Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently announced the appointment of Judge Michael Hatty to the Michigan Appellate Defender Commission.
Hatty is a visiting judge and facilitator, and the former chief judge of the 44th Circuit Court and the 53rd District Court. Hatty previously presided over the business and adult drug treatment courts in Livingston County.
Hatty earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and business from Western Michigan University and a law degree from Cooley Law School.
Hatty is appointed as a member recommended by the Michigan Judges Association for a term commencing August 7, 2025, and expiring May 24, 2029. Hatty succeeds Judge Thomas Solka whose term has expired.
The Michigan Appellate Defender Commission is responsible for the development of a system of indigent appellate defense services which shall include services provided by the office of the state appellate defender and locally appointed private counsel. The Commission will be responsible for the development of minimum standards to which all indigent criminal defense appellate services shall conform and will compile and keep current a statewide roster of attorneys eligible for and willing to accept appointment by an appropriate court to serve as criminal appellate defense counsel for indigent defendants.
This appointment is not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
• • •
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP partners Daniel G. Bonucchi and John C. Muhs have been named to the 2025 Crain’s Detroit Business Notable M&A Dealmakers list.
Bonucchi, who co-chairs Warner’s Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group, is a corporate attorney who brings a practical, client-focused perspective to his work. With firsthand prior experience at leading Michigan manufacturers in both commercial and legal roles, Bonucchi understands how to navigate the varied and often competing operational and strategic concerns of today’s business leaders. For his clients, Bonucchi considers not only the deal terms themselves but also how an acquisition or divesture may impact their organization and key stakeholders before and after the transaction.
Since 2021, he has been named to the Best Lawyers® Ones to Watch list and has been named a Michigan Super Lawyers Rising Star. Bonucchi earned a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and a law degree from University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan.
Muhs is a transactional attorney who specializes in securities and investment matters. He is a member of the firm’s industry-leading impact investing group where he works with community development financial institutions, church extension funds, charitable loan funds and other organizations to finance community development activities. He also assists registered investment advisers, broker-dealers, and other financial service professionals grow, sell or restructure their practices through mergers, acquisitions, and other strategic transactions.
Muhs has been recognized on Best Lawyers® Ones to Watch List since 2021. He serves on the Detroit Phoenix Center board and is a member of Opportunity Finance Network, Denominational Investors & Loan Administrators and the Michigan Venture Capital Association. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan.
Muhs earned a bachelor’s degree the University of North Carolina and a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School.
• • •
Robert S. Bick, a shareholder with Williams, Williams, Rattner, & Plunkett (WWRP), has been named to the Crain’s Detroit Business 2025 list of Notable Leaders in Mergers & Acquisitions.
As co-chair of WWRP’s Corporate Practice Group, Bick has closed more than $3 billion in M&A transactions, including $200 million since 2022, and more than 150 transactions for private equity firms.
Historical highlights include serving as M&A counsel to Compuware in numerous domestic and international transactions and as legal counsel to Compuware’s C-Suite executives during its sale to BMC Software in a $2 billion transaction. Bick also served as co-counsel to the owners of the Detroit Pistons in connection with the team’s sale to Platinum Equity in 2011.
Bick’s practice focuses on corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, and business transactions. With nearly 40 years as an attorney, he counsels and represents public and private companies, entrepreneurs, venture capital and private equity groups, boards of directors and business owners on matters related to corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, private placements, private equity, securities, tax, commercial and private lending (senior, mezzanine and subordinated credit facilities), corporate governance (counsel to corporate officers and board members) and related business law matters.
In addition to the Crain’s honor, Bick has received other business law accolades, including recognition on the Michigan Lawyers Weekly 2024 list of Go To Lawyers in Business Transactions; Corporate Law Lawyer of the Year by The Best Lawyers in America®; M&A Attorney of the Year by the Association for Corporate Growth; Dealmaker of the Year by the M&A Advisor; and a Leader in the Law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. Bick has been recognized on the annual list of Best Lawyers in America® since 2019, Michigan Super Lawyers since 2007 and is also a multi-year honoree on the DBusiness Top Lawyers list.
Active in the business and legal communities and civic affairs, Bick is a member of the Detroit chapter of Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), where he has served on the programs committee, as a judge for the ACG Cup Competition at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, and as co-chair for the M&A All Stars Awards. Bick has also served as a multi-year judge for the Transactional Law Competition at the University of Michigan Law School.
Bick’s civic activities include membership in the American Jewish Committee, where he served on the board of directors for the Detroit Regional Office, and the Anti-Defamation League, where he also served on the board of directors of the Detroit Regional Office. He has also provided multi-year service as a mentor to at-risk children at Haven of Oakland County through his participation on the ACG Cares committee and is general counsel and secretary for the McDonald Agape Foundation.
Bick earned a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and a B.B.A. from the University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business.
• • •
Matt Lund, a partner in Troutman Pepper Locke’s Business Litigation Practice Group, was named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s “Go To Lawyers” for business litigation.
Lund is a trial attorney with a diverse complex litigation practice covering subject matter areas ranging from federal securities disputes and high-value contract and business tort claims to federal CERCLA and state law environmental matters. He has represented employers and defended executives in the U.S.’ largest corporations and has published material on the rights of corporate officers regarding advancement and indemnification of defense costs.
• • •
The Dobrusin Law Firm is proud to congratulate Daniela Walters on her selection to the Michigan Lawyers Weekly Influential Women of Law, Class of 2025.
Walters brings a blend of technical and legal acumen to her role as an intellectual property attorney. Before entering the legal profession, she earned degrees in mechanical, industrial, and systems engineering, plus an MBA, and spent more than a decade gaining practical experience in Michigan’s automotive sector. At the core of her practice is a commitment to helping clients refine their ideas, protect their innovations, and build long-term value through thoughtful intellectual property strategy.
Walters volunteers with organizations dedicated to revitalizing the Pontiac community, preserving local history, and fostering economic opportunity. As an advocate for STEAM education, she mentors young students interested in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics, and she is a lecturer for the paralegal program at Oakland University.
• • •
Varnum is pleased to announce that attorney Jailah Emerson has been named president of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan (WLAM) Wayne Region and attorney Chanel Taylor has been appointed to communications secretary of the Women’s Bar Association (WBA), Oakland County Region of WLAM.
As president of WLAM Wayne, Emerson will lead Wayne County initiatives supporting women attorneys and law students, while fostering collaboration among WLAM’s regional chapters.
A member of Varnum’s Litigation Practice Team, Emerson specializes in complex commercial, family law, tax, and insolvency litigation. She represents clients throughout the litigation process, including hearings, depositions, trials, and appellate proceedings. She also assists clients with a range of commercial litigation issues, ranging from standard breach of contract claims to complex real estate disputes.
As communications secretary, Taylor will support the WBA’s efforts to provide members with opportunities for career advancement and community involvement through mentoring, networking, and professional development.
Also a member of Varnum’s Litigation Practice Team, Taylor supports clients and senior attorneys through research, drafting, and settlement negotiations, helping deliver creative, cost-effective solutions. She previously externed with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and earned her law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.
In addition, Varnum partner Peter Roth has been named a Notable M&A Dealmaker by Crain’s Detroit.
Roth is a corporate attorney with a practice focused on M&A and business matters. He counsels clients through each step of the deal cycle, including structuring, due diligence, negotiation, and execution. His clients include private equity sponsors, family offices, publicly traded, and closely held businesses, as well as venture capital owned and emerging growth companies across many industries. While based in Michigan, he practices throughout the country and internationally.
Beyond his transactional work, Roth advises clients on corporate and operational matters, including commercial transactions, contract negotiation, business structuring, and succession planning. His work also includes specialized knowledge of several regulated and technical areas, with experience in laws unique to automotive suppliers and dealerships, cooperatives governed by the Capper-Volstead Act, and 1031 exchange transactions.
Roth’s work has earned consistent recognition from both industry organizations and peer-reviewed publications. He was named M&A All Star Advisor of the Year by ACG Detroit in 2023, was recognized by Grand Rapids Magazine as a Top Lawyer in both Corporate Law and M&A, is listed in The Best Lawyers in America, and ranked in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.
Outside of his practice, Roth is involved in several professional organizations. He has served on the board of ACG, is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, and is affiliated with the Mid America Cooperative Council. He also participates in the SBM Business Law and Taxation Sections.
• • •
On July 11, the Kotz Sangster team was proud to sponsor and participate in the 7th annual Motor City Mile Open Water Swim hosted by Swim Across America at Belle Isle Beach in Detroit. Supporters
and swimmers came together to raise funds for SAA’s beneficiary, the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center. Grants awarded through raised funds support innovative local clinical trials and patient-centered programs.
In addition to serving as one of the local sponsors for the event, the team of swimmers included Kotz Sangster legal assistant Carolyn Wood, attorney Ed Boucher, and his son, Noah. They swam alongside the other participating swimmers determined to support research to find better cancer treatments.
This year’s event brought together over 150 swimmers, volunteers and other attendees. As of the end of July, SAA had raised over $98,000 through the event, just barely shy of their $100,000 fundraising goal. To learn more about Swim Across America’s mission, visit swimacrossamerica.org.
• • •
McDonald Hopkins is proud to announce that Crain’s Detroit has recognized attorneys Vanessa Bailey and Kevin Washburn as 2025 Notable M&A Dealmakers.
Bailey is a member in the Business Department at McDonald Hopkins and part of the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions team, working with clients throughout the transaction process, from beginning to end, including overseeing due diligence, risk management, drafting and negotiating transaction documents, financing, and post-closing integration.
In addition to experience serving as outside general counsel to numerous clients, including on nationwide transactional, corporate, and commercial litigation matters, Bailey has corporate experience from working several years in-house as the assistant general counsel to a real estate development company. She also has experience assisting clients with real estate purchases and dispositions, commercial leasing, trademark filing and maintenance, and complex, commercial and real property litigation matters.
Washburn is a member of the Business Department and Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group at McDonald Hopkins and serves as the head of the firm’s Cannabis industry practice. He has more than 20 years of industry agnostic experience leading both buyers and sellers through the entire transactional process and advising on the multitude of legal issues that can arise along the way. As an advisor of cannabis clients, Washburn assists clients in a range of matters from formation and governance to licensing and strategic partnership to compliance and IP protection.
Washburn has experience serving as outside general counsel to startup and high-growth companies in a variety of industries, serving as an advisor and strategist to top executives and handling a broad array of business matters.
• • •
Kemp Klein is pleased to announce that Kemp Klein Senior Attorney Matthew Frank was named as a 2025 Notable M&A Dealmaker by Crain’s Detroit Business.
With more than two decades of legal experience, Frank focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, real estate transactions, and general corporate counsel. He represents business owners, investors, and management teams in structuring, negotiating, and closing complex business and real estate deals.
In addition to transactional work, Frank serves as outside general counsel to a variety of privately held companies, providing guidance on corporate governance, shareholder matters, contract negotiation, and strategic planning. His background in bankruptcy and commercial litigation further enhances his ability to assess risk, resolve disputes, and deliver pragmatic solutions to business challenges.
DBusiness Magazine recognized Frank as a 2025 DBusiness Top Lawyer for his work in Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Michigan Lawyers Weekly selected Frank as a 2025 “Go To Lawyer” for his work in Business Litigation. He was recognized for his work in Bankruptcy Law in 2018 by Lawyers of Distinction and was selected for inclusion in the 2013 issue of Michigan Super Lawyers Rising Stars.
• • •
Honigman Corporate Partner Eric Jones was recently named as a Notable M&A Dealmaker by Crain’s Detroit Business.
Jones represents private equity funds, their portfolio companies, and other businesses in acquisitions, minority and joint venture investments, and sale transactions. Since 2020 alone, he’s led more than 100 transactions totaling over $3.5 billion. His clientele span a wide range of industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, industrial, automotive, services, retail, and information technology.
• • •
Bodman PLC is proud to share that Gene P. Bowen has been recognized in Crain’s Detroit Business 2025 Notable M&A Dealmakers.
Bowen, who is based in the firm’s Troy office, is the co-chair of Bodman’s Business Practice Group. He concentrates his practice in general business law and helps clients structure, negotiate, and document mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, joint ventures, and other commercial transactions. He has experience in the automotive industry where he counsels clients in all aspects of the manufacturing supply chain, including the quotation and purchase order process, general terms and conditions, supply agreements and disputes, equipment and tooling issues, bailment and consignment, warranty claims, and various other commercial issues.
Bowen is listed in IFLR1000 as a highly regarded Michigan practitioner for M&A, in Chambers USA for Corporate/M&A Law, and in DBusiness magazine as a 2025 “Top Lawyer” for M&A Law.
• • •
Garan attorney Fiona Heady has been named a 2025 Influential Woman in Law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
Heady brings more than two decades of litigation experience in both Michigan and Florida, navigating state and federal courts with legal knowledge, courtroom skills, and strategic insight. Beyond her casework, Heady serves as a CLE instructor and mentor, empowering the next generation of attorneys with the ethical and practical tools necessary for successful practice.
Heady regularly presents at legal seminars and authors articles on emerging legal trends. Her understanding of complex topics, including automobile negligence defense, catastrophic injury claims,
insurance coverage, and asbestos litigation, positions her as an authority in these areas.
• • •
Secrest Wardle congratulates Lauren A. Sterrett on her selection to the Michigan Lawyers Weekly Influential Women of Law, Class of 2025
Sterrett is an executive partner in the Troy office. She graduated from the University of Michigan where she earned dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in History and Political Science. She earned her law degree from Michigan State University College of Law. She was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 2015.
Sterrett specializes in defense litigation and has experience handling complex matters involving negligence claims, motor vehicle litigation, premises liability, and property damage claims. She has defended both corporate and private clients through all phases of litigation, including trial, in the State of Michigan.
Hatty is a visiting judge and facilitator, and the former chief judge of the 44th Circuit Court and the 53rd District Court. Hatty previously presided over the business and adult drug treatment courts in Livingston County.
Hatty earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and business from Western Michigan University and a law degree from Cooley Law School.
Hatty is appointed as a member recommended by the Michigan Judges Association for a term commencing August 7, 2025, and expiring May 24, 2029. Hatty succeeds Judge Thomas Solka whose term has expired.
The Michigan Appellate Defender Commission is responsible for the development of a system of indigent appellate defense services which shall include services provided by the office of the state appellate defender and locally appointed private counsel. The Commission will be responsible for the development of minimum standards to which all indigent criminal defense appellate services shall conform and will compile and keep current a statewide roster of attorneys eligible for and willing to accept appointment by an appropriate court to serve as criminal appellate defense counsel for indigent defendants.
This appointment is not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
• • •
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP partners Daniel G. Bonucchi and John C. Muhs have been named to the 2025 Crain’s Detroit Business Notable M&A Dealmakers list.
Bonucchi, who co-chairs Warner’s Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group, is a corporate attorney who brings a practical, client-focused perspective to his work. With firsthand prior experience at leading Michigan manufacturers in both commercial and legal roles, Bonucchi understands how to navigate the varied and often competing operational and strategic concerns of today’s business leaders. For his clients, Bonucchi considers not only the deal terms themselves but also how an acquisition or divesture may impact their organization and key stakeholders before and after the transaction.
Since 2021, he has been named to the Best Lawyers® Ones to Watch list and has been named a Michigan Super Lawyers Rising Star. Bonucchi earned a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and a law degree from University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan.
Muhs is a transactional attorney who specializes in securities and investment matters. He is a member of the firm’s industry-leading impact investing group where he works with community development financial institutions, church extension funds, charitable loan funds and other organizations to finance community development activities. He also assists registered investment advisers, broker-dealers, and other financial service professionals grow, sell or restructure their practices through mergers, acquisitions, and other strategic transactions.
Muhs has been recognized on Best Lawyers® Ones to Watch List since 2021. He serves on the Detroit Phoenix Center board and is a member of Opportunity Finance Network, Denominational Investors & Loan Administrators and the Michigan Venture Capital Association. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan.
Muhs earned a bachelor’s degree the University of North Carolina and a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School.
• • •
Robert S. Bick, a shareholder with Williams, Williams, Rattner, & Plunkett (WWRP), has been named to the Crain’s Detroit Business 2025 list of Notable Leaders in Mergers & Acquisitions.
As co-chair of WWRP’s Corporate Practice Group, Bick has closed more than $3 billion in M&A transactions, including $200 million since 2022, and more than 150 transactions for private equity firms.
Historical highlights include serving as M&A counsel to Compuware in numerous domestic and international transactions and as legal counsel to Compuware’s C-Suite executives during its sale to BMC Software in a $2 billion transaction. Bick also served as co-counsel to the owners of the Detroit Pistons in connection with the team’s sale to Platinum Equity in 2011.
Bick’s practice focuses on corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, and business transactions. With nearly 40 years as an attorney, he counsels and represents public and private companies, entrepreneurs, venture capital and private equity groups, boards of directors and business owners on matters related to corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, private placements, private equity, securities, tax, commercial and private lending (senior, mezzanine and subordinated credit facilities), corporate governance (counsel to corporate officers and board members) and related business law matters.
In addition to the Crain’s honor, Bick has received other business law accolades, including recognition on the Michigan Lawyers Weekly 2024 list of Go To Lawyers in Business Transactions; Corporate Law Lawyer of the Year by The Best Lawyers in America®; M&A Attorney of the Year by the Association for Corporate Growth; Dealmaker of the Year by the M&A Advisor; and a Leader in the Law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. Bick has been recognized on the annual list of Best Lawyers in America® since 2019, Michigan Super Lawyers since 2007 and is also a multi-year honoree on the DBusiness Top Lawyers list.
Active in the business and legal communities and civic affairs, Bick is a member of the Detroit chapter of Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), where he has served on the programs committee, as a judge for the ACG Cup Competition at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, and as co-chair for the M&A All Stars Awards. Bick has also served as a multi-year judge for the Transactional Law Competition at the University of Michigan Law School.
Bick’s civic activities include membership in the American Jewish Committee, where he served on the board of directors for the Detroit Regional Office, and the Anti-Defamation League, where he also served on the board of directors of the Detroit Regional Office. He has also provided multi-year service as a mentor to at-risk children at Haven of Oakland County through his participation on the ACG Cares committee and is general counsel and secretary for the McDonald Agape Foundation.
Bick earned a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and a B.B.A. from the University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business.
• • •
Matt Lund, a partner in Troutman Pepper Locke’s Business Litigation Practice Group, was named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s “Go To Lawyers” for business litigation.
Lund is a trial attorney with a diverse complex litigation practice covering subject matter areas ranging from federal securities disputes and high-value contract and business tort claims to federal CERCLA and state law environmental matters. He has represented employers and defended executives in the U.S.’ largest corporations and has published material on the rights of corporate officers regarding advancement and indemnification of defense costs.
• • •
The Dobrusin Law Firm is proud to congratulate Daniela Walters on her selection to the Michigan Lawyers Weekly Influential Women of Law, Class of 2025.
Walters brings a blend of technical and legal acumen to her role as an intellectual property attorney. Before entering the legal profession, she earned degrees in mechanical, industrial, and systems engineering, plus an MBA, and spent more than a decade gaining practical experience in Michigan’s automotive sector. At the core of her practice is a commitment to helping clients refine their ideas, protect their innovations, and build long-term value through thoughtful intellectual property strategy.
Walters volunteers with organizations dedicated to revitalizing the Pontiac community, preserving local history, and fostering economic opportunity. As an advocate for STEAM education, she mentors young students interested in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics, and she is a lecturer for the paralegal program at Oakland University.
• • •
Varnum is pleased to announce that attorney Jailah Emerson has been named president of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan (WLAM) Wayne Region and attorney Chanel Taylor has been appointed to communications secretary of the Women’s Bar Association (WBA), Oakland County Region of WLAM.
As president of WLAM Wayne, Emerson will lead Wayne County initiatives supporting women attorneys and law students, while fostering collaboration among WLAM’s regional chapters.
A member of Varnum’s Litigation Practice Team, Emerson specializes in complex commercial, family law, tax, and insolvency litigation. She represents clients throughout the litigation process, including hearings, depositions, trials, and appellate proceedings. She also assists clients with a range of commercial litigation issues, ranging from standard breach of contract claims to complex real estate disputes.
As communications secretary, Taylor will support the WBA’s efforts to provide members with opportunities for career advancement and community involvement through mentoring, networking, and professional development.
Also a member of Varnum’s Litigation Practice Team, Taylor supports clients and senior attorneys through research, drafting, and settlement negotiations, helping deliver creative, cost-effective solutions. She previously externed with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and earned her law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.
In addition, Varnum partner Peter Roth has been named a Notable M&A Dealmaker by Crain’s Detroit.
Roth is a corporate attorney with a practice focused on M&A and business matters. He counsels clients through each step of the deal cycle, including structuring, due diligence, negotiation, and execution. His clients include private equity sponsors, family offices, publicly traded, and closely held businesses, as well as venture capital owned and emerging growth companies across many industries. While based in Michigan, he practices throughout the country and internationally.
Beyond his transactional work, Roth advises clients on corporate and operational matters, including commercial transactions, contract negotiation, business structuring, and succession planning. His work also includes specialized knowledge of several regulated and technical areas, with experience in laws unique to automotive suppliers and dealerships, cooperatives governed by the Capper-Volstead Act, and 1031 exchange transactions.
Roth’s work has earned consistent recognition from both industry organizations and peer-reviewed publications. He was named M&A All Star Advisor of the Year by ACG Detroit in 2023, was recognized by Grand Rapids Magazine as a Top Lawyer in both Corporate Law and M&A, is listed in The Best Lawyers in America, and ranked in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.
Outside of his practice, Roth is involved in several professional organizations. He has served on the board of ACG, is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, and is affiliated with the Mid America Cooperative Council. He also participates in the SBM Business Law and Taxation Sections.
• • •
On July 11, the Kotz Sangster team was proud to sponsor and participate in the 7th annual Motor City Mile Open Water Swim hosted by Swim Across America at Belle Isle Beach in Detroit. Supporters
and swimmers came together to raise funds for SAA’s beneficiary, the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center. Grants awarded through raised funds support innovative local clinical trials and patient-centered programs.
In addition to serving as one of the local sponsors for the event, the team of swimmers included Kotz Sangster legal assistant Carolyn Wood, attorney Ed Boucher, and his son, Noah. They swam alongside the other participating swimmers determined to support research to find better cancer treatments.
This year’s event brought together over 150 swimmers, volunteers and other attendees. As of the end of July, SAA had raised over $98,000 through the event, just barely shy of their $100,000 fundraising goal. To learn more about Swim Across America’s mission, visit swimacrossamerica.org.
• • •
McDonald Hopkins is proud to announce that Crain’s Detroit has recognized attorneys Vanessa Bailey and Kevin Washburn as 2025 Notable M&A Dealmakers.
Bailey is a member in the Business Department at McDonald Hopkins and part of the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions team, working with clients throughout the transaction process, from beginning to end, including overseeing due diligence, risk management, drafting and negotiating transaction documents, financing, and post-closing integration.
In addition to experience serving as outside general counsel to numerous clients, including on nationwide transactional, corporate, and commercial litigation matters, Bailey has corporate experience from working several years in-house as the assistant general counsel to a real estate development company. She also has experience assisting clients with real estate purchases and dispositions, commercial leasing, trademark filing and maintenance, and complex, commercial and real property litigation matters.
Washburn is a member of the Business Department and Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group at McDonald Hopkins and serves as the head of the firm’s Cannabis industry practice. He has more than 20 years of industry agnostic experience leading both buyers and sellers through the entire transactional process and advising on the multitude of legal issues that can arise along the way. As an advisor of cannabis clients, Washburn assists clients in a range of matters from formation and governance to licensing and strategic partnership to compliance and IP protection.
Washburn has experience serving as outside general counsel to startup and high-growth companies in a variety of industries, serving as an advisor and strategist to top executives and handling a broad array of business matters.
• • •
Kemp Klein is pleased to announce that Kemp Klein Senior Attorney Matthew Frank was named as a 2025 Notable M&A Dealmaker by Crain’s Detroit Business.
With more than two decades of legal experience, Frank focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, real estate transactions, and general corporate counsel. He represents business owners, investors, and management teams in structuring, negotiating, and closing complex business and real estate deals.
In addition to transactional work, Frank serves as outside general counsel to a variety of privately held companies, providing guidance on corporate governance, shareholder matters, contract negotiation, and strategic planning. His background in bankruptcy and commercial litigation further enhances his ability to assess risk, resolve disputes, and deliver pragmatic solutions to business challenges.
DBusiness Magazine recognized Frank as a 2025 DBusiness Top Lawyer for his work in Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Michigan Lawyers Weekly selected Frank as a 2025 “Go To Lawyer” for his work in Business Litigation. He was recognized for his work in Bankruptcy Law in 2018 by Lawyers of Distinction and was selected for inclusion in the 2013 issue of Michigan Super Lawyers Rising Stars.
• • •
Honigman Corporate Partner Eric Jones was recently named as a Notable M&A Dealmaker by Crain’s Detroit Business.
Jones represents private equity funds, their portfolio companies, and other businesses in acquisitions, minority and joint venture investments, and sale transactions. Since 2020 alone, he’s led more than 100 transactions totaling over $3.5 billion. His clientele span a wide range of industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, industrial, automotive, services, retail, and information technology.
• • •
Bodman PLC is proud to share that Gene P. Bowen has been recognized in Crain’s Detroit Business 2025 Notable M&A Dealmakers.
Bowen, who is based in the firm’s Troy office, is the co-chair of Bodman’s Business Practice Group. He concentrates his practice in general business law and helps clients structure, negotiate, and document mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, joint ventures, and other commercial transactions. He has experience in the automotive industry where he counsels clients in all aspects of the manufacturing supply chain, including the quotation and purchase order process, general terms and conditions, supply agreements and disputes, equipment and tooling issues, bailment and consignment, warranty claims, and various other commercial issues.
Bowen is listed in IFLR1000 as a highly regarded Michigan practitioner for M&A, in Chambers USA for Corporate/M&A Law, and in DBusiness magazine as a 2025 “Top Lawyer” for M&A Law.
• • •
Garan attorney Fiona Heady has been named a 2025 Influential Woman in Law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
Heady brings more than two decades of litigation experience in both Michigan and Florida, navigating state and federal courts with legal knowledge, courtroom skills, and strategic insight. Beyond her casework, Heady serves as a CLE instructor and mentor, empowering the next generation of attorneys with the ethical and practical tools necessary for successful practice.
Heady regularly presents at legal seminars and authors articles on emerging legal trends. Her understanding of complex topics, including automobile negligence defense, catastrophic injury claims,
insurance coverage, and asbestos litigation, positions her as an authority in these areas.
• • •
Secrest Wardle congratulates Lauren A. Sterrett on her selection to the Michigan Lawyers Weekly Influential Women of Law, Class of 2025
Sterrett is an executive partner in the Troy office. She graduated from the University of Michigan where she earned dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in History and Political Science. She earned her law degree from Michigan State University College of Law. She was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 2015.
Sterrett specializes in defense litigation and has experience handling complex matters involving negligence claims, motor vehicle litigation, premises liability, and property damage claims. She has defended both corporate and private clients through all phases of litigation, including trial, in the State of Michigan.
