Butzel Long
Butzel attorneys Jennifer Dukarski and Claudia Rast will be featured during a webinar focused on “Cyber in the Real World,” hosted by the Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA) on Friday, February 10. The webinar will feature walk-throughs of real-world security breach experiences.
Rast, who chairs Butzel’s Intellectual Property, Cybersecurity and Emerging Technology Practice Department, blends her expertise in law, business, and science to assist companies in their strategic use of technology, counseling clients in the areas of privacy, cybersecurity, data security and governance, intellectual property licensing and registration, and the forensic preservation and analysis of electronically stored information.
Rast was appointed to a three-year term to co-chair the American Bar Association (ABA) Cybersecurity Legal Task Force in 2020. Prior to that, she had been appointed to successive one-year terms since 2013.
Dukarski focuses her practice at the intersection of technology and communications with an emphasis on emerging and disruptive issues: digital media and content, cybersecurity and privacy, infotainment and shared mobility, and connected and autonomous cars.
In her practice, she has assisted clients with defamation, invasion of privacy, copyright, and other content-based claims. She focuses on compliance with various industry regulations and has become a national leader in legal issues facing emerging automotive technology and is the leader of Butzel’s connected car working group.
A self-titled “recovering engineer,” Dukarski was named one of the 30 Women Defining the Future of Technology in January 2020 by Warner Communications for her innovative thoughts and contributions to the tech industry.
In addition, Butzel attorneys Ashley Aldea, Scott J. Fishwick, Mark W. Jane, and Steven R. Pohl have been elected shareholders.
Based in Butzel’s Troy office, Aldea concentrates her practice in the area of commercial real estate, real estate-related finance and corporate. She assists clients in all aspects of acquisition, disposition, leasing, financing real estate transactions, general corporate representation, entity formation and entity structure in both Michigan and Canada. Aldea has represented borrowers and lenders in multi-million dollar real estate financing transactions including the financing and acquisition of a $1 billion portfolio of 27 operating multifamily properties.
Aldea is certified by the National Association of Development Companies (a trade association of companies that have been certified by the U.S. Small Business Administration to provide funding for small businesses) to close SBA loans under the SBA’s 504 Loan program.
Prior to joining Butzel, Aldea worked for Ford Motor Credit Company, where she was responsible for advising Ford Credit executives, management and business teams on various dealer matters, marketing matters, vehicle liquidations, and bankruptcy matters, day-to-day corporate and commercial matters and secured transactions for Ford Credit Canada Company. In addition, she assisted in negotiating and drafting commercial and consumer contracts and supported the implementation of changes in laws and regulations relating to privacy, consumer protection, cost of credit and general corporate law in Canada.
She is admitted to practice in Michigan and in Ontario, Canada. She is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, American Bar Association, Canadian Bar Association, and the Law Society of Ontario.
Aldea is a graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law where she earned her law degree and Wayne State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences and a Master of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering. After law school, Aldea received a Certificate of Qualification with the Federation of Law Societies of Canada and became a licensed Barrister and Solicitor with the Law Society of Ontario.
Fishwick, based in Butzel’s Detroit office, is a member of the firm’s Litigation Department. He represents public and private companies, their officers and directors, and other high-profile individuals in complex business and financial disputes.
Fishwick has a broad practice in state and federal court focusing on complex contractual disputes, class action defense, business torts, internal investigations, securities litigation, real estate litigation, and arbitration. His experience spans clients in various sectors, including finance, manufacturing, technology, sports, and real estate.
Before joining Butzel, Fishwick served as a law clerk in Detroit to U.S. District Court Judge Victoria A. Roberts, Eastern District of Michigan. He also practiced for more than a decade at international law firms in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles, Calif.
Fishwick graduated from the University of Michigan Law School (2011) and from Dartmouth College (2007).
Based in Butzel’s Ann Arbor office, Jane practices in the areas of employee benefits and executive compensation, with a focus on complex issues arising from the sponsorship of group health and welfare plans.
He has worked with employers of all shapes and sizes, providing counsel regarding the tax and employment implications on the design and ongoing maintenance of a wide array of employee benefit plans, primarily comprehensive health and welfare plans, cafeteria plans, 401(k) plans, and profit-sharing plans. He has experience representing clients with respect to their benefit plans before various governmental agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
He is admitted to practice in Michigan and California. He has held numerous leadership roles in several bar associations. Jane previously served as president of the Washtenaw County Bar Association in 2019-2020. His other roles with the WCBA have included serving as a two-term co-chair of the Judiciary Committee, as a co-chair of the Community Liaison Committee, and as a co-chair of the New Lawyers Section. He also served as the chair of the State Bar of Michigan Young Lawyers Section in 2015-2016, and currently serves as a representative of Washtenaw County (22nd Circuit) on the State Bar of Michigan Representative Assembly.
Jane attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and attended Loyola University Chicago School of Law. He has been named an “Associate to Watch” by Chambers USA from 2016-2022 and as one of the DBusiness Top Lawyers in Michigan for 2011, 2019-2022.
Pohl is based in Butzel’s Troy office, where he represents a variety of small to medium-sized businesses on a wide range of matters. His areas of expertise include business law and real estate law.
He is included in Best Lawyers in America, Corporate Law, 2022-2023. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan: Real Property Section; Business Law Section Oakland County Bar Association.
Pohl received his B.A. in Business Administration (with a major in Accounting) from the Eli Broad College of Business, Michigan State University (1993) and his law degree from the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University Bloomington (1998).
—————
Elder Abuse Task Force
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel recently announced that Carl Marlinga will lead the Elder Abuse Task Force as a special assistant attorney general.
Marlinga formerly served as a judge of 16th Circuit Court in Macomb County until earlier this year and served on the Macomb County Probate Court for the six-year term beginning January 1, 2013. Marlinga enjoyed a long career in private practice before joining the bench and served as the elected prosecutor of Macomb County for nearly two decades.
“I am excited and incredibly honored to join Attorney General Dana Nessel and the distinguished members of the Elder Abuse Task Force in their selfless efforts to protect those who by reason of physical illness, mental decline, or isolation have become the target of unscrupulous predators,” Marlinga said. “This task force has accomplished great things in a short time. Attorney General Nessel is to be commended for making this work a priority.”
Michigan’s Elder Abuse Task Force launched in 2019 and consists of more than 55 different organizations in the public, private and nonprofit sections – all working together to combat elder abuse.
Marlinga began his professional career as an associate with the Law Offices of Paul L. Nine, which later became the Nine and Maister Law Firm of Bloomfield Hills. He was also an associate with the law firm of Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, and Cohn of Detroit. In 1982 he became a partner with the Southfield law firm of Bushnell, Gage, Doctoroff, and Reizen.
Marlinga previously served as the prosecuting attorney for Macomb County, having been elected to that position in 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, and 2000.
Marlinga also served as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Macomb County, an assistant United States attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, and a special trial attorney with the U.S. Justice Department’s Organized Crime Strike Force, assigned to the Detroit office. As an assistant United States attorney, he was awarded a commendation by the United States attorney general for his work in white collar crime prosecutions involving frauds perpetrated on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
He was instrumental in establishing the Macomb Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (S.A.N.E.) program to allow prompt examination and support services for victims of criminal sexual conduct. He also was a founding board member of Care House, which provides similar services to child victims of criminal sexual conduct.
Marlinga is a 1968 graduate of the University of Detroit where he was awarded an A.B. degree. He earned his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. Marlinga has worked as an adjunct professor for the Wayne State University criminal justice department, teaching Constitutional Criminal Procedure and the American Court System.
—————
Office of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the following appointments to state boards, commissions, and authorities:
—Michigan Civil Service Commission
Gail M. Wilson is the director of Human Resources & Compliance and HIPAA privacy officer at the Michigan Conference of Teamsters Welfare Fund. Wilson earned law degrees from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and Wayne State University Law School. Wilson is appointed to represent Democrats, for a term commencing January 1, 2023 and expiring December 31, 2030. She succeeds Janet McClelland whose term expires December 31, 2022.
The Civil Service Commission is empowered by Article XI, Section 5 of the Michigan Constitution of 1963 to classify all positions in the classified service according to their respective duties and responsibilities, fix rates of compensation for all classes of positions, and approve or disapprove disbursements for all personal services. The commission also determines by competitive examination and performance exclusively on the basis of merit, efficiency, and fitness the qualifications of all candidates for positions in the classified service, makes rules and regulations covering all personnel transactions, and regulates all conditions of employment in the classified service.
This appointment is not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
—Detroit-Wayne County Port Authority
Nabih Ayad, is an attorney and has been in private practice at Ayad Law for 22 years. He received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Wayne State University and his law degree from Michigan State University College of Law. Ayad is appointed for a term commencing December 22, 2022 and expiring October 1, 2026. He succeeds Andy Doctoroff whose term has expired.
The Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority (DWCPA) is to plan, develop, and promote Detroit as a freight transportation and distribution hub for U.S. Midwest and Southwestern Ontario businesses and their customers and vendors, for the purpose of fostering economic growth in the City of Detroit, Wayne County, and the State of Michigan.
This appointment is not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
—Judicial Tenure Commission
Siham Jaafar is the president and CEO of 3D Consulting and Communications and the founder and executive producer of the nationally recognized Images and Perceptions Diversity Conference. She is the president of the Wayne County Dispute Resolution Center Board of Directors. Jaafar earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Communications from Wayne State University and earned her law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. She is reappointed for a term commencing January 1, 2023 and expiring December 31, 2025.
The Judicial Tenure Commission serves to promote the integrity of the judicial process and preserve public confidence in the courts. The commission strives to hold state judges, magistrates, and referees accountable for their misconduct without jeopardizing or compromising the essential independence of the judiciary.
This appointment is not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
—Michigan Board of Chiropractic
Leslie M. Kohn is an attorney and the owner of Law Office of Leslie Kohn PLLC. He received his Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Michigan and his law degree from Wayne State University Law School. Kohn is appointed to represent the general public, for a term commencing December 22, 2022 and expiring December 31, 2025. He succeeds Robert Maciolek whose term has expired.
The Michigan Board of Chiropractic ascertains minimal entry level competency of health practitioners and verifies continuing education during licensure. The Public Health Code defines the practice of chiropractic as the discipline within the healing arts that deals with the human nervous system and the musculoskeletal system and their interrelationship with other body systems. Underlying all duties is the responsibility of the board to promote and protect the public’s health, safety, and welfare.
This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
—————
McDonald Hopkins LLC
Aubrey Brands has joined McDonald Hopkins LLC as an associate in the Litigation Department, adding her experience to the firm’s national Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group.
Brands is accredited by the International Association of Privacy Professionals as a Certified Information Privacy Professional for the United States. She is also accredited by IAPP as a Certified Information Privacy Professional for Europe (CIPP/E).
Her practice focuses on leveraging her knowledge of complex international, federal, and state data privacy laws and regulations to assist clients in a variety of industries with creating or enhancing their privacy programs, in addition to providing guidance on incident response and compliance with regulatory and compliance frameworks. She also has experience mapping an organization’s security controls to relevant frameworks and providing proactive risk assessments.
After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alabama, Brands earned her law degree from Belmont University College of Law. She also earned a Cybersecurity Certificate from Vanderbilt University.
—————
McKeen & Associates PC
McKeen & Associates announced the addition of four new attorneys to its legal team: Victor Balta, Ariel Kellersohn, Scott Nowling, and Nichole Omilion.
Balta, an appellate attorney at McKeen & Associates is a graduate of Michigan State University College of Law and has been practicing law since 2013.
Kellersohn, an associate attorney at McKeen & Associates, is a recent graduate of Michigan State University College of law and worked as a law clerk at the firm for several years.
Nowling, an associate attorney at McKeen & Associates, earned an MBA from the University of Michigan and is a graduate of Western Michigan University Cooley Law School. Nowling has 27 years sales and sales management experience in pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
Omilion, an associate attorney at McKeen & Associates, is a graduate of University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Before joining the firm, Omilion served as a foster care worker.
