Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the appointment of Maureen H. Kinsella to Oakland County Circuit Court.
Kinsella is currently a lawyer with Miller & Tischler PC in Farmington Hills. She has spent nearly 20 years in litigation practice at Miller & Tischler and is currently a vice president and a member of the firm's Management Committee. In her role, Kinsella is a litigator representing clients in plaintiff personal injury cases, and she specializes in traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries and medical service provider litigation. She also serves as a discovery mediator for Oakland County Bar Association and as a case evaluator for the Oakland County Case Evaluation Tribunal.
Kinsella earned her law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She is a member of the Michigan Association for Justice and is a member of their Executive Board and Women's Caucus. Kinsella is also a member of the Michigan Brain Injury Provider Council Executive Board, American Association for Justice, Oakland County Bar Association Circuit Court Committee, and the State Bar of Michigan's Character and Fitness District 1 Committee.
"I am profoundly humbled and honored by this appointment and am grateful to Governor Whitmer for the opportunity to serve Oakland County residents," said Kinsella. "As judge, I look forward to promoting civility and the highest standards of the profession. Above all, I will foster access to justice and fairness for the citizens of Oakland County."
This appointment was made to fill a partial term, which will commence on May 19 and expire at noon on January 1, 2025, following the retirement of Judge Denise Langford Morris effective April 15. If Kinsella wishes to seek a full six-year term, she would be required to run for re-election in November of 2024.
Judicial appointments are not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
- - -
Butzel has added attorney Nicholas Nahat to the firm's growing Labor and Employment Practice Group. He concentrates his practice in employee benefits law and traditional labor law.
Nahat has worked extensively with several administrative agencies such as the IRS, the Department of Labor (DOL), Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
He earned his law degrees from Wayne State University Law School and the University of Texas at Austin School of Law, and his B.A. from the University of Michigan.
Nahat has been a member of the State Bar of Michigan since 1994.
- - -
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP recently welcomed several new attorneys to the firm.
Scott M. Carter, Joshua M. Hoebeke, Livia Khemmoro, and Molly K. Williams have been admitted to the State Bar of Michigan. Carter, Hoebeke and Williams are based in Warner's Detroit office, and Khemmoro is based in the Macomb County office.
Carter received his law degree from Wayne State University Law School. He earned a bachelor's degree from Adrian College in accounting. Carter previously served as a judicial intern for U.S. District Court Judge Sean F. Cox, Eastern District of Michigan.
Hoebeke received his law degree from Michigan State University College of Law. He has a bachelor's degree in political science and communication from Saginaw Valley State University. Hoebeke previously served as legislative director for state Sen. Winnie Brinks and as a legislative fellow for former state Rep. Jon Hoadley.
Khemmoro received her law degree from University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. She has a bachelor's degree in business administration from Walsh College in Troy. She previously served as a legal extern for the Michigan Department of Attorney General.
Williams received her law degree from University of Michigan Law School. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan. Williams previously served as a legal intern for the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center.
- - -
Secrest Wardle's John L. Weston presented at the Institute for Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) no-fault summit on Friday, April 29.
Weston is an executive partner at Secrest Wardle's Troy location. He is a member of the firm's Motor Vehicle Litigation, Premises Liability, Product Liability, Property, Fire and Casualty, Trucking/Commercial Vehicle Litigation, Practice Groups. Weston earned his law degree from The American University Washington College of Law and received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from The George Washington University. He is admitted to practice law in the State of Michigan, the Michigan Supreme Court, and the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan.
In addition to defending his clients in the courtroom, Weston is committed to staying on top of the latest rulings and legislation in his areas of expertise. He regularly attends meetings sponsored by the Trucking Law Committee of the Defense Research Institute, the Transportation Lawyers Association, the Trucking Industry Defense Association, and the Canadian Fleet Safety Council of the Transportation, Health, and Safety Association. He also attends the annual Michigan No-Fault Seminar. Weston has conducted numerous seminars on Michigan no fault law for corporate and insurance clients in Michigan and Canada.
- - -
Varnum is pleased to announce that Gregory M. Wright has joined the firm's Corporate Practice Team as a partner. He is based in the firm's Novi office.
Wright focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, securities compliance, joint ventures and finance matters. He works with private equity firms, family offices, management groups, strategic investors and shareholders in acquisitions and divestitures of assets and equity.
Wright also provides advice and support in connection with corporate issues that arise in the course of clients' day-to-day operations including corporate compliance and commercial contract matters. With regard to finance, he represents clients in raising capital through private placements and in evaluating and negotiating investment opportunities. His experience includes negotiating and drafting loan documentation for single and multi-lender loan facilities. Wright joins the firm from the Chicago-based law firm Masuda Funai.
Wright is one of a dozen attorneys who have joined Varnum's southeast Michigan offices within the past year.
Wright graduated from the University of Notre Dame Law School. He earned his undergraduate degree from University of Notre Dame graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in government and economics.
