The law firm of Couzens Lansky, Sara Zivian Zwickl
Zwickl is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and Oakland County Bar Association. She received a B.A. from Indiana University and her law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. She was admitted to practice in the State of Michigan in 1982.
Zwickl focuses her expertise on the needs of families and individuals in the areas of estate planning and probate and trust administration. She also serves as a mediator, helping parties find peaceful resolutions to their disputes.
Zwickl is also affiliated with Zivian & Zwickl, Attorneys & Counselors with an office in Farmington Hills.
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Plunkett Cooney Andrew J. Lorelli
As a council member, Lorelli will be responsible for helping create an exchange and dissemination of ideas among members through meetings, networking events, and communications to improve the practice of military law and the quality of legal services provided to the military community. As vice chair, he will be responsible for the development and coordination of educational programs at the annual meeting and assist with coordinating activities for the SBM Military & Veterans’ Law Section with other state bar sections that are complementary in scope and learning objectives.
Lorelli, who is a member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, served four years on active duty as a Judge Advocate in the U.S. Marine Corps, having been stationed in Okinawa, Japan, and he has worked for several years as a lawyer in private practice.
Lorelli is a member of the Trusts & Estates Practice Group of Plunkett Cooney. He has a decade of experience working in the areas of trust and estate planning, and trust and probate administration, including decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and special needs trusts. He drafts estate plans; prepares fiduciary accounts in trusts, decedent estates and conservatorships; and he handles contested and uncontested probate matters across Michigan.
In addition to the SBM Military & Veterans’ Law Section, Lorelli is a member of the organization’s Probate & Estate Planning Section. He is also a member of the Oakland County Bar Association’s Probate & Estate Planning Section and the Veterans Committee. Lorelli received his law degree in 2013 from the University of Iowa College of Law and his undergraduate degree in 2009 from the University of Michigan.
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For the second consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report has namedVarnum
The evaluation process, conducted by a panel of experts at U.S. News & World Report, assesses law firms nationwide on six key factors that contribute to a thriving workplace culture:
• Quality of pay and benefits
• Work/life balance and flexibility
• Job and company stability
• Physical and psychological comfort
• Belongingness and esteem
• Career opportunities and professional development
Varnum earned commendable results in all six factors.
• • •
Dobrusin Law Firm Eric Hydorn
Hydorn focuses his practice on intellectual property law, assisting clients ranging from large corporations to individual vendors. He drafts and prosecutes patent applications and provides legal opinions on patentability, freedom-to-operate, infringement, and invalidity. His practice spans a range of fields including chemical, biological, mechanical, electromechanical, and software innovations.
Hydorn is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He is active with several professional and community organizations, including the Michigan Intellectual Property Inn of Court and the Pontiac Regional Chamber. His achievements include being named a Super Lawyers® Rising Star since 2022.
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Zausmer Stephanie Strycharz Christopher Best, Irene Byars, and John Sechler
Strycharz, who joins as a shareholder, is a trial attorney with experience defending major insurers and their insureds in first- and third-party claims. She is recognized for her innovative approach to insurance law, particularly in transportation cases and high-stakes litigation.
Best, joining as an associate, focuses his practice on first- and third-party insurance defense, insurance coverage, and litigation. He has an understanding of Michigan’s no-fault law and has secured favorable verdicts in complex cases.
Byars, also joining as an associate, specializes in Michigan no-fault, auto negligence, and insurance coverage disputes. Her case management skills enable her to handle complex matters from start to finish, ensuring effective outcomes for her clients.
Sechler, an associate with a litigation practice, handles negligence, insurance, and transportation matters. He is experienced in all stages of litigation, from pre-trial motions to appellate practice, and is noted for his trial and negotiation skills.
• • •
Varnum Richard Hewlett
Hewlett is a partner on the Litigation and Trial Practice Team, head of the Construction Law Practice Team, and co-chair of the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Practice Team at Varnum. As a litigator, he has delivered results for clients in construction, commercial, and business disputes. His counsel is sought by boards of directors and C-suite executives regarding complex and sensitive issues, including internal investigations and compliance.
As the head of the Construction Law Practice, Hewlett has represented owners, construction managers, subcontractors/suppliers, and design professionals in a wide range of matters, including claims related to delays, extra work, productivity impact, defects, liens, and bond claims.
Co-chair of the NIL Practice team, Hewlett brings a combination of legal expertise and personal experience as a four-year letter winner on the University of Michigan football team. Following the June 2021 Supreme Court decision allowing student-athletes to monetize their NIL, Hewlett has represented collectives and brands in connection with NCAA compliance and related business counseling matters pertaining to NIL. He also has experience as a former NFLPA-certified agent who has represented athletes and coaches in contract negotiations, business ventures, and intellectual property law.
Hewlett has earned recognition for his contributions to the legal field. He holds the Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating and has been listed in Best Lawyers in America® annually since 2014, earning multiple Lawyer of the Year titles. In 2023, he was named Go To Lawyer for Construction Law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly and has been recognized by DBusiness© as a Top Lawyer for Litigation – Construction over several years.
Outside of his practice, Hewlett and his late wife founded the Swing to Cure Diabetes Golf Outing to raise money for diabetes research. Established in 2008, the outing has raised more than $1 million, with proceeds benefiting Breakthrough T1D and its Center of Excellence at the University of Michigan.
In addition, Varnum partnerLauren Potocsky
Potocsky is a partner on the Real Estate Practice Team at Varnum. She provides counsel on the acquisition, financing, sale, and leasing of commercial properties for clients ranging from large, multimillion-dollar companies to startup founders. Potocsky also has experience representing clients in the sale and acquisition of medical office buildings, along with leasing medical office space to physician groups, hospitals, and medical practices.
For the past three years, Potocsky has been recognized by Best Lawyers® as one of the “Ones to Watch,” a designation given to attorneys early in their careers in recognition of their outstanding professional excellence in private practice. She has also been named a Rising Star by Michigan Super Lawyers® since 2020.
Outside of her legal practice, Potocsky serves as a board member of the Northville Community Foundation.
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Taft Mark Cooper
Cooper is partner-in-charge of Taft Detroit, responsible for the strategic direction for the firm’s Southfield and Detroit offices. He counsels a diverse set of clients nationwide on a variety of matters, including risk management, commercial disputes, real estate litigation, business torts and construction and contract disputes, and all aspects of insurance, from both a legal and business perspective.
Taft is also pleased to announce that associateChris Richards
Richards is an attorney in Taft’s Environmental and Real Estate practice groups. He concentrates on issues ranging from helping clients proactively identify and resolve complicated environmental problems to assisting with the strategic navigation of regulatory processes. Richards has resolved legal complications with numerous regulatory agencies, including the EPA, EGLE, MIOSHA, and the USNRC. In addition to environmental law, he has experience counseling and advising commercial clients throughout the entire real property acquisition process, from initial identification of a real estate need to closing.
In addition, Taft associateRyan Mardini
Mardini is an associate in Taft’s Mergers and Acquisition, Private Equity, and Venture Capital and Emerging Companies practice groups. He focuses his practice on advising publicly held and privately owned companies and financial sponsors on a variety of transactional matters, including U.S. and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, minority and majority investments, joint ventures, and general corporate matters. He has advised on and managed transactions across a multitude of industries and jurisdictions from letter of intent to closing.
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Brooks Kushman Brett Smith
Smith works with clients ranging from startups to multinational corporations across industries including automotive, aviation, robotics, medical devices, and consumer electronics. His background in mechanical engineering and patent law allows him to provide practical guidance on patent preparation, prosecution, post-issuance proceedings, and intellectual property disputes. In addition to patent prosecution, Smith has represented clients in intellectual property litigation, including patent infringement and trade secret cases.
Smith earned his law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University. He is admitted to practice in Illinois, Michigan, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and multiple federal courts.
Zwickl is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and Oakland County Bar Association. She received a B.A. from Indiana University and her law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. She was admitted to practice in the State of Michigan in 1982.
Zwickl focuses her expertise on the needs of families and individuals in the areas of estate planning and probate and trust administration. She also serves as a mediator, helping parties find peaceful resolutions to their disputes.
Zwickl is also affiliated with Zivian & Zwickl, Attorneys & Counselors with an office in Farmington Hills.
• • •
As a council member, Lorelli will be responsible for helping create an exchange and dissemination of ideas among members through meetings, networking events, and communications to improve the practice of military law and the quality of legal services provided to the military community. As vice chair, he will be responsible for the development and coordination of educational programs at the annual meeting and assist with coordinating activities for the SBM Military & Veterans’ Law Section with other state bar sections that are complementary in scope and learning objectives.
Lorelli, who is a member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, served four years on active duty as a Judge Advocate in the U.S. Marine Corps, having been stationed in Okinawa, Japan, and he has worked for several years as a lawyer in private practice.
Lorelli is a member of the Trusts & Estates Practice Group of Plunkett Cooney. He has a decade of experience working in the areas of trust and estate planning, and trust and probate administration, including decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and special needs trusts. He drafts estate plans; prepares fiduciary accounts in trusts, decedent estates and conservatorships; and he handles contested and uncontested probate matters across Michigan.
In addition to the SBM Military & Veterans’ Law Section, Lorelli is a member of the organization’s Probate & Estate Planning Section. He is also a member of the Oakland County Bar Association’s Probate & Estate Planning Section and the Veterans Committee. Lorelli received his law degree in 2013 from the University of Iowa College of Law and his undergraduate degree in 2009 from the University of Michigan.
• • •
For the second consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report has named
The evaluation process, conducted by a panel of experts at U.S. News & World Report, assesses law firms nationwide on six key factors that contribute to a thriving workplace culture:
• Quality of pay and benefits
• Work/life balance and flexibility
• Job and company stability
• Physical and psychological comfort
• Belongingness and esteem
• Career opportunities and professional development
Varnum earned commendable results in all six factors.
• • •
Hydorn focuses his practice on intellectual property law, assisting clients ranging from large corporations to individual vendors. He drafts and prosecutes patent applications and provides legal opinions on patentability, freedom-to-operate, infringement, and invalidity. His practice spans a range of fields including chemical, biological, mechanical, electromechanical, and software innovations.
Hydorn is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He is active with several professional and community organizations, including the Michigan Intellectual Property Inn of Court and the Pontiac Regional Chamber. His achievements include being named a Super Lawyers® Rising Star since 2022.
• • •
Strycharz, who joins as a shareholder, is a trial attorney with experience defending major insurers and their insureds in first- and third-party claims. She is recognized for her innovative approach to insurance law, particularly in transportation cases and high-stakes litigation.
Best, joining as an associate, focuses his practice on first- and third-party insurance defense, insurance coverage, and litigation. He has an understanding of Michigan’s no-fault law and has secured favorable verdicts in complex cases.
Byars, also joining as an associate, specializes in Michigan no-fault, auto negligence, and insurance coverage disputes. Her case management skills enable her to handle complex matters from start to finish, ensuring effective outcomes for her clients.
Sechler, an associate with a litigation practice, handles negligence, insurance, and transportation matters. He is experienced in all stages of litigation, from pre-trial motions to appellate practice, and is noted for his trial and negotiation skills.
• • •
Hewlett is a partner on the Litigation and Trial Practice Team, head of the Construction Law Practice Team, and co-chair of the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Practice Team at Varnum. As a litigator, he has delivered results for clients in construction, commercial, and business disputes. His counsel is sought by boards of directors and C-suite executives regarding complex and sensitive issues, including internal investigations and compliance.
As the head of the Construction Law Practice, Hewlett has represented owners, construction managers, subcontractors/suppliers, and design professionals in a wide range of matters, including claims related to delays, extra work, productivity impact, defects, liens, and bond claims.
Co-chair of the NIL Practice team, Hewlett brings a combination of legal expertise and personal experience as a four-year letter winner on the University of Michigan football team. Following the June 2021 Supreme Court decision allowing student-athletes to monetize their NIL, Hewlett has represented collectives and brands in connection with NCAA compliance and related business counseling matters pertaining to NIL. He also has experience as a former NFLPA-certified agent who has represented athletes and coaches in contract negotiations, business ventures, and intellectual property law.
Hewlett has earned recognition for his contributions to the legal field. He holds the Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating and has been listed in Best Lawyers in America® annually since 2014, earning multiple Lawyer of the Year titles. In 2023, he was named Go To Lawyer for Construction Law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly and has been recognized by DBusiness© as a Top Lawyer for Litigation – Construction over several years.
Outside of his practice, Hewlett and his late wife founded the Swing to Cure Diabetes Golf Outing to raise money for diabetes research. Established in 2008, the outing has raised more than $1 million, with proceeds benefiting Breakthrough T1D and its Center of Excellence at the University of Michigan.
In addition, Varnum partner
Potocsky is a partner on the Real Estate Practice Team at Varnum. She provides counsel on the acquisition, financing, sale, and leasing of commercial properties for clients ranging from large, multimillion-dollar companies to startup founders. Potocsky also has experience representing clients in the sale and acquisition of medical office buildings, along with leasing medical office space to physician groups, hospitals, and medical practices.
For the past three years, Potocsky has been recognized by Best Lawyers® as one of the “Ones to Watch,” a designation given to attorneys early in their careers in recognition of their outstanding professional excellence in private practice. She has also been named a Rising Star by Michigan Super Lawyers® since 2020.
Outside of her legal practice, Potocsky serves as a board member of the Northville Community Foundation.
• • •
Cooper is partner-in-charge of Taft Detroit, responsible for the strategic direction for the firm’s Southfield and Detroit offices. He counsels a diverse set of clients nationwide on a variety of matters, including risk management, commercial disputes, real estate litigation, business torts and construction and contract disputes, and all aspects of insurance, from both a legal and business perspective.
Taft is also pleased to announce that associate
Richards is an attorney in Taft’s Environmental and Real Estate practice groups. He concentrates on issues ranging from helping clients proactively identify and resolve complicated environmental problems to assisting with the strategic navigation of regulatory processes. Richards has resolved legal complications with numerous regulatory agencies, including the EPA, EGLE, MIOSHA, and the USNRC. In addition to environmental law, he has experience counseling and advising commercial clients throughout the entire real property acquisition process, from initial identification of a real estate need to closing.
In addition, Taft associate
Mardini is an associate in Taft’s Mergers and Acquisition, Private Equity, and Venture Capital and Emerging Companies practice groups. He focuses his practice on advising publicly held and privately owned companies and financial sponsors on a variety of transactional matters, including U.S. and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, minority and majority investments, joint ventures, and general corporate matters. He has advised on and managed transactions across a multitude of industries and jurisdictions from letter of intent to closing.
• • •
Smith works with clients ranging from startups to multinational corporations across industries including automotive, aviation, robotics, medical devices, and consumer electronics. His background in mechanical engineering and patent law allows him to provide practical guidance on patent preparation, prosecution, post-issuance proceedings, and intellectual property disputes. In addition to patent prosecution, Smith has represented clients in intellectual property litigation, including patent infringement and trade secret cases.
Smith earned his law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University. He is admitted to practice in Illinois, Michigan, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and multiple federal courts.
