Butzel immigration law attorney Reginald A. Pacis was
featured during a “Community Conversation on Civil Rights and
Immigration Law” on May 14 at the Gloria E. Coles Flint Public Library.
The discussion focused on the history of the civil rights movement and
immigration law, specifically challenges pertaining to immigration
documents, ability to work, travel and stay in the United States. The
International Center of Greater Flint sponsored the event.
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.
He 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.
• • •
Plunkett Cooney recently expanded its Transportation Law Practice Group with the addition of attorney Michael D. Calvert.
A member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, Calvert focuses his litigation practice on the defense of claims involving personal injury, automotive, premises, and general liability.
Calvert represents national insurers and policyholders in first- and third-party motor vehicle liability matters, as well as uninsured and underinsured motorist claims. He has defended his clients in cases involving insured fraud, failure to provide reasonable proof of loss and other violations of insurance contracts. Calvert also has experience resolving premises liability claims.
A 2023 graduate from Michigan State University College of Law, Calvert received his undergraduate degree from James Madison College at Michigan State University in 2019.
In addition, Plunkett Cooney partner Scott H. Sirich was recently named to the 2025 class of Go To Lawyers for Construction Law as determined by Michigan Lawyers Weekly (MiLW).
A Plunkett Cooney partner since 2001, Sirich joined the firm a few years after graduating from Wayne State University Law School in 1992. He received two undergraduate degrees from the University of Michigan in 1989.
Sirich focuses his practice in the area of construction law with particular expertise in the defense of litigation involving architect and engineer liability. He also practices in the areas of insurance law, occupational health and safety law and general commercial litigation. His clients include architectural and engineering design firms, construction managers, general contractors, subcontractors, owners and developers. In addition to the direct representation of clients, Sirich serves as approved litigation defense panel counsel for some of the nation’s leading insurance providers.
Sirich was previously named a MiLW Go To Construction Lawyer in 2023. He has also been honored as a Best Lawyers in America® for Construction Law and Litigation since 2012, and he received the Best Lawyers™ 2023 Construction Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Bloomfield Hills. Sirich has been selected as a Michigan Super Lawyer in Construction Litigation since 2009, and he has received Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer review rating-AV Preeminent™.
Sirich is a member of the Real Property Law Section – Construction Committee of the State Bar of Michigan, the Forum on the Construction Industry of the American Bar Association, the Construction Law Practice Group of ALFA International, and the International Association of Defense Counsel. Locally, he served as a member of the City of Birmingham Board of Building Trades Appeals.
• • •
Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido recently announced the hiring of Esther Wolfe as the new communications director for the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office. Wolfe will begin her new role on Tuesday, May 27.
Wolfe brings more than 26 years of legal experience to the position as well as a background in public relations, writing, and media strategy. She earned her law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 1998 and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from Wayne State University.
In addition to her legal expertise in criminal, civil, and immigration law from being a practicing attorney, Wolfe has professional experience in journalism and media. She is an independent writer, editor, and consultant for private sector clients. She previously served as advertising manager for Macomb Now Magazine where she edited copy and contributed to content development which strengthened community engagement through compelling storytelling.
“I am honored to be joining the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office in this important role,” said Wolfe. “Communicating clearly with the public is critical to building trust and ensuring justice. I look forward to advancing the office’s mission and continuing its efforts to be one of the most transparent prosecutor’s offices in the country.”
• • •
Taft Detroit partner Shirley Kaigler was inducted to the Wayne Law Wall of Fame on April 22 during the Wall of Fame Ceremony at Wayne State University Law School. The Wayne Law Wall of Fame represents the highest honor presented by the Law School, recognizing the exceptional professional achievements and lasting contributions of its distinguished graduates, faculty, and staff.
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.
• • •
Harness IP is proud to share that Principal Bryant Wade has been named one of the top 50 patent prosecution attorneys in the Patent Intelligence 2025 report by Patexia.
Wade’s practice involves the management, preparation, and prosecution of domestic and international patent applications primarily for Japanese companies. He provides strategic patent counsel on a global scale, prepares legal opinions and international license agreements, and enforces IP rights both in the U.S. and abroad.
• • •
Michael Geraghty has been appointed to serve on the Board of Directors of the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (MDTC). This announcement will be made during the annual meeting scheduled for June 20 at the Soaring Eagle Resort.
Geraghty is a principal in Kitch’s Detroit office and has concentrated his practice on the defense of healthcare professionals and hospitals in cases involving medical malpractice and catastrophic birth injuries. Additionally, he represents healthcare facilities in premises liability matters.
• • •
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently announced the appointment of Victoria Policicchio to the Manufactured Housing Commission.
Policicchio is the associate counsel at Champion Home Builders Inc. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Italian from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Michigan State University College of Law. Policicchio will be appointed as a representative of manufacturers of mobile homes for a term commencing May 10 and expiring May 9, 2028. Policicchio succeeds Daniel Grant, whose term has expired.
The Manufactured Housing Commission is responsible for establishing uniform policy relating to all phases of manufactured housing, business, manufactured housing parks, and seasonal manufactured housing parks. The Commission has the legal authority to approve local governmental ordinances which would regulate manufactured housing, grant variances to the Manufactured Housing Commission Rules, approve licenses for manufactured home installer/servicers and retailers, and impose penalties on persons who have violated the Mobile Home Commission Act or Rules.
This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
• • •
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently announced the appointments of Judge Aliyah Sabree and Nicole Castka to the Third Circuit Court in Wayne County.
Sabree currently serves as chief judge pro tem at the Wayne County 36th District Court in Detroit, where she has served since her appointment to the bench in 2017. Prior to serving on the bench, Sabree worked as an associate general counsel at the Detroit Water and Sewage Department, as a liaison to the City Council at the Detroit Mayor’s Office, and as an assistant Wayne County prosecutor.
Sabree earned her law degree from Michigan State University College of Law and a Bachelor of Science in biology from Youngstown State University.
“It is with extreme gratitude that I accept Governor Whitmer’s appointment to the Third Circuit Court bench,” said Sabree. “I look forward to serving the Wayne County community with dedication and integrity.”
This appointment was made to fill a partial term following Judge Charles Hegarty’s decision to vacate this seat. Sabree’s term will commence on June 9 and expire at twelve o’clock noon on January 1, 2027.
Castka is a sole practitioner focused on criminal defense at the Law Office of Nicole L. Castka PLLC in Detroit which she founded in 2003. Castka is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Wayne County Criminal Defense Bar Association, the Michigan Association of Justice, Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, and the Detroit Bar Association. She is also an alumnus of the National Criminal Defense College.
Castka earned her law degree from the University of Detroit-Mercy School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in political science and history from Otterbein College.
“I am so deeply honored and grateful for the trust put forth by Governor Whitmer and her office to give me the opportunity to serve the citizens of Wayne County in a much deeper capacity than I have been able to in my private practice,” said Castka. “I will ensure that all parties appearing before the bench will be treated with dignity and respect and that justice will be upheld.”
This appointment was made to fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge Mariam Bazzi. Castka’s term will commence on June 30 and expire at twelve o’clock noon on January 1, 2027.
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.
He 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.
• • •
Plunkett Cooney recently expanded its Transportation Law Practice Group with the addition of attorney Michael D. Calvert.
A member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, Calvert focuses his litigation practice on the defense of claims involving personal injury, automotive, premises, and general liability.
Calvert represents national insurers and policyholders in first- and third-party motor vehicle liability matters, as well as uninsured and underinsured motorist claims. He has defended his clients in cases involving insured fraud, failure to provide reasonable proof of loss and other violations of insurance contracts. Calvert also has experience resolving premises liability claims.
A 2023 graduate from Michigan State University College of Law, Calvert received his undergraduate degree from James Madison College at Michigan State University in 2019.
In addition, Plunkett Cooney partner Scott H. Sirich was recently named to the 2025 class of Go To Lawyers for Construction Law as determined by Michigan Lawyers Weekly (MiLW).
A Plunkett Cooney partner since 2001, Sirich joined the firm a few years after graduating from Wayne State University Law School in 1992. He received two undergraduate degrees from the University of Michigan in 1989.
Sirich focuses his practice in the area of construction law with particular expertise in the defense of litigation involving architect and engineer liability. He also practices in the areas of insurance law, occupational health and safety law and general commercial litigation. His clients include architectural and engineering design firms, construction managers, general contractors, subcontractors, owners and developers. In addition to the direct representation of clients, Sirich serves as approved litigation defense panel counsel for some of the nation’s leading insurance providers.
Sirich was previously named a MiLW Go To Construction Lawyer in 2023. He has also been honored as a Best Lawyers in America® for Construction Law and Litigation since 2012, and he received the Best Lawyers™ 2023 Construction Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Bloomfield Hills. Sirich has been selected as a Michigan Super Lawyer in Construction Litigation since 2009, and he has received Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer review rating-AV Preeminent™.
Sirich is a member of the Real Property Law Section – Construction Committee of the State Bar of Michigan, the Forum on the Construction Industry of the American Bar Association, the Construction Law Practice Group of ALFA International, and the International Association of Defense Counsel. Locally, he served as a member of the City of Birmingham Board of Building Trades Appeals.
• • •
Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido recently announced the hiring of Esther Wolfe as the new communications director for the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office. Wolfe will begin her new role on Tuesday, May 27.
Wolfe brings more than 26 years of legal experience to the position as well as a background in public relations, writing, and media strategy. She earned her law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 1998 and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from Wayne State University.
In addition to her legal expertise in criminal, civil, and immigration law from being a practicing attorney, Wolfe has professional experience in journalism and media. She is an independent writer, editor, and consultant for private sector clients. She previously served as advertising manager for Macomb Now Magazine where she edited copy and contributed to content development which strengthened community engagement through compelling storytelling.
“I am honored to be joining the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office in this important role,” said Wolfe. “Communicating clearly with the public is critical to building trust and ensuring justice. I look forward to advancing the office’s mission and continuing its efforts to be one of the most transparent prosecutor’s offices in the country.”
• • •
Taft Detroit partner Shirley Kaigler was inducted to the Wayne Law Wall of Fame on April 22 during the Wall of Fame Ceremony at Wayne State University Law School. The Wayne Law Wall of Fame represents the highest honor presented by the Law School, recognizing the exceptional professional achievements and lasting contributions of its distinguished graduates, faculty, and staff.
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.
• • •
Harness IP is proud to share that Principal Bryant Wade has been named one of the top 50 patent prosecution attorneys in the Patent Intelligence 2025 report by Patexia.
Wade’s practice involves the management, preparation, and prosecution of domestic and international patent applications primarily for Japanese companies. He provides strategic patent counsel on a global scale, prepares legal opinions and international license agreements, and enforces IP rights both in the U.S. and abroad.
• • •
Michael Geraghty has been appointed to serve on the Board of Directors of the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (MDTC). This announcement will be made during the annual meeting scheduled for June 20 at the Soaring Eagle Resort.
Geraghty is a principal in Kitch’s Detroit office and has concentrated his practice on the defense of healthcare professionals and hospitals in cases involving medical malpractice and catastrophic birth injuries. Additionally, he represents healthcare facilities in premises liability matters.
• • •
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently announced the appointment of Victoria Policicchio to the Manufactured Housing Commission.
Policicchio is the associate counsel at Champion Home Builders Inc. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Italian from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Michigan State University College of Law. Policicchio will be appointed as a representative of manufacturers of mobile homes for a term commencing May 10 and expiring May 9, 2028. Policicchio succeeds Daniel Grant, whose term has expired.
The Manufactured Housing Commission is responsible for establishing uniform policy relating to all phases of manufactured housing, business, manufactured housing parks, and seasonal manufactured housing parks. The Commission has the legal authority to approve local governmental ordinances which would regulate manufactured housing, grant variances to the Manufactured Housing Commission Rules, approve licenses for manufactured home installer/servicers and retailers, and impose penalties on persons who have violated the Mobile Home Commission Act or Rules.
This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
• • •
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently announced the appointments of Judge Aliyah Sabree and Nicole Castka to the Third Circuit Court in Wayne County.
Sabree currently serves as chief judge pro tem at the Wayne County 36th District Court in Detroit, where she has served since her appointment to the bench in 2017. Prior to serving on the bench, Sabree worked as an associate general counsel at the Detroit Water and Sewage Department, as a liaison to the City Council at the Detroit Mayor’s Office, and as an assistant Wayne County prosecutor.
Sabree earned her law degree from Michigan State University College of Law and a Bachelor of Science in biology from Youngstown State University.
“It is with extreme gratitude that I accept Governor Whitmer’s appointment to the Third Circuit Court bench,” said Sabree. “I look forward to serving the Wayne County community with dedication and integrity.”
This appointment was made to fill a partial term following Judge Charles Hegarty’s decision to vacate this seat. Sabree’s term will commence on June 9 and expire at twelve o’clock noon on January 1, 2027.
Castka is a sole practitioner focused on criminal defense at the Law Office of Nicole L. Castka PLLC in Detroit which she founded in 2003. Castka is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Wayne County Criminal Defense Bar Association, the Michigan Association of Justice, Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, and the Detroit Bar Association. She is also an alumnus of the National Criminal Defense College.
Castka earned her law degree from the University of Detroit-Mercy School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in political science and history from Otterbein College.
“I am so deeply honored and grateful for the trust put forth by Governor Whitmer and her office to give me the opportunity to serve the citizens of Wayne County in a much deeper capacity than I have been able to in my private practice,” said Castka. “I will ensure that all parties appearing before the bench will be treated with dignity and respect and that justice will be upheld.”
This appointment was made to fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge Mariam Bazzi. Castka’s term will commence on June 30 and expire at twelve o’clock noon on January 1, 2027.
