Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP
Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, and Cohn LLP is pleased to announce that Joseph R. Sgroi, a partner in the firm’s Commercial Law, Bankruptcy and Reorganization Department, was recently named one of DBusiness Magazine’s “30 in Their 30s.” The DBusiness honorees were selected for the notable success they have achieved thus far in their careers. Sgroi is featured in the magazine’s September/October issue.
Sgroi represents clients in connection with their supply chain management and related disputes. He also represents debtors, creditors’ committees, customers, suppliers and lenders in matters such as commercial bankruptcies, reorganization proceedings, financial restructurings, liquidations and out-of-court workouts throughout the United States. Sgroi was selected by DBusiness for his involvement as a member of the Honigman team working in coordination with General Motors (GM) Purchasing in the establishment of General Motor’s supplier response team during its historic bankruptcy last year, which allowed GM to maintain product flow from its suppliers throughout the bankruptcy proceedings.
He has also been recognized as a “Rising Star” in Michigan Super Lawyers in 2009 and 2010.
He earned his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Michigan.
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Foley & Lardner LLP
Foley & Lardner LLP recently announced that 167 of its attorneys from 15 offices have been recognized in the 2011 “Best Lawyers in America” guide.
Twelve Foley attorneys were listed in the guide for the first time in 2011.
Attorneys are ranked in regional categories established by Best Lawyers. Foley rankings in Michigan include:
Detroit
• George W. Ash: Government Relations Law.
• John F. Birmingham Jr.: Labor and Employment Law.
• Steven H. Hilfinger: Corporate Law.
• Judy A. O’Neill (10): Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law.
• Chris E. Rossman (20): Health Care Law.
• John R. Trentacosta: Commercial Litigation.
Additionally, Foley & Lardner LLP also announced its recognition in the inaugural U.S. News - Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” rankings. The firm achieved first-tier rankings in 70 practice areas ranked locally and nationally. This places Foley in the top 10 firms for total number of first-tier metropolitan practice rankings across all U.S. markets.
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Miller Canfield
Miller Canfield recently announced that several of its lawyers have been named in “Michigan Super Lawyers” 2010. In addition, some lawyers were recognized as “Rising Stars.”
Miller Canfield lawyers named in “Super Lawyers Michigan” 2010 (* denotes new to the list.):
Detroit office
• Marjory G. Basile, Intellectual Property Litigation.
• William B. Beach, Government/Cities/Municipalities.
• Orin D. Brustad, Employee Benefits/ERISA.
• Beverly Hall Burns, Labor and Employment.
• Michael P. Coakley, Securities Litigation.
• Donna J. Donati, Labor and Employment.
• Lawrence M. Dudek, Real Estate.
• W. Mack Faison, Litigation.
• Joanne B. Faycurry*, Tax.
• Adam S. Forman, Labor and Employment.
• Joseph F. Galvin, Litigation.
• Leonard D. Givens, Labor and Employment.
• Gary R. Glenn*, Tax.
• Jonathan S. Green, Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights.
• Michael W. Hartmann, Litigation.
• Amy M. Johnston, Personal Injury Defense: Products.
• Stephen S. LaPlante, Bankruptcy & Creditor-Debtor Rights.
• Thomas W. Linn, Government/Cities/Municipalities.
• Michael P. McGee, Bonds/Government Finance.
• Samuel J. McKim III, Tax.
• Christopher A. McMican, Employee Benefits/ERISA.
• Megan P. Norris, Labor and Employment (Top 50 Women Michigan Super Lawyers).
• Kathryn L. Ossian, Information Technology/Outsourcing (Top 50 Women Michigan Super Lawyers).
• A. Michael Palizzi, Business Litigation.
• Thomas G. Parachini, Business Litigation.
• Clarence L. Pozza Jr., Business Litigation.
• Steven A. Roach, Bankruptcy & Creditor-Debtor Rights.
• Jerry T. Rupley, Bonds/Government Finance.
• Larry J. Saylor, Business Litigation.
• Richard J. Seryak, Employment Litigation Defense.
• Michael H. Traison, Bankruptcy & Creditor-Debtor Rights.
• Amanda Van Dusen, Bonds/Government Finance.
• Carl H. von Ende, Corporate Governance & Compliance.
• Richard A. Walawender, Mergers & Acquisitions.
• Peter W. Waldmeir, Litigation.
• Jerome R. Watson, Employment Litigation Defense.
• John H. Willems, Labor and Employment.
Troy office
• James L. Allen, Real Estate.
• Thomas G. Appleman, Securities & Corporate Finance.
• Brad B. Arbuckle, Securities & Corporate Finance.
• Thomas W. Cranmer, White-Collar Criminal Defense (Top 10 Michigan Super Lawyers).
• Kalman G. Goren, Employee Benefits/ERISA.
• Robert J. Haddad, Civil Litigation Defense.
• Ronald E. Hodess, Real Estate.
• David D. Joswick, Securities & Corporate Finance.
• Kenneth E. Konop, Estate Planning & Probate.
• Matthew F. Leitman, Litigation.
• Anna M. Maiuri, Environmental (Top 50 Women Michigan Super Lawyers).
• Stephen J. Ott, Personal Injury Defense: Products.
• Ronald H. Riback, Banking.
• Dawn M. Schluter, Estate Planning & Probate.
• James A. Simpson, Banking.
Miller Canfield lawyers named “Rising Stars” in Super Lawyers Michigan 2010:
Detroit office
• Jeffrey S. Aronoff, Bonds/Government Finance.
• Kimberly A. Berger*, Civil Litigation Defense.
• Steven M. Frank*, Bonds/Government Finance.
• Carla S. Machnik, Banking.
• Nelson O. Ropke, Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights.
• Brian M. Schwartz*, Labor & Employment.
• Kristen Isaacson Spano*, Intellectual Property.
• Richard W. Warren Jr., Labor and Employment.
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O’Reilly Rancilio PC
O’Reilly Rancilio PC is pleased to announce that Clark A. Andrews, Lawrence M. Scott and Charles E. Turnbull have been selected as Michigan 2010 “Super Lawyers.” The firm is also pleased to announce that Donald P. DeNault Jr. and James S. Sarconi were selected as “Rising Stars.”
Andrews specializes in the areas of governmental and municipal law, commercial transactions, estate planning and probate, real estate. He has been a member of the firm since 1974 and was also honored as a “Michigan Super Lawyer” in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
Scott specializes in the areas of business litigation, law, commercial litigation, commercial transactions, banking law, fraud recovery, municipal and police defense, corporate and shareholder litigation. He serves as a director of O’Reilly Rancilio and was also honored as a “Michigan Super Lawyer” in 2008 and 2009.
Turnbull specializes in the areas of business and corporate law, banking law, real estate, estate planning. He serves as an officer and director of O’Reilly Rancilio and was also honored as a “Michigan Super Lawyer” in 2009.
DeNault specializes in the areas of governmental and municipal law, commercial litigation, zoning and land use. He has been with at O’Reilly Rancilio since his graduation from law school and, is a shareholder of the firm.
Sarconi specializes in the area of business litigation, banking law, commercial litigation loan workouts, creditors’ rights and zoning and land use. He is also a shareholder of firm
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Butzel Long
Butzel Long attorney and shareholder Robert H. Schwartz has been appointed to the Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) Health Information Strategy Committee. Schwartz also was recently appointed to the MHA’s Committee on Hospital-Physician Alignment.
Based in Butzel Long’s Bloomfield Hills office, Schwartz is chair of the firm’s Health Care Industry Group. Schwartz’s practice includes corporate and health care activities. He has experience in business planning, mergers and acquisitions and in assisting health care and hospital clients in the health care regulatory areas including reimbursement, fraud and abuse, and hospital physician relations, among others.
Schwartz is a member of the Oakland County and American Bar Associations (member, Section on Health Law); State Bar of Michigan (member, International Law Section; Health Law Section; co-chair Technology Subcommittee of Substantive Law Committee 2002-2004); American Health Lawyers Association; president, Jewish National Fund 1998 to 2002; member Government Affairs Committee of Automation Alley 2003 – 2006; member DMC Guild Board 2005 - 2009 University of Detroit Law School Dean’s Advisory Board 2005 -2006; and, director Crime Stoppers of Michigan 2004 to present.
Schwartz has authored a number of articles for several publications and is a frequent lecturer on various topics relating to health care.
Schwartz graduated from Wayne State University Law School (1972) and Wayne State University (B.A., 1969). He is admitted to practice in Michigan and New York.
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Warner, Norcross, & Judd LLP
Eight attorneys in the Southfield office of Warner, Norcross, & Judd LLP have been selected for “The Best Lawyers in America” 2011.
Those individually recognized are:
• Kurt M. Brauer, listed for the second straight year, was acknowledged for his work in environmental law.
• Michael G. Cruse, listed for the second straight year, was recognized for his work in bankruptcy and debtor-creditor rights law.
• William R. Jansen, the partner in charge of the Southfield office, was selected for the ninth consecutive year for his work in commercial litigation.
• Steven C. Kohl, listed for the second straight year, was acknowledged for environmental law.
• Mary Jo Larson, who has been on the list for a decade, was selected for her work in employee benefits law.
• Alan T. Rogalski, new to the Warner Norcross list this year, was selected for his work in health care law.
• Margaret Van Meter, new to the list this year, was acknowledged for her work in real estate law.
• Lisa B. Zimmer, new to the list this year, was recognized for employee benefits law.
Warner Norcross was ranked the top firm in Southfield for employee benefits, health care and environmental law.
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Barris, Sott, Denn & Driker PLLC
Twelve attorneys from Barris, Sott, Denn, & Driker PLLC, have been named in “Michigan Super Lawyers” Magazine as among the top attorneys in the State of Michigan for the year 2010 and three attorneys have been recognized as a “Rising Star.”
They are: Eugene Driker, William G. Barris, Todd R. Mendel, Dennis M. Barnes, Stephen E. Glazek, Daniel M. Share, Morley Witus, C. David Bargamian, James S. Fontichiaro, Robert E. Kass, Eric S. Rosenthal, Sharon M. Woods, Erica Fitzgerald, Leo J. Gibson, and Kevin Kalczynski.
Driker was named as one of the top 10 attorneys in the state. He and Sharon Woods were also named among the top 100 attorneys in the state. Woods was also named as one of the top 50 women lawyers in the state.
The publication also named Driker, Mendel, Moss, Rosenthal, Witus, Woods, Barnes, and Glazek for excelling in the field of business litigation; honored Barris, Share, Fontichiaro, and Bargamian as among the top real estate attorneys in the state; and recognized Kass as a top estate planning attorney in the state.
Fitzgerald and Kalczynski, both members, were named among the 2010 “Michigan Rising Stars” for their business litigation expertise. Gibson, an associate, was also named among the 2010 “Michigan Rising Stars” for his work in bankruptcy & creditor/debtor rights.
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Brooks Kushman P.C.
Brooks Kushman law firm’s Phyllis Golden Morey, shareholder and chief diversity officer (CDO), was recently honored at a luncheon celebrating the “2010 Women in the Law.” The event, which was hosted by “Michigan Lawyers Weekly” and held at the Marriott in Troy, paid tribute to 20 local female lawyers who are making waves with their energy, ideas, achievements and commitment to excellence.
Morey heads Brooks Kushman’s Commercial Litigation and Compliance practice groups, where she counsels and represents clients in patent, copyright and trademark infringement cases, as well as in commercial litigation matters. Morey also serves as the firm’s CDO, responsible for recruiting, retaining and mentoring minority attorneys, as well as fostering alliances and networks with minority organizations and liaising with clients on diversity issues.
Morey has more than 20 years of in-house litigation experience representing clients, such as Ford Motor Co., Lear Corp. and Ameritech Corp. In this role, she managed commercial, IP and other significant complex litigation cases and represented business units and divisions in all aspects of the cases. She also has vast experience in defending corporations in commercial, product liability, insurance coverage and employment disputes while in private practice.
“It’s a great honor to be celebrated among such remarkable women,” Morey said. “As strong females in the legal community, we need to stand together as positive role models for our aspiring legal professionals. The ‘Women in the Law’ event is a great platform to highlight some of the accomplished, female legal professionals our local community has fostered.”
Morey earned her law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in Knoxville, Tenn. and her bachelor’s degree from Memphis State University in Tennessee. After law school, she served as a judicial law clerk to judges on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. District Court in Memphis, Tenn.
She is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association and is admitted to practice before the 6th Circuit and the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Active in her local community, Morey currently serves as a board member for the Music Hall of Detroit and Black Family Development. She previously served on the board of directors for a variety of community organizations, including the Children’s Home of Detroit, Junior League of Detroit, Neighborhood Services Organization and Southwest Detroit Community Mental Health.
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Collins, Einhorn, Farrell & Ulanoff P.C.
“Super Lawyers” magazine recognized nine attorneys from Southfield-based Collins, Einhorn, Farrell, & Ulanoff for inclusion on the 2010 “Michigan Super Lawyers” list.
Of the nine, Noreen Slank and Michael Sullivan were named among the Top 100 “Michigan Super Lawyers” 2010. Theresa Asoklis and Deborah Hebert joined Slank on the list of “Top 50 Women Michigan Super Lawyers.” Other “Michigan Super Lawyers” selections from the firm include: David Anderson, Timothy F. Casey, Brian Einhorn, Clay Farrell and Janice Hildenbrand. Geoffrey Brown, and Melissa Graves represent Collins Einhorn on the list as “Rising Stars.”
Slank was recognized for the fifth consecutive year among the “Michigan Super Lawyers.” She has practiced in the state and federal appellate courts since 1980 with an emphasis on the defense of medical and legal malpractice actions, insurance coverage disputes, and the defense of catastrophic personal injury cases.
Like Slank, Sullivan is a five-time “Michigan Super Lawyer” selection. He has more than 25 years of litigation and trial experience. In the professional liability arena, Sullivan has defended attorneys, physicians, accountants, architects, engineers, real estate appraisers, real estate brokers and title agents in defense of significant claims involving personal injury, property damage and business loss.
Asoklis has focused her practice on the defense of professional malpractice claims, and attorney and judicial disciplinary proceedings for more than 20 years. The Wayne State University Law School alumna also maintains an active general liability defense practice, including claims arising out of auto and trucking accidents, and complex premises liability matters.
For more than two decades, Hebert has served as lead counsel in hundreds of appeals at both the state and federal levels. In the early 1990s, she developed an interest in insurance coverage law and now devotes a significant portion of her practice to preparing coverage opinions and drafting dispositive motions and appeal briefs in declaratory judgment actions.
Anderson focuses his practice on the defense of professional liability claims. For more than 12 years, he has defended lawyers, accountants, and a variety of insurance and real estate professionals.
Casey has nearly three decades of experience in insurance coverage and indemnity contract matters, including preparing opinions, declaratory judgment actions and other litigation, appeals and alternative dispute resolution. His practice includes a broad range of general liability, construction, environmental, asbestos, toxic torts, automobile, homeowners, umbrella/excess and other specialty coverage matters.
For more than three decades, Einhorn, who also earned honor as a “Michigan Super Lawyer” in 2007, 2008 and 2009, has been at the forefront of legal issues affecting lawyers, judges, courts, businesses and insurers. The Wayne State University Law School alumnus has litigated numerous court cases and disciplinary proceedings that have shaped Michigan law with issues ranging from lawyers’ potential liability to clients for defamation, to judicial candidates’ free speech rights.
Farrell concentrates his practice on multi-party, complex litigation, including litigation in the areas of environmental torts, product liability, toxic torts and emerging claims. The University of Detroit Mercy School of Law alumnus’ trial experience spans more than three decades and includes approximately 100 cases to verdict.
For more than 25 years Hildenbrand has represented employers and other defendants in employment, professional liability and general liability actions. Her employment defense practice encompasses both private and public sector employee claims (including claims arising from municipal and school employment) in state and federal court. She is a four-time “Michigan Super Lawyers” selection.
Brown receives distinction from “Michigan Super Lawyers–Rising Stars” Edition 2010 for the third year in a row. His work is focused primarily on defense of medical and legal malpractice cases at the appellate level.
Graves, who has represented both attorneys and healthcare professionals, focuses her practice on the defense of professional liability claims. She also is involved in the defense of general liability matters.
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National Judicial College (NJC)
The National Judicial College (NJC) is pleased to announce that Third Judicial Circuit of Michigan Judge Daniel P. Ryan recently served as lead faculty for two Special Court Jurisdiction courses presented recently at the NJC in Reno, NV.
Ryan, was a lead faculty member for the College’s Special Court Jurisdiction course (for non law-trained judges) and for Special Court Jurisdiction: Advanced (for judges holding law degrees). His teaching focus within the Special Court Jurisdiction areas covered: courts and media, evidence, domestic violence, and jury management issues. Ryan is a NJC faculty member and recently received the College’s 15-year faculty award for outstanding service. He is the former chair of the College’s Faculty Council and earned a Master of Judicial Studies degree in 2000, and a Ph.D. in Judicial Studies degree in 2009, both from the University of Nevada, Reno. Ryan also serves as an associate professor of Law at Ave Maria School of Law in Naples, Florida.
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Pepper Hamilton LLP
Seven attorneys from the Detroit office of Pepper Hamilton LLP have been named to the 2011 edition of “The Best Lawyers in America.” Attorneys named in the guide include: Todd C. Fracassi (environmental); Vicki R. Harding (real estate, bankruptcy and creditor-debtor rights); Robert S. Hertzberg (bankruptcy and creditor-debtor rights); Dennis S. Kayes (bankruptcy and creditor-debtor rights); Kay Standridge Kress (bankruptcy and creditor-debtor rights); Michael B. Staebler (venture capital); and Thomas P. Wilczak (environmental).
Fracassi is an attorney in the firm’s Environmental Practice Group. Fracassi is engaged primarily in matters of environmental litigation and regulatory affairs, and corporate environmental counseling. He is a 2000 graduate of Wayne State University Law School, and a 1995 graduate of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, in association with Syracuse University, where he earned an M.S. in environmental policy.
Harding is a partner who handles commercial transactions with an emphasis on real estate, bankruptcy and creditor-debtor rights. She represents clients in a broad range of matters involving real estate, including real estate acquisitions and dispositions, financings and workouts, leasing and zoning. Harding earned her law degree from Harvard Law School in 1977, following her graduation, from the University of Texas at Austin in 1974, with a B.A. in mathematics.
Hertzberg is a partner and co-chair of the firm’s Corporate Restructuring and Bankruptcy Practice Group. Hertzberg, a bankruptcy lawyer and fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy, has been practicing almost exclusively in the bankruptcy and restructuring field for more than 31 years, representing secured lenders, debtors, debtors-in-possession, trustees, creditors and creditors’ committees.
He is past president of INSOL International (2003-08), the leading international insolvency organization. Hertzberg is a graduate of Thomas M. Cooley Law School (1979).
Kayes is a partner concentrating in securities and corporate matters, secured transactions, sales, commercial paper, bank loans, debtor and creditor rights, and bankruptcy and reorganization. He also has experience in major commercial litigation, including ERISA, lender liability and equitable subordination matters. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School (1966) and the University of Chicago (A.B. in economics, 1963).
Kress is a partner with the firm. She concentrates her practice in corporate restructuring insolvency and bankruptcy matters and has more than 20 years of experience in representing debtors, creditors’ committee, secured creditors, trustees and individual creditors and parties in interest, both as lead counsel and as co-counsel in out-of-court workouts and in bankruptcy courts throughout the United States. Kress received her law degree from Wayne State University Law School in 1986. She earned her B.A.from Bowling Green State University in 1978 and is a Fellow in the American College of Bankruptcy.
Staebler is a partner with the firm. He leads Pepper’s Small Business Investment Company (SBICs) practice and is co-chair of the firm’s Fund Services Group. Staebler concentrates his practice in the formation and operation of SBICs, venture capital and private equity funds, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate finance and governance. He earned his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1969, following his graduation from Harvard College in 1966 with a B.A. in American history.
Wilczak is managing partner and head of the Environmental Practice Group in the firm’s Detroit office. Wilczak primarily is engaged in matters of environmental counseling, compliance, permitting and regulatory affairs, as well as environmental issues pertaining to litigation and transactional matters. He received his undergraduate degree in biological sciences from the University of Michigan; a Master of Science degree in natural resources policy, planning and administration from the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources; and his law degree from Wayne State University Law School.
