On Behalf of the firm, the Secrest Wardle Executive Committee is pleased to announce that effective January 1, 2020, the following Troy office attorneys were promoted:
To the position of executive partner: Matthew J. Consolo and Daniel T. Rizzo.
To the position of partner: D. Kyle Bierlein, Rebecca McLaughlin Haines, Lindsay D. Schmidt, and Lauren A. Sterrett.
In addition, Matthew C. Lindgren joins Secrest Wardle's Troy office as a partner. He has more than five years of experience defending a wide range of civil litigation, first and third-party no-fault, premises liability, commercial and business law, and construction matters. He has a strong history of advising his clients as to complex legal issues including subrogation rights, insurance order of priority, Medicare/Medicaid, and provider rights.
Special needs advocacy is one of Lindgren's greatest passions. Upon graduating law school, he began representing individuals with physical, emotional, and mental health issues in Macomb County. He has also proudly served on the board of directors at Life Skills Centers Inc. since 2014. Life Skills Centers Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides programs, services, and activities to consumers which will assist them in obtaining independence, employability, and integration into the community.
Lindgren is a member of Secrest Wardle's Commercial and Business Law, Construction, Environmental and Toxic Tort, Intellectual Property/Advertising Injury, Motor Vehicle Litigation, Premises Liability, Product Liability, and Trucking/Commercial Vehicle Litigation Practice Groups.
Lindgren earned his law degree from Wayne State University Law School and his Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from Finlandia University. Additionally, he graduated from the National Institute of Trial Advocacy program. Lindgren is licensed to practice law in the State of Michigan and is a member of the State Bar of Michigan's Young Lawyer's Section.
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Maddin, Hauser, Roth, & Heller PC is pleased to announce that Katie Brown has been recognized in the Oakland County Executive's Elite 40 Under 40 Class of 2020. The program, in its ninth year, honors young professionals and thought leaders who live or work in Oakland County and who have achieved excellence in their professions.
The announcement was made by the firm's president and CEO, Steven D. Sallen.
In describing her practice, Brown explains that she helps employers make the right decision the first time, to mitigate liability later. A shareholder in the firm's Corporate and Employment practice group, Brown works closely with business owners, managers, and human resources directors to analyze complicated business issues and make sound business decisions. This includes creating a training curriculum to teach managers best practices for retaining top talent and engaging employees, along with identifying and responding to employee concerns.
Through company-wide trainings, Brown reinforces the importance of maintaining respectful workplaces. She also helps employers resolve conflicts that could otherwise lead to claims of unlawful conduct. When those claims are made, however, Brown assists employers in responding to charges filed with state and federal agencies. Often, this process includes conducting audits and investigations, and providing advice and counsel concerning when and how to hire, manage, or fire employees. Brown approaches these conversations with the guiding principle of respecting employees and protecting employers.
In the legal community, Brown has coordinated several events to facilitate conversations about best practices for employers to be competitive and legally compliant, along with promoting inclusive workplaces that are diverse and equitable. Most recently, she coordinated an event called Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion: In Action, where approximately 100 professionals from the Metro Detroit area gathered to learn practical skills for creating inclusive workplaces and communities. As chair of the Oakland County Bar Association's Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Brown is leading approximately 80 attorneys in the effort to identify internal strategic practices, along with external educational resources to attract and retain attorneys with diverse backgrounds, experiences and characters to become leaders in Oakland County.
As a member of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, Brown has participated in myriad committees to engage members, promote pro bono services, and rate potential judges seeking appointments. Brown is also a contributor to the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, recording webinars and co-editing the Michigan Causes of Action book.
Brown has been recognized among Michigan Lawyers Weekly's 2016 Up and Coming Lawyers, named a Michigan Super Lawyers® Rising Star from 2014 to 2019, and named the 2018 Regeana Myrick Outstanding Young Lawyer by the State Bar of Michigan Young Lawyers Section.
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Senior attorney Patricia Myers recently joined the Business Transactions & Planning and Banking, Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights practice groups of Plunkett Cooney.
A Certified Public Accountant and attorney for more than 35 years, Myers focuses her practice in the areas of real estate law, business transactions and banking law. She also has experience handling tax law and regulatory matters.
In the area of real estate law, Myers has handled matters involving mixed use development, construction law, leasing, acquisitions, dispositions, tenant leasing, Sec. 1031 transactions, entitlements, tax structuring, procurement and financing. She has also worked on commercial office, retail and multi-tenant real estate contract negotiations and due diligence, as well as related multi-million dollar financing transactions with institutional capital sources.
In the areas of business transactions and banking law, Myers has handled numerous assignments pertaining to loan covenants, debt instruments, letters of credit, corporate tax returns, financial statements, income and cash flow analyses and corporate debt transactions, among others. She also spearheaded regulatory operations that included the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act; the Fair Lending Act; the Community Reinvestment Act and Consumer Affairs.
Myers is a member of the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants and the State Bar of Michigan. She graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 1992 and received her undergraduate degree from Madonna University in 1985.
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The Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash is pleased to announce that Kelsey Cooke, drainage district legal counsel for the Water Resources Commission (WRC), has been selected as a member of the Oakland County Executive's Elite 40 Under 40 Class of 2020. Now in its ninth year, the Elite 40 Under 40 program honors thought leaders and professionals who live and work in Oakland County.
In her role, Cooke serves as a legal advisor to Nash, Chief Deputy Anne Vaara and other members of WRC's leadership team. She also provides legal counsel to drainage district boards involving Oakland County, works on statewide policy matters and handles all labor relations for the office and its 350 employees. A lifelong Michigander, Cooke joined WRC in 2014.
Prior to joining WRC as a senior attorney 2014, Cooke served as a legal writer for Internet Brands, where she wrote articles focused on real property and landlord-tenant law for publication. Before that, Cooke was general counsel/legal and regulatory affairs for Clear Rate Communications Inc. where she oversaw and directed legal affairs in all departments. Licensed to practice law in 2009, Cooke's background includes civil litigation, real estate law and personally serving in local government.
Cooke earned a B.A. in political science from Michigan State University and her law degree from University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. She is a member of the Class of 2019 Michigan Municipal League's 126/50 Project. In addition, Cooke serves as the vice-chair of the Oakland County Bar Association's Municipal Law Committee.
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Jaclyn Culler has joined Ogletree Deakins' Detroit (Metro) office as an associate. Culler will focus her practice on employment law. She earned her law degree from Wayne State University Law School in 2018.
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Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce that Secrest Wardlemember and chair of the firm's Real Estate Finance Practice Group, has been named a "2020 Leader in the Law" by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. The "2020 Leaders in the Law" will be honored at an annual luncheon and awards ceremony on April 9, 2020 at the Troy Marriott.
In her practice, Zelenock 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, as well as commercial mortgage-backed securitization (CMBS) lenders. 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 also leads Dickinson Wright's Women's Network, and is a co-chair of the firm's Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
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 a Fellow of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys. She is recognized as a leader in her field by Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA, Legal 500, Michigan Super Lawyers, and DBusiness magazine. She was recently named to the "Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame" by Midwest Real Estate News, was named a "Woman Worth Watching" by Profiles in Diversity and named a "Notable Woman in Real Estate" by Crain's Detroit Business.
Zelenock received her B.A. from the University of Michigan and her law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School.
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Jackson Lewis PC is pleased to announce Principal Tiffany A. Buckley-Norwood has been selected to receive the prestigious "Top Lawyers Under 40" Award presented by the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA). The award honors accomplished lawyers who have demonstrated professional excellence, integrity, leadership, commitment to the Hispanic community, and dedication to improving the legal profession.
Buckley-Norwood's employment law advice and litigation defense practice focuses on three specific equal employment opportunity and affirmative action areas including disability accommodation, diversity and inclusion best practices, and appropriately responding to internal complaints (minimizing retaliation claims). She has almost 15 years of experience as counsel to management, is an experienced trial attorney, and advises employers of all sizes and industries, particularly those in healthcare and manufacturing.
"As a first-generation American, I always strive to be a good representation of my Cuban and Jamaican heritage and to make good use of the shoulders I stand on," said Buckley-Norwood. "I am honored to receive this award and look forward to working with the HNBA to further advance diversity in the legal profession."
In this regard, in addition to her law practice, Buckley-Norwood is dedicated to community service, aiding equal justice, and social activism. Currently, she is the immediate past president of the D. Augustus Straker Bar Association; the legislative chair for the Ypsilanti Chapter of Jack and Jill of America; and a pro bono attorney for Lakeshore Legal Aid.
Buckley-Norwood earned her law degree from Boston College Law School and her B.S. from the University of Michigan.
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Brooks Kushman is pleased to announce the addition of Daniel Hegner to its growing patent prosecution team. Hegner joins the firm as a shareholder and works out of the firm's Southfield office and bolsters our firm's bench of experienced electrical engineers. The announcement was made by Frank Angileri, president of the firm.
Hegner is the third addition to the firm's patent prosecution practice over the last year. Hegner's experience will had significant depth to the firm's growing patent prosecution and support the growth of our existing clients.
In his role, Hegner will focus his practice on preparing and prosecuting patent applications in electrical and mechanical engineering as well as the computer science arena. He counsels clients across a wide range of industries including automotive, consumer electronics, telecommunications, and medical devices. He also has experience counseling clients on freedom-to-operate opinions, IP due diligence, and trademarks.
Prior to joining Brooks Kushman, Hegner served as an attorney with Bejin Beineman in Southfield. Hegner also spent 7 years as an electrical engineer at General Dynamics Land Systems. In that role, we served as a sights and electro-optical sensors engineer developing and integrating subsystems for the M1A1/M1A2 Main Battle Tank, Stryker family of vehicles, and Future Combat Systems (FCS) Mounted Combat System (MCS) vehicle.
Hegner earned a law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Detroit Mercy. He is admitted to the State Bar of Michigan, U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Hegner is also a member of the Michigan Intellectual Property Inn of Court and currently serves on the Board of Managers for the Michigan Intellectual Property Law Association.
