Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC is pleased to announce that Stephanie S. Buntin, Ellen E. Ernst, Robert W. Hernquist, and Nolan A. Yaldo have all become shareholders in the firm.
Stephanie S. Buntin concentrates her practice on intellectual property. She focuses on domestic and foreign patent prosecution, trademark prosecution, as well as trademark clearance, policing and enforcement.
Ellen E. Ernst concentrates her practice in a variety of corporate tax matters. She advises clients on planning, transactional, and compliance issues relating to income and franchise taxes and has experience working with public and private companies throughout the country and internationally.
Robert W. Hernquist concentrates his practice in all aspects of commercial and complex civil litigation. This includes shareholder disputes, banking and real estate matters, and business torts such as fraud, unfair trade practices and misappropriation of intellectual property. The bulk of his caseload arises from investments, business contracts and leases, banking and real estate transactions, shareholder disputes, and construction projects.
Nolan A. Yaldo concentrates his practice in the areas of tax law, general and complex business transactions, and corporate matters, including corporate formations, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate dissolutions. He has worked on buy and sell-side transactions, large corporate and state tax projects and a variety of general business matters for public companies, closely held businesses and large private entities.
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Former Bank of America Senior Vice-President and Assistant General Counsel Rasul M. Raheem recently joined Plunkett Cooney.
A 30-year veteran of the banking industry, Raheem works in the firm's Bloomfield Hills office as a senior attorney in the Banking, Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights Practice Group. He focuses his practice in all aspects of banking law, as well as business transactions and regulatory law.
In his role as in-house counsel to Bank of America N.A. (and previously to LaSalle Bank Corp and its predecessor Michigan National Bank), Raheem advised senior management on finance and lending relationships, credit issues, restructuring and recovery strategies, reputational risk, treasury services, bank policy and regulatory issues. He also managed outside counsel and related litigation with law firms across the country.
Raheem is active in the community, having recently been appointed by Detroit Mayor Michael Duggan to serve as a member of the Detroit Land Bank Authority Board of Directors. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity & Inclusion. Raheem serves as a hearing panel member for the state of Michigan's Attorney Discipline Board. His bar memberships include the American, National, D. Augustus Straker and Oakland County bar associations.
Raheem received his law degrees from Wayne State University Law School in 2003 and 1984. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in 1979.
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Secrest Wardle encourages charitable giving each week throughout the year by offering employees in the firm's three office locations the opportunity to participate in "Casual Fridays." Employees are able to suggest charities for weekly sponsorship. For a $5 cash donation to the chosen charity, business casual attire is permitted in the office. In 2016, the firm raised a total of $10,009 for a wide variety of causes.
In an effort to support Troy families in need during the holiday season, Secrest Wardle participated in the 22nd Annual Food and Gift Drive sponsored by the Troy Police Department, VFW Post #4037 and Alliance Mobile Health by adopting a family. During the month of December, Secrest Wardle devoted two "Casual Fridays" to raising funds for the single mother and her two young children. The firm raised $673 which was used to buy presents and gift cards for the family. Secrest Wardle also designated the funds from multiple "Casual Fridays" throughout the year to Gleaner's Community Food Bank donating a total of $3,725.00 to the charity.
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Collins, Einhorn, Farrell PC is pleased to announce that attorneys Patrick D. Crandell, Lauren A. Frederick, Kari L. Melkonian, and Kyle N. Smith have been elected partners in the firm.
Patrick D. Crandell is a partner in the firm's insurance coverage group. He devotes a significant portion of his time to commencing and defending insurance coverage actions in both state and federal court, preparing coverage opinions, and counseling insurance carriers on complex insurance coverage disputes. He is an experienced litigator and has handled a wide variety of civil and criminal matters, including construction, contractual, employment, and constitutional claims.
Crandell serves on the Representative Assembly of the State Bar, as a council member on the Insurance and Indemnity Law Section, and as a member of the Oakland County Bar Association's Legislative Committee. Crandell also has served as a policy analyst in the Michigan Senate. Crandell is active in his community as a member of the Livonia Chamber of Commerce, and was a 2016 candidate for the Wayne County Commission, 9th District. Crandell was selected as one of Michigan's "Rising Stars" by Super Lawyers Magazine in 2015 and 2016.
Lauren A. Frederick is a partner at the firm and a member of both the general and automotive and insurance coverage groups. Lauren represents insurers, corporations, and individuals in a broad spectrum of general liability defense matters, including defending first- and third-party automobile and premises liability cases. Frederick has experience handling cases from the discovery phase through trial. She also has vast experience in handling pre-litigation issues, including fraud investigation, drafting coverage opinions, and conducting examinations under oath.
Frederick is active in a number of associations, including the State Bar of Michigan, where she serves in the Litigation Section and the Insurance Section. Frederick is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association, the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel, and the Defense Research Institute. She is also a fellow at the Oakland County Bar Foundation.
Kari L. Melkonian is a partner in the general and automotive liability group, focusing her practice on the defense of general and automotive liability claims. Melkonian has experience in all phases of litigation, including discovery, dispositive motion practice and trial. Melkonian is also active in the legal community as a member of multiple associations including the Oakland County Bar Association (OCBA), the Defense Research Institute, the Association of Defense Trial Counsel, the Women's Bar Association, Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, and the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (MDTC).
Melkonian currently is the chair of the OCBA Circuit Court Committee, and the co-chair of the MDTC Social Media Committee. She also serves on a number of committees within OCBA. Melkonian was selected as one of Michigan's "Rising Stars" by Super Lawyers Magazine in 2016. She is also a past recipient of the Oakland County Circuit Court MVP Award, and Oakland County's 10-year Service Award.
Kyle N. Smith is a partner in the general and automotive liability group, and centers his practice on the defense of personal injury and property damage claims. He has successfully defended matters through all phases of litigation, including trial, including first- and third-party automobile matters, product liability, premises liability, and construction site liability. Smith is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association, the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel, and the Association of Defense Trial Counsel.
Smith is actively involved in Angels' Place, a Michigan-based non-profit charity that provides people-centered services including homes and professional support for adults with developmental disabilities.
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Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce the election of six new member attorneys to the firm's Detroit and Troy offices, effective January 1, 2017.
Jeffrey Ammons is a member in the firm's Troy office. He advises local and intermediate school boards of education, college and university boards of trustees, public school academy boards of directors and other public and private educational entities on various matters. He also develops and implements estate plans for the management and transfer of assets during life and at death in ways that avoid unnecessary taxation, preserve privacy and protect loved ones.
Ammons is a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan, the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, and the Michigan Council of School Attorneys. He is recognized as a Michigan Super Lawyer "Rising Star."
Ammons received his B.A. from the University of Michigan, his M.A. from Wheaton College Graduate School, and his law degree from the Michigan State University College of Law.
Aaron Burrell is a member in the firm's Detroit office. He focuses his practice in the areas of appellate, commercial & business litigation, labor & employment, and minority business enterprises. He has successfully defended clients in a wide range of discrimination and unfair labor practice claims in state and federal court. He has also counseled clients on all aspects of the employment relationship including hiring, discipline, and the creation and enforcement of employment agreements.
Burrell is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association's Board of Directors and is the immediate past president of the D. Augustus Straker Bar Association. He is a member of the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, the Wolverine Bar Association, the National Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.
Burrell received his B.A. from the University of Michigan and his law degree from the Western Michigan University Cooley Law School.
Eric McGlothlin is a member and a public finance attorney in the firm's Troy office. As bond counsel, he advises municipalities, schools and other governmental entities, underwriters and conduit borrowers on the issuance of tax-exempt and taxable debt to finance all types of long and short-term capital needs. He helps his clients find the right legal structure, authorize financings and comply with federal and state tax and securities laws. McGlothlin is instrumental as underwriter's counsel, where he guides underwriters through disclosure and related federal securities law matters, assists with due diligence, drafts bond purchase agreements and offering documents, and reviews transaction documentation to ensure the proper protections are in place for his clients. He also has experience advising municipal government and schools on all practical and legal matters affecting daily municipal operations including open meetings and public records, procurement law, elections, including millage and other ballot proposals, and utility matters.
McGlothlin is a member of the Michigan Government Finance Officers Association and the National Association of Bond Lawyers. He received his B.A. from the University of Michigan and his law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center.
Erin Pawlowski is a member in Dickinson Wright's Troy office. She focuses her practice in complex business litigation, as well as intellectual property and trade secrets litigation. In addition to substantial experience handling high-stakes litigation matters, Pawlowski frequently counsels corporate clients regarding business transactions, employment-related disputes, protection of intellectual property and trade secrets, corporate governance and shareholder relations, licensing and regulatory matters, and litigation-avoidance strategies.
Pawlowski has been recognized as a Michigan Super Lawyers "Rising Star" in 2015 and 2016. Pawlowski is a member and Fellow of the Oakland County Bar Association and a member of the Federal Bar Association. She received her B.G.S. from the University of Michigan and her law degree from the Wayne State University Law School.
Dan Phillips is a member in the firm's Detroit office. He focuses his practice on commercial and business litigation, automotive litigation, and financial services litigation. He serves as counsel to a wide range of clients on issues relative to contract disputes, sale of goods under the Uniform Commercial Code, business tort claims, noncompetition agreements, and mortgage recourse litigation. He has represented both small and Fortune 500 companies in state and federal courts throughout Michigan, New Mexico, and Illinois, and in a wide variety of alternative dispute resolution forums.
Phillips is a board member of the Detroit Bar Association's Barristers Board, and serves on the State Bar of Michigan's Character and Fitness Committee (District H). He has been recognized by Michigan Super Lawyers as a "Rising Star" in Business Litigation.
Phillips received his B.A. from the University of Michigan and his law degree from the Wayne State University Law School.
Dana Ulrich is a member in the firm's Troy office. She focuses her practice on corporate law, corporate finance, corporate governance, mergers & acquisitions, private equity, and securities law. She is counsel to various publicly-traded and closely-held parties in connection with their mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, divestitures, spin-offs, and recapitalizations. She is counsel to numerous corporate and partnership clients in connection with corporate governance, commercial contracting, regulatory, licensing and employment matters.
Ulrich is a member of the State Bar of Michigan. She received her B.A. from the University of Michigan and her law degree from Michigan State University College of Law.
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Effective January 1, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP's Mark D. Schneider is the office managing partner of Dinsmore's Detroit and Ann Arbor offices in Michigan.
Schneider joined Dinsmore as part of the 2015 merger with Gifford, Krass, Sprinkle, Anderson, and Citkowski PC (Gifford Krass). Schneider began his career at Gifford Krass as a clerk while attending law school. He was hired as an attorney after graduation and rose to become the chairman of the Gifford Krass Board of Directors. Now, Schneider will take the helm of Dinsmore's Michigan footprint.
"It's a great opportunity professionally and personally, and I'm excited to continue moving our offices towards even greater success while capitalizing on the legal expertise and fresh ideas that Dinsmore is known for," said Schneider.
Schneider's strategy focuses on increasing Dinsmore's exposure to businesses and potential clients throughout the region. At the top of his agenda is growing the office and expanding Dinsmore's reach throughout the communities they serve.
"We are going to simultaneously bring in lateral hires and grow organically, while expanding the practice areas in the Michigan offices to better serve our clients and our region," said Schneider. "The Dinsmore platform is unparalleled in the legal community. We can capitalize on that to attract attorneys to Dinsmore that share our values-entrepreneurial spirit, high quality work, a commitment to customer service, and a good sense of humor."
Schneider has had the benefit of watching his predecessor, Dinsmore Partner Thomas E. Anderson, lead the offices and expand them into new practice areas. Schneider looks to continue that theme as he takes the reins. He has a clear vision for continuing the trend of growth Dinsmore has established, which includes venturing into new practice areas.
"Tom has performed brilliantly as the Michigan office managing partner, and we look to build from that foundation. Within a few years, I would like to see the Michigan offices grow into full-service locations, adding attorneys experienced in corporate law, labor and employment, white collar crime, and mergers and acquisitions among other areas."
Schneider will also lead Dinsmore's Groton, Connecticut office, overseeing all the former Gifford Krass locations. His practice focuses on intellectual property prosecution and litigation, with a particular concentration in IP management, planning and strategy. He has nearly 20 years of experience drafting and litigating patent, trademark and copyright matters. Schneider earned a law degree from Michigan State University's College of Law, and a B.S. from Oakland University.
Schneider is the immediate past-president of the Greater Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce and a voting member of the Great Lakes Field Services Council of the Boy Scouts.
"Dinsmore, and each of its local offices, actively support local, regional, and national causes. Here in Michigan we recently collected and mailed boxes of supplies, toiletries and care packages to troops serving overseas, and we plan on continuing our efforts to help others."
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Butzel Long attorneys Ron Cheli, Jennifer A. Dukarski, Damien DuMouchel, Deb Geroux, Ira Hoffman, Brett Miller, and Andrew Stumpff have been elected shareholders.
Cheli is an attorney and certified public accountant. His practice is focused on representing business entities and commercial transactions, with a substantial emphasis in tax matters. He provides specialized advice in the areas of: business organizations; mergers and acquisitions; loans and alternative financing; tax planning and controversies; and real estate transactions.
He earned a B.S.B.A. (with majors in both Accounting and Business Administration) from Aquinas College (1973) and a law degree from Wayne State University with a concentration in taxation (1977).
Dukarski focuses her practice at the intersection of technology and communications with an emphasis on emerging and disruptive issues: digital media, cybersecurity, infotainment, vehicle safety and connected and autonomous cars.
In her practice, she has negotiated contracts for autonomous vehicle components, reviewed contracts involving wireless updates to in-vehicle technology, assisted companies in achieving successful Petitions for Inconsequential Noncompliance with NHTSA and has addressed multiple vehicle component recalls. She has become a national leader in legal issues facing emerging automotive technology and is the leader of Butzel Long's connected car working group.
Dukarski is a graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law (2010). She's also a graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy College of Engineering and Science (1996).
DuMouchel concentrates his practice in the area of white collar criminal defense, corporate investigations, and professional discipline matters for lawyers and judges. He has represented individuals and corporations under investigation for, or charged with, antitrust violations, healthcare fraud, tax evasion, and obstruction of justice. He also assists clients with regard to grand jury investigations, subpoenas, and search warrants.
He also represents lawyers and judges facing professional discipline inquiries. This representation includes matters before the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission.
DuMouchel is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Law (2010) and Boston College (2004), where he earned a double major in psychology and sociology.
Geroux's healthcare practice focuses health care compliance, data privacy and security, and fraud and abuse litigation (both criminal and civil). In November 2012, she earned her Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC) designation from the Compliance Certification Board. She has represented individuals and corporations under investigation for, or charged with, healthcare fraud, as well as the collateral consequences related to such actions. She also has counseled healthcare providers of all sizes on general compliance and HIPAA privacy compliance, including the creation of and training related to required policies and procedures, and assisted entities with investigation of suspected breaches of healthcare data and corresponding breach reporting.
In addition to her healthcare practice, Geroux has experience in general commercial civil litigation and appeals.
Geroux is a graduate of Michigan State University College of Law (1995). She received her Bachelor of Science from Michigan State University in 1988.
Hoffman focuses his practice on government contracts, international law, commercial litigation and cybersecurity issues.
Hoffman's government contracts practice includes conducting bid protests, size protests, and claims, and advising clients on a wide range of other issues, including teaming agreements, subcontracting, intellectual property rights, M&A, cost allowability, ethics and compliance, audits and investigations, the False Claims Act, suspension and debarment, security clearances, and small business issues. His international practice covers export controls (ITAR and EAR), and OFAC sanctions programs, plus import issues such as anti-dumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) and Section 337 investigations, and rule-of-origin and HTS classifications. And his cybersecurity practice addresses strategies for clients' mitigation of liability for inevitable cyber breaches.
Hoffman earned a law degree from the University of Miami School of Law in 1983. He earned an M.Sc (Econ) at the London School of Economics in 1975, where he also taught. Hoffman earned a B.A. from the University of Michigan in 1973.
Miller focuses his practice on labor and employment-law and fair-housing litigation. In addition to representing clients in federal and state court venues, Miller has appeared before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. Moreover, he has represented clients in labor arbitrations.
Miller is AV® Peer Review Rated by LexisNexis/Martindale-Hubbell. He was named a Rising Star in 2009, 2010, 2013-2016 by Super Lawyers. He was also awarded Michigan Lawyers Weekly, "Up & Coming Lawyers Award" in 2015.
He earned his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and received his undergraduate degree from James Madison University.
Stumpff is a long-time employee benefits and executive compensation lawyer. He is a Fellow of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel and has been named a key individual in Michigan employee benefits/compensation law by Chambers USA.
He is a former co-chair of the Employee Benefits Committee of the New York State Bar Association Tax Section. He teaches Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation at the University of Michigan Law School and at the University of Alabama Law School LL.M in the Taxation program.
Stumpff received an A.B. in Mathematics from Washington University in 1983 and a law degree in 1986 from the University of Michigan Law School.
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Attorney Jonathan H. Schwartz has been named to the Detroit Jewish News and The Well's inaugural "36 Under 36" class.
Schwartz was selected for his leadership roles on the boards of numerous Jewish community organizations, including: The Jewish Bar Association of Michigan, NEXTGen Detroit, the Anti-Defamation League, and the Jewish Community Relations Council/American Jewish Committee (JCRC/AJC). In addition, Schwartz was recognized for founding NEXTGen Detroit's interfaith couples affinity group, co-chairing the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit's first-ever interfaith couples' mission to Israel with his wife Stacy, and co-founding NEXTGen Pride, an affinity group for LGBTQ young professionals and their allies.
Schwartz is a member of Foster Swift's litigation practice group, and specializes in representing companies and individuals in business, complex commercial, employment, real estate and entertainment matters. He also assists clients with contract drafting, negotiations and deal making and all aspects of risk management, governance and operation.
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Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC is pleased to announce that H. William Burdett Jr. has joined the firm. He will practice out of the firm's Royal Oak office.
Burdett concentrates his practice in commercial, probate, and free speech litigation in Michigan and across the country. He has tailored his practice to meet the needs of his diverse clientele. Be it private arbitration in Detroit, New York, Washington, D.C., or Chicago, high-stakes emergency injunctive actions to protect confidential trade secrets, or precedent-setting appellate cases, Burdett understands the impact of a strong litigation strategy in obtaining the best business results for his clients.
Burdett also recognizes that sometimes the best business result for his clients does not involve litigation at all. He has experience representing members in closely-held corporations in the negotiation and sale of their membership interests. He has also represented numerous developers on all aspects of projects throughout Detroit, and has advised his clients on standard business terms and conditions necessary to best protect their interests.
In the field of probate litigation, Burdett has represented both trustees and beneficiaries in contested trust actions for private estates valued in the tens of millions, if not hundreds of millions of dollars. He has also assisted trustees in the negotiation and disposition of complicated estates often requiring creative solutions and significant judicial oversight.
Burdett is also highly skilled in the area of defamation law in Michigan. He has been involved in every case developing the standards for anonymous online defamation lawsuits in the Michigan Court of Appeals. Burdett has represented defendants in state and federal constitutional lawsuits regarding defamation, and he has worked with national litigation teams to defend and uphold Constitutional freedoms.
Burdett received his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 2001 and his B.A. from Yale University in 1998. He is on the Board of Directors of the Detroit Institute of Arts and is the Chair of the Board for the Greening of Detroit. Burdett is licensed to practice in the State of Michigan and before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth, Third and Federal Circuits. He is also admitted to the United States District Courts in the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan and the Central District of Illinois, as well as the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
