Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently announced the appointment of Lisa Brown to the Electronic Recording Commission
Brown is the Oakland County clerk/register of deeds. She previously served as state representative for Michigan’s 39th District. Brown earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Michigan State University and a law degree from the Detroit College of Law. She is reappointed as a county register of deeds for a term commencing July 10, 2025, and expiring January 1, 2027.
The Electronic Recording Commission keeps the standards and practices of county registers of deeds in this state in harmony with the standards and practices of offices of county registers of deeds in other jurisdictions. The Commission keeps the technology used by county registers of deeds in this state compatible with technology used by offices of county registers of deeds in other jurisdictions.
This appointment is not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
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Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth R. Chadwell recently joined Plunkett Cooney to establish a White-collar Criminal Defense & Corporate Investigations Practice Group.
An Of Counsel member of the firm’s Detroit office, Chadwell worked for nearly 40 years in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) as well as in private practice. His practice focuses on white-collar and corporate criminal defense cases, internal corporate investigations, federal grand jury investigations, and institutional and business compliance matters.
Chadwell, who served as the DOJ’s deputy chief of national security, conducted hundreds of grand jury investigations, supervised numerous federal agents involving virtually every type of federal criminal offense, oversaw wiretap and other sensitive investigative techniques, tried approximately 50 cases before federal juries as sole or lead counsel, and appeared as lead counsel before the U.S. Court of Appeals in more than 80 appeals.
In addition, Chadwell was one of five elite federal litigators hand-picked to be a counter-terrorism prosecutor following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, has experience with U.S. and foreign intelligence agencies and litigating cases involving classified material, and has held a top secret security clearance for decades.
Admitted to practice in state and federal courts in Michigan and the District of Columbia, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, Chadwell has also appeared pro hac vice in state courts in Nevada and Pennsylvania. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and Federalist Society.
Chadwell is a 1986 graduate of Wayne State University Law School. He received his undergraduate degree from Cedarville College in 1983.
In addition, Mark S. Kopson, the leader of Plunkett Cooney’s Health Care Industry Group, began a one-year term on July 1 as president of the prestigious American Health Law Association (AHLA), the nation’s largest, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) educational organization devoted to legal issues in the health care field.
“I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to serve as president of AHLA,” said Kopson. “For over 35 years, AHLA has played an instrumental role in my professional and personal development. I am fully committed to ensuring these same benefits and many others are available to a larger and even more diverse AHLA membership in the years to come.”
Throughout his career at Plunkett Cooney, Kopson has dedicated time to guiding and assisting organizations to effectuate positive changes in health equity, providing service to historically underserved populations, and advancing inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility principles. His leadership roles at both Plunkett Cooney and AHLA reflect his commitment to fostering a more inclusive and equitable health care system.
Kopson, who served for many years on Plunkett Cooney’s Board of Directors, brings more than three decades of health law experience to his new role with the AHLA. He leads the firm’s Health Care Committee and served for years on Plunkett Cooney’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.
Listed among the Best Lawyers in America for Health Care Law since 2014, Kopson has represented health facilities, health plans, medical and behavioral health providers, nonprofits, integrated delivery systems, and managed care organizations across the United States. His expertise spans commercial and governmental managed care contracting, regulation, compliance and alternative dispute resolution.
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Bodman PLC is pleased to announce the firm has been ranked “Recommended” in Trademark Law in Managing Intellectual Property’s IP Stars 2025. In addition, Bodman attorney Gregory D. DeGrazia has been selected as a “Trademark Star” in the 2025 edition.
DeGrazia is a member of Bodman’s Intellectual Property and Patent practice groups and is based in the firm’s Troy office. His practice focuses on the protection of trade secrets and intellectual property throughout the U.S., Asia, and Europe.
DeGrazia has experience in intellectual property matters that arise in mergers and acquisitions, patent and trademark prosecution, licensing and litigation in industries that include automated and connected vehicles, automotive, manufacturing, chemical and environmental.
DeGrazia has been listed in Leading Lawyers since 2014 and in DBusiness Magazine “Top Lawyers” since 2020.
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Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce that Lawrence Opalewski has joined the firm’s Troy office as Of Counsel.
Opalewski focuses his practice on land use and zoning entitlements and litigation, including matters involving riparian rights and constitutional claims. He represents a range of clients, including individuals, religious institutions, businesses, and municipalities. Opalewski has experience navigating all stages of permitting and litigation and is particularly well-versed in disputes involving the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). He also regularly assists developers in securing approvals from local planning commissions and zoning boards throughout Michigan. In addition to his litigation practice, he is a certified civil mediator and is committed to helping clients resolve disputes through alternative means when appropriate.
Opalewski is recognized as a leader in his field by Michigan Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” and Michigan Lawyers Weekly “Up & Coming Attorneys.” He is a member of the American Bar Association. Opalewski received his B.A. from Oakland University and his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.
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Miller Canfield is proud to announce that Thomas Linn, the firm’s chairman emeritus and a champion of pro bono service, has been honored with the 2025 Pro Bono Service Award from the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) in recognition of his outstanding commitment to expanding access to justice for underserved Michiganders.
Linn was nominated by Lakeshore Legal Aid, where he currently serves as chair of the Board of Directors. The nomination highlighted his years of dedicated service, including providing hundreds of hours of direct legal assistance, helping to launch community legal clinics, mentoring young lawyers, and advocating for systemic changes to increase access to civil legal aid across Michigan.
The LSC Board of Directors presented the award at a reception on July 15 at The Comerica Gridiron Club at Ford Field in Detroit, following LSC’s Access to Justice Forum.
Throughout his nearly five-decade career at Miller Canfield, which included 20 years as one of the firm’s managing directors and eight years as CEO, Linn has helped build and sustain a culture of pro bono service at the firm. Under his leadership, the firm expanded its pro bono committee, established partnerships with community organizations, and created opportunities for attorneys and law students to meaningfully engage in access-to-justice initiatives. He personally contributes more than 200 hours of pro bono work each year.
Linn’s recent efforts include helping to launch Project Clean Slate, an expungement program for low-income Detroiters with criminal records; building Miller Canfield’s partnership with the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center; and leading workshops for Detroit entrepreneurs through the Osborn Business Association and the Small Business Legal Academy.
Linn’s contributions have previously been recognized with the Michigan State Bar Foundation’s 2018 Founders Award and Miller Canfield’s Richard J. Seryak Award for Pro Bono Service.
Brown is the Oakland County clerk/register of deeds. She previously served as state representative for Michigan’s 39th District. Brown earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Michigan State University and a law degree from the Detroit College of Law. She is reappointed as a county register of deeds for a term commencing July 10, 2025, and expiring January 1, 2027.
The Electronic Recording Commission keeps the standards and practices of county registers of deeds in this state in harmony with the standards and practices of offices of county registers of deeds in other jurisdictions. The Commission keeps the technology used by county registers of deeds in this state compatible with technology used by offices of county registers of deeds in other jurisdictions.
This appointment is not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
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Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth R. Chadwell recently joined Plunkett Cooney to establish a White-collar Criminal Defense & Corporate Investigations Practice Group.
An Of Counsel member of the firm’s Detroit office, Chadwell worked for nearly 40 years in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) as well as in private practice. His practice focuses on white-collar and corporate criminal defense cases, internal corporate investigations, federal grand jury investigations, and institutional and business compliance matters.
Chadwell, who served as the DOJ’s deputy chief of national security, conducted hundreds of grand jury investigations, supervised numerous federal agents involving virtually every type of federal criminal offense, oversaw wiretap and other sensitive investigative techniques, tried approximately 50 cases before federal juries as sole or lead counsel, and appeared as lead counsel before the U.S. Court of Appeals in more than 80 appeals.
In addition, Chadwell was one of five elite federal litigators hand-picked to be a counter-terrorism prosecutor following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, has experience with U.S. and foreign intelligence agencies and litigating cases involving classified material, and has held a top secret security clearance for decades.
Admitted to practice in state and federal courts in Michigan and the District of Columbia, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, Chadwell has also appeared pro hac vice in state courts in Nevada and Pennsylvania. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and Federalist Society.
Chadwell is a 1986 graduate of Wayne State University Law School. He received his undergraduate degree from Cedarville College in 1983.
In addition, Mark S. Kopson, the leader of Plunkett Cooney’s Health Care Industry Group, began a one-year term on July 1 as president of the prestigious American Health Law Association (AHLA), the nation’s largest, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) educational organization devoted to legal issues in the health care field.
“I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to serve as president of AHLA,” said Kopson. “For over 35 years, AHLA has played an instrumental role in my professional and personal development. I am fully committed to ensuring these same benefits and many others are available to a larger and even more diverse AHLA membership in the years to come.”
Throughout his career at Plunkett Cooney, Kopson has dedicated time to guiding and assisting organizations to effectuate positive changes in health equity, providing service to historically underserved populations, and advancing inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility principles. His leadership roles at both Plunkett Cooney and AHLA reflect his commitment to fostering a more inclusive and equitable health care system.
Kopson, who served for many years on Plunkett Cooney’s Board of Directors, brings more than three decades of health law experience to his new role with the AHLA. He leads the firm’s Health Care Committee and served for years on Plunkett Cooney’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.
Listed among the Best Lawyers in America for Health Care Law since 2014, Kopson has represented health facilities, health plans, medical and behavioral health providers, nonprofits, integrated delivery systems, and managed care organizations across the United States. His expertise spans commercial and governmental managed care contracting, regulation, compliance and alternative dispute resolution.
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Bodman PLC is pleased to announce the firm has been ranked “Recommended” in Trademark Law in Managing Intellectual Property’s IP Stars 2025. In addition, Bodman attorney Gregory D. DeGrazia has been selected as a “Trademark Star” in the 2025 edition.
DeGrazia is a member of Bodman’s Intellectual Property and Patent practice groups and is based in the firm’s Troy office. His practice focuses on the protection of trade secrets and intellectual property throughout the U.S., Asia, and Europe.
DeGrazia has experience in intellectual property matters that arise in mergers and acquisitions, patent and trademark prosecution, licensing and litigation in industries that include automated and connected vehicles, automotive, manufacturing, chemical and environmental.
DeGrazia has been listed in Leading Lawyers since 2014 and in DBusiness Magazine “Top Lawyers” since 2020.
----------
Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce that Lawrence Opalewski has joined the firm’s Troy office as Of Counsel.
Opalewski focuses his practice on land use and zoning entitlements and litigation, including matters involving riparian rights and constitutional claims. He represents a range of clients, including individuals, religious institutions, businesses, and municipalities. Opalewski has experience navigating all stages of permitting and litigation and is particularly well-versed in disputes involving the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). He also regularly assists developers in securing approvals from local planning commissions and zoning boards throughout Michigan. In addition to his litigation practice, he is a certified civil mediator and is committed to helping clients resolve disputes through alternative means when appropriate.
Opalewski is recognized as a leader in his field by Michigan Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” and Michigan Lawyers Weekly “Up & Coming Attorneys.” He is a member of the American Bar Association. Opalewski received his B.A. from Oakland University and his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.
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Miller Canfield is proud to announce that Thomas Linn, the firm’s chairman emeritus and a champion of pro bono service, has been honored with the 2025 Pro Bono Service Award from the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) in recognition of his outstanding commitment to expanding access to justice for underserved Michiganders.
Linn was nominated by Lakeshore Legal Aid, where he currently serves as chair of the Board of Directors. The nomination highlighted his years of dedicated service, including providing hundreds of hours of direct legal assistance, helping to launch community legal clinics, mentoring young lawyers, and advocating for systemic changes to increase access to civil legal aid across Michigan.
The LSC Board of Directors presented the award at a reception on July 15 at The Comerica Gridiron Club at Ford Field in Detroit, following LSC’s Access to Justice Forum.
Throughout his nearly five-decade career at Miller Canfield, which included 20 years as one of the firm’s managing directors and eight years as CEO, Linn has helped build and sustain a culture of pro bono service at the firm. Under his leadership, the firm expanded its pro bono committee, established partnerships with community organizations, and created opportunities for attorneys and law students to meaningfully engage in access-to-justice initiatives. He personally contributes more than 200 hours of pro bono work each year.
Linn’s recent efforts include helping to launch Project Clean Slate, an expungement program for low-income Detroiters with criminal records; building Miller Canfield’s partnership with the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center; and leading workshops for Detroit entrepreneurs through the Osborn Business Association and the Small Business Legal Academy.
Linn’s contributions have previously been recognized with the Michigan State Bar Foundation’s 2018 Founders Award and Miller Canfield’s Richard J. Seryak Award for Pro Bono Service.
