Dawda, Mann, Mulcahy, & Sadler PLC
Dawda Mann attorney Adam Kutinsky was recently elected to be a Fellow in the American Bar Foundation.
Kutinsky is a member of Dawda, Mann, Mulcahy, & Sadler PLC. He concentrates his practice in the areas of complex commercial disputes, litigation, insurance coverage and real estate disputes. Kutinsky represents both small and large businesses and is an experienced trial attorney.
Kutinsky is AV Peer Review Rated by LexisNexis/Martindale Hubbell. Kutinsky was named a Michigan Super Lawyer in 2013 and 2014. Kutinsky was named a Rising Star in 2011 and 2012 by Super Lawyers. He has been recognized in DBusiness Magazine as a Top Lawyer every year since 2012. In 2013, Kutinsky was awarded the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) Advocate designation, which is only conferred upon trial attorneys that have completed an extensive training program in advanced litigation and trial skills.
Kutinsky is also a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), which is a professional designation in property-casualty insurance and risk management. He is a frequent lecturer and author on the subjects of insurance coverage and real estate litigation. In 2012, the CPCU Society Claims Interest Group named him person of the year at its annual meeting in Washington, D.C. On October 29, 2012, Kutinsky was featured on National Public Radio, WDET, The Craig Fahle Show, for a discussion of legal issues related to urban renewal. In addition, Kutinsky's unique expertise in the area of insurance coverage was the subject of feature articles in Michigan Lawyers Weekly and editions of the Legal News.
Kutinsky received his law degree from Wayne State University Law School. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy from Michigan State University's James Madison College. Kutinsky is licensed to practice law in Michigan, as well as in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
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Olsman, MacKenzie & Wallace
Jules B. Olsman, president of Olsman, MacKenzie & Wallace, was recently presented with the 2016 Champion of Justice Award by the Michigan Association for Justice at its 71st annual meeting at the Book Cadillac Hotel in Detroit on Saturday, April 16.
The award recognizes the recipient's commitment to the civil justice system and its role in protecting the public.
Olsman is a past president of MAJ and is also a member of the Huntington Woods City Commission.
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Kimberly Brandt
Attorney Andrew B. Wachler, with Kimberly Brandt, presented "Provider Audit Contractors and Handling Audit Appeals" at the American Health Lawyers Association's Institute on Medicare and Medicaid Payment Issues on April 14 in Baltimore. Brandt is chief oversight counsel, U.S. Senate Finance Committee.
"One of the most significant reforms that we have seen in the last 10 years is the ability of providers and suppliers to settle cases through the facilitation process," said Wachler.
The presentation covered:
- Significant legislative reform to the Medicare appeals process.
- Important initiatives taken by the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA), including expanding settlement authority, statistical sampling and case consolidation.
- How these legislative changes and OMHA initiatives will impact counsel and their clients.
- Strategic approaches and practical tips for counsel to consider when navigating clients through the changing Medicare appeals process.
Wachler has been practicing health care law for more than 30 years. He counsels health care providers and organizations nationwide in a variety of health care legal matters. In addition, he writes and speaks nationally to professional organizations and other entities on health care law topics such as Medicare appeals, Stark and fraud and abuse, HIPAA, and other topics.
In an April 17 appearance in Las Vegas at the Health Care Compliance Association's Compliance Institute, Wachler conducted an Advanced Audit & Facilitation Workshop for Part A and B providers and suppliers.
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Butzel Long
Butzel Long attorney and shareholder Rebecca S. Davies has been named a Most Valuable Professional by Corp! Magazine.
She is one of several southeast Michigan business leaders who were recognized during a breakfast banquet on April 27 at Schoolcraft College.
The award honors business leaders who are serving their communities and making a difference in Michigan. Davies also will be profiled in an upcoming edition of Corp! Magazine.
Davies concentrates her practice primarily in the areas of employment law and commercial litigation. She represents employers in federal and state court litigation and before state and federal administrative agencies. She regularly counsels employers regarding compliance under federal and state employment laws (including FLSA, FMLA, ADA and Title VII), drafts policies and procedures, and advises on preventative strategies.
She is a frequent author and lecturer, not only for client in-house trainings and publications, but also outside organizations including the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Automation Alley and American Society of Employers. Davies also is an adjunct faculty member at Walsh College where she teaches HR certification as well as general business law courses.
Davies is active in national and local legal associations and regularly volunteers in her community. She is the current chairman for the North American Transportation Employee Relations Association (NATERA) and served as the chair for the Labor and Employment Section for the Oakland County Bar Association. She was a Girl Scout leader for six years. Currently, Davies is an assistant coach for a high school softball team and is an active school volunteer.
Davies earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan at Dearborn and her law degrees from the Detroit College of Law and Wayne State University Law School.
In addition, Butzel Longhas promoted Michelle Brown to chief financial officer (CFO). A 14-year employee of Butzel Long, she previously was the firm's director of finance.
Before joining Butzel Long, she spent nine years in the food and beverage industry. For two years, she was the Accounting Manager for HMSHost, located at Detroit Metro Airport, which operates a significant number of food and beverage establishments inside airports nationwide
Brown began her career at Little Caesar Enterprises where she worked her way up through the organization and was a Regional Controller for Company owned stores.
In 2000, Brown earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Walsh College. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Michigan-Dearborn in 1992.
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Law Offices of Jermaine A. Wyrick, PLLC
The Law Offices of Jermaine A. Wyrick PLLC is pleased to announce that attorney Jermaine A. Wyrick spoke at The Young King's Conference at Wayne County Community College on Saturday, April 16.
The conference was hosted by the Circle of Friends Foundation. The purpose of the conference was to educate, empower, and encourage young men to utilize and embrace their full potential. The goal is for them to become leaders in their families and communities. Wyrick spoke to a group of youth between the ages of 10-17 on the title "Actions have Consequences."
Wyrick is a graduate of the University of Michigan, where he received a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, and Wayne State University Law School. He has practiced law since 1997. His commitment to helping people is apparent by his chosen areas of practice which include criminal defense, police misconduct, and probate law.
His previous awards include the 2003 "Five Under Ten" Award from the University of Michigan African American Alumni Counsel; 2004, "Civil Rights and Education" Black History Month Award from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Michigan; 2004 Jordan Educational Services "Trailblazer Award"; 2006, Pepsi Everyday Freedom Hero Award; and 2007, Detroit Urban Lutheran School "Striving for Excellence"
He has lectured for several organizations including the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, Lorman Education Services, and the NAACP George W. Crockett Community Law School. He currently serves on the board for the Fair Housing Center of Metropolitan Detroit, and the 10 Core Law Society.
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Professional Resolution Experts of Michigan (PREMi)
Professional Resolution Experts of Michigan (PREMi) is pleased to announce that two of its most respected professionals Earlene Baggett-Hayes and Antoinette Raheem have been inducted as members of the International Academy of Mediators (IAM).
IAM named Baggett-Hayes and Raheem as its newest members at an April 8 reception in New York City. They were among 14 professionals inducted this year, a group representing the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom.
"I am deeply honored to be included in this world-class organization," said Baggett-Hayes, a nationally known mediator and arbitrator specializing in labor and employment, business and commercial, municipal, domestic relations, and education disputes. She boasts more than 30 years of combined ADR and litigation experience.
"To be a part of this extraordinary membership is humbling," added Raheem, "and Earlene and I are proud to represent Southeastern Michigan and the U.S." Raheem has an established national ADR practice in mediation, arbitration, and case evaluation. She is a published author and an ADR trainer and professor of dispute resolution at Michigan State University College of Law, Wayne State University Law School, and Western Michigan University Cooley Law School.
To learn more about the International Academy of Mediators, visit its website at www.iamed.org.
Michigan Defense Trial Counsel
The Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (MDTC) announced that Amber L. Girbach of Hewson & Van Hellemont PC and Paul D. Hudson of Miller Canfield are the winners of the Twelfth Annual Young Lawyers Golden Gavel Award.
The recipients will be honored during the Awards Banquet at the MDTC Annual Meeting and Conference on May 13 at The Atheneum Suite Hotel in Detroit.
Girbach graduated from Central Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science in 2006. She went on to obtain her law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2009.
Girbach was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 2009. She initially worked as an assistant public defender at the Washtenaw County Office of Public Defender gaining significant trial and courtroom experience. Prior to joining Hewson and Van Hellemont PC in 2013, she was an associate attorney at a personal injury law firm where her practice focused on complex medical malpractice litigation.
As head of the Miller Canfield's Appeals Section, Hudson counsels firm clients on appellate strategy and procedure, and represents individual, corporate, and higher-education clients in state and federal appellate courts across the country. He's successfully advocated on behalf of: an automotive company in a tax appeal before the Michigan Supreme Court; a turbocharger supplier in a $50 million warranty dispute in the federal 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals; a law school facing fraud and consumer-protection claims in the federal 6th Circuit Court of Appeals; a client with an obstruction-of-justice appeal in the 6th Circuit; and a manufacturer with an issue of first impression regarding employer liability for a factory accident in the 6th Circuit.
Hudson also counsels firm clients on potential amicus opportunities, and has submitted amicus briefs in the state and federal appellate courts on behalf of business clients and trade organizations. He also maintains an active U.S. Supreme Court practice, representing clients at the writ of certiorari stage.
Hudson is active in state and federal bar associations, holding leadership positions on the American Bar Association's Appellate Practice Committee and the State Bar of Michigan's Litigation Section Counsel. The chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit recently appointed Hudson to chair the Sixth Circuit's Advisory Committee on Rules. Hudson formerly served as the editor-in-chief and publications chair of the State Bar of Michigan Litigation Journal, and co-authored the Michigan chapter of a leading treatise on commercial disputes, "Business Torts: A Fifty State Guide."
Before joining Miller Canfield, Hudson served as a law clerk for U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Raymond M. Kethledge, Sixth Circuit.
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Michigan VeteransAffairs Agency
Gov. Rick Snyder recently announced that James Robert Redford has been named director of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. Redford was named MVAA interim director on Feb. 19, following troubling audits at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans.
The audit at the Grand Rapids home focused on medical administration, member care documentation, handling of complaints and financial management. It also addressed ongoing staffing shortages and non-narcotic pharmaceutical controls.
Snyder pledged each audit finding would be addressed, which is a call for improvement Redford has taken to heart.
"I remain committed to continuous improvement at GRHV and throughout the agency," Redford said. "Together, we are working to create an environment that is respectful and caring, and we are doing so by holding ourselves to a higher standard."
In the past two months, Redford has worked with Michigan Veteran Health System CEO Leslie Shanlian to strengthen the health system and update both state veterans homes. The staff structure at GRHV has been reorganized to ensure person-centered care. Five nursing positions have been created to assist in creating and updating comprehensive care plans. Complaints are now being addressed within 24 hours, with total resolution occurring within 72 hours
To support these efforts, Redford also has been working closely with the Michigan Legislature to secure resources to address the findings identified by the audit as well as new challenges that arise as GRHV continues to improve service delivery.
"There is still much work to be done, and we will get it done by everyone working together on the goal we all share: the best care possible for our veterans," Redford said.
Redford served 28 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a captain in 2012. He received the Legion of Merit, six Navy and Marine Corps commendation medals and two Navy Achievement medals.
Redford was elected as a Kent County Circuit Court judge in 2002 and joined the Snyder administration in 2014 as chief legal counsel.
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Wayne State University Law School
Kathy Fox has been appointed assistant dean of admissions at Wayne State University Law School.
Fox, who assumes her new role today, has been serving as director of employer development in Wayne Law's Career Services office since 2009.
From 2002 to 2009, she was deputy director of the Office of Career and Professional Development at Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing. Previously, she worked as an associate at Haliw Siciliano & Mychalowych in Farmington Hills and as a law clerk to Senior Judge E. Anne McKinsey of the Hennepin County District Court in Minneapolis.
A member of the National Association for Law Placement, Fox is chair of its Communications Advisory Group and a member of its Employer Outreach Section and Recruiting Section. She has written numerous articles for the association's publications. Fox serves on the Board of Directors for the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association. For the Oakland County Bar Association, she is chair of the Public Service Committee, member and past chair of the Law Related Education Committee and member of the Youth Law Conference Planning Committee.
Fox earned her law degree from what is now Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minn., in 1998, the same year she also earned a master of business administration degree from the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business in St. Paul. She earned a bachelor of arts degree in history from the University of Wisconsin in Oshkosh.
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Bodman PLC
CoreNet Global has appointed Bodman PLC attorney Andrew Z. Spilkin president of its Michigan chapter. Spilkin previously served as executive vice president of the Michigan chapter.
CoreNet Global is a non-profit association that includes nearly 10,000 real estate executives with strategic responsibility for their corporations' total real estate footprint of owned and leased space.
Spilkin is a member of Bodman practicing in the firm's Troy office. He serves as primary real estate counsel for large corporate clients, particularly those in the automotive industry, in matters involving the purchase of real estate for development, the sale of excess real estate, and general day-to-day real estate activities. He has experience drafting and negotiating commercial and residential leases and subleases for both landlords and tenants, including leases and ground leases for office, retail, and manufacturing space, as well as cell tower leases. Spilkin also represents owners and developers in construction projects and represents landlords and tenants in lease disputes.
Spilkin is listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2016, in Michigan Super Lawyers 2015, and in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business 2015 as one of Michigan's leading real estate attorneys. He is listed as a 2016 "Top Lawyer" by DBusiness magazine.
Published: Mon, May 02, 2016
