Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that Carrie Leahy has been appointed chair-elect of the firm's executive management committee.
She will succeed Larry R. Shulman as chair of the executive management committee effective January 1, 2020. Shulman has served as Bodman's chair on two separate occasions, most recently since October 2018. After the transition, he will remain a member of the firm and will continue his active practice representing commercial lenders.
Leahy has been involved in firm management for years. She is the administrative member of Bodman's Ann Arbor office and serves on the firm's executive management committee and finance committee.
Leahy joined Bodman in 2004 after beginning her career in the Chicago office of DLA Piper. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and her law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology. Leahy concentrates her practice in corporate and business law. She counsels both established and emerging businesses on general corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, compliance with securities regulations, and issues involving venture capital funding.
"I am honored to have been appointed to the chair role and look forward to leading the firm," Leahy stated. "I am grateful to both Larry Shulman and Ralph McDowell, as recent chairs of the firm, for their strong and stable leadership."
Leahy is listed in IFLR1000 under M&A, in Chambers USA 2018 under Corporate/M&A, and in DBusiness magazine "Top Lawyers" 2019 under Corporate Law.
Leahy serves as a board member and treasurer for the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti SmartZone Local Development Finance Authority and as a member of the United Way of Washtenaw County Campaign Cabinet.
Leahy will become only the fourth chair and first female chair to lead Bodman since the firm established the position in 1975.
In addition, the journal IFLR1000 has ranked Bodman PLC at the highest level for Banking and for M&A work in Michigan and has ranked seven Bodman Banking and M&A attorneys as "Highly Regarded Practitioners."
Bodman is the sole Michigan law firm to have received the most favorable rating from IFLR1000 for both Banking and M&A, which are only practice areas it currently evaluates in the state. Bodman also has more individual attorneys listed in IFLR1000 than any other Michigan firm.
In the newly released 2019 rankings, IFLR1000 placed Bodman in "Tier 1" for Banking and in the "Recommended" class for M&A. The seven individual Bodman lawyers recognized as leaders, with area of legal specialty, are:
• Timothy R. Damschroder (M&A)
• Laurence B. Deitch (M&A)
• Robert J. Diehl Jr. (Banking, Restructuring)
• Kathleen O'Callaghan Hickey (Banking)
• Carrie Leahy (M&A)
• Larry R. Shulman (Banking)
• Wendy L. Zabriskie (Banking)
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Plunkett Cooney recently added two attorneys, Danny C. Allen and Aleasha Hester, to its Transportation Law Practice Group.
A member of the firm's Bloomfield Hills office, Allen focuses his practice in the areas of first-party no-fault and third-party motor vehicle negligence. As former house counsel for a major American insurance provider, he has experience handling personal injury protection, uninsured/underinsured motorist premises liability and bodily injury claims.
A member of the State Bar of Michigan since 2007, Allen received his law degree from Wayne State University Law School. He received his master's degree from Roosevelt University in Chicago in 2000 and his undergraduate degree from Albion College in 1996.
Hester is a member of the firm's Detroit office who focuses her litigation practice in the areas of motor vehicle liability and no-fault law. Her clients include insurance companies and businesses in first-party, third-party and uninsured and underinsured no-fault law cases with an emphasis on fraud investigation. This work includes experience with special investigative units in matters involving fraud in the procurement, fraudulent claims, policy rescission and coverage disputes. Hester also has experience handling premises liability, commercial litigation and trust and estate planning matters.
A member of the State Bar of Michigan since 2016, Hester received her law degree from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School and her undergraduate degree from Northwood University in 2006.
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Butzel Long attorney Beth S. Gotthelf was a featured panelist on Government Roles in Commercial Space at the Michigan Space Forum in Traverse City. She discussed a variety of issues including freedom of use and exploration; protection of the space and Earth environments; liability for damages caused by space objects; rescue and return of astronauts and space objects; licensing of satellite launches; compliance with ITAR; and, the export of defense items, to name a few.
Gotthelf is Butzel Long's director of Innovation and External Relations. She also is an executive-in-residence at the Macomb-OU INCubator and serves on the Macomb-OU INCubator Advisory Council.
She has helped auto suppliers diversify into alternative energy and defense, which have been lifelines to those companies.
Gotthelf brings a pragmatic and holistic approach to clients' issues, assisting them in reaching their business goals, often matchmaking clients' needs and acting as an outside general counsel. Her assistance in diversifying automotive suppliers into the aerospace & defense arena during the economic downturn is just one example of her holistic approach. She now counsels clients in governmental contracting, ITAR, EAR, and Foreign Military Sales. Gotthelf also is a leader in environmental law, bringing creative solutions to remediation, redevelopment, tax incentives, and waste management.
She represents and counsels a diverse mix of clients in numerous matters throughout the country. These matters include compliance and permitting; alternative energy issues; responding to an emergency; siting new facilities; civil and criminal enforcement; compliance audits; brownfields; tax incentives; remediation of contaminated sites; insurance claims; administrative procedures; solid and hazardous waste; landfills; composting; and occupational safety and health.
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University of Detroit Mercy School of Law alumnus Nick Hawatmeh has been named to the "40 Under 40" list by Maverick PAC (MavPAC), a political action committee aimed at supporting and electing Republican candidates for federal office.
Hawatmeh, who earned his undergraduate degree from Wayne State University, is Counsel to U.S. Sen. John Kennedy on the Senate Judiciary Committee, serving as legal and policy advisor on issues including nominations, immigration, national security, foreign affairs, criminal justice, and intellectual property.
Previously, Hawatmeh served as Counsel for the Committee on House Administration in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he advised Members of Congress and staff on the regulations and laws pertaining to the use of official resources. He has also worked on election law related issues and served as parliamentarian for the Committee on House Administration.
Hawatmeh has a combined 18 years of political and legal experience working in local, state, and national politics and most recently served as vice chairman of the Michigan Republican Party and as an appointee of the governor of Michigan to two boards.
Currently enrolled in the Master of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies degree program at the Naval War College, Hawatmeh has experience in international affairs and has participated in delegations to the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. He recently came back from Jordan and Bahrain, where he trained and presented on parliament, democracy building, political campaigns and elections.
The Macomb County native also is featured in the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn as one of the youngest Arab Americans to be involved in politics.
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Business and real estate litigators Jonathan B. Frank and Jan Goldstein Frank, husband and wife, announce the formation of a new law firm, Frank & Frank Law, located in Bloomfield Hills.
The firm will focus on creative, cost-effective litigation solutions. Their goals: Obtain great results. Minimize the intrusiveness of lawsuits. Allow clients to prioritize their business and personal lives.
"Our practice leads with the business and personal needs of our clients, not the relentless and often tedious demands of the legal system. Our clients count on our intelligent and practical approach to shrink the litigation process and allow them to focus on what they do best - run their businesses," said Jon Frank.
"Together, we will approach litigation in a way that produces great results, minimizes costs and also relieves the stress and anxiety of our clients," said Jan Frank.
Frank & Frank Law has been a dream of the couple since their marriage in 1984, before their third year of law school. "If we can successfully study for the bar exam together, surely we can practice law together," said Jon.
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Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently announced the following appointments to the Michigan Appellate Defender Commission and the Board of Law Examiners:
Michigan Appellate Defender Commission
Thomas W. Cranmer is the senior principal of Miller, Canfield, Paddock, and Stone PLC in Troy and the co-chair of their litigation and dispute resolution group. He earned his law degree from Ohio Northern University. Cranmer is reappointed to represent a member recommended by the Michigan Supreme Court for a term expiring May 24, 2023.
Judith S. Gracey is an attorney for The Gracey Law Firm PLLC in Keego Harbor. She earned her law degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law. Gracey is reappointed to represent a member recommended by the State Bar of Michigan for a term expiring May 24, 2023.
Douglas Mains is a partner at Honigman LLP in Lansing. He earned his law degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law and Master of Laws degree from the University of Alabama School of Law. Mains is reappointed to represent a member recommended by the State Bar of Michigan for a term expiring May 24, 2023.
Thomas G. McNeill is the director of litigation for Dickinson Wright PLLC in Detroit. He earned his law degree from the University of Virginia. McNeill is reappointed to represent a member recommended by the Michigan Supreme Court for a term expiring May 24, 2023.
The Michigan Appellate Defender Commission is responsible for the development of a system of indigent appellate defense services which shall include services provided by the office of the state appellate defender and locally appointed private counsel. The commission will be responsible for the development of minimum standards to which all indigent criminal defense appellate services shall conform and compile and keep current a statewide roster of private attorneys willing to accept criminal appellate appointments.
These appointments are not subject to advice and consent of the Senate.
Board of Law Examiners
Candice C. Moore is a mergers and acquisitions lawyer at Jones Day Law Firm in Detroit. She earned her law degree from Wayne State University Law School. Moore is appointed to succeed Judge Donna Robinson Milhouse whose term expires June 30, 2019, as the nominee of the Michigan Supreme Court for a term commencing July 1, 2019 and expiring June 30, 2024.
The Board of Law Examiners has charge of the investigation and examination of all persons who initially apply for admission to the bar of this state. The Board may adopt suitable regulations, subject to approval by the Supreme Court, concerning the performance of its functions and duties.
This appointment is not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
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Alicia Schehr, partner at Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer, & Weiss PC, was named practice group leader of the firm's Financial Services Practice Group. Jaffe CEO Jeffrey Weiss made the announcement. In her new role, Schehr will manage the firm's professionals and resources with the goal of providing clients with high-quality and insightful legal counsel in all aspects of their financing matters.
Schehr focuses her practice on providing strategic legal advice and business consultation services to clients on all of their finance matters. She is also a member of the firm's recruiting committee and previously served as co-chair of the firm's Women's Caucus Group, which was established to help women at the firm manage work-life balance, participate in community outreach and gain valuable self-marketing and business skills.
Schehr has been named to the DBusiness 30 in their Thirties list and has been repeatedly included in the Michigan Rising Stars list.
Schehr earned a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and earned a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University. Schehr joined Jaffe in September 1998, following her law school graduation.
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Jeffrey S. Segal has joined the law firm of Warner, Norcross, & Judd LLP as an associate.
Segal concentrates his practice in health law and tax law with an emphasis on contracts, litigation, regulatory compliance and related areas. He will practice in the firm's Southfield office.
Segal joins the firm after spending four years in-house at MidMichigan Health in Midland, where he provided legal support during two hospital acquisitions, served as lead attorney on the system-wide claims committee, provided guidance regarding complex healthcare regulatory and compliance issues and reviewed numerous issues related to tax-exempt healthcare organizations.
He previously practiced at Kitch, Drutchas, Wagner, Valitutti, & Sherbrook litigating medical malpractice claims and drafting physician and health care contracts.
In 2013, Segal served as an intern with U.S. District Court Judge David M. Larson, Eastern District of Michigan.
Segal earned his bachelor degree from Eastern Michigan University. He earned his law degrees from Western Michigan Cooley Law School. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan.
Published: Mon, Jun 17, 2019
