City of Detroit Board of Ethics
Christal Phillips, a civil rights and employee relations professional, is the new executive director of the City of Detroit Board of Ethics. She was appointed to the position this summer.
Phillips has experience in civil rights, employment law, education, and international relations. She was previously employed at the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission in Honolulu and the Detroit Public Schools Community District as an assistant director of employee relations. She also worked as a visiting professor at Yonsei University, with a focus on international development, and Pohang University of Science and Technology, both located in South Korea.
Phillips received her law degree from the University of Michigan Law School, a master’s degree from Columbia University in New York, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan.
—————
Plunkett Cooney
Stephen J. (Joe) Brown recently joined Plunkett Cooney as a member of its Business Law Department.
Brown, who works in the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, is a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation and Banking, Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights practice groups. He focuses his practice on loan workouts and restructurings, secured lending, bankruptcy and insolvency, and Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) issues in Michigan and Illinois.
With nearly 25 years of experience as a commercial litigator and as a bank-trained workout officer, Brown primarily represents lenders. He has experience advising clients in the factoring and Merchant Cash Advance (MCA) industries. His litigation practice includes trials and evidentiary hearings in state and federal courts, and he has served as primary debtor’s counsel in Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases.
A 1998 graduate of the University of University of Wisconsin Law School, Brown also received a master’s degree in business administration with a specialization in finance from the University of Wisconsin. He is fluent in written and spoken Spanish.
In addition, Plunkett Cooney partner and medical liability trial lawyer Justin J. Hakala was recently inducted as a member of the Michigan chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).
“It’s a tremendous honor to become a member of ABOTA,” said Hakala, who serves as co-leader of Plunkett Cooney’s Medical Litigation Practice Group. “This organization has many talented trial attorneys and judges, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to continue strengthening the standards and reputation of our profession.”
Hakala is one of six attorneys selected by current members to join ABOTA’s Michigan Chapter. Membership is by invitation only and candidates must have at least five years of active experience as trial lawyers, have tried at least 10 civil jury trials to conclusion and possess additional litigation experience. Candidates must also exhibit the virtues of civility, integrity and professionalism as outlined in ABOTA’s Code of Professionalism and Principles of Civility.
Hakala focuses his practice in the areas of medical malpractice liability and life sciences defense, as well as product liability. He represents physicians, health systems and hospitals in health care litigation and claims of alleged professional liability in cases involving birth trauma, cardiac arrest, long term care, missed diagnoses and ophthalmology.
In addition, Hakala has experience with mass tort and sole plaintiff cases involving medical devices and other products. He represents cutting edge life sciences and medical device companies in claims that have far-reaching implications on their technologies and businesses.
A partner in the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, Hakala has experience with product liability claims. He is the author of the definitive Michigan subject matter treatise on the topic, titled: “Product Liability in Michigan.”
Hakala has been named to the Best Lawyer in America® Ones to Watch in America™ list for medical malpractice law and product liability litigation and by Michigan Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in the area of medical malpractice. He was also selected this year by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as one of their 2022 Go-To Medical Malpractice Lawyers.
Hakala is a member of the Antitrust, Franchising, and Trade Regulation Section of the State Bar of Michigan, the American Bar Association, DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar and ALFA International’s Product Liability & Complex Torts Practice Group Steering Committee.
—————
Jackson Lewis P.C.
Jackson Lewis PC is pleased to announce the firm’s Detroit office has been recognized for excellence and earned a Tier 1 Metropolitan designation in the following categories:
Employment Law - Management
Labor Law – Management
Litigation - Labor & Employment
“We are honored to be recognized as a ‘National Tier 1’ law firm for the 13th consecutive year by U.S. News and Best Lawyers,” said Chair Kevin G. Lauri. “Our rankings reinforce our reputation amongst industry peers and colleagues for providing exceptional client service in all areas of labor and employment law.”
—————
Varnum LLP
Varnum is pleased to announce that Robert Kass and Kathleen Cieslik have joined the firm’s Estate Planning Team. Both will be based in the firm’s Birmingham office. Kass and Cieslik join Varnum from Barris, Sott, Denn, Driker PLLC.
Kass is a veteran estate planner with deep ties to the southeast Michigan community. His practice focuses on estate planning, tax counseling, wealth preservation and planned giving. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) and has been recognized by numerous attorney ranking organizations throughout his career.
Regarded as an expert in topics related to estate planning, charitable giving and taxation, Kass is a frequent speaker and presenter on those topics for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE), Michigan Association of CPAs and numerous other organizations.
Kass serves on the professional advisory committees for the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Foundation, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Institute of Arts, and other major charities.
Cieslik is a trusts and estates attorney focused on creating customized estate plans for a wide range of individuals and multi-generational families, which achieve goals such as tax avoidance, business succession planning and charitable giving. She also provides counsel to individual and corporate fiduciaries regarding the timely and efficient management of trusts and estates, including probate administration when necessary. An experienced litigator, Cieslik also handles controversies and frequently appears in Probate Court to handle both routine and contested matters throughout Southeast Michigan.
Cieslik is a frequent presenter on probate and estate planning matters for ICLE and the Probate and Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan. She recently provided an in-depth look at charitable giving for the Planned Giving Roundtable of Southeast Michigan.
—————
Miller Canfield
Miller Canfield announced that U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers have ranked the firm among the nation’s best in the 2023 edition of “Best Law Firms in America.” The firm earned national rankings in 13 areas, as well as 101 metropolitan rankings.
Miller Canfield earned national rankings in:
Tier 1
• Labor Law - Management
• Litigation - Labor & Employment
• Public Finance Law
Tier 2
• Banking and Finance Law
• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
Tier 3
• Commercial Litigation
• Corporate Law
• Employment Law - Management
• Litigation - Real Estate
• Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Defendants
• Mergers & Acquisitions Law
• Securities Regulation
—————
Dykema
Dykema recently announced that the firm was nationally ranked in 12 practice areas in the 2023 U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” list, and received a total of 134 metropolitan rankings representing various areas of law.
Practices are ranked and classified in three different tier levels in both national and metropolitan categories. Dykema’s recognized practices are listed below:
—National Tier 1
• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Land Use & Zoning Law
• Real Estate Law
—National Tier 2
• Commercial Litigation
• Insurance Law
• Litigation - Real Estate
• Litigation - Tax
—National Tier 3
• Corporate Law
• Environmental Law
• Mergers & Acquisitions Law
• Patent Law
• Securities / Capital Markets Law
—Metropolitan Tier 1
Bloomfield Hills
• Arbitration
• Bet-the-Company Litigation
• Commercial Litigation
• Corporate Law
• Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
• Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
• Environmental Law
• Land Use & Zoning Law
• Litigation - Banking & Finance
• Litigation - Land Use & Zoning
• Litigation - Real Estate
• Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Defendants
• Mergers & Acquisitions Law
• Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
• Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
• Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
• Real Estate Law
• Trusts & Estates Law
Detroit
• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Commercial Litigation
• Construction Law
• Corporate Law
• Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
• Employment Law - Management
• Environmental Law
• Labor Law - Management
• Land Use & Zoning Law
• Litigation - Environmental
• Litigation - Labor & Employment
• Litigation - Real Estate
• Litigation - Tax
• Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Defendants
• Mergers & Acquisitions Law
• Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
• Real Estate Law
• Securities / Capital Markets Law
• Tax Law
—Metropolitan Tier 2
Bloomfield Hills
• Banking and Finance Law
• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Immigration Law
• Litigation - Antitrust
• Litigation - Bankruptcy
• Litigation - Labor & Employment
• Patent Law
Detroit
• Education Law
• Litigation - Antitrust
• Litigation - Securities
• Mediation
—Metropolitan Tier 3
Bloomfield Hills
• Litigation - Patent
Detroit
• Banking and Finance Law
—————
Butzel Long
Butzel was recognized by the Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA) for reaching its more than 20-year membership milestone during its Automotive Supplier Conference on November 7. Daniel Rustmann, a co-chair of Butzel’s Automotive Industry Group, accepted a plaque on behalf of the law firm.
Butzel attorneys work with OESA in numerous leadership roles including the development of the annual “OESA OEM North American Production Purchase Order Contract Terms and Conditions Comparative Analysis,” publication.
Butzel attorneys also present during the OESA Terms and Conditions Update, which provides attendees with updates on OEM terms and conditions and related insights to consider when working with contracts. In September, Butzel attorneys who led the program included Sheldon Klein, Daniel Rustmann, Jennifer Dukarski, James Bruno and David DeVine.
Butzel attorneys have served in a variety of roles with OESA over the years including:
• Cynthia Haffey, co-chair of the firm’s Automotive Industry Group, is a co-author of the Original Equipment Suppliers Association’s North American OEM Production Purchase Order Terms and Conditions Comparative Analysis. She also has served as legal counsel for its Communication Executives Council.
• Javon David serves on the Board of Governors for the Young Leaders Council, Original Equipment Suppliers Association – Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (OESA-MEMA).
• Laura E. Johnson has served as a member of OESA’s Young Leadership Council and a member of its Talent Retention subcommittee.
Further, Butzel attorneys have been featured guests on the Automotive Insiders OESA podcast. Everardo Tapia recently discussed, “Finding footing with ESG.”
—————
Collins Einhorn Farrell PC
Collins Einhorn Farrell PC’s Appellate Practice Group has been recognized nationally for the 7th year in a row. The 2023 U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” list names the Appellate Practice Group as a National Tier 3. CEF is also proud to be recognized as Regional Tier 1 in 9 practice areas.
CEF received the following rankings in the 2023 U.S. News-Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms”:
National Tier 3
• Appellate Practice
Regional Tier 1, Detroit
• Appellate Practice
• Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law
• Insurance Law
• Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Litigation – Insurance
• Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants
• Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
Regional Tier 3, Detroit
• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
