LEGAL PEOPLE

Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that three new attorneys have joined the firm: Rhonda H. Armstrong, Donovan C. Asmar, and Apollo K Upshaw. Armstrong is a staff attorney in the Workplace Law Practice Group. She concentrates her practice in counseling and representing employers on complex compliance issues related to labor and employment laws. For more than 14 years, Armstrong has represented management in matters involving labor and union laws, and has counseled employers on developing strategies for legal compliance. Before joining Bodman, Armstrong practiced with two labor and employment boutique law firms. Asmar is an associate in the Litigation and Alternative Dispute Practice Group. He represents clients involved in complex commercial litigation matters. Before joining Bodman, Asmar clerked for Michigan Supreme Court Justice Mary Beth Kelly. He has also worked for a Detroit-area litigation defense firm where he participated in a variety of cases involving civil rights, employment issues, commercial disputes, municipal liability, contractual claims, and constitutional claims. Upshaw is a staff attorney in the Enterprise Procurement and Intellectual Property practice groups. He represents clients in drafting and negotiating a broad range of commercial contracts, including vendor service agreements and supply arrangements, with an emphasis on contracts involving IT-based products and services. Before joining Bodman, Upshaw spent fifteen years as a professional software developer, most recently as a project architect and lead developer for a software engineering firm serving a Tier-1 automotive supplier account. - - - Quinn Law Group PLLC announced that firm attorney Roberto Colon has been named a deputy general counsel for the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA). In this role, Colon will assist the HNBA Office of the General Counsel and the HNBA National President with specific organizational issues within the General Counsel's purview for 2014-2015. Colon previously served as the HNBA vice president of Programs. Colon specializes in preparing and prosecuting domestic and foreign patent applications for mechanical and electrical technologies. Colon received law degrees from Columbia Law School and the University of Puerto Rico. He earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Puerto Rico and is fluent in Spanish. - - - Hall, Render, Killian, Heath, & Lyman is pleased to announce associate attorney Matthew Decker has joined the firm's Detroit office. Decker practices in the area of health law with a focus on supply chain structure and operations, compliance counsel and corporate transactions. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan and graduated from the Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law in 2014. Decker was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 2014 and is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association. - - - Giarmarco, Mullins, & Horton, PC is pleased to announce the appointment of William H. Heritage III as its president. Heritage currently serves as the head of the firm's business practice group, a member of the firm's board of directors, and a member of the executive committee of the firm. He joined the firm twenty years ago. Heritage succeeds Joseph F. Page III as president after Page's recent death. Heritage concentrates his practice in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, business formation and planning, corporate law, health care law and real estate law. He has more than twenty years of experience in dealing with complex business and commercial transactions within a broad range of industries. Heritage's practice includes representation of a wide variety of privately-held businesses as well as international business clients. Representative clients are from industry sectors including automotive, general manufacturing, health care, information systems, consulting, food products and distribution. Heritage received his BA from Duke University, and his law degree from Michigan State University College of Law (f/k/a Detroit College of Law). He is admitted to practice in Michigan and in U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the ABA Mergers and Acquisitions Committee, State Bar of Michigan, and the Oakland County Bar Association. Heritage received recognition as a Best Lawyer by U.S. News and World Report, a Super Lawyer by the Super Lawyers publication, and as a Leading Lawyer by the Leading Lawyers publication. Heritage is also active in a number of community and civic organizations and continues to serve on several boards, including as a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the S.E. Michigan American Red Cross related to biomedical services. In addition, Paul A. Thursam, an associate with Giarmarco, Mullins, & Horton PC, was among the honorees at the Michigan Lawyers Weekly Award Luncheon held on December 11. Thursam is in the firm's Business Practice Group and Real Estate Practice Group. His legal experience is broad and includes complex real estate litigation and transactions, loans and financing, Uniform Commercial Code, and banking transactions and litigation. He also manages the firm's summer clerk program. Thursam is a graduate of the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He received his law degree from Wayne State University Law School. Thursam has been named a DBusiness Top Lawyer for 2012-2014, and a Super Lawyers Rising Star for 2012-2014. He is also a Leadership Detroit XXXVI class member. - - - Leading Lawyers magazine recently named several attorneys from Plunkett Cooney to its inaugural list of "Leading Lawyers" in Michigan. Below is a list of local Plunkett Cooney's attorneys who have received the 2015 Leading Lawyer designation: Bloomfield Hills office Maureen C. Adkins, Medical Malpractice Defense Law Michael P. Ashcraft Jr., Professional Malpractice Defense: Incl. Legal/Technical/Financial Douglas C. Bernstein, Banking & Financial Institutions Law/Bankruptcy & Workout Law: Commercial/Creditor's Rights/Commercial Collections Law Matthew J. Boettcher, Commercial Litigation William D. Booth, Personal Injury Defense Law: General/Products Liability Defense Law/Professional Malpractice Defense: Incl. Legal/Technical/Financial/ADR Law: Personal Injury Charles W. Browning, Insurance, Insurance Coverage & Reinsurance Law Dennis G. Cowan, Land Use, Zoning & Condemnation Law Jerome A. Galante, Personal Injury Defense Law: General/Products Liability Defense Law Jeffrey C. Gerish, Civil Appellate Law/Insurance, Insurance Coverage & Reinsurance Law Willard S. Holt III, Association & Non-Profit Law/Tax Law: Business/Tax Law: Individual/Trust, Will & Estate Planning Law Robert G. Kamenec, Civil Appellate Law/Medical Malpractice Defense Law Mark S. Kopson, Health Law Theresa Smith Lloyd, Employment Law: Management Mary Massaron, Civil Appellate Law/Appellate Law Stanley C. Moore III, Employment Law: Management/Labor Law: Management Scott H. Sirich, Construction Law Thomas P. Vincent, Commercial Litigation Michael D. Weaver, Commercial Litigation/Products Liability Defense Law Detroit office Loretta M. Ames, Class Action/Mass Tort Defense Law/Personal Injury Defense Law: General James R Geroux, Workers' Compensation Defense Law Stanley A. Prokop, Insurance, Insurance Coverage & Reinsurance Law Mary C. Rentz, Insurance, Insurance Coverage & Reinsurance Law Michael K. Sheehy, Transportation Defense Law: Including Aviation/FELA/Maritime Mt. Clemens office D. Jennifer Andreou, Medical Malpractice Defense Law Lawrence R. Donaldson, ADR Law: Commercial Litigation/Professional Malpractice Defense: Incl. Legal/Technical/Financial Peter W. Peacock, Land Use, Zoning & Condemnation Law Patrick D. Ryan, Commercial Litigation - - - Kenneth Clarkson and Emily Schey have been named partners at Southfield-based Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer, & Weiss PC joining the firm's Real Estate Practice Group. Jaffe CEO Bill Sider made the announcement. As a member of the firm's Real Estate Practice Group, Clarkson focuses his practice on complex real estate transactions, secured financing, resolution of business disputes and the organization and operation of closely held businesses. He joins Jaffe with experience in the development of senior living facilities, including independent, assisted and memory care projects. He works regularly with health care REITs in structuring joint ventures, acquisitions and sales of senior facilities. Clarkson's experience also includes closing government assisted financing loan transactions, including HUD insured 223(f), 221(d)(4), 223(a)(7) and 232 loan products, and Fannie Mae lending structures. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School in 1979, and frequently speaks to professional and legal groups including the National Business Institute and regional bar associations. Also joining the firm's Real Estate Practice Group, Schey focuses her practice on all phases of real estate transactional work. She has been involved in a braod range of transactions, including the acquisition, disposition, development, financing and leasing of commercial real estate. Schey has represented both landlords and tenants in the negotiation and drafting of retail, office and ground leases and more recently assisted clients with the acquisition of several triple net, single tenant properties in various locations throughout the country. She has also advised clients in connection with complex loan modification, forbearance and refinance matters. Schey is a member of numerous organizations including the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and Commercial Real Estate Women's Network (CREW). Schey earned her law degree from the University of Denver College of Law in 2004. - - - Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC is pleased to announce that Joseph W. Barber, Seaton J. Curran, Steven W. Hays, Jane S. Hahn, Michael J. Minna, Brandon J. Wilson, and Jacob P. Woolbright have all become shareholders in the firm. Joseph W. Barber concentrates his practice in intellectual property matters and complex commercial litigation. He represents his clients in all aspects of their intellectual property protection and enforcement. Seaton J. Curran concentrates his practice on intellectual property. He has experience preparing and prosecuting U.S. and foreign patent applications with a focus on mechanical, electrical and computer technologies. Steven W. Hays concentrates his practice in all aspects of patent and trademark law including preparation, prosecution and litigation. He assists his clients in protecting and enforcing their intellectual property rights. Jane S. Hahn concentrates her practice in business and corporate law. She represents lenders in secured and unsecured financings including loan workouts and restructurings, term and revolving loans, working capital and letter-of-credit facilities. Michael J. Minna concentrates his practice in intellectual property law with an emphasis on preparing and prosecuting U.S. and foreign patent applications primarily in the mechanical arts. Brandon J. Wilson concentrates his practice in commercial litigation. He litigates cases and advises clients in matters involving trade secret misappropriation, non-competition covenants, shareholder disputes, real estate, construction and general contract matters. Jacob P. Woolbright concentrates his practice on intellectual property law for clients ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 corporations. He focuses his practice on intellectual property procurement, technology-related transactions, and opinion preparation, with an emphasis on patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret law. - - - Butzel Long attorneys Ziyad I. Hermiz and Paul M. Mersino have been elected shareholders. Previously, they were associates with the firm. Based in Butzel Long's Detroit office, Hermiz concentrates his practice in the area of business litigation and was named a Michigan Super Lawyers Rising Star (Business Litigation) 2012-2014. Prior to joining Butzel Long, Hermiz interned for U.S. District Court Judge Avern Cohn, Eastern District of Michigan (2007-2008). Hermiz served as the vice president of the Chaldean American Bar Association from 2011-2013. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the American Bar Association. He is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. He is a graduate of Leadership Oakland (Class XXIV). He has served and currently serves as a member of the firm's Future Leaders Club and 2015 Detroit Business Symposium Steering Committee. He also assists the Recruiting Committee. He has served as the firm's coordinator for the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association's Access to Justice Program's legal clinic, providing pro bono legal services. Hermiz is a graduate of The University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. He completed his undergraduate business studies at Michigan State University. Based in Butzel Long's Detroit office, Mersino is a member of Butzel Long's Commercial Litigation Practice Group. He concentrates his practice on complex commercial litigation, contract disputes, construction litigation, automotive supplier disputes, non-competition and trade secret disputes, and landlord-tenant disputes. He also represents and advises several startup companies, assisting them with their legal needs and matching them with potential venture capital funding and serves as a mentor to startup business incubators and accelerators in the region. Mersino also handles appeals in the Michigan Court of Appeals, the Michigan Supreme Court, and federal courts. He has been recognized as a Michigan Super Lawyers Rising Star in Business Litigation for 2012, 2013, and 2014. Active in the community, Mersino currently is the vice president of the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, Barrister's Section and serves as an advisor to the Institute of Continuing Legal Education's Litigation Advisory Board. He is a member of the current class of Leadership Oakland and recently graduated from the Detroit Chapter of the American Inns of Court. He also is a member of the Detroit Historical Society. Mersino is a 2008 graduate of Ave Maria School of Law and he earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Northwood University. - - - Wayne State University Law School Professor Peter Hammer was honored by the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan on Monday, Dec. 15, at the organization's celebration of the Bill of Rights ratification. The celebration took place at the Swords Into Plowshares Gallery and Peace Center in Detroit. Hammer is a member of the Board of Directors for the ACLU of Michigan and director of the Detroit Equity Action Lab at the law school's Keith Center. Hammer, who joined Wayne Law's faculty in 2003, has become a leading voice on the economic and social issues impacting the city of Detroit. He sits on the Population Health Council of the Detroit-Wayne County Health Authority, as well as serving on the Advisory Board of the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee and the Housing Project Partnership of the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion. Hammer also has spent more than 20 years engaging issues of human rights, law and development in Cambodia. He was a founding board member and past president of Legal Aid of Cambodia, an organization providing free legal services to Cambodia's poor. He is a board member of the Life & Hope Association, an organization in Siem Reap, Cambodia, founded and run by Buddhists monks to address the needs of orphans, vulnerable children and at-risk young women. Hammer received his undergraduate education at Gonzaga University and completed his professional and graduate education at the University of Michigan, where he earned a law degree and a doctorate in economics. - - - Michael S. Ben, a partner at Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, and Cohn LLP has been appointed to the board of trustees of the Children's Hospital of Michigan Foundation. The CHMF trustees govern the organization and assist with its growth in pediatric research, education and community benefits programs. Ben is a corporate attorney and leader of Honigman's Securities and Corporate Governance Practice Group. He has represented publicly traded companies for 14 years in all aspects, including capital markets and M&A transactions, SEC and exchange reporting requirements, corporate governance best practices, executive compensation and general corporate matters. His clients have primarily been small and mid-cap companies across numerous industries. He recently was the lead attorney for the IPO of Flint-based Diplomat Pharmacy Inc. Ben has been recognized by Michigan Super Lawyers since 2009. He earned a law degree from Harvard Law School and a B.A. from the University of Michigan. - - - Gov. Rick Snyder announced the appointment of Mike Zimmer as director of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Zimmer had been serving as acting director since August when then-director Steve Arwood became chief operating officer at the Michigan Economic Development Corp. As the state's chief regulatory officer, Zimmer has supervision over many of the regulatory and licensing functions in state government. His responsibilities include oversight of the bureaus of Construction Codes, Employment Relations, Fire Services, Health Care Services and Services for Blind Persons; Corporations, Securities, and Commercial Licensing Bureau; Liquor Control Commission; Michigan Administrative Hearing System; Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration; Office of Regulatory Reinvention; Public Service Commission and Workers' Compensation Agency. Zimmer had also served as chief deputy director of LARA. He previously served as deputy director of the State Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules. He also served as director of the Bureau of Hearings in the former Department of Consumer and Industry Services; as the Director of the Office of Regulatory Reform under former Gov. John Engler; and worked for the Senate Majority Floor Leader. Zimmer earned a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University and his law degree from George Washington University. Published: Mon, Dec 22, 2014