Butzel attorneys David J. DeVine, Blake Padget, and Mitchell Zajac
will address key industry topics including Tariffs, Union Avoidance,
and Volume Fluctuations during the annual MEMA OE and SCAC 2025 South
Carolina Regional Meeting on Thursday, May 15.
The program will take place at Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) in Greenville, South Carolina. Butzel is a 20-plus year member of MEMA and is a presenting sponsor of the program.
Butzel attorneys also will moderate a panel discussion about trends facing the industry with guests from Forvia, Husco, and Webasto.
• • •
Cooley Law School President and Dean James McGrath has accepted an appointment to Michigan’s Public Health Advisory Council (PHAC). Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed McGrath to the council effective April 10. His term will expire on Nov. 1, 2028.
The PHAC was established through an executive order in 2017. The council acts in an advisory capacity to the governor and the director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
“It’s a privilege to serve the people of Michigan,” said McGrath. “I have been an advocate for people who have suffered due to public health threats long before I earned my Master of Public Health degree. I am excited to work with the incredible people on this council to help ensure the health of all Michiganders.”
McGrath earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from San Jose State University and a law degree from Howard University School of Law. He attended Harvard School of Public Health where he earned a Master of Public Health, and earned a Master of Laws in graduate legal education at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law.
In 2011, McGrath served as a Fulbright Scholar, earning a teaching fellowship at Beijing University of Chemical Technology in Beijing, China. He has had multiple works published, including, “Overcharging the Uninsured in Hospitals: Shifting a Greater Share of Uncompensated Medical Care Costs to the Federal Government.”
McGrath joined Cooley Law School as president and dean in 2019 after serving as the associate dean of academic support and bar services, as well as professor, at Texas A&M School of Law. In addition to other legal courses at Texas A&M, McGrath has taught a Public Health Law Seminar, and Health Care Law and Ethics at Texas Wesleyan University School of Nursing. He continues to focus his advocacy on serious issues facing education, healthcare and LGBTQ rights.
• • •
Goodman Acker proudly announces that founding partner Barry Goodman has been honored with the Jessie P. Slaton Award by the Detroit Association of Black Organizations (DABO). The award was presented at DABO’s recent 46th Annual State of the Race Address and Dinner, recognizing Goodman’s contributions to justice, equity, and community service.
Presented annually, the Jessie P. Slaton Award celebrates individuals whose work exemplifies the spirit and legacy of Jessie Pharr Slaton—a pioneer in Detroit’s civil rights movement and one of the first Black women to break barriers in public service and law.
“I’m deeply honored to receive an award named after Jessie P. Slaton, a true trailblazer whose fight for equity paved the way for so many,” said Goodman. “It’s a privilege to be recognized by an organization like DABO, which continues to do vital work to uplift Detroit’s underserved communities.”
Goodman’s legal career spans more than four decades, rooted in a lifelong commitment to helping others seek justice. Inspired by his father’s struggle following a workplace injury, Goodman pursued a career as a plaintiff’s attorney with a singular mission: to ensure everyday people have access to the courts and a fair chance at recovery.
Goodman has served in key roles within the Democratic National Committee and Michigan Democratic Party, while also supporting campaigns that champion civil justice reform. He serves on the board of the Anti-Defamation League, is a former chair of the State Bar of Michigan’s Negligence Section, past president of the Michigan Association of Justice and was appointed by Michigan Governor Jemmifer Granholm to the Mackinac Island Historical Park Commission.
• • •
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer reently announced the appointments of Judge Noah Hood to the Michigan Supreme Court; Judge Mariam Bazzi to succeed Hood on the Michigan Court of Appeals, First District; Christopher Trebilcock to the Michigan Court of Appeals, Second District; and Daniel Korobkin to the Michigan Court of Appeals, Third District.
Hood currently serves as a judge on the Michigan Court of Appeals, First District. Hood was first appointed to the Third Circuit Court by Whitmer in 2019 and again to the Court of Appeals in 2022.
Prior to his appointments to the bench, Hood served as an assistant United States attorney in the Eastern District of Michigan and the Northern District of Ohio. Hood has been a member of the Detroit Bar Association since 2011 and has served as a fellow of the association since 2023. Hood serves as a member of the Michigan Court of Appeals Rules Committee, Education Committee, and AI Working Group. Hood is also a member of the Wolverine Bar Association and of the Association of Black Judges of Michigan.
Hood earned his law degree from Harvard Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology from Yale.
“I have had the distinct honor of serving the people of the state of Michigan for the past six years,” said Hood. “I am deeply grateful to our governor for her decision to appoint me to serve on our Supreme Court. I am also grateful for what it represents. For as long as I serve, the people will always be able to count on me for even-handed justice.”
This appointment will be made to fill a partial term following the resignation of Chief Justice Elizabeth Clement.
Bazzi currently serves as a judge on the Third Circuit Court in Wayne County, where she has been re-elected twice since first being appointed by Governor Rick Snyder in 2017. Bazzi serves on the board of Leaders Advancing and Helping Communities and is also a member of multiple state and national legal associations including the Detroit Bar Association, the Michigan Judges Association, the National Association of Women Judges, the National Arab American Bar Association, and the National Association of Muslim Lawyers. Bazzi previously served as a member of the Michigan Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs and on the Dearborn Board of Education, where she also served as president. Bazzi is the first Arab American woman in Michigan’s history to be appointed to the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Bazzi earned her law degree from Wayne State University Law School and a Bachelor of Science in political science from the University of Michigan – Dearborn.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to be appointed by Governor Whitmer to serve on the Michigan Court of Appeals,” said Bazzi. “I extend my heartfelt thanks to the governor and her dedicated selection team for their time, effort, and commitment throughout this process. It is a profound privilege to serve the people of this great state, and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the fair and impartial administration of justice. I also extend my warmest congratulations to our new Supreme Court Justice and to my fellow appointees to the Court of Appeals.”
Bazzi will be appointed to fill a partial term after the forthcoming resignation of Judge Noah Hood.
Trebilcock is a senior principal at Clark Hill PLC working in the areas of employment litigation, administrative litigation, traditional labor law, and election law. Prior to joining Clark Hill in 2018,
Trebilcock practiced law at Miller Canfield for more than 10 years. Trebilcock is a member of the American Bar Association’s Developing Labor Law Committee and the Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee. Trebilcock is the first court of appeals appointee born and raised in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Trebilcock earned his law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in political science and business administration from Alma College.
“As a proud Yooper, I am deeply honored to accept this appointment. The values I learned from my upbringing and education—service, integrity, and critical thinking—have guided me throughout my career,” said Trebilcock. “I am humbled by this opportunity and the trust placed by Governor Whitmer in my ability to serve the people of Michigan. I also want to thank my colleagues at Clark Hill for their unwavering support, mentorship, and friendship. I look forward to getting to work and serving the state that raised me and shaped my values.”
This appointment will be made to fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge Mark Cavanagh.
Korobkin currently serves as legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, where he has worked since 2008. Korobkin also serves as a co-chair of the State Bar of Michigan’s Access to Justice Policy Committee and is a member of the State Bar of Michigan’s representative assembly. Korobkin is also a member of the Detroit Bar Association, the Jewish Bar Association of Michigan, the American Constitution Society, and the National Lawyers Guild, among others. He teaches part-time at the University of Michigan Law School, and volunteers as a judge for moot court
competitions and first-year legal practice classes at the University of Michigan Law School and Wayne State University Law School.
Korobkin earned his law degree from Yale Law School, where he worked as a research assistant and teaching assistant through the law school’s Coker Fellowship. Korobkin also earned a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Swarthmore College.
“I am truly humbled and honored by this incredible opportunity for public service,” said Korobkin. “I am immensely grateful to Governor Whitmer for this appointment, and I look forward to serving the people of the State of Michigan on the Court of Appeals.”
This appointment will be made to fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge Jane Markey.
• • •
Dawda PLC is proud to announce that John Mucha III, a member of the firm, has been honored with the Litigation Excellence Award from the State Bar of Michigan’s Litigation Section. This recognition was presented at the Litigation Section’s annual Honors Reception on Wednesday, April 9, at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn. Christopher R. Martella of Dawda presented the award to Mucha.
Mucha concentrates his practice in general civil litigation, automotive supply chain matters, real estate matters, land use planning, and business disputes. His experience includes representing businesses and property owners in a range of matters, from complex contract disputes and automotive supply chain issues to land contamination cases and employment-related agreements.
Mucha’s litigation expertise encompasses all phases of the litigation process, from initial pleadings and discovery to trials, appeals, and negotiating settlements. He also serves as a discovery mediator for the Oakland County Circuit Court.
Mucha previously served as chair of the State Bar of Michigan Litigation Section, president of the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (MDTC), and as an elected representative to the State Bar of Michigan Representative Assembly.
Mucha earned his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1987. He also earned a Master of Public Policy degree (1979) and a B.A. with distinction (1977) from the University of Michigan.
• • •
Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that Michigan Lawyers Weekly has selected Christopher Rambus as a member of its 2025 Class of Up & Coming Lawyers.
Based in Bodman’s Detroit office at Ford Field, Rambus is a member of the firm’s High Net Worth Practice Group. He represents individual clients in connection with estate planning, the administration of complex trusts and estates, real estate transactions, business planning, and related wealth transfer, tax, and succession planning matters. He weaves his high net worth and tax background with a corporate twist, handling business succession planning and general corporate matters for his clients so that future generations are prepared for the transition of ownership in the
most tax efficient manner.
Rambus has also been recognized in several publications including The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch under Tax Law and Trusts and Estates; DBusiness Magazine “Top Lawyers” under Trusts and Estates; and Michigan Rising Stars under Estate & Probate Law.
• • •
Taft Detroit attorney Shirley Kaigler was honored with the Geraldine Bledsoe Ford Award at the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan’s 107th Annual Meeting on April 26.
Kaigler is a partner in the Private Client practice group. She concentrates her practice in the areas of probate and trust administration, estate, tax, retirement and business succession planning, elder law, and health care proxy and special needs issues. She has experience principally in the area of gift, estate, and tax planning for all estate sizes. Her clients are business owners, professionals in solo and group practices, corporate executives, educators, retirees, and individuals with special needs.
In addition, Taft Detroit partner Joshua Borson will receive the Mark-Lis Family Young Leadership Award at the Jewish Federation of Detroit’s 2025 Awards Night on May 21.
Borson is a partner in Taft’s Mergers & Acquisitions practice group who specializes in transactional and general corporate matters. He is skilled in all areas of corporate law and leads mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private and public offerings, financings, and securities compliance. He also provides strategic business planning and general corporate counseling on day-to-day legal matters, such as reviewing, drafting, and negotiating contracts, corporate governance, equity incentive plans, operating agreements, partnership agreements, and executive employment agreements.
The program will take place at Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) in Greenville, South Carolina. Butzel is a 20-plus year member of MEMA and is a presenting sponsor of the program.
Butzel attorneys also will moderate a panel discussion about trends facing the industry with guests from Forvia, Husco, and Webasto.
• • •
Cooley Law School President and Dean James McGrath has accepted an appointment to Michigan’s Public Health Advisory Council (PHAC). Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed McGrath to the council effective April 10. His term will expire on Nov. 1, 2028.
The PHAC was established through an executive order in 2017. The council acts in an advisory capacity to the governor and the director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
“It’s a privilege to serve the people of Michigan,” said McGrath. “I have been an advocate for people who have suffered due to public health threats long before I earned my Master of Public Health degree. I am excited to work with the incredible people on this council to help ensure the health of all Michiganders.”
McGrath earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from San Jose State University and a law degree from Howard University School of Law. He attended Harvard School of Public Health where he earned a Master of Public Health, and earned a Master of Laws in graduate legal education at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law.
In 2011, McGrath served as a Fulbright Scholar, earning a teaching fellowship at Beijing University of Chemical Technology in Beijing, China. He has had multiple works published, including, “Overcharging the Uninsured in Hospitals: Shifting a Greater Share of Uncompensated Medical Care Costs to the Federal Government.”
McGrath joined Cooley Law School as president and dean in 2019 after serving as the associate dean of academic support and bar services, as well as professor, at Texas A&M School of Law. In addition to other legal courses at Texas A&M, McGrath has taught a Public Health Law Seminar, and Health Care Law and Ethics at Texas Wesleyan University School of Nursing. He continues to focus his advocacy on serious issues facing education, healthcare and LGBTQ rights.
• • •
Goodman Acker proudly announces that founding partner Barry Goodman has been honored with the Jessie P. Slaton Award by the Detroit Association of Black Organizations (DABO). The award was presented at DABO’s recent 46th Annual State of the Race Address and Dinner, recognizing Goodman’s contributions to justice, equity, and community service.
Presented annually, the Jessie P. Slaton Award celebrates individuals whose work exemplifies the spirit and legacy of Jessie Pharr Slaton—a pioneer in Detroit’s civil rights movement and one of the first Black women to break barriers in public service and law.
“I’m deeply honored to receive an award named after Jessie P. Slaton, a true trailblazer whose fight for equity paved the way for so many,” said Goodman. “It’s a privilege to be recognized by an organization like DABO, which continues to do vital work to uplift Detroit’s underserved communities.”
Goodman’s legal career spans more than four decades, rooted in a lifelong commitment to helping others seek justice. Inspired by his father’s struggle following a workplace injury, Goodman pursued a career as a plaintiff’s attorney with a singular mission: to ensure everyday people have access to the courts and a fair chance at recovery.
Goodman has served in key roles within the Democratic National Committee and Michigan Democratic Party, while also supporting campaigns that champion civil justice reform. He serves on the board of the Anti-Defamation League, is a former chair of the State Bar of Michigan’s Negligence Section, past president of the Michigan Association of Justice and was appointed by Michigan Governor Jemmifer Granholm to the Mackinac Island Historical Park Commission.
• • •
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer reently announced the appointments of Judge Noah Hood to the Michigan Supreme Court; Judge Mariam Bazzi to succeed Hood on the Michigan Court of Appeals, First District; Christopher Trebilcock to the Michigan Court of Appeals, Second District; and Daniel Korobkin to the Michigan Court of Appeals, Third District.
Hood currently serves as a judge on the Michigan Court of Appeals, First District. Hood was first appointed to the Third Circuit Court by Whitmer in 2019 and again to the Court of Appeals in 2022.
Prior to his appointments to the bench, Hood served as an assistant United States attorney in the Eastern District of Michigan and the Northern District of Ohio. Hood has been a member of the Detroit Bar Association since 2011 and has served as a fellow of the association since 2023. Hood serves as a member of the Michigan Court of Appeals Rules Committee, Education Committee, and AI Working Group. Hood is also a member of the Wolverine Bar Association and of the Association of Black Judges of Michigan.
Hood earned his law degree from Harvard Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology from Yale.
“I have had the distinct honor of serving the people of the state of Michigan for the past six years,” said Hood. “I am deeply grateful to our governor for her decision to appoint me to serve on our Supreme Court. I am also grateful for what it represents. For as long as I serve, the people will always be able to count on me for even-handed justice.”
This appointment will be made to fill a partial term following the resignation of Chief Justice Elizabeth Clement.
Bazzi currently serves as a judge on the Third Circuit Court in Wayne County, where she has been re-elected twice since first being appointed by Governor Rick Snyder in 2017. Bazzi serves on the board of Leaders Advancing and Helping Communities and is also a member of multiple state and national legal associations including the Detroit Bar Association, the Michigan Judges Association, the National Association of Women Judges, the National Arab American Bar Association, and the National Association of Muslim Lawyers. Bazzi previously served as a member of the Michigan Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs and on the Dearborn Board of Education, where she also served as president. Bazzi is the first Arab American woman in Michigan’s history to be appointed to the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Bazzi earned her law degree from Wayne State University Law School and a Bachelor of Science in political science from the University of Michigan – Dearborn.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to be appointed by Governor Whitmer to serve on the Michigan Court of Appeals,” said Bazzi. “I extend my heartfelt thanks to the governor and her dedicated selection team for their time, effort, and commitment throughout this process. It is a profound privilege to serve the people of this great state, and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the fair and impartial administration of justice. I also extend my warmest congratulations to our new Supreme Court Justice and to my fellow appointees to the Court of Appeals.”
Bazzi will be appointed to fill a partial term after the forthcoming resignation of Judge Noah Hood.
Trebilcock is a senior principal at Clark Hill PLC working in the areas of employment litigation, administrative litigation, traditional labor law, and election law. Prior to joining Clark Hill in 2018,
Trebilcock practiced law at Miller Canfield for more than 10 years. Trebilcock is a member of the American Bar Association’s Developing Labor Law Committee and the Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee. Trebilcock is the first court of appeals appointee born and raised in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Trebilcock earned his law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in political science and business administration from Alma College.
“As a proud Yooper, I am deeply honored to accept this appointment. The values I learned from my upbringing and education—service, integrity, and critical thinking—have guided me throughout my career,” said Trebilcock. “I am humbled by this opportunity and the trust placed by Governor Whitmer in my ability to serve the people of Michigan. I also want to thank my colleagues at Clark Hill for their unwavering support, mentorship, and friendship. I look forward to getting to work and serving the state that raised me and shaped my values.”
This appointment will be made to fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge Mark Cavanagh.
Korobkin currently serves as legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, where he has worked since 2008. Korobkin also serves as a co-chair of the State Bar of Michigan’s Access to Justice Policy Committee and is a member of the State Bar of Michigan’s representative assembly. Korobkin is also a member of the Detroit Bar Association, the Jewish Bar Association of Michigan, the American Constitution Society, and the National Lawyers Guild, among others. He teaches part-time at the University of Michigan Law School, and volunteers as a judge for moot court
competitions and first-year legal practice classes at the University of Michigan Law School and Wayne State University Law School.
Korobkin earned his law degree from Yale Law School, where he worked as a research assistant and teaching assistant through the law school’s Coker Fellowship. Korobkin also earned a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Swarthmore College.
“I am truly humbled and honored by this incredible opportunity for public service,” said Korobkin. “I am immensely grateful to Governor Whitmer for this appointment, and I look forward to serving the people of the State of Michigan on the Court of Appeals.”
This appointment will be made to fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge Jane Markey.
• • •
Dawda PLC is proud to announce that John Mucha III, a member of the firm, has been honored with the Litigation Excellence Award from the State Bar of Michigan’s Litigation Section. This recognition was presented at the Litigation Section’s annual Honors Reception on Wednesday, April 9, at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn. Christopher R. Martella of Dawda presented the award to Mucha.
Mucha concentrates his practice in general civil litigation, automotive supply chain matters, real estate matters, land use planning, and business disputes. His experience includes representing businesses and property owners in a range of matters, from complex contract disputes and automotive supply chain issues to land contamination cases and employment-related agreements.
Mucha’s litigation expertise encompasses all phases of the litigation process, from initial pleadings and discovery to trials, appeals, and negotiating settlements. He also serves as a discovery mediator for the Oakland County Circuit Court.
Mucha previously served as chair of the State Bar of Michigan Litigation Section, president of the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (MDTC), and as an elected representative to the State Bar of Michigan Representative Assembly.
Mucha earned his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1987. He also earned a Master of Public Policy degree (1979) and a B.A. with distinction (1977) from the University of Michigan.
• • •
Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that Michigan Lawyers Weekly has selected Christopher Rambus as a member of its 2025 Class of Up & Coming Lawyers.
Based in Bodman’s Detroit office at Ford Field, Rambus is a member of the firm’s High Net Worth Practice Group. He represents individual clients in connection with estate planning, the administration of complex trusts and estates, real estate transactions, business planning, and related wealth transfer, tax, and succession planning matters. He weaves his high net worth and tax background with a corporate twist, handling business succession planning and general corporate matters for his clients so that future generations are prepared for the transition of ownership in the
most tax efficient manner.
Rambus has also been recognized in several publications including The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch under Tax Law and Trusts and Estates; DBusiness Magazine “Top Lawyers” under Trusts and Estates; and Michigan Rising Stars under Estate & Probate Law.
• • •
Taft Detroit attorney Shirley Kaigler was honored with the Geraldine Bledsoe Ford Award at the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan’s 107th Annual Meeting on April 26.
Kaigler is a partner in the Private Client practice group. She concentrates her practice in the areas of probate and trust administration, estate, tax, retirement and business succession planning, elder law, and health care proxy and special needs issues. She has experience principally in the area of gift, estate, and tax planning for all estate sizes. Her clients are business owners, professionals in solo and group practices, corporate executives, educators, retirees, and individuals with special needs.
In addition, Taft Detroit partner Joshua Borson will receive the Mark-Lis Family Young Leadership Award at the Jewish Federation of Detroit’s 2025 Awards Night on May 21.
Borson is a partner in Taft’s Mergers & Acquisitions practice group who specializes in transactional and general corporate matters. He is skilled in all areas of corporate law and leads mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private and public offerings, financings, and securities compliance. He also provides strategic business planning and general corporate counseling on day-to-day legal matters, such as reviewing, drafting, and negotiating contracts, corporate governance, equity incentive plans, operating agreements, partnership agreements, and executive employment agreements.
