Legal People

Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP
Joanna G. Morrison has joined Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, and Cohn LLP as an associate in the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office.

Morrison is a member of the Trusts and Estates Practice Group, assisting with the development, execution and administration of creative estate planning solutions for high net worth individuals. She comes to Honigman from J.P. Morgan Private Bank where she served as a trust administrator. Morrison is admitted to practice in Illinois and anticipates admission to practice in Michigan.

She earned law degrees from Northwestern University School of Law and Vanderbilt University Law School. She received her B.A. from the University of Michigan.

In addition, Mallory L. Tomaro has joined Honigman as an associate in its Real Estate Department. She will be located in the firm’s Detroit office.

Tomaro assists with general real estate matters in the retail, office and industrial areas. She comes to Honigman after serving as a judicial law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Arthur J. Tarnow, Eastern District of Michigan. She previously served as a judicial law clerk for U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Damon J. Keith, Sixth Circuit. Tomaro is admitted to practice in Michigan.

She earned a law degree from Wayne State University Law School.  Tomaro received a B.A. from New York University.

The firm also announces that Philip J. Kessler, a litigation partner at Honigman, has been appointed chair and president of the board of directors for the United Sates International Rule of Law Project (IROLP) Inc. The mission of the organization is to promote the study and development of international and comparative law and, in particular, the rule of law both within  countries around the world and in the international legal order. Supporters of the British Institute for International and Comparative Law (BIICL) established IROLP, which last year became a U.S. non-profit corporation.  The directors and officers of both organizations are legal scholars and practitioners from research institutions and law firms around the world.

Kessler focuses his practice on the prosecution and defense of claims on behalf of public and private companies, individuals and partnerships, in a broad range of business and intellectual property issues.

 He is a trial lawyer with experience in litigation including claims involving antitrust, audit malpractice, contracts, securities fraud, corporate control contests, fiduciary matters and intra-corporate and partnership disputes. Kessler also litigates intellectual property issues arising from copyright, trademark, trade secret, unfair competition and patent infringement claims. He represents clients in numerous industries, including automotive, advertising, health care, pharmaceutical, financial services, real estate and manufacturing. Kessler is admitted to practice in Michigan and New York and has acted as lead counsel in litigation throughout the United States.

He is a Fellow of the distinguished American College of Trial Lawyers, where he has served on its Board of Regents and Executive Committee, The International Society of Barristers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. In addition, Kessler serves as a trustee, secretary and on the Executive Committee of the U.S. Supreme Court Historical Society.  He is a life member of the Judicial Conference for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and a life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

Kessler has been consistently recognized as a leading lawyer by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, The Best Lawyers in America and Michigan Super Lawyers.

He earned a law degree from the University of California at Berkeley School of Law and an A.B. from the University of Michigan.

—————

Miller Canfield
The law firm or Miller Canfield announces that Jennifer McQueen has joined the firm as director of Business Development and Marketing. McQueen brings over 20 years of business development and marketing experience in several different industries, and will be responsible for firm-wide strategic business development, client relations, marketing, and public relations.

McQueen will also work with firm leadership, practice group leaders, and industry and client teams on building upon initiatives including global automotive and autonomous vehicles, higher education, public utilities, finance and banking, economic development, and domestic and international investment across all platforms.

Prior to joining the firm, McQueen served as director of Marketing at accounting firm Clayton & McKervey.

In addition to her work experience, she founded the Michigan Chapter for the Society for Marketing Professional Services, and is active in several chambers of commerce, including the Detroit Regional Partnership, and various international chambers, including the German, Italian, British, French, Swiss, and Asian-Pacific chambers.

McQueen received her BBA in Marketing from University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business.

—————

Epstein, Becker, Green (EBG)

Epstein, Becker, Green (EBG) is pleased to announce that Adam S. Forman has joined as a member of the firm in the Employment, Labor, and Workforce Management practice. He will be based in Detroit and Chicago. 

To meet market trends and demands in an increasingly digital age, EBG has continued to evolve its services related to privacy and security issues that companies of all sizes may face.  Forman, who focuses on employee use of technology in the workplace, helps round out EBG’s capabilities.

A frequent writer and national lecturer on issues related to technology in the workplace, such as social media, Internet, and privacy issues facing employers, Forman is often interviewed by newspapers, radio, and legal blogs on those topics.  He is the editor-in-chief of the 2015 supplement to Bloomberg BNA’s Workplace Data: Law and Litigation.  He was also recently named to Bloomberg BNA’s Labor & Employment Innovation and Technology Board. 

Forman was ranked by Chambers USA in Michigan for Labor & Employment (2011-2015); selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America in Labor and Employment Law (2010-2011) and Employment Law-Management and Labor Law-Management (2012-2015); and named one of the “Up and Comers” on Lawdragon’s “Most Powerful Employment Attorneys” list (2014).

Forman’s experience includes defending against wage and hour disputes and claims of wrongful discharge, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation; representing management in labor arbitrations, unfair labor practice charges, and collective bargaining; regularly advising employers about issues and policies related to social media and the online conduct of employees; and training workforces on employment law topics, such as how to conduct a workplace investigation.

—————

Warner, Norcross, & Judd LLP
The Legal Marketing Association (LMA) has recognized Warner, Norcross, & Judd LLP with a 2015 Your Honor Award.

The firm took first place in the annual report category for its 2014 Diversity and Inclusion annual report. Warner Norcross was also recognized as a finalist in the advertising, firm brochures and newsletters categories. This is the first time the firm as been recognized by the LMA.

Now in its ninth year, the Diversity and Inclusion Annual Report was created to inform clients and the community initiatives aimed to make the firm a more diverse and inclusive place to work. The 2014 report featured a letter from Managing Partner Douglas E. Wagner, profiles of attorneys and articles on new programs, along with a demographic profile of the firm.

This and past year’s’ reports are available to view at https://www.wnj.com/About-Us/Diversity/Diversity-Annual-Report.

“Warner Norcross is committed to promoting greater respect and understanding in our community,”” Diversity Partner Rodney D. Martin said.  “We’re honored to be recognized by the Legal Marketing Association.” Our Diversity and Inclusion Annual Report is an important tool for us to communicate our commitment to increasing gender and racial diversity in our firm and in the profession.”

The LMA Midwest Your Honor Awards recognize creativity, execution, achievement and overall excellence in legal marketing, business development and communications.  The Warner Norcross’ winning report was selected from a pool of submissions from law firms, law-related organizations and service providers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin.

In addition, ten attorneys in the Southfield and Macomb County offices of Warner Norcross have been selected as 2016 Top Lawyers by DBusiness.

Results will be published in the November edition of the magazine. Warner Norcross attorneys who will be recognized are:

Michael G. Brady, commercial litigation.

Sean H. Cook, tax law.

Homayune A. Ghaussi, commercial litigation.

Jay A. Kennedy, tax law.

Steven C. Kohl, environmental law.

Mary Jo Larson, employee benefits law.

Linda Paullin-Hebden, corporate law.

Alan T. Rogalski, health care law.

James E. Romzek, corporate law.

Lisa B. Zimmer, employee benefits and ERISA law.

—————

Dykema

Dykema recently announced that Laura C. Baucus, a member of  the firm’s Litigation Department, has been appointed as the office managing member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office.

Baucus has a broad consumer financial services and commercial litigation practice and is experienced in successfully resolving disputes in federal and state courts, in arbitration proceedings before the American Arbitration Association, and in facilitations before private mediators. She is also a member of Dykema’s Financial Industry Group and its Automotive Industry Group.

Baucus is experienced in the area of consumer financial services litigation, representing banks, mortgage servicers, lenders and insurers on Truth and Lending Act (TILA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) and related state law claims and on Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) compliance issues

She has been selected as a Future Star by Benchmark Litigation from 2013-2015, and has been recognized as a Rising Star by Michigan Super Lawyers in 2013 and 2014. Baucus is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan, the Federal Bar Association and the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan.
She earned a law degree from Wayne State University and a B.A. from The Catholic University Columbus School of Law.

—————

Quinn Law Group PLLC

Quinn Law Group PLLC, an intellectual property law firm in Novi, has announced that Matt Binkowski has joined the firm as a principal.

Binkowski will focus on the preparation and prosecution of patent applications, and has experience in electrical, computer, mechanical, and electro-mechanical technologies. Binkowski has specific experience in several technology areas, including automotive components, semiconductor fabrication and integrated circuits, medical devices, antenna systems, cochlear implants, gaming, factory automation, and virtual reality systems.

Binkowski began working at another Detroit area law firm during law school after spending several years in engineering posts.

As an engineer, he worked with computer-controlled machinery at Chrysler Corporation, Consumers Energy, and other engineering firms in Southeastern Michigan.

Binkowski graduated from Michigan State University (1993) with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering. He received his law degree (2006) from Wayne State University Law School.

Binkowski is a member of the State Bar of Michigan. He is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

—————

Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss, P.C.

Steven Lefkofsky has joined Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer, & Weiss PC as a partner in the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. Jaffe CEO William Sider made the announcement.

Prior to joining Jaffe, Lefkofsky served as a founder and shareholder for a boutique law firm in Farmington  Hills. He has represented numerous clients involved in the break-up or dissolution of their businesses, and has tried and arbitrated a variety of contract and construction disputes, both commercial and residential.  In addition to an active litigation practice, Lefkofsky represents and counsels a variety of companies, from technology start-ups to publicly held corporations, in all aspects of their business operations.

As a partner in Jaffe’s Litigation Practice Group, Lefkofsky will concentrate his practice on representing clients in a variety of complex commercial and civil litigation matters. His experience ranges from multi-million dollar fraud and breach of contract cases, to the defense of shareholders and businesses in a variety of class action lawsuits.

Lefkofsky is an active member of the State Bar of Michigan and the American Bar Association. In addition, he serves on a number of charitable boards, including the Board of Trustees for the Children’s Hospital Foundation, the UM Pancreatic Cancer Advisory Board and the Board of Trustees for Temple Israel.  He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and his law degree from Wayne State University Law School.

—————

Insurance Institute of Michigan (IIM)

Insurance Institute of Michigan (IIM) conducted its 13th Annual Claims Seminar at the James B. Henry Center on Michigan State University’s East Lansing campus on September 15.  The seminar was attended by attorneys, vendors, and claims professionals in the insurance industry.

Presenters from Secrest Wardle included:

Henry S. Emrich, executive general partner, who spoke on “Meeting Increasingly Aggressive Plaintiff’s Head On-Dealing with Reptilian Trial Strategy” and “Fraud: Tried and True Strategies for Paying Only When You Owe and What You Owe.”

Alison M. Quinn, partner, who spoke on “Fraud: Tried and True Strategies for Paying Only When You Owe and What You Owe.”

Amanda B. Fopma, partner, who spoke on “ACV vs RCV: We Owe Replacement Cost Coverage but the Insured Hasn’t Replaced.”

Devon R. Glass, partner, who spoke on “Navigating Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Claims.”

To view the presentations, visit the Information tab on Secrest Wardle’s website http://bit.ly/1G590uu.

IIM is a government affairs and public information association representing more than 90 property/casualty insurance companies/groups and related organizations operating in Michigan. The organization’s purpose is to serve the Michigan insurance industry and the insurance consumer as a central focal point for educational, media, legislative and public information insurance issues. For additional information, visit www.iiminfo.org.

—————

Fraser Trebilcock

Fraser Trebilcock is proud to announce that its marketing team took home the top honor for the redesign of our law firm’s website during the Legal Marketing Association Midwest Chapter’s annual awards ceremony in Chicago.

There were a record number of submissions this year for the regional Your Honor Awards, which recognize outstanding achievement and innovation in legal marketing, business development, and design.

The new fraserlawfirm.com features enhanced attorney biographies, a dynamic search feature, and interactive Google maps – all with effortless navigation on desktop and mobile.