Legal People

Dickinson Wright PLLC

Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce that attorney Robert B. Weiss has joined the firm’s Troy office as Of Counsel.

“I’m excited to be joining Dickinson Wright and their nationally-recognized automotive and insolvency/restructuring practices,” says Weiss. “Over my career, I’ve enjoyed a great working relationship with many of my colleagues at Dickinson Wright and look forward to working with them and our clients, especially in the automotive industry, to navigate the evolving economic circumstances in the months ahead.”

Weiss’ more than thirty years’ experience advising automotive OEMs and their suppliers as outside counsel and, most recently, as general counsel of Joyson Safety Systems, a multinational Tier 1 supplier, gives him dual perspective and a breadth of experience in all aspects of automotive supply chain representation. He has advised his clients on a wide range of complex and, at times, unique legal matters.

Weiss is one of the pioneers in the development and refinement of supply chain protection in the automotive, manufacturing and related industries, and in collaboration with his colleagues, helped establish the protocol and refine processes used in dealing with critical, single-source suppliers in the “just in time inventory” context, which has since become the industry standard.

Weiss previously headed the commercial, restructuring, and bankruptcy practice of a large Midwestern law firm. He has represented manufacturers in complex commercial transactions, the structuring and negotiating of complex commercial supply contracts, sensitive internal investigations, and commercial litigation. As the practice lead, Weiss oversaw and actively represented clients in the events leading up to the 2009 financial crisis and was the lead lawyer of one of three law firms retained to represent General Motors Corporation in its Chapter 11 case.

Weiss has also overseen and has experience with multiple restructurings of companies through pre-packaged arrangements, out-of-court restructurings, and Chapter 11 proceedings. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and has been recognized by Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America, and Super Lawyers. Weiss received his B.A. from Yeshiva University and his law degree from Case Western Reserve University.

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Kerr Russell PLC

Five attorneys have joined Kerr Russell’s Detroit office:

• James E. Tamm defends municipalities, including matters related to government liability, land use and zoning. He often speaks and writes on municipal law matters, which include coauthoring the Michigan Municipal Law chapter on Liability of Local Government and Local Officials. Tamm has also served as defense counsel for numerous physicians and health care facilities for over 30 years and has conducted more than 60 trials across the State of Michigan and in federal court.

• Lauri B. Stewart represents governmental agencies and their employees on matters relating to government tort liability, civil rights litigation, land use and zoning disputes and related constitutional claims. Stewart also has considerable experience defending a variety of employment actions including discrimination and retaliation, sexual harassment, Whistleblower Protection Act, and First Amendment Retaliation claims. She has been a speaker at municipal conferences regarding such topics. Stewart has also served as defense counsel for health care facilities and physicians in medical malpractice actions for more than 20 years.

• Richard V. Stokan Jr. defends municipalities on matters relating to governmental liability, Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act claims, civil rights violations, local ordinance issues and reviews, municipal charter reviews, municipal contracts, real estate transactions, land use and zoning laws and related constitutional claims. Stokan also has experience defending attorneys against legal malpractice claims and representing insurance carriers in first- and third-party automobile claims, in addition to representing physicians and health care facilities in medical malpractice actions.

• Paul M. Indyk assists with the medical malpractice and municipal practices and represents clients in first- and third-party automobile claims, premises liability and general negligence claims.

• Kevin A. McQuillan, a former law clerk to Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Robert J. Colombo Jr., practices in the areas of medical malpractice defense and municipal law.