Trott & Trott PC recently announced that Melissa Byrd, Rana Razzaque, and Steven Jacobs were recognized as “2014 Michigan Rising Stars” by Super Lawyers magazine.
Byrd joined Trott in 2011 as a litigation attorney concentrating her practice in the areas of bankruptcy and mortgage creditors’ rights. Byrd earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan-Dearborn and attended Ave Maria School of Law, where she graduated with her law degree.
Razzaque serves as a litigation attorney for Trott, where her practice centers on the mortgage and banking industry, real property and title issues in State and Federal Courts, including appellate work. Razzaque graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English from McDaniel College in 2001 and received her law degree from the Michigan State University College of Law in 2004.
A litigation attorney at Trott, Jacobs focuses his practice on real estate law, commercial and residential foreclosure, mortgage and default servicing. Jacobs graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and business economics from Wayne State University, and received his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.
• • •
Dykema, recently announced that 58 of its attorneys from the firm’s five Michigan offices, and from multiple practice areas, were named to the 2014 Super Lawyers list by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine. Additionally, 23 of the firm’s attorneys were named to the 2014 Rising Stars list.
The local Dykema attorneys named on the 2014 Michigan Super Lawyers list, identified by office and practice area(s) for which they are being recognized are:
Bloomfield Hills
• Maria B. Abrahamsen – Health Care.
• Brendan J. Cahill – Corporate Finance.
• Michael G. Cumming – Estate Planning & Probate, Tax.
• Joseph A. Doerr – Business Litigation.
• Robert L. Duty – Employment Litigation, Employment & Labor.
• James M. Elsworth – Estate Planning & Probate.
• Stephen R. Estey – Land Use/Zoning, Eminent Domain, General Litigation.
• James P. Feeney – Personal Injury – Products, Civil Litigation, Class Action/Mass Tort.
• Adam M. Fishkind – Real Estate.
• Alan M. Greene – Land Use/Zoning, Eminent Domain, Construction Litigation.
• Dennis M. Haffey – Business Litigation, Professional Liability, Securities Litigation.
• Kyle R. Hauberg – Real Estate.
• Howard B. Iwrey – Antitrust Litigation, Securities Litigation, Franchise/Dealership.
• Joel D. Kellman – Real Estate, Nonprofit Organizations, Banking.
• Mark G. Malven – Technology Transactions, Mergers & Acquisitions, Business/Corporate.
• Bonnie Mayfield – Employment Litigation, Personal Injury – Products, Class Action/Mass Torts.
• D. Richard McDonald – Securities & Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions.
• Brian M. Moore – Business Litigation, Real Estate, General Litigation.
• Paul L. Nystrom – Business Litigation, Personal Injury – Products, Land Use/Zoning.
• Marilyn A. Peters – Business Litigation, Construction Litigation.
• Rex E. Schlaybaugh Jr. – Securities & Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions.
• Brittany M. Schultz – Personal Injury – Product, Civil Litigation, Personal Injury – General.
• Sheryl L. Toby – Bankruptcy, Creditor Debtor Rights, Business/Corporate.
• Stephen L. Tupper – Technology Transactions.
Detroit
• J. Michael Bernard – Mergers & Acquisitions, Securities & Corporate Finance, Business/Corporate.
• Robert A. Boonin – Employment & Labor, Employment Litigation, Schools & Education.
• Eric Thomas Carver – Estate & Trust Litigation, Estate Planning & Probate, Business/Corporate.
• Michael P. Cooney – Personal Injury – Products, Class Action/Mass Torts, Business Litigation.
• Samuel C. Damren – Business Litigation, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Closely Held Business.
• John A. Entenman (retired) – Employment & Labor, Employment Litigation.
• Sherrie L. Farrell – Business Litigation.
• Robert J. Franzinger (retired) – Business Litigation, Civil Litigation, Intellectual Property.
• Martin Jay Galvin (retired) – Employment & Labor, Employment Litigation.
• Grant P. Gilezan – Environmental, Environmental Litigation, Energy & Natural Resources.
• Steven E. Grob – Tax, Estate Planning & Probate.
• Mark E. Hauck – Business Litigation.
• Patrick F. Hickey – Business Litigation, Employment Litigation.
• Kathryn J. Humphrey – Aviation and Aerospace, Personal Injury – Products, General Litigation.
• Mark D. Jacobs – Environmental, Utilities, Administrative Law.
• Benjamin W. Jeffers – Business Litigation, Class Action/Mass Torts, Insurance Coverage.
• Peter M. Kellett – Class Action/Mass Torts, Business Litigation, Personal Injury – Products.
• Jin-Kyu Koh – Mergers & Acquisitions, Business/Corporate, Health Care.
• Cameron H. Piggott – Real Estate, Energy & Natural Resources.
• Thomas M. Schehr – Business Litigation.
The local Dykema attorneys named on the 2014 Rising Stars list, identified by Michigan office and practice area(s) for which they are being recognized are:
Bloomfield Hills
• Lauren C. Baucus – Consumer Law, Business Litigation, Administrative Law.
• Michael J. Blalock – Business Litigation, Civil Litigation.
• Jong-Ju Chang – Business Litigation.
• David J. Council – Business Litigation, General Litigation, E-Discovery.
• William C. Lentine – Tax.
• Matthew Mitchell – Business Litigation, Personal Injury – General.
• Christyn M. Scott – General Litigation, Real Estate.
• Michael R. Vogt – Real Estate.
• Jeanne M. Whalen – Technology Transactions, Mergers & Acquisitions.
Detroit
• Lisa A. Brown – General Litigation.
• Jennifer Boueri Chilson – Business Litigation.
• Andrew J. Kolozsvary – Business Litigation.
• Timothy M. Kuhn – Personal Injury – Products.
• Christopher R. Mikula – Employment & Labor.
• Nasseem S. Ramin – Business Litigation.
• Todd C. Schebor – Environmental, Environmental Litigation.
• Boyd White III – Personal Injury – Products.
• Paul A. Wilhelm – Employment Litigation, Personal Injury – Products.
• • •
Super Lawyers® magazine recognized 10 attorneys from Southfield-based Maddin, Hauser, Roth, & Heller PC (www.maddinhauser.com) for inclusion on the 2014 Michigan Super Lawyers list.
Following is a list of the Maddin Hauser attorneys named Michigan Super Lawyers 2014 by name, title, practice area, years selected:
David E. Hart, shareholder and executive management committee member; Real Estate (2007-2014).
Mark R. Hauser, CFO and executive management committee member; Real Estate (2007-2014).
Harvey R. Heller, shareholder and executive management committee member; Professional Liability: Defense (2006-2014).
Robert D. Kaplow, shareholder; Estate Planning and Probate (2006, 2010-2014).
Kathleen H. Klaus, shareholder; Professional Liability: Defense (2013-2014).
Charles M. Lax, shareholder; Employee Benefits (2006-2014).
Steven M. Wolock, shareholder; Professional Liability: Defense (2007-2014).
Three additional attorneys were named as “Rising Stars” including: Rebecca M. Turner, Franchise/Dealership (2008-2010, 2012, 2014); Lavinia S. Biasell, Insurance Coverage (2012-2014); and Mark E. Plaza, Appellate (2014).
• • •
Strobl & Sharp PC is proud to announce that two of its attorneys are listed in the 21st edition of The Best Lawyers in America© published by U.S. News & World Report. Lynn Brimer was selected for her expertise in Tax Litigation and Controversy. Additionally, she has been chosen by her peers as the 2014-15 Lawyer of the Year for metro Detroit’s 2015 for Litigation and Controversy – Tax. Norman Hyman was cited by The Best Lawyers in America for his expertise in land use and zoning law.
Brimer is the only tax lawyer in southeast Michigan to receive the Lawyer of the Year designation for litigation and controversy. This is the eighth consecutive year Brimer, a partner at the firm, has been included in the Best Lawyers list. She is the practice group leader for the firm’s creditors’ rights and litigation practice groups.
Brimer has more than 24 years of experience as a bankruptcy and tax attorney. Her expertise spans all phases of bankruptcy and tax controversy, including defense of tax audits and litigation before both the Michigan Tax Tribunal and the United States Tax Court of technical tax issues. She also provides expertise in resolving tax collection disputes, such as issues with levies and liens and payment plans with federal, state and local taxing authorities.
Hyman represents developer and individual clients in matters of zoning and land use planning and has participated in numerous environmental and zoning cases in Michigan courts, including several cases before the Michigan Supreme Court. In addition to his experience in land use and zoning issues, Hyman has represented homeowners’ associations and has served as special counsel to several municipalities on matters of zoning and land use.
• • •
Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that 46 of its attorneys have been listed in the 2015 edition of the respected peer-review journal, The Best Lawyers in America.
Local Bodman attorneys listed for 2015, including their practice specialties are:
Detroit Office
Marc M. Bakst (Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization; Litigation-Bankruptcy).
Jerrold M. Bigelman (Trusts and Estates).
Jay Barnett Colvin (Trusts and Estates).
Andrew H. Curoe (Trusts and Estates).
Herold M. Deason (Corporate).
Laurence B. Deitch (Corporate).
Robert J. Diehl Jr. (Banking and Finance; Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization; Litigation-Banking and Finance).
Fredrick J. Dindoffer (Environmental; Litigation-Environmental).
Christopher J. Dine (Non-Profit/Charities).
Stephen I. Greenhalgh (Banking and Finance).
David M. Hempstead (Trusts and Estates).
Kathleen O’Callaghan Hickey (Banking and Finance).
R. Craig Hupp (Environmental; Litigation-Environmental).
Joseph J. Kochanek (Banking and Finance).
David P. Larsen (Litigation-Trusts and Estates; Trusts and Estates).
Marguerite Munson Lentz (Trusts and Estates).
Dennis J. Levasseur (Litigation-Banking and Finance; Litigation-Intellectual Property).
Edwin J. Lukas (Corporate/M&A).
Ralph E. McDowell, 2015 Detroit Lawyer of the Year for Bankruptcy Litigation (Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Litigation-Bankruptcy).
Erik S. Prater (Banking and Finance).
Damali A. Sahu (Banking and Finance).
Nicholas P. Scavone Jr. (Banking and Finance; Real Estate).
Joseph J. Shannon (Commercial Litigation).
E. William S. Shipman (Health Care).
Larry R. Shulman (Banking and Finance).
Brian R. Trumbauer (Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Litigation-Bankruptcy).
Troy Office
J. Adam Behrendt (Litigation-Banking and Finance).
Barbara A. Bowman (Banking and Finance; Municipal; Securities/Capital Markets).
John C. Cashen (Employment-Management; Labor-Management).
Steven J. Fishman (Labor-Management; Litigation-Labor & Employment).
David W. Hipp (Real Estate).
Michael B. Lewiston (Commercial Litigation; Litigation-Real Estate; Litigation-Trusts and Estates).
Gary D. Reeves (Litigation-Construction).
Andrew Z. Spilkin (Real Estate).
Thomas J. Tallerico (Commercial Litigation).
Thomas Van Dusen (Commercial Litigation; Litigation-Trusts and Estates).
David B. Walters, 2015 Detroit Lawyer of the Year for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law (Employee Benefits-ERISA).
Wendy L. Zabriskie (Banking and Finance).
• • •
The attorneys of the Bloomfield Hills-based May, Simpson, & Strote law firm have joined Butzel Long according to Butzel’s President and Managing Shareholder Justin G. Klimko.
Notably, May, Simpson, & Strote received the designation of Tier 1 law firm for 2014 in the areas of construction law, litigation-construction and litigation real estate by Best Lawyers® Best Law Firms.
The attorneys joining Butzel Long include: Richard May, Thomas C. Simpson, Ronald P. Strote, Steven M. Raymond, John A. Forrest, and Beth I. deBaptiste. They will be based in Butzel Long’s Bloomfield Hills office located at 41000 Woodward Ave.
Richard May focuses his practice in the areas of franchise, antitrust and corporate law. He is a past chair of the Antitrust Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan and past chair of the Michigan Franchise Law Advisory Committee. May earned his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and his A.B. from Princeton University.
Thomas C. Simpson concentrates his practice in real estate law, title insurance, civil litigation and corporate law. He is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association; Real Property Law Section, State Bar of Michigan (ex. officio counsel member and past chair); Land Title Standard Committee; and, American College of Real Estate Lawyers. Simpson earned a law degree from Michigan State University College of Law and a B.S. from Michigan State University.
Ronald P. Strote focuses his practice in the areas of alternative dispute resolution, civil litigation, construction and real estate law. He is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association, American Arbitration Association, International Mediation Institute; Real Property Section, State Bar of Michigan (chair 1988-1993); Michigan State Bar Foundation and ICLE Real Estate Advisory Board (past member). Strote earned his law degree from Northwestern University and his A.B. from the University of Michigan.
Steven M. Raymond concentrates his practice in the areas of franchise law, title insurance, real estate law, business civil litigation, business and corporate law and probate and estate law. He is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan – Real Property Section and Probate Section. He serves on the Board of Directors of Marian High School; director, Robert E. Burke Trust Fund; Finance Council and SEED director, Holy Name Church. Raymond earned his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and his B.S. from Western Michigan University.
John A. Forrest focuses his practice in the areas of franchise and distribution law, commercial contracts and business planning and corporate law. He is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association, American Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, Antitrust, Franchising and Trade Regulation Section (past chair); Member of Franchise Committee; American Bar Association Forum Committee on Franchising. Forrest earned law degrees from Wayne State University Law School and the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law along with an A.B. from the University of Michigan .
Beth I. deBaptiste concentrates her practice in construction law, construction and title insurance litigation, real estate law and litigation and civil business litigation. She is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association, Macomb County Bar Association, Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, and Real Property Law Section, State Bar of Michigan – Construction Law Committee. DeBaptiste earned her law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and her B.A. from Albion College.
• • •
Collins, Einhorn, Farrell, PC recently announced that 13 attorneys have been named to the 2014 Michigan Super Lawyers list. An additional 4 attorneys were named to the 2014 Michigan Rising Stars list.
The following Collins Einhorn Farrell attorneys are included on the 2014 Michigan Super Lawyers list:
• David C. Anderson
• Theresa M. Asoklis
• Geoffrey M. Brown
• Timothy F. Casey
• Brian D. Einhorn
• Clayton F. Farrell
• Melissa E. Graves
• Deborah A. Hebert
• Janice G. Hildenbrand
• Deborah A. Lujan
• Noreen L. Slank
• Michael J. Sullivan
• Robert C. Tice
The following Collins Einhorn Farrell attorneys are included on the 2014 Rising Stars list:
• Rick Braun
• Trent Collier
• Michael J. Cook
• Katherine A. Crowley
• • •
Potestivo & Associates PC is proud to announce the hiring of Eric L. Miller, the firm’s new director of Information Technology. Miller will be based at the firm’s Rochester Hills office but will be overseeing all IT operations for all of the firm’s locations.
Miller brings with him a range of professional IT experience. He most recently served as the IT manager at a communications company servicing over 60,000 subscribers. Prior to that, he worked at various companies as a Network Engineer, a Senior Technician, and a Client Services/IT Manager. Eric earned his BA in Computer Science at Oakland Community College and Oakland University.
Miller earned a variety of IT certifications including Novell, Microsoft, Cisco, and CompTIA, among others. He has completed numerous individual trainings that will contribute to the resourcefulness of the IT Department at Potestivo & Associates PC.
• • •
Secrest Wardle is pleased to announce that for 2014, eight attorneys have been selected to the Super Lawyers list and 12 attorneys have been selected to the Rising Stars list.
The following individuals have been designated by SuperLawyers magazine:
SuperLawyers List
Civil Litigation Defense: Mark F. Masters, Mark E. Morley, William D. Shailor; General Litigation: Bruce A. Truex; State/Local/Municipalities: Derk W. Beckerleg, William P. Hampton; Personal Injury General Defense: Thomas J. Azoni, and Nathan J. Edmonds.
Rising Stars List
Appellate: Drew W. Broaddus; Business Litigation: Anthony A. Randazzo; Civil Litigation Defense: Jason R. Church, Kellie C. Joyce, Mark C. Vanneste; Personal Injury Defense: General: Sante S. Fratarcangeli, Krystal D. Hermiz, Chase M. Kubica, Renee T. Townsend, Sarah L. Walburn, Javon L. Williams; and Insurance Coverage: Alison M. Quinn.
• • •
Charles H. Brower II, a Wayne State University Law School professor who is Of Counsel with Miller Canfield in Detroit, recently garnered two professional honors.
He’ll be listed for the first time in the global edition of Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration 2015, which will be published in November. Brower will be one of only 120 people listed from the United States and only two from Michigan.
Brower also has been elected and invited to become a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
An elected member of the American Law Institute, Brower has taught and written about human rights, international business transactions, international commercial arbitration, the law of armed conflict and public international law for more than 15 years. Before joining Wayne Law in 2012, he was Croft Professor of International Law at the University of Mississippi School of Law.
In addition to his academic work, he is an arbitrator on the commercial panel of the American Arbitration Association, vice chair of the Institute for Transnational Arbitration, immediate past chair of the institute’s Academic Council, a member of the board of directors of the Atlanta International Arbitration Society and a member of its Academic Advisory Council. He is co-editor-in-chief of World Arbitration and Mediation Review and a reporter for NAFTA developments at Kluwer Arbitration online.
He has been an advocate for the government of the Republic of Costa Rica in advisory proceedings before the International Court of Justice.
He graduated from the University of Vermont and earned his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.
At Wayne Law, he teaches International Commercial Arbitration, Investment Treaty Arbitration, Contracts and the Law of Armed Conflict.
Brower won the Smit-Lowenfeld Prize in 2012 for the best article published on the topic of international arbitration. He has served as a visiting fellow at Cambridge University’s Lauterpacht Research Centre for International Law and as a member of the American Arbitration Association’s observer delegation to UNCITRAL Working Group II.
• • •
Vezina Law PLC is pleased to announce that Monica P. Navarro has become a partner of the firm, where she will continue her national practice in the areas of Health law and Business Litigation with a focus on fraud and abuse (Qui Tam), regulatory compliance, full-service physician representation, supplier and payor representation, and federal courts.
Navarro has several professional distinctions, including Michigan Lawyer’s Weekly Woman in the Law, a Top 50 Michigan Women Lawyer, Super Lawyer, and Crain’s 40 Under 40, and a track record with representative matters that include FMF class action litigation ($24 million), Johnson & Johnson In re Topamax litigation ($89 million), GE Healthcare In re Myoview litigation ($30 million).
Vezina Law is a full-service firm with offices in Birmingham, Michigan, and New Orleans, Louisiana.
• • •
Nemeth Law PC, a Detroit-based labor and employment law firm, announces that five of the firm’s attorneys have been named to the 2014 Michigan Super Lawyers list.
Founding partner Patricia Nemeth was listed in the area of employment litigation defense and was also included among Michigan’s Top 50 Women Michigan Super Lawyers, a listing of women lawyers who ranked top of the list in the 2014 Michigan Super Lawyers nomination, research and blue ribbon review process. Nemeth founded Nemeth Law as a solo practitioner in 1992. The firm now has 13 attorneys and is largest woman-owned law firm in Michigan to exclusively represent management in the prevention, resolution and litigation of labor and employment disputes.
In addition to Patricia Nemeth, Nemeth Law partner Anne Widlak was named a Michigan Super Lawyer in employment and labor, and partner Susan D. Koval and senior attorney Louis Eble were named Michigan Super Lawyers in employee litigation defense. Nemeth Law attorney Erin Behler and senior attorney Cliff Hammond were named Michigan Rising Stars. The Rising Star designation recognizes the top up-and-coming attorneys in the state who are 40 years old or younger or who have been practicing for 10 years or less.
“Nemeth Law is honored to have our attorneys included on the Michigan Super Lawyers’ list and we acknowledge our peers for their support of our specialized skills in management-side employment and labor matters,” said Nemeth.
• • •
Twenty-eight Plunkett Cooney attorneys were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® for 2015.
Receiving special honors from Best Lawyers this year are Plunkett Cooney partners Michael P. Ashcraft Jr. and Robert G. Kamenec who were named Detroit “Lawyers of the Year” in their respective areas of practice.
Ashcraft, who serves as the firm’s Professional Liability Practice Group Leader, was named the 2014-2015 Detroit Legal Malpractice Law Lawyer of the Year. Serving as the secretary/treasurer of the firm’s board of directors, he concentrates his practice on the defense of lawyers, accountants, and other professionals in malpractice claims both directly and through insurance carriers.
Kamenec, who serves as Plunkett Cooney’s Insurance, Professional and Governmental Law Department Leader, was named the 2014-2015 Lawyer of the Year for Appellate Practice in Detroit. One of the state’s most accomplished appellate attorneys, Kamenec’s practice entails several areas of emphasis, including insurance coverage, medical malpractice, professional liability, class actions, directors’ and officers’ liability, drug liability, and title insurance. He is regularly retained to represent clients on high exposure and legally significant appeals in the state and federal courts.
Below is a list of local Plunkett Cooney attorneys who have received the 2015 Best Lawyers designation:
Bloomfield Hills office
• Douglas C. Bernstein (partner) – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization law.
• William D. Booth (of counsel) – Personal Injury Litigation. He has the distinction of being named to the Best Lawyers list for 25 years.
• Charles W. Browning (partner) – Insurance Law.
• Gary W. Francis (associate) – Labor Law – Management.
• Jerome A. Galante (partner) – Personal Injury Litigation.
• Jeffrey C. Gerish (partner) – Appellate Law.
• Greg Gromek (partner) – Personal Injury Litigation.
• Mark S. Kopson (partner) – Health Care Law.
• Mary Massaron (partner) – Appellate Law.
• Kenneth M. Mattson (partner) – Medical Malpractice Law.
• Stanley C. Moore III (of counsel) – Labor and Employment Law.
• Scott H. Sirich (partner) – Construction Law and Litigation.
• Thomas P. Vincent (partner) – Commercial Litigation
Detroit office
• Loretta M. Ames (partner) – Product Liability Litigation.
• James R. Geroux (partner) – Workers’ Compensation Law.
• Christine D. Oldani (partner) – Appellate Law.
• Claudia D. Orr (senior attorney) – Employment Law.
• Stanley A. Prokop (partner) – Insurance Law.
• Mary Catherine Rentz (partner) – Insurance Law.
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