LEGAL PEOPLE

Wayne State University Law School

Chief Justice John Roberts appointed Wayne State University Law School Professor Laura Bartell associate reporter of the Laura BartellAdvisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules to the Judicial Conference of the United States.

The Judicial Conference is the national policy-making body for the federal courts. It is comprised of five standing advisory committees each charged with drafting proposed amendments to federal rules regarding their respective area. The committees are comprised of judges, representatives from the Department of Justice, law professors, and practicing attorneys.

Bartell joined the Wayne Law faculty in 1996 after 17 years of private practice in New York. She teaches Advanced Topics in Bankruptcy, Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights, Effective Oral Communication for Lawyers, Property, and Secured Transactions.

She is dean of faculty of the American Board of Certification, a national organization that certifies bankruptcy and consumer rights specialists. She is on the executive committee of the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, a member of the American Law Institute and American Bankruptcy Institute, and a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

Bartell has been interviewed and quoted extensively by local, national and international media as an expert on the Detroit bankruptcy.

She earned a bachelor of arts degree from Stanford University. After earning her law degree from Harvard Law School, she clerked for U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Alvin B. Rubin, Fifth Circuit in New Orleans.

In addition, Wayne State University Law School welcomed three new faculty members Aug. 17.

They are: Assistant Professor (Clinical) Anne Choike, also named director of the Business and Community Law Clinic; Assistant Professor Sanjukta Paul; and Assistant Professor (Clinical) Rebecca Robichaud, also named assistant director of externship programs.

Choike joins Wayne Law from the University of Michigan Law School where she taught as a clinical fellow in the Community and Economic Development Clinic and at the University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning in its Michigan-Mellon Project on Egalitarianism in the Metropolis. Her research, teaching and practice focus on how community development is affected by the regulation of business and nonprofit entities and the regulation of business lawyers. Prior to entering academia, Choike practiced corporate law with Jenner & Block LLP and Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP in New York City.

Choike will redesign and lead the Business and Community Law Clinic as it expands to serve the social enterprise community in Detroit, in addition to the for-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations that the clinic has historically served. Choike’s research in the area of partnerships between for-profits and nonprofits has been published in the Columbia Journal of Tax Law (forthcoming), and she has presented this and other research at a variety of academic forums.

Choike earned her law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and her M.U.P. from the University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. She earned her B.A. from Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences. She also studied and researched at Uniwersytet Jagiello?ski in Kraków, Poland, as a Tomaszkiewicz-Florio Scholar.

Paul’s current research centers on the relationship between antitrust law and economic cooperation among working people.  She is working on a book on this topic, tentatively called “Solidarity in the Shadow of Antitrust” (forthcoming from Cambridge University Press, 2018).  One of her papers was recognized with the Jerry S. Cohen Memorial Fund’s award for the best antitrust scholarship of 2016 (category prize), and another was published in the leading Berkeley Journal of Employment and Labor Law.

She previously served as David J. Epstein Fellow at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law, where she designed and taught the Workers Rights Litigation Clinic. Prior to her time at UCLA, she was a full-time litigator and also worked on the campaign to reform the port trucking industry with the policy nonprofit Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy.

Paul clerked for Judge Alfred T. Goodwin of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. She is a graduate of Yale Law School, where she was a Coker Fellow. She holds an M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh. She earned her B.A. from the University of Iowa.

Robichaud began teaching as an adjunct faculty member at Wayne Law with the Asylum and Immigration Law Clinic in 2012. She also taught the Public Interest Externship Colloquium course.

She is an experienced immigration attorney whose work focuses on asylum and removal defense. For more than a decade she worked with immigration clients from around the globe including Egypt, Yemen, Rwanda, Uganda, the Republic of Congo, El Salvador, and Guatemala. In addition to her immigration work, she represented health law clients in a variety of matters as a partner in the firm Fehn, Robichaud, & Colagiovanni. She worked with clients on contract issues, government audits and various litigation matters. Prior to that, Robichaud served as the legal director at a local non-profit representing asylum seekers. She was as a post-graduate law clerk with the International Union of the United Auto Workers. During law school she worked with the Legal Aid and Defender Association in Detroit and the Office of the Child Advocate in Georgia as a law clerk.

Robichaud earned her law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School and her B.A in political theory and constitutional democracy from James Madison College at Michigan State University.

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Butzel Long

Butzel Long attorney and shareholder Bernard (Bernie) J. Fuhs was a featured panelist during a live, state-wide broadcast of “Michigan Business Rap,” on Sept. 11. Other panelists included Jeff Caponigro, president and CEO of Caponigro Public Relations Inc., and Ken Seneff, founder of Local Logic Media & Restaurant Logic.

The one-hour program, which was broken down into four segments, highlighted a discussion about the importance of a business’s reputation/brand; advanced planning in the event a crisis occurs; communicating during and after a crisis; and, a checklist of “must dos” in the prevention, preparation and communications.

Fuhs specifically discussed how assistance from an attorney in advance planning can save time and finances in the long run and the need for businesses to have an employee policy manual.

Based in Butzel Long’s Detroit office, Fuhs concentrates his practice in the areas of business and commercial litigation with significant experience in non-compete, non-disclosure, and trade secret disputes, franchise disputes business and financial industry disputes, transportation and logistics industry disputes, and sales representative matters.

Fuhs has been named a Michigan Super Lawyer (2013 through 2017) and a Business Litigation, Trade Secret, and Franchise Top Lawyer by DBusiness magazine. He also was named to Crain’s Detroit Business’ “40 under 40” Class of 2012, which honors “the best and brightest in Southeast Michigan,” as well as to L. Brooks Patterson’s Elite 40 Under 40 Class of 2013. Fuhs also serves as a television color analyst for NCAA and MHSAA Basketball.

In addition, local Butzel Long shareholder Jim Bruno, along with Raul Rangel of the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, co-presented a D.C. Bar CLE program/webinar titled “Doing Business in Mexico: Insights, Pitfalls and Trends of the Mexican Legal System” on Sept. 26 at the D.C. Bar Conference Center in Washington, D.C.

Rangel and Bruno shared their corporate U.S.–Mexico legal experience.  They also discussed Mexican concepts of collective bargaining, shelter companies, VAT taxes, drafting contracts, choice of law and more.

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Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss, P.C.

Super Lawyers has recognized 31 attorneys as Michigan Super Lawyers at the Southfield offices of Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer, & Weiss PC. Jaffe CEO William Sider made the announcement.

The following Southfield Jaffe attorneys were included in the 2017 edition of Michigan Super Lawyers:

• Joel M. Alam: Securities & Corporate Finance

• Peter M. Alter: Business Litigation

• Christopher A. Andreoff: Criminal Defense

• Jeremy D. Bisdorf: Intellectual Property

• Christopher R. Cataldo: Business Litigation

• Mark G. Cooper: Business Litigation

• Thomas E. Coughlin: Bankruptcy: Business

• Paul R. Hage: Bankruptcy: Business

• Jeffrey G. Heuer: Business Litigation

• Ethan R. Holtz: Business Litigation

• Michael F. Jacobson: Business Litigation

• Ira J. Jaffe: Business/Corporate

• Shirley A. Kaigler: Estate & Probate

• Mark L. Kowalsky: Securities Litigation

• Mark P. Krysinski: Real Estate

• Elizabeth L. Luckenbach: Estate & Trust Litigation

• A’Jene Maxwell: Real Estate

• Judith Greenstone Miller: Creditor Debtor Rights

• Jennifer M. Oertel: Nonprofit Organizations

• Brian S. Raznick: Real Estate

• Louis P. Rochkind: Creditor Debtor Rights

• Mark D. Rubenfire: Real Estate

• Brian G. Shannon: Appellate

• Aaron H. Sherbin: Estate & Probate

• William E. Sider: Tax

• Peter Sugar: Securities & Corporate Finance

• Scott R. Torpey: Aviation & Aerospace

• Arthur A. Weiss: Tax

• Jay L. Welford: Creditor Debtor Rights

• David W. Williams: Business Litigation

• Richard A. Zussman: Real Estate

In addition, Super Lawyers has recognized 13 attorneys as Michigan Rising Stars at Jaffe’s Southfield office.  Jaffe CEO William Sider made the announcement.

The following Jaffe attorneys in the Southfield office were included in the 2017 edition of Michigan Rising Stars:

• David Z. Adler: Business Litigation

• Joshua M. Borson: Business/Corporate

• Kreuza Gjezi: Immigration: Business

• Heather M. Maldegen-Long: Real Estate

• Derek D. McLeod: Business Litigation

• Jonathan C. Myers: Bankruptcy: Business

• Eric D. Novetsky: Bankruptcy: Business

• Natalie O’Keefe: Business/ Corporate

• Sara B. Rubino: Estate & Probate

• May A. Saad: Real Estate

• Sara A. Schimke: Elder Law

• Justin M. Schmidt: Aviation & Aerospace

• Katherine A. Stefanou: Securities Litigation

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Goodman Acker P.C.

Goodman Acker PC is proud to say they have been chosen for the second year in a row as one of the “2017 Cool Places to Work” in Michigan by Crain’s Detroit Business and Best Companies Group. 

Goodman Acker ranked 26 out of 100 companies. Only three law firms were selected, and Goodman Acker was the highest ranked.

Among many other things, Goodman Acker offers its employees weekly organic fruit deliveries, frequent free lunches, and quarterly back/neck massages.

Senior Partner Gerald Acker recently said “In our world, ‘cool’ means that we work incredibly hard for the clients who hire us.  It’s ‘cool’ to make a difference in peoples lives.”

“We are who we are because we have the coolest employees on the planet working with us” said Senior Partner Barry Goodman.

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Wolfson Bolton PLLC

Wolfson Bolton PLLC announced that attorneys Michelle Bass and Katie Stearns have joined the law firm. Bass joins the firm as a senior attorney and will lead the firm’s new consumer bankruptcy practice area. Stearns joins the firm as an associate attorney and will be focused primarily on commercial litigation and bankruptcy. The announcement was made by founding member Scott Wolfson.

Bass is a member of the Consumer Bankruptcy Association and the Oakland County Bar Association. She received her law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and earned her B.A. in History from the University of Michigan Honors College.

She has been recognized by Michigan Super Lawyers as a Rising Star since 2014 and is a frequent speaker on the intersection of bankruptcy and family law topics. She has been on the Board of Directors for Tamarack Camps since 2010 and on its Executive Committee since 2012. Bass is also a board member of JARC, a non-profit organization whose mission is to enrich the lives of people with disabilities.

Stearns previously clerked for Wolfson Bolton and is a recent graduate of Wayne State University Law School.

She earned her BA in Political Science and Economics from the University of Michigan and was a Legislative Assistant for Michigan Representative Phil Cavanagh.

While attending law school, Stearns was a judicial intern for U.S. District Court Judges Bernard Friedman and Gerald Rosen, Eastern District of Michigan, as well as for Michigan Supreme Court Justice Mary Beth Kelly.

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The Dobrusin Law Firm PC

The Dobrusin Law Firm PC announced the appointment of Joseph L. Kallie to associate. Kallie’s practice focuses on preparing and prosecuting patent applications in mechanical, electromechanical, and biomedical arts.

Kallie completed his undergraduate bachelor’s of science degree at Florida Institute of Technology and received his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.

He is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association and the Michigan Intellectual Property Inn of Court.

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Dickinson Wright PLLC
Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce that attorney Katheryne L. Zelenock has been elected to the Board of Regents for the American College of Mortgage Attorneys (ACMA).

Zelenock is one of 25 Regents who are elected by the membership and represent a wide geographic area. The Regents meet twice annually to discuss the business and direction of the ACMA.

Zelenock is a member in the firm’s Real Estate Group in the Troy office. In her practice, she leads a team that closes commercial and multifamily mortgage loans across the country on behalf of leading national lenders as well as smaller regional and local banks, including multifamily and manufactured housing community loans originated for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. She is also experienced in matters related to troubled properties and owners, and the modification, restructuring and workout of financing arrangements, including related litigation and due diligence.

Zelenock is a member of the American Bar Association, the Mortgage Bankers’ Association of America, Commercial Real Estate Finance Council, International Council of Shopping Centers, and the Oakland County Bar Association. She is an elected member of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys and is recognized as a leader in her field by Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA: Leading Lawyers for Business, Michigan Super Lawyers, and DBusiness magazine. Zelenock received her B.A. from the University of Michigan and her law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School.

In addition,  Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce that attorney Andrea Arndt will be speaking at Phoenix Fashion Week on Thursday, Oct. 5, at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Arndt will be giving a presentation titled “Don’t Be Legally Naked – Protect Your Designs.” This seminar offers a basic guide to the fashion design process and the law to protect your work. It covers the steps any creative designer should take in order to stop somebody else from stealing or otherwise using one’s work without permission. It also provides guidance on minimizing the risk of getting sued for using someone else’s work.

Arndt is an associate in the firm’s Troy office. She practices all aspects of intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and copyrights. She also handles litigation, technology licensing, and transactional matters. She has worked in the intellectual property field for over 12 years, representing a wide range of clients from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies.

Arndt is a member of the American Intellectual Property Association and the Michigan Intellectual Property Law Association. She received her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin and her law degree from Marquette University Law School.

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Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC

Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC is pleased to announce that Nolan A. Yaldo has re-joined the firm. He will practice out of the firm’s Royal Oak office.

Yaldo concentrates his practice in the areas of tax law, general and specialized business transactions, and corporate matters, including corporate formations, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate dissolutions. He has experience with 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.

Prior to joining Howard & Howard, Yaldo was a summer associate with the firm. His prior work experience includes several years of owning and operating a successful family business and two years working as an accountant.

Yaldo received his B.S.B.A. from Wayne State University in 2008 and his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 2011.  He is licensed to practice in the State of Michigan.

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Plunkett Cooney

Plunkett Cooney recently announced that partner Carolyn M. Jereck has been appointed to the firm’s board of directors.

Jereck, who has served as the firm’s Litigation Department Leader for more 15 years, was appointed by the existing board members to fill the vacancy created by Thomas P. Vincent who resigned from the board earlier this year to become Plunkett Cooney’s new president & CEO. Jereck will serve until the board’s January 2018 business meeting at which time she will be eligible for election by the firm’s shareholders.

A member of the firm’s Litigation and Labor and Employment Law practice groups, Jereck concentrates her litigation practice in the areas of employment law, retail liability, premises liability, loss prevention disputes, liquor liability and product liability.

Jereck represents corporate and individual clients directly as well as through various insurance providers and third-party claim administrators. Her practice includes matters throughout Michigan in both state and federal courts. She is also a frequent speaker/lecturer concerning issues, updates and pertinent changes in Michigan law pertaining to her areas of expertise.

Jereck is a member of several professional organizations, including the DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar where she serves as a member of the Employment and Retail Subcommittees, the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel as well as ALFA International’s Labor and Employee and Women’s Initiative Committees.

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Varnum LLP

Varnum attorney Michael Romaya has been accepted into Leadership Detroit Class XXXIX, a ten-month community leadership program designed to challenge emerging and existing leaders from Southeast Michigan to bring about positive change.
Romaya, a partner in Varnum’s corporate practice group, focuses his practice on finance and corporate matters. He represents lenders and borrowers in a variety of commercial financial transactions and serves as the outside general counsel for numerous companies. His community involvement includes serving on the Commission on Middle Eastern Affairs, by appointment of Gov. Rick Snyder.

In addition, Varnum intellectual property attorney Timothy K. Kroninger has been named director of the newly-formed Trademark and Entrepreneur Clinic at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.  As the clinic’s director, Kroninger also serves as an adjunct professor at the law school.

“Among the goals of the new clinic are for students to gain exposure to entrepreneurs and early stage companies and understand their needs and motivations, as well as some of the key elements for a successful business in the startup industry,” Kroninger said.

The new clinic will offer opportunities for law students to work with entrepreneurs in navigating the legal issues involved in business startup, with a primary focus on protecting the entity’s valuable trademarks and brands. Students will interview local entrepreneurs to learn about their businesses, identify and discuss legal issues, and prioritize their legal needs. Under the supervision of Kroninger, students will advise on and assist with business entity formation (including preparing agreements and advising on business matters generally), and will help prepare, file, and prosecute trademark applications with the USPTO.

Kroninger is a partner at Varnum with experience in intellectual property, franchising and licensing, and contract law. A graduate of Detroit Mercy Law and Michigan State University’s College of Business, he has previously served as a guest speaker on intellectual property and business law matters at both schools. He also assists student entrepreneurs at MSU in connection with Spartan Innovations, a part of the MSU Innovation Center, as well as through Varnum’s MiSpringboard Program.

The Trademark and Entrepreneur Clinic becomes the eighth clinic in Detroit Mercy Law’s clinical program, one of only a few required clinical programs in the country. Founded initially as the Urban Law Clinic in 1965, it was among the earliest clinics in the nation. Since that time, the program has flourished, receiving numerous awards including the ABA Louis M. Brown Award for Legal Access with Meritorious Recognition in 2012 and the ABA Law Student Division’s Judy M. Weightman Memorial Public Interest Award in 2006. The required clinical program is evidence of the Detroit Mercy Law’s Mission to provide an educational experience that emphasizes “experiential learning” and “service to others.”