Dean & Fulkerson
The law firm of Dean & Fulkerson is pleased to announce that Michael C. Davidson has joined the firm as an associate. He was previously an associate at Paesano Akkashian in Bloomfield Hills.
Davidson’s practice areas include transactional law focusing primarily on real estate and corporate transactions. His experience includes drafting and negotiating various corporate transactional documents such as asset purchase agreements, licensing agreements, employment and independent contractor agreements, real property purchase agreements and lease agreements. In addition, Davidson has worked in corporate entity formation including drafting operating agreements, bylaws and consent resolutions.
Davidson received his B.A. from Michigan State University, and his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.
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Kitch, Drutchas, Wagner, Valitutti, & Sherbrook
The law firm of Kitch, Drutchas, Wagner, Valitutti, & Sherbrook, headquartered in Detroit, was recently ranked number nine of nearly 400 major U.S. based firms surveyed nationally by Law 360, a Lexis/Nexis Company, for its very high percentage of female attorneys at the partner level. The Kitch firm was the only firm in Michigan to reach the Top 25 Ceiling Smashers list.
Law 360 published the results of its Glass Ceiling Report: 2014, on April 21. The full article, “The 25 Best Law Firms for Female Partners” can be found on their website at www.law360.com/articles/529420/the-25-best-law-firms-for-female-partners.
“We are not surprised by this report because our commitment to diversity and our flexibility to fairly meet individual life circumstances, allows us to retain the best attorneys regardless of gender or background; nevertheless, we are very appreciative and flattered that our efforts have been so well-recognized,” noted Mark Wisniewski, the Kitch firm’s chairperson.
“In my more than thirty years with Kitch, our success in achieving legal goals has flowed from our genuine respect for the people that make things work-our clients, our attorneys and our support staff,” said Susan Zitterman, a senior partner level Kitch firm attorney who is regarded for her appellate work in many high profile Michigan cases. “My sense is that our success in recruiting and retaining female leaders is a product of that genuine respect and appreciation there is no glass ceiling here, for anyone.” Zitterman has for many years served on the Kitch firm’s executive board.
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Neuman Anderson P.C.
Ken Neuman, managing partner at Neuman Anderson PC, a Birmingham-based business law firm specializing in complex commercial litigation, has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the Home Builders Association of Southeastern Michigan.
An active member of the organization for more than a decade, Neuman will help guide the organization to provide support to builders, suppliers and other entities in the residential building industry. Utilizing his experience in law and business, Neuman will examine policy, legal and political issues affecting the industry to add value to the organization and further advance its mission and goals.
With more than 25 years of experience in the courtroom, Neuman has developed a practice in complex commercial litigation and business consulting, with a focus on corporate, real estate and construction, accounting and forensic issues, and contract disputes. He 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. With this combined financial and legal experience, Neuman has fostered a comprehensive understanding of his clients’ business goals.
In addition to Super Lawyer recognitions, for the past two years he has been named a Top Lawyer by DBusiness magazine and one of The Best Lawyers in America®. Neuman is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants, and American Association of Attorney-Certified Public Accountants.
Neuman graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Accounting and he received his law degree from Wayne State University Law School.
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Lippitt O’Keefe, PLLC
Henry S. Gornbein has been named a partner in the law offices of Lippitt O’Keefe, PLLC by the firm’s founding partners Norman L. Lippitt and Brian D. O’Keefe. As a result of his addition, the firm name has been changed to Lippitt, O’Keefe, Gornbein PLLC.
An expert in family law matters, Gornbein brings more than 45 years of experience to the Birmingham-based firm. Along with recently-hired associate attorney Delia A. Miller and paralegal John A. Bliss, he will manage the firm’s family law and divorce practices.
Gornbein will continue to focus on all aspects of family law including: divorce, child custody, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, parenting time issues, spousal and child support, paternity and grandparent rights, and same-sex-related dissolution issues as well as mediation and arbitration activity.
A graduate of the University of Michigan’s Law School, Gornbein was named one the “Best Lawyers” for 2014; “2014 Best Lawyers in America,” and “2014 Best Lawyers in Michigan.” A former chairperson of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, he is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and past president of its Michigan chapter.
A frequent blogger for The Huffington Post, Gornbein is a regular contributor on www.divorceonline.com and www.familylawformichigan.com. The author of the chapter on Spousal Support in “Michigan Family Law” which is used by lawyers and judges throughout the State of Michigan, he is a contributor on the Internet on multiple topics including: “Electronic Spying and Tracking Spouses in Divorce Cases: What’s Legal in the Digital World.”
He also is the host of “Practical Law,” an award-winning television show broadcast by local cable provider Comcast on the Bloomfield Township Cable Public Access channel.
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Michigan Defense Trial Counsel
Robert Siemion will receive the “Excellence In Defense Award” from the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel at a special event on May 16th to be held at the Athenium Hotel in Detroit. Siemion, who has practiced law for the better part of 40 years, receives the award for his longtime commitment to professionalism, community involvement and for his efforts to educate new attorneys.
Siemion, who is founder and president of Siemion Huckabay, has a history of representing clients in various types of negligence actions and specializes in the area of medical malpractice.
Siemion is a graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.
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Barron, Rosenbert, Mayoras & Mayoras P.C.
Jonathan M. Colman, has been named partner at Barron, Rosenberg, Mayoras, & Mayoras PC. The Troy-based full-service law firm focuses on estate planning, elder law, probate and litigation and serves clients throughout southeastern Michigan.
Colman earned his law degree from Wayne State University Law School and his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan. He concentrates his practice in probate litigation, business and commercial litigation and business law.
Colman was selected as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers Magazine for 2012 and 2013. He was also named a “Top Lawyer” by DBusiness Magazine in 2011 and 2012.
