Dirk Beamer—an attorney with Wright Beamer PLC in Farmington Hills—recently spoke at the annual conference of the American Association of Insurance Management Consultants (AAIMCo) in Philadelphia. He offered a presentation on “Buying and Selling Captive Insurance Agencies.”
Beamer serves as general counsel to the National Association of Professional Allstate Agents (NAPAA) and the Untied Farmers Agents Association (UFAA), and he consults with captive and independent insurance agency owners across the United States.
AAIMCo is a professional association whose members practice in more than 50 specialties and subset specialties within the insurance industry, offering advice and solutions for a variety of issues. It exists to help individuals and entities within the insurance industry “operate more efficiently and profitably; to establish professional standards of knowledge, experience, and conduct for those serving that industry in the capacity of insurance business consultants; and to give official recognition to those who have obtained such standards.”
• • •
Attorney David G. Michael has joined Lipson, Neilson, Cole, Seltzer, Garin PC as an associate. Michael specializes in all aspects of real estate law and litigation, and he has experience in commercial litigation and continues to practice in that area as well.
Michael is currently the vice-chair of the Oakland County Bar Association’s Real Estate Committee, and will become the chair of this Committee in the fall. He is a contributing author to Development Magazine, a publication of the Commercial Real Estate Development Association.
This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Lipson Neilson law firm that continues to expand its national footprint. During the past six months, the firm merged with the Theresa Law Center, opened an office in Phoenix that is staffed with three seasoned Arizona attorneys, added a well-known Of Counsel (attorney Hal Ostrow) in Grand Rapids, and added an associate in the firm’s Las Vegas office. Headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, the firm also has offices in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Las Vegas, and Phoenix. The firm services clients in the U.S. and around the world.
In addition, Karen Smyth, a partner at Lipson, Neilson, Cole, Seltzer, & Garin PC, will be featured on a panel of leading industry professionals discussing “Ethics in a Wireless World” at the National Claims & Litigation Management (CLM) Professional Liability Conference in Chicago during June 4-5.
The panel will focus on technology and risk management for law firms, including external threats, internal threats, danger of BYOD (bring your own device), unintended data disclosure and implications for professional liability.
Smyth is the president of the Michigan CLM Chapter. She has experience in the defense of professional liability cases, including legal malpractice, medical malpractice, and employment practices litigation. She is a licensed attorney in Michigan and New York, and a graduate of the Litigation Management Institute.
• • •
The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) of Detroit, a global, non-profit community for entrepreneurs, named Shangeeta Shah as a charter member of the organization. The announcement was made by TiE Detroit President and CEO Tel K. Ganesan.
Shah is a shareholder at the Detroit office of Brooks Kushman. There, she serves as chair of the Post Grant Practice Group and serves on the management committee as the chief diversty officer. With more than two decades experience obtaining and litigating patents for local, national and international clients, Shah is often called upon to speak at conferences including Managing Intellecutal Property’s Women’s Leadership Forum and the Global IP Convention.
An avid member of the community, Shah is the founder of Retooling Detroit, an early literacy program aimed at reversing the literacy divide in Detroit. She also is: on the executive committee for the Metropolitan Detroit Pipeline Coordinating Council; involved in the Isha Foundation, which she has represented at international conferences; the foundation representative on the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC); and a member of the leadership committee of the United States – India Political Action Committee (USINPAC). Professionally, the recipient of numerous legal awards is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, American Bar Association, Michigan Patent Law Association, Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, American Chemical Society, and Detroit Chamber of Commerce.
Shah received her bachelor’s degree, in chemistry and economics from Kalamazoo College and her law degree from Wayne State University Law School.
• • •
Chelsea Zuzindlak is not of Chinese descent but nonetheless is fascinated their history, especially in Detroit. Her interest grew while earning her B.A. in Asian studies and two study abroad programs in China. This led to an independent research study on Chinese American roots in Detroit, which the Detroit Historical Museum displayed, and has now morphed into a book chapter.
Zuzindlak, an attorney at Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, and Cohn LLP in business immigration, wrote “Tell ‘Em You’re From Detroit.” It is a chapter in the book “Asian Americans in Michigan: Voices from the Midwest” since there is little, if any, literature about the Chinese roots in Detroit. Sook Wilkinson and Victor Jew are the editors of this book which provides a close look at Asian-American communities throughout the state.
In her chapter, Zuzindlak charts the lives of Chinese people in Detroit through the stories of four Chinese-Americans. Through their stories and her research, a picture of Detroit’s old and new Chinatowns comes to life.
Zuzindlak focuses her legal practice on assisting national and international companies obtain authorization for employees to work temporarily and permanently in the United States.
She earned her law degree from Wayne State University Law School and a B.A. from Wayne State University in both anthropology and Asian studies.
Additionaly, for the eighth consecutive year, Honigman is the only Michigan law firm to receive the highest ranking, Band One, for its Corporate/M&A and Real Estate practices in the 2015 edition of Chambers USA.
The firm also achieved a Band One ranking for its Litigation practice, along with individual rankings for 26 lawyers with seven of those lawyers receiving Band One or higher. Honigman had more individual attorneys rated than any other law firm in Michigan. The firm’s Corporate/M&A, Real Estate and Litigation practices serve clients locally, nationally and internationally.
Local Honigman lawyers rated Band One or higher are:
• Norman C. Ankers (Litigation: General Commercial - Detroit).
• David Foltyn (Corporate/M&A - Detroit) *Eminent Practitioner.
• Philip J. Kessler (Litigation: General Commercial - Detroit).
• Donald J. Kunz (Corporate/M&A - Detroit).
• Howard N. Luckoff (Real Estate - Bloomfield Hills).
• Lawrence D. McLaughlin (Real Estate - Detroit and Bloomfield Hills) *Star Individual - given to lawyers with exceptional recommendations in their field.
• Lowell D. Salesin (Real Estate - Bloomfield Hills).
Two local Honigman lawyers were distinguished as “Up and Coming” ranked individuals “at the forefront of their generation” who are driving their firm’s growth: Arthur O’Reilly (Litigation: General Commercial - Detroit), and Tricia A. Sherick (Banking & Finance: Bankruptcy - Detroit).
Additional local Honigman lawyers recognized as “Notable Practitioners” by Chambers USA are:
• Joseph Aviv (Litigation: General Commercial - Bloomfield Hills).
• Donald F. Baty, Jr. (Banking & Finance: Bankruptcy - Detroit).
• Richard J. Burstein (Real Estate - Bloomfield Hills).
• Gregory J. DeMars (Real Estate - Detroit).
• Michael D. DuBay (Corporate/M&A - Detroit).
• Raymond W. Henney (Litigation: General Commercial - Detroit).
• J. Adam Rothstein (Real Estate - Bloomfield Hills).
• E. Todd Sable (Banking & Finance: Bankruptcy - Detroit).
• William D. Sargent (Labor & Employment - Detroit).
• Gregory G. Schermerhorn (Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation - Detroit).
• Alan S. Schwartz (Corporate/M&A - Detroit).
• Samuel T. Stahl (Corporate/M&A - Detroit).
• I.W. Winsten (Litigation: General Commercial - Detroit).
• Richard E. Zuckerman (Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations - Detroit).
In addition, Chambers recognized Honigman’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation practice with a Band Two ranking and its Banking & Finance and Labor & Employment practices with a Band Three ranking.
• • •
The Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society has elected new officers and re-elected its Board of Directors.
Charles R. Rutherford has been elected president; he succeeds Wallace Riley, who served as president since the Society was founded in 1988. Carl W. Herstein, a partner with the law firm of Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, & Cohn, has been elected vice president. Lawrence P. Nolan, an attorney with Nolan, Thomsen, & Villas in Eaton Rapids was elected secretary. John P. Jacobs of Jacobs & Diemer was elected Treasurer.
Seven directors were re-elected to a three-year term, expiring in April 2018. This list includes Judge Avern Cohn, John G. Fedynsky, Julie I. Fershtman, Frank Kelley, Mary Massaron, John W. Reed, and Janet K. Welch. Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan E. Gillooly was also welcomed to her first three-year term on the Board of Directors.
The Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society was founded in 1988 by Dorothy Comstock Riley during her term as chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court. A nonprofit organization, the Society preserves documents, records, and memorabilia relating to the Michigan Supreme Court. It also produces publications, special events, and other projects to achieve its goals in education and restoration. The Society is online at www.micourthistory.org.
• • •
Brian McKeen, managing partner of McKeen & Associates of Detroit, awarded attorney Sherwin Schreier the Michigan Association for Justice (MAJ) Champion of Justice Award posthumously at the MAJ convention Saturday, May 16.
Schreier, who passed away last year at age 78, was a partner at the Royal Oak-based law firm, Schreier & Schreier PC. He served as the MAJ president from 1984-1985 and was president of the State Bar’s Negligence Section from 1979-1980. In the late 1980s Schreier led the battle against tort reform. The Michigan Defense Trial Counsel honored him with the Respected Advocate Award in 2003.
“Sherwin was a great lawyer and an even better person,” said McKeen. “His career spanned more than 50 years, during which he exemplified the highest standards of our profession. He was universally respect and admired by judges and lawyers on both sides of the bar. His passing leaves a void in the profession, but his legacy will live on through his two sons, Mark and Jay, who have followed in his footsteps.”
On his behalf, Schreier’s wife, Sandy, accepted the honor at the annual convention and banquet which was held at the Westin Book Cadillac in Detroit.
• • •
Butzel Long is growing with the addition of attorneys Brett J. Miller and Christina I. Nassar. Miller is a senior attorney who focuses his practice on labor and employment-law and fair-housing litigation. Nassar, an associate attorney, focuses her practice in the areas of automotive-litigation and insurance defense litigation. Both attorneys are based in the firm’s Detroit office.
In addition to representing clients in federal and state court venues, Miller has appeared before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. Moreover, he has represented clients in labor arbitrations.
Miller was named a Rising Star in 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2014 by Super Lawyers. He also was recognized as a Top Lawyer by DBusiness Magazine in 2014.
He has published numerous articles and is a frequent speaker on labor and employment matters. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the Oakland County Bar Association.
Miller earned his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.
Prior to joining Butzel Long, Nassar worked in one of Canada’s top 10 insurance defense litigation firms located in downtown Toronto. She gained experience assisting with complex matters and trials. She regularly attended court and won a number of motions which included summary judgment and plaintiffs attempt to set aside dismissal Orders in the Superior Court of Justice, on behalf of insurers.
Nassar handled and closed a number of matters on behalf of her various insurer clients. She has maintained a broad, general litigation practice that included: tort motor vehicle claims, subrogation, property claims, product liability, and occupier’s liability claims.
She is admitted to the State Bar of Michigan, Michigan State Courts, and Ontario Bar. She also is a member of the American Bar Association, Ontario Bar Association, and Canadian Defense Lawyers Association.
Nassar is a graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, University of Windsor, and Wayne State University.
• • •
McKeen & Associates announces the addition of attorney David T. Tirella as an associate.
Tirella brings 25 years civil and criminal trial experience to his new position at McKeen, where he will focus on medical malpractice, personal injury and tort litigation.
Before joining McKeen, Tirella practiced civil law in Tampa as partner in the law firm Eaton & Tirella, and before that, as senior trial associate at Cohen, Jayson, & Foster. Tirella began his legal career as a Tampa assistant state attorney and then started his private practice where he handled criminal defense cases and began to branch out into plaintiff’s personal injury cases.
Tirella has received numerous recognitions for his work, including his selection in Legal Leaders as one of “Tampa’s Top Rated Lawyers” under the medical malpractice category from 2012-2014; and the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers 2012-2014. He earned a “Superb 10” AVVO rating last year.
Tirella was an adjunct professor of law at Stetson University College of Law and at Thomas M. Cooley Law School of Tampa.
Tirella has relocated to Birmingham.
• • •
Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce that Chambers USA has named Dickinson Wright’s Banking & Finance, Corporate/M&A, General Commercial Litigation, Labor & Employment, and Real Estate practices as “Top Ranked” practices in Michigan. Eighteen attorneys from Dickinson Wright’s Detroit and Troy offices were named “Leaders in their Fields.”
Of the “Top Ranked” practices, Dickinson Wright’s General Commercial Litigation practice in Michigan received a Band 1 ranking. Of the 18 attorneys ranked by Chambers, the following attorneys received a Band 1 ranking: Steven G. Howell, Banking & Finance: Bankruptcy; Edward H. Pappas, General Commercial Litigation; and William P. Shield Jr., Banking & Finance.
Below is a list of local Dickinson Wright attorneys who were listed in Chambers USA 2015:
Banking and Finance
Craig W. Hammond, Detroit
William P. Shield Jr., Detroit
Banking and Finance: Bankruptcy
Steven G. Howell, Detroit
James A. Plemmons, Detroit
Theodore B. Sylwestrzak, Detroit
Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions
Richard M. Bolton, Detroit
Mark R. High, Detroit
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
Cynthia A. Moore, Troy
Labor & Employment
Timothy H. Howlett, Detroit
General Commercial Litigation
Kathleen A. Lang, Detroit
Kenneth J. McIntyre, Detroit
Thomas G. McNeill, Detroit
Edward H. Pappas, Troy
Daniel D. Quick, Troy
Real Estate Law
James N. Candler, Jr., Detroit
Stephen E. Dawson, Troy
Monica J. Labe, Troy
Katheryne L. Zelenock, Troy
• • •
Bowman and Brooke LLP announced that it has once again been ranked by Chambers USA in the areas of product liability and mass tort litigation.
The firm was recognized for the fourth consecutive year in Band 2 of the Nationwide Product Liability category.
• • •
Neuman Anderson PC announced that Managing Partner Ken Neuman presented to the Home Builders Association of Michigan on Wednesday, May 20.
Neuman’s presentation focused on the new changes to the laws governing real estate lending and their impact on the builder community, which are to become effective on August 1, 2015. As an experienced attorney in the areas of real estate and construction, Neuman provided a high level overview of each law and the potential impact and ramifications they hold for home builders and buyers throughout the state of Michigan.
With more than 28 years of trial experience, Neuman focuses his practice on corporate, real estate and construction, accounting, and forensic issues and contract disputes. In addition to doubling as an attorney and business consultant, Neuman also serves as a registered Certified Public Accountant (CPA) which allows him to offer council in a unique and effective way.
Neuman is an active member of the Oakland County Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan, the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants, the Michigan Association for Justice and the American Association of Attorney-Certified Public Accountants. He has been recognized by DBusiness Magazine as a Top Rated Lawyer and by Super Lawyers as a Top 50 Business Lawyer in Michigan and a Super Lawyer of Michigan.
Neuman earned his Bachelor of Arts in accounting from Michigan State University and is a graduate of the Wayne State University Law School.
• • •
Chambers USA 2015 has selected Miller Canfield as a top law firm in all six practice areas ranked in Michigan. Nineteen of the firm’s lawyers in Illinois and Michigan are also recognized as leaders in their respective fields.
The firm received the highest possible ranking – Band 1 – in Commercial Litigation. It was also recognized for Labor & Employment, Banking & Finance Law, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation, Real Estate and its Corporate/M&A work.
Local attorneys named leading lawyers in their specialty area in Chambers USA 2015 are:
Detroit office: Orin D. Brustad, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation; Adam S. Forman, Labor & Employment; Leonard D. Givens, Labor & Employment; Jonathan S. Green, Banking & Finance: Bankruptcy; Christopher A. McMican, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation; Megan P. Norris, Labor & Employment; Clarence L. Pozza, Jr., Commercial Litigation; Steven A. Roach, Banking & Finance: Bankruptcy; Carl H. von Ende, Commercial Litigation; Jerome R. Watson, Labor & Employment.
Troy office: Thomas W. Cranmer, Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations; Ronald E. Hodess, Real Estate; Ronald H. Riback, Banking & Finance; James A. Simpson, Real Estate (Senior Statesman).
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