Butzel attorney and former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Kurtis T. Wilder
has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Hastings Insurance, a
regional property casualty insurance company based in Hastings,
Michigan.
Wilder is a shareholder with Butzel. He concentrates his practice in litigation, appeals, and mediation and facilitation. He serves as a neutral mediator/arbitrator with New Era ADR, a digital advanced dispute resolution platform. Wilder has been a Senior Lecturing Fellow at Regent University School of Law and has appeared as a commentator on Dan Abrams Live.
Wilder served a one-year term as chair of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He was named to the Executive Committee in 2022.
Wilder served on the Michigan Supreme Court following his appointment by Governor Rick Snyder on May 9, 2017 through December 31, 2018. Prior to that time, Wilder served as a judge for 25 years on both the Michigan Court of Appeals and the Washtenaw County Trial Court.
Wilder, the 112th justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, graduated from the University of Michigan with an A.B. degree in Political Science in 1981, and from the University of Michigan Law School with his law degree in 1984.
Wilder was named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s Hall of Fame Class of 2021. He also is included in The Best Lawyers in America, Appellate Practice, 2021-2023 and DBusiness magazine’s Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit, Appellate Law, 2020-2024; Arbitration, 2020-2022.
Wilder served as chair of the Interlochen Center for the Arts Board of Trustees from 2021-2024. Previously, he served as first vice-chair and chair-elect. He also serves as chair-elect of the Board of Directors of the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan, and will become AAUM’s board chair in September 2025.
Wilder has memberships in the Fellows of the Michigan State Bar Foundation; the Association of Black Judges of Michigan; the Federalist Society, Board of Advisors, Lawyers Division-Michigan Chapter; Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Gamma Rho Boule; and the Wolverine Bar Association.
Wilder is a former board chair of the State of Michigan Community Corrections Advisory Board, National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, and Nonprofit Enterprise at Work. Wilder is an elder and Chancel Choir member at First Presbyterian Church of Plymouth.
• • •
Wayne State University Law School Professor Laura Bartell will be inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy (ACB) in its 36th Class. The induction ceremony will take place in Washington, D.C., during the College’s Annual Meeting in March 2025.
After earning her law degree from Harvard Law School, where she served as an officer on the Harvard Law Review, Bartell clerked for Judge Alvin B. Rubin of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Bartell then practiced law in New York, eventually becoming a partner at Shearman & Sterling, where she specialized in bank financing and bankruptcy.
In 1996, Bartell joined Wayne Law’s faculty, where she has made contributions to the academic and legal communities. In 2017, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts appointed her as the associate reporter of the Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules to the Judicial Conference of the United States. Bartell also served as the dean of faculty for the American Board of Certification and is a member of numerous distinguished legal organizations, including the American Law Institute and the American Bankruptcy Institute.
In addition to her scholarly work, Bartell serves on the Board of Directors and supervises the student program for Access to Bankruptcy Court, a nonprofit organization that provides experienced bankruptcy attorneys (sometimes paired with students) free of charge to low-income individuals seeking bankruptcy relief in the Eastern District of Michigan.
Upon her induction, Bartell expressed her gratitude, stating, “I am truly honored to be inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy. This recognition reflects not only my work but also the supportive environment fostered at Wayne Law. I am humbled to contribute to our academic community and to work alongside such dedicated colleagues who inspire me every day. This award serves as a reminder of our shared commitment to excellence in the field and the importance of advancing our profession together.”
• • •
Collins Einhorn Farrell PC is pleased to announce that attorney Katie Stearns has joined the firm.
Stearns is an associate in the firm’s Insurance Coverage and Professional Liability Practice Groups. Her practice focuses on commercial and complex litigation matters.
Stearns also provides coverage opinions and advice to insurer clients She has litigated a variety of commercial disputes including shareholder oppression, conversion matters, and contract disputes. She has experience in the courtroom across the State of Michigan.
Stearns attended the University of Michigan and received a B.A in Political Science and Economics. She received her law degree from Wayne State University Law School.
• • •
Varnum partner Kathleen Cieslik (Birmingham) has been elected to serve a three-year term as a Council Member of the Probate and Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan.
The council oversees Michigan’s probate and estate planning attorneys, focusing on education, law development, and Michigan appellate court decisions.
Cieslik has been an active member of the Probate and Estate Planning Section, currently chairing the Electronic Wills Committee and contributing to legislation for Michigan’s Uniform Power of Attorney Act. Her committee work also includes involvement with Citizens Outreach; Guardian, Conservatorship & End of Life; Nonbanking Entity Trust Powers; the Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal Act; and the Uniform Community Property Disposition at Death Act.
In her trusts and estates practice at Varnum, Cieslik assists individuals and multi-generational families with customized estate planning and provides counsel to fiduciaries on managing trusts and estates. An experienced litigator, she frequently handles probate matters, both routine and contested, throughout Southeast Michigan.
Cieslik’s other affiliations include the Board of Directors for the Planned Giving Roundtable of Southeast Michigan, the Oakland County Bar Association, and the Financial and Estate Planning Council of Metro Detroit. She is also a member of the Detroit Regional Chamber’s 45th Leadership Detroit Cohort.
• • •
Employee benefits and ERISA law firm J.J. Conway Law is pleased to announce that principal attorney, founder, and litigator John Joseph (J.J.) Conway has been recognized among DBusiness magazine’s Top Lawyers for 2025. Conway was named in the employee benefits law category.
As his firm wraps up a milestone 25 years in 2024, the nationally recognized trial attorney has witnessed the power of employee benefits to not only heal but help preserve financial stability for those in greatest need of coverage. He has navigated the legal complexities of disability, employee health benefits, and ERISA law—ranging from wins in autism services coverage for children to employee benefits protection during the City of Detroit bankruptcy, to mental health coverage for children suffering from life-threatening severe behavioral health conditions. Additionally, he has most recently advocated for clients in cases fighting for disability insurance coverage for Post-COVID-Conditions (PCC) and for new mothers whose disabilities are pregnancy or post-pregnancy related.
The DBusiness honor follows other legal accolades that Conway received this year, including 2024 Leading Lawyers and 2024 Super Lawyers.
• • •
Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce it received 24 national rankings and 58 rankings in Southeast Michigan in the 2025 Best Law Firms® report by Best Lawyers.
Below are Dickinson Wright’s 2025 Best Law Firms national and local rankings:
—National Tier 1
Appellate Practice
Construction Law
—National Tier 2
Banking and Finance Law
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Land Use & Zoning Law
Litigation – Bankruptcy
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Labor & Employment
Litigation – Real Estate
Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Real Estate Law
Tax Law
Trademark Law
Trusts & Estates Law
—National Tier 3
Copyright Law
Employment Law – Management
Environmental Law
Labor Law – Management
Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Securities Regulation
Technology Law
—Tier 1
• Detroit
Appellate Practice
Banking and Finance Law
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Corporate Governance Law
Corporate Law
Employment Law – Management
Environmental Law
International Mergers & Acquisitions
International Trade & Finance Law
Labor Law – Management
Litigation – Bankruptcy
Litigation – Labor & Employment
Mergers & Acquisitions Law
• Troy
Arbitration
Banking and Finance Law
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Health Care Law
Litigation – Banking & Finance
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Litigation – Real Estate
Mediation
Patent Law
Real Estate Law
Trusts & Estates Law
—Tier 2
• Detroit
Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
Litigation – Antitrust
Litigation – Intellectual Property
• Troy
Land Use & Zoning Law
Litigation – Patent
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
Municipal Law
Nonprofit/Charities Law
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Securitization and Structured Finance Law
Trademark Law
—Tier 3
• Detroit
Litigation – Environmental
• Troy
Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
Family Law
Immigration Law
Wilder is a shareholder with Butzel. He concentrates his practice in litigation, appeals, and mediation and facilitation. He serves as a neutral mediator/arbitrator with New Era ADR, a digital advanced dispute resolution platform. Wilder has been a Senior Lecturing Fellow at Regent University School of Law and has appeared as a commentator on Dan Abrams Live.
Wilder served a one-year term as chair of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He was named to the Executive Committee in 2022.
Wilder served on the Michigan Supreme Court following his appointment by Governor Rick Snyder on May 9, 2017 through December 31, 2018. Prior to that time, Wilder served as a judge for 25 years on both the Michigan Court of Appeals and the Washtenaw County Trial Court.
Wilder, the 112th justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, graduated from the University of Michigan with an A.B. degree in Political Science in 1981, and from the University of Michigan Law School with his law degree in 1984.
Wilder was named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s Hall of Fame Class of 2021. He also is included in The Best Lawyers in America, Appellate Practice, 2021-2023 and DBusiness magazine’s Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit, Appellate Law, 2020-2024; Arbitration, 2020-2022.
Wilder served as chair of the Interlochen Center for the Arts Board of Trustees from 2021-2024. Previously, he served as first vice-chair and chair-elect. He also serves as chair-elect of the Board of Directors of the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan, and will become AAUM’s board chair in September 2025.
Wilder has memberships in the Fellows of the Michigan State Bar Foundation; the Association of Black Judges of Michigan; the Federalist Society, Board of Advisors, Lawyers Division-Michigan Chapter; Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Gamma Rho Boule; and the Wolverine Bar Association.
Wilder is a former board chair of the State of Michigan Community Corrections Advisory Board, National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, and Nonprofit Enterprise at Work. Wilder is an elder and Chancel Choir member at First Presbyterian Church of Plymouth.
• • •
Wayne State University Law School Professor Laura Bartell will be inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy (ACB) in its 36th Class. The induction ceremony will take place in Washington, D.C., during the College’s Annual Meeting in March 2025.
After earning her law degree from Harvard Law School, where she served as an officer on the Harvard Law Review, Bartell clerked for Judge Alvin B. Rubin of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Bartell then practiced law in New York, eventually becoming a partner at Shearman & Sterling, where she specialized in bank financing and bankruptcy.
In 1996, Bartell joined Wayne Law’s faculty, where she has made contributions to the academic and legal communities. In 2017, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts appointed her as the associate reporter of the Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules to the Judicial Conference of the United States. Bartell also served as the dean of faculty for the American Board of Certification and is a member of numerous distinguished legal organizations, including the American Law Institute and the American Bankruptcy Institute.
In addition to her scholarly work, Bartell serves on the Board of Directors and supervises the student program for Access to Bankruptcy Court, a nonprofit organization that provides experienced bankruptcy attorneys (sometimes paired with students) free of charge to low-income individuals seeking bankruptcy relief in the Eastern District of Michigan.
Upon her induction, Bartell expressed her gratitude, stating, “I am truly honored to be inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy. This recognition reflects not only my work but also the supportive environment fostered at Wayne Law. I am humbled to contribute to our academic community and to work alongside such dedicated colleagues who inspire me every day. This award serves as a reminder of our shared commitment to excellence in the field and the importance of advancing our profession together.”
• • •
Collins Einhorn Farrell PC is pleased to announce that attorney Katie Stearns has joined the firm.
Stearns is an associate in the firm’s Insurance Coverage and Professional Liability Practice Groups. Her practice focuses on commercial and complex litigation matters.
Stearns also provides coverage opinions and advice to insurer clients She has litigated a variety of commercial disputes including shareholder oppression, conversion matters, and contract disputes. She has experience in the courtroom across the State of Michigan.
Stearns attended the University of Michigan and received a B.A in Political Science and Economics. She received her law degree from Wayne State University Law School.
• • •
Varnum partner Kathleen Cieslik (Birmingham) has been elected to serve a three-year term as a Council Member of the Probate and Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan.
The council oversees Michigan’s probate and estate planning attorneys, focusing on education, law development, and Michigan appellate court decisions.
Cieslik has been an active member of the Probate and Estate Planning Section, currently chairing the Electronic Wills Committee and contributing to legislation for Michigan’s Uniform Power of Attorney Act. Her committee work also includes involvement with Citizens Outreach; Guardian, Conservatorship & End of Life; Nonbanking Entity Trust Powers; the Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal Act; and the Uniform Community Property Disposition at Death Act.
In her trusts and estates practice at Varnum, Cieslik assists individuals and multi-generational families with customized estate planning and provides counsel to fiduciaries on managing trusts and estates. An experienced litigator, she frequently handles probate matters, both routine and contested, throughout Southeast Michigan.
Cieslik’s other affiliations include the Board of Directors for the Planned Giving Roundtable of Southeast Michigan, the Oakland County Bar Association, and the Financial and Estate Planning Council of Metro Detroit. She is also a member of the Detroit Regional Chamber’s 45th Leadership Detroit Cohort.
• • •
Employee benefits and ERISA law firm J.J. Conway Law is pleased to announce that principal attorney, founder, and litigator John Joseph (J.J.) Conway has been recognized among DBusiness magazine’s Top Lawyers for 2025. Conway was named in the employee benefits law category.
As his firm wraps up a milestone 25 years in 2024, the nationally recognized trial attorney has witnessed the power of employee benefits to not only heal but help preserve financial stability for those in greatest need of coverage. He has navigated the legal complexities of disability, employee health benefits, and ERISA law—ranging from wins in autism services coverage for children to employee benefits protection during the City of Detroit bankruptcy, to mental health coverage for children suffering from life-threatening severe behavioral health conditions. Additionally, he has most recently advocated for clients in cases fighting for disability insurance coverage for Post-COVID-Conditions (PCC) and for new mothers whose disabilities are pregnancy or post-pregnancy related.
The DBusiness honor follows other legal accolades that Conway received this year, including 2024 Leading Lawyers and 2024 Super Lawyers.
• • •
Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce it received 24 national rankings and 58 rankings in Southeast Michigan in the 2025 Best Law Firms® report by Best Lawyers.
Below are Dickinson Wright’s 2025 Best Law Firms national and local rankings:
—National Tier 1
Appellate Practice
Construction Law
—National Tier 2
Banking and Finance Law
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Land Use & Zoning Law
Litigation – Bankruptcy
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Labor & Employment
Litigation – Real Estate
Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Real Estate Law
Tax Law
Trademark Law
Trusts & Estates Law
—National Tier 3
Copyright Law
Employment Law – Management
Environmental Law
Labor Law – Management
Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Securities Regulation
Technology Law
—Tier 1
• Detroit
Appellate Practice
Banking and Finance Law
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Corporate Governance Law
Corporate Law
Employment Law – Management
Environmental Law
International Mergers & Acquisitions
International Trade & Finance Law
Labor Law – Management
Litigation – Bankruptcy
Litigation – Labor & Employment
Mergers & Acquisitions Law
• Troy
Arbitration
Banking and Finance Law
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Health Care Law
Litigation – Banking & Finance
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Litigation – Real Estate
Mediation
Patent Law
Real Estate Law
Trusts & Estates Law
—Tier 2
• Detroit
Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
Litigation – Antitrust
Litigation – Intellectual Property
• Troy
Land Use & Zoning Law
Litigation – Patent
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
Municipal Law
Nonprofit/Charities Law
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Securitization and Structured Finance Law
Trademark Law
—Tier 3
• Detroit
Litigation – Environmental
• Troy
Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
Family Law
Immigration Law
• • •
The Dobrusin Law Firm
is proud to announce that seven of its attorneys have been recognized
on the 2025 Top Lawyers list by DBusiness. The attorneys and their areas
of recognition are:
Eric M. Dobrusin – Intellectual Property and Patent Law
Eric M. Dobrusin – Intellectual Property and Patent Law
Dobrusin,
founding shareholder of The Dobrusin Law Firm, has more than 35 years
of experience in intellectual property law, with a focus on patent
counseling and strategic patent prosecution. His professional experience
spans materials science, biomedical, automotive technologies, and food
processing and packaging. Dobrusin also has a background in alternative
dispute resolution, having served as a special master and mediator in
intellectual property cases.
Erin Klug – Intellectual Property and Patent Law
Klug
is an intellectual property attorney who advises clients ranging from
large corporations to solo entrepreneurs on patent, trademark, and
copyright matters. She has experience in mechanical and electrical arts,
particularly in the automotive, medical device, and consumer goods
industries. Klug also prepares license agreements and opinions on patent
clearance, novelty, and infringement and is adept at resolving IP
disputes.
Katherine M. Pacynski – Intellectual Property and Patent Law
Pacynski practices patent law, focusing on mechanical, chemical, and materials science arts. She represents a diverse clientele, from garage inventors to multinational corporations, helping them protect their innovations. Pacynski drafts patent applications, negotiates with the USPTO and foreign patent offices, and manages IP portfolios.
Paul J. Palinski – Intellectual Property and Patent Law
Palinski is a registered patent attorney with a background in mechanical engineering and manufacturing operations. He concentrates on patent counseling and strategic patent prosecution in mechanical, biomedical, and electromechanical technologies. Palinski represents a range of clients from multinational companies to individual inventors. Before practicing law, he worked as an engineer in the automotive industry.
Kristen L. Pursley – Intellectual Property and Patent Law
Pursley, managing shareholder of The Dobrusin Law Firm, leads the firm with a commitment to client satisfaction and innovative problem-solving. She advises clients on patent, trademark, and copyright matters, focusing on industries such as automotive, medical devices, and consumer products.
Daniela M. Walters – Intellectual Property and Patent Law
Walters advises on all areas of transactional intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and IP agreements. She represents clients from start-ups to established corporations, helping them build strong IP portfolios. Walters has experience in mechanical arts, electromechanical devices, and computer technology.
Rebecca L. Wilson – Copyright Law
Wilson is a copyright and trademark attorney who helps businesses protect and enforce their brands. She advises on branding initiatives and handles trademark prosecution from inception to registration. Wilson works with a diverse clientele, from clothing designers to cannabis companies, and is known for her ability to negotiate favorable outcomes and avoid costly litigation.
The Dobrusin Law Firm is also honored to announce that it has been named a Metropolitan Tier 1 firm, the highest rating available in its region, for Troy in Copyright Law, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent, Patent Law, and Trademark Law in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®.
Earlier this year, Eric Dobrusin, Erin Klug, Kristen Pursley, and Rebecca Wilson were recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, and Katherine Pacynski, Paul Palinski, and Daniela Walters were recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America—each for the fifth year running.
• • •
Foster Swift attorney Ray H. Littleton has been selected to the “Leaders in the Law” Class of 2024 by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
Littleton’s practice area consists of commercial and general litigation and health care law. He helps businesses and organizations address a wide range of litigation matters and disputes, specializing in five key areas: insurance, health care, transportation, warranty claims, and employment disputes.
In 2022, Littleton was unanimously elected to serve as president for James E. Hunter Association, a Southeast Michigan nonprofit that awards scholarships to local high school students and to provide need-based educational grants for the local community through contributions and donations.
Littleton is the chair of Foster Swift’s Diversity Committee and in consecutive years (2023-2024) Foster Swift was recognized as Mansfield Certified Plus by Diversity Lab, an international organization dedicated to advancing DEI.
• • •
Miller Johnson has been recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®.
Miller Johnson received the following local rankings in the 2025 Best Law Firms:
—Regional Tier 1
• Detroit
Litigation – Real Estate
Patent Law
—Regional Tier 2
• Detroit
Commercial Litigation
Employment Law – Management
Trademark Law
—Regional Tier 3
• Detroit
Litigation – Securities
• • •
McDonald Hopkins has been honored as one of the country’s leading law firms by Best Lawyers®.
—National Tier 1
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
—National Tier 2
Banking and Finance Law
Commercial Litigation
Patent Law
—National Tier 3
Corporate Law
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Litigation- Real Estate
Real Estate Law
—Metropolitan Tier 1
• Detroit
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Litigation
Litigation - Labor & Employment
Litigation - Real Estate
—Metropolitan Tier 2
• Detroit
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Employment Law - Individuals
Employment Law - Management
Real Estate Law
• • •
BSP Law is proud to be named as a Best Law Firm for 2025 by Best Lawyers.
The firm’s Troy office was named in Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, and Appellate Practice. The Troy office was also named in Tier 2 for Product Liability Litigation – Defendants.
• • •
Art O’Reilly, a partner in Jones Day’s Business & Tort Litigation Practice, has been recognized by Michigan Lawyers Weekly in its 2024 list of “Leaders in the Law.”
O’Reilly’s practice focuses on health care, technology, and automotive and mobility industry litigation. His recent representations include a big win on behalf of a health system in a provider-antitrust case—securing a complete defense judgment and an award of attorney fees. He also is advising a pioneering electric vehicle battery manufacturer on its entry into North America, a global automaker seeking to expand its business footprint, and a leading cryptocurrency exchange.
In the community, O’Reilly has served on the board of directors of various community and cultural organizations, including: the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, as secretary and director; the Detroit Bar Association, as president and director; and the DMC Foundation (Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan) as treasurer and director.
O’Reilly also has helped lead teams of clients and lawyers in Laredo, Texas, as part of Jones Day’s pro bono Border Project which assists asylum seekers to obtain safe and lawful entry into the United States.
• • •
Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that DBusiness Magazine has included 77 of the firm’s attorneys on its 2025 Top Lawyers list.
Local Bodman attorneys included in DBusiness Top Lawyers 2025, with the practice areas for which they were nominated, are listed below by office.
—Detroit office
Courtland W. Anderson (Franchise Law)
Hebba Aref (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Marc M. Bakst (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law)
Jonathan S. Berg (Commercial 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 (Nonprofit/Charities Law)
Nathan D. Dupes (Environmental Law)
Aaron D. Graves (Labor and Employment Law)
Scott P. Gyorke (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Joseph J. Kochanek (Banking & Financial Service Law)
David P. Larsen (Trusts and Estates)
Melissa A. Lewis (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Kelly M. Lockman (Real Estate Law)
Jay B. Long (Tax Law)
Julia C. Massaro (Trusts and Estates)
Ralph E. McDowell (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law)
Nicholas P. McElhinny (Antitrust Law)
Adam B. Norlander (Banking & Financial Services 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)
Erica J. Sarver (Environmental Law)
Bonnie S. Sherr (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Larry R. Shulman (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Annalise Lekas Surnow (Health Care Law)
Brian R. Trumbauer (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law)
Jaimee L. Witten (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law)
—Troy office
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)
David C. Bosman (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Gene P. Bowen (Mergers & Acquisitions Law)
Barbara A. Bowman (Public Finance Law)
Robert J. Cambridge (Securities Law)
Steven R. Cole (Tax Law)
Michael G. Costello (Insurance Law)
Anthony P. Cracchiolo (Trusts and Estates)
Michelle Thurber Czapski (Insurance Law; Litigation-Insurance)
Stephen P. Dunn (Litigation-Commercial)
Gary S. Fealk (Labor and Employment Law)
Gregory J. Gamalski (Real Estate Law)
Jennifer M. Hetu (Copyright Law; Intellectual Property and Patent Law)
Michelle L. Kolkmeyer (Labor and Employment Law)
Ryan M. Olson (Mergers & Acquisitions Law)
Kenneth J. Sachs (Employee Benefits Law)
Nicholas P. Scavone Jr. (Real Estate Law)
Rebecca C. Seguin-Skrabucha (Labor and Employment Law)
Andrew Z. Spilkin (Real Estate Law)
Thomas J. Tallerico (Litigation-Antitrust)
Melissa M. Tetreau (Labor and Employment Law)
Thomas Van Dusen (Litigation-Commercial)
David B. Walters (Employee Benefits Law)
• • •
Dykema is proud to share that the World Services Group (WSG) appointed Laura Baucus as chair of its North American Regional Council for 2024-2025. As chair, Baucus will lead a series of monthly meetings, develop strategies to promote the collaboration between WSG firms, and assist with planning the organization’s annual North America Regional meeting.
At Dykema, Baucus serves as director of Dykema’s 100+ Automotive Industry Group. She also formerly served as a past leader of the firm’s financial services litigation practice, and founded the firm’s supply chain group. Baucus is also a past co-leader of the firm’s Women’s Business Initiative in Michigan. Baucus has a unique hybrid practice concentrating on supply chain disputes and transactions, complex contract litigation, and consumer financial services litigation.
Baucus has experience advising manufacturers throughout the supply chain. She has negotiated and litigated hundreds of supply chain disputes and contracts, always with a focus on helping the client achieve its ultimate goal—which is typically an uninterrupted supply chain.
Her financial services practice focuses on large-volume portfolio litigation management, including representing national mortgage servicers, credit card issuers, and other financial institutions in consumer litigation. As an experienced legal project manager, Baucus has managed thousands of consumer financial services actions throughout her career.
Baucus earned a law degree from Wayne State University Law School and a B.A. from the Catholic University of America.
• • •
Clark Hill PLC received national and regional rankings in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms.
—National Tier 1
Admiralty and Maritime Law
Appellate Practice
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Energy Law
Immigration Law
Insurance Law
Labor Law – Management
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Trusts and Estates
—National Tier 2
Banking and Finance Law
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Corporate Law
Employment Law – Management
Real Estate Law
—National Tier 3
Litigation – Environmental
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Patent Law
—Tier 1
• Detroit
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Corporate Law
Employment Law – Management
Labor Law – Management
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Nonprofit / Charities Law
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Trusts and Estates
• Troy
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Education Law
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Employment Law – Management
Litigation – Insurance
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Litigation – Trusts and Estates
Real Estate Law
Trusts and Estates
—Tier 2
• Detroit
Arbitration
Banking and Finance Law
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Immigration Law
Land Use and Zoning Law
Litigation – Trusts and Estates
Mediation
Real Estate Law
• Troy
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Family Law
Labor Law – Management
Litigation – Banking and Finance
—Tier 3
• Detroit
Appellate Practice
Government Relations Practice
• • •
Jordan Bolton, a partner in Taft’s Detroit office, has been named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s “Leaders in the Law” list.
Bolton counsels clients in high-stakes litigation, while managing risks and resolving disputes arising out of client operations. In addition, He frequently serves as outside general counsel and as an arbitrator and mediator. He represents clients in a variety of industries, including automotive, construction, financial services, franchise, health care, manufacturing, private equity, real estate, retail, technology, and transportation.
When informed of the honor, Bolton commented “It is an honor to receive this recognition from one of the leading legal publications in the state, and I am humbled to accept it as recognition of the hard work of my colleagues without whom success would not be possible.”
In addition, Taft Southfield partners Jim Waggoner and Aaron Sherbin will speak at the 2024 Business Owner Success Summit at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham on November 21.
Waggoner will serve as a moderator for the session “Building the Right Team.” Sherbin will speak as a panelist for the session “Pre-Transitional Planning: What is my After Tax Number?”
Waggoner’s practice focuses on a range of corporate matters including corporate structure and governance, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and general commercial transactions. He advises on complex business matters for a diverse client base, which ranges from small privately held companies to large publicly traded companies. Waggoner frequently counsels clients on matters involving entity formation, limited liability company and buy-sell agreements, policies and procedures, labor and employment, and business succession planning.
Sherbin’s practice is focused on estate planning, trust and estate administration, probate litigation, wealth preservation and transfer strategies. He also provides business and tax planning services for entrepreneurs, closely-held companies, family businesses and family offices. He offers succession planning, post-mortem planning, and asset protection planning. Sherbin also serves as a mergers and acquisitions transactional attorney focusing on federal tax law, buy-sell agreements, operating agreements, and shareholder agreements.
Taft is also pleased to announce that it has been recognized in the Best Lawyers® 2025 “Best Law Firms.”
—National Tier 1
Appellate Practice
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Corporate Law
Employment Law – Management
Environmental Law
Health Care Law
Labor Law – Management
Land Use and Zoning Law
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Litigation – Real Estate
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Patent Law
Securities / Capital Markets Law
Tax Law
Trademark Law
Trusts and Estates
Venture Capital Law
—National Tier 2
Advertising Law
Banking and Finance Law
Information Technology Law
Litigation – Banking and Finance
Litigation – Bankruptcy
Litigation – Environmental
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs
Real Estate Law
Securities Regulation
—National Tier 3
Insurance Law
Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity
Litigation – Securities
—Tier 1
• Detroit
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Insurance Law
Land Use and Zoning Law
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Insurance
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Real Estate Law
Tax Law
Trusts and Estates
• • •
Kitch Attorneys & Counselors PC proudly announces that Mark Wisniewski has been recognized in Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s Managing Partners Spotlight.
Reflecting on this honor, Wisniewski said, “Just like representing a client in a legal matter, the key to success in running a large law firm is constant communication. When you are constantly communicating, you will all be on the same page and you will all be working for the same goal. At Kitch, our top-notch management team is constantly working with each other to identify issues and present solutions. My job as the CEO is to make sure that our management team, staff, and attorneys have the resources to identify problems and the resources to implement solutions.”
Since 2014, Wisniewski has served as the chair and chief executive officer of Kitch. With more than 30 years of experience, he co-chairs the firm’s Asbestos Liability and Mass Tort defense practice.
Kitch is also pleased to announce that the following attorneys have been recognized as Top Lawyers by DBusiness for 2024 in their practice areas:
Greg Drutchas – Health Care Law
Terence P. Durkin – Labor and Employment Law
Christina A. Ginter – Appellate Law
Katharine Gostek – Appellate Law
John Paul Hessburg – Health Care Law
Meghan Kennedy Riordan – Immigration Law
Carina M. Kraatz – Construction Law
Ahndia Mansoori – Immigration Law
John M. Sier – Construction Law
• • •
Elaine M. Pohl, a partner and insurance coverage attorney at Plunkett Cooney, was recently selected by Michigan Lawyers Weekly (MiLW) as a member of its 2024 Class of Leaders in the Law.
Pohl maintains a national practice counseling insurers in complex litigated and non-litigated property and casualty disputes. Her coverage experience extends to claims involving professional liability, construction defects, bodily injuries, product liability, environmental contamination, personal and advertising injury, first-party property and allegations of bad faith.
Elected this year to Plunkett Cooney’s Board of Directors, Pohl is also a member of the firm’s Shareholder Evaluation Committee, and she is co-chair of Plunkett Cooney’s formal mentoring program.
Her expertise within the legal industry has resulted in Pohl having the distinction of being named a Best Lawyers in America® for Insurance Law / Insurance Litigation for 2024-2025, a Michigan Super Lawyer Rising Star in Insurance Coverage, and a Michigan Super Lawyers for several years. Michigan Lawyers Weekly also previously honored her in 2018 with its “Influential Women of Law” honor.
Pohl is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan Insurance and Indemnity Law Section (past chair and former board officer), Michigan Licensed Beverage
Association and DRI, the largest bar association of civil defense attorneys and in-house counsel, where she currently serves as the vice chair for its Insurance Law Publications Subcommittee and served as the 2023 chair of the organization’s national Insurance Coverage Practice Symposium in New York City.
A graduate from the Indiana University School of Law in 1999, Pohl received her undergraduate degree from Villanova University in 1996. She is admitted to practice law in state and federal courts in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.
In addition, Plunkett Cooney recently received national recognition by Best Lawyers® as one of its 2025 Best Law Firms.
“It’s an honor to be named among the Best Law Firms in the nation,” said the firm’s President & CEO Jeffrey C. Gerish. “This honor is a tribute to the outstanding work and dedication of our attorneys and staff, and it underscores the great results they achieve each day on behalf of their clients.”
Plunkett Cooney was recognized in the following first- and second-tier categories in Michigan and Ohio:
Appellate Practice
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Corporate Law
Employment Law – Management
Government Relations Practice
Health Care Law
Insurance Law
Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Litigation – Insurance
Litigation – Municipal
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
Municipal Law
Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Real Estate Law
• • •
Garan Lucow Miller PC is pleased to announce that the firm has been recognized by Best Lawyers® as a Best Law Firm in multiple practice areas across the Great Lakes region that it serves and nationally.
Garan Lucow Miller has been ranked as a Tier 1 firm in the Ann Arbor, Chicago, and Detroit metropolitan areas for Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants. In the Detroit metro area, the firm was also ranked as a Tier 1 firm in Appellate Practice and Insurance Law.
The firm was ranked as a Tier 2 firm in the Detroit metro area for Litigation-Insurance and in Northern Michigan for Insurance Law.
In the Chicago and Troy metropolitan areas, Garan Lucow Miller was ranked a Tier 3 firm in Insurance Law.
Additionally, Garan Lucow Miller received a Tier 3 ranking nationally in Appellate Practice.
• • •
Brooks Kushman is proud to announce the firm has been ranked in the 2025 edition of the U.S. News and World Report list of “Best Law Firms” by Best Lawyers.
Nationally, Brooks Kushman holds tier-three rankings in Intellectual Property Litigation and Trademark Law. On the regional level, Brooks Kushman holds tier-one rankings in Intellectual Property Litigation, Patent Litigation, Patent Law, Copyright Law, and Trademark Law in Detroit.
• • •
Best Lawyers® has recognized Kerr Russell as a “Best Law Firm,” having ranked the firm regionally in 21 practice areas.
Kerr Russell’s Appellate, Immigration and Municipal practices all moved to Tier 1 from Tier 2 in previous years. Bankruptcy and Restructuring moved to Tier 2 and Kerr Russell’s Commercial Transactions and Securities practices were newly recognized this year.
The ranked areas include the following:
—Metropolitan Tier 1, Detroit
Appellate Practice
Construction Law
Corporate Law
Health Care Law
Immigration Law
Insurance Law
Litigation – Antitrust
Litigation – Construction
Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
Municipal Law
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
—Metropolitan Tier 2, Detroit
Antitrust Law
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Transactions
Land Use & Zoning Law
Litigation – Bankruptcy
Tax Law
—Metropolitan Tier 3, Detroit
Commercial Litigation
Employment Law – Management
Real Estate Law
Securities Regulation
• • •
Harness IP is pleased to announce that it has been nationally recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®. This is the 13th consecutive year the firm has been included in the publication’s list of the country’s top firms.
Harness IP received national recognition in five practice areas and is regionally ranked in 16 practice areas:
—National Tier 2
Trademark Law
—National Tier 3
Copyright Law
Litigation – Intellectual Property
—Tier 1, Troy
Appellate Practice
Copyright Law
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Litigation – Patent
Patent Law
Trademark Law
• • •
Secrest Wardle is pleased to announce that the firm has been named in the Best Lawyers listing of 2025 Best Law Firms in the following categories:
—Tier 1, Troy
Commercial Litigation
Insurance Law
Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants
Litigation – Insurance
Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
—Tier 2, Troy
Land Use & Zoning Law
Litigation - Municipal
Municipal Law
—Tier 3, Troy
Arbitration
Litigation — Land Use & Zoning
• • •
Maddin Hauser is pleased to announce that Deborah S. Lapin has been elected to serve on the Recreational Boating Industries Educational Foundation’s Board of Directors.
The Recreational Boating Industries Educational Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation established in 1986 by the Michigan Boating Industries Association (MBIA) to advance opportunities for scholarships and training that benefit Michigan’s recreational marine industry.
Traditional scholarships are available to Michigan residents who are students enrolled or enrolling in higher education or trade schools intending to pursue a career in the marine industry. Awards are also available for individuals currently employed in the Michigan marine industry to attend industry training or education programs offered by local, statewide, or national marine organizations.
Lapin is a shareholder and member of Maddin Hauser’s Financial Services and Real Property Litigation group, which serves as a resource— locally, regionally, and nationally—for mortgage lenders and servicers, depository institutions, title insurance companies, construction companies, and commercial landlords/property owners. She specializes in real estate litigation and commercial and contractual disputes. Lapin is a member of the state bars of Michigan, New York, and Connecticut.
Pacynski practices patent law, focusing on mechanical, chemical, and materials science arts. She represents a diverse clientele, from garage inventors to multinational corporations, helping them protect their innovations. Pacynski drafts patent applications, negotiates with the USPTO and foreign patent offices, and manages IP portfolios.
Paul J. Palinski – Intellectual Property and Patent Law
Palinski is a registered patent attorney with a background in mechanical engineering and manufacturing operations. He concentrates on patent counseling and strategic patent prosecution in mechanical, biomedical, and electromechanical technologies. Palinski represents a range of clients from multinational companies to individual inventors. Before practicing law, he worked as an engineer in the automotive industry.
Kristen L. Pursley – Intellectual Property and Patent Law
Pursley, managing shareholder of The Dobrusin Law Firm, leads the firm with a commitment to client satisfaction and innovative problem-solving. She advises clients on patent, trademark, and copyright matters, focusing on industries such as automotive, medical devices, and consumer products.
Daniela M. Walters – Intellectual Property and Patent Law
Walters advises on all areas of transactional intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and IP agreements. She represents clients from start-ups to established corporations, helping them build strong IP portfolios. Walters has experience in mechanical arts, electromechanical devices, and computer technology.
Rebecca L. Wilson – Copyright Law
Wilson is a copyright and trademark attorney who helps businesses protect and enforce their brands. She advises on branding initiatives and handles trademark prosecution from inception to registration. Wilson works with a diverse clientele, from clothing designers to cannabis companies, and is known for her ability to negotiate favorable outcomes and avoid costly litigation.
The Dobrusin Law Firm is also honored to announce that it has been named a Metropolitan Tier 1 firm, the highest rating available in its region, for Troy in Copyright Law, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent, Patent Law, and Trademark Law in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®.
Earlier this year, Eric Dobrusin, Erin Klug, Kristen Pursley, and Rebecca Wilson were recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, and Katherine Pacynski, Paul Palinski, and Daniela Walters were recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America—each for the fifth year running.
• • •
Foster Swift attorney Ray H. Littleton has been selected to the “Leaders in the Law” Class of 2024 by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
Littleton’s practice area consists of commercial and general litigation and health care law. He helps businesses and organizations address a wide range of litigation matters and disputes, specializing in five key areas: insurance, health care, transportation, warranty claims, and employment disputes.
In 2022, Littleton was unanimously elected to serve as president for James E. Hunter Association, a Southeast Michigan nonprofit that awards scholarships to local high school students and to provide need-based educational grants for the local community through contributions and donations.
Littleton is the chair of Foster Swift’s Diversity Committee and in consecutive years (2023-2024) Foster Swift was recognized as Mansfield Certified Plus by Diversity Lab, an international organization dedicated to advancing DEI.
• • •
Miller Johnson has been recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®.
Miller Johnson received the following local rankings in the 2025 Best Law Firms:
—Regional Tier 1
• Detroit
Litigation – Real Estate
Patent Law
—Regional Tier 2
• Detroit
Commercial Litigation
Employment Law – Management
Trademark Law
—Regional Tier 3
• Detroit
Litigation – Securities
• • •
McDonald Hopkins has been honored as one of the country’s leading law firms by Best Lawyers®.
—National Tier 1
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
—National Tier 2
Banking and Finance Law
Commercial Litigation
Patent Law
—National Tier 3
Corporate Law
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Litigation- Real Estate
Real Estate Law
—Metropolitan Tier 1
• Detroit
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Litigation
Litigation - Labor & Employment
Litigation - Real Estate
—Metropolitan Tier 2
• Detroit
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Employment Law - Individuals
Employment Law - Management
Real Estate Law
• • •
BSP Law is proud to be named as a Best Law Firm for 2025 by Best Lawyers.
The firm’s Troy office was named in Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, and Appellate Practice. The Troy office was also named in Tier 2 for Product Liability Litigation – Defendants.
• • •
Art O’Reilly, a partner in Jones Day’s Business & Tort Litigation Practice, has been recognized by Michigan Lawyers Weekly in its 2024 list of “Leaders in the Law.”
O’Reilly’s practice focuses on health care, technology, and automotive and mobility industry litigation. His recent representations include a big win on behalf of a health system in a provider-antitrust case—securing a complete defense judgment and an award of attorney fees. He also is advising a pioneering electric vehicle battery manufacturer on its entry into North America, a global automaker seeking to expand its business footprint, and a leading cryptocurrency exchange.
In the community, O’Reilly has served on the board of directors of various community and cultural organizations, including: the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, as secretary and director; the Detroit Bar Association, as president and director; and the DMC Foundation (Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan) as treasurer and director.
O’Reilly also has helped lead teams of clients and lawyers in Laredo, Texas, as part of Jones Day’s pro bono Border Project which assists asylum seekers to obtain safe and lawful entry into the United States.
• • •
Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that DBusiness Magazine has included 77 of the firm’s attorneys on its 2025 Top Lawyers list.
Local Bodman attorneys included in DBusiness Top Lawyers 2025, with the practice areas for which they were nominated, are listed below by office.
—Detroit office
Courtland W. Anderson (Franchise Law)
Hebba Aref (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Marc M. Bakst (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law)
Jonathan S. Berg (Commercial 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 (Nonprofit/Charities Law)
Nathan D. Dupes (Environmental Law)
Aaron D. Graves (Labor and Employment Law)
Scott P. Gyorke (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Joseph J. Kochanek (Banking & Financial Service Law)
David P. Larsen (Trusts and Estates)
Melissa A. Lewis (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Kelly M. Lockman (Real Estate Law)
Jay B. Long (Tax Law)
Julia C. Massaro (Trusts and Estates)
Ralph E. McDowell (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law)
Nicholas P. McElhinny (Antitrust Law)
Adam B. Norlander (Banking & Financial Services 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)
Erica J. Sarver (Environmental Law)
Bonnie S. Sherr (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Larry R. Shulman (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Annalise Lekas Surnow (Health Care Law)
Brian R. Trumbauer (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law)
Jaimee L. Witten (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law)
—Troy office
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)
David C. Bosman (Banking & Financial Services Law)
Gene P. Bowen (Mergers & Acquisitions Law)
Barbara A. Bowman (Public Finance Law)
Robert J. Cambridge (Securities Law)
Steven R. Cole (Tax Law)
Michael G. Costello (Insurance Law)
Anthony P. Cracchiolo (Trusts and Estates)
Michelle Thurber Czapski (Insurance Law; Litigation-Insurance)
Stephen P. Dunn (Litigation-Commercial)
Gary S. Fealk (Labor and Employment Law)
Gregory J. Gamalski (Real Estate Law)
Jennifer M. Hetu (Copyright Law; Intellectual Property and Patent Law)
Michelle L. Kolkmeyer (Labor and Employment Law)
Ryan M. Olson (Mergers & Acquisitions Law)
Kenneth J. Sachs (Employee Benefits Law)
Nicholas P. Scavone Jr. (Real Estate Law)
Rebecca C. Seguin-Skrabucha (Labor and Employment Law)
Andrew Z. Spilkin (Real Estate Law)
Thomas J. Tallerico (Litigation-Antitrust)
Melissa M. Tetreau (Labor and Employment Law)
Thomas Van Dusen (Litigation-Commercial)
David B. Walters (Employee Benefits Law)
• • •
Dykema is proud to share that the World Services Group (WSG) appointed Laura Baucus as chair of its North American Regional Council for 2024-2025. As chair, Baucus will lead a series of monthly meetings, develop strategies to promote the collaboration between WSG firms, and assist with planning the organization’s annual North America Regional meeting.
At Dykema, Baucus serves as director of Dykema’s 100+ Automotive Industry Group. She also formerly served as a past leader of the firm’s financial services litigation practice, and founded the firm’s supply chain group. Baucus is also a past co-leader of the firm’s Women’s Business Initiative in Michigan. Baucus has a unique hybrid practice concentrating on supply chain disputes and transactions, complex contract litigation, and consumer financial services litigation.
Baucus has experience advising manufacturers throughout the supply chain. She has negotiated and litigated hundreds of supply chain disputes and contracts, always with a focus on helping the client achieve its ultimate goal—which is typically an uninterrupted supply chain.
Her financial services practice focuses on large-volume portfolio litigation management, including representing national mortgage servicers, credit card issuers, and other financial institutions in consumer litigation. As an experienced legal project manager, Baucus has managed thousands of consumer financial services actions throughout her career.
Baucus earned a law degree from Wayne State University Law School and a B.A. from the Catholic University of America.
• • •
Clark Hill PLC received national and regional rankings in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms.
—National Tier 1
Admiralty and Maritime Law
Appellate Practice
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Energy Law
Immigration Law
Insurance Law
Labor Law – Management
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Trusts and Estates
—National Tier 2
Banking and Finance Law
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Corporate Law
Employment Law – Management
Real Estate Law
—National Tier 3
Litigation – Environmental
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Patent Law
—Tier 1
• Detroit
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Corporate Law
Employment Law – Management
Labor Law – Management
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Nonprofit / Charities Law
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Trusts and Estates
• Troy
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Education Law
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Employment Law – Management
Litigation – Insurance
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Litigation – Trusts and Estates
Real Estate Law
Trusts and Estates
—Tier 2
• Detroit
Arbitration
Banking and Finance Law
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Immigration Law
Land Use and Zoning Law
Litigation – Trusts and Estates
Mediation
Real Estate Law
• Troy
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Family Law
Labor Law – Management
Litigation – Banking and Finance
—Tier 3
• Detroit
Appellate Practice
Government Relations Practice
• • •
Jordan Bolton, a partner in Taft’s Detroit office, has been named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s “Leaders in the Law” list.
Bolton counsels clients in high-stakes litigation, while managing risks and resolving disputes arising out of client operations. In addition, He frequently serves as outside general counsel and as an arbitrator and mediator. He represents clients in a variety of industries, including automotive, construction, financial services, franchise, health care, manufacturing, private equity, real estate, retail, technology, and transportation.
When informed of the honor, Bolton commented “It is an honor to receive this recognition from one of the leading legal publications in the state, and I am humbled to accept it as recognition of the hard work of my colleagues without whom success would not be possible.”
In addition, Taft Southfield partners Jim Waggoner and Aaron Sherbin will speak at the 2024 Business Owner Success Summit at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham on November 21.
Waggoner will serve as a moderator for the session “Building the Right Team.” Sherbin will speak as a panelist for the session “Pre-Transitional Planning: What is my After Tax Number?”
Waggoner’s practice focuses on a range of corporate matters including corporate structure and governance, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and general commercial transactions. He advises on complex business matters for a diverse client base, which ranges from small privately held companies to large publicly traded companies. Waggoner frequently counsels clients on matters involving entity formation, limited liability company and buy-sell agreements, policies and procedures, labor and employment, and business succession planning.
Sherbin’s practice is focused on estate planning, trust and estate administration, probate litigation, wealth preservation and transfer strategies. He also provides business and tax planning services for entrepreneurs, closely-held companies, family businesses and family offices. He offers succession planning, post-mortem planning, and asset protection planning. Sherbin also serves as a mergers and acquisitions transactional attorney focusing on federal tax law, buy-sell agreements, operating agreements, and shareholder agreements.
Taft is also pleased to announce that it has been recognized in the Best Lawyers® 2025 “Best Law Firms.”
—National Tier 1
Appellate Practice
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Corporate Law
Employment Law – Management
Environmental Law
Health Care Law
Labor Law – Management
Land Use and Zoning Law
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Litigation – Real Estate
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Patent Law
Securities / Capital Markets Law
Tax Law
Trademark Law
Trusts and Estates
Venture Capital Law
—National Tier 2
Advertising Law
Banking and Finance Law
Information Technology Law
Litigation – Banking and Finance
Litigation – Bankruptcy
Litigation – Environmental
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs
Real Estate Law
Securities Regulation
—National Tier 3
Insurance Law
Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity
Litigation – Securities
—Tier 1
• Detroit
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Insurance Law
Land Use and Zoning Law
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Insurance
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Real Estate Law
Tax Law
Trusts and Estates
• • •
Kitch Attorneys & Counselors PC proudly announces that Mark Wisniewski has been recognized in Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s Managing Partners Spotlight.
Reflecting on this honor, Wisniewski said, “Just like representing a client in a legal matter, the key to success in running a large law firm is constant communication. When you are constantly communicating, you will all be on the same page and you will all be working for the same goal. At Kitch, our top-notch management team is constantly working with each other to identify issues and present solutions. My job as the CEO is to make sure that our management team, staff, and attorneys have the resources to identify problems and the resources to implement solutions.”
Since 2014, Wisniewski has served as the chair and chief executive officer of Kitch. With more than 30 years of experience, he co-chairs the firm’s Asbestos Liability and Mass Tort defense practice.
Kitch is also pleased to announce that the following attorneys have been recognized as Top Lawyers by DBusiness for 2024 in their practice areas:
Greg Drutchas – Health Care Law
Terence P. Durkin – Labor and Employment Law
Christina A. Ginter – Appellate Law
Katharine Gostek – Appellate Law
John Paul Hessburg – Health Care Law
Meghan Kennedy Riordan – Immigration Law
Carina M. Kraatz – Construction Law
Ahndia Mansoori – Immigration Law
John M. Sier – Construction Law
• • •
Elaine M. Pohl, a partner and insurance coverage attorney at Plunkett Cooney, was recently selected by Michigan Lawyers Weekly (MiLW) as a member of its 2024 Class of Leaders in the Law.
Pohl maintains a national practice counseling insurers in complex litigated and non-litigated property and casualty disputes. Her coverage experience extends to claims involving professional liability, construction defects, bodily injuries, product liability, environmental contamination, personal and advertising injury, first-party property and allegations of bad faith.
Elected this year to Plunkett Cooney’s Board of Directors, Pohl is also a member of the firm’s Shareholder Evaluation Committee, and she is co-chair of Plunkett Cooney’s formal mentoring program.
Her expertise within the legal industry has resulted in Pohl having the distinction of being named a Best Lawyers in America® for Insurance Law / Insurance Litigation for 2024-2025, a Michigan Super Lawyer Rising Star in Insurance Coverage, and a Michigan Super Lawyers for several years. Michigan Lawyers Weekly also previously honored her in 2018 with its “Influential Women of Law” honor.
Pohl is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan Insurance and Indemnity Law Section (past chair and former board officer), Michigan Licensed Beverage
Association and DRI, the largest bar association of civil defense attorneys and in-house counsel, where she currently serves as the vice chair for its Insurance Law Publications Subcommittee and served as the 2023 chair of the organization’s national Insurance Coverage Practice Symposium in New York City.
A graduate from the Indiana University School of Law in 1999, Pohl received her undergraduate degree from Villanova University in 1996. She is admitted to practice law in state and federal courts in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.
In addition, Plunkett Cooney recently received national recognition by Best Lawyers® as one of its 2025 Best Law Firms.
“It’s an honor to be named among the Best Law Firms in the nation,” said the firm’s President & CEO Jeffrey C. Gerish. “This honor is a tribute to the outstanding work and dedication of our attorneys and staff, and it underscores the great results they achieve each day on behalf of their clients.”
Plunkett Cooney was recognized in the following first- and second-tier categories in Michigan and Ohio:
Appellate Practice
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Corporate Law
Employment Law – Management
Government Relations Practice
Health Care Law
Insurance Law
Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Litigation – Insurance
Litigation – Municipal
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
Municipal Law
Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Real Estate Law
• • •
Garan Lucow Miller PC is pleased to announce that the firm has been recognized by Best Lawyers® as a Best Law Firm in multiple practice areas across the Great Lakes region that it serves and nationally.
Garan Lucow Miller has been ranked as a Tier 1 firm in the Ann Arbor, Chicago, and Detroit metropolitan areas for Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants. In the Detroit metro area, the firm was also ranked as a Tier 1 firm in Appellate Practice and Insurance Law.
The firm was ranked as a Tier 2 firm in the Detroit metro area for Litigation-Insurance and in Northern Michigan for Insurance Law.
In the Chicago and Troy metropolitan areas, Garan Lucow Miller was ranked a Tier 3 firm in Insurance Law.
Additionally, Garan Lucow Miller received a Tier 3 ranking nationally in Appellate Practice.
• • •
Brooks Kushman is proud to announce the firm has been ranked in the 2025 edition of the U.S. News and World Report list of “Best Law Firms” by Best Lawyers.
Nationally, Brooks Kushman holds tier-three rankings in Intellectual Property Litigation and Trademark Law. On the regional level, Brooks Kushman holds tier-one rankings in Intellectual Property Litigation, Patent Litigation, Patent Law, Copyright Law, and Trademark Law in Detroit.
• • •
Best Lawyers® has recognized Kerr Russell as a “Best Law Firm,” having ranked the firm regionally in 21 practice areas.
Kerr Russell’s Appellate, Immigration and Municipal practices all moved to Tier 1 from Tier 2 in previous years. Bankruptcy and Restructuring moved to Tier 2 and Kerr Russell’s Commercial Transactions and Securities practices were newly recognized this year.
The ranked areas include the following:
—Metropolitan Tier 1, Detroit
Appellate Practice
Construction Law
Corporate Law
Health Care Law
Immigration Law
Insurance Law
Litigation – Antitrust
Litigation – Construction
Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
Municipal Law
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
—Metropolitan Tier 2, Detroit
Antitrust Law
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Transactions
Land Use & Zoning Law
Litigation – Bankruptcy
Tax Law
—Metropolitan Tier 3, Detroit
Commercial Litigation
Employment Law – Management
Real Estate Law
Securities Regulation
• • •
Harness IP is pleased to announce that it has been nationally recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®. This is the 13th consecutive year the firm has been included in the publication’s list of the country’s top firms.
Harness IP received national recognition in five practice areas and is regionally ranked in 16 practice areas:
—National Tier 2
Trademark Law
—National Tier 3
Copyright Law
Litigation – Intellectual Property
—Tier 1, Troy
Appellate Practice
Copyright Law
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Litigation – Patent
Patent Law
Trademark Law
• • •
Secrest Wardle is pleased to announce that the firm has been named in the Best Lawyers listing of 2025 Best Law Firms in the following categories:
—Tier 1, Troy
Commercial Litigation
Insurance Law
Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants
Litigation – Insurance
Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
—Tier 2, Troy
Land Use & Zoning Law
Litigation - Municipal
Municipal Law
—Tier 3, Troy
Arbitration
Litigation — Land Use & Zoning
• • •
Maddin Hauser is pleased to announce that Deborah S. Lapin has been elected to serve on the Recreational Boating Industries Educational Foundation’s Board of Directors.
The Recreational Boating Industries Educational Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation established in 1986 by the Michigan Boating Industries Association (MBIA) to advance opportunities for scholarships and training that benefit Michigan’s recreational marine industry.
Traditional scholarships are available to Michigan residents who are students enrolled or enrolling in higher education or trade schools intending to pursue a career in the marine industry. Awards are also available for individuals currently employed in the Michigan marine industry to attend industry training or education programs offered by local, statewide, or national marine organizations.
Lapin is a shareholder and member of Maddin Hauser’s Financial Services and Real Property Litigation group, which serves as a resource— locally, regionally, and nationally—for mortgage lenders and servicers, depository institutions, title insurance companies, construction companies, and commercial landlords/property owners. She specializes in real estate litigation and commercial and contractual disputes. Lapin is a member of the state bars of Michigan, New York, and Connecticut.
