LEGAL PEOPLE

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently appointed Kristina Robinson to the Wayne County 36th District Court in the City of Detroit.

Robinson received her Bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and her law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. She is currently the general counsel at the Wayne County Sheriff's Office and is involved with the Urban League of Detroit and Southeastern Michigan.

The appointment was made to fill a partial term after Judge Izetta Bright stepped down. Robinson would be required to run for reelection in November 2020 in order to serve the remainder of the unexpired term ending at noon, January 1, 2023.

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Kemp Klein Law Firm welcomes George W. Gregory as a shareholder this month. Gregory brings more than 30 years of experience in the areas of estate planning, tax and business law.

Prior to practicing law, Gregory was a revenue agent with the IRS. He has also taught tax courses at the undergraduate and graduate level at Wayne State University School of Business Administration. His years of practice both with the IRS and in private practice uniquely qualifies him to represent clients in tax controversies as well as estate planning and business planning for individuals.

He received his law degree from Wayne State University Law School, his Master of Business Administration from Wayne State University School of Business Administration, and his Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University.

Gregory maintains an "AV" peer review rating with Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory. He has also been listed as one of the top 5% of attorneys in Michigan by Michigan Super Lawyers magazine since its inception 2006. He has also been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2019 in the field of Trusts and Estates (©2018 by Woodward/ White, Inc., of SC). He is a member of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.

Gregory is a certified public accountant and has been a member of the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

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Sean H. Cook has been elected to the Management Committee of Warner, Norcross, & Judd LLP.

Cook is one of three Warner partners who have been elected to three-year terms on the committee, which oversees the strategic vision and day-to-day operations for Warner.

Cook serves as chair of Warner's Tax Practice Group and a member of its Finance Committee. He represents clients in the areas of corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, nonprofit law and estate planning. Cook's clients include family-owned and closely held businesses to global enterprises. He is recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Michigan Super Lawyers and as a Top Lawyer by DBusiness.

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The law firm of Foster, Swift, Collins, & Smith PC has elected officers to serve on its executive committee for 2019. Julie I. Fershtman was elected vice president of the firm's Southeast Michigan offices.

Fershtman focuses her practice in business litigation, insurance coverage, insurance defense and is considered one of the nation's leading practitioners in equine law.

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Butzel Long attorney Ivonne M. Soler was a featured speaker during a seminar presented by the Mexican Consulate in Detroit on March 4 at Wayne State University. The seminar focused on Women's Empowerment. Soler discussed the use of the law as a tool for the empowerment of women.

Based in Butzel Long's Detroit office, Soler concentrates her practice in the areas of family law litigation and commercial litigation. She represents clients with family and domestic relations issues, including divorce, property division, spousal support, child support, child custody and parenting time, change of domicile, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, post-judgment enforcement, adoption and assisted reproduction (family building) issues. She also represents clients in general matters pertaining to business and commercial litigation, including breach of contract actions and non-compete, trade secrets, and unfair competition disputes.

Soler is a graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law (2013) and Wayne State University (B.A., 2006).

A native of Puerto Rico and fluent in Spanish, Soler is actively involved with the Hispanic Bar Association (HBAM) and the Women's Lawyer's Association of Michigan (WLAM). She serves on the Hispanic Latino Commission of Michigan. She was appointed by former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder.

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Benchmark Litigation has named Bodman PLC its Michigan Litigation Law Firm of the Year for 2019.

Bodman has earned the Law Firm of the Year designation for an unprecedented six consecutive years dating back to 2014.

The selection was announced at a national award ceremony held at the Essex House in New York.

"This award is well-deserved recognition for our Litigation Group, which had another great year in 2018" said Bodman Chairman Larry R. Shulman. "To maintain this level of success for six straight years is a testament to the high level of skill and effort our entire team brings to each matter."

Benchmark is the only attorney rating publication that focuses exclusively on litigation law firms in the United States. In the 2019 edition of Benchmark, Bodman received the highest possible "Highly Recommended" rating for Business Litigation, and seven Bodman attorneys are listed as "State Litigation Stars" or "Future Stars."

Bodman's Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice Group attorneys appear before state and federal courts, and also non-judicial forums such as national and international arbitral panels. The group's expertise spans many industries including accounting, banking and financial services, automotive, insurance, healthcare, manufacturing, real estate and zoning, and construction, among others.

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The Secrest Wardle Executive Committee is pleased to announce that effective January 1, 2019, the following attorneys were promoted:

-To the position of executive partner: Renee T. Townsend and Javon L. Williams.

-To the position of partner: Cleveland B. Simmons and Melissa L. Sulla.

Published: Mon, Mar 18, 2019