Legal People

Michigan Indigent Defense ­Commission

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder recently announced the reappointments of Nancy J. Diehl to the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission.

The commission was created to improve legal representation for low-income, criminal defendants. In October 2011, Snyder issued Executive Order 2011-12, establishing the initial Indigent Defense Advisory Commission, responsible for recommending improvements to the state’s legal system. These recommendations served as the basis for legislation to address this need as well as calling for the 15-member Indigent Defense Commission that the governor signed into law in July 2013.

Diehl retired from the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office in 2009, where she served as trial division chief. She founded and directed the Child Abuse Unit and the Child and Family Abuse Bureau.

Diehl received Western Michigan University’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2009, Wayne County Council Against Family Violence Spirit Award in 2009 and the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan Jean King Leadership Award in 2006.

Diehl earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and general business from Western Michigan University and a law degree from Wayne State University Law School. She will continue to be the nominee of the State Bar of Michigan.

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Dickinson Wright PLLC

Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce that 73 of the firm’s attorneys have been named 2018 Michigan Super Lawyers. Thirty-three Dickinson Wright attorneys have been named 2018 Michigan Super Lawyers “Rising Stars.”

Local Dickinson Wright attorneys recognized on this year’s Michigan Super Lawyers list include:

Detroit

Dennis W. Archer, Business Litigation

Allison R. Bach, Bankruptcy: Business

Richard M. Bolton, Mergers & Acquisitions

William T. Burgess, Bankruptcy: Business

Lawrence G. Campbell, ADR

James N. Candler Jr., Real Estate

David R. Deromedi, Labor & Employment

Phillip J. DeRosier, Appellate

K. Scott Hamilton, Business Litigation

Mark R. High, Business/Corporate

Edgar C. Howbert, Bankruptcy: Business

Steven G. Howell, Bankruptcy: Business

Timothy H. Howlett, Labor & Employment

W. Anthony Jenkins, Real Estate

Thomas G. McNeill, Business Litigation

Sharon R. Newlon, Environmental

Francis R. Ortiz, Business Litigation

James B. Perry, Labor & Employment

James A. Plemmons, Creditor Debtor Rights

William P. Shield Jr., Banking

James P. Spica, Estate & Probate

Theodore B. Sylwestrzak, Bankruptcy: Business

L. Pahl Zinn, Business Litigation

Troy

Timothy L. Andersson, Business/Corporate

Margaret A. Coughlin, Environmental

Stephen E. Dawson, Real Estate

J. Benjamin Dolan, Business Litigation

Terence M. Donnelly, Government Finance

Deborah L. Grace, Employee Benefits

Roberta P. Granadier, Employee Benefits

Henry M. Grix, Estate & Probate

Hanley M. Gurwin, Family Law

Craig W. Hammond, Government Finance

Robert P. Hurlbert, Criminal Defense: White Collar

Monica J. Labe, Real Estate

Elizabeth L. Luckenbach, Estate & Trust Litigation

Christopher C. Maeso, Business/Corporate

Anna M. Maiuri, Environmental

Cynthia A. Moore, Employee Benefits

Gregory W. Moore, Health Care

Mahesh K. Nayak, Business Litigation

John H. Norris, Energy & Resources

Edward H. Pappas, Business Litigation

Richard W. Paul, Business Litigation

Daniel D. Quick, Business Litigation

William L. Rosin, Business/Corporate

Peter H. Webster, Eminent Domain

Rhonda D. Welburn, Government Finance

J. Bryan Williams, Business/Corporate

Mark E. Wilson, Health Care

Kathryn S. Wood, Employment Litigation: Defense

Katheryne L. Zelenock, Real Estate

Local Dickinson Wright attorneys recognized on this year’s Michigan Rising Stars list include:

Detroit

Farayha Arrine, Civil Litigation: Defense

Eric S. Bergeron, Banking

Aaron V. Burrell, Business Litigation

Frederick R. Dewey, Business Litigation

Patrick B. Green, Business Litigation

Salina M. Hamilton, Business Litigation

Daniel J. Phillips, Business Litigation

Adam J. Wallace, Business/Corporate

Troy

Eric C. Bartley, Schools & Education

Peter J. Domas, Health Care

Eric W. Gregory, Employee Benefits

Steven C. Hurles, Intellectual Property

Rachel Hutton, Business/Corporate

Michael J. Lusardi, Real Estate

James A. Martone, Business Litigation

Eric McGlothlin, Government Finance

Heather M. Olson, Real Estate

Scott A. Petz, Business Litigation

Sara B. Rubino, Estate & Probate

Bryan J. Schomer, Intellectual Property

Kimberly M. Slaven, Intellectual Property

Benjamin M. Sobczak, Business Litigation

Rosanna J. Willis, Health Care

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Butzel Long

Numerous Butzel Long attorneys have been named to the 2018 Super Lawyers list.

Moreover, David F. DuMouchel has been named – “Top 10: 2018 Michigan Super Lawyers” and Beth S. Gotthelf – “Top 25: 2018 Women Business Michigan Super Lawyers.”

The local Butzel Long attorneys included in the 2018 Michigan Super Lawyers list are:

2018 Rising Stars

Michael C. Decker, Business Litigation

Damien DuMouchel, Criminal Defense: White Collar

Michael R. Griffie, Schools & Education

Ziyad I. Hermiz, Business Litigation

Paul M. Mersino, Business Litigation

Brett J. Miller, Employment & Labor

Robert M. Nemzin, Estate & Probate

Joseph E. Richotte, Criminal Defense: White Collar

Roxana G. Zaha, Real Estate

List of 2018 Michigan Super Lawyers:

Bloomfield Hills office

Stephen A. Bromberg, Real Estate

Carey A. DeWitt, Employment & Labor

Debra A. Geroux, Health Care

Beth S. Gotthelf, Environmental

D. Stewart Green, Real Estate

David W. Hipp, Real Estate

Robert A. Hudson, Business/Corp.

Susan L. Johnson, Environmental

Thomas A. Kabel, Real Estate

Kaveh Kashef, Business Litigation

Sheldon H. Klein, Antitrust Litigation

Robin Luce Herrmann, Media/Advertising

Max J. Newman, Bankruptcy: Business

Thomas B. Radom, Bankruptcy: Business

Richard E. Rassel, Business Litigation

Dennis B. Schultz, Construction Litigation

Craig S. Schwartz, Employment & Labor

Thomas C. Simpson, Real Estate

David W. Sommerfeld, Estate & Probate

Daniel B. Tukel, Employment Litigation: Defense

Detroit office

James C. Bruno, Business/Corp.

Clara DeMatteis Mager, Immigration: Business

David J. DeVine, Business Litigation

George B. Donnini, Criminal Defense: White Collar

Arthur Dudley II, Mergers & Acquisitions

David F. DuMouchel, Criminal Defense: White Collar

Bernard J. Fuhs, Business Litigation

Cynthia J. Haffey, Business Litigation

John P. Hancock Jr., Employment & Labor

Justin G. Klimko, Mergers & Acquisitions

Gary W. Klotz, Employment & Labor

Phillip C. Korovesis, Business Litigation

Mark R. Lezotte, Health Care

Donald B. Miller, Employment Litigation: Defense

Reginald A. Pacis, Immigration: Business

James S. Rosenfeld, Employment & Labor

Daniel R.W. Rustmann, Business Litigation

Bruce L. Sendek, Business Litigation

James E. Wynne, Business Litigation

In addition, Butzel Long immigration law attorney Reginald A. Pacis will be a featured panelist during a program on immigration on October 11 at the Howell Carnegie District Library. Among the
topics of discussion: What are the most common paths to permanent resident status or temporary status for foreign nationals?

Other featured panelists include: Fayrouz Saad, former director of Detroit’s Office of Immigration Affairs and Russell Abrutyn, an immigration attorney.

Pacis focuses his practice in immigration law and has handled a variety of immigration matters including H-1B specialty occupation cases, L-1 Intracompany transfers, Labor Certification matters, Immigrant Visa Petitions/Adjustment of Status applications and interviews, TN Free trade cases, H-1B Department of Labor Investigations, I-9 employer verification compliance, and U.S. Port of Entry airport and land port interviews.

He was named Immigration Lawyer of the Year 2013 in the field of Immigration Law by The Best Lawyers in America and has been listed in Best Lawyers for several years. Pacis is a member of the American Bar Association, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), and the Samahang Pilipino Ng Oakland Filipino organization. He served two consecutive one-year terms from 2003 to 2005 as chairperson of the Michigan Chapter of AILA and was a member of the AILA National Board of Governors for those terms. Pacis previously served as secretary (2001 to 2003) and membership chairperson of the Michigan Chapter of AILA (1998 to 2003).

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Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss, P.C.

Super Lawyers magazine has again recognized 33 Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer, & Weiss PC attorneys in 18 practice areas as Michigan Super Lawyers and 13 attorneys in nine practice areas as Michigan Rising Stars. Jaffe CEO Jeffrey Weiss made the announcement.

The following Jaffe attorneys in the Southfield offices were included in the 2018 edition as Michigan Super Lawyers or Michigan Rising Stars:

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

Steven R. Lefkofsky, Business Litigation

Judith Greenstone Miller, Creditor Debtor Rights

Jennifer M. Oertel, Nonprofit Organizations

Brian S. Raznick, Real Estate

Mark D. Rubenfire, Real Estate

Brian G. Shannon, Appellate

Aaron H. Sherbin, Estate & Probate

William E. Sider, Tax

David Steinberg, Franchise/Dealership

Peter Sugar, Securities & Corporate Finance

Holli H. Targan, Banking

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

Rising Stars:

Joshua M. Borson, Business/Corporate

Kreuza Gjezi, Immigration, Business

Justin A. Hanna, Business/Corporate

Heather M. Maldegen-Long, Real Estate

Emily Mayer, Business Litigation

Nicole S. Meisner, Administrative Law

Jonathan C. Myers, Bankruptcy, Business

Eric D. Novetsky, Bankruptcy, Business

Natalie O’Keefe, Business/Corporate

May A. Saad, Real Estate

Justin M. Schmidt, Aviation & Aerospace

Jonathan H. Schwartz, Business Litigation

Katherine A. Stefanou, Securities Litigation

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Wayne County  17th District Court

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder recently appointed Krista Haroutunian of Redford to the Wayne County 17th District Court in Redford Township.

Haroutunian has been in private practice as a shareholder with the firm Haroutunian, Licata, Haroutunian PC since 1998 where she focuses on probate, estate planning, family law, and real estate matters. Since 2013, she has served as a special assistant attorney general with the Michigan Department of Attorney General, handling contested guardianship and conservatorship petitions for the Audit Protective Services Division of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Haroutunian is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, serving on the Board of Commissioners since 2015. She is also a member of the Detroit Bar Association, the Oakland County Bar Association, the Wayne County Probate Bar Association, the Wayne County Family Bar Association, and the Armenian American Bar Association. She is on the board of the Armenian Relief Society and has been a member of the Michigan Women’s Commission since being appointed in 2011.

Haroutunian earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan in 1993 and a law degree from the Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University in 1998.

Haroutunian fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Charlotte Wirth. She must seek election in November 2020 for a full term.

In addition, the Warriors Trust Fund was proud to honor Wayne County 17th District Court Judge Karen Khalil with the Sgt. Clyde J. Willis Warrior Award, presented to Michigan residents for their significant and lasting impact on the veteran community. Khalil handles the Veterans Court in Redford.

The award was presented at a dinner on Sept. 11, following the 4th Annual Warriors Trust Fund Golf Benefit at the Glen Oaks Golf Course.

To learn more about the organization, visit www.warriorstrustfund.org.

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Kerr Russell

The following Kerr Russell attorneys have been designated “Super Lawyers” by Thomson Reuters:

• Jason Bank, bankruptcy (business)—since 2008

• William Blasses, bankruptcy (business)—since 2013—also named to “Rising Stars” list

• James Cambridge, business/corporate law—since 2006

• Michael Carroll, construction—2009-10, 2013-now

• James Case, construction—since 2006

• Katherine Cser, employment and labor—since 2014—also named to “Rising Stars” list

• Mark Cunningham, surety—since 2007

• Daniel Ferris, business litigation—since 2016—also named to “Rising Stars” list

• Fred Herrmann, business litigation—since 2009

• Mark Knoth, business litigation, since 2017

• Eric Lark, business/corporate law—since 2009

• Stephen McGraw, personal injury malpractice: defense—since 2006

• Daniel Schulte, health care—since 2009

• Joanne Geha Swanson, civil litigation defense—since 2006

• Anna Valk, real estate—since 2016—also named to “Rising Stars” list

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Dinsmore & Shohl LLP

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP is pleased to announce three of its attorneys have been named to the Michigan Super Lawyers and Rising Stars list for 2018.

The Dinsmore attorney recognized as a Super Lawyer is Andrey T. Tomkiw, Employment & Labor.

Dinsmore attorneys recognized as Rising Stars are John D. Mackewich, Business/Corporate; and Jason M. Renner, Liability: Defense; General Litigation.

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USPTO Midwest  Regional Office

On Sept. 4, Damian Porcari was sworn in as the new director for the USPTO Midwest Regional Office. Porcari began his new post in Detroit on Sept. 10.

As director of the Elijah J. McCoy Midwest Regional United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Porcari carries out the strategic direction of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and director of the USPTO while leading the Midwest regional office in Detroit.

By focusing on the region and actively engaging with the community, Porcari ensures the USPTO’s initiatives and programs are tailored to the region’s unique ecosystem of industries and stakeholders.

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Nemeth Law PC

Detroit-based management side labor and employment law firm Nemeth Law PC announces three firm partners have been named to the 2018 Michigan Super Lawyers’ list.

Founding partner Patricia Nemeth was listed in the area of employment litigation defense and was again included among the Top 25 Women Business Michigan Super Lawyers and Top 50 Women Michigan Super Lawyers, a listing of women lawyers who ranked top of the list in the 2018 Michigan Super Lawyers nomination, research and blue ribbon review process.

Nemeth founded Nemeth Law as a solo practitioner in 1992. The firm is now the largest woman-owned law firm in Michigan to exclusively represent management in the prevention, resolution and litigation of labor and employment disputes.

Nemeth is an arbitrator and a certified mediator for all types of civil litigation, including employment. Her areas of legal expertise include all aspects of traditional labor and employment litigation law, including complex employment investigations and analyses, discrimination/harassment, age, disability, sex, race, whistleblowers, wrongful discharge, union organizing activities and union issues, and multi-party lawsuits.

Joining Nemeth on the Super Lawyers List again this year is Nemeth Law Partner Anne Widlak, who was named a Michigan Super Lawyer in employment and labor, and Partner Susan D. Koval, who was named a Michigan Super Lawyer in employment litigation defense.

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Bodman PLC

Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that 53 of the firm’s attorneys have been included in the 2018 edition of Michigan Super Lawyers

Local Bodman attorneys listed in Michigan Super Lawyers 2018 (by office location, including practice area) are:

Detroit

Marc M. Bakst (Bankruptcy: Business)

Anthony P. Cracchiolo (Estate Planning & Probate)

Andrew H. Curoe (Estate Planning & Probate)

Laurence B. Deitch (Business/Corporate)

Robert J. Diehl Jr. (Creditor/Debtor Rights)

Fredrick J. Dindoffer (Environmental)

Stephen I. Greenhalgh (Banking)

David M. Hempstead (Estate Planning & Probate)

Kathleen O’Callaghan Hickey (Banking)

George G. Kemsley (Business Litigation)

Joseph J. Kochanek (Banking)

David P. Larsen (Estate Planning & Probate)

Marguerite Munson Lentz (Estate Planning & Probate)

Dennis J. Levasseur (Securities Litigation)

Ralph E. McDowell (Bankruptcy: Business)

Jeffrey G. Raphelson (Business Litigation)

Nicholas P. Scavone Jr. (Real Estate)

Joseph J. Shannon (Business Litigation)

E. William S. Shipman (Health Care)

Larry R. Shulman (Banking)

Brian R. Trumbauer (Creditor/Debtor Rights)

Troy

Courtland W. Anderson (Intellectual Property)

J. Adam Behrendt (Business Litigation)

John C. Cashen (Employment & Labor)

Steven R. Cole (Real Estate)

Michelle Thurber Czapski (Class Action)

Christopher P. Mazzoli (Employment & Labor)

Mark W. Peters (Business/Corporate)

Karen L. Piper (Employment & Labor)

Andrew Z. Spilkin (Real Estate)

Thomas J. Tallerico (Business Litigation)

Thomas Van Dusen (Business Litigation)

David B. Walters (Employee Benefits)

Wendy L. Zabriskie (Banking)

Bodman attorneys selected for the 2018 Michigan Rising Stars list are:

Detroit

Sarah L. Cylkowski (Business Litigation)

Nathan D. Dupes (Business Litigation)

Bridget M. Hathaway (Business Litigation)

Maria L. Martinez (Business Litigation)

Thomas J. Rheaume Jr. (Business Litigation)

Whitney Aidenbaum Silfen (Mergers & Acquisitions)

Troy

Jonathan S. Berg (Business/Corporate)

Timothy P. Bliss (Real Estate)

Amanda J. Frank (Business Litigation)

Zackery T. Hugg (Technology Transactions)

Andrew J. Schuster (Technology Transactions)

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Fraser Trebilcock

Several Fraser Trebilcock attorneys have been selected for inclusion on the 2018 list of Super Lawyers, with additional attorneys named “2018 Rising Stars in Michigan.”

Local Fraser Trebilcock attorneys named as a Super Lawyer:

Michael P. Donnelly, Business Litigation

Jonathan T. Walton Jr., Business Litigation

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Jones Day

The global law firm Jones Day announced that Patrick Belville has joined its Detroit office as a partner in the firm’s M&A Practice. Belville rejoins the firm, having spent the past four years as vice president and associate general counsel, M&A, of Cardinal Health Inc., a global Fortune 20 healthcare company and longtime Jones Day client.

Belville led his Cardinal Health team in closing numerous acquisitions, divestitures, and other strategic transactions worth billions of dollars. He worked closely with Cardinal Health’s C-suite, providing the executive team and the board of directors with strategic advice on all aspects of these transactions. He also directed legal support regarding tax, treasury, capital markets, and various other corporate functions. As a partner in Jones Day’s Chicago office from 2007 to 2014, Belville represented a broad variety of clients in domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and restructurings.

Dykema

Dykema recently announced that 46 of its attorneys from the firm’s five Michigan offices—and from multiple practice areas—were named to the 2018 Super Lawyers list by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine. Additionally, 19 of the firm’s attorneys were named to the 2018 Michigan Rising Stars list.

Of those recognized, local member Robert A. Boonin was also listed in the Top 100: 2018 Michigan Super Lawyers; Top 50: 2018 Michigan Business Super Lawyers.

The local Dykema attorneys named on the 2018 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

• Amy M. Christen – Employee Benefits

• 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: Defense

• Adam M. Fishkind – Real Estate: Business

• Fred J. Fresard – Civil Litigation: Defense; Business Litigation

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

• 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

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

Detroit

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

• Robert A. Boonin – Employment & Labor: Employer; 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

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

• 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; Health Care

• Cameron H. Piggott – Real Estate: Business

• Harold D. Pope – Business Litigation; Employment & Labor

• Thomas M. Schehr – Business Litigation

The local Dykema attorneys named on the 2018 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

• Cale Johnson – Antitrust Litigation; Business Litigation

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

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

• Michael R. Vogt – Real Estate: Business

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

• Matthew Zischke – Employee Benefits

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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Foster, Swift, Collins, & Smith, PC­

Six attorneys from the Southfield office of Foster, Swift, Collins, & Smith PC have been selected to the 2018 Michigan Super Lawyers list while six others have been selected as “Rising Stars.”
The local 2018 Michigan Super Lawyers and their area(s) of practice for which they are listed include:

Dirk H. Beckwith, Business Litigation

Michael R. Blum, Employment & Labor

Julie I. Fershtman, Civil Litigation: Defense

Lisa J. Hamameh, State/Local/Municipal

Frank T. Mamat, Employment & Labor

Paul J. Millenbach, Business Litigation

The local 2018 “Rising Stars” List and their area(s) of practice for which they are listed include:

Alicia W. Birach, Workers’ Compensation

Nicolas Camargo, Estate & Trust Litigation

Adam A. Fadly, Civil Litigation: Defense

Robert A. Hamor, Real Estate

Ray H. Littleton II, General Litigation

Trevor J. Weston, Estate & Probate

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City of Detroit  Office of Inspector General

Detroit has appointed Ellen Ha as inspector general. She was appointed by Detroit City Council on July 31 and sworn in on August 28. Ha, the city’s second inspector general, began her non-renewable, six-year term August 20.

The City of Detroit’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) was established as an independent agency by the 2012 City Charter. The mission of the Office of Inspector General as clearly stated in the charter is “ensur[ing] honesty and integrity in City government by rooting out waste, abuse, fraud, and corruption.” The jurisdiction of the OIG extends to “any Public Servant and City agency, program or official act, contractors and subcontractors providing goods and services to the City, business entities seeking contracts or certification of eligibility for city contracts and persons seeking certification of eligibility for participation in any city program, either in response to a complaint or on the Inspector General’s own initiative in order to detect and prevent waste, abuse, fraud and corruption.”

Born in South Korea, Ha immigrated to Detroit in 1975, at age 10. She learned English as a second language at McKinney Elementary School, attended Taft Middle School and began her high school years at the Detroit Renaissance High School.

Ha received a bachelor of arts degree in political science from the University of Michigan and a law degree degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. She began her legal career at the City of Detroit Law Department during Mayor Coleman Young’s administration as a junior assistant corporation counsel.

Thereafter, she went into private practice as an associate at Garan, Lucow, Miller (GLM) in its downtown Detroit office. While at GLM, she was appointed to the City’s Human Rights Commission by Mayor Dennis Archer. Ha was also appointed as a member of the Michigan Advisory Board to the United States Civil Rights Commission, during President’s Clinton’s administration, and traveled around the State of Michigan with other commission members to take testimony and investigate allegations of civil rights violations. During the ’90s, she served as a board member with New Detroit Inc.; Detroit International Institute; and American Citizens for Justice, now known as the Asian American Center for Justice. In addition, she lectured on Asian American history and the law at the University of Michigan on the Ann Arbor and Dearborn campuses for 15 years.

Ha left GLM to accept a trial attorney position as a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in the Detroit District Office. She left in 2001 to return to the City Law Department, during Mayor Archer’s second term, as a supervisor of the newly created FOIA Section pursuant to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

As the city’s FOIA coordinator, Ha played an instrumental role in the Governor’s hearing of the removal of then Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. She continued to serve the city in the Law Department during the administrations of Interim Mayor Kenneth Cockrel, Mayor Dave Bing, Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr, and Mayor Mike Duggan.

In 2014, Ha was promoted chief of staff of the Law Department by then Corporation Counsel Butch Hollowell, where she continued to provide legal counsel in all city matters related to FOIA. She continued to serve as the Law Department’s chief of staff until her recent appointment by City Council.

“As the City continues to move forward, I am mindful of the importance of the Office of Inspector General (OIG)’s role in the City’s continued self-governance and growth. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve the City in such an important role,” Ha said. “The Charter provides the OIG with the independent authority and power to identify and to investigate fraud, waste, abuse and corruption in the City government. With the dedicated staff at the OIG and with the cooperation of all of the City’s citizens, officials, employees and contractors, I look forward to contributing to the revitalization of Detroit by working to expose any such activity.”

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Secrest Wardle

Secrest Wardle is pleased to announce that 10 attorneys have been named by Super Lawyers magazine to the 2018 Michigan Super Lawyers list. Those listed include:

Daniel P. Makarski, Alternative Dispute Resolution

Drew W. Broaddus, Appellate

Mark F. Masters and Mark E. Morley, Civil Litigation – Defense

Bruce A. Truex, General Litigation

Thomas J. Azoni, Justin L. Cole, Nathan J. Edmonds, and John L. Weston, Personal Injury General-Defense

Derk W. Beckerleg, State/Local/Municipal

Secrest Wardle is also pleased to announce that 11 attorneys have been named by Super Lawyers magazine to the 2018 Michigan Rising Stars list. Those listed include:

Matthew J. Consolo and Anthony A. Randazzo, Business Litigation

Kellie C. Joyce and Trevor J. Zamborsky, Civil Litigation - Defense

Amanda B. Fopma, Insurance Coverage

Javon R. David, Devon R. Glass, Krystal D. Hermiz, Renee T. Townsend, Sarah L. Walburn, and Javon L. Williams, Personal Injury General-Defense

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Christensen Law

Christensen Law attorney David E. Christensen was recently recognized by Best Lawyers as the 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” for Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs in the Detroit area.

In addition to the “Lawyer of the Year” award, David E. Christensen was also listed in the 2019 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the following practice areas: Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs.

Christensen earned his law degree as well as a master’s degree from the University of Michigan. He is a member of the Council of Chief Justices Civil Justice Initiative. Christensen testifies before the Michigan legislature, and his expertise has led to appointments to key positions that affect the development of Michigan’s no-fault law. In 2012, he was chosen as a “Leader in the Law” by Michigan Lawyer’s Weekly.