By Tom Kirvan
Legal News
Somewhat fortuitously, the first three people that Don Campbell met in law school at Wayne State University have played key roles in his life and career, a twist of fate that he didn’t see coming when he began his legal studies in downtown Detroit.
The first student that he met was Margaret Conti Schmidt, who now serves as an attorney with Krispen S. Carroll, the Chapter 13 Trustee.
“Margaret introduced me to my wife (Sheri Ann) and is a godmother to our youngest son,” said Campbell, the president and co-managing partner of Collins Einhorn in Southfield.
His second law school acquaintance was Theresa Asoklis, a former co-manager of the firm and the attorney chiefly responsible for bringing Campbell on board at Collins Einhorn in 2003.
“I wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for Theresa,” Campbell declared. “It was a chance phone call from her that led to a job here in grievance defense and professional liability defense work.”
The third Wayne State student he met, who shall remain nameless, was someone “I eventually disbarred while working at the Attorney Grievance Commission (AGC),” Campbell acknowledged, noting that years later he would be seated unexpectedly at the same table with her during a dinner event that had all the makings of a decidedly awkward encounter.
“Fortunately, she was pleasant and handled the situation well,” Campbell said with a sense of belated relief.
A Detroit native, Campbell became president of Collins Einhorn in January 2024 and shares a co-managing partner role with attorney Kellie Howard, the chief executive officer of the firm that was founded in 1971 and now numbers more than 110 employees.
Campbell is quick to praise Howard for her leadership abilities, calling her a “visionary who is the firm’s leading light and guiding light,” while adding another layer of praise for good measure.
“She is a really terrific lawyer who we all have great respect for,” said Campbell of Howard, who represents various Fortune 500 companies in the public utility, automotive, and health care sectors. “I was deeply honored when she asked me to be her co-managing partner. She is truly stellar.”
A product of University of Detroit High School, Campbell earned a bachelor of arts degree from Loyola University of Chicago, a Jesuit school that was a natural fit for a U of D High grad. He returned to the Motor City for law school at Wayne State, obtaining his juris doctorate in 1989. As the son of two former Wayne County assistant prosecutors (see related story), Campbell followed a prosecutorial path as well, but in Oakland County instead.
“I was hired by Oakland County Prosecutor Richard Thompson, who took a chance on me, giving me an opportunity to learn the ropes as a trial attorney,” Campbell said. “It was a place where you learned in a hurry.”
Campbell was part of a new group of assistant prosecutors that included Mike Cox, a future attorney general of Michigan who served two terms from 2003-11 and now is rumored to be considering a gubernatorial bid in 2026.
“I spent three years with the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, handling 40 jury trials, a couple hundred bench trials, and countless preliminary exams and motion proceedings,” Campbell said of the eye-opening job experience. “I had the privilege of working with a lot of talented people dedicated to our justice system.”
Campbell was then encouraged by a friend to consider applying for a job opening with the Attorney Grievance Commission, the investigative and prosecutorial arm of the Michigan Supreme Court for allegations of attorney misconduct. He spent 10 years with the state agency trying more than 250 cases and handling appeals.
“In that role, about 90 percent of the cases I investigated were closed by the Commission,” Campbell indicated. “So, while I saw some very bad lawyering, I also was exposed to many good lawyers who happened to be grieved. In studying those matters, I really learned how to be a good and organized lawyer. I saw firsthand how to keep detailed records.”
When Campbell joined Collins Einhorn, he immediately was in a role reversal mode, representing lawyers facing misconduct allegations before the AGC in addition to counseling judges in the crosshairs of a Judicial Tenure Commission investigation.
In addition, Campbell has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, teaching courses in Professional Responsibility and Criminal Law.
As a longtime colleague and friend, Theresa Asoklis knows Campbell well and firmly believes that Collins Einhorn is in “very good hands for the foreseeable future” with Howard and Campbell at the helm.
“We met during our first week of law school at Wayne State (in 1986),” Asoklis recalled of the first time she crossed paths with Campbell. “Don was a leader even back then – organizing and leading quite a few after-class activities at our local watering hole.
“We lost touch a bit after we graduated,” added Asoklis, but they reconnected when Campbell was working for the AGC.
“I was working on a challenging ethical issue for a lawyer-client of mine and on a whim called Don to get some of his expertise on the subject,” Asoklis noted. “That call ended up with me recruiting him to join our firm’s professional liability practice group. He was hired within a month of that call. Over the years, Don has taken on and succeeded in some of the most challenging lawyer and judicial ethics cases in the state. In my opinion, he is the top ethics lawyer in the state.
“Don was a natural fit to take over the helm of Collins Einhorn during our leadership transition last year,” Asoklis proclaimed. “He leads with a firm, yet gentle hand. He is a consensus builder. His door is always open to any member of the staff who needs advice.”
One of eight children, Campbell grew up on the lower east side of Detroit and now lives in the house where he was raised.
“It’s a 100-year-old house that is filled with wonderful memories for me,” said Campbell. “I’m living the dream there.”
His parents, Patricia and Donald, met in Germany. His father was in the military while his mother was a civilian employee for the U.S. government.
“It was a fortuitous event that they met, as my dad went into military service after he was booted out of U of D law school,” Campbell related. “If it hadn’t been for his unfortunate experience at U of D, I wouldn’t be here now.”
The couple married upon their return stateside, where with the G.I. Bill in hand, the elder Campbell gave law school another go, graduating from Detroit College of Law before joining the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. He would work there until suffering a disabling stroke at age 47, a life-altering event for the family patriarch who passed away in 2000.
Campbell and his wife, Sheri Ann, were married in 1989 and celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary last fall. Sheri Ann spent five years as the office manager of St. Paul on the Lake in Grosse Pointe Farms, retiring in 2020. She also has served in various human resource capacities for Comerica Bank, Great Lakes Strategies, and Allecon Stock Associates.
The Campbells are the parents of four children: Katherine, Hazen, Madeline, and Malcolm.
Katherine holds a master’s degree in endangered species recovery and conservation and currently works in a Texas A&M program designed to preserve the ocelot, the endangered medium-sized wildcat with a habitat near the Rio Grande Valley. Hazen, a Wayne State alum, is manager of environmental, health, and safety at LG in Hazel Park. Madeline, a product of Aquinas College, is a history teacher at Grosse Pointe North High School. Malcolm, a graduate of U of D Jesuit, is a junior studying political science at Loyola University of Chicago who may have law school in his future plans.
“We, as parents, have been wonderfully blessed by our children,” said Campbell. “They’ve brought great joy into our lives.”
Legal News
Somewhat fortuitously, the first three people that Don Campbell met in law school at Wayne State University have played key roles in his life and career, a twist of fate that he didn’t see coming when he began his legal studies in downtown Detroit.
The first student that he met was Margaret Conti Schmidt, who now serves as an attorney with Krispen S. Carroll, the Chapter 13 Trustee.
“Margaret introduced me to my wife (Sheri Ann) and is a godmother to our youngest son,” said Campbell, the president and co-managing partner of Collins Einhorn in Southfield.
His second law school acquaintance was Theresa Asoklis, a former co-manager of the firm and the attorney chiefly responsible for bringing Campbell on board at Collins Einhorn in 2003.
“I wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for Theresa,” Campbell declared. “It was a chance phone call from her that led to a job here in grievance defense and professional liability defense work.”
The third Wayne State student he met, who shall remain nameless, was someone “I eventually disbarred while working at the Attorney Grievance Commission (AGC),” Campbell acknowledged, noting that years later he would be seated unexpectedly at the same table with her during a dinner event that had all the makings of a decidedly awkward encounter.
“Fortunately, she was pleasant and handled the situation well,” Campbell said with a sense of belated relief.
A Detroit native, Campbell became president of Collins Einhorn in January 2024 and shares a co-managing partner role with attorney Kellie Howard, the chief executive officer of the firm that was founded in 1971 and now numbers more than 110 employees.
Campbell is quick to praise Howard for her leadership abilities, calling her a “visionary who is the firm’s leading light and guiding light,” while adding another layer of praise for good measure.
“She is a really terrific lawyer who we all have great respect for,” said Campbell of Howard, who represents various Fortune 500 companies in the public utility, automotive, and health care sectors. “I was deeply honored when she asked me to be her co-managing partner. She is truly stellar.”
A product of University of Detroit High School, Campbell earned a bachelor of arts degree from Loyola University of Chicago, a Jesuit school that was a natural fit for a U of D High grad. He returned to the Motor City for law school at Wayne State, obtaining his juris doctorate in 1989. As the son of two former Wayne County assistant prosecutors (see related story), Campbell followed a prosecutorial path as well, but in Oakland County instead.
“I was hired by Oakland County Prosecutor Richard Thompson, who took a chance on me, giving me an opportunity to learn the ropes as a trial attorney,” Campbell said. “It was a place where you learned in a hurry.”
Campbell was part of a new group of assistant prosecutors that included Mike Cox, a future attorney general of Michigan who served two terms from 2003-11 and now is rumored to be considering a gubernatorial bid in 2026.
“I spent three years with the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, handling 40 jury trials, a couple hundred bench trials, and countless preliminary exams and motion proceedings,” Campbell said of the eye-opening job experience. “I had the privilege of working with a lot of talented people dedicated to our justice system.”
Campbell was then encouraged by a friend to consider applying for a job opening with the Attorney Grievance Commission, the investigative and prosecutorial arm of the Michigan Supreme Court for allegations of attorney misconduct. He spent 10 years with the state agency trying more than 250 cases and handling appeals.
“In that role, about 90 percent of the cases I investigated were closed by the Commission,” Campbell indicated. “So, while I saw some very bad lawyering, I also was exposed to many good lawyers who happened to be grieved. In studying those matters, I really learned how to be a good and organized lawyer. I saw firsthand how to keep detailed records.”
When Campbell joined Collins Einhorn, he immediately was in a role reversal mode, representing lawyers facing misconduct allegations before the AGC in addition to counseling judges in the crosshairs of a Judicial Tenure Commission investigation.
In addition, Campbell has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, teaching courses in Professional Responsibility and Criminal Law.
As a longtime colleague and friend, Theresa Asoklis knows Campbell well and firmly believes that Collins Einhorn is in “very good hands for the foreseeable future” with Howard and Campbell at the helm.
“We met during our first week of law school at Wayne State (in 1986),” Asoklis recalled of the first time she crossed paths with Campbell. “Don was a leader even back then – organizing and leading quite a few after-class activities at our local watering hole.
“We lost touch a bit after we graduated,” added Asoklis, but they reconnected when Campbell was working for the AGC.
“I was working on a challenging ethical issue for a lawyer-client of mine and on a whim called Don to get some of his expertise on the subject,” Asoklis noted. “That call ended up with me recruiting him to join our firm’s professional liability practice group. He was hired within a month of that call. Over the years, Don has taken on and succeeded in some of the most challenging lawyer and judicial ethics cases in the state. In my opinion, he is the top ethics lawyer in the state.
“Don was a natural fit to take over the helm of Collins Einhorn during our leadership transition last year,” Asoklis proclaimed. “He leads with a firm, yet gentle hand. He is a consensus builder. His door is always open to any member of the staff who needs advice.”
One of eight children, Campbell grew up on the lower east side of Detroit and now lives in the house where he was raised.
“It’s a 100-year-old house that is filled with wonderful memories for me,” said Campbell. “I’m living the dream there.”
His parents, Patricia and Donald, met in Germany. His father was in the military while his mother was a civilian employee for the U.S. government.
“It was a fortuitous event that they met, as my dad went into military service after he was booted out of U of D law school,” Campbell related. “If it hadn’t been for his unfortunate experience at U of D, I wouldn’t be here now.”
The couple married upon their return stateside, where with the G.I. Bill in hand, the elder Campbell gave law school another go, graduating from Detroit College of Law before joining the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. He would work there until suffering a disabling stroke at age 47, a life-altering event for the family patriarch who passed away in 2000.
Campbell and his wife, Sheri Ann, were married in 1989 and celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary last fall. Sheri Ann spent five years as the office manager of St. Paul on the Lake in Grosse Pointe Farms, retiring in 2020. She also has served in various human resource capacities for Comerica Bank, Great Lakes Strategies, and Allecon Stock Associates.
The Campbells are the parents of four children: Katherine, Hazen, Madeline, and Malcolm.
Katherine holds a master’s degree in endangered species recovery and conservation and currently works in a Texas A&M program designed to preserve the ocelot, the endangered medium-sized wildcat with a habitat near the Rio Grande Valley. Hazen, a Wayne State alum, is manager of environmental, health, and safety at LG in Hazel Park. Madeline, a product of Aquinas College, is a history teacher at Grosse Pointe North High School. Malcolm, a graduate of U of D Jesuit, is a junior studying political science at Loyola University of Chicago who may have law school in his future plans.
“We, as parents, have been wonderfully blessed by our children,” said Campbell. “They’ve brought great joy into our lives.”
_____________________________________________________________
Late probate judge waged a
campaign ‘for the ages’
By Tom Kirvan
Legal News
A political neophyte, Patricia Campbell was a considerable longshot when she decided to seek election to a newly-created judgeship on the Wayne County Probate Court in 1990.
The mother of eight children, Campbell was 58 years old at the time of the judicial campaign, and had the relatively paltry sum of $12,000 to spend on her bid for an eight-year term on the probate bench.
Even more daunting for Campbell was the fact that her opponent – William Leo Cahalan Jr. – had name recognition, political connections, and the backing of then-Detroit Mayor Coleman Young, who was generally recognized as the single most influential person in the city during his 20-year mayoral reign from 1974-94.
Campbell had plenty of moxie and smarts, however, relying on the advice of her political consultant Alan Feuer to wage what was labeled as “one of the most innovative campaigns” in Wayne County history. In fact, due to the dedication of family and friends who worked tirelessly to elect her, it was one that she rode into the winner’s circle on election day, easily defeating Cahalan, who was just 32 years old at the time and was three years out of law school.
The daughter of Croatian parents , Campbell spent her formative years in Chicago, graduating from Gage Park High School before earning a degree in German from the University of Illinois in Champaign. Her desire to travel and to live overseas led to a position with the U.S. government in Germany, where she met her future husband, Don. The couple returned to Don’s hometown of Detroit, married, and raised a family of eight children.
Campbell’s husband was serving as a Wayne County assistant prosecutor when he suffered a severe stroke at age 47, suddenly forcing her into a breadwinner’s role for the family.
“When my mom told my dad that she was going to attend law school, he said something to the effect of ‘We don’t need a lawyer, we need a banker,’” recalled their son, Donald D. Campbell, the current president of Collins Einhorn.
Her husband provided full-fledged support for his wife’s plans to obtain a law degree by taking over household responsibilities while she went to school at night, which she did from Wayne State University Law School in 1975. Her first full-time legal job was that of an assistant prosecutor in Wayne County.
“My mom’s commitment to Detroit youth eventually earned her the position of referee in Wayne County Juvenile Court,” said her son.
When the family matriarch decided to seek elective office in 1990, she was summarily suspended from her job – without pay. This action was later found to be improper, and she was ultimately awarded her back pay. But the county’s action robbed her of income during the run-up to the election.
Undeterred by the setback, Campbell devoted all of her energy to executing the campaign game plan, devised by political consultant Feuer, to rally grass roots support.
“Feuer’s strategy was for her to identify the 5,000 most important opinion-makers in Wayne County and to send each of them a series of flyers outlining her story in hopes that it would have a trickle-down effect across the county,” explained her son.
The first in a series of tri-fold campaign letters she mailed carried the all-caps headline on the front, “I WILL LOSE.”
On the flip side of the mailing, Campbell wrote: “I’m a candidate for Probate Judge, and I’m about to lose an election. Maybe you don’t care.
“Maybe you should. I’ve been a lawyer for 15 years. My opponent has just three years’ experience. The Bar Association says I’m ‘Well Qualified’ to serve as Judge of the Probate Court. They say my opponent is ‘Not Qualified.’
“But he’s famous, or his name is. He’s the cousin of a former judge and prosecutor. And the son of another judge.
“My name’s Patricia Campbell. His is Cahalan, William Leo Jr. That’s my problem.
“I’ve got about a month to tell people about my qualifications, and the choice they’ll make when voting for Probate Court in Wayne County. One month to tell people that I’ve worked in Probate Court for 11 years. That I’ve served as a Probate Court Referee for nine years, and before that, as an Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor.
“One month to win ‘The Name Game.’ Or change the rules of the game.”
The mailing was the creative handiwork of Feuer, a Cornell University alum who had developed a reputation as one of the best campaign advisers in the business.
The letter soon caught the attention of both Detroit daily newspapers, which featured the campaign piece on a section front appearing in a combined Sunday edition that reached hundreds of thousands of readers across the state.
Suddenly and surprisingly, Campbell had hit the bonanza when it came to the metrics of “trickle-down effect.”
Campbell’s campaign got another boost when popular Detroit News columnist Pete Waldmeir wrote a flattering piece about her, trumpeting her years of distinguished legal service with the county.
Feuer then crafted four more campaign mailings, including one that blared in big, bold type: “I WOULDN’T VOTE FOR MY CHILDREN.”
Her reason for proclaiming such: “I’m especially proud that three of my children are lawyers, since I’ve practiced law for 15 years,” Campbell wrote. “But I wouldn’t vote for any of them.
“They’re not ready to serve as Judge. Maybe they will be someday – I’d like that. But right now, I wouldn’t vote for any of them, though all are good lawyers – and one is more experienced than my opponent ... a lawyer for just three years.
“But I still won’t vote for my children, famous name or not. Not until they learn a little more about the law, and about life. I love my children more than anything – I just don’t think judging is all that easy.”
The Wayne County electorate agreed, voting overwhelmingly in favor of Campbell, who would serve faithfully for 14 years on the bench after winning re-election to a six-year term in office.
“When she won the first time, we were stunned – and elated,” said Don Campbell. “We didn’t think she would make it out of the primary, let alone beat a big-name candidate in the general election. You could never underestimate what she could do. She was an amazing person in so many respects – as a wife, a mother, a lawyer, and as a judge.
“Mom gave 14 years of service in the Juvenile Court in Wayne County,” Campbell noted, “and a story for the ages to share with her 17 grandchildren – and anyone else who needs a reason to never underestimate the power of the possible.”
Legal News
A political neophyte, Patricia Campbell was a considerable longshot when she decided to seek election to a newly-created judgeship on the Wayne County Probate Court in 1990.
The mother of eight children, Campbell was 58 years old at the time of the judicial campaign, and had the relatively paltry sum of $12,000 to spend on her bid for an eight-year term on the probate bench.
Even more daunting for Campbell was the fact that her opponent – William Leo Cahalan Jr. – had name recognition, political connections, and the backing of then-Detroit Mayor Coleman Young, who was generally recognized as the single most influential person in the city during his 20-year mayoral reign from 1974-94.
Campbell had plenty of moxie and smarts, however, relying on the advice of her political consultant Alan Feuer to wage what was labeled as “one of the most innovative campaigns” in Wayne County history. In fact, due to the dedication of family and friends who worked tirelessly to elect her, it was one that she rode into the winner’s circle on election day, easily defeating Cahalan, who was just 32 years old at the time and was three years out of law school.
The daughter of Croatian parents , Campbell spent her formative years in Chicago, graduating from Gage Park High School before earning a degree in German from the University of Illinois in Champaign. Her desire to travel and to live overseas led to a position with the U.S. government in Germany, where she met her future husband, Don. The couple returned to Don’s hometown of Detroit, married, and raised a family of eight children.
Campbell’s husband was serving as a Wayne County assistant prosecutor when he suffered a severe stroke at age 47, suddenly forcing her into a breadwinner’s role for the family.
“When my mom told my dad that she was going to attend law school, he said something to the effect of ‘We don’t need a lawyer, we need a banker,’” recalled their son, Donald D. Campbell, the current president of Collins Einhorn.
Her husband provided full-fledged support for his wife’s plans to obtain a law degree by taking over household responsibilities while she went to school at night, which she did from Wayne State University Law School in 1975. Her first full-time legal job was that of an assistant prosecutor in Wayne County.
“My mom’s commitment to Detroit youth eventually earned her the position of referee in Wayne County Juvenile Court,” said her son.
When the family matriarch decided to seek elective office in 1990, she was summarily suspended from her job – without pay. This action was later found to be improper, and she was ultimately awarded her back pay. But the county’s action robbed her of income during the run-up to the election.
Undeterred by the setback, Campbell devoted all of her energy to executing the campaign game plan, devised by political consultant Feuer, to rally grass roots support.
“Feuer’s strategy was for her to identify the 5,000 most important opinion-makers in Wayne County and to send each of them a series of flyers outlining her story in hopes that it would have a trickle-down effect across the county,” explained her son.
The first in a series of tri-fold campaign letters she mailed carried the all-caps headline on the front, “I WILL LOSE.”
On the flip side of the mailing, Campbell wrote: “I’m a candidate for Probate Judge, and I’m about to lose an election. Maybe you don’t care.
“Maybe you should. I’ve been a lawyer for 15 years. My opponent has just three years’ experience. The Bar Association says I’m ‘Well Qualified’ to serve as Judge of the Probate Court. They say my opponent is ‘Not Qualified.’
“But he’s famous, or his name is. He’s the cousin of a former judge and prosecutor. And the son of another judge.
“My name’s Patricia Campbell. His is Cahalan, William Leo Jr. That’s my problem.
“I’ve got about a month to tell people about my qualifications, and the choice they’ll make when voting for Probate Court in Wayne County. One month to tell people that I’ve worked in Probate Court for 11 years. That I’ve served as a Probate Court Referee for nine years, and before that, as an Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor.
“One month to win ‘The Name Game.’ Or change the rules of the game.”
The mailing was the creative handiwork of Feuer, a Cornell University alum who had developed a reputation as one of the best campaign advisers in the business.
The letter soon caught the attention of both Detroit daily newspapers, which featured the campaign piece on a section front appearing in a combined Sunday edition that reached hundreds of thousands of readers across the state.
Suddenly and surprisingly, Campbell had hit the bonanza when it came to the metrics of “trickle-down effect.”
Campbell’s campaign got another boost when popular Detroit News columnist Pete Waldmeir wrote a flattering piece about her, trumpeting her years of distinguished legal service with the county.
Feuer then crafted four more campaign mailings, including one that blared in big, bold type: “I WOULDN’T VOTE FOR MY CHILDREN.”
Her reason for proclaiming such: “I’m especially proud that three of my children are lawyers, since I’ve practiced law for 15 years,” Campbell wrote. “But I wouldn’t vote for any of them.
“They’re not ready to serve as Judge. Maybe they will be someday – I’d like that. But right now, I wouldn’t vote for any of them, though all are good lawyers – and one is more experienced than my opponent ... a lawyer for just three years.
“But I still won’t vote for my children, famous name or not. Not until they learn a little more about the law, and about life. I love my children more than anything – I just don’t think judging is all that easy.”
The Wayne County electorate agreed, voting overwhelmingly in favor of Campbell, who would serve faithfully for 14 years on the bench after winning re-election to a six-year term in office.
“When she won the first time, we were stunned – and elated,” said Don Campbell. “We didn’t think she would make it out of the primary, let alone beat a big-name candidate in the general election. You could never underestimate what she could do. She was an amazing person in so many respects – as a wife, a mother, a lawyer, and as a judge.
“Mom gave 14 years of service in the Juvenile Court in Wayne County,” Campbell noted, “and a story for the ages to share with her 17 grandchildren – and anyone else who needs a reason to never underestimate the power of the possible.”
––––––––––––––––––––
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