Collins, Einhorn, Farrell PC is pleased to announce that attorney Henry E. Ibe has joined the firm's General and Automotive Liability practice group. Ibe focuses his practice on a variety of defense litigation matters, with an emphasis on and defending first- and third-party automobile liability claims. Prior to joining Collins, Einhorn, Farrell, he worked as an associate at a business law firm offering legal services to startups and entrepreneurs in Detroit. Subsequently, he worked as an associate at a prominent Detroit-based defense litigation firm.
In 2010, Ibe graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science. He then went on to obtain his law degree from Wayne State University Law School in 2014. While in law school, Ibe worked as a student attorney for the Asylum and Immigration Law Clinic. Ibe also served as an intern for Wayne County Circuit Court Judge John H. Gillis Jr.
Ibe is licensed with the State Bar of Michigan and is a member of the American Bar Association, the Wolverine Bar Association and the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association.
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Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Ulysses Boykin and Oakland County Circuit Court Chief Judge Nanci Grant received Champion of Justice Awards during the State Bar of Michigan annual meeting being held in September at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids. The Champion of Justice Awards are presented to State Bar members who have achieved the highest honors in leadership, professional integrity, and community service.
Boykin, who was elected to the Third Circuit bench in 1999, served on the Michigan Military Appeals Tribunal, chaired the Detroit Civil Service Commission, and the Michigan Crime Victims Compensation Board. Boykin has worked to strengthen rules and procedures to improve outcomes in the courtroom, but just as important, he shares his time and expertise mentoring high school and college students, young attorneys, and fellow judges to improve outcomes in the community.
Elected to the Sixth Circuit Court in 1996,Grant was appointed chief circuit judge in November 2009. Grant is being recognized for launching Veterans Treatment Court as well as developing a free program for Oakland County residents that helps them with probate questions. Veterans Treatment Court aims to keep veterans out of jail by providing them with intense supervision, treatment for mental health and substance abuse issues, readjustment counseling, and mentoring sessions with military veterans who can relate to their combat experiences. "Removing the Mysteries of the Probate Court" is a series of free programs aimed at helping residents organize their estates.
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Dykema announced that Dennis M. Haffey, Bloomfield Hills-based member of the firm's Litigation Department, was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in North America. The induction ceremony took place before an audience of approximately 800 persons during the recent 2016 Annual Meeting of the College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Haffey's practice focuses on complex business litigation for both plaintiffs and defendants, at trial and appellate levels of state and federal courts, as well as arbitration and other forms of alternative dispute resolutions, on various subject matters. During his career, Haffey has served as the director of Dykema's Litigation Department, on its Executive Committee, and as managing member of its Bloomfield Hills office.
Haffey, who received a law degree from the University of Michigan, has been named annually for more than a decade in Chambers USA America's Leading Lawyers for Business and Best Lawyers in America, as well as in Michigan Super Lawyers. He was also named a "Lawyer of the Year" on three separate occasions by Best Lawyers.
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Chad C. Schmucker, president of The National Judicial College (NJC), recently announced his retirement after three years of leading the nation's most influential institute for the continuing education of judges.
A former Michigan judge and state court administrator, Schmucker became the eighth leader of the NJC with his announced appointment on Sept. 17, 2013. He began his presidency January 1, 2014 and expects to retire in early 2017.
"At this point in my career, my wife and I have determined that family priorities need more of my time," said Schmucker. "I have a tremendous amount of pride for my time here at The National Judicial College. I strongly believe in the college's mission and I've greatly enjoyed working with staff, faculty and advisory liaisons."
During his tenure, Schmucker expanded NJC's web-based programs and courses across the country, allowing easier and more affordable access for judges. He also led the organization to record enrollments and established a foundation to expand NJC's development reach and brand to the legal community.
A former state court administrator, Schmucker managed 246 trial courts across the state of Michigan and also spent 20 years on the bench in Jackson County as a circuit court judge, working to reform Michigan's judicial system. He graduated from the University of Michigan, receiving a BBA, and from Wayne State University Law School.
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Barris, Sott, Denn, & Driker, PLLC, is pleased to announce that Benchmark has again named Sharon M. Woods as one of the top 250 women in litigation nationwide for 2016.
Woods is the chairperson of BSDD's litigation department and served as BSDD's managing member for twenty-four years, after joining BSDD in 1972 as its first woman attorney. She is known for handling complex commercial lawsuits, construction, securities, intellectual property, employment, professional malpractice defense, and class actions.
Woods was elected a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers in 1989 and was elected to its national Board of Regents for 2001-2005. She was elected a fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers in 2003.
Woods earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in biology and mathematics and a law degree both from the University of Detroit.
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Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce that Attorney James B. Perry was recently elected a Fellow of the State Bar of Michigan Foundation.
Perry is a member in the firm's Detroit office where he focuses his practice on labor & employment and alternative dispute resolution. He has successfully negotiated labor contracts with all major unions for a wide variety of public and private employers. He also has experience before employment agencies including the NLRB, MERC, Department of Labor, and EEOC.
Perry is a member of the State Bar of Michigan's Labor Law Section and the Detroit Chapter of the Labor and Employment Relations Research Association. He is recognized as a leader in his field by Michigan Super Lawyers and Dbusiness Top Lawyers.
Perry received his B.A. from the University of Michigan and his law degree from Emory University School of Law.
Fellows of the State Bar of Michigan Foundation are chosen for their outstanding legal ability and devotion to community. Only five percent of the State Bar of Michigan's members in good standing are invited to become Fellows. The State Bar of Michigan Foundation provides leadership and grants to improve access for all to the justice system, including support for civil legal aid to the poor, law-related education, and conflict resolution. To learn more visit, www.msbf.org.
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Dinsmore & Shohl LLP's John Chau has been appointed chair of the Law Practice Management and Legal Administrators Section of the State Bar of Michigan. Chau will serve a one year term.
As chair, Chau will provide education and information regarding issues of concern during meetings, in seminars, public service programs, and through a public newsletter.
"I'm excited and humbled for the opportunity to chair the Law Practice Management and Legal Administrators Section. We look forward to providing education to our members and the legal community as a whole through our programs and newsletter." Chau said.
Chau is a member of Dinsmore's Intellectual Property Department where he advises clients on a full range of intellectual property matters, including patent prosecution, freedom to operate, intellectual property rights enforcement, licensing and research projects between private companies and government agencies.
Chau earned his B.S. in Control Systems Engineering from the United States Naval Academy and his law degree from Ave Maria School of Law.
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Twenty-six of Howard & Howard's attorneys were recently named to Michigan Super Lawyers® and Michigan Rising Stars 2016 as a result of a patented selection process. This process includes peer evaluation and independent research. Only five percent of the attorneys in Michigan were named to the Super Lawyers list and two and one half percent to Rising Stars.
The Howard & Howard attorneys and the practice areas under which they are listed in Michigan Super Lawyers 2016 are as follows:
- Mark A. Davis president & CEO, Real Estate.
- Joseph J. DeVito, Mergers & Acquisitions.
- Mary C. Dirkes, Business Litigation.
- Robert E. Graziani, Insurance Coverage.
- Lisa S. Gretchko, Creditor/Debtor Rights.
- Andrew (Jake) Grove, Intellectual Property Litigation.
- Sam J. Haidle, Intellectual Property.
- Michael V. Kell, PI Products: Defense.
- David M. LaPrairie, Intellectual Property.
- Patrick M. McCarthy, Business Litigation (Recognized among the Top 100 Lawyers in Michigan).
- Gerald E. McGlynn III, Intellectual Property.
- Richard M. Miettinen, Mergers & Acquisitions.
- Mark W. Peyser, Business Litigation.
- Brad A. Rayle, Employee Litigation: Defense.
- Jeffrey A. Sadowski, Intellectual Property Litigation.
- Michael F. Wais, Business Litigation.
- Timothy M. Wittebort, Business/Corporate.
The Howard & Howard attorneys and the practice areas under which they are listed in Michigan Rising Stars 2016 are as follows:
- Michael M. Bell, Banking.
- Brandon J. Booth, Business/Corporate.
- Melinda B. Buurma, Intellectual Property.
- Stephen P. Dunn, Business Litigation.
- Paul T. Engel, Intellectual Property.
- Michael O. Fawaz, Business Litigation.
- Jeffrey A. Hoover, Mergers & Acquisitions.
- Kristopher K. Hulliberger, Intellectual Property Litigation.
- Evonne Xu, International.
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Susan Cancelosi, an associate professor of law, has been appointed interim associate dean at Wayne State University Law School.
In her new role, Cancelosi, who joined the Wayne Law faculty in 2006, will work with faculty and staff to oversee the law school's academic programs.
Cancelosi has taught courses on trusts and decedents' estates, federal income taxation, elder law and employee benefits. Her research focuses on employment-based retiree benefits, both health and pension. She speaks regularly on benefits-related topics involving the elderly.
In April, she was honored with the law school's Donald H. Gordon Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Before joining the Wayne Law faculty, Cancelosi was a research professor with the Health Law & Policy Institute at the University of Houston Law Center, where she focused primarily on research into various health care finance issues and taught both employee benefits and elder law.
For the preceding five years, she was a director in Tax & Legal Consulting Services for Buck Consultants, a Dallas-based national human resources consulting firm. Before joining Buck, Cancelosi worked as a manager with Deloitte & Touche in its employee benefits consulting practice in Dallas.
She also has worked as an employee benefits attorney with Jones, Day, Reavis, & Pogue in Cleveland and Dallas, with the benefits practice at Taft Stettinius & Hollister in Cincinnati and as assistant general counsel for The Associates, a large publicly traded finance company based in Dallas. Her private practice work covered the full range of employee benefits issues, from traditional retirement plan benefits to all types of welfare benefits and executive compensation.
Her interest in elder law stems from years of volunteer work in Texas with The Senior Source, a United Way agency based in Dallas that focuses on serving the senior population of the North Texas region. In addition to offering pro bono advice at clinics for the elderly and speaking to numerous senior citizens' groups, Cancelosi served for several years as a volunteer guardian for a senior citizen in a nursing home near Dallas.
Cancelosi graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas with a bachelor's degree in history and a bachelor of business administration degree in marketing. She earned her law degree from Cornell Law School in Ithaca, New York, and a master of laws degree in health law from the University of Houston Law Center.
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Charles W. Browning, co-chair of the Insurance Coverage Practice Group at Plunkett Cooney, will soon receive national recognition for coordinating a leading national bar conference.
The DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar will present Browning with the Albert H. Parnell Outstanding Program Chair Award at a luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 20, during the 2016 DRI Annual Meeting in Boston. The award is presented annually to honor an individual who created a particularly dynamic educational program.
"This award was a complete surprise," said Browning who chaired the DRI's Insurance Coverage and Practice Symposium on Dec. 3-5, 2015, in New York City. "It was a challenging conference to coordinate with over 750 attendees, numerous presentations, meetings and other gatherings, but I enjoyed working with all of my colleagues and speakers. It turned out to be a great event."
A member of the firm's Board of Directors, Browning is known nationally for his experience and expertise in the area of insurance coverage and related litigation. He has the distinction of serving as coverage counsel for several leading property and casualty insurance companies, and he appears regularly in court to represent his clients throughout the country.
The Best Lawyers in America and Michigan Super Lawyers perennially include Browning as a top practitioner in his area of expertise. He is a Fellow in the American College of Coverage and Extra Contractual Counsel and a member of DRI's Insurance Law Committee. Browning is also a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel (Casualty Insurance Committee (Chair 2006-2008) and Reinsurance and Excess and Surplus Lines Committee); Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (Insurance Committee) and the American Bar Association (Litigation Section and Torts and Insurance Practice Section). He is also a member of the Board of Editors of the Defense Counsel Journal.
Published: Mon, Oct 03, 2016
