Foster Swift
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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Secrest Wardle
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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Miller Canfield
Miller Canfield has announced that Amanda J. Haverty-Harris has joined the firm as an associate in its Troy office. The announcement was made by Miller Canfield CEO Michael McGee.
Haverty-Harris came to Miller Canfield from Dykema Gossett. She will join the firm's product liability team. Her work has focused on product liability defense, no-fault insurance, subrogation, premises liability and other general liability matters.
She is a graduate of Wayne State University Law School and earned her undergraduate degree from University of Michigan-Dearborn.
In addition, Miller Canfield attorney James L. Liggins Jr. has been appointed to the State Bar of Michigan's Special Committee on Civil Discovery Court Review and will serve as chair of its subcommittee on rules regarding expert witnesses.
The committee consists of practitioners, academics, judicial and administrative attorneys and judges. The members review proposed revisions to the Michigan Court Rules dealing with the civil discovery process to address the expense and burden of civil discovery, including technology considerations on civil discovery and the organization of the rules.
At the end of 2017, the committee will recommend amendments to be decided by the Michigan Supreme Court.
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Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer & Weiss PC
Sara B. Rubino has been named partner at Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer & Weiss PC. Jaffe CEO William Sider made the announcement.
As a partner in Jaffe's litigation, estate planning and probate practice groups, Rubino focuses her practice on probate litigation, special needs planning and elder law. In doing so, she has gained significant experience advocating for the needs and rights of vulnerable individuals.
Rubino is a frequent speaker and author on probate related topics such as guardianships, conservatorships, estates and trusts. She also applies her skills and knowledge as a volunteer attorney for indigent clients in various pro bono matters.
In addition to her role at Jaffe, Rubino is active in her community as a member of the State Bar of Michigan, Oakland County Bar Association, National Association of Elder Law Attorneys, the Sigma Kappa Sorority organization and Central Michigan Alumni Group. She enjoys supporting new attorneys as an OCBA mentor and director for the OCBA New Lawyers Committee.
Rubino earned her bachelor's degree from Central Michigan University and her law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. She is also a member of the U.S. Supreme Court bar.
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Ackerman, Ackerman, & Dynkowski
Ackerman, Ackerman, & Dynkowski, a condemnation and eminent domain law firm exclusively representing landowners, recently announced that partner Darius Dynkowski will be speaking at the upcoming conference "Eminent Domain and Land Valuation Litigation," presented by The American Law Institute Continuing Legal Education Group (ALI CLE). Managing Partner Alan Ackerman made the announcement.
The conference will take place in San Diego from Jan. 26 through Jan. 28. As a faculty speaker, Dynkowski will share his expertise on the topic titled "Using the Client in the Valuation Case: Effective Landowner Testimony." He is joined by 48 other faculty members across the country to discuss the latest updates and issues encompassing the practice of eminent domain.
"It's an honor to present alongside so many notable lawyers across the country who are engrained in eminent domain law," says Dynkowski. "As a lawyer exclusively representing landowners, I'm happy to provide my unique expertise and experiences with conference attendees."
ALI CLE is committed to promoting professional education for lawyers throughout the United States and creating standards to ensure quality and relevance in CLE programs. The group continues to evolve to meet the needs of the legal profession, furthering a tradition of unparalleled service to lawyers.
Dynkowski has been avidly defending landowners throughout the country since 1996. In addition to being an avid speaker in eminent domain law, he serves as the representative for the Owners' Counsel of America, and is an adjunct professor for the Michigan State University College of Law. He earned his bachelor's degree from Wayne State University, and received his law degree from Michigan State University.
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Dykema
Dykema recently announced that its Executive Board elected several new members to the firm effective January 1, 2017. Dykema's new partners, and descriptions of their practices, are listed below.
Jennifer Boueri Chilson is a member of Dykema's Business Litigation Practice Group and is based in the firm's Detroit office. Her practice focuses on business, commercial, and contract litigation. Her primary emphasis is in the area of complex business and commercial disputes, privately-owned business disputes, shareholder disputes, business torts, recall and warranty cost-recovery matters, automotive supplier disputes, government investigations, construction lien disputes, financial services, commercial real estate, and lending litigation, in which she represents some of the nation's largest financial institutions.
Chilson earned a law degree from the Wayne State University Law School and a B.A. from the University of Michigan.
Robert Hugh Ellis is a member of Dykema's Financial Services Litigation Practice Group and is based in the firm's Detroit office. His practice focuses on business and commercial litigation in the areas of privately-held business disputes, insurance litigation, complex contract and management disputes, commercial real estate, business torts, trade secret claims, recall and warranty cost-recovery matters, automotive supplier disputes, as well as matters concerning bankruptcy litigation, insurance company insolvencies, and product liability defense.
Ellis earned a law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School, and a B.A. from the University of Southern California.
Cale A. Johnson is a member of Dykema's Business Litigation Practice Group and is based in the firm's Bloomfield Hills office. He focuses on all aspects of antitrust and competition law and has extensive experience representing corporations in government investigations, including civil merger defense and criminal investigations into allegations of price fixing, bid rigging, and market allocation. Johnson has also represented a number of U.S. and international Fortune 500 companies in high-profile civil litigation, including class action defense.
Johnson earned a law degree and a B.A. from the University of Michigan.
Rochelle E. Lento is a member of Dykema's Real Estate Practice Group and is based in the firm's Detroit office. Her practice focuses on affordable housing development, mixed-use and economic development representing nonprofit and for profit developers throughout the Midwest in complex transactions involving Low Income Housing Tax Credits, Federal and State Historic Tax Credits, federal HOME and other HUD Financing Tools, and New Market Tax Credits; and general real estate. Lento has also been active in the ABA Forum on Affordable Housing & Community Development Law.
Lento earned a law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, and a B.A. from the State University of New York at Potsdam.
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Foster, Swift, Collins, & Smith PC
The law firm of Foster, Swift, Collins, & Smith PC is pleased to announce Alicia Birach and Adam Fadly as the newly elected shareholders of the firm's Southfield office.
Birach is a member of the Workers' Compensation practice group. Birach received her law degree from Wayne State University Law School. Birach was also named a Michigan Super Lawyers "Rising Star" in 2016.
Fadly is a member of the litigation practice group and focuses on first and third party no-fault matters. He earned his law degree from Michigan State University College of Law. Fadly was also named a Michigan Super Lawyers "Rising Star."
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Hispanic/Latino Commission
Gov. Rick Snyder recently announced the reappointment of Kelsey Switzer to the Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan.
Housed within the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, the 15-member commission develops and maintains a unified policy and plan of action to serve the needs of Michigan's Hispanic and Latino residents.
Switzer is staff counsel in the Employment Law and Benefits Department for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. She was previously an associate in the Labor and Employment Department for Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, and Cohn LLP and is on the board of directors for the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation.
Switzer earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a master's degree from Florida International University, and a law degree from Northwestern University School of Law.
She will serve a three-year term expiring Dec. 10, 2019. Her appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Published: Mon, Jan 23, 2017
