Potestivo & Associates PC is pleased to announce Michael J. Woods has been promoted to executive vice president. He will serve and represent the law firm in his new capacity out of the Rochester office.
Woods first joined Potestivo & Associates PC in 2006. Prior to his promotion, he was the supervising attorney over the Foreclosure and Loss Mitigation departments and most recently served as the assistant vice president-managing attorney.
Woods received his Bachelor of Science in Political Science with a concentration in Public Administration from Central Michigan University. Thereafter, he earned his law degree from the University of Miami School of Law.
Woods is active in several industry and professional associations, including the Michigan Mortgage Lenders Association, the Default Attorney Group, The Legal League 100, the Macomb County Bar Association, and the State Bar of Michigan's Real Property Law Section.
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Herschel Fink, Of Counsel with Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer, & Weiss, has been honored by the State Bar of Michigan with the John Hensel Award. Jaffe CEO Jeffrey Weiss made the announcement.
Fink was presented the coveted award by the State Bar of Michigan Arts, Communications, Entertainment & Sports Section on Friday, Nov. 22 at the Detroit Institute of Arts. The award is presented annually to a lawyer who has made a notable and significant contribution to arts, communications, sports or entertainment in Michigan.
A nationally recognized expert on freedom of expression issues, Fink specializes in representing news organizations, media and entertainment companies, and high profile personalities in a broad range of First Amendment and intellectual property matters. He is a frequent speaker at national media law conferences, and regularly discusses timely media topics at gatherings of the bench and bar.
A former reporter and editor, Fink has defended The Detroit Free Press, Fox 2 and many other news organizations. He also has represented scores of stars on First Amendment and intellectual property cases, including comedian Jay Leno, rapper and record executive Dr. Dre, filmmaker Michael Moore, best-selling author Stephen King, and the Temptations among others.
Fink earned a law degree from Michigan State University College of Law after obtaining a bachelor's degree in journalism from Wayne State University. He earned the Society of Professional Journalists National First Amendment Award "for extraordinarily strong efforts to preserve and strengthen the First Amendment." The society's Michigan Chapter also presented him with a "Lifetime Achievement Award," the first time a non-journalist was so honored. He also has been listed in every edition of America's Best Lawyers in First Amendment law during his private practice, and also has been named a Crain's Detroit Business "Power Lawyer" and one of the "Leaders in the Law" by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
Jaffe Raitt is also pleased to announce that 22 attorneys were recognized as 2020 Top Lawyers by DBusiness.
The following Jaffe attorneys were named to the 2020 Top Lawyers list:
Christopher A. Andreoff - White Collar Criminal Defense
Jeremy D. Bisdorf - Intellectual Property & Patent
Mark G. Cooper - Insurance
Paul R. Hage - Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights
Shirley A. Kaigler - Trusts & Estates
Lee B. Kellert - Mergers & Acquisitions
Mark L. Kowalsky - Securities
Mark P. Krysinski - Real Estate
Eric A. Linden - Litigation - Real Estate
Jennifer M. Oertel - Nonprofit/Charites
Brian S. Raznick - Real Estate
James W. Rose - Appellate
Mark D. Rubenfire - Real Estate
Brian G. Shannon - Appellate
Aaron H. Sherbin - Trusts & Estates
Arthur H. Siegal - Environmental
David L. Steinberg - Franchise
Peter Sugar - Securities
Arthur A. Weiss - Tax
Jeffrey M. Weiss - Mergers & Acquisitions
David W. Williams - Litigation - Construction
Richard A. Zussman - Real Estate
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Maddin, Hauser, Roth, & Heller PC is pleased to announce that Brian K. Mitzel has joined the firm's growing Defense and Insurance Coverage Group as an associate. The announcement was made by the firm's president and CEO, Steven D. Sallen.
Mitzel concentrates his practice on a range of issues including professional liability, employment and general liability. He earned his law degree in 2016 from University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and received his undergraduate degree from Wayne State University in 2013.
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For the 10th consecutive year, Plunkett Cooney has been ranked as one of the "Best Law Firms" in the nation in 2020 by U.S. News and Best Lawyers®.
Using a tiered rather than a ranked system, Plunkett Cooney was recognized in the following first- and second-tier metropolitan categories:
- Appellate Practice
-Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
-Commercial Litigation
-Environmental Law
-Health Care Law
-Insurance Law
-Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants
-Litigation Construction
-Litigation Municipal
-Litigation - Real Estate
-Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
-Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
-Municipal Law
-Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
-Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants
-Real Estate Law
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Moss & Colella PC announces that Dylan J. Goodwin has joined the firm as an associate attorney after serving as a law clerk for the Southfield-based personal injury and civil rights law firm. The announcement was made by Managing Partner A. Vince Colella.
Goodwin was sworn into the State Bar of Michigan by Judge David Groner on Nov. 15. As an associate at Moss & Colella, he will focus his legal practice on litigation involving first and third-party auto law, negligence, medical malpractice, premise liability, civil rights, discrimination, gross negligence and governmental immunity cases.
Prior to joining the firm, Goodwin worked as a law clerk at Mindell Law in Bingham Farms; the Riverside County District Attorney's Office in Riverside, California; and the Attleboro District Courthouse, Attleboro, Massachusetts.
Goodwin received his law degree from Michigan State University College of Law in May 2019. In addition, Goodwin earned a B.S. in Economics and a minor in Legal Studies from Central Michigan University.
Goodwin has volunteered for the Special Olympics and PCUPS Foundation.
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Howard & Howard has announced the official formation of a Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group. The practice group's attorneys assist businesses in staying compliant with data privacy laws and regulations, preventing and protecting against cybersecurity threats and risks, and managing and responding to data breaches. The announcement was made by firm President and CEO Mark A. Davis.
"Data privacy and cybersecurity concerns have steadily grown as advances in technology continue. We have built a team of attorneys with the knowledge, training, and experience, in both the U.S. and abroad, needed for companies that find themselves on the front line of cyber and data threats and breaches," said Davis.
The firm's Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group has highly experienced attorneys offering services related to industries such as:
- Banking and financial
- Insurance
- Healthcare
- Government
- Education
- Internet and online
Howard & Howard's Data Privacy and Cybersecurity lawyers also have experience anticipating, addressing, and mitigating risk through services including, but not limited to:
- Drafting and negotiating vendor and subcontractor agreements
- Training on legal compliance with data protection laws
- Preparation and review of public privacy notices, website disclosures, and terms and conditions
- Drafting of internal privacy policies
- Data breach crisis management
The Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group will be led by attorneys Brian Pezzillo, Jennifer Lloyd, and Daniel Cotter. All have experience and training in data privacy laws both in the U.S. and abroad.
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Javon L. Williams, an executive partner at Secrest Wardle's Troy location, has received Michigan Defense Trial Counsel's (MDTC) Golden Gavel Award.
Established in 2005, the Golden Gavel Award is presented annually to a member of the MDTC's Young Lawyers Section who exemplifies significant contribution to professionalism and courtesy in the practice of law and by promoting the image and honorable reputation of the profession. MDTC's six esteemed Legal Awards will be presented to recipients at the Legal Excellence Awards on March 19 at The Gem Theatre in Detroit.
Williams has been with Secrest Wardle since 2009. He joined the firm as a law clerk and became an associate after passing the bar in 2010. Williams became a Partner in 2014 and was elevated to the position of executive partner in 2019. He is a member of Secrest Wardle's Motor Vehicle Litigation, General Negligence, and Premises Liability Practice Groups.
Williams was named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly's "Up & Coming Lawyers" Class of 2019. Since 2013, Williams has also been named to Super Lawyers Magazine's list of Michigan Rising Stars in the area of Personal Injury General Defense. Williams is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, active in the Litigation and Young Lawyers sections.
Williams is the youngest attorney, and also the first African-American attorney, to be named an executive partner at Secrest Wardle. He is the first member of his family to attend law school, and the first within his immediate family to attend college. Williams earned his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and received his Bachelor of Science degree from Tennessee State University in 2007.
Williams also balances his busy professional life with actively supporting causes he is passionate about. As a result of a close family member being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS,) he proudly supports the National MS Society-Michigan Chapter. Williams and his wife recently attended the MS Orange Out The Park Tiger Game in support of the MS Society in raising funds and awareness surrounding the disease. He further supported the MS Society by spearheading a Secrest Wardle Casual Day to fundraise for the local chapter. Each Friday, Secrest Wardle sponsors a "Casual Day" to raise funds for a multitude of local and national charitable organizations. Employees may make a donation to wear casual attire on Fridays.
In addition to his support of the National MS Society, he is equally compassionate about the fight against breast cancer. Williams and his wife recently participated in Mix 92.3's 20th Annual Sista Strut, a one mile walk through Downtown Detroit. All proceeds from the walk benefit the Karmanos Cancer Institute, Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program. Sista Strut raises awareness for breast cancer - specifically in African American women.
Published: Mon, Dec 02, 2019
