Legal People ...

Senior attorney Howard B. Goldman and associate attorney Glenn C. Ross recently joined the Business Transactions & Planning Practice Group of Plunkett Cooney.

A business attorney for more than 30 years, Goldman focuses his practice on the representation of borrowers, lenders, landlords and tenants in all aspects of real estate transactions. He handles finance, sale-leaseback and commercial lease transactions, and he assists clients with the purchase and financing of commercial properties. Goldman also negotiates with lenders regarding COVID-19 and its impact on hospitality and retail properties.

Admitted to practice law in Michigan, Illinois, and New York, Goldman received his law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1985. He is a member of the Illinois and New York State bar associations and the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. He also serves as the Michigan chair of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys.
A member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, Ross represents clients in the areas of business law and complex real estate and financial transactions. His practice includes matters related to general corporate law, commercial transactions and mergers and acquisitions.

In addition, Ross drafts and negotiates commercial, partnership, operating, shareholder, asset and stock purchase agreements, contracts, commercial leases, and financing documents in real estate development transactions.

Ross graduated from Wayne State University Law School in 2011 and received his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University in 2005.

The members of Plunkett Cooney’s Business Transactions & Planning Practice Group represent a variety of clients with issues arising during each phase of the business lifecycle, including start up, growth, change in strategic goals, change in control and wind downs.

Practice Group members also provide counsel and representation in such areas as securities law, corporate law, labor and employment law, commercial law, tax matters, succession planning, and regulatory and legislative issues.

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Retired Major General Michael A. Stone has returned to the law firm Warner Norcross + Judd LLP after an active duty deployment of nearly a year commanding Task Force 46 in its fight against COVID-19.

Concurrently, Stone announced his retirement from the Michigan Army National Guard after a 33-year career culminating with his position as the commanding general of the 46th Military Police Command. Stone previously deployed on three occasions, including combat tours in the Persian Gulf War and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

As commander of Task Force 46, Stone led the force that was originally organized for the mission of responding to catastrophic chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents inside the United States. The 46th, comprised primarily of soldiers from Michigan, quickly mobilized to provide support for U.S. Army North and the Department of Defense in the federal COVID-19 response. While in command, the unit worked closely with civilian hospitals across the country to provide equipment and support medical staff from the Department of Defense.

At Warner, Stone will resume his position as co-chair of the firm’s Aerospace and Defense and Government Services Industry Group. He also uses his experience as chair of the National Guard Association of the U.S. Cyber Task Force and as a former member of the Michigan Governor Cyber Executive Team to participate on the firm’s Cybersecurity and Privacy Practice Group.

Stone received several honors for his leadership of Task Force 46, including being named an honorary Texan by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

“I initially chose Warner because it’s a world-class firm that values teamwork and collaboration, and that remains true,” Stone said. “The Warner culture is closely aligned to the military values that I’ve come to appreciate, a fact evidenced by its support of my role as a citizen-soldier.”

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Dykema recently announced that Laura C. Baucus has been named director of the firm’s Automotive Industry Group.

Based in the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, Baucus joined Dykema more than two decades ago and has worked with automotive companies throughout her career. Baucus has a hybrid business and litigation practice. She regularly counsels clients on production, force majeure and other contract performance options, as well as negotiates and drafts supply chain and other agreements, including general terms and conditions. Her litigation practice focuses on high-stakes warranty and cost recovery, contract performance, supply chain disputes, financial services, contract termination, preliminary injunctions related to part production, tooling recovery, and Uniform Commercial Code issues.

“Dykema’s history is inherently intertwined with the automotive industry,” said Baucus. “Some of the firm’s first clients were those producing automobiles during the industry’s earliest stages. That everlasting relationship is the reason why Dykema remains at the forefront of automotive law. I look forward to leading the firm into the future as we continue to grow and adapt along with the industry, including focusing on both traditional automotive issues as well as the exciting new electric vehicle and mobility world.”

Prior to her appointment as Director of its Automotive Industry Group, Baucus has held various leadership roles at Dykema throughout her career. She is a co-leader of the firm’s COVID-19 Task Force, the leader of a firm automotive Original Equipment Supplier (OEM) client team, the immediate past leader of the firm’s Financial Services Litigation Practice Group, and the immediate past managing member of its Bloomfield Hills office.

During the past year, Baucus also helped drive efforts on Dykema’s COVID-19 Automotive Outlook Flash Survey, which partnered with MICHauto and The Right Place. The survey covered the state of the auto industry during the pandemic and the current and future U.S. economy, analyzing results compiled from various automakers, suppliers, and automotive industry executives. Baucus also writes and trains extensively on supply chain issues, and best practices for contract formation and performance.

Baucus earned a law degree from Wayne State University Law School and a B.A. from The Catholic University of America. Throughout her career, she has earned various accolades, including recognition in The Best Lawyers in America for Commercial Litigation, by The Legal 500 for Transport: Rail and Road, and selected as a Future Star by Benchmark Litigation each year since 2013.

Baucus succeeds Dommond Lonnie, who was appointed to serve as a member of Dykema’s Executive Board.