Intellectual property specialty law firm Fishman Stewart PLLC, celebrating three decades in 2026 of helping innovators protect and grow the value of their ideas, is adding pages to its playbook with addition of two new attorneys in its sports law practice: Mark Meisner and Hunter DeSantis. The announcement was made by Fishman Stewart Co-founder Michael Stewart.
Meisner’s sports law practice focuses on baseball. He is a former D1 five-year collegiate baseball player for Niagara University and in 2017 he became a Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) Certified Agent. Meisner works with athletes and individuals in the baseball world to ensure proper legal protection in all facets, in addition to the management aspect of the sport.
Before joining Fishman Stewart, Meisner worked as an attorney at another area law firm. He earned his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, a Master of Business Administration, and Bachelor of Science in Sports Management, both from Niagara University.
DeSantis’ focus in the sports law practice is primarily centered around name, image and likeness (NIL) and collegiate athletes, representing players through the intricacies of branding deals and the use of player NIL. He enjoys the challenge of managing the intersection of sports and intellectual property and looks forward to guiding clients toward the best brand protection.
Prior to joining Fishman Stewart, DeSantis worked as a trial litigation attorney. He earned a law degree from Wayne State University Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government from Michigan State University.
• • •
McDonald Hopkins is pleased to welcome attorney Juliana Cipolla to its Litigation Department and Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group. Her practice focuses on incident response and regulatory defense.
“I chose McDonald Hopkins for the opportunity to grow professionally and be part of a team that is truly supportive, something that’s hard to find. I’ve already felt encouraged in my pursuit of success and am excited to learn from such a talented, hard-working group,” Cipolla said.
Prior to joining McDonald Hopkins, Cipolla advised organizations across a range of industries on high-stakes cybersecurity incidents, including ransomware attacks, business email compromise, and third-party breaches. She has experience guiding clients through all phases of incident response, from initial detection and containment through remediation, recovery, and regulatory compliance. She has also represented clients in commercial litigation, consumer class actions, and regulatory enforcement matters arising from data breaches and alleged privacy violations under federal and state laws, including CCPA/CPRA and HIPAA.
“I enjoy data privacy law because it is still so new and it is constantly evolving, especially as different technologies continue to roll out and become implemented in our everyday lives,” she added.
In addition, Cipolla has experience in the cryptocurrency space, where she assisted victims of fraud and theft in tracing stolen digital assets, developing legal recovery strategies, and coordinating with law enforcement to pursue asset recovery. Earlier in her career, she gained experience supporting investigations and litigation involving anti-fraud statutes through her work with the New York Attorney General’s office.
She received her law degree from the University at Buffalo School of Law and a B.A. from the University at Buffalo.
• • •
Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce that Victoria Padula has joined the firm’s Troy office as an associate.
Padula focuses her practice on probate litigation and fiduciary disputes. She represents individuals, businesses, and fiduciaries in complex matters involving trusts, estates, and related litigation.
Padula’s experience spans probate, commercial, employment, and municipal litigation, and she has represented clients in both state and federal courts, including appellate matters.
Padula is recognized as a leader in her field by Michigan Super Lawyers “Rising Stars.” She is a member of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, the Oakland County Bar Association, the Wayne County Bar Association, the Macomb County Bar Association, and the Financial and Estate Planning Council of Metropolitan Detroit, Next Gen.
Padula received her B.A. from Michigan State University and her law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.
• • •
Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC is pleased to announce that Michael Fawaz has been reappointed as the Michigan Supreme Court’s nominee to the Michigan Board of Law Examiners. His new term will begin on July 1, 2026, and run through June 30, 2031.
Fawaz is a commercial litigation and appellate attorney based in the firm’s Royal Oak office. In addition to his law practice, he previously served as an adjunct professor at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Michigan and his law degree from the Michigan State University College of Law.
• • •
Lisa Hysni, a Kerr Russell member and chair of the firm’s Real Estate Group, has undertaken a pro bono project to help the Littlefield Community Association (LCA) in northwest Detroit build a neighborhood skate park.
In 2022, the LCA was awarded a $300,000 grant from the Skatepark Project, formerly known as the Tony Hawk Foundation, a nonprofit working to increase access to free outdoor recreation. Using funds provided by the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, the grant enables construction of a community-focused development adjacent to Noble Elementary-Middle School and Littlefield Playfield.
Hysni helped the LCA negotiate a license agreement which involved a construction and donation agreement with the City of Detroit whereby the city granted the LCA the right to use the land to construct the skatepark. In addition, she has provided ongoing support to LCA regarding the construction contract.
“It’s been an honor to support the Littlefield Community Association in bringing this vision to life,” said Hysni, who attended the groundbreaking for the project on April 24.
“This project is about more than building a skate park—it’s about creating a safe, inclusive space where young people and families can gather, stay active, and build community. Seeing the collaboration between local leaders, the city, and dedicated partners has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m proud to play a small role in a development that will have a lasting positive impact on the neighborhood.”
• • •
Butzel has promoted David A. Siegel to the role of Information Technology (IT) manager. Previously, he was the firm’s infrastructure specialist.
Siegel is the driving force behind Butzel’s day-to-day technology operations. As the firm’s IT manager, he builds, configures, and maintains every layer of the infrastructure that keeps the firm running – from the networks and servers to the firewalls, cloud platforms, and endpoint security that protect the firm’s data. Siegel leads IT support operations across all offices, serves as the go-to escalation point when complex issues arise, and ensures that every attorney and staff member has the reliable, secure technology they need to serve clients at the highest level.
Siegel has expertise in networking, server virtualization, and enterprise systems administration. He oversees the firm’s helpdesk operations, and his day-to-day responsibilities span cloud platform management across Microsoft 365 and Azure, endpoint security, hardware lifecycle management, identity and access administration, and the vendor partnerships that extend the firm’s technical capabilities.
For more than five years, Siegel has been a part of Butzel’s Information Technology team. Prior to his role as IT manager, he held several infrastructure and support positions within the organization. Throughout this progression, he has expanded the firm’s technical capabilities, enhanced operational efficiencies, and led key technology initiatives that modernized Butzel’s IT environment.
Before joining Butzel, Siegel gained technology experience in roles spanning the electronics, accounting, business management, and global payment systems industries.
————————
To submit an announcement for the next Legal People section, e-mail: editor@legalnews.com
Meisner’s sports law practice focuses on baseball. He is a former D1 five-year collegiate baseball player for Niagara University and in 2017 he became a Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) Certified Agent. Meisner works with athletes and individuals in the baseball world to ensure proper legal protection in all facets, in addition to the management aspect of the sport.
Before joining Fishman Stewart, Meisner worked as an attorney at another area law firm. He earned his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, a Master of Business Administration, and Bachelor of Science in Sports Management, both from Niagara University.
DeSantis’ focus in the sports law practice is primarily centered around name, image and likeness (NIL) and collegiate athletes, representing players through the intricacies of branding deals and the use of player NIL. He enjoys the challenge of managing the intersection of sports and intellectual property and looks forward to guiding clients toward the best brand protection.
Prior to joining Fishman Stewart, DeSantis worked as a trial litigation attorney. He earned a law degree from Wayne State University Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government from Michigan State University.
• • •
McDonald Hopkins is pleased to welcome attorney Juliana Cipolla to its Litigation Department and Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group. Her practice focuses on incident response and regulatory defense.
“I chose McDonald Hopkins for the opportunity to grow professionally and be part of a team that is truly supportive, something that’s hard to find. I’ve already felt encouraged in my pursuit of success and am excited to learn from such a talented, hard-working group,” Cipolla said.
Prior to joining McDonald Hopkins, Cipolla advised organizations across a range of industries on high-stakes cybersecurity incidents, including ransomware attacks, business email compromise, and third-party breaches. She has experience guiding clients through all phases of incident response, from initial detection and containment through remediation, recovery, and regulatory compliance. She has also represented clients in commercial litigation, consumer class actions, and regulatory enforcement matters arising from data breaches and alleged privacy violations under federal and state laws, including CCPA/CPRA and HIPAA.
“I enjoy data privacy law because it is still so new and it is constantly evolving, especially as different technologies continue to roll out and become implemented in our everyday lives,” she added.
In addition, Cipolla has experience in the cryptocurrency space, where she assisted victims of fraud and theft in tracing stolen digital assets, developing legal recovery strategies, and coordinating with law enforcement to pursue asset recovery. Earlier in her career, she gained experience supporting investigations and litigation involving anti-fraud statutes through her work with the New York Attorney General’s office.
She received her law degree from the University at Buffalo School of Law and a B.A. from the University at Buffalo.
• • •
Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce that Victoria Padula has joined the firm’s Troy office as an associate.
Padula focuses her practice on probate litigation and fiduciary disputes. She represents individuals, businesses, and fiduciaries in complex matters involving trusts, estates, and related litigation.
Padula’s experience spans probate, commercial, employment, and municipal litigation, and she has represented clients in both state and federal courts, including appellate matters.
Padula is recognized as a leader in her field by Michigan Super Lawyers “Rising Stars.” She is a member of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, the Oakland County Bar Association, the Wayne County Bar Association, the Macomb County Bar Association, and the Financial and Estate Planning Council of Metropolitan Detroit, Next Gen.
Padula received her B.A. from Michigan State University and her law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.
• • •
Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC is pleased to announce that Michael Fawaz has been reappointed as the Michigan Supreme Court’s nominee to the Michigan Board of Law Examiners. His new term will begin on July 1, 2026, and run through June 30, 2031.
Fawaz is a commercial litigation and appellate attorney based in the firm’s Royal Oak office. In addition to his law practice, he previously served as an adjunct professor at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Michigan and his law degree from the Michigan State University College of Law.
• • •
Lisa Hysni, a Kerr Russell member and chair of the firm’s Real Estate Group, has undertaken a pro bono project to help the Littlefield Community Association (LCA) in northwest Detroit build a neighborhood skate park.
In 2022, the LCA was awarded a $300,000 grant from the Skatepark Project, formerly known as the Tony Hawk Foundation, a nonprofit working to increase access to free outdoor recreation. Using funds provided by the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, the grant enables construction of a community-focused development adjacent to Noble Elementary-Middle School and Littlefield Playfield.
Hysni helped the LCA negotiate a license agreement which involved a construction and donation agreement with the City of Detroit whereby the city granted the LCA the right to use the land to construct the skatepark. In addition, she has provided ongoing support to LCA regarding the construction contract.
“It’s been an honor to support the Littlefield Community Association in bringing this vision to life,” said Hysni, who attended the groundbreaking for the project on April 24.
“This project is about more than building a skate park—it’s about creating a safe, inclusive space where young people and families can gather, stay active, and build community. Seeing the collaboration between local leaders, the city, and dedicated partners has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m proud to play a small role in a development that will have a lasting positive impact on the neighborhood.”
• • •
Butzel has promoted David A. Siegel to the role of Information Technology (IT) manager. Previously, he was the firm’s infrastructure specialist.
Siegel is the driving force behind Butzel’s day-to-day technology operations. As the firm’s IT manager, he builds, configures, and maintains every layer of the infrastructure that keeps the firm running – from the networks and servers to the firewalls, cloud platforms, and endpoint security that protect the firm’s data. Siegel leads IT support operations across all offices, serves as the go-to escalation point when complex issues arise, and ensures that every attorney and staff member has the reliable, secure technology they need to serve clients at the highest level.
Siegel has expertise in networking, server virtualization, and enterprise systems administration. He oversees the firm’s helpdesk operations, and his day-to-day responsibilities span cloud platform management across Microsoft 365 and Azure, endpoint security, hardware lifecycle management, identity and access administration, and the vendor partnerships that extend the firm’s technical capabilities.
For more than five years, Siegel has been a part of Butzel’s Information Technology team. Prior to his role as IT manager, he held several infrastructure and support positions within the organization. Throughout this progression, he has expanded the firm’s technical capabilities, enhanced operational efficiencies, and led key technology initiatives that modernized Butzel’s IT environment.
Before joining Butzel, Siegel gained technology experience in roles spanning the electronics, accounting, business management, and global payment systems industries.
————————
To submit an announcement for the next Legal People section, e-mail: editor@legalnews.com
