Butzel attorney and shareholder Quendale G. Simmons has been named to The Michigan Chronicle’s 2025 Class of “40 Under 40.”
Simmons counsels clients of all sizes, from individuals to large corporate entities, in a variety of industries. For more than a decade, he has prevailed in courts and before panels and tribunals regarding multifaceted business disputes.
He primarily focuses his practice on Business & Commercial Litigation. As a part of his practice, Simmons represents businesses in complex business disputes and advises clients regarding their business legal needs.
Prior to joining Butzel, Simmons’ practice included the representation of corporations and individuals in civil litigation disputes involving personal, property, and casualty insurance claims. He also has previously worked as a judicial law clerk at the Wayne County Circuit Court where he wrote judicial memoranda and legal opinions regarding pending civil lawsuits.
He has been named to The Best Lawyers in America® – Ones to Watch in America – Commercial Litigation, 2023, 2025-2026; Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation, 2024.
Simmons earned a law degree from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan.
Simmons is admitted to practice law in the State of Michigan, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, and the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan.
Simmons is a member of the Canton Cares Fund Advisory Committee. The Canton Cares Fund provides financial support for Canton Township-sponsored programs assisting seniors, veterans, youths and the disabled, programs assisting Canton residents following a natural disaster, mass casualty or significant personal loss, and programs recognizing heroic or “above-and-beyond-the-call-of duty” acts of Township employees.
• • •
On Friday, September 19, the State Bar of Michigan presented Wayne State University Law School Professor John E. “Jack” Mogk with the 2025 John W. Reed Michigan Lawyer Legacy Award at its Inauguration and Awards Luncheon at the Detroit Marriott Troy. The award honors a Michigan law school educator whose influence has elevated the quality of legal practice in the state.
For more than six decades, Mogk has been a faculty member at Wayne State University, teaching since 1968 and inspiring generations of lawyers to connect their professional practice with public service. During his tenure, he has received the Law School’s Donald Gordon Award for Excellence in Teaching, the State University’s Outstanding Associate Professor Award, the President’s Bonus Award, and a Presidential Citation. Students have voted him Outstanding Professor six times.
Mogk has often involved students directly in Detroit-focused projects, giving them opportunities to apply legal skills to pressing urban challenges. Under his guidance, students have helped the City of Detroit review its building code enforcement to combat slumlords, developed policy papers on urban agriculture, and prepared housing strategies for the City of Highland Park. He has also led students in producing reports for the Detroit Downtown Development Authority, an analysis for the State Bar of Michigan on the Free Trade Agreement, and a study for the Engineering Society of Detroit on tribal reservations as free trade zones.
Mogk has answered calls to service from Michigan Governors Milliken, Blanchard, and Granholm, Detroit Mayor Duggan, and U.S. President Clinton, while also working at the grassroots level through organizations such as the Jefferson-Chalmers Citizens’ District Council, New Detroit Inc., SEMCOG, the Michigan Energy and Resource Research Association (MERRA), and Habitat for Humanity Detroit.
Former Michigan Governor William Milliken appointed Mogk to the Detroit Board of Education, where he was instrumental in designing the district’s breakfast program and, following a federal court decision on discriminatory practices, developing a remedial desegregation plan. As executive director of MERRA for two decades, Mogk secured hundreds of millions of dollars for energy research and high-tech development in Michigan, and as chair of the state’s Council on Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth, he helped lay the groundwork for Michigan’s expansion of renewable energy.
His leadership has consistently been tied to Detroit, whether through chairing Habitat for Humanity Detroit, serving as vice chair of the Michigan Construction Code Commission, or advising city and state entities on housing, economic development, and urban policy.
Mogk still teaches courses in property, state and local government law, land use planning, and urban development. His commitment to fighting poverty continues as he recently joined The PuLSE Institute’s Academy of Fellows, where he focuses on how municipal government can shape anti-poverty policies.
• • •
McDonald Hopkins is proud to announce that, effective October 1, Eric Benson has been elected to the firm’s membership.
Benson is part of the firm’s national Data Privacy and Cybersecurity team, representing clients across the country, working remotely for the Detroit office of McDonald Hopkins.
His practice includes advising on breach response obligations, including compliance and notification to individuals and government regulators as required under state and federal breach notification laws.
Benson also represents clients in state and federal investigations that arise from data privacy incidents and provides guidance on crisis communications and management issues.
“The support of my colleagues at McDonald Hopkins, who inspire and encourage me every step of the way, allows me to remain laser-focused on achieving the best outcome for our clients,” said Benson.
• • •
Dickinson Wright congratulates member Monica Labe for being selected to the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Real Estate Lawyers for the second year in a row. She is recognized in the practice areas of Real Estate Development, Leasing, and Finance. This is the 2nd edition of this guide to advisors who specialize in a range of skills – development, finance, leasing, litigation, and REIT structuring.
Labe has experience representing large multinational corporations, developers, real estate private equity firms, lenders and real estate investment companies in the acquisition, development, leasing, financing, construction and disposition of industrial, commercial, office, mixed-use and entertainment projects throughout the U.S.
• • •
Taft Detroit attorney Shirley Kaigler has been selected as a panelist by The Black Law Students Association and Alumni Relations for the Leadership Panel at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law on October 16. Kaigler will share insights about how leadership has shaped her journey, how she has demonstrated leadership in her life and career, and her vision for the future of leadership and law students.
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.
• • •
Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that Christina L. Nechiporchik has joined the firm as a senior counsel in the Workplace Law Practice Group.
Nechiporchik has more than a decade of experience helping employers manage liability, defend employment and coverage litigation, navigate complex compliance and regulatory issues, assess areas of risk, and improve processes. She counsels employers on employment issues such as: developing employment policies including those involving FMLA, FLSA, ADA; preparing job descriptions; conducting employee reviews and terminations; and assuring compliance with ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, ACA, IRS regulations, FMLA, and ADA.
Before joining Bodman, Nechiporchik served as in-house ERISA and employee benefits compliance counsel for a global insurance brokerage and consulting firm. Prior to that, she was associate general counsel for a leader in the development and implementation of insurance programs for the health care industry. Her in-house experience provides her with unusual insight into the challenges complex organizations face in complying with ever-changing state and federal employment laws and regulations.
Nechiporchik is a graduate of Valparaiso University School of Law and received an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan.
• • •
Kitch Attorneys & Counselors is pleased to announce that attorney Keith Wright has been elected to the Council for the Information Technology Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan.
Wright is a principal in the Detroit office. He served as general counsel for one of the largest electrical contractors in the country before returning to Kitch.
With nearly 15 years of experience, Wright brings knowledge and expertise to assist clients in resolving complex legal matters involving general business law, construction, employment, and healthcare regulatory issues.
Kitch is also proud to announce that attorneys John Sier, Carina Kraatz, and Brian Boehne have been named to the State Bar of Michigan’s 2025 Pro Bono Honor Roll.
• • •
Mark S. Kopson, a partner and leader of Plunkett Cooney’s Health Care Industry Group, was recently selected by Michigan Lawyers Weekly (MiLW) as a member of its 2025 Class of Leaders in the Law.
Kopson currently serves as president of the 12,000-member American Health Law Association (AHLA). He also served for several years as a member of Plunkett Cooney’s Board of Directors and the firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. He currently leads the firm’s Health Care Committee.
Throughout his legal career, 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.
Kopson is listed in Best Lawyers in America®. Since 2014, Kopson has been honored in the area of Health Care Law, and Best Lawyers recently named him its 2026 Lawyer of the Year for attorneys practicing in Bloomfield Hills. Michigan Super Lawyers magazine has also honored Kopson since 2014, naming him among its Top 100 Lawyers for several years.
Kopson has been a Fellow of the State Bar of Michigan Health Care Law Section since 2019, and is active in several bar associations, including the Business Law, Health Law, and Law Practice Management sections of the American Bar Association, the Health Care Law and Business Law sections of the State Bar of Michigan, and the Institute of Continuing Legal Education.
A graduate from the University of Detroit School of Law in 1985, Kopson received his undergraduate degree from the University of Detroit in 1981. He is admitted to practice law in the state and federal courts in Michigan, as well as the U.S. Supreme Court.
Simmons counsels clients of all sizes, from individuals to large corporate entities, in a variety of industries. For more than a decade, he has prevailed in courts and before panels and tribunals regarding multifaceted business disputes.
He primarily focuses his practice on Business & Commercial Litigation. As a part of his practice, Simmons represents businesses in complex business disputes and advises clients regarding their business legal needs.
Prior to joining Butzel, Simmons’ practice included the representation of corporations and individuals in civil litigation disputes involving personal, property, and casualty insurance claims. He also has previously worked as a judicial law clerk at the Wayne County Circuit Court where he wrote judicial memoranda and legal opinions regarding pending civil lawsuits.
He has been named to The Best Lawyers in America® – Ones to Watch in America – Commercial Litigation, 2023, 2025-2026; Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation, 2024.
Simmons earned a law degree from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan.
Simmons is admitted to practice law in the State of Michigan, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, and the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan.
Simmons is a member of the Canton Cares Fund Advisory Committee. The Canton Cares Fund provides financial support for Canton Township-sponsored programs assisting seniors, veterans, youths and the disabled, programs assisting Canton residents following a natural disaster, mass casualty or significant personal loss, and programs recognizing heroic or “above-and-beyond-the-call-of duty” acts of Township employees.
• • •
On Friday, September 19, the State Bar of Michigan presented Wayne State University Law School Professor John E. “Jack” Mogk with the 2025 John W. Reed Michigan Lawyer Legacy Award at its Inauguration and Awards Luncheon at the Detroit Marriott Troy. The award honors a Michigan law school educator whose influence has elevated the quality of legal practice in the state.
For more than six decades, Mogk has been a faculty member at Wayne State University, teaching since 1968 and inspiring generations of lawyers to connect their professional practice with public service. During his tenure, he has received the Law School’s Donald Gordon Award for Excellence in Teaching, the State University’s Outstanding Associate Professor Award, the President’s Bonus Award, and a Presidential Citation. Students have voted him Outstanding Professor six times.
Mogk has often involved students directly in Detroit-focused projects, giving them opportunities to apply legal skills to pressing urban challenges. Under his guidance, students have helped the City of Detroit review its building code enforcement to combat slumlords, developed policy papers on urban agriculture, and prepared housing strategies for the City of Highland Park. He has also led students in producing reports for the Detroit Downtown Development Authority, an analysis for the State Bar of Michigan on the Free Trade Agreement, and a study for the Engineering Society of Detroit on tribal reservations as free trade zones.
Mogk has answered calls to service from Michigan Governors Milliken, Blanchard, and Granholm, Detroit Mayor Duggan, and U.S. President Clinton, while also working at the grassroots level through organizations such as the Jefferson-Chalmers Citizens’ District Council, New Detroit Inc., SEMCOG, the Michigan Energy and Resource Research Association (MERRA), and Habitat for Humanity Detroit.
Former Michigan Governor William Milliken appointed Mogk to the Detroit Board of Education, where he was instrumental in designing the district’s breakfast program and, following a federal court decision on discriminatory practices, developing a remedial desegregation plan. As executive director of MERRA for two decades, Mogk secured hundreds of millions of dollars for energy research and high-tech development in Michigan, and as chair of the state’s Council on Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth, he helped lay the groundwork for Michigan’s expansion of renewable energy.
His leadership has consistently been tied to Detroit, whether through chairing Habitat for Humanity Detroit, serving as vice chair of the Michigan Construction Code Commission, or advising city and state entities on housing, economic development, and urban policy.
Mogk still teaches courses in property, state and local government law, land use planning, and urban development. His commitment to fighting poverty continues as he recently joined The PuLSE Institute’s Academy of Fellows, where he focuses on how municipal government can shape anti-poverty policies.
• • •
McDonald Hopkins is proud to announce that, effective October 1, Eric Benson has been elected to the firm’s membership.
Benson is part of the firm’s national Data Privacy and Cybersecurity team, representing clients across the country, working remotely for the Detroit office of McDonald Hopkins.
His practice includes advising on breach response obligations, including compliance and notification to individuals and government regulators as required under state and federal breach notification laws.
Benson also represents clients in state and federal investigations that arise from data privacy incidents and provides guidance on crisis communications and management issues.
“The support of my colleagues at McDonald Hopkins, who inspire and encourage me every step of the way, allows me to remain laser-focused on achieving the best outcome for our clients,” said Benson.
• • •
Dickinson Wright congratulates member Monica Labe for being selected to the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Real Estate Lawyers for the second year in a row. She is recognized in the practice areas of Real Estate Development, Leasing, and Finance. This is the 2nd edition of this guide to advisors who specialize in a range of skills – development, finance, leasing, litigation, and REIT structuring.
Labe has experience representing large multinational corporations, developers, real estate private equity firms, lenders and real estate investment companies in the acquisition, development, leasing, financing, construction and disposition of industrial, commercial, office, mixed-use and entertainment projects throughout the U.S.
• • •
Taft Detroit attorney Shirley Kaigler has been selected as a panelist by The Black Law Students Association and Alumni Relations for the Leadership Panel at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law on October 16. Kaigler will share insights about how leadership has shaped her journey, how she has demonstrated leadership in her life and career, and her vision for the future of leadership and law students.
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.
• • •
Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that Christina L. Nechiporchik has joined the firm as a senior counsel in the Workplace Law Practice Group.
Nechiporchik has more than a decade of experience helping employers manage liability, defend employment and coverage litigation, navigate complex compliance and regulatory issues, assess areas of risk, and improve processes. She counsels employers on employment issues such as: developing employment policies including those involving FMLA, FLSA, ADA; preparing job descriptions; conducting employee reviews and terminations; and assuring compliance with ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, ACA, IRS regulations, FMLA, and ADA.
Before joining Bodman, Nechiporchik served as in-house ERISA and employee benefits compliance counsel for a global insurance brokerage and consulting firm. Prior to that, she was associate general counsel for a leader in the development and implementation of insurance programs for the health care industry. Her in-house experience provides her with unusual insight into the challenges complex organizations face in complying with ever-changing state and federal employment laws and regulations.
Nechiporchik is a graduate of Valparaiso University School of Law and received an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan.
• • •
Kitch Attorneys & Counselors is pleased to announce that attorney Keith Wright has been elected to the Council for the Information Technology Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan.
Wright is a principal in the Detroit office. He served as general counsel for one of the largest electrical contractors in the country before returning to Kitch.
With nearly 15 years of experience, Wright brings knowledge and expertise to assist clients in resolving complex legal matters involving general business law, construction, employment, and healthcare regulatory issues.
Kitch is also proud to announce that attorneys John Sier, Carina Kraatz, and Brian Boehne have been named to the State Bar of Michigan’s 2025 Pro Bono Honor Roll.
• • •
Mark S. Kopson, a partner and leader of Plunkett Cooney’s Health Care Industry Group, was recently selected by Michigan Lawyers Weekly (MiLW) as a member of its 2025 Class of Leaders in the Law.
Kopson currently serves as president of the 12,000-member American Health Law Association (AHLA). He also served for several years as a member of Plunkett Cooney’s Board of Directors and the firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. He currently leads the firm’s Health Care Committee.
Throughout his legal career, 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.
Kopson is listed in Best Lawyers in America®. Since 2014, Kopson has been honored in the area of Health Care Law, and Best Lawyers recently named him its 2026 Lawyer of the Year for attorneys practicing in Bloomfield Hills. Michigan Super Lawyers magazine has also honored Kopson since 2014, naming him among its Top 100 Lawyers for several years.
Kopson has been a Fellow of the State Bar of Michigan Health Care Law Section since 2019, and is active in several bar associations, including the Business Law, Health Law, and Law Practice Management sections of the American Bar Association, the Health Care Law and Business Law sections of the State Bar of Michigan, and the Institute of Continuing Legal Education.
A graduate from the University of Detroit School of Law in 1985, Kopson received his undergraduate degree from the University of Detroit in 1981. He is admitted to practice law in the state and federal courts in Michigan, as well as the U.S. Supreme Court.
