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Portia Roberson and Zenna Faraj Elhasan have been reappointed by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to serve second four-year terms on the Michigan Civil Rights Commission. Both Roberson and Elhasan were originally appointed to the Commission in December of 2019, with their first terms ending on December 31, 2023. Their re-appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.

Roberson is the CEO of Focus: HOPE, a 55-year-old organization with a focus on workforce development and education.

Previously she served the City of Detroit as the group executive for Civil Rights, Inclusion & Opportunity. Roberson earned her bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Michigan and her law degree at Wayne State University Law School.

Roberson is reappointed to represent democrats for a term commencing January 1, 2024, and expiring December 31, 2027.

Elhasan is the general counsel at The Kresge Foundation and serves as secretary for the foundation’s board of trustees. She is responsible for managing the overall legal affairs of the foundation, supports the development and enforcement of foundation policies and practices, supports the board on governance matters and manages outside counsel relationships.

Elhasan earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from University of Michigan-Dearborn and her law degree from University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Elhasan is reappointed to represent democrats for a term commencing January 1, 2024, and expiring December 31, 2027.

“I am honored to be re-appointed to the Michigan Civil Rights Commission by Governor Gretchen Whitmer,” said Roberson.

“At a time when there is a constant attack on the civil rights of so many, I look forward to continuing to work with my fellow commissioners to ensure that Michigan is a safe and welcoming state for all.”

The Michigan Civil Rights Commission was created by the Michigan Constitution of 1963 to carry out the guarantees against discrimination articulated in Article I, Section 2.  The Commission is charged with investigating alleged discrimination against any person because of religion, race, color or national origin, genetic information, sex, age, marital status, height, weight, arrest record, and physical and mental disability. The Michigan Department of Civil Rights serves as the operational arm of the Commission.

In addition, Whitmer announced appointments to the LGBTQ+ Commission. Anthony Williams was among the governor’s appointees.

Williams is the chief executive officer at Corktown Health, a non-profit LGBTQ-focused medical home. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Michigan-Dearborn, and a law degree from Wayne State University Law School. He is appointed to represent LGBTQ+ Advocacy Organizations in the form of a community center for a term commencing November 30, 2023, and expiring on November 29, 2027.

The LGBTQ+ Commission, created under the executive power of the governor and in accordance with the Michigan Constitution of 1963, will serve as an advisory body within the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. The commission will include representatives from the executive branch of state government, ensuring a diverse range of voices and perspectives.

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Emilie Vassar recently joined the Detroit office of Ogletree Deakins as counsel. Her practice focuses on labor and employment law.

Vassar earned her law degree from Boston University School of Law and her B.A. from Bard College.

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Michigan Lawyers Weekly (MiLW) recently named Elizabeth Rogers, attorney and partner at Taft, a member of the inaugural group of “Michigan’s Go-To Lawyers Power List” in the commercial real estate category. Mark Cooper, partner-in-charge at Taft Detroit, made the announcement.

As a partner, Rogers has developed expertise in driving complex transactions for national and international companies and closely held businesses. Rogers has a background in real estate business and general civil litigation matters, advising her clients in multi-billion-dollar, multi-state commercial property and other asset-based transactions, capitalization, construction, development, zoning and corporate governance.

Outside of practicing law in the private sector, Rogers has advised municipalities regarding legal strategy and risk mitigation. She presents complex legal concepts to elected and appointed officials and has worked with United States and State of Michigan congresspersons regarding legislative and policy matters.

Rogers earned her bachelor’s degree in 1997 from the University of Michigan and later earned her law degree from the University of Michigan Law School.

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At the inaugural Emjay International Cannabis Awards ceremony on Nov. 30, Clark Hill received the first-ever “Cannabis Law Firm of the Year” Emjay. The Emjay Awards are the cannabis industry’s international business awards that recognize the top ancillary businesses supporting the cannabis industry. The Emjays are a black-tie affair honoring the top accountants,
attorneys, software companies, consultants, and other service-based categories.

“While recognition means a lot, what drives us is our focus and dedication to our clients and their pioneering tasks on a daily and weekly basis,” said Bob Hoban, Clark Hill’s cannabis industry group co-chair. “Groundbreaking entrepreneurs and clients require inventive legal counsel and advisory, and that’s what Clark Hill provides.”

Hoban and his fellow co-chair Sander Zagzebski, along with Xavier Jaillet, cannabis industry group coordinator, and Halston Trabucco, business development manager, accepted the award at MJBizCon in Las Vegas. The award is the second Clark Hill’s cannabis team has received this year. In September, Benzinga named the group “Cannabis Law Firm of the Year.”

“Our full service, multidisciplinary cannabis group includes partner level attorneys from each of our substantive practice areas and all of our firm’s major geographies,” Zagzebski said. “While many of our AmLaw ranked peers have experience in the industry, we think our cross-disciplinary collaboration and geographic diversity helped set us apart and contributed to our Chambers USA ranking, our award at the Benzinga conference and now this award at MJBiz.”

The Emjay ceremony was part of the MJBiz Conference at the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas.

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Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce that Christopher Cornwall (member, Detroit) has been named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s inaugural “Michigan’s Go To Lawyers Power List.”

“I am honored to be selected by Michigan Lawyers Weekly for their ‘Michigan’s Go To Lawyers Power List.’ It is a privilege to be included with such a talented and accomplished group of attorneys,” Cornwall said.

Cornwall serves as the Midwest Region Construction chair for Dickinson Wright, and with over 30 years of experience, he is recognized as the 2023 “Lawyer of the Year – Construction Law” by Best Lawyers in America® and was honored as an “All Star” by BTI Client Service for his service to clients in the construction industry. He represents national and local construction companies in construction disputes, including lien and bond claims, delays, scheduling, cost escalation, differing site conditions, defective design, cardinal change, extras, and cumulative impact claims.

 Cornwall received his law degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

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Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that Michelle Thurber Czapski has been recognized in Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s
“Michigan’s Go To Lawyers Power List” for her work in the Business Litigation sector. Czapski is one of only six lawyers, and the only woman lawyer, to be included in the Power List for Business Litigation.

Czapski is the chair of Bodman’s Insurance Practice Group and co-chair of the firm’s Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice Group. She has more than three decades of experience representing major corporate clients in litigation and alternative dispute resolution proceedings. She has successfully represented insurance and financial service companies, automotive and other product manufacturers, Tier-1 automotive suppliers, telecommunications companies, and pharmaceutical companies in matters involving product liability claims, consumer protection claims, insurance and ERISA disputes, contract matters, and a broad range of other commercial and business disputes.

Czapski has received several recognitions as an influential leader in Michigan. In 2020, Michigan Lawyers Weekly selected Czapski as a “Leader in the Law” and in 2017, Crain’s Detroit Business honored her as one of Southeast Michigan’s “Notable Women Lawyers.” Michigan Super Lawyers 2023 lists her as one of the “Top 50 Women Attorneys” in Michigan and has been listed in Michigan Super Lawyers 2009-2023 under Business Litigation, Class Action/Mass Torts, and Insurance Coverage.

She is also listed in DBusiness Top Lawyers 2024 under Insurance Law and Litigation-Insurance, and in Benchmark Litigation 2024 as a Litigation Star.

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Michigan Lawyers Weekly has named Michael McGee its 2023 Lawyer of the Year.

McGee served as Miller Canfield’s CEO from 2013 to 2021, making him the second-longest serving CEO in the firm’s 171-year history.

During McGee’s tenure as CEO, the firm expanded its global presence and capabilities, opening offices in strategic locations such as Qatar, Ohio, and California, and reopening the office in Washington, D.C. McGee’s foresight led to the creation of the firm’s automated and connected vehicles practice, positioning the firm as pioneers in this emerging field.

Additionally, McGee’s commitment to improving social justice, not only within the firm but in the community at large, was a driving principle during his service as CEO. Under his leadership, the firm strengthened its commitment to pro bono service when Miller Canfield appointed Wendy Richards as pro bono counsel in November 2016. In the summer of 2017, the firm embarked on one of its largest and most complex pro bono matters ever, the highly publicized Hamama v. Adducci litigation, which prevented hundreds of Iraqi nationals living in the U.S. from removal without due process in immigration courts, sparing them potential harm and even death if they were sent back to Iraq. McGee considers this among the firm’s most important undertakings in the past decade.

Among McGee’s proudest achievements as CEO is the firm’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Miller Canfield has a history of being forward-thinking in diversity matters, and the commitment was reenergized in 2016 when the firm was among the 54 major firms in the U.S. to take part in the Women in Law Hackathon, an innovative program to advance the careers of women in the legal profession.

Out of the Hackathon, the Mansfield Rule was born, requiring participating law firms to demonstrate that 30% of candidates considered for advancement and lateral hiring are members of traditionally underrepresented groups, including women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community and attorneys with disabilities. Miller Canfield was one of 27 firms in the country, and the only firm in Michigan, to achieve Mansfield Plus certification during the program’s first year, a designation Miller Canfield has continued to hold for five years in a row.

Under McGee’s leadership, the firm didn’t just pledge to establish diversity metrics; it demonstrated an unwavering commitment to realizing them. This commitment was solidified by the appointment of DEI director Michelle Crockett to the post of deputy executive officer in 2020—a testament to McGee’s dedication to breaking barriers, promoting genuine inclusivity and going beyond rhetoric to redefine power dynamics.

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Plunkett Cooney partner Howard B. Goldman was recently named to the inaugural Go To Lawyers Power List for commercial real estate as determined by Michigan Lawyers Weekly (MiLW).

A member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, Goldman joins a group of five Michigan attorneys from among MiLW’s expanded list of Go To Lawyers for commercial litigation as published in June.

A member of Plunkett Cooney’s Business Transactions & Planning Practice Group, Goldman has more than 35 years of experience negotiating and representing borrowers, lenders, landlords and tenants in all aspects of commercial real estate transactions. He handles finance, sale-leaseback and commercial leases and build to suit transactions, and he assist clients with the purchase and financing of commercial properties and the creation and renovation of corporate campuses and relocations. Goldman also negotiated with lenders regarding COVID-19 and its impact on hospitality and retail properties. He also works with a number of clients in Michigan’s cannabis industry.

Admitted to practice in Michigan, Illinois, and New York, Goldman received his law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1985. He is a member of the Illinois and New York State bar associations and the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. He also serves as the Michigan chair of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys. He received his undergraduate degree from Loyola University Chicago in 1982.

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Warner Norcross + Judd LLP has been named one of the leading litigation firms in the U.S. by BTI Consulting.

Warner was named a litigation leader in four categories as part of BTI Consulting’s 2023 survey of top legal decision makers at companies with $1 billion or more in revenue. The firm, which has nine offices across Michigan, was one of 235 law firms across the country noted by clients without prompting.

Warner is recognized as a Litigation Standout in three categories of all U.S. law firms:

• Product liability litigation, which places the firm in the top 10%.

• Employment litigation, earning Warner a spot in the top 12%.

• Commercial litigation, which ranks the firm in the top 14%.

Warner also earned a spot as Litigation Noteworthy in Complex Commercial Litigation, placing the firm in the top 15% of all U.S. law firms. Warner is the only Michigan law firm recognized in each of these four categories.