Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that Thomas J. "Jake" Howlett has joined the firm as a member in the Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice Group in the Detroit office.
Howlett represents business clients involved in complex commercial litigation and real estate matters. He leverages his experience as an attorney and a business executive with a real estate development company to analyze disputes and transactions from both a business and a legal perspective, helping him resolve issues with maximum efficiency and with minimal disruption to his clients' operations.
His litigation experience includes representing clients ranging from mid-size businesses to major organizations with national or global footprints in a broad range of commercial disputes. He has also served as counsel to both buyers and sellers in connection with transactions involving significant commercial, industrial, and multi-tenant residential properties located throughout the United States.
Before joining Bodman Howlett practiced with a business law boutique in suburban Detroit and served as president of Crown Enterprises Inc., a nationally recognized commercial real estate company with a diverse portfolio of properties located in most U.S. states and in Canada. In addition to directing Crown's business strategy and day-to-day operations, he personally managed significant legal issues, from major real estate transactions to complex litigation. He began his legal career at Bodman as a member of the firm's Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Group before leaving the firm to join the Crown Enterprises leadership team.
Howlett serves on the board of directors of the Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Macomb County Bar Association, and the Macomb County Chamber of Commerce. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan.
In addition, Bodman is pleased to announce that Joseph G. Nuyen Jr. has joined the firm as a member and chair of Bodman's Health Care Practice Group in the firm's Detroit office.
Nuyen has more than 35 years of experience serving as general and special counsel to businesses and nonprofit organizations, particularly those in the health care industry.
Nuyen has health care law experience. He represents hospitals, health systems, life science companies, home medical equipment companies, home health agencies, hospices, pharmacies, and physicians. He frequently serves as counsel to health care providers and suppliers in mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures. He also counsels health care clients on the full range of regulatory matters, including compliance with federal and state antifraud statutes, including Stark, Anti-kickback, False Claims Act and other health care fraud statutes, reimbursement matters, HIPAA, NPDB reporting issues, and attainment and maintenance of tax-exempt status, among others.
He is recognized by the leading client and peer-review journals that rate business lawyers as one of Michigan's most capable and respected health care attorneys. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America 1995-2019 under Health Care and in Michigan Super Lawyers 2007-2018 under Health Care. DBusiness Magazine has listed him on multiple occasions as a "Top Lawyer" for Health Care. The Best Lawyers in America named him Health Care "Lawyer of the Year" for Ann Arbor in 2012 and 2018. He is AV Preeminent® Peer Rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
The State Bar of Florida has certified Nuyen as a specialist in Health Law since 1995, the first year that it granted such certification. Board certification is the Florida bar's highest level of recognition of an attorney's competency and experience.
Nuyen is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association, the Health Care Section of the American Bar Association, and the Health Law sections of the Florida bar and the State Bar of Michigan. He is a former director of the Michigan Society of Healthcare Attorneys and has been listed in Who's Who of Executives and Professionals. He has lectured extensively on health care law topics, including for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education.
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Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce that William T. Burgess has been elected chairman of the firm, effective January 1, 2019. In addition to serving as chairman, Burgess, who served as Dickinson Wright's CEO for the past nine years, will resume his practice in the areas of banking and finance, insolvency and restructuring, and municipal and regulatory affairs.
"The opportunity to lead Dickinson Wright's business expansion over the course of the past several years has been exceptionally rewarding," said Burgess. "I look forward to continuing to foster our firm's relationship with business and community leaders, and also to the opportunity once again to work directly with our clients and prospective clients."
Burgess has devoted the entirety of his 35-year legal career to Dickinson Wright and its clients. He also is the city attorney for the City of Grosse Pointe Farms and for 26 years taught commercial law as an adjunct professor at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. He is recognized as a leader in his field by Best Lawyers in America and Michigan Super Lawyers. Burgess received his A.B. from the University of Michigan and his law degree from Yale Law School.
In addition, Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce the election of several new member attorneys from Southeast Michigan, effective January 1, 2019.
Below is Dickinson Wright's local new member attorneys for 2019:
Frederick Dewey is a member in the firm's Detroit office. His practice focuses primarily on the areas of commercial and business litigation, real estate litigation, eminent domain, and probate litigation. From assisting with the resolution of pre-lawsuit disputes to representing clients in complex jury trials, Dewey has experience at all stages of litigation. He is a founding member and on the Board of Directors of the Veterans Bar Association Detroit Chapter and he is a member of the Defense Research Institute, the Detroit Bar Association, and the Federal Bar Association. He is recognized as a leader in his field by Michigan Super Lawyers "Rising Stars." Dewey received his B.A. from Loyola University New Orleans and his law degree from Wayne State University Law School.
Peter Domas is a member in the firm's Troy office. His practice is devoted to representing clients in the healthcare industry, and assisting them in navigating the complex statutory and regulatory environment unique to healthcare corporate, transactional, and litigation matters. He also counsels clients on the development and maintenance of effective internal compliance programs with a special focus on federal and state fraud and abuse laws, reimbursement regulations, and HIPAA. He is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association, the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants, and the State Bar of Michigan. He is recognized as a leader in his field by Michigan Super Lawyers "Rising Stars." Domas received his B.B.A from the University of Michigan-Flint, his M.S. in Accountancy from Walsh College, and his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy Law School.
Erin Johnson is a member in the firm's Troy office. Her practice focuses on advising entities and individuals in the acquisition, disposition, leasing, development, and financing, of office, retail, multi-family, and mixed-use projects throughout the United States. She is also experienced in a wide variety of corporate matters including entity formation, organization, and governance. She is a member of the State Bar of Michigan. Johnson received her B.F.A. from the University of Michigan and her law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law.
Shannon Nichols is a member in the firm's Troy office. She has significant experience in all aspects of real estate finance, including representing national and regional lenders, mortgage bankers and loan servicers, with emphasis on capital markets, conduit and bank financing, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac multifamily and manufactured housing lending and working on loan modifications and workouts. She also has commercial real estate and corporate experience, having represented clients in private practice and as in-house counsel for MSX International and Kmart Corporation. In the course of her work, she has represented companies in their financing, acquisition and disposition of various assets, including significant real estate assets. She has managed and negotiated hundreds of commercial leases and assisted real estate developers and investors with a variety of corporate, regulatory, and real estate matters. She received her B.A. from Alma College and her law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.
Dickinson Wright is also pleased to announce that attorney Jessica Currie has joined the firm's Troy office as Of Counsel.
Currie focuses her practice on appeals, class actions, and commercial litigation, representing clients in state and federal courts across the country, including the United States Supreme Court. She has handled matters involving a wide range of subjects, including products liability, employment, intellectual property, constitutional law, tax, business torts, and consumer protection. She also regularly presents and publishes on issues relating to employment law, class actions, and appeals.
Currie is a National Trial College Fellow of the American Board of Trial Advocates and a Fellow of the Oakland County Bar Foundation. She is recognized as a leader in her field by Michigan Super Lawyers "Rising Stars" and was named an "Up & Coming Lawyer" by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. Before entering private practice, Currie served as a judicial clerk to U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Richard Griffin, Sixth Circuit, and Michigan Supreme Court Justice Brian Zahra. Currie received her B.A. from the University of Michigan and her law degree from the University of Toledo College of Law.
Attorney Robert Joslyn has joined the firm's Troy office as Of Counsel.
Joslyn focuses his practice on estate planning and administration. He has been a speaker before the Detroit and other estate planning councils and has lectured extensively for the University of Michigan's Institute of Continuing Legal Education and the State Bar of Michigan. He has also lectured at the University of Michigan Law School, the Notre Dame Tax and Estate Planning Institute, and the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He has authored many articles and books on probate, tax, and estate planning topics, and acted as expert witness on estate, trust, and tax matters in numerous court and arbitration proceedings.
Joslyn is a Fellow (and past state chair and regent) of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and a past academician of the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law. He is also a member of the State Bar of Michigan's Probate and Estate Planning Section (and past chair of its council), the Financial and Estate Planning Council of Metropolitan Detroit Inc. (and past president), and the Financial Estate and Planning Council of Macomb. He is recognized as a leader in his field by Best Lawyers in America, Michigan Super Lawyers, and DBusiness Top Lawyers. He is rated as an "AV Preeminent" lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell and has been admitted as a Fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation. Mr. Joslyn received his law degree from Emory University.
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Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer, & Weiss PC's Joshua M. Borson and Michelle A. Rubin were recently named to the Detroit Jewish News "36 Under 36" list. The award honors 36 professionals under the age of 36 that have made a positive impact in their community.
Borson, an associate in Jaffe's Corporate Practice Group, has a passion for uplifting the next generation of professionals by offering his service to his community at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen Legal Aid Clinic, TechTown Detroit and Cause We Care, a Temple Israel Social Action Committee. He is a board member for the Jewish Federation's NEXTGen Detroit. Additionally, he mentors members of the University of Michigan's Football Alumni Network.
Borson is a graduate of Wayne State University Law School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Michigan.
Rubin, an associate in Jaffe's Estate Planning Group, has cultivated a practice that successfully assists clients during major life transitions. As an active associate at Jaffe, she pioneered a culture of inspiration by assisting in the development of Jaffe's Associates Committee, which facilitates open communication across the firm and plans networking events. Rubin is also a member of Jaffe's Women Caucus Group, which promotes work-life balance and professional development for women at the firm. Outside of Jaffe, she's active in a variety of community outreach programs and serves as a board member for Hebrew Free Loan, Educational Loan Committee and Yad Ezra, a kosher food pantry.
Rubin is a graduate of Wayne State University Law School. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Michigan.
In addition, Kreuza Gjezi has been named partner at Jaffe. CEO Jeffrey Weiss made the announcement.
Gjezi joined Jaffe as an associate in the firm's Immigration and Litigation Practice Groups in October 2014. Her practice focuses on immigration matters. She represents individuals, families and businesses in front of U.S. Citizenship Immigration Services, Immigration Customs & Enforcement, the Department of Justice, the Department of State and Federal Courts. Her areas of expertise include immigrant petitions, nonimmigrant petitions, foreign labor certifications, waivers, naturalization/citizenship, consular processing, corporate compliance audits, and more.
Gjezi earned a law degree from Wayne State University Law School in Detroit. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science pre-law from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. She is the current chairperson of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Liaison Committee for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Michigan Chapter. She also serves as the vice-president of the Albanian American Bar Association of Michigan. She was recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
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The Wayne County 19th District Court announces the appointment of Gene Hunt as chief judge. The Michigan Supreme Court has appointed Hunt as chief judge of Wayne County's second largest district court effective January 1, 2019.
Hunt was elected to the Dearborn Court on Nov. 8, 2016, and has been on the bench for two
years. Hunt, a Marine Corps veteran, established the 19th District Court's Veteran's Treatment Court. He serves as the presiding judge and provides leadership to the treatment court team and plays an integral role in guiding participants through the program.
Hunt grew up in Dearborn. After serving the country as a U.S. Marine, he returned home and attended Henry Ford Community College and the University of Michigan-Dearborn. He graduated from Wayne State Law School in 1985 and spent his entire legal career in Dearborn.
He is a member of the Dearborn Exchange Club, the Optimist Club, American Legion, Marine Corp League, and the Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council.
"I take seriously the faith the Michigan Supreme Court has placed in me by their appointment. It's an honor to serve the city that I was raised in. In this new position I will oversee the services provided by our court and I remain committed to helping people navigate the court system. I thank Judge Salamey for his years of service as chief judge and will work with him, Judge Somers and court administration to continue to provide the quality services customary at the 19th District Court," said Hunt.
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Foley & Lardner has just announced the names of its newly elected partners. These individuals will formally become partners in the firm effective February 1, 2019. New partners based in Detroit include:
- Gjina Lucaj, Business Law.
- Robert Nederhood, Business Law.
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Honigman LLP is pleased to announce that the firm's board of directors has elected the following local attorneys as partners, effective January 1, 2019.
Elizabeth Allen (Detroit) is a member of the Real Estate department. She focuses her practice on commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, sales, financing and leasing. Allen earned her law degree from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law.
Andrew W. Clark (Detroit) is a member of the Litigation department. He focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation matters and litigates business disputes throughout the country. Clark earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.
Michelle Bleda Drew (Detroit) is a member of the Corporate department. She focuses her practice on commercial lending, corporate finance, and private equity and mezzanine finance. Drew earned her law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law.
Nola Garcia (Detroit) is a member of the Corporate department. She focuses her practice on finance, mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate matters. Garcia earned her law degree from Michigan State University College of Law.
Maryam H. Karnib (Detroit) is a member of the Real Estate department. She focuses her practice on retail, industrial and office real estate transactions. Karnib earned her law degree from Wayne State University Law School.
Andrea N. Lee (Detroit) is a member of the Corporate department. She focuses her practice on health care law with an emphasis on long-term and post-acute care providers. Lee earned her law degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
David E. McCoy Jr. (Detroit) is a member of the Corporate department. He focuses his practice on advising private equity sponsors on a wide range of transactions. McCoy earned his law degree from Hofstra University School of Law and his M.B.A. from Hofstra University.
Andrew M. Pauwels (Detroit) is a member of the Litigation department. He focuses his practice on media law, complex commercial litigation and intellectual property litigation matters. Pauwels earned his law degree from University of Notre Dame Law School.
Matthew E. Radler (Detroit) is a member of the Labor and Employment department. He focuses his practice on wage and hour litigation, non-compete litigation, and state and federal employment law compliance. Radler earned his law degree from the George Washington University Law School.
Jeremy M. Scherlinck (Detroit) is a member of the Corporate department. He focuses his practice on private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate matters. Scherlinck earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.
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Royal Oak-based law firm Howard & Howard is pleased to announce that nine attorneys have become shareholders in the firm - the largest single-year class in firm history.
Named shareholders for their significant contributions to the firm are:
- Daniel R. Chojnowski
- Jonathan W. Fountain
- Timothy D. Gronewold
- Jonathan F. Karmo
- Alexander M. Leonowicz
- Paul S. Mazzola
- Laurie A. Perez
- Jason P. Weiland
- Evonne Xu
Chojnowski focuses his practice in building and maintaining intellectual property value for his clients.
Fountain concentrates his practice in intellectual property litigation, entertainment law, and commercial litigation.
Gronewold concentrates his practice in commercial litigation, labor and employment law, and municipal law.
Karmo concentrates his practice in commercial and corporate litigation in the federal and state courts in Michigan.
Leonowicz concentrates his practice in the areas of corporate, health care, and cannabis law, as well as business transactions.
Mazzola concentrates his practice in all aspects of domestic and international patent prosecution in the electromechanical arts.
Perez focuses her practice on labor and employment, financial services, and general commercial litigation matters.
Weiland concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial litigation and business and corporate law.
Xu concentrates her practice in the areas of automotive, manufacturing, technology, and international law.
In addition, Michael Beals has been named chair of Howard & Howard's Trust & Estate Planning Practice Group. The announcement was made by firm President and CEO Mark Davis.
Howard & Howard's Trust and Estate Planning practice designs and implements numerous strategies and plans which address estate and business succession, asset protection, wealth transfer, privacy, retirement planning and charitable donations.
Beals has more than 30 years of experience providing legal counsel to privately-owned businesses and high-net-worth entrepreneurs.
He is a graduate of Michigan State University and Detroit College of Law (now Michigan State University College of Law). Beals was formerly adjunct professor at Thomas M. Cooley Law School.
Beals has been named to Michigan Leading Lawyers for five years running and was selected a Top Lawyer by DBusiness
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Butzel Long immigration law attorney Reginald A. Pacis will be a featured speaker during the January 24, 2019 meeting of the Detroit Chapter of the National Association for Legal Professionals (NALS). Pacis will provide an update on immigration issues.
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.
Last month, Pacis was appointed by Governor Rick Snyder to serve as a commissioner to the Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission (MAPAAC), which helps address the needs and concerns of the Asian Pacific American (APA) communities in Michigan.
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).
Pacis earned a law degree from the Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University in 1996 and a B.A. from James Madison College at Michigan State University in 1992. He joined the State Bar of Michigan in 1997.
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Kurt A. Kissling, an environmental attorney, has joined law firm Warner, Norcross, and Judd LLP as a partner.
Kissling brings nearly 20 years of experience in a wide range of federal and state environmental compliance, enforcement and litigation matters to his new position with Warner, including a particular focus on the Federal Clean Air Act and its state and local counterparts. He will practice in the firm's Southfield office.
Kissling comes to Warner after almost 15 years at Pepper Hamilton LLP, where he served as chair of its climate change group and counseled clients in a number of industries including automotive, agribusiness, utility, glass, cement, general manufacturing, and consumer products. He previously practiced law at Miller, Johnson, Snell, & Cummiskey in West Michigan.
Active professionally, Kissling serves on the board for the State Bar of Michigan's Environmental Law Section and as chair of its Air Committee. He is a board member for the East Michigan Chapter of the Air & Waste Management Association. Kissling is a frequent lecturer on environmental issues and has taught classes on the Clean Air Act at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in multiple editions of Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine.
Kissling earned his civil engineering degree from Valparaiso University. He earned his law degrees from Vermont Law School.
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Clark Hill recently announced the promotion of several senior attorneys and senior counsel to membership in the firm, and the promotion of associates to senior attorney.
The firm's new members who were previously senior attorneys, their practice locations, and practice concentrations, include:
Birmingham
Brandon J. Muller, a registered professional civil engineer, is a member of the Real Estate Services Practice whose work concentrates on real estate and construction law.
Detroit
Jason Canvasser, a member of the Litigation Practice, concentrates on representing clients in general litigation matters, including complex commercial cases, contractual disputes, defense of premise liability and auto negligence claims, landlord-tenant matters, and issues relating to bankruptcy and creditors' rights.
Ellen Hoeppner, a member of the Labor & Employment Practice, represents employers in all aspects of employment law, including defending employers in federal and state courts, and before federal and state administrative agencies, in employment discrimination, harassment, retaliatory discharge, and wage and hour claims.
Karen Kett is a member of the Immigration Practice who provides short- and long-term planning for corporate sponsorship of all immigrant and non-immigrant visas, and counsels companies on immigration regulatory compliance.
Carly Machasic is a member of the Labor & Employment Practice who focuses on representing employers in diverse matters, including claims involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblowing, family/medical leave, and accommodating disabilities.
Mark Nasr is a member of the Construction Law Practice who represents design professionals, including engineers and architects, general contractors, subcontractors, developers, and property owners.
Clark Hill's new local senior attorneys include Loukas Kalliantasis in the Corporate Practice in Birmingham; and Lindsey Medina in the Immigration Practice, and K.J. Edward Fornell in the Business Litigation Practice in Detroit.
