Shaevsky is an adjunct professor of law at Thomas M. Cooley Law School.
Shaevsky has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law; Litigation since 2011.
Shaevsky is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School (1992), and the University of Michigan (B.A.,1989).

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Wayne State University Law School
Joshua R. Davis, a 2013 Wayne State University Law School alumnus, has been appointed associate director of recruitment at Wayne Law.
He will be responsible for recruiting students for the law school, assisting in development of recruitment strategies to attract qualified law students, and representing the law school at national, regional and local recruitment events.
Davis began his new role Monday, Aug. 19, the first day of orientation for new law students.
Davis earned his bachelor of arts degree in political science from the University of Michigan. Prior to attending law school, he worked in Washington, D.C., as a program instructor for the Close Up Foundation, a nonprofit education program that provides a “close up” view of government and democracy in action.

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Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP
The Best Lawyers in America 2014 has recognized Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, and Cohn LLP as a “Top-Listed” firm in Michigan in 26 key practice areas. Overall, Best Lawyers in America listed 104 Honigman attorneys with seven Honigman attorneys receiving the designation “Best Lawyer of the Year.”
Below is the list of local Honigman attorneys named by Best Lawyers in America as “Best Lawyers of the Year” 2014, the practice area for which they are being honored and the community where they received this honor:
• William O. Hochkammer – Health Care Law – Detroit.
• Donald J. Kunz – Corporate Governance Law – Detroit.
• Cyril Moscow – Securities Regulation – Detroit.
• Linda S. Ross – Information Technology (Health Care) – Detroit.
Below is a list of the local Honigman attorneys named by The Best Lawyers in America 2014, the city where their office is located and the practice area(s) for which they have been recognized:

Bloomfield Hills office
• Joseph Aviv – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Family Law, Litigation – Mergers & Acquisitions, Litigation – Securities.
• Jonathan R. Borenstein – Real Estate Law.
• Richard J. Burstein – Real Estate Law.
• Regis A. Carozza – Trusts and Estates.
• Howard B. Goldman – Real Estate Law.
• Andrew (Jake) M. Grove – Litigation – Intellectual Property.
• David J. Jacob – Real Estate Law.
• Martin L. Katz – Real Estate Law.
• Anessa Owen Kramer – Trademark Law.
• Michael A. Lisi – Copyright Law, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Patent Law, Trademark Law.
• Howard N. Luckoff – Real Estate Law.
• Jeffrey H. Miro – Corporate Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, Securities/Capital Markets Law, Tax Law.
• Karen R. Pifer – Real Estate Law.
• J. Adam Rothstein – Real Estate Law.
• Lowell D. Salesin – Real Estate Law.
• Alan J. Salle – Real Estate Law.
• Laurence J. Schiff – Real Estate Law.
• Richard S. Soble – Tax Law.
• Linda A. Wasserman – Non-Profit/Charities Law, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates.
• Brian D. Wassom – Litigation – Intellectual Property.
• L. Jeffrey Zauberman – Banking and Finance Law.

Detroit office
• Joel S. Adelman – Real Estate Law.
• Norman C. Ankers – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law.
• Richard A. Barr – Environmental Law.
• Donald F. Baty Jr. – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law.
• Jennifer L. Benedict – Health Care Law.
• Maurice S. Binkow – Real Estate Law.
• Jonathan D. Block – Real Estate Law.
• Mark A. Burstein – Real Estate Law.
• Judy B. Calton – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law.
• William M. Cassetta – Health Care Law, Insurance Law.
• Jason Conti – Commercial Litigation, Litigation & Controversy – Tax, Litigation – Real Estate.
• Roger Cook – Litigation & Controversy – Tax, Tax Law.
• Gregory J. DeMars – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law Litigation – Real Estate, Real Estate Law.
• Michael W. Domanski – Tax Law.
• Rebecca L. Donnini – Tax Law.
• Patrick T. Duerr – Corporate Law.
• David A. Ettinger – Antitrust Law, Franchise Law, Litigation – Antitrust.
• Cameron J. Evans – Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor & Employment.
• David Foltyn – Corporate Compliance Law, Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, Securities/Capital Markets Law, Securities Regulation.
• Michael J. Friedman – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Insurance Law, Litigation – ERISA.
• Carol A. Friend – Immigration Law.
• Lynn A. Gandhi – Corporate Law, Litigation & Controversy – Tax, Tax Law.
• Kenneth C. Gold – Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental.
• Margaret E. Greene – Construction Law, Real Estate Law.
• Raymond W. Henney – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Mergers & Acquisitions, Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy), Litigation – Securities.
• Carl W. Herstein – Real Estate Law.
• William O. Hochkammer – Health Care Law, Insurance Law.
• Ann T. Hollenbeck – Health Care Law.
• Michael A. Indenbaum – Litigation & Controversy – Tax, Tax Law.
• Robert M. Jackson – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Environmental
• Robert J. Kruger Jr. – Securities/Capital Markets Law, Securities Regulation.
• Donald J. Kunz – Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, Securities/Capital Markets Law, Securities Regulation, Venture Capital Law.
• Denise J. Lewis – Project Finance Law, Real Estate Law.
• Russell S. Linden – Employment Law – Management .
• Stewart L. Mandell – Litigation & Controversy – Tax, Tax Law.
• Kenneth R. Marcus – Health Care Law.
• Lawrence D. McLaughlin – Litigation – Real Estate, Real Estate Law.
• Mitchell R. Meisner – Real Estate Law.
• Cyril Moscow – Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, Securities Regulation, Venture Capital Law.
• Lawrence J. Murphy – Commercial Litigation.
• Steven C. Nadeau – Environmental Law.
• Charles Nida – Non Profit/Charities Law, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates.
• Arthur T. O’Reilly – Commercial Litigation.
• David K. Page – Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, Securities/Capital Markets Law.
• Alex L. Parrish – Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities/Capital Markets Law.
• Julie E. Robertson – Health Care Law, Insurance Law.
• G. Scott Romney – Corporate Law, Government Relations Practice, Mergers & Acquisitions Law.
• Linda S. Ross – Health Care Law, Information Technology Law.
• E. Todd Sable – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy.
• William D. Sargent – Employment Law – Individuals.
• Gregory Schermerhorn – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law.
• Alan E. Schwartz – Corporate Law, Merger & Acquisitions Law, Securities/Capital Markets Law.
• Alan S. Schwartz – Corporate Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, Securities/Capital Markets Law.
• Joseph R. Sgroi – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law.
• Michael B. Shapiro – Litigation – Real Estate.
• Tricia A. Sherick – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law.
• Aaron M. Silver – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law.
• Samuel T. Stahl – Corporate Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law.
• Mark A. Stern – Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation.
• Stuart H. Teger – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Construction.
• Stevan Uzelac – Tax Law.
• Alan M. Valade – Tax Law, Trusts and Estates.
• Sheldon P. Winkelman – Real Estate Law.
• I. W. Winsten – Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation.
• Jeffrey L. Woolstrum – Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental.
• Richard E. Zuckerman – Appellate Practice, Criminal Defense: White Collar, Litigation & Controversy – Tax, Litigation – Securities.

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Beier Howlett
Beier Howlett PC is proud to announce that four attorneys with the firm have been selected as Best Lawyers in America for 2014.
• Timothy Currier – Municipal Law for the 5th year.
• Jeffrey Haynes – Environmental Law for the 26th year.
• Stephen Jones – Probate and Estate Planning for the 21st year.
• Jeffrey Kragt – Municipal Law for the 2nd year .

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Michigan’s Public Safety Communications Interoperability Board
Gov. Rick Snyder has appointed Oakland County Risk Manager Julie Secontine to Michigan’s Public Safety Communications Interoperability Board. The board oversees Michigan’s 800 MHz radio system and telecommunications network, which provides statewide interoperability in digital clarity to its members. It also adopts procedures governing the organization and operations of the Michigan Public Safety Communications System.
Secontine was appointed risk manager in 2003. Prior to that, she worked as senior assistant corporation council for the county and as a staff attorney to Oakland County Circuit Court Chief Judge Barry L. Howard since 1989.
Secontine is certified by the Michigan State Police in emergency management. She is the legal advisor to Michigan Task Force 1 and Oakland County Fire Mutual Aid Organization. In addition, she is a member of eight emergency management organizations.
Secontine has taught at Cooley Law School, Eastern Michigan University, Madonna University and Oakland Community College. She received her law degree from Wayne State University in 1988 and her Bachelor of Arts in political science from Michigan State University in 1984.
She replaces Tracy Johnson and will serve a term ending April 30, 2015.
The appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the state Senate.

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The Health Law Partners, PC
Alan Gilchrist, a partner at Southfield-based The Health Law Partners, has been honored as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” in the practice areas of administrative and regulatory law, as well as health care law. Adrienne Dresevic, founding shareholder of The HLP, made the announcement.
Gilchrist chairs the civil false claims and white-collar criminal practice group, where he represents health care providers, suppliers and professional organizations. A frequent speaker at industry conferences, Gilchrist established the Michigan Bar Association Institute of Continuing Education. Gilchrist has received numerous accolades, and was selected as an inaugural member of the Fellows of the State Bar of Michigan’s Health Care Law Section. Gilchrist graduated from Wayne State University Law School and earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan.

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Warner, Norcross, & Judd LLP
Twelve attorneys with the law firm Warner, Norcross, & Judd have been named Super Lawyers in the eighth annual publication of Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine, while two attorneys were recognized as Rising Stars.
Michael G. Brady, Matthew K. Casey, Sean H. Cook, Frank E. Henke, William R. Jansen, Steven C. Kohl, Mary Jo Larson, Sarah C. Lindsey, Linda Paullin-Hebden, Alan T. Rogalski, Nazli G. Sater, and Lisa B. Zimmer were among 57 Warner Norcross attorneys named to Michigan Super Lawyers. Larson was also selected to the Top 50 Women and Top 25 Women Business lists for the publication.
Joseph R. Owens and Jennifer Watkins were recognized as Rising Stars. Rising Stars must be under the age of 40 or in practice for fewer than 10 years and have attained a high degree of peer recognition and personal achievement.

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Lipson, Neilson, Cole, Seltzer & Garin P.C.
The Michigan Judges Association announced that the retired Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Barry L. Howard is the recipient of its 2013 Judicial Excellence Award, named after the late Hilda Gage.
The award recognizes those who have excelled in trial and docket management, legal scholarship, and contributions to the profession and the community. The award honors current or former judges who serve their profession and their communities with integrity, skill, and courage every day.
Howard is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Detroit School of Law. He served as a circuit judge for Oakland County from 1989 to 2001, serving as its chief judge from January 2000 to April 2001. During that time, he taught for the Michigan Judicial Institute, and served the Michigan Judges Association as a board member and as its president.
Howard has continued his service to the profession and the judiciary after he left the bench. He was co-chair of the Judicial Crossroads Task Force. He is currently Of Counsel to the law firm of Lipson, Neilson, Cole, Seltzer, & Garin PC.
Howard is a former recipient of the Champion of Justice Award by the State Bar of Michigan. In 1995, he was named “one of the top five most respected judges” in the state in a survey of lawyers conducted for WDIV-Channel 4. Western Michigan University named its Barry L. Howard Medallion Scholarship after him.

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Collins, Einhorn, Farrell
Southfield-based Collins Einhorn Farrell announced attorney Kyle N. Smith has joined the firm’s General and Automobile Liability Practice Group.
Smith graduated from the Michigan State University College of Law. He also earned his Bachelor of Science from Michigan State University.
Smith will focus his practice on general and automobile liability defense litigation. Prior to joining the firm, he gained experience in first- and third-party automobile liability defense. He completed internships with the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office, Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, and Washtenaw County Public Defender’s Office.
Smith was admitted to practice in the State of Michigan in 2012.
Additionally, Collins Einhorn Farrell announced that three of its attorneys were selected among the 2014 Best Lawyers in America “Detroit Lawyers of the Year” in their respective practice areas.
Best Lawyers named shareholder and firm President Michael J. Sullivan the 2014 Detroit Legal Malpractice Law — Defendants “Lawyer of the Year” for the fourth consecutive year. Fellow Shareholder Brian D. Einhorn was selected as the 2014 Detroit Personal Injury Litigation — Defendants “Lawyer of the Year.” Donald D. Campbell earned recognition as the 2014 Detroit Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law “Lawyer of the Year.”
Sullivan has 30 years of litigation experience. In the professional liability arena, he has defended attorneys, physicians, accountants, architects, engineers, real estate appraisers, real estate brokers and title agents in defense of significant claims involving personal injury, property damage and business loss. The University of Detroit Mercy School of Law alum also has experience in product liability litigation, and maintains an active general civil litigation practice, including business disputes, insurance disputes, and personal injury defense.
For more than four decades, Einhorn has been at the forefront of legal issues affecting lawyers, judges, courts, businesses and insurers. The Wayne State University Law School alum has litigated numerous cases and disciplinary proceedings that have shaped Michigan law with issues ranging from lawyers’ potential liability to clients for defamation, to judicial candidates’ free speech rights.
Campbell focuses his practice on attorney grievance defense, representation in judicial tenure matters and legal malpractice defense. In addition to his law practice, he has served as an adjunct professor of law at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law for more than a decade, teaching courses in ethics and criminal law. He is an alum of Wayne State University Law School.

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Goodwin & Scieszka Law Center
Scott Goodwin, president-elect of the Michigan Association for Justice, was named by Super Lawyers magazine as a “Super Lawyer” and “Top 50” of all Consumer Practice lawyers.
Goodwin’s “Super Lawyer – Top 50” award was just announced in the September 2013 issue of Super Lawyers and in a special section within Hour Detroit.
Goodwin was also just ranked as “Best Lawyer” in the 20th edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Goodwin won the 2013 title for his practice area of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs.
Goodwin is well known for his pro bono work. His firm has presented a large-scale legal aid clinic called “Law Day” for 26 consecutive years. At this annual event, Goodwin’s team of volunteers has distributed and expertly fitted more than 10,000 free bicycle safety helmets to children.
Goodwin founded the Birmingham-based Goodwin & Scieszka Law Center in 1986 with partner James Scieszka. “From the beginning, our goal was to be a positive force for change,” Goodwin notes. “As we worked diligently for each injured victim, we helped hundreds of families get their lives back on track. We never sought to win titles or awards, but are deeply grateful and humbled by them. For me, it’s all about helping the little guy; the rest just falls into place.”
Goodwin’s is also ranked in the National Trial Lawyers’ “Top 100 Lawyers.” Detroit’s DBusiness ranks Goodwin & Scieszka in its “Top Lawyers” list for 2013.
Goodwin graduated from Michigan State in 1983, and Michigan State College of Law (formerly Detroit College of Law) in 1986.

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Wright Beamer PLC
Julie Cotant, associate attorney with Wright Beamer PLC in Farmington Hills, has been asked to speak at two fall seminars for the Young Lawyers Section (YLS) of State Bar Michigan. The first seminar, titled “Stand and Deliver: A Public Speaking Workshop,” will be given in conjunction with Dale Carnegie Training. This program, scheduled for Sept. 15, will include strategies to help young lawyers hone their presentation skills as well as provide a formula for disagreeing with others in an agreeable way. This is the second time the program has been offered to the YLS.
Cotant was also asked to lecture at a seminar at Thomas M. Cooley Law School- Auburn Hills Campus called “How Does She Do It: Channeling Your Inner Superwoman.” Cooley Law School is partnering with the Young Lawyers Section to address the unique challenges women face in the legal profession and provide a model of success that builds upon the strengths unique to women. Cotant’s lecture is entitled “Mastering Assertiveness: Skills and Strategies for Effective Communication and Advocacy,” and will take place Sept.28.
Cotant practices in commercial litigation and probate administration and litigation. She is a graduate of Mercy High School and the University of Michigan. She earned her law degree from Wayne State University Law School.

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Fraser, Trebilcock, Davis, & Dunlap P.C.
Speaker of the House Jase Bolger has announced the appointment of Fraser Trebilcock attorney Louis Brown Jr. to the Michigan Freedom Trail Commission.
Brown practices in the areas of Labor, Employment and Civil Rights, and Administrative and Governmental law, in the firm’s Detroit office. He previously served as legislative counsel to U.S. Rep. Dan Lungren of California, and as Congressman Lungren’s staffer to the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary in Washington, D.C. He was also associate director of the Maryland Catholic Conference.

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Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP
Honigman, with the assistance of the Grosse Pointe Rotary Club, donated 200 laptop computers to Matrix and other social service organizations. The Rotary Club’s work in the community was brought to the firm’s attention by S. Lee Johnson, a partner in Honigman’s Environmental Practice Group and a Grosse Pointe Rotary Club member. The laptops were refreshed at Honigman by its Information Technology staff members led by Jabulani Ncube. Rotary Club volunteers installed a new operating system on each laptop, making them immediately useful to recipients. 
The Rotary also delivered the laptops to Matrix, which has been using them for literacy projects, training programs and for staff use. 
With 15 programs at 33 locations, Matrix Human Services serves more than 10,000 individuals and families each year.  All Matrix programs are rooted in its Transition to Success (TTS) Model, developed by President and CEO Dr. Marcella Wilson. This system of care is designed to transition individuals and families out of poverty to a life of economic self-sufficiency. TTS coordinates care for basic needs, learning to read, getting an education (GED), financial literacy, and volunteerism — a core component of Transition to Success.