Legal People

Brooks Kushman P.C.

 Brooks Kushman attorney Tiffany A. Fidler has received an adjunct faculty appointment as lecturer at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, College of Engineering, Center for Entrepreneurship.

The mission of the department is to empower the entrepreneurial spirit of the University’s College of Engineering and drive the impact of innovation in the State of Michigan, the Nation, and in the global economy.

Fidler will be teaching “Patent Law and Strategy” for Winter Semester 2016. Open to both undergraduate and graduate students from the College of Engineering as well as other colleges in the University, the course explores four major concerns inventors and entrepreneurs face related to patent law: protecting inventions during product development, determining invention patentability, avoiding infringement and leveraging a patent as a business asset. The course addresses these concerns through the application of case law and business cases to an invention of the student’s choice.

Fidler focuses her practice on domestic and foreign patent prosecution and counseling for clients ranging from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies in mechanical matters, electromechanical matters, and systems. Her practice also includes design patent prosecution and she has experience protecting intellectual property rights in automotive technologies, aviation technologies, alternative energy, optics, and the consumer products industry.

Fidler has 3 years of teaching experience as assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering at Drexel University where she established a laboratory conducting federally funded research and taught courses in the thermal fluid sciences and design sequences. She also received her doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan and is excited to return to her alma mater.

In addition, Brooks Kushman attorneys David C. Berry and Michael N. MacCallum recently were appointed adjunct professors at Wayne State University Law School, and will supervise Wayne Law’s successful Patent Procurement Clinic.

As a leader in intellectual property (IP) law, Wayne Law’s Patent Procurement Clinic is part of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Clinic Certification Program, and one of about 45 participating law school clinics in the country offering clients important services such as patentability services, patent application drafting, and responses to patent office rejections. The Wayne Law clinic provides law school students interested in patent law the opportunity to learn practical skills such as patent application drafting, under the direction of experienced practitioners. The clinic also provides pro bono patent legal services to metro Detroit inventors.

Berry and MacCallum will teach students strategies and good practices regarding meeting with clients, conducting patentability searches, drafting patent applications, and prosecuting the applications before the Patent Office. Berry and MacCallum, who both are registered patent attorneys, supervise all of the clinic’s patent services provided by upper-level law school students with degrees in engineering or science. They co-teach Wayne Law’s Patent Procurement Clinic and Advanced Patent Procurement Clinic courses.

Berry has more than 12 years of experience as a law school professor and over 15 years of law practice experience focusing on patent litigation and IP licensing. He provides counsel to Brooks Kushman’s clients on issues of patent and licensing disputes and has represented clients in all phases of litigation, including pre-trial proceedings, bench and jury trials and appeals, including arguing before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Berry currently is chair-elect of the State Bar of Michigan Intellectual Property Law Section and is a member of the board of directors of the national Patent Pro Bono Advisory Council.

MacCallum’s practice focuses on preparing and prosecuting patent applications in the automotive and manufacturing industries. An alumnus of Wayne Law, he is also actively involved in post-grant proceedings before the Patent Office.

Brooks Kushman also has been recognized as a gold-standard trademark firm for the second year by Intellectual Asset Management’s (IAM) annual World Trademark Review 1000, a guide that recognizes the world’s top trademark law firms and practitioners in key jurisdictions. Of the Michigan firms listed in the directory, Brooks Kushman is the only firm listed as a gold-standard trademark firm.

“We are honored to be recognized by the World Trademark Review for the second consecutive year.” said, Mark Cantor president of Brooks Kushman. “Our trademark group works around the clock to ensure client satisfaction and their brands are being protected around the globe. I am happy they are being honored for their accomplishments.”

In addition to the firm’s recognition, President Mark A. Cantor and Shareholders Marc Lorelli, Robyn Lederman, and Elizabeth Janda were also recognized as top trademark leaders in the state. Cantor is recognized as a “vital cog in an exceptional litigation team”, while Lorelli is deemed an anchor to the trademark litigation practice and instrumental in driving the firm’s growth. Lederman and Janda are praised for their energy and efficiency, as well as their high client satisfaction rates and large network of international associates and portfolios.

According to IAM, the annual guide is compiled through an extensive 5-month research process. More than 1,500 interviews are completed by in-house counsel and partners at law firms around the world. Only firms and individuals who receive sufficient positive feedback from peers and clients with knowledge of their practice and the market in which they operate qualify for inclusion in the publication.

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Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss, P.C.

Heather Maldegen-Long has been named partner at Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer, & Weiss PC. Jaffe CEO William Sider made the announcement.

As a partner in Jaffe’s real estate and financial services practice groups, Maldegen-Long specializes in real estate transactions, electronic banking, general finance and business law. She has been an attorney with Jaffe for over seven years. Prior to joining Jaffe, Maldegen-Long held various positions in business and management throughout the Metro Detroit area.

In addition to her new position as partner, Maldegen-Long is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the American  Bar Association. She regularly authors articles and contributes thought leadership to the industries she practices within. This includes two of Jaffe’s legal blogs, the Michigan Green Law blog and the Electronic Payments Law blog.

Maldegen-Long is a graduate of North Carolina State University and Wayne State University Law School. She also earned her Master’s of Science in administration from Central Michigan University.

In addition, Justin M. Schmidt has been named partner at the firm. Jaffe CEO William Sider made the announcement.

As a partner in Jaffe’s aviation and litigation practice groups, Schmidt focuses his practice on aviation liability  claims—representing airlines, aircraft manufacturers, component manufacturers, aircraft owners and operators, aircraft rental, leasing and repair facilities, airports and insurance carriers.

Schmidt has experience working with aviation disaster cases, including American Airlines Flight 587, the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and Colgan Air Flight 3407. He also specializes in military product liability accident cases involving the government contractor defense.

Before becoming an attorney, Schmidt served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps from 2001 to 2005. He was stationed with the marine air wing in Okinawa, Japan as an aircraft logistics officer, and at Camp Pendleton, Calif. with a marine infantry battalion as an infantry logistics officer. Additionally, he also served a seven-month combat tour overseas in Fallujah, Iraq.

Schmidt earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and his law degree from the Rutgers University School of Law

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Nemeth Law PC

Patricia Nemeth, founder of Detroit-based labor and employment law firm Nemeth Law PC, is pleased to announce Clifford L. Hammond has been named a partner in the firm. He had been a senior attorney.

Hammond joined Nemeth Law in 2007. He focuses his practice on traditional labor law, counseling and employment litigation. Areas of particular interest include the National Labor Relations Act, Michigan Employment Relations Commission, union avoidance and dispute resolution. Immediately prior to joining Nemeth Law, Hammond was labor counsel for the Service Employees International Union. Prior to beginning his law career, Hammond served as a history and social studies teacher and coached football and track and field in Detroit.

A writer and commentator on labor and employment and unionization trends, Hammond also conducts training seminars on labor and employment issues throughout the State of Michigan and the country.

Hammond is a multiple recipient of the Michigan Super Lawyer’s Rising Star designation and was named an Up and Coming Lawyer by Michigan Lawyers Weekly in 2010.  He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Delaware and a law degree from Widener University School of Law, also in Delaware. Hammond is admitted to the Michigan state courts and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

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Kotz, Sangster, Wysocki P.C.

Sean P. McNally has been appointed Leader of the Construction Practice Group at Kotz, Sangster, Wysocki PC In addition to this role, McNally serves on the firm’s Board of Directors and as its general counsel. He maintains a diverse commercial and business practice, with his primary focus on the construction, manufacturing and real estate industries. McNally is a commercial trial and appellate litigator in both state and federal courts in the State of Michigan and throughout the country.

McNally earned his law degree from Michigan State University College of Law, and a BA from Michigan State University. He serves as a trustee for the Franny Strong Foundation.

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Dykema

Dykema recently announced the addition of Linda Moss as the firm’s first chief business development and marketing officer. She joins from AmLaw 100 firm Baker & Hostetler LLP where she worked for 10 years, most recently serving as national director of business development.

Moss brings more than 25 years of experience in business development and marketing within the professional services industry. Throughout her career, she proactively led business development, communications, knowledge and technical infrastructures to align with market strategies for increased revenue generation, market presence, and service coordination to clients.

Earlier in her career, Moss held a variety of positions at Ernst & Young, starting as coordinator for the Global Account client service teams, continuing with the Global Pursuits team, and eventually as team leader of the firm’s Center for Business Knowledge business development organization.

“Dykema is known for its unparalleled service, outstanding results and excellent value. And with the firm’s significant 2015 addition of more than 100 lawyers in Texas, it’s a particularly exciting time to be a part of the Dykema’s evolution,” Moss said. “I look forward to helping shape the future of the firm and its brand.”

Moss earned an M.B.A in Marketing and a B.S. in Business Administration from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

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Giarmarco, Mullins, & Horton, P.C.

Giarmarco, Mullins, & Horton PC is pleased to announce that Paul A. Thursam is now a shareholder with the firm.

Thursam is in the firm’s Business Practice Group and Real Estate Practice Group. Thursam’s legal experience includes complex real estate litigation and transactions, loans and financing, Uniform Commercial Code, and banking transactions and litigation.  Thursam 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. 

As a lawyer, Thursam has been named a DBusiness Top Lawyer for 2012-2015, and a Super Lawyers Rising Star for 2012-2015. He is also a Leadership Detroit XXXVI class member, and the recipient of Michigan Lawyers Weekly “Up & Coming Lawyers 2014.”

Giarmarco, Mullins, & Horton PC is also pleased to announce that John L. Miller is now a shareholder with the firm.

Miller represents public school districts and municipalities in a wide array of litigation—including: employment, FOIA and Open Meetings Act, general education, special education, civil rights, constitutional law, personal injury claims, and workers’ compensation.

Miller has represented governmental entities and private employers throughout Michigan’s state and federal courts—both at the trial and appellate levels.

Prior to law school, Miller received a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Northern Michigan University and a Bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University. Miller is a past member of Highland Township’s Planning Commission and is a current member of the Zoning Board of Appeals.

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Foster, Swift, Collins, & Smith, PC­

The law firm of Foster, Swift, Collins, & Smith PC is pleased to announce Lisa Hamameh and Ray Littleton as newly elected shareholders of the firm.

Hamameh is a municipal litigation attorney in the Farmington Hills office who practices in the following areas: municipal, zoning and land use, and liquor licensing law. Hamameh earned her law degree at Wayne State University Law School. She has been selected as a DBusiness Top Lawyer, Best Lawyers in America® 2016 and was also chosen for “Women in the Law” by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. Hamameh serves on three sections and two committees of the State Bar of Michigan, in addition to numerous, associations and community service organizations.

Littleton is a litigation attorney in the Farmington Hills office and a graduate of Marquette University Law School. He specializes in three areas: insurance litigation and claim disputes, employment and management disputes, and business and contract disputes. Littleton is a member of both the State Bar of Michigan, where he serves on the Representative Assembly, and the State Bar of Wisconsin.