Legal People

Butzel Long

Butzel attorneys Michael Decker and Louis Ronayne will give two presentations during the Michigan Concrete Association’s Annual Conference on February 22 in Kalamazoo.

The first presentation will focus on preserving and prosecuting construction claims. The second presentation will focus on implementing a company-wide system for payment and collection under Michigan’s construction lien and payment bond related statutes.   

Decker, of Butzel’s Troy office, concentrates his practice in the areas of construction and construction litigation and business and business litigation. He represents and counsels construction companies and contractors on all aspects of both public and private projects, from inception to completion.

Decker has experience drafting and negotiating contracts, subcontracts, and other agreements and prosecuting and defending performance, payment, and delay related claims on behalf of construction companies and contractors, as well as owners and sureties. He also has experience prosecuting and defending claims concerning the Miss Dig Act and violations of the Miss Dig Act on behalf of construction companies and contractors. He has prosecuted and defended such claims before state and federal courts, state and public agencies, and arbitration and mediation panels.

Decker has been named a Rising Star in Business Litigation in 2013-2020 and Construction Litigation in 2021-2022 by Super Lawyers, a Top Lawyer in Construction Litigation in 2017-2023 by DBusiness, and a Best Lawyer in Construction Litigation in 2021-2023 by The Best Lawyers in America. Decker was named a Leader in the Law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly in 2021.

Ronayne, of Butzel’s Detroit office, focuses his practice primarily in the areas of commercial and appellate litigation. He is a former judicial law clerk for Michigan Supreme Court Justice Brian K. Zahra and research attorney for the Michigan Court of Appeals. Ronayne was named in Best Lawyers in America® 2023: Ones to Watch 2023.

—————

Michigan Supreme Court

The Michigan Supreme Court recently announced that attorney Alicia Moon has been named general counsel. Since graduating from Yale Law School, Moon has gained leadership experience in both the public and nonprofit sectors, most recently as deputy legal counsel for Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. In this role, she was responsible for a broad portfolio of issues, including criminal justice, juvenile justice, and the judiciary, among others.

Previously, Moon served as executive director of Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s Innovation Team, leading municipal efforts related to education, food security, and access to justice. As a staff attorney with the Michigan Advocacy Program, she provided legal services to survivors of domestic violence and conducted community education programs on elder abuse prevention.

“I am ready to get to work for the court by providing advice on complex and sensitive issues, building relationships, and finding solutions that serve the people who interact with Michigan’s judiciary,” said Moon.

A member of the State Bar of Michigan, Moon served as the governor’s representative on the Justice for All Commission, as vice president of the Equal Justice Works Alumni Advisory Council, and as a member of the Wayne County Foster Care Review Board.

As general counsel, Moon will provide legal advice to the Supreme Court, the Michigan Court of Appeals, and State Court Administrative Office. She will be responsible for building relationships with the executive and legislative branches, including management of various policy and legislative issues. The Office of the General Counsel also supervises the Board of Law Examiners and manages the docket of proposed administrative orders and court rules.

Moon will begin serving as Michigan Supreme Court general counsel on March 6.

—————

Collins Einhorn Farrell PC

Collins Einhorn Farrell PC is pleased to announce that attorney Effi Sidiropoulos has joined the firm.

Sidiropoulos is a member of the firm’s Appellate practice group. She focuses her practice on civil appeals in Michigan’s appellate courts and federal court.
Sidiropoulos received her Dual JD from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and the University of Windsor Faculty of Law.  Before achieving her law degree, Sidiropoulos obtained her B.A. from Ryerson University.

—————

Plunkett Cooney

A former member of the Michigan House of Representatives and Wayne County Commission, Philip M. Cavanagh recently joined Plunkett Cooney as a senior attorney in the firm’s Detroit office.

Cavanagh is a member of Plunkett Cooney’s Government Relations, Public Policy and Regulatory Compliance Practice Group who focuses his practice on policy development, strategic collaboration, relationship and coalition creation, regulatory compliance and legislation tracking.

Prior to joining Plunkett Cooney, Cavanagh worked as assistant deputy treasurer in the Forfeiture/Foreclosure Office of the Wayne County Treasurer’s Office. He was elected to four terms as a Wayne County commissioner where he served as a board member of the Detroit-Wayne Mental Health Agency and a founding member of the Wayne County Land Bank.

Cavanagh previously represented District 10, which included a portion of Detroit and some of its western suburbs, as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives. While in office, he served on the Tax Policy, Energy and Technology, and Judiciary committees. He also served as the vice chair for both the Financial Liability Reform and Judiciary committees.

After serving as a state representative, Cavanagh was appointed by former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder as a board member of the governor’s Interagency Council on Homelessness. After taking office, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer re-appointed him to the same position. In this capacity, Cavanagh collaborates closely with the administration’s department heads to coordinate plans that meet the needs of this state’s homeless population.

Cavanagh received his law and master’s degrees from the University of Detroit Mercy in 1998 and his undergraduate degree from Aquinas College in 1983. He also completed Fellowship Programs at the Council of State Governments in Louisville, Kentucky, in 2012 and the Harvard JFK School of Government in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 2005.

—————

Zausmer, P.C.

Zausmer PC is pleased to announce the promotion of attorneys Kyle Warwick and Theresa Bodwin to shareholders.

Warwick is a member of the firm’s Insurance Defense and Insurance Fraud practice groups. He represents national and regional insurance carriers. 

Warwick received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Michigan State University and his law degree from Wayne State University Law School. He has received the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for three consecutive years. He was also recognized as a Super Lawyers “Rising Star” from 2020-2022.

While at Zausmer, Warwick has assisted with launching the Zausmer attorney onboarding program that helps welcome new attorneys and planned the Free Bikes 4 Kidz charity event for the past two years.

Bodwin is a litigator in the firm’s Insurance Defense, Insurance Fraud, and Environmental Law practice groups. She received her undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Michigan, then went on to earn her law degree from Michigan State University College of Law.

Bodwin was recognized as a 2022 Top Women Attorney in Michigan. She was also named to the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch list for three consecutive years, 2021-2023, and recognized as a Super Lawyers “Rising Star” from 2020-2022.

Bodwin handles complex insurance matters that often spill into property law, business litigation, and errors and omissions.  She also organizes the firm’s Women’s Book Club, is a member of our internal Marketing Committee and helps lead the firm’s Associate Development Committee (ADC).

—————

Honigman LLP

Honigman is pleased to announce its recognition by the World Trademark Review as a 2023 WTR 1000 ranked firm. In addition to the firm’s recognition in Michigan, several partners from across the firm have received rankings. The Michigan partners are Julie Kretzschmer Reitz, Anessa Owen Kramer, Angela Sujek, Leigh Taggart, and Deborah (Bea) Swedlow.

The annual WTR 1000 guide is a result of research including face-to-face/telephone interviews and exchanged correspondence over a four-month period with hundreds of lawyers, attorneys and their clients involved with trademarks.

—————

Miller Canfield

Miller Canfield is pleased to announce that Carl von Ende has been named in the Michigan Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame Class of 2023. A recognition awards luncheon will honor the Class of 2023 on April 21.

A member of the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group for more than 50 years, von Ende specializes in trial, appeal, arbitration and mediation of antitrust, securities, intellectual property, corporate governance and debtor-creditor litigation.  Von Ende was one of the early recipients of the Federal Bar Association’s Cooke-Friedman Civility Award.

—————

Dykema

Dykema recently announced that Joe DeHondt was selected for Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s “Up & Coming Lawyers” Class of 2023. Honorees will be recognized at an awards ceremony on April 21.

DeHondt counsels clients on transactional and corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, commercial agreements, equity offerings, venture capital financings, private placements, corporate governance, and other general corporate matters. Though he represents clients across a spectrum of industries, he has earned a reputation for his acumen with technology-related transactions and his representation of clients in the automotive, autonomous vehicle, and advanced mobility sectors.

DeHondt earned his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and a B.A. from Oberlin College.

—————

Taft

Taft Detroit partner Michael Jacobson was named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s Class of 2023 Hall of Fame. A luncheon to honor the Class of 2023 will be held on April 21 at the Detroit Marriott Troy.

Jacobson is a partner in Taft’s Commercial Litigation practice. He focuses his practice on the areas of complex commercial litigation, partnership and shareholder disputes, real estate litigation, class action litigation, construction disputes, and employment and non-compete disputes. Jacobson represents publicly traded companies; private equity funds and their portfolio companies; and national, regional, and local real estate companies.

—————

Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC

Richard Cantor, a partner at Howard & Howard Attorneys, was selected to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s “Up & Coming” lawyers class of 2023.

As a partner with Howard & Howard, Cantor focuses his practice on all things intellectual property, specifically working with clients to protect, develop, and capitalize on their technology and other intellectual property assets. He regularly prepares and prosecutes U.S. and international patent applications in the electrical, computer, and software arts, and frequently drafts legal opinions relating to patentability, non-infringement, and invalidity.

With an understanding of technology in various disciplines including medical devices, telecommunications, and automotive, combined with his years of practice as an IP attorney, Cantor counsels both Fortune 500 and startup clients alike with professionalism and a great understanding of their technology and business goals.