Michigan Charter Boat Association honors Stephen Schultz with award

The Michigan Charter Boat Association has honored Okemos attorney Stephen Schultz with its annual award for service to the sport fishing and charter boat industry in Michigan. The Charles Pistis award, presented annually since 1984 at the Association’s state conference, is given to honor chosen individuals “for their assistance, support and contribution to the improvement and well-being of the Michigan Charter Boat Association, the charter industry and sport fishing in general.”

Schultz was recognized for his work to protect the rights of the sport fishers throughout the state, particularly with regard to the conflicts that have arisen over the past 35 years between the interests of sport fishers and Native American commercial fishing interests. During these years, Schultz has represented a large coalition of sport fishing, hunting and lake associations seeking to balance the interests of those organizations with the interests of several Native American Tribes located in northern Michigan.

Schultz, who received the award on Oct. 17, is a founding member and president of Fahey Schultz Burzych Rhodes PLC.  The firm, located in Okemos, specializes in four core areas. Schultz leads the firm’s Labor and Employment Law Practice, but has had a longstanding association with the federal court litigation over the exercise of treaty rights by Michigan’s Tribes.  The firm also has a large municipal practice, represents DTE Energy and other public utilities, and its Corporate Practice Group specializes in the representation of franchised businesses, including several of the fastest growing franchised businesses in the state.