LEGAL PEOPLE

Secrest Wardle

Robert C. Haynes has joined Secrest Wardle’s Troy location as a partner. He is a member of the firm’s Amusement and Leisure, Construction, Drug and Medical Device, Environmental and Toxic Tort, Malpractice/Professional Liability, and Product Liability Practice Groups. With more than eight years of experience, Haynes possesses a thorough understanding of the law and the litigation skills necessary to deliver effective results to his clients.

Haynes has experience in trial and pretrial disposition of matters in diverse areas of the law. He has tried multiple jury cases to defense verdicts as lead counsel, and has conducted the full scope of litigation, including all pretrial phases, and secured successful resolution of matters through dispositive motion practice, oral advocacy, settlement negotiation, mediation, and arbitration.

Haynes received his law degree from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 2011. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree and Master of Arts Degree from the University of Toledo in 2000 and 2002, respectively.
Haynes is a member of the State Bar of New York. He is admitted to practice law in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan.

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Lipson Neilson PC

Lipson Neilson PC takes great pleasure in welcoming nationally recognized attorney Henry S. Gornbein as Of Counsel.

Gornbein is a specialist in all areas of family law. He is a former chair of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, a former president of the Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and a former chair of the Long-Range Planning Committee of the National American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

Sought after as an expert on divorce-related topics by media outlets, Gornbein is known for being at the forefront of understanding social media and its role in divorces today. He has been featured on webinars discussing the impact of social media on divorce, along with issues including wiretapping, computer hacking, phone tapping, spycams, and others that can arise during divorce and have criminal law violation implications.

Articles written by Gornbein appear in national legal publications and his monthly column, Case of the Issue, runs in the Family Law Section Journal of the State Bar of Michigan. He is a frequent speaker at national conferences and has been a featured presenter at the National Convention of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

In 2019, Gornbein created the streaming video podcast series Gracefully Greying®. Aimed at the 40+ age demographic who have aging parents, Gracefully Greying® has attracted an international following and the brand has expanded to include a comprehensive website, social media, educational seminars, e-newsletters, and corporate and community involvement. Topics focus on issues such as elder abuse, the grey divorce, sex, marriage, dating, travel, medical, social, economic, psychological and lifestyle: www.gracefullygreying.com.

Gornbein currently has two books available on Amazon:

• “Divorce Demystified, Everything You Need to Know Before You File for Divorce.” By Henry S. Gornbein.

• “Child Custody: A Complete Guide for Parents.” Coauthored by Henry S. Gornbein and Jack Haynes.

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Dalton & Tomich PLC

Daniel Dalton and Zana Tomich, co-founders, and Noel Sterett, partner with the law firm of Dalton & Tomich PLC, are pleased to announce attorney Lawrence Opalewski has been named a partner.

Based in the firm’s Detroit office, Opalewski joined Dalton & Tomich as a law clerk while a student at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 2013 and has been representing religious organizations in land use disputes, property owners in zoning, site plan and easement disputes and privately held businesses as general counsel.

Opalewski serves on the Clinton Township Planning Commission and is the author of Dalton & Tomich’s guide, “How to Win Planning Commission Approval.” He has experience in all aspects of litigation and has represented individuals, religious institutions, small to mid-size businesses, large businesses, and municipalities.

Additionally, Opalewski has an interest in the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) of 2000 and has assisted the firm in growing its national practice in the area of religious freedom for all faiths. In particular, he helps faith-based clients further the mission of their faith community by representing their RLUIPA property rights against township and city zoning laws.

Opalewski has been selected as a Michigan “Rising Star” litigator by Super Lawyers each year since 2017. While he enjoys advocating for his clients through litigation, he also appreciates the value of pre-litigation conflict resolution and seeks to solve problems less contentiously outside the courtroom as a State of Michigan certified civil mediator.

Opalewski is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the Detroit Bar Association.  He is admitted to practice in the Sixth Circuit and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeal.

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Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer,  & Weiss PC

Michael Fannon has joined the Southfield office of Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer, & Weiss PC as an associate in the firm’s corporate law practice group. Jaffe CEO Jeffrey M. Weiss made the announcement.

Fannon will utilize his background in finance to counsel clients in a variety of complex corporate governance matters. He has experience representing large-scale public and private companies around the country in industries such as automotive, private equity, logistics, healthcare, commercial banking, and cannabis.

Prior to joining Jaffe, Fannon was a corporate law associate representing clients in commercial lending transactions, debt restructuring, mergers and acquisitions financing and more. He also has advised borrowers in Small Business Administration loans and Paycheck Protection Program loan compliance. Fannon represented one of Michigan’s largest cannabis provisioning centers through corporate restructuring and a successful state and local licensure process.

Outside the firm, Fannon holds board positions at two local non-profit organizations—Detroit Kitchen Terminal, which provides opportunities in the restaurant industry for previously incarcerated individuals, and Detroit Urban Debate League which gives high school students the chance to participate in policy debate tournaments.

Fannon graduated with a law degree from Michigan State University College of Law.  He also earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Wayne State University.

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Collins Einhorn Farrell PC

Collins Einhorn Farrell PC is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The firm will begin the commemoration of this milestone in April, the month in 1971 when Brian Einhorn joined Mort Collins, and they officially opened the doors of their new firm. Since that day, the firm has focused on two equally critical missions: providing the highest quality legal representation and service to its clients, and creating and fostering a collegial, diverse, and welcoming work environment for its employees.

Before his death in 2018, Collins summarized the reason for the firm’s longstanding success: “Throughout our existence, we have constantly endeavored to bolster our stature in the community by employing, at all positions, top-notch personnel and utilizing management skills capitalizing on our collective talents.” The firm continues to live up to Collins’ vision, prioritizing its employees’ satisfaction and success, as exemplified by the firm’s recent collection of awards for workplace excellence, such as The Detroit Free Press Top Workplaces (2016, 2020) and Crain’s Detroit Business Cool Places to Work (2018).

Year after year, CEF and its attorneys receive many notable legal industry accolades. In just the past year, 19 CEF attorneys were named 2021 Best Lawyers®, including five attorneys who were awarded the prestigious 2021 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” designation. Sixteen attorneys were listed as 2021 “Top Lawyers” by DBusiness, and 23 attorneys were recognized by Super Lawyers® 2020. The firm’s practice areas were recognized in Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” in 10 categories in 2021. Several attorneys from CEF have served in top leadership roles over the years in both the state and local bar associations
The firm has enjoyed steady growth over its 50 years. From its modest beginning in the early 1970s, when the firm was comprised of Collins, Einhorn, Clay Farrell, and a small support staff, the firm has grown to more than 110 employees, including 60 attorneys. The firm’s attorneys practice in 11 different industry groups. 

Dan Collins, president of the firm that bears his father’s name, reflects on the firm’s anniversary: “The culture of our workplace has been a point of pride since day one. As we reflect on 50 years, it really has always been about teamwork. During an unprecedented time, our culture and teamwork were on full display as CEF successfully navigated the remote-work demands brought on by the global pandemic.”

Theresa Asoklis, CEO of Collins Einhorn Farrell, thanked the firm’s clients: “50 years of legal excellence would not be possible without the support of our loyal clients, to whom we express our sincerest gratitude. The future of our firm is bright, and we look forward to continuing our tradition of excellence in service to our clients for many years to come.”

The firm will celebrate its golden anniversary throughout the year with various events and charitable initiatives.

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Warner Norcross + Judd LLP

Warner Norcross + Judd LLP partner Jeffrey A. Ott has been recognized by MiBiz as Dealmaker of the Year in the adviser category for his role in four financial service transactions, which includes a ChoiceOne Financial Services merger that has earned the publication’s Deal of the Year award in the finance/banking category.

Ott and ChoiceOne are among 13 winners in categories recognizing West Michigan’s top deals and dealmakers. The annual competition is presented by MiBiz in partnership with the Association of Corporate Growth West Michigan. Winners are determined based on best practices and excellence related to mergers, acquisitions and dealmaking, with senior executives, attorneys and advisers serving as judges.

The ChoiceOne Financial Services transaction, which Ott co-led with Warner partner Charlie Goode, was a merger of equals that doubled its size in terms of assets and branches and diversified its markets. The merger brought together Sparta-based ChoiceOne, the parent company of ChoiceOne Bank, with Lapeer-based County Bank Corp., the parent company of Lakestone Bank & Trust, to create a bank holding company with approximately $1.3 billion in assets, making it the 12th-largest bank holding company in Michigan based on asset size.

The transaction – valued at approximately $89 million in the aggregate – enabled ChoiceOne, which at the time was located in Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon, and Newaygo counties, to expand into Southeast Michigan with the addition of Lakestone Bank & Trust’s branches in Lapeer, Macomb, and St. Clair counties.

Three months later, ChoiceOne Financial Services acquired Community Shores Bank Corporation, the parent company of Community Shores Bank. The $21.5 million cash and stock transaction added four additional offices to ChoiceOne, giving it a stronger foothold in the Muskegon market. It also was one of the few bank mergers to close in Michigan in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The other two financial service transactions in 2019-2020 that earned Ott Dealmaker of the Year were:

Keweenaw Financial Corp.’s acquisition of North Star Financial Holdings Inc. and its subsidiary, Main Street Bank. Keweenaw is the parent company of Superior National Bank and Trust. The $42 million all-cash transaction enabled Upper Peninsula-based Superior National Bank and Southeast Michigan-based Main Street Bank to combine resources for an enhanced customer banking experience,  greater mortgage options, augmented financial services and a larger lending capacity. The combined organization boasts more than $800 million in assets, encompassing 11 bank branches and four loan origination offices. The long-term impact is smart, measured growth for the organization.

Sturgis Bancorp Inc., the parent holding company of Sturgis Bank & Trust Company, which completed a private placement of $15 million aggregate principal amount of its 5% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes. Sturgis Bank intends to use the net proceeds to finance organic growth and investments for regulatory capital and other general corporate purposes. Specifically, it plans to support important strategic growth initiatives and enhance its service to customers, markets and communities in a way that cost-effectively increases capital levels without diluting existing shareholders.

As lead attorney on these transactions, Ott served as quarterback for each deal, helping to negotiate the transaction and prepare the merger agreement and supporting documents, preparing securities registration statements and disclosure documents, providing due diligence, coordinating and preparing regulatory applications for approval and resolving issues that arose along the way, among many other duties.

A member of Warner’s Business and Corporate Services and Financial Services practice groups, Ott has represented businesses and financial institutions for more than 30 years, leading or working on more than 100 transactions. He is a two-time finalist for Dealmaker of the Year – in 2015 for six financial service transactions that were collectively valued at $350 million and in 2017 for the $1.7 billion merger of Chemical Financial Corp. with Talmer Bancorp.

Ott focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, compliance with securities laws and general corporate and business matters. He specializes in counseling publicly traded companies on strategic and compliance issues under federal and state securities laws. Additionally, he serves as the chair of the firm’s Reporting Companies and Registered Offerings Group.

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Dobrusin Law Firm

Erin Klug has joined Dobrusin Law Firm as a shareholder.

A seasoned patent, trademark, and copyright practitioner, Klug helps large corporations, innovative companies, and solo entrepreneurs protect and enforce their intellectual property rights. She offers a wide range of electrical and mechanical arts experience, such as automotive, chassis systems, brake assemblies, sensors, control systems, medical devices, consumer goods, packaging, and mobile applications.

Klug previously led the intellectual property department at a 180-attorney, full-service firm with nine offices in Michigan and Florida.

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Dickinson Wright PLLC

Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce that the firm has been ranked as the #1 Bond Counsel in Michigan and the #5 Bond Counsel in the Midwest in The Bond Buyer’s Midwest Year-End Review.

Rankings are based on dollar volume of deals in 2020 and included issues maturing in 13 months or more. In issues with multiple book-runners, each firm is credited with its actual allocation and in issues with multiple co-advisers or co-counsel; the par amount of the issues is divided equally among the firms. The Midwest region includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. 

Below are Dickinson Wright’s rankings in The Bond Buyer’s Midwest Year-End Review:

Michigan

#1 Bond Counsel with a deal volume of $4,075,300.

Midwest

#5 Bond Counsel with a deal volume of $4,093,500.

As a nationally recognized bond counsel firm, Dickinson Wright has more than sixty years of experience serving as bond counsel in public finance transactions.