Intellectual property law firm Fishman Stewart PLLC is pleased to announce that the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) named Partner Michael Stewart 2024
“Mentor of the Year.” Nominated by the organization’s mentees and
chosen by its Mentoring Committee, Stewart was presented the award for
his outstanding commitment and contribution to the mentoring program and
his positive influence on the growth and development of AIPLA members.
What an unexpected honor to be recognized by my colleagues and friends at AIPLA!” Stewart said. “I am grateful to the next generation of practitioners for allowing me the opportunity to share my experiences, and in turn, to receive their unique insights of our profession.”
At the firm, Stewart drove Fishman Stewart’s recruiting campaign this year to answer increased client demand for advanced technical knowledge and strategic thinking. He is also involved in Fishman Stewart’s sponsorship of The Engineering Society of Detroit’s annual Engineering Student Writing Contest, supporting student voices to write about issues facing the engineering profession and their impact on the future, and sits on the society’s editorial board.
Stewart was presented Mentor of the Year at AIPLA’s Annual Meeting in October at the Gaylord National Harbor Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.
• • •
McDonald Hopkins congratulates its Co-president Jim Giszczak on his recognition by Crain’s Detroit Business as a 2024 Notable Nonprofit Leader.
Giszczak serves as co-president of McDonald Hopkins and co-chair of the national Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group, but he is also a member of Susan G. Komen Michigan’s Board of Directors.
Giszczak was selected by Crain’s Detroit for the strides he’s made in advancing Susan G. Komen Michigan’s mission through his leadership, advocacy, and passion. In his first few months on the board, he leveraged his networks and energized McDonald Hopkins employees to raise nearly $33,000 for Race for the Cure Detroit, establishing “Team McDonald Hopkins” as the top corporate team and earning Giszczak the title of top individual fundraiser during the race.
• • •
Kemp Klein Vice President and Shareholder Robert S. Zawideh has been recognized by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as a 2024 Leader in the Law.
Zawideh was recognized for his contributions to the practice of law. He represents interested persons in high-net worth trust and estate disputes. Zawideh serves as the head of Kemp Klein’s Litigation Practice Group. His litigation practice has taken him before Michigan’s trial and appellate courts, including the Supreme Court, as well as federal courts, state courts, and arbitration panels across the country.
• • •
Terry Bonnette, a partner with Detroit-based management-side labor and employment law firm Nemeth Bonnette Brouwer PC, has been named to the Michigan Lawyers Weekly Leaders in the Law Class of 2024.
Bonnette joined Nemeth Bonnette Brouwer in 2004 after serving as a law clerk for the firm during law school. He was named a partner in 2013 and became a firm co-owner in 2020, along with Managing Partner Deborah Brouwer. A litigator, he is also regularly sought out by clients for day-to-day legal counseling on the hiring and firing decisions, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
An educator, Bonnette also presents on-site and virtual training programs for supervisors and executives on hot-button issues, as well as the nuts and bolts of HR. He created and leads the firm’s Raising the Bar educational series focused on increasing employer awareness of trending issues in employment law.
The law is a second career for Bonnette, who started his professional life as a debate and forensics coach at Bradley University, where he was also a student on the debate and forensics team as an undergrad. He also coached at Illinois State University while he was in graduate school, and at Eastern Michigan University, where he coached for seven years and served as an adjunct faculty member. In all, Bonnette coached 44 individual national champions during his debate and forensics coaching career. He received his law degree from Wayne State University Law School.
The Leader in the Law honor follows recent and repeated recognition Bonnette has received from other legal organizations including Leading Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and Michigan Super Lawyers. In 2021, he was named a Go To Lawyer in employment law, also by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. Active in the profession and community endeavors, Bonnette is a Planning Committee member for the Institute for Continuing Legal Education’s annual Labor and Employment Law Institute, a Sustaining Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, and member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution and Labor and Employment sections of the State Bar of Michigan.
A lifelong supporter of the arts, Bonnette is a board member of Mosaic Youth Theatre, serving as chair of the Governance Committee for several years before being elected board chair in 2023 and again in 2024.
• • •
The achievements of Kitch attorneys were recently recognized at the 20th Annual Dennis W. Archer Public Service Award Gala. Brian Boehne, Carina Kraatz, and John Sier were recognized with Pro Bono Awards.
Pro Bono Awardees are members who contributed at least 30 hours of pro bono work this year by volunteering for the Detroit Legal Services Clinic or one of the many pro bono opportunities presented by the Detroit Bar Association.
What an unexpected honor to be recognized by my colleagues and friends at AIPLA!” Stewart said. “I am grateful to the next generation of practitioners for allowing me the opportunity to share my experiences, and in turn, to receive their unique insights of our profession.”
At the firm, Stewart drove Fishman Stewart’s recruiting campaign this year to answer increased client demand for advanced technical knowledge and strategic thinking. He is also involved in Fishman Stewart’s sponsorship of The Engineering Society of Detroit’s annual Engineering Student Writing Contest, supporting student voices to write about issues facing the engineering profession and their impact on the future, and sits on the society’s editorial board.
Stewart was presented Mentor of the Year at AIPLA’s Annual Meeting in October at the Gaylord National Harbor Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.
• • •
McDonald Hopkins congratulates its Co-president Jim Giszczak on his recognition by Crain’s Detroit Business as a 2024 Notable Nonprofit Leader.
Giszczak serves as co-president of McDonald Hopkins and co-chair of the national Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group, but he is also a member of Susan G. Komen Michigan’s Board of Directors.
Giszczak was selected by Crain’s Detroit for the strides he’s made in advancing Susan G. Komen Michigan’s mission through his leadership, advocacy, and passion. In his first few months on the board, he leveraged his networks and energized McDonald Hopkins employees to raise nearly $33,000 for Race for the Cure Detroit, establishing “Team McDonald Hopkins” as the top corporate team and earning Giszczak the title of top individual fundraiser during the race.
• • •
Kemp Klein Vice President and Shareholder Robert S. Zawideh has been recognized by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as a 2024 Leader in the Law.
Zawideh was recognized for his contributions to the practice of law. He represents interested persons in high-net worth trust and estate disputes. Zawideh serves as the head of Kemp Klein’s Litigation Practice Group. His litigation practice has taken him before Michigan’s trial and appellate courts, including the Supreme Court, as well as federal courts, state courts, and arbitration panels across the country.
• • •
Terry Bonnette, a partner with Detroit-based management-side labor and employment law firm Nemeth Bonnette Brouwer PC, has been named to the Michigan Lawyers Weekly Leaders in the Law Class of 2024.
Bonnette joined Nemeth Bonnette Brouwer in 2004 after serving as a law clerk for the firm during law school. He was named a partner in 2013 and became a firm co-owner in 2020, along with Managing Partner Deborah Brouwer. A litigator, he is also regularly sought out by clients for day-to-day legal counseling on the hiring and firing decisions, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
An educator, Bonnette also presents on-site and virtual training programs for supervisors and executives on hot-button issues, as well as the nuts and bolts of HR. He created and leads the firm’s Raising the Bar educational series focused on increasing employer awareness of trending issues in employment law.
The law is a second career for Bonnette, who started his professional life as a debate and forensics coach at Bradley University, where he was also a student on the debate and forensics team as an undergrad. He also coached at Illinois State University while he was in graduate school, and at Eastern Michigan University, where he coached for seven years and served as an adjunct faculty member. In all, Bonnette coached 44 individual national champions during his debate and forensics coaching career. He received his law degree from Wayne State University Law School.
The Leader in the Law honor follows recent and repeated recognition Bonnette has received from other legal organizations including Leading Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and Michigan Super Lawyers. In 2021, he was named a Go To Lawyer in employment law, also by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. Active in the profession and community endeavors, Bonnette is a Planning Committee member for the Institute for Continuing Legal Education’s annual Labor and Employment Law Institute, a Sustaining Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, and member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution and Labor and Employment sections of the State Bar of Michigan.
A lifelong supporter of the arts, Bonnette is a board member of Mosaic Youth Theatre, serving as chair of the Governance Committee for several years before being elected board chair in 2023 and again in 2024.
• • •
The achievements of Kitch attorneys were recently recognized at the 20th Annual Dennis W. Archer Public Service Award Gala. Brian Boehne, Carina Kraatz, and John Sier were recognized with Pro Bono Awards.
Pro Bono Awardees are members who contributed at least 30 hours of pro bono work this year by volunteering for the Detroit Legal Services Clinic or one of the many pro bono opportunities presented by the Detroit Bar Association.
