Howard & Howard attorney Michael O. Fawaz has been nominated by the Michigan Supreme Court to the Board of Law Examiners and appointed to the board by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
Fawaz is a commercial litigation and appellate attorney. He received his law degree from Michigan State University College of Law in 2005 and his B.A. from the University of Michigan in 2002. Fawaz's appointment term commenced on July 1, 2021 and will expire June 30, 2026. He succeeds Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Christopher M. Murray whose term expired June 30, 2021.
The Board of Law Examiners is responsible for the investigation and examination of all persons who initially apply for admission to the bar of Michigan. The board may adopt suitable regulations, subject to approval by the Supreme Court, concerning the performance of its functions and duties.
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Warner Norcross + Judd LLP has welcomed Mazen Hajali as an associate in its Detroit office.
Hajali was among 10 Warner summer associates in 2020 who each accepted an associate offer to join the firm after completion of law school.
Hajali received his law degree from Wayne State University Law School. He received his bachelor's degree in both economics and comparative cultures and politics from Michigan State University. He has been admitted to the State Bar of Michigan and is gaining experience in a variety of legal matters before selecting a practice group.
Hajali previously served as a judicial clerk for U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise Page Hood, Eastern District of Michigan. He also served as a legislative intern for former state Rep. Sherry J. Gay-Dagnogo.
Hajali, who was born in Lebanon, speaks fluent Arabic. He currently resides in Dearborn Heights.
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Douglas L. Toering, a partner with Mantese Honigman PC in Troy, has been named the recipient of the 15th Annual Stephen H. Schulman Outstanding Business Lawyer Award by the State Bar of Michigan's Business Law Section. This award honors Michigan business lawyers who consistently exemplify the characteristics the Business Law Section seeks to foster and facilitate: the highest quality of professionalism, the highest quality of practice, and an unwavering dedication to service, ethical conduct, and collegiality within the practice of law.
At Mantese Honigman, Toering handles business litigation, shareholder disputes, business transactional matters, and healthcare law. Before joining Mantese Honigman, Toering practiced as in-house counsel for General Motors Corporation, later as a partner at a national litigation firm, and then as a principal at his own firm. During his career, Toering has represented Fortune 500 companies in commercial litigation as well as small businesses and their owners in litigation and transactional matters.
Some of Toering's most substantial contributions to the Business Law Section and the practice of business law include having served as chair of the Business Law Section and the Section's Small Business Forum and Law Schools Committee and being a leader in the development of the state's business courts. Currently, he chairs the Commercial Litigation Committee and the Business Courts Committee for the Business Law Section. Toering has been involved with the section for many years and is "humbled by the award."
Reflecting on the work of the Business Law Section, Toering said this award inspires him to continue working for the development of business law in Michigan, and that he is thankful for everything the section and its members are doing to support business law in the state.
"The section provides excellent opportunities for business lawyers to learn from other excellent business attorneys and to enjoy the collegiality that this brings. Getting involved in the Business Law Section also gives lawyers an opportunity to have input into the practice of business law in Michigan."
Toering is an author of many articles on business law. Since 2018, he has authored or co-authored a regular column on the Michigan Business Courts for the Michigan Business Law Journal with a goal of fostering greater communication among the business court bench and bar. The column is titled, "Touring the Business Courts." He also serves on business court advisory committees for Macomb County and Oakland County. Toering's pro bono work includes serving as a director of Christian Legal Aid of Southeastern Michigan.
Following up on years of work done by past Schulman Award recipient Diane Akers, Toering has focused much of his work in the Business Law Section over the past 10 years on the business courts. He was invited to attend the signing of the business courts legislation in October 2012. Apart from this, Toering has served on a Business Law Section committee that drafted an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief to the Michigan Supreme Court in 2013 and currently chairs another amicus curiae committee. He also serves on a Section subcommittee focusing on shareholder oppression litigation.
Toering earned his law degree from Wayne State University Law School, where he took Professor Schulman's business planning class. "At that time, I never would have thought that I would someday receive an award honoring Professor Schulman," Toering said. "Professor Schulman was extremely knowledgeable about Michigan business law and his influence continues to be felt on the practice of business law today."
Toering will be introduced at the Schulman Award Ceremony, held in conjunction with the section's annual meeting on September 28 at the Sheraton Detroit Novi Hotel. As a result of his involvement in the section, Toering has become an enthusiastic advocate of the advantages that membership and participation in the Section can offer business lawyers at every stage of their careers. New and established attorneys alike can benefit from the networking and training that the section offers, noted Toering.
"New attorneys can check out committees to see what interests them. With work and dedication, they can move into leadership positions in the Business Law Section," Toering said. He also recommends that lawyers attend the Business Law Institute and other programs sponsored by the Business Law Section and the Institute for Continuing Legal Education and consider authoring articles for the Michigan Business Law Journal.
Toering also encourages law firms of all sizes to encourage their attorneys to become involved in the Business Law Section, or other sections of the State Bar of Michigan. "Law firm support is very important," Toering said. He appreciates the support of his colleagues at Mantese Honigman, who have encouraged and supported his efforts in the Business Law Section.
The Business Law Section established the Stephen H. Schulman Outstanding Business Lawyer Award in 2006, to be presented annually. Past recipients of the Schulman Award include Cy Moscow, Martin Oetting, Hugh Makens, and Jim Bruno in 2006; Charlie McCallum and Verne Hampton in 2007; Ann Baker in 2008; Justin Klimko in 2009; Alex DeYonker in 2010; Jim Cambridge in 2011; Jeff Ammon in 2012; Dan Minkus in 2013; Diane Akers in 2014; Larry Schultz in 2015; Timothy Damschroder in 2016; John Trentacosta in 2017; Dee Fuller in 2018; and Erik Lark in 2019.
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Collins Einhorn Farrell PC is pleased to announce that attorney Chanavia L. Smith has joined the firm.
Smith is a member of the firm's General and Automotive Liability practice group. Her practice focuses on first-and third-party automotive defense and other general liability matters. Smith's experience includes Family Law, No-fault/Personal Injury, Contracts and Probate.
Smith received her law degree from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School.
Before joining the firm, Smith gained experience as a principal attorney and associate. In addition she has acted as financial analyst assisting in the final reports on all closed cases. Smith also has experience working for the Attorney General's Office and is a part of the D. Augustus Straker Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan's Young Lawyers Section, the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, and CEF Diversity Committee.
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Brooks Kushman is proud to announce that the World Trademark Review ("WTR") named Robyn Lederman as a 2021 Global Leader.
With more than 25 years of experience practicing in the area of trademark law, Lederman specializes in global branding strategy with a keen eye on clearance, protection, and enforcement for start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. Lederman works extensively with company legal, marketing, and business development groups to devise cost-effective strategies to achieve marketing goals. She works with her clients on issues beyond trademark registration that include brand enforcement programs, copyright, domain name recovery, IP due diligence, licensing and other IP agreements, trade dress protection, and dilution avoidance. She represents clients in varied industries including agriculture, automotive, biotech, food and beverage, entertainment, financial services, high-tech, and fashion.
Lederman has experience in growing and managing worldwide trademark portfolios for her clients. Prior to Brooks Kushman, Lederman worked for more than seven years at a law firm in Israel as a trademark attorney and maintains her professional relationships in what has become known as "the Start-Up Nation" by visiting clients and colleagues each year to keep them apprised of IP developments in the U.S.
The announcement first appeared in WTR Global Leaders 2021, a supplement to World Trademark Review, published by Law Business Research - IP Division. To view the guide in full, go to www.WorldTrademarkReview.com.
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Maddin Hauser President and CEO Steven D. Sallen is among those listed in Michigan Lawyers Weekly's first-ever class of "Go To Lawyers" in real estate and condominium law.
Over the course of a legal career spent entirely at Maddin Hauser, Sallen has become one of Michigan's foremost real property lawyers, representing various developers, general contractors, brokers, and investors. He has negotiated transactions involving some of the most significant projects in the state.
Sallen shares his subject matter expertise as a frequent author on real property topics. His articles have been published in Crain's Detroit Business, Michigan Lawyers Weekly, and other legal and business outlets.
Sallen's Go To Lawyers recognition is not the first honor Michigan Lawyers Weekly has bestowed upon him. He was inducted into that publication's first ever Hall of Fame class in 2020 and named to its 2005 class of Leaders in the Law.
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Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce that Henry Grix (member, Troy) is listed as a "Leaders in their Fields" under Private Wealth Law by Chambers 2021 High Net Worth (HNW) Guide.
Dickinson Wright is also pleased to announce that attorney Scott A. Petz (member, Troy) has been recognized in Benchmark Litigation's 2021 "40 and Under Hot List."
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Aisha Hall has joined the Southfield office of Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer, & Weiss PC as an associate in the electronic payments practice group. Jaffe CEO Jeffrey M. Weiss made the announcement.
Hall has a specialized background in payments and regulation as well as a deep understanding of auditing and research. She has represented national clients and performed high-ranking services surrounding legal writing, analysis of raw ACH data, cyber and criminal research and regulatory compliance auditing. Legal issues Hall has managed include credit and debit card processing, merchant acquiring, money transmission, prepaid access, mobile payment, ACH and payment facilitation.
Hall has been recognized as an accredited ACH professional. Throughout her previous roles, Hall developed an understanding of industry-specific representation and honed her skills in counseling clients on risk mitigation, problem solving and taking advantage of strategic opportunities. She graduated from Birmingham-Southern College in 2012 and later received a law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law in 2015.
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Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently announced the following appointments to the Michigan Gaming Control Board and the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission:
Michigan Gaming Control Board
Joni M. Thrower Davis is the owner and operator of four Metro Detroit McDonald's restaurants and the managing partner for Jamjomar Inc. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Emory University School of Law. Thrower Davis is appointed to represent Democrats for a term commencing July 22, 2021 and expiring December 31, 2023. She succeeds Patrick McQueen whose term expired December 31, 2019.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board shall ensure the conduct of fair and honest gaming to protect the interests of the citizens of the state of Michigan. The Board provides Detroit commercial casinos gaming operations licensing and regulation, licenses and regulates online gaming and sports betting operators, platform providers and suppliers, regulates pari-mutuel horse racing and casino-style charitable gaming, and audits tribal gaming compact agreement compliance.
This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Michigan Indigent Defense Commission
Debra Kubitskey is an assistant county administrator for Jackson County. She earned a Bachelor of Science from Central Michigan University and a Master in Public Administration from Eastern Michigan University. Kubitskey is appointed to represent members submitted by the Senate Majority Leader for a term commencing July 22, 2021 and expiring April 1, 2025. She succeeds Michael Puermer whose term expired April 1, 2021.
Thomas McMillin is the owner of Michigan Community Auditors and a partner with March & McMillin CPAs. He is a member of the State Board of Education and he earned a bachelor's degree in accounting and economics from the University of Michigan. McMillin is reappointed to represent members submitted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives for a term commencing July 22, 2021 and expiring April 1, 2025.
The Michigan Indigent Defense Commission was created as a result of efforts to improve legal representation for indigent criminal defendants. The Commission develops and oversees the implementation, enforcement, and modification of minimum standards, rules, and procedures to ensure that indigent criminal defense services providing effective assistance of counsel are delivered to all indigent adults in this state consistent with the safeguards of the United States Constitution, the State Constitution of 1963, and with the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission Act.
These appointments are not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
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On July 13, 2021, attorney Jesse Reiter of Reiter & Walsh PC was awarded the American Association for Justice's (AAJ) "Above and Beyond" award for his exceptional commitment for sustaining and strengthening AAJ.
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