LEGAL PEOPLE

Warner Norcross + Judd LLP has been recognized for the 21st consecutive year as one of the leading law firms in Michigan by Chambers USA 2023.

Warner has again been ranked as one of Michigan’s leading law firms in the areas of corporate, general commercial litigation and employee benefits and executive compensation.

Local attorneys that have been recognized for their work in the areas above include:

Mary Jo Larson, employee benefits and executive compensation

Lisa B. Zimmer, employee benefits and executive compensation

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In a continued focus on restoring public trust in the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA), Director Julia Dale recently announced a legal advisor to her leadership team and created a Legal and Compliance Bureau that will capitalize on collaborative anti-fraud practices and increase overall program integrity.

Dale has named Kimberly (Kim) Breitmeyer as UIA’s legal advisor, in charge of all litigation and case referrals, memorandums of understanding, data sharing agreements, and contracts. She also will lead the UIA’s new Legal and Compliance Bureau, which will include the agency’s Fraud and Investigations Division and the Internal Controls Division.
Breitmeyer will be integral in building on UIA successes over the past two years in an area of the agency that continues to have a high priority for resources. To date, through the work of investigators and prosecutors, 116 individuals have been charged with unemployment insurance fraud, 46 were found guilty or entered a plea, and 37 sentenced for their role in stealing funds intended for workers who lost a job through no fault of their own. Safeguards to identify fraud are continually enhanced to more accurately identify and stop fraud and criminal activity while also reducing the risk of false accusations.

As director of the Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing (CSCL) Bureau’s Regulatory Compliance Division at the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Breitmeyer strengthened partnerships with state and federal law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute increasing instances of fraud and identity theft associated with online filings. She also worked closely with the Department of Attorney General’s Criminal Division and county prosecutors on investigations and prosecutions of suspected criminals.

Breitmeyer participates in the State Bar of Michigan’s initiatives designed to ensure fair and equitable access to legal advice, resources and representation for all.

“I look forward to reviewing our approach to investigations through a post-pandemic lens and working with an experienced team of UIA investigators to aggressively bring fraudsters to justice,” Breitmeyer said. “I’ve been watching Director Dale’s transformation of the UIA, and I am eager to help implement the reforms and be a part of an exciting time of change at the agency.”

Breitmeyer will establish a centralized procedure to pursue future fraud cases, propose new approaches to investigations, and leverage other resources and tools for both internal and external processes.

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Litigator and trial attorney Dora A. Brantley has joined Foster, Swift, Collins, & Smith. She splits her time between the firm’s Detroit and Southfield offices.

As lead counsel, Brantley has successfully defended professional liability claims and claims brought against:

• Restaurants and hospitality companies
• Manufacturers, transportation carriers and drivers
• Employers
• Landlords and homeowners
• Small business owners and,
• Governmental entities and their employees.

Brantley has the honor of being the only attorney who has been selected by two Fortune 500 fast food corporations to defend claims and litigation involving a variety of issues, including tort liability and alleged civil rights violations. She is also one of only two attorneys who have been selected by a Fortune 500 hospitality corporation to defend tort and civil rights claims and litigation brought against them.

She is often engaged by employers to investigate and provide direction regarding claims of discrimination and harassment, as well as insurance carriers to resolve coverage disputes.

Brantley earned her B.A. from the University of Michigan prior to attending Wayne State University Law School where she received her law degree.

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Varnum is pleased to announce that Rebecca Grove and Ken Horn have joined the firm’s Estate Planning Team as partner and legal specialist, respectively.

Based in the firm’s Birmingham office, Grove is an experienced attorney representing high-net-worth individuals, charitable organizations, and family offices in connection with estate planning and tax strategies, as well as art law matters. She is a contributing author for LexisNexis® and has held leadership roles in numerous cultural and educational organizations across Southeast Michigan.

Grove joins the firm from Honigman LLP, where she led the Private Client Practice Group and previously served as a member of that firm’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee. She is the 21st attorney who has recently joined the firm. Horn also joins the firm from Honigman.

“I’m thrilled to join Varnum’s talented Estate Planning Team and look forward to working with clients across Michigan, Florida and beyond,” said Grove. “Varnum’s platform and commitment to growth are truly attractive and will benefit my clients.”

Grove graduated from Duke University School of Law. She additionally earned an LL.M. degree from Georgetown University Law Center. She attended the University of Michigan for her undergraduate degree.

Horn attended Roosevelt University in Chicago for his Legal Assistant’s Certificate. He received his undergraduate degree from Columbia College in New York.

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Honigman LLP recently announced that five Michigan practice groups garnered the highest ranking of “Band 1” while 24 lawyers were ranked in the latest edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2023.

The Chambers directory of leading U.S. business law firms and lawyers bestowed the highest ranking “Band 1,” on the following Honigman practices in Michigan:

• Bankruptcy/Restructuring
• Corporate/M&A
• Intellectual Property
• Litigation: General Commercial
• Real Estate

Honigman’s Labor and Employment and Immigration practices in Michigan were also recognized, as was Intellectual Property and Insurance: Dispute Resolution: Policyholder in Illinois. Newly ranked attorneys include Mark Pendery and Matthew Schneider in Michigan for Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations as well as Karen Pifer in Michigan for Real Estate.

“Honigman is honored to receive remarkable rankings in the 2023 edition of Chambers USA after another successful year,” said David Foltyn, Honigman chairman and CEO. “As we celebrate our 75th year as a firm, we are proud of the hard work and dedication our attorneys have exerted to satisfy our clients, who, like Chambers, recognize our commitment to excellence every year.”

The following local Honigman lawyers were ranked in this year’s guide:

—Bankruptcy/Restructuring
    E. Todd Sable

—Corporate/M&A
    Michael D. DuBay
    David Foltyn (eminent practitioner)
    Donald Kunz (senior statesperson)
    Barbara Kaye
    David N. Parsigian

—Immigration
    Meghan Covino
    Carol Friend

—Intellectual Property
    J. Michael Huget
    Anessa Kramer

—Labor & Employment
    Sean Crotty

—Litigation: General Commercial
    Joseph Aviv
    Raymond W. Henney
    I.W. Winsten

—Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
    Matthew Schneider

—Real Estate
    Karen R. Pifer
    J. Adam Rothstein
    Lowell D. Salesin

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Dykema recently announced that it received 29 individual attorney rankings and 16 practice area rankings in the 2023 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business guide. The firm received national rankings in three practice areas and six individual attorney rankings.

Chambers USA recognized the following Dykema Michigan practices:

• Corporate/M&A
• Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
• Labor & Employment
• Litigation: General Commercial
• Real Estate

Chambers USA recognized the following Dykema Michigan attorneys:

Michael Bernard, Corporate/M&A
Robert A. Boonin, Labor & Employment
Amy M. Christen, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
Adam M. Fishkind, Real Estate
James P. Feeney, Litigation: General Commercial
Kyle R. Hauberg, Real Estate
James F. Hermon, Labor & Employment
Jin-Kyu Koh, Corporate/M&A
Thomas S. Vaughn, Corporate/M&A

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Harness IP is pleased to announce that Chambers USA has ranked the firm among the best intellectual property law firms in Michigan and Missouri for 2023.

Two of its local attorneys are also ranked for achievement in their practice area and for their outstanding representation of clients. Chambers cites Glenn Forbis, a principal in the Detroit Metro office. This is Forbis’ second year in the rankings. The guide also commends Lisabeth Coakley, senior counsel in the Detroit Metro Office.

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Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the appointment of Robert Chiaravalli to the Michigan Employment Relations Commission.

Chiaravalli is a practicing labor and employment attorney. He is also president of Strategic Labor and Human Resources that he has operated for almost 25 years. He is a recognized expert in labor relations, combining experience in union and nonunion environments, in addition to experience in large businesses and government.

Chiaravalli earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Michigan, a Master of Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University, and a law degree from Suffolk University Law School. Chiaravalli is appointed to represent Independents, for a term commencing June 12, 2023, and expiring June 30, 2024. He succeeds Robert LaBrant whose term has expired.

The Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC) resolves labor disputes involving public and private sector employees by appointing mediators, arbitrators, and fact finders, conducting union representation elections, determining appropriate bargaining units, and adjudicating unfair labor practice cases. The Commission, supported by the staff of the Bureau of Employment Relations, administers The Public Employment Relations Act (PERA), The Labor Relations and Mediation Act (LMA), and The Compulsory Arbitration Act (312).

This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.

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Butzel immigration law attorney Reginald A. Pacis participated in a roundtable discussion on  June 10 as part of Asian & Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) – Michigan. APIAVote is the nation’s leading nonpartisan nonprofit dedicating to engaging, educating, and empowering Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities to strengthen and sustain a culture of civic engagement. Pacis discussed the latest immigration law matters and more during the event.

Pacis focuses his practice in immigration law and has handled a variety of immigration matters including H-1B specialty occupation cases, L-1 Intracompany transfers, Labor Certification matters, Immigrant Visa Petitions/Adjustment of Status applications and interviews, TN Free trade cases, H-1B Department of Labor Investigations, I-9 employer verification compliance, and U.S. Port of Entry airport and land port interviews.

In 2018, Pacis was appointed by former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to the Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission (MAPAAC) for a term that begin in 2019. MAPAAC helps address the needs and concerns of the Asian Pacific American (APA) communities in Michigan. In 2021, he was appointed by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to the position of trustee to MAPAAC until his term ended in 2023.

Pacis was named Immigration Lawyer of the Year in 2023 and 2013, respectively in the field of Immigration Law by The Best Lawyers in America and has been listed in Best Lawyers for several years.

He is a member of the American Bar Association, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), and the Samahang Pilipino Ng Oakland Filipino organization. He served two consecutive one-year terms from 2003 to 2005 as chairperson of the Michigan Chapter of AILA and was a member of the AILA National Board of Governors for those terms.

Pacis also served as vice chair (2008 to 2009) and later chair (2009-2010) of U.S. Customs and Border Protection AILA liaison committee; vice chair (2013 to 2014) of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Field Operations AILA liaison committee; member (2014 to 2015) of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services National Benefits Center AILA liaison committee; and has served as a member (2015) and later chair (2016) of the AILA Election committee. He has presented at several AILA Annual Conferences Nationally and Internationally.

He is vice president and a member of the Board of Directors, International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit.