Legal People

Potestivo & Associates PC

Brian A. Potestivo, president and managing attorney of Potestivo & Associates PC was named a 2017 Super Lawyer. Also, supervising litigation attorney Chantelle R. Neumann was selected for inclusion in the 2017 Michigan Rising Star List. Both announcements were published in the Super Lawyers magazine in September 2017.

Potestivo was also named as a Super Lawyer in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016 and Neumann was also selected to the Rising Star list in 2016.

In addition, Potestivo & Associates PC is proud to announce and congratulate Megan M. Johnson, Quality Control/Client Relations manager, for being recognized as one of the 2017 MPact List of distinguished female industry leaders. The announcement was published in the special  September 2017 Women in Housing edition of MReport Magazine.

Johnson will be recognized at the Women in Housing Leadership Forum, an event held on Wednesday, Sept. 20, at the Five Star Conference in Dallas, Texas. The forum presents some of the industry’s most accomplished women for inspiring keynotes and productive conversation on promoting inclusion throughout the industry. Johnson was among the 60 women who were honored for making a difference in the industry.

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Secrest Wardle

Mark C. Vanneste, a partner practicing out of Secrest Wardle’s Troy location, recently served as a Revisor for the Michigan section of A.M. Best’s Insurance Law Digest. Using his expertise in the area of insurance law, Vanneste annually summarizes and reviews insurance laws in Michigan for the publication.

A.M. Best Company is a global credit rating company serving the insurance industry. The Insurance Law Digest is a resource providing a summary of insurance laws for each state and several Canadian Provinces.

Vanneste  is chair of Secrest Wardle’s Motor Vehicle Litigation Practice Group and a member of the Premises Liability, General Negligence, and Insurance Coverage Practice Groups.  He represents insurers, corporations, and individuals in a variety of No Fault first-party and third-party automobile negligence claims, including claims for uninsured/underinsured motorist benefits.

He has been named to the List of Michigan Rising Stars in Super Lawyers magazine from 2014 to 2017.

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Dickinson Wright PLLC

Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce that the firm’s Class Actions and Employment Litigation practices have been named to the “Honor Roll” in BTI Litigation Outlook 2018. Corporate counsel has ranked Dickinson Wright in the top 20% of all law firms.

To learn more about Dickinson Wright’s Class Actions and Employment Litigation practices, visit www.dickinsonwright.com.

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Kotz Sangster

Super Lawyers Magazine has recognized 13 attorneys from Kotz Sangster as Michigan Super Lawyers and Rising Stars in the publication’s 2017 edition.

Those honored from Kotz Sangster, and the areas of practice for which they have been recognized, are:

Super Lawyers

• John T. Below – Employment and Labor.

• George F. Curran III – Environmental.

• Dennis K. Egan – Securities Litigation.

• Philip A. Grashoff Jr. – Environmental.

• Robert C. Kotz – Business/Corporate.

• Kevin J. O’Dowd – Business Litigation.

• Jeffrey M. Sangster – Construction Litigation.

• Keith J. Soltis – Health Care.

• Gregory L. Wysocki – Mergers & Acquisitions.

Rising Stars

• Andrew W. Barnes – Real Estate.

• Courtney B. Ciullo – Business Litigation.

• Krista A. Jackson – Business Litigation.

• Thomas J. Vitale – Construction Litigation.

In addition, Best Lawyers in America has announced that four attorneys from Kotz Sangster have been recognized by their peers and are included in the publication’s 2018 Edition. The attorneys are Philip A. Grashoff Jr., Jeffrey M. Sangster, Keith J. Soltis, and Gregory L. Wysocki.

Philip A. Grashoff Jr. – recognized for both Environmental Law and Litigation – Environmental. Resident in the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, Grashoff also spends a significant amount of time in the firm’s Grand Rapids office. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers for more than 25 years and serves as co-chair of the firm’s Environmental Law Practice Group. Additionally, he focuses his practice on Natural Resources and Mining Law, as well as AgriBusiness and Agricultural Law.

Jeffrey M. Sangster – recognized for both Construction Law and Litigation – Construction. A founding member of the firm, Sangster practices in the Detroit office. He serves as chair of the firm’s Construction Group and has practiced for more than 35 years. With an intimate understanding of contractors and their business objectives and challenges, he has focused on all aspects of construction law, from construction contract drafting and negotiations, contract review and risk analysis, to claim resolution through litigation, arbitration, facilitation and mediation.

Keith J. Soltis – recognized for Health Care Law. Serving as managing director of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, Soltis has been honored by his peers with recognition in Best Lawyers for more than 10 years. He concentrates his practice in health care law, specifically corporate and transactional issues, fraud and abuse analysis and advice and third party reimbursement issues through his representation of physicians, physician organizations, group practices and ancillary health care items and service providers and suppliers.

Gregory L. Wysocki – recognized for Corporate Law. He serves as president of Kotz Sangster Wysocki P.C. and has practiced for 35 years with a special focus on counseling owners and management of closely-held entrepreneurial businesses, including family-owned companies, in connection with succession planning, shareholder agreements and buy-sell agreements. Wysocki serves as practice group leader of the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group and has substantial experience in planning, negotiating and implementing various types of M&A transactions as well as recapitalizations.

Founded in 1978, Kotz Sangster has more than 35 attorneys with offices in Detroit, Bloomfield Hills, Grand Rapids, Niles, South Haven. and St. Joseph. To learn more, visit www.kotzsangster.com.

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Dykema

Dykema announced that 70 of its attorneys from the firm’s nine Michigan and Texas offices—and from multiple practice areas—were named to the 2017 Super Lawyers list by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine and Texas Super Lawyers Magazine. Additionally, 20 of the firm’s attorneys were named to the 2017 Michigan Rising Stars list.

Of those recognized in Michigan and Texas, seven of the firm’s practitioners were also included on Super Lawyers “Top Lists.” The local honorees, and the Top List(s) they have been included on, are:

• Robert A. Boonin – Top 100: 2017 Michigan Super Lawyers

• Alan M. Greene – Top 100: 2017 Michigan Super Lawyers

• Brian M. Moore – Top 50: 2017 Michigan Business Super Lawyers; Top 100: 2017 Michigan Super Lawyers

• Jill M. Wheaton – Top 25: 2017 Women Business Michigan Super Lawyers; Top 50: 2017 Women Michigan Super Lawyers

The local Dykema attorneys named on the 2017 Michigan Super Lawyers list, identified by office and the practice area(s) for which they are being recognized, are:

Bloomfield Hills

• Brendan J. Cahill – Business/Corporate; Mergers & Acquisitions; Securities & Corporate Finance

• Michael G. Cumming – Estate Planning & Probate; Tax: Consumer

• Stephen R. Estey – Land Use/Zoning; Eminent Domain; General Litigation

• James P. Feeney – Personal Injury – Products: Defense; Civil Litigation: Defense; Class Action/Mass Torts

• Adam M. Fishkind – Real Estate: Business

• Alan M. Greene – Land Use/Zoning; Eminent Domain; Construction Litigation

• Dennis M. Haffey – Business Litigation; Professional Liability: Defense; Securities Litigation

• Kyle R. Hauberg – Real Estate: Business

• Margaret Adams Hunter – Employee Benefits

• Howard B. Iwrey – Antitrust Litigation; Franchise/Dealership; Securities Litigation

• Joanne R. Lax – Health Care; Family Law

• Mark G. Malven – Technology Transactions; Mergers & Acquisitions; Business/Corporate

• Bonnie Mayfield – Employment Litigation: Defense; Personal Injury – Products: Defense; Class Action/Mass Torts: Defense

• D. Richard McDonald – Securities & Corporate Finance; Mergers & Acquisitions

• Brian M. Moore – Business Litigation; General Litigation; Real Estate: Business

• Paul L. Nystrom – Business Litigation; Personal Injury – Products: Defense; Class Action/Mass Torts: Defense; Land Use/Zoning

• Rex E. Schlaybaugh Jr. – Securities & Corporate Finance; Mergers & Acquisitions

• Sheryl L. Toby – Business/Corporate; Bankruptcy: Business; Creditor Debtor Rights: Business

• Stephen L. Tupper – Technology Transactions; Mergers & Acquisitions

Detroit

• J. Michael Bernard – Mergers & Acquisitions; Business/Corporate; Securities & Corporate Finance

• Robert A. Boonin – Employment & Labor; Employment Litigation: Defense; Schools & Education

• Lisa A. Brown – General Litigation; Business Litigation

• Michael P. Cooney – Personal Injury – Products: Defense; Business Litigation; Intellectual Property Litigation; Class Action/Mass Torts

• Samuel C. Damren – Business Litigation; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Closely Held Business

• Sherrie L. Farrell – Business Litigation; Business/Corporate; Bankruptcy: Business

• Grant P. Gilezan – Environmental; Energy & Natural Resources; Environmental Litigation

• Steven E. Grob – Tax: Business; Estate Planning & Probate

• James F. Hermon – Employment Litigation: Defense; Employment & Labor

• Kathryn J. Humphrey – Aviation and Aerospace; Personal Injury – Products: Defense; General Litigation

• Mark D. Jacobs – Environmental; Utilities; Administrative Law

• Peter M. Kellett – Class Action/Mass Torts: Defense ; Business Litigation; Personal Injury – Products: Defense

• Joel D. Kellman – Real Estate: Business; Banking; Nonprofit Organizations

• Jin-Kyu Koh – Mergers & Acquisitions; Business/Corporate; Healthcare

• Cameron H. Piggott – Real Estate: Business

• Thomas M. Schehr – Business Litigation

The local Dykema attorneys named on the 2017 Michigan Rising Stars list, identified by office and the practice area(s) for which they are being recognized, are:

Bloomfield Hills

• Michael J. Blalock – Business Litigation; Civil Litigation: Defense

• Jong-Ju Chang – Business Litigation

• Courtney F. Kissel – Government Relations; Appellate; Constitutional Law

• William C. Lentine – Tax: Business; Estate Planning & Probate; Mergers & Acquisitions

• Christyn M. Scott – Civil Litigation: Defense; Real Estate: Business; Appellate; Family Law

• Matthew D. Shell – Tax: Business; Business/Corporate; Estate Planning & Probate; Nonprofit Organizations; Securities & Corporate Finance; State, Local & Municipal

• Thomas H. Trapnell – Business Litigation; Franchise/Dealership; Consumer Law

• Michael R. Vogt – Real Estate: Business

• Jeanne M. Whalen – Technology Transactions; Mergers & Acquisitions; Health Care

Detroit

• Jennifer Boueri Chilson – Business Litigation

• Janet L. Conigliaro – Class Action/Mass Torts: Defense; Business Litigation; Personal Injury - Products: Defense

• Robert Hugh Ellis – Business Litigation; Insurance Coverage; Closely Held Business

• Nasseem S. Ramin – Business Litigation

• Boyd White III – Class Action/Mass Torts; Personal Injury – Products: Defense; Business Litigation

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Plunkett Cooney

 Michigan Super Lawyers magazine recently named 24 attorneys from Plunkett Cooney to its 2017 list of “Super Lawyers.”

For the eleventh consecutive year, Mary Massaron, Plunkett Cooney’s Appellate Law Practice Group leader, has received special recognition by the magazine – inclusion among the state’s top 100 attorneys and top 50 women lawyers.
Below is a list of local Plunkett Cooney’s partners who have received the 2017 Michigan Super Lawyer designation:

Bloomfield Hills office

• Michael P. Ashcraft Jr. – Professional Liability: Defense

• Douglas C. Bernstein – Bankruptcy

• Charles W. Browning – Insurance Coverage

• Henry B. Cooney – Civil Litigation Defense

• Lawrence R. Donaldson – Alternative Dispute Resolution

• Jeffrey C. Gerish – Appellate

• Robert G. Kamenec – Appellate

• Mark S. Kopson – Health Care

• Stanley C. Moore III – Employment & Labor

• Kenneth C. Newa – Insurance Coverage

• Anthony J. Rusciano – Business Litigation

• Scott H. Sirich – Construction Litigation

• Thomas P. Vincent  – Professional Liability: Defense

• Michael D. Weaver – Employment Litigation Defense

Detroit office

• D. Jennifer Andreou  – Personal Injury Defense: Medical Malpractice

• James R. Geroux – Workers’ Compensation

• Laurel F. McGiffert – Personal Injury Defense: Medical Malpractice

• Stanley A. Prokop – Insurance Coverage

• Mary Catherine Rentz – Insurance Coverage

• Matthew J. Stanczyk – Personal Injury Defense: Products

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MacLean, Proppe, ­MacLean &?­Darnell, P.C.

The law firm of Maclean, Proppe, Maclean, & Darnell PC, with offices in Farmington Hills and Mt. Pleasant, is celebrating its 60th anniversary.

The firm was founded in July of 1957 by L.D. Maclean and Edward J. Proppe, who were both Internal Revenue Appellate Division advisors and graduates from the Detroit College of Law. The firm’s shareholders are Gary T. Maclean and Dan A. Darnell who joined the firm in 1968 and 1969 upon graduating from Georgetown University Law Center and Detroit College of Law respectively.

The firm presently devotes its practice to advising closely held businesses, estate planning, probate and trust administration as well as estate and income tax compliance.

The attorneys and staff would like to thank their clientele, associates, and friends for their loyalty and support over the last 60 years and they look forward to continuing those relationships.

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Reiter & Walsh PC

Reiter & Walsh PC birth injury attorneys Jesse M. Reiter and Emily G. Thomas published an article in the July 2017 American Association for Justice (AAJ) Birth Trauma Litigation Group (BTLG) Newsletter.  The article is titled “Using MRI to Evaluate Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) in Term Infants.”

In addition, Reiter spoke at the 2017 American Association for Justice (AAJ) Annual Convention in Boston. His presentation was titled “How to Survive an Amniotic Fluid Embolism (AFE).”

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Michigan State Bar  Foundation

Melvin Butch Hollowell, corporation counsel for the City of Detroit, has been named a Fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation.

The honor is bestowed on lawyers for outstanding legal ability, devotion to the public, and support of the public service ideals of the Michigan State Bar Foundation.

Fellows are part of an elite, invitation-only group and only a limited number of attorneys are selected each year.  The group supports the Michigan State Bar Foundation, which 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.

The Michigan State Bar Foundation was established in 1947 by lawyers and judges to help the legal profession meet its responsibilities to the public.

As corporation counsel for the City of Detroit, Hollowell has been a leader on a number of transformative projects. He helped guide the city through the legal cases related to the city’s emergence from bankruptcy, and has reduced the city’s litigation payouts by nearly 50%. His work includes having won the federal court case ending Department of Justice oversight of the Detroit Police Department after 11 years. And he’s proud of his work in creating Project Clean Slate, a program that assists Detroit residents expunge nonviolent criminal records, while also helping them with job readiness.

“I am incredibly grateful to the State Bar for this prestigious honor,” said Hollowell.  “I look forward to being an active participant in supporting the worthy mission of the Fellows.”

Immediately prior to his appointment as corporation counsel in January 2014, Hollowell served as general counsel for the Detroit Branch NAACP. In his over thirty years of legal practice he has worked in the private sector, specializing in municipal law and complex commercial litigation. He has also served in key positions in state and county government.

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Couzens Lansky

The law firm of Couzens Lansky, located in Farmington Hills, is pleased to announce that 10 attorneys have been named as Michigan Super Lawyers for 2017.

The following attorneys from Couzens Lansky have been recognized in 2017:

• Jack S. Couzens II - Estate Planning and Probate

• Jerry M. Ellis** - Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights

• Donald M. Lansky** - Mergers and Acquisitions

• Bruce J. Lazar** - Construction Litigation

• Kathryn Gilson Sussman* - Estate Planning and Probate

• Jeffrey A. Levine** - Mergers and Acquisitions

• Donald A. Wagner** - Banking

• Gregg A. Nathanson** - Real Estate

• Ronn S. Nadis** - Real Estate

• Phillip J. Neuman** - Business Litigation

(* These attorneys have also been recognized in Super Lawyers Women’s Edition, a separate national publication, for their exceptional achievement in their area of practice.)

(** These attorneys have also been recognized in Super Lawyers Business Edition, a separate national publication, for their exceptional achievement in their area of business practice.)

Couzens Lansky is also pleased to announce that Dawn T. Yeaton and Rebecca K. Wrock, associates of the firm, have been named to the Michigan Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for 2016. 

Yeaton was recognized for her work in real estate and Wrock was recognized for her work in the estate planning and probate practice areas. 

Yeaton’s primary practice areas include business and corporate law, real estate law, and banking and finance.  Wrock’s primary practice areas include trusts and estates, and probate and trust administration.