Kemp Klein is proud to announce that attorney and shareholder Alan A. May’s new book, “The Journey,” has been selected for inclusion in the Detroit Jewish Book Fair which promotes the global art of Jewish storytelling. The 71st Book Fair will run from November 1-13 at The Jewish Community Center.
May’s book chronicles the dangers and glories of two friends’ experiences in post-World War II Detroit as they face antisemitism, divided loyalties and challenged value systems. His previous novels include “Article XII” and “Sons of Adam.”
May is published in the field of probate law, contributing articles to the Michigan Bar Journal, NAWCC Bulletin, and the Michigan Probate and Estate Planning Journal. He blogs frequently about probate and baseball.
In addition, May has appeared in Martindale-Hubbell’s Register of Preeminent lawyers 30 times, in Michigan Super Lawyers since 2007, in the Best Lawyers in America since 2010, and has been named one of the top attorneys in Michigan by the New York Times.
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Plunkett Cooney partner Michael S. Bogren has been selected by the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys (MAMA) to receive the organization’s 2022 Distinguished Municipal Attorney Award.
Bogren, who has served as chair of Plunkett Cooney’s board of directors since 2012 and a member since 2003, is a member of the firm’s Governmental Law Practice Group. He focuses his practice in the areas of municipal law, civil rights, police liability, and employment law.
The Distinguished Municipal Attorney Award is presented for outstanding contributions to the practice of municipal law on behalf of cities, townships and villages throughout Michigan, and it acknowledges the highest level of professional accomplishment while also recognizing service to colleagues through professional organizations such as MAMA. The award was presented to Bogren during MAMA’s Municipal Law Program Annual Meeting on October 13 at the Crowne Plaza Lansing West hotel in Lansing, Michigan.
Nominees for the award must currently or previously served as a municipal attorney. Bogren serves as outside counsel to the Michigan Municipal League Liability & Property Pool, which provides insurance to hundreds of municipalities throughout the state.
A 1982 graduate of University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, Bogren has experience representing municipalities in both state and federal court claims involving due process matters, first amendment issues, Michigan Open Meetings and Freedom of Information Act violations, zoning disputes, and employment law disputes including cases involving the Americans with Disabilities Act, gender discrimination, and sexual harassment.
Bogren is a member of the Public Corporations Section of the State Bar of Michigan and the Civil Rights Section of the Federal Bar Association.
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Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently announced the appointments of Nicole N. Goodson to the Wayne County Circuit Court and Michael J. McClory to the Wayne County Probate Court.
Goodson currently serves as the president and CEO of Legal Aid and Defender Association Inc., a position she has held since 2017. In her role, Goodson oversees the operations of the organization and specializes in the representation of survivors of domestic violence in family law matters and Wayne County residents facing homelessness. Goodson has been with Legal Aid since 2009, previously serving as a staff attorney, managing attorney, director of litigation, and chief counsel and COO. She previously served as a compliance officer and partner with The Bingham Law Group and as an attorney with Trott & Trott PC. Early in her career, Goodson was an attorney with Legal Aid & Defender Association and with the UAW-GM Legal Services Plan.
Goodson earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Detroit Mercy and she earned her law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. She is the secretary of the board for the SASHA Center and a former trustee for the Women’s Center of Southeastern Michigan. Goodson is also a founding member of the Michigan Racial Justice Committee and treasurer of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Ann Arbor Alumnae Chapter.
“This appointment affords me the opportunity to continue my work as a public servant albeit in a different capacity,” said Goodson. “I look forward to serving the people of Wayne County and I pledge a commitment to equal access and the fair administration of justice. I thank Governor Whitmer for this honor.”
This appointment was made to fill a partial term following the retirement of Judge Lynne A. Pierce effective August 31. Goodson’s term will commence on November 7 and expire at noon on January 1, 2025. If Goodson wishes to serve the remainder of Judge Pierce’s term, expiring January 1, 2027, she would be required to run for reelection in November of 2024.
McClory currently serves as the chief deputy probate register for Wayne County, a position he has held since 2005. He has been with the probate court since 1991, having served as a court attorney and then director of special projects. McClory was instrumental in the drafting and implementation of the Estates and Protected Individuals Code in 2000 and the Michigan Trust Code in 2010. He previously worked as an associate with Plante & Moran, assistant vice president and trust officer for the Ann Arbor Bank and Trust, and as a trust officer for Citizens Bank in Flint. Early in his career, McClory worked as an associate attorney with the Law Office of Jerome M. Goldman.
McClory earned his law degree from Wayne State University Law School and Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from Oakland University. He has served as an adjunct professor for probate practice at Western Michigan University Cooley Law School and conducted training presentations for the UAW Legal Services Program. He previously served as the chair of the State Bar of Michigan Probate and Estate Planning Section.
“I am humbled and honored by the governor’s appointment of me to the Wayne County Probate Court bench,” said McClory. “I will work to the best of my ability to serve the citizens of Wayne County in this position. It will permit me, in a new capacity, to continue my work assisting Wayne County residents dealing with challenging situations.”
This appointment was made to fill a partial term following the retirement of Judge Lisa Marie Neilson effective May 3. McClory’s term will commence on November 1 and expire at noon on January 1, 2023. In order to serve a full six-year term beginning January 1, 2023, he must be elected in November of 2022.
Judicial appointments are not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
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Varnum partner Sarah Wixson has been selected to participate in the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Leadership Detroit program, a transformational leadership course designed to challenge emerging and existing community leaders from Southeast Michigan.
Wixson is a litigator and healthcare attorney serving clients in various industries and professions, with a particular focus on physicians, physician groups, hospitals, and health care entities. As a litigator, she represents businesses and individuals in a variety of matters including shareholder disputes and other business disputes. She also provides an array of real estate services to clients ranging from individuals to commercial developers.
Wixson serves as a member of Varnum’s Associate Recruiting and Retention Committee and co-chairs the firm’s summer associate program. Within the community, she serves as president of the Board of Directors for Growing Hope, an Ypsilanti-based nonprofit organization that works to foster an equitable and sustainable local food system.
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Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce that the firm was honored as a 2022 Diversity Focused Company honoree by Corp! Magazine at its 15th Annual Salute to Diversity Awards on Thursday, October 13. Honorees will be featured in the upcoming Diversity issue of Corp! Magazine.
“We are honored to be recognized as a Diversity Focused Company. Diversity, equity and inclusion are essential to all that we do as a firm, from recruiting and professional development of our attorneys and staff, to all aspects of client and community service in the 19 communities where our offices are located across the country,” says Katheryne Zelenock, co-chair of the firm’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. “A diverse and inclusive law firm produces better results for our clients, and a working environment that allows all of our team to more authentically contribute to our work. In short, diversity, equity and inclusion just makes us better in every way.”
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Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that the firm and several current Bodman attorneys have been included in the State Bar of Michigan’s 2022 A Lawyer Helps Pro Bono Honor Roll.
The Honor Roll recognizes individual attorneys, law firms, and corporations that support access to justice efforts by providing pro bono legal services to low-income individuals and families throughout Michigan.
Bodman was recognized for achieving a per-attorney average of between 30 and 49 hours of pro bono service during 2021. Bodman was also one of only two law firms recognized at the highest “Tier 1” level for total firm hours devoted to pro bono matters for the year.
Individual attorneys are recognized for having devoted at least 30, 50, or 100 hours to pro bono service during 2021. The following local Bodman attorneys are included in the 2022 A Lawyer Helps Pro Bono Honor Roll.
—100+ Hours of Service
Barbara A. Bowman (Troy Office)
Rebecca El Badaoui (Detroit Office)
John J. Kelly (Troy Office)
—50 to 99 Hours of Service
Celeste E. Arduino (Troy Office)
Alexander J. Burridge (Detroit Office)
Gregory J. Gamalski (Troy Office)
Emily P. Jenks (Detroit Office)
Alexis Smith-Scott (Detroit Office)
Thomas J. Tallerico (Troy Office)
Melissa M. Tetreau (Troy Office)
Samantha Van Sumeren (Detroit Office)
Glen M. Zatz (Troy Office)
—30 to 49 Hours of Service
Christopher J. Dine (Detroit Office)
Alexandra C. Markel (Detroit Office)
Karolina M. Powalka (Troy Office)
Jane Derse Quasarano (Detroit Office)
Thomas J. Rheaume Jr. (Detroit Office)
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Miller Canfield is pleased to announce that Joseph Vernon has been named in the Michigan Lawyers Weekly Leaders in the Law Class of 2022.
Vernon is a member of the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group and serves as lead counsel in complex commercial litigation, trade secret and shareholder disputes, and assists clients with sensitive internal investigations. Vernon is also a sports lawyer who represents and advises athletes, coaches, and front-office personnel in contract negotiations, league and governing body disputes, and with regard to marketing and endorsement opportunities, public relations and crisis management.
Vernon is the resident director of Miller Canfield’s Detroit office, which is the largest of its 19 locations and affiliated offices. He serves on the Miller Canfield Diversity Committee which strives to improve the firm by increasing the representation of often underrepresented people at every level within the firm, from new associates to senior principals and firm management.
Outside of Miller Canfield, Vernon serves on the Mariners Inn Board of Directors. Mariners Inn is a homeless shelter and drug treatment center in Detroit which provides residential substance abuse treatment and transitional and permanent housing to its clients.
Vernon serves as the co-chair of the African American Partners Collaborative, an organization of African American partners from the largest law firms in Michigan, which focuses its work on law firm retention and promotion of African American attorneys and the lingering “pipeline” issues that prevent young African Americans from choosing the legal profession as a career.
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Intellectual property law firm Fishman Stewart PLLC is pleased to announce that Michael Fishman, a founding firm partner, has been included in the 2022 class of Leaders in the Law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. The honorees will be recognized at a luncheon event at the Detroit Marriott-Troy on December 2.
Fishman’s practice focuses on managing trademark portfolios of varying size, including large portfolios consisting of thousands of U.S. and foreign trademark applications and registrations. A veteran trademark attorney, he has filed, prosecuted, and maintained thousands of U.S. trademark applications and registrations and, when it was awarded, was a recipient of the “Top U.S. Trademark Filer” award, which recognized the top 20 U.S. application filers in the United States each year. Industries served include banking, insurance, automotive, consumer goods, sports and entertainment, certification programs, computer hardware and software, food and beverage, telecommunications, and medical and scientific products and services.
Fishman has also managed the filing, prosecution, and maintenance of thousands of applications and registrations in a multitude of jurisdictions outside of the U.S. He has conducted thousands of availability searches and has experience in managing worldwide naming projects and intellectual property due diligence, as well as managing global projects involving trademark clearance and updating ownership records of large trademark portfolios. He also manages numerous contested matters involving the trademark rights of clients across many industries.
Fishman has built his trademark practice while cultivating and developing talent for Fishman Stewart which has nearly 25 attorneys doing business globally and domestically. He has lectured on a variety of trademark law topics and is an active, decades-long member of the International Trademark Association (INTA). He previously served on the Editorial Board of The Trademark Reporter, INTA’s Association’s leading publication.
In addition to the Michigan Lawyers Weekly Leaders in the Law honor, Fishman has received several other legal honors in his career, including multiple years as a Michigan Super Lawyer and Best Lawyers in America®, including being thrice named the Best Lawyers in America “Lawyer of the Year” in his region for trademark law; the WTR 1000 (World’s Leading Trademark Professionals); IP Stars in Trademark Law; Leading Lawyers; and DBusiness Top Lawyers.
Fishman earned his law degree from Wayne State University Law School and a Bachelor of Science degree from Wayne State University.
