Legal People

Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that the firm’s Workplace Law Group and attorney Donald H. Scharg, a senior member of the group, have been recognized in the inaugural 2018 edition of Benchmark Litigation Labor & Employment.

Bodman is one of only six law firms in Michigan to be listed as “recommended” by Benchmark for labor and employment law services.

Scharg is listed individually as a “Midwest Star” for labor and employment law. He has more than 30 years of experience representing management in the areas of labor law, construction labor law, employment discrimination, and employee relations. Scharg has represented employers in collective bargaining, contract arbitrations, 312 arbitrations, unfair labor practice charges, wrongful discharge claims, and discrimination claims.

Benchmark Litigation Labor & Employment is produced by the publisher of the internationally recognized journal Benchmark Litigation. The new volume focuses exclusively on firms and individual attorneys who are considered by their peers and clients to be market leaders for labor and employment law services. Bodman has for years been recognized by Benchmark Litigation as Michigan’s leading firm for general commercial litigation and dispute resolution.

•            •            •

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder recently appointed Annemarie Lepore, of Shelby Township, to the 41-A District Court in the City of Sterling Heights.

Lepore is a 2005 undergraduate of Oakland University and a 2008 graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Since 2009, she has worked for Aloia & Associates where she handles civil litigation and municipal law, among other practice areas. She currently serves as the firm’s domestic litigation and criminal practice manager. Since January 2017, she has served as assistant general counsel to the Macomb County Department of Public Works.

Lepore is the president of the Women Lawyers of Michigan-Macomb Region, and she is on the board of directors for the Macomb County Bar Association and the Macomb County Bar Foundation. She is an organizer of the Macomb Charitable Foundation, and also volunteers for the American Cancer Society and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Michigan Chapter.

Lepore fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Michael Maceroni. She must seek election in November 2020 for a full term.

•            •            •

For years, Butzel Long attorney and shareholder Robin Luce Herrmann has traveled the state of Michigan to educate journalists on understanding and accessing information through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) as general counsel of the Michigan Press Association (MPA).

Now, Herrmann, director emeritus, Michigan Community Resources, will be part of a team of people helping to educate the public on FOIA thanks to a grant of $18,020 awarded by the Community Foundation to Michigan Community Resources and the Detroit Free Press. The grant will allow both groups to share their expertise during a series of in-person sessions to help residents across metro Detroit get to know and use the Freedom of Information Act.

“Accessing information through FOIA is not a seamless process,” said Herrmann.  “Together with Michigan Community Resources and the Detroit Free Press we have a tremendous opportunity to educate the public on FOIA.”

Representing a broad array of clients, Herrmann concentrates her practice in the areas of media law, particularly defamation, privacy, and access issues; commercial litigation, including RICO; and civil rights. As the head of Butzel Long’s Media Team, she advises and litigates defamation, privacy, and access issues, including the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act. She conducts pre-publication review of stories/broadcasts and responds to subpoenas seeking information from the press and newsgatherers. The Media Team advises a broad array of clients, including digital media, emerging technology groups and digital businesses needing advice on First Amendment issues, data protection and cybercrimes.

Herrmann has trial and appellate experience in both state and federal courts in a variety of areas. Herrmann also is responsible for leading internal
and external (client) teams involved in multi-million-dollar litigation to conduct discovery, develop strategy, and prepare for trial.

Herrmann was a professor, Law of the Press, Oakland University, Journalism Department. Further, she is a sought-after speaker and presenter. She has been a guest speaker on Law of the Press: Wayne State University, Central Michigan University, and Oakland University.

Herrmann was named a 2018 honoree for Michigan Women in the Law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.

She also was co-editor, “The Developing Labor Law, Chapter 30: RICO,” 2004-present. Moreover, she was a contributing editor, “The Developing Labor Law, Chapter 30: RICO,” 1999-2004.

Herrmann is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and served in leadership roles including chair: Law and the Media Committee 2013 to 2017; Publications and Website Advisory Committee, 2001-2009; and, editor of the Michigan Bar Journal.

She has co-authored numerous articles including, “Michigan Media Law—A News Room Guide”; “Media Law Resource Center Libel, Privacy and related surveys for Michigan the 6th Circuit since 1993”; and “Overview of Defamation Law,” published by the Law and Media Committee of the ABA.

Herrmann is a member of the Executive Committee of The Defense Counsel Section of the Media Law Resource Center (MLRC). In addition to leadership roles with the MLRC, she has been a member of the Governing Committee of the ABA Forum on Communications Law since 2012 and is a past co-chair of its Women in Communications Law Committee. Herrmann has served as co-chair for the Forum’s Diversity Moot Court Competition since 2016.

She also acted as Young Detroit Builders (YDB) pro bono counsel for more than a dozen years. 

Herrmann earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan and a law degree from the Detroit College of Law.

•            •            •

Secrest Wardle proudly congratulates Dane M. Lepola on passing the bar exam. He has accepted an associate position with the firm.