Bodman PLC is pleased to announce the addition of Aidan A. Maraachli as a senior associate in the firm’s Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice Group.
Based in Bodman’s Troy office, Maraachli represents clients involved in complex commercial litigation matters. Before joining Bodman, Maraachli served as a law clerk for U.S. District Court Magistrate Judges Curtis Ivy Jr., Michael J. Hluchaniuk, and Stephanie Dawkins Davis, Eastern District of Michigan. In these roles, he drafted opinions on all pre-trial matters ranging from jurisdiction and discovery to complex constitutional and commercial litigation claims. He also managed cases through litigation from discovery to oral argument.
Maraachli is a graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and received his undergraduate degree from Wayne State University. During law school, he volunteered as a student attorney for the Hazel Park City Attorney’s Office.
• • •
Goodman Acker announces the addition of attorney Arghavan Eftekhari and paralegal Ioannis Tassopoulos to its expanding legal team.
Eftekhari brings experience in both U.S. and Canadian legal systems, with a background that spans personal injury, community advocacy and immigration law. Her work has included supporting litigation teams, conducting research and engaging in outreach efforts to make legal information more accessible to the public.
A graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and the University of Windsor, Eftekhari earned her Dual JD and is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and eligible to practice in Canada.
• • •
Street Democracy proudly announces that its co-founder and Executive Director Jayesh Patel has been awarded the “Excellence in Homelessness Award” by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA). The award recognizes Patel’s leadership in addressing homelessness through legal reform and community collaboration.
Patel was honored for his pioneering work on functional sentencing and for founding and continuing to lead the Street Outreach Court Detroit (SOCD) — a court program designed to help individuals experiencing homelessness resolve legal barriers while connecting them with supportive services.
“Street Outreach Court Detroit proves that justice and compassion can coexist,” said Patel. “This recognition from MSHDA honors the collaborative spirit of our partners, judges, and advocates who believe in second chances and systemic change.”
Under Patel’s leadership, Street Democracy has championed equitable justice models that focus on restoring dignity, stability, and opportunity for people who are unhoused or living in poverty. Street Outreach Court has become a national model for problem-solving courts, blending human-centered legal practice with social support to promote long-term success. To date, Street Outreach Court Detroit has assisted 1,121 participants, closed 12,413 cases, and saved participants more than $1,735,439 in legal financial obligations.
• • •
The Michigan State Bar Foundation (MSBF) is pleased to announce its FY2026 slate of officers and the appointment of board members. The Board of Directors is the governing body of the Foundation and is critical to ensuring the mission of the Foundation is fulfilled ethically, effectively and sustainably.
“Each individual brings a wealth of experience, dedication and leadership to promote the mission of the Foundation to increase access to justice and advance the administration of justice in our state,” said Foundation Executive Director Jennifer Bentley.
MSBF is pleased to announce the appointment of the following officers:
• President – Craig H. Luben, Miller Johnson
• Vice-President - Retired Judge Victoria A. Roberts, JAMS
• Treasurer - Richard K. Rappleye, R&I Associates
• Secretary – Thomas R. Behm, Gruel, Mills, Nims, & Pylman
New members of the Board of Directors include:
Heidi A. Alcock is the vice president of Strategy & Grants Portfolio for the McGregor Fund, a private foundation working to alleviate poverty in Detroit and Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties, with a strategic focus on ending homelessness and chronic unemployment in Detroit. She oversees program strategy development and execution and oversees grant portfolio development.
Alcock has more than 27 years of nonprofit and public sector management experience working with Detroiters focused on community and economic development including as CEO of Michigan Community Resources where she served in a leadership role on the civic engagement team for Detroit Future City planning process, and eventually at the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation as director of operations for the first Detroit Future City Implementation Office. She also worked as city planner at the City of Detroit City Planning Commission, formerly a staff division of the Detroit City Council.
Alcock has a master’s degree in public administration with concentrations in public and urban policy from Wayne State University.
Erika L. Bryant has been a Michigan lawyer for more than 25 years, with a solo practice in which she represents local non-profits, small businesses, and individual clients throughout metropolitan Detroit and beyond. She has served as a commercial arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association for more than 15 years. In addition to her private practice, she believes in serving the community, and currently gives her time to the State Bar of Michigan’s Board of Commissioners, where she currently serves as vice-president. Bryant is a past president of the D. Augustus Straker Bar Association, a past affiliate chapter representative, and past Region VI director.
Bryant has received recognition for her accomplishments, including the State Bar of Michigan’s and Wolverine Bar Association’s Outstanding Young Lawyer Awards, as well as Presidential Awards from the National Bar Association. In 2017, she was recognized among Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s Women in the Law.
Bryant earned her law degree from the University of Michigan Law School (1998), and her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from Amherst College (1995), where she majored in Black Studies and Political Science.
Jason P. Klingensmith is the assistant general counsel at General Motors, where he is responsible for advising Company Leadership on all legal issues related to the Company’s North American operations, including litigation, regulatory, governance, risk mitigation, and policy. Prior to joining GM, Klingensmith spent 18 years as a commercial trial lawyer and deputy CEO of Dickinson Wright PLLC in Detroit, Michigan. His practice specialties included Commercial Litigation and International Arbitration.
Klingensmith earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from the University of Michigan and his law degree from Northwestern University School of Law.
Lee B. Reimann is a CPA and an attorney who spent much of her career in real estate planning. She also believes in serving the community that has given her so much.
Reimann is a past president of Ingham County Bar Association; Greater Lansing Estate Planning Council; and Rotary Club of East Lansing. She previously served on the boards of Legal Services of South Central Michigan; Helping Women Period; and the Capital Region Community Foundation.
Jeffery V. Stuckey is a member at Dickinson Wright with assignments as regulatory and appellate counsel on matters involving commercial interests and regulated industries in the areas of gaming, insurance, telecommunications, energy, elections, tax, and business. His more than 40 year legal career includes key roles including law clerk to the Michigan Supreme Court and research attorney for the Michigan Court of Appeals. He served on the Michigan Board of Law Examiners and the State Bar’s Judicial Qualifications Committee.
Stuckey received his law degree from Notre Dame Law School. His work reflects a commitment to legal excellence and expanding access to justice.
The Michigan State Bar Foundation, established in 1947, provides leadership and grants to improve the administration of justice and increase access to justice for all in the civil legal system.
• • •
Kemp Klein was honored by Common Ground with the Kay White Legacy Award at the Celebration of Hope Gala. Ralph Castelli, CEO emeritus, accepted the award on behalf of the firm.
The Kay White Legacy Award recognizes individuals and organizations whose leadership and commitment embody Common Ground’s mission to help move people from crisis to hope. Recipients demonstrate exceptional dedication through leadership, business expertise, volunteerism, and community engagement.
Common Ground is a nonprofit organization based in Michigan that provides critical crisis intervention and support services to individuals and families in need. The organization operates a 24-hour crisis and resource helpline, a crisis residential unit, and a range of programs offering mental health support, shelter, victim assistance, and youth services. Common Ground is also a key partner in the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, ensuring that Michiganders have immediate access to compassionate, life-saving help whenever they need it.
Kemp Klein is proud to be a Legacy Society Benefactor and an active member of Common Ground’s Circle of Hope. To date, the Kemp Klein Foundation has contributed more than $200,000 in pro bono legal services to support Common Ground’s vital work. In addition to the firm’s legal and financial support, Kemp Klien has partnered on several community initiatives, including the Adopt-A-Family program, The Ride 2 End Suicide, and multiple blanket-making and volunteer events that benefit individuals and families in need.
In his remarks at the event, Castelli shared, “We look forward to continuing our relationship with Common Ground as it continues to provide much-needed services to those in crisis. In two more years, that relationship will hit the 20-year mark.”
• • •
Honigman’s CEO and Executive Committee Chairman David Foltyn was recently featured by Crain’s Detroit Business in its “Who’s Who in Detroit Business” list.
Foltyn oversees the firm’s more than 350 legal professionals throughout Michigan, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. as well as a growing national client base.
Under his guidance, the firm has instituted strategies to become a leader in the marketplace. He has enhanced the recruiting functions of the firm and has implemented ongoing development opportunities for attorneys and business professionals.
• • •
Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce that the firm’s litigation practice, along with several attorneys, is recognized in the Benchmark Litigation United States 2026 Edition.
In Michigan, Benchmark Litigation recognized Dickinson Wright as Highly Recommended for Dispute Resolution. Michigan attorneys recognized include:
Phillip DeRosier – United States (National) and Local Litigation Star
Timothy Howlett – United States (National) and Local Litigation Star
Brandon Hubbard – United States (National) and Local Litigation Star
James Martone – 40 & Under List, Midwest
Nolan Moody – 40 & Under List, Midwest
Daniel Quick – United States (National) and Local Litigation Star
Scott Petz – Future Star
Based in Bodman’s Troy office, Maraachli represents clients involved in complex commercial litigation matters. Before joining Bodman, Maraachli served as a law clerk for U.S. District Court Magistrate Judges Curtis Ivy Jr., Michael J. Hluchaniuk, and Stephanie Dawkins Davis, Eastern District of Michigan. In these roles, he drafted opinions on all pre-trial matters ranging from jurisdiction and discovery to complex constitutional and commercial litigation claims. He also managed cases through litigation from discovery to oral argument.
Maraachli is a graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and received his undergraduate degree from Wayne State University. During law school, he volunteered as a student attorney for the Hazel Park City Attorney’s Office.
• • •
Goodman Acker announces the addition of attorney Arghavan Eftekhari and paralegal Ioannis Tassopoulos to its expanding legal team.
Eftekhari brings experience in both U.S. and Canadian legal systems, with a background that spans personal injury, community advocacy and immigration law. Her work has included supporting litigation teams, conducting research and engaging in outreach efforts to make legal information more accessible to the public.
A graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and the University of Windsor, Eftekhari earned her Dual JD and is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and eligible to practice in Canada.
• • •
Street Democracy proudly announces that its co-founder and Executive Director Jayesh Patel has been awarded the “Excellence in Homelessness Award” by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA). The award recognizes Patel’s leadership in addressing homelessness through legal reform and community collaboration.
Patel was honored for his pioneering work on functional sentencing and for founding and continuing to lead the Street Outreach Court Detroit (SOCD) — a court program designed to help individuals experiencing homelessness resolve legal barriers while connecting them with supportive services.
“Street Outreach Court Detroit proves that justice and compassion can coexist,” said Patel. “This recognition from MSHDA honors the collaborative spirit of our partners, judges, and advocates who believe in second chances and systemic change.”
Under Patel’s leadership, Street Democracy has championed equitable justice models that focus on restoring dignity, stability, and opportunity for people who are unhoused or living in poverty. Street Outreach Court has become a national model for problem-solving courts, blending human-centered legal practice with social support to promote long-term success. To date, Street Outreach Court Detroit has assisted 1,121 participants, closed 12,413 cases, and saved participants more than $1,735,439 in legal financial obligations.
• • •
The Michigan State Bar Foundation (MSBF) is pleased to announce its FY2026 slate of officers and the appointment of board members. The Board of Directors is the governing body of the Foundation and is critical to ensuring the mission of the Foundation is fulfilled ethically, effectively and sustainably.
“Each individual brings a wealth of experience, dedication and leadership to promote the mission of the Foundation to increase access to justice and advance the administration of justice in our state,” said Foundation Executive Director Jennifer Bentley.
MSBF is pleased to announce the appointment of the following officers:
• President – Craig H. Luben, Miller Johnson
• Vice-President - Retired Judge Victoria A. Roberts, JAMS
• Treasurer - Richard K. Rappleye, R&I Associates
• Secretary – Thomas R. Behm, Gruel, Mills, Nims, & Pylman
New members of the Board of Directors include:
Heidi A. Alcock is the vice president of Strategy & Grants Portfolio for the McGregor Fund, a private foundation working to alleviate poverty in Detroit and Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties, with a strategic focus on ending homelessness and chronic unemployment in Detroit. She oversees program strategy development and execution and oversees grant portfolio development.
Alcock has more than 27 years of nonprofit and public sector management experience working with Detroiters focused on community and economic development including as CEO of Michigan Community Resources where she served in a leadership role on the civic engagement team for Detroit Future City planning process, and eventually at the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation as director of operations for the first Detroit Future City Implementation Office. She also worked as city planner at the City of Detroit City Planning Commission, formerly a staff division of the Detroit City Council.
Alcock has a master’s degree in public administration with concentrations in public and urban policy from Wayne State University.
Erika L. Bryant has been a Michigan lawyer for more than 25 years, with a solo practice in which she represents local non-profits, small businesses, and individual clients throughout metropolitan Detroit and beyond. She has served as a commercial arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association for more than 15 years. In addition to her private practice, she believes in serving the community, and currently gives her time to the State Bar of Michigan’s Board of Commissioners, where she currently serves as vice-president. Bryant is a past president of the D. Augustus Straker Bar Association, a past affiliate chapter representative, and past Region VI director.
Bryant has received recognition for her accomplishments, including the State Bar of Michigan’s and Wolverine Bar Association’s Outstanding Young Lawyer Awards, as well as Presidential Awards from the National Bar Association. In 2017, she was recognized among Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s Women in the Law.
Bryant earned her law degree from the University of Michigan Law School (1998), and her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from Amherst College (1995), where she majored in Black Studies and Political Science.
Jason P. Klingensmith is the assistant general counsel at General Motors, where he is responsible for advising Company Leadership on all legal issues related to the Company’s North American operations, including litigation, regulatory, governance, risk mitigation, and policy. Prior to joining GM, Klingensmith spent 18 years as a commercial trial lawyer and deputy CEO of Dickinson Wright PLLC in Detroit, Michigan. His practice specialties included Commercial Litigation and International Arbitration.
Klingensmith earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from the University of Michigan and his law degree from Northwestern University School of Law.
Lee B. Reimann is a CPA and an attorney who spent much of her career in real estate planning. She also believes in serving the community that has given her so much.
Reimann is a past president of Ingham County Bar Association; Greater Lansing Estate Planning Council; and Rotary Club of East Lansing. She previously served on the boards of Legal Services of South Central Michigan; Helping Women Period; and the Capital Region Community Foundation.
Jeffery V. Stuckey is a member at Dickinson Wright with assignments as regulatory and appellate counsel on matters involving commercial interests and regulated industries in the areas of gaming, insurance, telecommunications, energy, elections, tax, and business. His more than 40 year legal career includes key roles including law clerk to the Michigan Supreme Court and research attorney for the Michigan Court of Appeals. He served on the Michigan Board of Law Examiners and the State Bar’s Judicial Qualifications Committee.
Stuckey received his law degree from Notre Dame Law School. His work reflects a commitment to legal excellence and expanding access to justice.
The Michigan State Bar Foundation, established in 1947, provides leadership and grants to improve the administration of justice and increase access to justice for all in the civil legal system.
• • •
Kemp Klein was honored by Common Ground with the Kay White Legacy Award at the Celebration of Hope Gala. Ralph Castelli, CEO emeritus, accepted the award on behalf of the firm.
The Kay White Legacy Award recognizes individuals and organizations whose leadership and commitment embody Common Ground’s mission to help move people from crisis to hope. Recipients demonstrate exceptional dedication through leadership, business expertise, volunteerism, and community engagement.
Common Ground is a nonprofit organization based in Michigan that provides critical crisis intervention and support services to individuals and families in need. The organization operates a 24-hour crisis and resource helpline, a crisis residential unit, and a range of programs offering mental health support, shelter, victim assistance, and youth services. Common Ground is also a key partner in the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, ensuring that Michiganders have immediate access to compassionate, life-saving help whenever they need it.
Kemp Klein is proud to be a Legacy Society Benefactor and an active member of Common Ground’s Circle of Hope. To date, the Kemp Klein Foundation has contributed more than $200,000 in pro bono legal services to support Common Ground’s vital work. In addition to the firm’s legal and financial support, Kemp Klien has partnered on several community initiatives, including the Adopt-A-Family program, The Ride 2 End Suicide, and multiple blanket-making and volunteer events that benefit individuals and families in need.
In his remarks at the event, Castelli shared, “We look forward to continuing our relationship with Common Ground as it continues to provide much-needed services to those in crisis. In two more years, that relationship will hit the 20-year mark.”
• • •
Honigman’s CEO and Executive Committee Chairman David Foltyn was recently featured by Crain’s Detroit Business in its “Who’s Who in Detroit Business” list.
Foltyn oversees the firm’s more than 350 legal professionals throughout Michigan, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. as well as a growing national client base.
Under his guidance, the firm has instituted strategies to become a leader in the marketplace. He has enhanced the recruiting functions of the firm and has implemented ongoing development opportunities for attorneys and business professionals.
• • •
Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce that the firm’s litigation practice, along with several attorneys, is recognized in the Benchmark Litigation United States 2026 Edition.
In Michigan, Benchmark Litigation recognized Dickinson Wright as Highly Recommended for Dispute Resolution. Michigan attorneys recognized include:
Phillip DeRosier – United States (National) and Local Litigation Star
Timothy Howlett – United States (National) and Local Litigation Star
Brandon Hubbard – United States (National) and Local Litigation Star
James Martone – 40 & Under List, Midwest
Nolan Moody – 40 & Under List, Midwest
Daniel Quick – United States (National) and Local Litigation Star
Scott Petz – Future Star
