Butzel attorney Jennifer Dukarski was a featured
speaker during the September 26 COVESA All Member Meeting in Novi. She
participated in a panel discussion titled, “Unlocking Mobility
Potential: The Role of Consented Data in Connected Services.”
Dukarski leads Butzel’s Connected and Autonomous Mobility Team. Her automotive expertise as a former design engineer, Six Sigma master black belt, continuous improvement lead champion, and quality manager gives her a unique perspective on balancing the legal issues and business applications of emerging automotive technology.
Dukarski focuses her legal practice where technology, mobility and communications meet. A leader in the area of electrified, connected and automated vehicles, she negotiated some of the first robotaxi agreements in the world. A champion of the responsible use of AI, Dukarski regularly advises and teaches on AI risk mitigation. She was named one of the 30 Women Defining the Future of Technology by Warner Communications for her innovative thoughts and contributions to the tech industry.
In addition, Butzel immigration law attorney Reginald A. Pacis was a featured speaker during the State Bar of Michigan Annual Meeting on Friday, September 27. He participated in a panel discussion on key immigration issues.
Pacis focuses his practice in immigration law and has handled a variety of immigration matters including H-1B specialty occupation cases, L-1 Intracompany transfers, Labor Certification matters, Immigrant Visa Petitions/Adjustment of Status applications and interviews, TN Free trade cases, H-1B Department of Labor Investigations, I-9 employer verification compliance, and U.S. Port of Entry airport and land port interviews.
Pacis was named Immigration Lawyer of the Year in 2025, 2023 and 2013, respectively in the field of Immigration Law by The Best Lawyers in America and has been listed in Best Lawyers for several years.
Pacis is a member of the American Bar Association, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), and the Samahang Pilipino Ng Oakland Filipino organization. He served two consecutive one-year terms from 2003 to 2005 as chairperson of the Michigan Chapter of AILA and was a member of the AILA National Board of Governors for those terms.
• • •
John W. Reiser III will serve as the 2024-2025 chair of the State Bar of Michigan’s Representative Assembly.
Reiser was sworn in by Judge Melissa M. Pope during the Representative Assembly meeting September 1 and will serve a one-year term as chair. Reiser has been a member of the RA since 2004 and has served in several capacities, chairing the Calendar Committee and Drafting Committee and serving on the Assembly Review Committee. As chair of the RA he said he plans to continue outreach with Michigan’s tribal courts, address Michigan’s “legal deserts,” and increase RA membership.
Reiser is the senior assistant city attorney for the City of Ann Arbor and has been in the role since 2020. Prior to that, he was assistant prosecuting attorney for Washtenaw County and assistant prosecuting attorney for Oakland County.
Reiser volunteers and serves in several capacities including as a member of the Ann Arbor branch of the NAACP, former chair and current member of the Ypsilanti Township Planning Commission, a member of Prosecuting Attorneys’ Association of Michigan’s Traffic Safety Forum, and former president of the Washtenaw County Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys’ Association.
Also during its September meeting, the RA presented Elizabeth Hohauser with the RA’s Unsung Hero Award.
• • •
McDonald Hopkins is thrilled to welcome Chelsea Zortman as the newest associate to join the Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group.
“I was drawn to McDonald Hopkins, firstly, because of its commitment to culture, but also because of its notable achievements not only within the Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group but across the firm,” said Zortman. “I think what makes the McDonald Hopkins’ Data Privacy and Cybersecurity practice unique is its commitment to client-focused solutions that combine a deep knowledge of data privacy and cybersecurity law and best practices, established relationships across the industry, and client needs.”
Zortman’s practice focuses on preventing and responding to cybersecurity incidents, including incident response, data breach notification, and regulatory investigations. She is passionate about data privacy law and helping clients navigate its nuances.
“I enjoy the complex and ever evolving regulatory landscape and how it intersects with nearly every industry, professional and personal environment. There are new challenges each day and I look forward to tackling them with such an experienced team here at McDonald Hopkins,” she said.
Her experience extends to the digital advertising technology sector, where she has provided legal guidance on product compliance with regulations such as General Data Protection Regulation and California Consumer Privacy Act. Zortman also has a background in intellectual property law.
Prior to joining McDonald Hopkins, Zortman also served as product counsel at a large technology firm focused on government contracting. There, she oversaw legal compliance in product development, contract negotiations mitigating data privacy risks, and intellectual property protection. Her role involved collaborating closely with sales, procurement, and regulatory agencies to ensure legal adherence and streamline processes.
Zortman earned her law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law and has a Bachelor of Arts in Human Rights from Southern Methodist University.
• • •
Dickinson Wright congratulates Erin Pawlowski who was named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly 2024 Influential Women of Law. Honorees will be awarded on September 27 in Troy.
Pawlowski focuses her practice on complex corporate transactions. She has a diverse M&A practice and serves as outside general counsel for businesses in a variety of industries and stages of growth. She represents private equity sponsors, portfolio companies, venture capital funds, strategic buyers and sellers, and other privately held businesses.
Pawlowski earned her law degree from Wayne State University Law School and her B.G.S. from the University of Michigan.
• • •
Kitch congratulates retired Judge Daniel Palmer on his recent appointment to the State Bar of Michigan Alternative Dispute Resolution Council to serve a three-year term on the Council.
Palmer is a principal in the firm’s Mt. Clemens office. He focuses his practice on no-fault litigation and other insurance defense matters. Prior to his return to Kitch, he spent more than 25 years in various aspects of tort and other litigation; as a defense attorney, plaintiff attorney, claims manager, facilitator, legal aid director, and chief judge. Palmer is a certified civil mediator.
• • •
Brooks Kushman Shareholder and Intellectual Property Owner Association (IPO) Patent Licensing Committee Member Christopher Smith spoke at the Intellectual Property Owners Association Annual Meeting in Chicago September 22-24. The presentation, called “Assessing Licensing Terms and Rates Considering Comparability,” focused on IP licensing and related issues.
As vice chair, Smith helps to prepare and promote programming offered by the committee. During previous terms, he participated on panels that examined licensing issues such as: best practices for supplier agreements; issues pertaining to standard essential patents for 5G; and unintended consequences of certain IP licensing provisions/language. Smith has been a member of the IP Licensing Committee for 7 years and has also held the role of secretary in the committee.
Smith concentrates his practice on intellectual property litigation, with a primary emphasis on patent litigation. In addition to litigation, he is involved with the preparation of invalidity and infringement opinions and licensing disputes. Smith has represented clients from Fortune 500 companies to startups and individual inventors in a wide variety of industries and
technologies including: automotive, including infotainment; medical devices; internet, including content delivery networks; and telecommunications, including fiber optics.
• • •
Collins Einhorn Farrell PC attorney Kari Melkonian was recently recognized by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as a Go-To-Lawyer for Negligence Law.
“I’m honored to be recognized as a ‘Go-To-Lawyer’ by Michigan Lawyers Weekly,” Melkonia commented. “Representing businesses and individuals in complex tort litigation is as rewarding as it is challenging. I’m thankful for the opportunity to learn from great lawyers in and outside of my firm, and very much enjoy using my training to get the best result for my clients. Thank you to those who nominated me, and Michigan Lawyers Weekly for the recognition.”
Melkonian is a partner at Collins Einhorn Farrell PC. She has experience in defending high exposure and catastrophic injury claims, as well as consulting clients regarding catastrophic claims prior to litigation. She has experience in all aspects of the litigation process. Additionally, She received specialized training for civil mediation, equipping her with specialized negotiation methods to mediate complex civil matters.
In addition, Collins Einhorn attorney Reine Hamdar recently moderated a panel discussion hosted by the MENA American Chamber of Commerce. The discussion was an in-depth look at the increasing threat of cyber-attacks on small businesses and how business owners should protect themselves.
Hamdar is a member of the firm’s Professional Liability and AI Ethics & Compliance Practice Groups. Her practice focuses on the defense and representation of professionals in the legal, insurance, accounting, architectural, engineering, and real estate fields.
Dukarski leads Butzel’s Connected and Autonomous Mobility Team. Her automotive expertise as a former design engineer, Six Sigma master black belt, continuous improvement lead champion, and quality manager gives her a unique perspective on balancing the legal issues and business applications of emerging automotive technology.
Dukarski focuses her legal practice where technology, mobility and communications meet. A leader in the area of electrified, connected and automated vehicles, she negotiated some of the first robotaxi agreements in the world. A champion of the responsible use of AI, Dukarski regularly advises and teaches on AI risk mitigation. She was named one of the 30 Women Defining the Future of Technology by Warner Communications for her innovative thoughts and contributions to the tech industry.
In addition, Butzel immigration law attorney Reginald A. Pacis was a featured speaker during the State Bar of Michigan Annual Meeting on Friday, September 27. He participated in a panel discussion on key immigration issues.
Pacis focuses his practice in immigration law and has handled a variety of immigration matters including H-1B specialty occupation cases, L-1 Intracompany transfers, Labor Certification matters, Immigrant Visa Petitions/Adjustment of Status applications and interviews, TN Free trade cases, H-1B Department of Labor Investigations, I-9 employer verification compliance, and U.S. Port of Entry airport and land port interviews.
Pacis was named Immigration Lawyer of the Year in 2025, 2023 and 2013, respectively in the field of Immigration Law by The Best Lawyers in America and has been listed in Best Lawyers for several years.
Pacis is a member of the American Bar Association, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), and the Samahang Pilipino Ng Oakland Filipino organization. He served two consecutive one-year terms from 2003 to 2005 as chairperson of the Michigan Chapter of AILA and was a member of the AILA National Board of Governors for those terms.
• • •
John W. Reiser III will serve as the 2024-2025 chair of the State Bar of Michigan’s Representative Assembly.
Reiser was sworn in by Judge Melissa M. Pope during the Representative Assembly meeting September 1 and will serve a one-year term as chair. Reiser has been a member of the RA since 2004 and has served in several capacities, chairing the Calendar Committee and Drafting Committee and serving on the Assembly Review Committee. As chair of the RA he said he plans to continue outreach with Michigan’s tribal courts, address Michigan’s “legal deserts,” and increase RA membership.
Reiser is the senior assistant city attorney for the City of Ann Arbor and has been in the role since 2020. Prior to that, he was assistant prosecuting attorney for Washtenaw County and assistant prosecuting attorney for Oakland County.
Reiser volunteers and serves in several capacities including as a member of the Ann Arbor branch of the NAACP, former chair and current member of the Ypsilanti Township Planning Commission, a member of Prosecuting Attorneys’ Association of Michigan’s Traffic Safety Forum, and former president of the Washtenaw County Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys’ Association.
Also during its September meeting, the RA presented Elizabeth Hohauser with the RA’s Unsung Hero Award.
• • •
McDonald Hopkins is thrilled to welcome Chelsea Zortman as the newest associate to join the Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group.
“I was drawn to McDonald Hopkins, firstly, because of its commitment to culture, but also because of its notable achievements not only within the Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group but across the firm,” said Zortman. “I think what makes the McDonald Hopkins’ Data Privacy and Cybersecurity practice unique is its commitment to client-focused solutions that combine a deep knowledge of data privacy and cybersecurity law and best practices, established relationships across the industry, and client needs.”
Zortman’s practice focuses on preventing and responding to cybersecurity incidents, including incident response, data breach notification, and regulatory investigations. She is passionate about data privacy law and helping clients navigate its nuances.
“I enjoy the complex and ever evolving regulatory landscape and how it intersects with nearly every industry, professional and personal environment. There are new challenges each day and I look forward to tackling them with such an experienced team here at McDonald Hopkins,” she said.
Her experience extends to the digital advertising technology sector, where she has provided legal guidance on product compliance with regulations such as General Data Protection Regulation and California Consumer Privacy Act. Zortman also has a background in intellectual property law.
Prior to joining McDonald Hopkins, Zortman also served as product counsel at a large technology firm focused on government contracting. There, she oversaw legal compliance in product development, contract negotiations mitigating data privacy risks, and intellectual property protection. Her role involved collaborating closely with sales, procurement, and regulatory agencies to ensure legal adherence and streamline processes.
Zortman earned her law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law and has a Bachelor of Arts in Human Rights from Southern Methodist University.
• • •
Dickinson Wright congratulates Erin Pawlowski who was named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly 2024 Influential Women of Law. Honorees will be awarded on September 27 in Troy.
Pawlowski focuses her practice on complex corporate transactions. She has a diverse M&A practice and serves as outside general counsel for businesses in a variety of industries and stages of growth. She represents private equity sponsors, portfolio companies, venture capital funds, strategic buyers and sellers, and other privately held businesses.
Pawlowski earned her law degree from Wayne State University Law School and her B.G.S. from the University of Michigan.
• • •
Kitch congratulates retired Judge Daniel Palmer on his recent appointment to the State Bar of Michigan Alternative Dispute Resolution Council to serve a three-year term on the Council.
Palmer is a principal in the firm’s Mt. Clemens office. He focuses his practice on no-fault litigation and other insurance defense matters. Prior to his return to Kitch, he spent more than 25 years in various aspects of tort and other litigation; as a defense attorney, plaintiff attorney, claims manager, facilitator, legal aid director, and chief judge. Palmer is a certified civil mediator.
• • •
Brooks Kushman Shareholder and Intellectual Property Owner Association (IPO) Patent Licensing Committee Member Christopher Smith spoke at the Intellectual Property Owners Association Annual Meeting in Chicago September 22-24. The presentation, called “Assessing Licensing Terms and Rates Considering Comparability,” focused on IP licensing and related issues.
As vice chair, Smith helps to prepare and promote programming offered by the committee. During previous terms, he participated on panels that examined licensing issues such as: best practices for supplier agreements; issues pertaining to standard essential patents for 5G; and unintended consequences of certain IP licensing provisions/language. Smith has been a member of the IP Licensing Committee for 7 years and has also held the role of secretary in the committee.
Smith concentrates his practice on intellectual property litigation, with a primary emphasis on patent litigation. In addition to litigation, he is involved with the preparation of invalidity and infringement opinions and licensing disputes. Smith has represented clients from Fortune 500 companies to startups and individual inventors in a wide variety of industries and
technologies including: automotive, including infotainment; medical devices; internet, including content delivery networks; and telecommunications, including fiber optics.
• • •
Collins Einhorn Farrell PC attorney Kari Melkonian was recently recognized by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as a Go-To-Lawyer for Negligence Law.
“I’m honored to be recognized as a ‘Go-To-Lawyer’ by Michigan Lawyers Weekly,” Melkonia commented. “Representing businesses and individuals in complex tort litigation is as rewarding as it is challenging. I’m thankful for the opportunity to learn from great lawyers in and outside of my firm, and very much enjoy using my training to get the best result for my clients. Thank you to those who nominated me, and Michigan Lawyers Weekly for the recognition.”
Melkonian is a partner at Collins Einhorn Farrell PC. She has experience in defending high exposure and catastrophic injury claims, as well as consulting clients regarding catastrophic claims prior to litigation. She has experience in all aspects of the litigation process. Additionally, She received specialized training for civil mediation, equipping her with specialized negotiation methods to mediate complex civil matters.
In addition, Collins Einhorn attorney Reine Hamdar recently moderated a panel discussion hosted by the MENA American Chamber of Commerce. The discussion was an in-depth look at the increasing threat of cyber-attacks on small businesses and how business owners should protect themselves.
Hamdar is a member of the firm’s Professional Liability and AI Ethics & Compliance Practice Groups. Her practice focuses on the defense and representation of professionals in the legal, insurance, accounting, architectural, engineering, and real estate fields.
