LEGAL PEOPLE


Collins Einhorn Farrell PC is pleased to announce that attorney Natasha L. Rao has joined the firm.

Rao focuses her practice on insurance coverage litigation and providing coverage opinions and analysis to insurer clients. As part of her practice, she assists in coverage litigation related to claims for property damage, construction defects, fraud and/or misrepresentations, personal and advertising injury, occupational and accident injury, and bodily injury claims. Before joining Collins Einhorn, Rao worked as an associate attorney at a private practice firm where she assisted in litigation related to medical malpractice defense, employment and labor law matters, and municipal law.

Rao earned her law degree from George Washington University Law School.

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University of Detroit Mercy School of Law Professor Cara Cunningham Warren is the 2023 recipient of the James T. Barnes Sr. Memorial Faculty Scholar Award.

Cunningham Warren studies how legal and institutional structures can be created or reformed to resolve sovereignty, balance of power, and good governance questions. She teaches Comparative Legal Writing & Analysis in the Canadian & American Dual JD Program, International law, and International Institutions & the Use of Force in the 21st Century.

Most recently, Cunningham Warren had her textbook, “International Law in Context,” published by Carolina Academic Press.

Cunningham Warren joined the Detroit Mercy Law faculty in 2000. In addition to teaching the required first year Dual JD writing class and upper-level course work, she has served in a variety of administrative roles, including assistant dean of Academic Initiatives and interim assistant dean of International Programs.

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Plunkett Cooney partner Courtney L. Nichols was recently named by Crain’s Detroit Business as one of the publication’s 2023
Notable Leaders in Employment & Labor Law.

“I truly appreciate this honor. Crain’s is one of Detroit’s leading business publications, so that makes it even more meaningful to me,” said Nichols, who is co-leader of Plunkett Cooney’s Labor & Employment Practice Group. “I’m privileged to work each day with an exceptional group of colleagues and clients. To be acknowledged for doing what I love is just amazing.”

Nichols is a member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office and focuses her litigation practice in the area of employment law,
including discrimination, retaliation and civil rights claims brought under state and federal statutes. She provides counsel to employers of all sizes regarding complicated employment and labor issues prior to litigation, including compliance with the ADA, FMLA, and FLSA. Nichols also assists clients with drafting and enforcing contractual agreements, including covenants not to compete and severance agreements involving executives.

In addition to the Crain’s award, Nichols was selected as a Michigan Super Lawyer Rising Star in Employment & Labor by Michigan Super Lawyers magazine from 2016 to 2021. She was also named a 2015 “Up & Coming Lawyer” and a 2021 Go To Employment Lawyer by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.

Admitted to practice in the state and federal courts in Michigan, Nichols is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and serves as vice chair of ALFA International’s Labor & Employment Law Practice Group. She received her law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2011 and her undergraduate degree from the James Madison College at Michigan State University in 2008.

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Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that Dora “Dodi” H. June has joined the firm’s Troy office as a member in the Real Estate Practice Group.

June represents commercial landlords and tenants in retail and office leasing matters, and in the analysis, structuring and negotiation of complex real estate transactions.

June has experience representing purchasers, sellers, borrowers, lenders, landlords, tenants, developers and corporations in transactions involving retail leasing and development, office leasing, data center leasing, mortgage lending, and multi-state sales and acquisitions.

Her background includes experience as a leasing attorney with major real estate management firms and many years in private practice with national and global AmLaw law firms. Most recently, she worked as a leasing attorney with a real estate boutique law firm where she represented commercial landlords and tenants in retail and office lease matters and lease administration projects.

June is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School and received her undergraduate degree from Western Michigan University.

Before becoming an attorney, June completed graduate coursework in Japanese Studies at the Center for Japanese Studies at the University of Michigan and spent a year as an assistant English teacher for five public high schools in Handa, Japan.

Bodman is also pleased to announce that Aaron D. Graves, who is chair of the firm’s Workplace Law Group, has been selected as a 2023 Crain’s Detroit Business Notable Leader in Employment and Labor Law. Graves is one of only 25 lawyers selected for this honor.

Graves focuses his practice in labor and employment law. His expertise includes handling complex traditional labor issues on behalf of employers, including union organizing, labor contract negotiations, grievance administration, restructuring/relocation of unionized businesses, and handling unfair labor practice charges. He has been recognized as one of Michigan’s premier traditional labor lawyers, receiving notable recognitions in Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America and DBusiness Magazine.

In addition, Maria Martinez, a former attorney with Bodman, has been promoted to deputy chief of staff for Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Martinez joined the executive office in December 2020 as deputy legal counsel and was promoted to chief compliance officer in October 2021. She also formerly led the governor’s legal team as acting chief legal counsel in addition to her role as chief compliance officer.

She has experience as a former in-house counsel for a Michigan business and working as an attorney at Bodman. Martinez received both her law degree and undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan.

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Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan recently announced the appointment of Detroit native Diamond Conley as executive director of the city’s Office of Eviction Defense. Conley replaces April Faith-Slaker, who got the office up and running at the beginning of 2023 in compliance with Detroit’s Right to Counsel ordinance.

Having seen the Office of Eviction Defense take shape firsthand, Conley is excited to continue to see it grow and to put more attorneys in place to help Detroiters facing eviction.

“Every decision I’ve made in my career has brought me to this point,” she said. “I have always had a mindset of giving back and feel it’s necessary to help those who need and deserve a strong advocate, someone who can help those who may lack resources, education or simply feel disempowered.”

Conley has already identified several priorities as she takes the helm at the Office of Eviction Defense. She is working to create an app to help connect Detroiters who may only have internet access on their phones to valuable information, such as resources available through her office and information about what they’ll need to bring with them when they show up to court. Conley says she is working with vendors in the city to hire more attorneys to beef up the office’s presence at 36th District Court. She also plans to increase the office’s efforts to reach the population of Detroiters who are not showing up to court, even though they are eligible for help and stand a good chance of winning their case if they appear in court.

Prior to her work as deputy director of the Office of Eviction Defense, Conley has always worked to advocate for others. She served residents as a staff attorney at Lakeshore Legal Aid for several years. Conley also served as a public defender in Detroit and worked as an advocate to those charged with felonies.

Conley is a graduate of Cass Tech. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice at Grand Valley State University and her law degree from Michigan State University’s College of Law, where she specialized in child and family advocacy. Conley is also a certified coach and works at a crisis center to counsel those who are faced with thoughts of harming themselves and others. Conley’s first day in her new role was October 16.

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Varnum partner Maureen Rouse-Ayoub has been named a Notable Leader in Employment and Labor by Crain’s Detroit
Business.

Rouse-Ayoub, who leads Varnum’s Labor and Employment Practice Team, represents clients in all areas of labor and employment, including advising on labor management relations such as union election proceedings, collective bargaining and contract enforcement in arbitration and before the National Labor Relations Board.

Rouse-Ayoub has given more than 30 presentations on workplace topics to various employer organizations in recent years, including more than a dozen to Michigan Chamber of Commerce membership. She serves on the Health and Human Resources Committee of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and has been invited to speak to Chambers of Commerce in other states as well. This year, Rouse-Ayoub will serve as a panelist at the 2023 Bernard Gottfried Memorial Labor Law Symposium at Wayne State Law School for the third time.

Within the community, Rouse-Ayoub is a volunteer with Northern Michigan Adaptive Sports, providing recreational opportunities for persons with disabilities. She is recognized by numerous organizations, including The Best Lawyers in America® and BTI Client Service All Stars.

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Miller Canfield’s Michelle Crockett and Jennifer Sabourin have been named in Crain’s Detroit Business’ Notable Leaders in Employment and Labor Law.

Crockett serves as Miller Canfield’s chief diversity officer and deputy executive officer. She is the driving force behind Miller Canfield being among the first major firms nationwide to earn Mansfield Plus certification, which requires law firms to demonstrate representation of women, minority, LGBTQ and disabled attorneys in leadership roles and lateral hiring. As a principal in the firm’s Employment/Labor Group, Crockett handles complex, high-profile litigation, serves as a chief negotiator or as a member of negotiating teams in collective bargaining, and represents clients in labor arbitration hearings and grievances.
Crockett regularly conducts high-level internal investigations for entities facing claims of discrimination, harassment and employee malfeasance, serves as a neutral mediator, and provides client training on many employment issues. She assists clients with developing/implementing DEI and affirmative action programs to advance the goals of federal nondiscrimination statutes, the 2007 Michigan anti-affirmative action amendment and the recent Supreme Court ruling striking down affirmative action in higher education.

Sabourin is Miller Canfield’s Deputy Employment and Labor Group leader. Her practice focuses on high-level, complex advice/counsel, workplace investigations, and audits. She serves as an independent fact finder and provides recommendations to move the organization forward.

Sabourin was elected by her national peers as a fellow of the prestigious College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, one of the highest professional honors bestowed on employment and labor attorneys. She is the 2022-2023 conference chair of the American Employment Law Council. She is a leader in the American Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section, serving on the Section’s Leadership Council and having held numerous leadership positions.

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Dykema announced that James Hermon was selected for the Crain’s Detroit Business 2023 Notable Leaders in Employment and Labor Law list.

Hermon is the leader of Dykema’s Labor & Employment practice group and focuses his practice on the defense and trial of employment cases in federal and state courts, as well as counseling, advising, and training corporations regarding their obligations under state and federal employment laws. He provides full-circle employment counsel, helping clients manage employer-employee relationships at all levels and meet their state and federal regulatory and statutory obligations.

Hermon has represented a range of clients in a variety of employment and discrimination-related matters, including representation in administrative proceedings before the EEOC, defense of lawsuits involving race, national origin, age, and sex discrimination, defense of sexual harassment claims, defense of disability and religious accommodation claims under state and federal law, and the defense and prosecution of claims for alleged violations of covenants not to compete.

Hermon received his law degree from Ohio State University, and A.B. from the University of Michigan.

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Giarmarco, Mullins, & Horton PC is pleased to announce the addition of Anne R. Gabbert, Lindsay P. Hazen, and Courtney Q. Moore to the firm.

Gabbert has joined the firm as a shareholder in its Municipal Group. Throughout her career, she has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to serving her clients. With 16 years of experience as an assistant prosecuting attorney, Gabbert has handled a broad spectrum of cases, ranging from high-stakes capital crimes to complex white-collar crime and money laundering matters. Concurrently, she has cultivated a significant civil practice in asset forfeiture, with nearly 13 years of expertise in this field.

Hazen joins the firm’s Education Law Group. She represents public school districts in matters of employment discrimination, constitutional litigation, general education, special education, student discipline, and due process, peer-on-peer harassment, and more. Additionally, Hazen has experience in counseling and advising clients on their bargaining agreements, employment agreements, employment policies, employee issues, disciplinary actions, and compliance with laws such as FMLA, ADA, Title IX, FOIA, and the Open Meetings Act.

Moore joins the firms as an associate in its Business Litigation Group. Immediately after law school, Moore joined the General Trials Division of the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. As an assistant prosecuting attorney, she solo chaired dozens of felony trials in Wayne County Circuit Court. In the years following, Moore focused her practice in civil litigation, including No-Fault and commercial and residential property loss, successfully representing her clients in all stages of the litigation process, from the file’s inception through the conclusion.

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Harness IP is pleased to announce the International Trademark Association (INTA) has appointed April Minarik, an associate in the firm’s Detroit Metro Office, to serve on the 2024-2025 copyright committee.

Minarik’s involvement in this committee provides a volunteer opportunity to support INTA’s strategic objectives and demonstrate leadership within the international trademark community.

Minarik’s practice focuses on protecting clients’ trademarks, web domains, and published works and helping them realize the full potential of their intellectual property. She handles a variety of matters including U.S. and international trademark enforcement and prosecution; copyright submissions; IP portfolio management; and domain name investigations and resolutions.

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Maddin Hauser is pleased to announce that shareholder David E. Hart has been named chair of the firm’s Complex Litigation and Risk Advisory group. As an executive management committee member and co-chair of the Financial Services and Real Property Litigation group, Hart’s new role leading the litigation department is a natural fit.

Hart focuses on litigation and dispute resolution involving title insurance, business and commercial disputes, mortgage and real
estate litigation, construction disputes, and creditors’ rights law, including bankruptcy.

Hart frequently speaks on title insurance and real estate law topics. He is also a sought-after educator and speaker on commercial litigation and dispute resolution. Recognized for many years in the Michigan edition of Super Lawyers, Hart was named a 2023 Go-To Lawyer in Business Litigation by Michigan Lawyers Weekly and has been listed among DBusiness Magazine’s Top Lawyers. He is one of the firm’s representatives to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Hart devotes time to various professional associations, is a conscientious mentor and coach, and participates in the State Bar of Michigan’s Access to Justice Campaign.

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Employee benefits and ERISA law firm J.J. Conway Law is pleased to announce that principal attorney and founder John Joseph (J.J.) Conway has been included on Crain’s Detroit Business list of Notable Leaders in Employment and Labor Law.

Conway is a nationally recognized trial attorney advocating for employees facing benefit disputes involving disability and health Insurance and ERISA-protected pensions and 401 (k) accounts. In tandem with helping clients recover $70M+ in benefits and winning landmark class-action lawsuits in favor of families and retirees, Conway is establishing employee benefits litigation as a complex subspecialty of employment law. He is currently serving as co-lead counsel in multiple class actions throughout the U.S. involving the wrongful denial of employee healthcare and pension benefits.

Within his employee benefits practice, Conway is regarded for securing healthcare benefits for children. He served with a team of attorneys to secure millions in funding for Michigan Medicaid families to receive essential treatment for children with autism, as well as working to ensure coverage access for military retirees and their families facing similar challenges.

Serving as co-lead counsel, Conway secured major structural and governance reforms to the Detroit General Retirement and Police and Fire Pension Systems, safeguarding retirement funds for nearly 30,000 retirees and securing a multi-million-dollar penalty for the Trustees’ malfeasance.

A writer on employee benefits, Conway authored: “Hitting You When You Least Expect It: A Basic Guide to ERISA for Non-ERISA Lawyers” and has written on law practice management for ICLE’s Michigan Basic Practice Handbook. His insights on employee benefits and ERISA law are frequently sought by national and local media outlets including Law 360, Next Avenue/PBS, ALM/Benefits Pro, and WWJ News Radio 950. He writes a monthly column in the Legal News—providing him a forum to explore interesting topics and trends encountered through his law practice.

In addition to Crain’s Detroit Business recognition, Conway has received numerous career accolades in recent years. He is a multi-year Michigan Super Lawyer in employee benefits and has also been on the Leading Lawyers list several times. In 2021, he was named a Leader in the Law by the legal trade publication, Michigan Lawyers Weekly. He is a long-term community advocate and has been awarded the Thomas P. Moore Leadership in Philanthropy Award from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the State Bar of Michigan Champion of Justice Award. He has been a volunteer and served on boards for educational institutions within the City of Detroit and has supported students through regular scholarship funding.

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Detroit-based management-side labor and employment law firm Nemeth Bonnette Brouwer PC is pleased to announce that Managing Parter Deborah Brouwer has been included on Crain’s Detroit Business list of Notable Leaders in Employment and Labor Law.

In addition to her managing partner duties, Brouwer has a practice working with employers to establish productive and harmonious workplace environments. She provides counseling, training, and litigation services to a range of public and private sector and nonprofit clients and has experience with claims of race, age, disability, gender and religious discrimination and harassment, as well as claims brought under the FMLA and FLSA. She has appeared before state and federal administrative agencies and courts in multiple states and is also a skilled workplace investigator.

An engaged leader in the legal profession, Brouwer is a past president of the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel; member, State Bar of Michigan, American Bar Association, DRI and Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society/Advocates Guild. Active in the National Association of Woman-Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF), she is a career-long role model for female litigators and a change agent for women in the legal profession.

Committed to community service, Brouwer is secretary (and former chair) of the Board of Directors of Assured Family Services, which provides mental health services in juvenile justice and child welfare systems; and chair of the Board of Trustees, Luella Hannan Memorial Foundation, which serves Michigan’s aging population through culture, arts and social services.

In addition to the new Crain’s Detroit Business recognition, Brouwer has received numerous career accolades in recent years. She is a multi-year honoree on the Best Lawyers® and Michigan Super Lawyers lists, as well as the DBusiness Magazine Top Lawyers list. In 2019, she was named a Crain’s Detroit Business Notable Women in Law, and in 2018 was named a Woman in the Law honoree by the legal trade publication, Michigan Lawyers Weekly. Brouwer earned a law degree from the Wayne State University Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Arts degree, both from the University of Michigan.