Thursday Profile: Doron Yitzchaki

A member of Dickinson Wright PLLC in Ann Arbor, Doron Yitzchaki has a broad litigation practice with a focus on commercial litigation, business bankruptcy, and high-end collections.

Yitzchaki graduated magna cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School in 2008, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif and did clinical work on behalf of the Washtenaw County Workers Center.

He received the Golden Gavel Award, recognizing up and coming lawyers, from the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel in 2014. He was named a Rising Star by Michigan Super Lawyers in 2015.

He co-chairs the Bankruptcy Committee of the Federal Bar Association, Eastern District of Michigan Chapter and is former co-chair of the Trial Practice Section of the Washtenaw County Bar Association, with which he remains actively involved.

He earned his undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, in 2000 from the University of Judaism College of Arts and Science, where he also was valedictorian.

By Jo Mathis
Legal News

Residence: Ann Arbor.

Favorite local hangouts: Top of the Park, Title Boxing, Fraser’s Pub, and the Arb.

What is your most treasured material possession?
My wedding ring. 

What was always written on your grade school report card?
“Does not work well in groups.” It’s still true.

Would your co-workers agree? 
I’ve gotten a lot better. Luckily, I have a pretty good balance in my work between working cooperatively with my partners and working fairly independently on certain cases. But I was also the middle child, so I know how to be diplomatic if need be.

Who is on your guest list for the ideal dinner party? My family and my wife’s family. But they sit in different rooms and I shuttle back and forth. But if they are not available, I’d say Stephen Colbert, Taylor Swift and Travis Fimmel (from History Channel’s “Vikings”). That would be great.

What question do you most often ask yourself? Professionally, it’s “Why didn’t my client tell me that before?” 

If you could trade places with someone for a day, who would that be?
Stephen Curry. He is amazing and is currently dominating a sport which favors bigger guys, even though he is relatively “slightly built” for the NBA. I feel a kinship, even though I have zero athletic ability.

What is your proudest moment as a lawyer? My first trial, which I won. It was an amazing feeling and my client was elated.        

What is the best advice you ever received?
“Neither a borrower nor a lender be.”   

So you paid cash for your house? Unfortunately it’s not very easy advice to live by.

What word do you overuse? “Like.” I lived in the Valley in Los Angeles for almost a decade. I can’t get rid of it.

How does living in Ann Arbor compare to living in Southern California? Obviously the traffic situation is better here, although it’s starting to get almost as bad in recent years.  People who have money here—and there are a lot—are a lot less showy about it. Other than the weather I’d say the overall quality of life is much better here, especially if you are raising three children, as I am.  I don’t regret moving here at all.
 

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