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Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that Damali Sahu, a member of the firm’s Banking Practice Group and long-time co-chair of the firm’s DEI Committee, has been named a 2023 Notable Leader in DEI by Crain’s Detroit Business.

Sahu has served a leader of Bodman’s internal DEI program for more than a decade. She also has a long history of service to charitable, community, and professional organizations. She is the current chair of the board of directors of Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan and the vice president and treasurer of the board of directors of New Paradigm College Prep school. She also serves on the board of directors of the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion. She previously served as a board member of African-American Attorneys in Downtown Firms (AAADF) and as vice president and treasurer of the board of directors of University YES Academy in Detroit.

Sahu concentrates her legal practice in representing financial institutions in general commercial loan transactions and real estate transactions, including single lender, syndicated and second lien loan transactions and small business administration guaranteed loans. She has expertise in lending transactions involving venture capital-backed emerging and established companies in the technology, energy, and life science industries. She has more than a decade of experience in transactions with companies in all stages of growth from seed/early stage to established pre-public stage companies.

Sahu has been recognized in Lawyers of Color’s 2022 Law Firm Leaders list, Crain’s as a 2021 Notable Woman in Law, and Michigan Lawyers Weekly 2018 Women in Law. She has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 2013 in the field of Banking and Finance and is listed as a 2022 “Top Lawyer” for Banking and Financial Service Law by DBusiness Magazine.

In addition, Bodman is pleased to announce that DBusiness Magazine has included 77 of the firm’s attorneys on its 2024 Top Lawyers list.

Bodman attorneys were recognized in 29 different areas of practice. Local Bodman attorneys included in DBusiness Top Lawyers 2024, with the practice areas for which they were nominated, are listed below by office:

—Detroit office

Hebba Aref (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Marc M. Bakst (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law)
Kelly M. Burnell (Trusts and Estates)
Andrew H. Curoe (Trusts and Estates)
Sarah L. Cylkowski (Litigation-Insurance)
Brandon M. Dalziel (Health Care Law)
Laurence B. Deitch (Corporate Law)
Robert J. Diehl Jr. (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law)
Forrest O. Dillon (Antitrust Law)
Fredrick J. Dindoffer (Environmental Law)
Christopher J. Dine (Tax Law)
Nathan D. Dupes (Environmental Law)
Aaron D. Graves (Labor and Employment Law)
Scott P. Gyorke (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Kathleen O’Callaghan Hickey (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Michael J. Jameson (Trusts and Estates)
David P. Larsen (Trusts and Estates)
Melissa A. Lewis (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Kelly M. Lockman (Real Estate Law)
Jay B. Long (Tax Law)
Chelsey L. Marsh-Jones (Real Estate Law)
Julia C. Massaro (Trusts and Estates)
Ralph E. McDowell (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law)
Nicholas P. McElhinny (Mergers & Acquisitions Law)
Adam B. Norlander (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Michael B. Peterman (Real Estate Law)
Christopher J. Rambus (Trusts and Estates)
Jeffrey G. Raphelson (Litigation-Commercial)
Noel J. Ravenscroft (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law)
Thomas J. Rheaume Jr. (Appellate Law)
Damali A. Sahu (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Joseph J. Shannon (Litigation-Commercial; Litigation-Banking and Finance)
Erica J. Shell (Environmental Law)
Bonnie S. Sherr (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Larry R. Shulman (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Brian R. Trumbauer (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law)
Jaimee L. Witten (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law)

—Troy office

Courtland W. Anderson (Franchise Law)
Celeste E. Arduino (Nonprofit/Charities Law)
Donovan S. Asmar (Appellate Law)
J. Adam Behrendt (Litigation-Banking and Finance)
John T. Below (Labor and Employment Law; Litigation-Labor Employment Benefits)
Jonathan S. Berg (Commercial Law)
David C. Bosman (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Barbara A. Bowman (Public Finance Law)
Robert J. Cambridge (Securities Law)
John C. Cashen (Labor and Employment Law)
Steven R. Cole (Tax Law)
Michael G. Costello (Insurance Law)
Anthony P. Cracchiolo (Trusts and Estates)
Michelle Thurber Czapski (Insurance Law)
Stephen P. Dunn (Litigation-Commercial)
Gary S. Fealk (Labor and Employment Law)
Jennifer M. Hetu (Copyright Law; Intellectual Property and Patent Law)
Emily J. Kwolek (Tax Law)
Joseph P. Michniacki (Corporate Law)
Mark W. Peters (Securities Law)
Kenneth J. Sachs (Employee Benefits Law; Municipal Law)
Nicholas P. Scavone Jr. (Real Estate Law)
Rebecca C. Seguin-Skrabucha (Labor and Employment Law)
Andrew Z. Spilkin (Real Estate Law)
Annalise Lekas Surnow (Health Care Law)
Melissa M. Tetreau (Labor and Employment Law)
Thomas Van Dusen (Litigation-Commercial)
David B. Walters (Employee Benefits Law)

•            •            •

Foster, Swift, Collins, & Smith PC welcomes attorney Benjamin M. Williams to the firm’s Southfield office. Williams joins the firm as a member of the litigation practice group, focusing on family law cases including divorce, child support, and spousal support, and criminal defense.

Prior to his arrival at Foster Swift, Williams was an assistant state’s attorney in Chicago for almost 13 years, where he tried hundreds of bench and jury trials. From 2018 to 2023, he was assigned to the Felony Trial Division where he prosecuted a wide range of felony cases, including first degree murder, aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, criminal sexual assault, and other violent crimes.

In coming to Foster Swift to focus on family law, Williams brings his courtroom experience to assist families navigating the complex and often emotional world of domestic relations court. He works closely with his clients to determine their goals, knowing that decisions regarding divorce, child custody, parenting time, child support, and spousal support have affects far beyond the courtroom.

Williams received his law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2008. Prior to that, he graduated with his B.A. in History & Spanish from Emory University in Atlanta.

•            •            •

Detroit-based management-side labor and employment law firm Nemeth Bonnette Brouwer PC is pleased to announce that partners and co-owners Deborah Brouwer and Terry Bonnette, as well as Patricia Nemeth, firm founder and currently Of Counsel to the firm, have been recognized as DBusiness magazine’s Top Lawyers for 2024. All three attorneys were named in the labor and employment law category.

In addition to her managing partner duties, Brouwer provides counseling, training, and litigation services to a range of public and private sector and nonprofit clients, involving 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 a skilled workplace investigator. Additionally, Brouwer is an engaged leader in the legal profession as well as being committed to community service. She was recently recognized by Crain’s as a 2023 Notable Leader in Employment and Labor Law.

Bonnette has been serving the firm’s clients since 2004. His practice encompasses traditional labor law and employment law counseling, training, and litigation. He is frequently involved in collective bargaining agreement negotiations and enforcement. He is also an experienced litigator, representing clients before state and federal courts, administrative agencies and arbitrators, on issues including FMLA, wage and hour, employment discrimination, harassment, disability, and retaliation. Bonnette created the firm’s “Raising the Bar” educational series focused on increasing employer awareness of trending issues in employment law and was recently named board chair of Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit.

Nemeth’s many awards and accomplishments reflect her impact to the legal community, notably in labor and employment law.

The DBusiness accolade follows other legal honors firm attorneys received this year, including 2023 Leading Lawyers and 2023 Michigan Super Lawyers.

•            •            •

Intellectual property specialty law firm Fishman Stewart PLLC is pleased to announce that three firm attorneys have been named to DBusiness magazine’s Top Lawyers list for 2024.  

The following attorneys were credited with excellence in the following Top Lawyers categories:

Michael D. Fishman: 2024 Top Lawyer in “Intellectual Property & Patent Law”

A founding member of the firm, Partner Michael Fishman has more than 30 years of experience in trademark law, related licensing and litigation, and other disciplines of intellectual property law. As a veteran trademark attorney, Fishman has built a flourishing trademark practice managing the trademark portfolios of thousands of U.S. and foreign trademark applications and registrations—and serving a wide range of industries.

Barbara L. Mandell: 2024 Top Lawyer in “Litigation – Intellectual Property”

Partner Barbara Mandell has more than 35 years of experience in complex litigation. Her practice is focused on litigating, arbitrating and counseling her clients on patent, trademark and licensing matters as well as antitrust law. She recently had an arbitration award confirmed in a complex patent arbitration case in which she presided as chair.

Michael B. Stewart: 2024 Top Lawyer in “Intellectual Property & Patent Law”

A co-founder of the firm, master’s level engineer and registered patent attorney, Partner Michael Stewart has more than 30 years of experience as a valued strategic adviser to CEOs and senior executives across the globe.  He uses his substantial experience in managing worldwide intellectual property portfolios and engaging in complex adverse proceedings, including litigation, to maximize the scope of intellectual property protection and beneficial usage.

In addition to DBusiness Top Lawyers accolades, the three were named 2023 Leading Lawyers, 2023 Michigan Super Lawyers, and 2024 Best Lawyers® earlier this year.
Fishman Stewart is also pleased to announce the firm earned repeat recognition as a Tier 1-ranked law firm by Best Lawyers® in the 14th edition of the United States Best Law Firms®, continuing a track record of excellence that began in 2018. In the newly released annual edition, Fishman Stewart has again been ranked Tier 1 at the metropolitan level in four categories:

• Litigation - Intellectual Property
• Litigation - Patent
• Patent Law
• Trademark Law

In August, the following attorneys were awarded by 2024 Best Lawyers®:

Michael D. Fishman: Trademark Law
Michael B. Stewart: Litigation-Intellectual Property; Litigation-Patent; Patent Law; and Trademark Law
Julie A. Greenberg: Trademark Law
John P. Guenther: Litigation–Intellectual Property; Patent Law; and Trademark Law
Barbara L. Mandell: Litigation–Intellectual Property
Kameron Bonner: 2024 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in Litigation–Intellectual Property; Intellectual Property Law; and Patent Law
Maxwell Goss: Litigation–Intellectual Property

•            •            •

Varnum attorney Brendan Best was recently re-appointed to the Board of Directors of the Detroit Chapter of the Turnaround Management Association. He previously served on the board from 2015 to 2021, including as president.

TMA Detroit is a non-profit association that cultivates and promotes turnaround management and corporate renewal professions to encourage, foster and promote the interests of those having a common interest in the commerce, business, trade or profession of turnaround management and corporate renewal.

Best has more than 20 years of experience representing clients in insolvency-related matters across an array of industries. A partner on Varnum’s Bankruptcy, Restructuring and Creditors’ Rights Team, his practice focuses on representing senior secured lenders, debtors, other creditors and other stakeholders in complex Chapter 11 restructurings, out-of-court workouts and insolvency-related transactions and litigation.

Best is routinely recognized by Top Lawyers, The Best Lawyers in America®, and Super Lawyers®. He is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute and is a volunteer attorney for Access to Bankruptcy Court.

•            •            •

Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce that 31 of the firm’s attorneys have been included in DBusiness 2024 Top Lawyers.

Below is a list of local Dickinson Wright lawyers included in this year’s list:

—Detroit

William T. Burgess, Banking & Financial Services Law
Christopher A. Cornwall, Litigation - Construction
David R. Deromedi, Labor and Employment Law
Phillip J. DeRosier, Appellate Law
K. Scott Hamilton, Appellate Law
Mark R. High, Corporate Law
Steven G. Howell, Banking & Financial Services Law
Sharon R. Newlon, Environmental Law
William P. Shield Jr., Banking & Financial Services Law
Theodore B. Sylwestrzak, Banking & Financial Services Law
Bruce C. Thelen, International Trade Law
Kathryn S. Wood, Labor and Employment Law
L. Pahl Zinn, Antitrust Law, Litigation – Antitrust

—Troy

Roger H. Cummings, International Trade Law
Deborah L. Grace, Employee Benefits Law
Roberta P. Granadier, Employee Benefits Law
Craig W. Hammond, Banking & Financial Services Law
Elise S. Levasseur, Immigration Law
Elizabeth L. Luckenbach, Trusts & Estates
Cynthia A. Moore, Employee Benefits Law
Gregory W. Moore, Health Care Law
Zan M. Nicolli, Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Daniel D. Quick, Commercial Law
Michael T. Raymond, Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Lynn Capp Sirich, Family Law
Michael Vogt, Land Use & Zoning Law
Peter H. Webster, Land Use & Zoning Law
Mark E. Wilson, Health Care Law

 •            •            •

Brooks Kushman is pleased to welcome Muhammad Siwani as the newest addition to its growing patent prosecution team.

Siwani focuses his practice on patent prosecution and covers a range of technologies from advanced material compositions to automotive innovations. He as a registered patent agent is experienced in conducting patent searches, drafting patent applications, writing responses to first through final office actions, and drafting patentability memos for clients.

Siwani earned a law degree from the Wayne State University Law School. He also holds an MBA from the Mike Ilitch School of Business and received a Bachelor of Engineering in Materials Science from the University of Michigan.

Prior to working at Brooks Kushman, Siwani gained working experience in the legal department of a multinational Tier 1 automotive supplier in metro Detroit and also worked in the field as an engineer. During this time, he gained experience verifying and validating perception software that gives a vehicle a view of surrounding objects through sensor data fusion. He also spent time as a project manager where he conducted a range of automotive testing for both component and vehicle levels.

 •            •            •

Strobl PLLC is excited to announce Evan Kaploe as the newest addition to its team of lawyers.

Kaploe joined the Strobl law firm this month and brings his tax knowledge to counsel businesses across a multitude of industries, as well as individuals. He specializes in tax controversy and planning, corporate, estate planning, and bankruptcy. Since joining private practice after having served as an attorney for the Internal Revenue Service Office of Chief Counsel and a special assistant United States attorney, Kaploe has a range of experience representing businesses and their owners in tax court, bankruptcy court, tax tribunals and federal courts. He has a proven track record of minimizing tax burdens and representing clients before governmental agencies.

With his tax background, Kaploe assists families with their estate planning goals including trust formation and maintenance, wills, and powers of attorney.

In addition to tax, Kaploe also advises clients with business formation, organization, and structuring. He has experience in guiding business through mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, and dissolutions.

Kaploe has served as the chair of the Tax Section for several organizations, including the Oakland County Bar Association and the Practice and Procedure Committee for the State Bar of Michigan. He has also received multiple awards as top lawyer.

Kaploe earned law degrees from Michigan State University College of Law and  Northwestern University. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan.