Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce that Aaron Burrell (member, Troy and Detroit) has been sworn in as the 94th president of the Oakland County Bar Association (OCBA). He was sworn in at the OCBA 92nd Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony on June 3.
“I’m honored to be serving as President of the Oakland County Bar Association for 2026-2027,” Burrell says. “I look forward to working with our Board of Directors, membership, judiciary, and the public to continue to further the OCBA’s mission of being the premier resource for navigating the legal and judicial system in Oakland County.”
Burrell is a business lawyer whose practice centers on complex corporate strategy, high-stakes commercial litigation, internal and external investigations, appellate advocacy, labor and employment matters, and minority business enterprise counseling. He also serves as the chair of Dickinson Wright’s Diversity Committee and has previously co-chaired litigation training and contributed to the firm’s lateral-recruiting strategy.
Burrell has served in leadership roles for numerous organizations and committees including the American Bar Association’s Coalition of Racial and Ethnic Justice, the State Bar of Michigan’s Board of Commissioners (Executive Committee), State Bar’s Representative Assembly (chair), the State Bar’s Equal Access Initiative (co-chair), the D. Augustus Straker Bar Association (president), the National Bar Association’s Board of Governors (affiliate representative), and the Thomas M. Cooley Law School Board of Directors.
Burrell has been recognized as a leader in his field by numerous publications including Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America, Legal 500, Michigan Super Lawyers, Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Crain’s Detroit Business, National Bar Association, DBusiness, Profiles in Diversity Journal, Diversity MBA Magazine, and Savoy Magazine. The D. Augustus Straker Bar Association honored him with its Trailblazers Award.
• • •
Butzel is among Michigan’s leading law firms named to Chambers USA 2026 – America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2026 – The Client’s Guide.
Butzel practice areas included in Chambers USA 2026 are:
• Corporate/Mergers and Acquisitions
• Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
• Immigration
• Labor & Employment
• Litigation: General Commercial
• Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
• Real Estate
Butzel attorneys ranked and highlighted in Chambers USA 2026 include:
—Corporate/M&A
Jennifer E. Consiglio
Justin G. Klimko
Nicholas J. Stasevich
—Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
Lynn McGuire
Mark W. Jane
Robert B. Stevenson – Senior Statespeople
—Healthcare
Robert H. Schwartz
—Immigration
Linda J. Armstrong
Bushra A. Malik
Clara DeMatteis Mager
Reginald A. Pacis
—Labor & Employment
Barbara Eckert Buchanan
Brett J. Miller
Carey A. DeWitt
Daniel B. Tukel
James S. Rosenfeld
—Litigation: General Commercial
Bernard J. Fuhs
Bruce L. Sendek
Cynthia J. Haffey
Daniel R.W. Rustmann
—Litigation: Mediators
Lee T. Silver
—Litigation: White-Collar Litigation & Government Investigations
David F. DuMouchel
George B. Donnini
—Real Estate
Ashley Aldea – Up and Coming
David W. Hipp – Senior Statespeople
Thomas A. Kabel
• • •
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law awarded Elizabeth Sherowski, assistant professor of law, the 2026 James T. Barnes Sr. Memorial Faculty Scholar Award. Each year, a full-time faculty member is chosen to receive this award based on scholarship, teaching excellence, and public service.
Sherwoski was nominated by Gabi Vizzaccaro ‘26, who served as the 2025-2026 editor-in-chief of the Detroit Mercy Law Review. Any member of the faculty or student body can nominate a professor for the annual Barnes Scholar Award.
Sherowski joined the Detroit Mercy Law faculty in 2020. She is a nationally recognized expert in learner-focused pedagogy and has written and presented extensively on making legal education more transparent, accessible, and accountable to students. She is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and previously worked as an assistant prosecuting attorney and in private practice.
Drawing on her legal practice and teaching experience, Sherowski takes a creative approach to educating law students. Her many hours of service coaching Moot Court improved student brief writing. She also volunteered with the Inns of Court to improve her professional connections and assist students in finding jobs and mentors. Her work on the Teaching Effectiveness Committee helped create supportive structures for observing instructors and providing teaching feedback.
In addition, Detroit Mercy Law appointed J. Richard Broughton, associate dean of Faculty Research and Development and Professor of Law, as the Philip J. McElroy Professor of Law, in recognition of his contributions to legal scholarship and teaching.
Broughton is an expert in criminal and constitutional law. His scholarship focuses on the separation of powers, constitutional law and politics, and crime policy. A member of the faculty since 2009, he has received several teaching awards and has served in numerous leadership and committee roles. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas and affiliated with The Federalist Society and The Alexander Hamilton Society.
Prior to joining legal academia, Broughton served in the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. His work involved federal prosecutions of violent crime related to gang activity, drug trafficking, organized crime, and racketeering. He also served as assistant attorney general of Texas for Capital and Post-Conviction Litigation, as a law clerk to the presiding judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, and as a law clerk for the House Judiciary Committee during the 106th Congress.
The McElroy Professorship appointment is at the discretion of the dean of the School of Law. Broughton is the third recipient, following Larry Dubin, emeritus professor of law, and Jelani Jefferson Exum, former dean and professor of law.
• • •
Former Hartmann & Nihem PLLC attorneys Nancy A. Nihem and Haley A. Monaghan-Punch recently joined Plunkett Cooney to create the firm’s new Grosse Pointe office.
Nihem, who was a former principal of Hartmann & Nihem PLLC, joins Plunkett Cooney as a senior attorney in the firm’s Trusts and Estates Practice Group and as managing attorney of the new location, which is located at 63 Kercheval, Suite 200, in Grosse Pointe Farms. In addition to Nihem and Monaghan-Punch, a former Hartmann & Nihem legal assistant has also joined Plunkett Cooney.
With more than 35 years of experience, Nihem creates tailored plans and strategies involving estates, business succession, estate tax, and gifting. She has experience drafting wills, trusts and powers of attorney for both financial and health care decision-making, as well as serving as a successor trustee and advising personal representatives, trustees, fiduciaries, and beneficiaries in both complex and uncontested estate and trust administration matters.
Admitted to practice in state and federal courts in Michigan, Nihem is a member of the State Bar of Michigan. She graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 1991 and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Detroit in 1987.
Associate attorney Monaghan-Punch also joined the firm as a member of the Trusts & Estates Practice Group. She focuses her practice on probate and trust administration and sophisticated estate planning matters across Michigan.
In addition to handling estate plans, wills, and trusts, Monaghan-Punch has experience advising clients with probate proceedings, estates holding diversified investment portfolios, multi-property real estate interests, retirement assets, and closely held business interests.
Monaghan-Punch is a 2019 graduate of Cooley Law School. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in 2015.
• • •
Foley & Lardner LLP is proud to once again be recognized by Chambers & Partners as one of the leading law firms in the country in the 2026 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.
In Michigan, Foley acheived practice rankings for Corporate/M&A and Litigation: General Commercial. Foley Michigan attorneys earned individual rankings:
Daljit Doogal, Corporate/ M&A (Eminent Practitioners)
Gjina Lucaj, Corporate/M&A
Omar Lucia, Corporate/M&A
Norman Ankers, Litigation: General Commercial (Band 1)
Vanessa Miller, Litigation: General Commercial
• • •
For the 24th consecutive year, Warner Norcross + Judd LLP has been recognized as one of the leading law firms in Michigan by Chambers USA 2026.
Warner has been ranked as one of Michigan’s leading law firms in the areas of corporate/mergers and acquisitions, employee benefits and executive compensation and general commercial litigation, with individual rankings in insurance and health care.
Local attorneys have been awarded for their work in the areas above. They are:
Michael Brady, general commercial litigation
Mary Jo Larson, employee benefits and executive compensation
Linda Paullin-Hebden, corporate/mergers and acquisitions
Alan Rogalski, health care
Jennifer Watkins, employee benefits and executive compensation
Lisa Zimmer, employee benefits and executive compensation
In addition, Warner Norcross + Judd LLP has welcomed Hadyn C. Pettersen as an associate.
Pettersen will join the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Group, representing corporate clients at all levels of federal and state court. His experience includes class action and multidistrict litigation, supply chain disputes, consumer protection matters, government investigations and toxic tort claims. He will practice in the firm’s Detroit office.
Prior to joining Warner, Pettersen was a law clerk for U.S. Court of Appeals Judge S. Kyle Duncan, Fifth Circuit. Earlier in his career, he practiced in the Washington, D.C., office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. He has authored merits and amicus briefs at the U.S. Supreme Court and federal and state courts of appeal.
Pettersen is a fellow of The Good Counselor Project and a member of the Michigan Chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the Detroit Bar Association.
Pettersen earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and a law degree from Notre Dame Law School.
• • •
Zausmer Shareholder Cameron Getto has been elected to serve on the Council of the Negligence Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan.
As a member of the Council, Getto will help guide initiatives that support Michigan attorneys and the broader legal community. The Council’s work includes publishing legal commentary and case summaries, providing continuing legal education programs, evaluating proposed legislation and court rule changes, supporting scholarships for Michigan law students, and preparing amicus briefs when invited by the Michigan Supreme Court.
Getto previously served two years as a non-voting liaison to the Council on behalf of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).
“I am grateful for the opportunity and look forward to serving as an elected, voting member over the next three years,” Getto said.
For more than 20 years, Getto has litigated complex matters involving professional negligence, products liability, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, pharmaceuticals, employment disputes, and other complex tort and commercial claims. In addition to his trial practice, he contributes to the legal profession through publications, presentations, and professional service.
• • •
Bush Seyferth is proud to once again be ranked by Chambers USA Guide in the 2026 Edition.
The firm was ranked Band 1 for Product Liability: Automobile (USA – Nationwide) and Band 2 for Litigation: General Commercial (Michigan).
The following Bush Seyferth attorneys received individual rankings:
Patrick Seyferth – Band 1 for both Product Liability: Automobile (USA – Nationwide) and Litigation: General Commercial (Michigan)
Derek Linkous – Up & Coming for Litigation: General Commercial (Michigan)
Moheeb Murray – Band 1 for Insurance (Michigan)
Roger Meyers – Band 2 for Litigation: General Commercial (Michigan)
• • •
Three Honigman LLP Intellectual Property partners received recognition from the World Trademark Review (WTR) as honorees in its 2026 Global Leaders: Private Practice list.
Honigman honorees are:
Julie Reitz, leader of Honigman’s Trademark and Copyright Practice Group, assists large organizations as they manage their global trademark and copyright portfolios. She represents national and multinational clients with distinguished intellectual property portfolios. She has been previously recognized by WTR as a Global Leader and named in the WTR 1000 since 2017.
Anessa Owen Kramer, Honigman intellectual property partner, specializes in managing large international trademark portfolios. Her experience touches all areas of trademark law, with a particular emphasis on enforcement and counseling on complex trademark issues and disputes. She has been previously recognized by WTR as a Global Leader and named in the WTR 1000 since 2015.
Deborah (Bea) Swedlow, managing partner and leader of the Intellectual Property Litigation Practice Group, assists clients in developing strategic plans for enforcing and protecting their brands and supporting their innovation, as well as engaging in anti-counterfeiting/anti-piracy litigation. She was also previously named by WTR as a Global Leader and also in the WTR 1000.
• • •
Fishman Stewart PLLC, celebrating 30 years in 2026, is pleased to announce firm Managing Partner Michael B. Stewart has again been included in the IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals – 2026. Additionally, the firm has been recognized in the IAM Patent 1000 directory for several consecutive years at the bronze level.
In this year’s edition, Stewart received a silver ranking in the category of litigation and a recommendation in the prosecution category. A co-founder of Fishman Stewart, he provides partnership and counsel to CEOs and senior executives around the globe. An engineer and attorney, coupled with a formal education in English, Stewart strives to protect client creativity and propriety work.
• • •
Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that Thomas Trapnell has joined the firm as a Member in its Real Estate and Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice Groups.
Based in Bodman’s Troy office, Trapnell represents developers, general contractors, and subcontractors in transactional matters and dispute resolution. His litigation experience includes representing owners,
contractors, and subcontractors on both the plaintiff and defense sides in matters involving bridge rehabilitation, highway and arena construction, sewer interceptor repair, and allegations of defective design.
Before joining Bodman, Trapnell practiced with an Atlanta-based construction law firm. He also served as general counsel to a heavy civil contractor based in Detroit, where he negotiated contracts, change orders, and claims for projects including multi-unit residential developments, industrial facilities, and the Gordie Howe International Bridge.
Trapnell earned his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and his undergraduate degree from Princeton University.
Bodman is also pleased to announce that the firm has been named Pro Bono Attorneys of the Year by Legal Services of Eastern Michigan (LSEM).
For three decades, LSEM has presented its Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award to an attorney who has “given freely and graciously of their time and energy to provide free legal assistance to those of modest means.” Although the award is typically presented to an individual, LSEM chose to recognize Bodman’s collective commitment to pro bono service this year.
Established in 1951, LSEM provides free civil legal assistance to individuals and families with limited financial resources, with a particular focus on matters affecting basic survival needs. The organization serves residents across 14 mid-Michigan counties.
Bodman’s pro bono program, coordinated by Pro Bono Counsel Julie Nichols and supported by the firm’s Pro Bono Committee, provides free services to homeless and low-income residents who may otherwise have no access to legal services.
Through partnerships with legal aid organizations throughout Michigan, including LSEM, Bodman attorneys contribute their time and talents to a wide range of matters aimed at supporting underserved communities, promoting economic opportunities, and addressing large-scale injustices. Collectively, Bodman professionals devoted more than 4,000 hours to pro bono service in 2025.
In addition, Bodman is proud to share that it has once again been rated as one of Michigan’s top business law firms by the prestigious Chambers USA.
In the recently released 2026 edition, Chambers placed Bodman in “band one” (the highest possible level) for Banking & Finance, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, and Insurance work. Bodman has been ranked in band one for Banking & Finance continuously for over two decades.
Chambers also ranked Bodman among Michigan’s top law firms for Corporate/M&A, Labor & Employment, Litigation: General Commercial, and Real Estate.
In addition to overall firm ratings, Bodman attorneys were recognized as leaders in eight practice areas, including:
• Banking & Finance: David C. Bosman, Brian P. Foley, Kathleen O’Callaghan Hickey, Joseph J. Kochanek, Adam B. Norlander, and Larry R. Shulman
• Bankruptcy/Restructuring: Robert J. Diehl Jr., Ralph E. McDowell, Brian R. Trumbauer, and Jaimee L. Witten
• Corporate/M&A: Gene P. Bowen, Timothy R. Damschroder, Carrie Leahy, and Sarah J. Williams
• Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation: David B. Walters
• Insurance: Michael G. Costello and Michelle Thurber Czapski
• Intellectual Property: Susan M. Kornfield
• Labor & Employment: Gary S. Fealk and Aaron D. Graves
• Litigation: General Commercial: Michelle Thurber Czapski and Joseph J. Shannon
• Real Estate: Michael B. Peterman, Nicholas P. Scavone Jr., and Andrew Z. Spilkin
• • •
Dykema recently announced that Len Wolfe was re-elected to serve for a third three-year term as the firm’s chair and CEO. Wolfe’s next term commences on January 1, 2027.
During his first two terms, Wolfe led Dykema to record financial performance years while advancing a number of strategic initiatives, including the firm’s expansion into the Milwaukee and Houston markets, significant growth in attorney headcount, a refresh of Dykema’s strategic plan, the launch of a Leadership Institute for emerging leaders, the revitalization of the firm’s Client Interview Program, and investments in technology and AI-driven initiatives to enhance client service and operational efficiency.
During his third term, Wolfe will continue to focus on strategic growth, enhancing client service, and expanding Dykema’s geographic footprint and practice capabilities.
“I am honored by the confidence my partners have placed in me and grateful for the opportunity to continue serving Dykema as Chair and CEO,” Wolfe said. “Over the past six years, we have strengthened our firm, expanded our reach, and continued to invest in our people and our clients. I am excited to build on that momentum as we pursue strategic growth, deepen client relationships, and position Dykema for continued long-term success.”
For more than 30 years, Wolfe has practiced government policy and regulatory law, helping clients implement public policy initiatives. He first joined Dykema as a summer associate before ascending into leadership roles within the firm. Prior to his election as chair and CEO, Wolfe served as a member of the firm’s Executive Board. He also served as director of Dykema’s Regulated Industries Department and leader of the firm’s Government Policy and Practice Group for nearly 10 years.
Wolfe is known for his work with public charter schools and was selected as a member of the Michigan Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame in 2022, was named to “Who’s Who in Detroit Business” by Crain’s Detroit Business, and has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America each year since 2007, including being named “Lawyer of the Year” for his region for various practice areas in 2019, 2025, and 2026.
Outside of Dykema, Wolfe serves or has served on a number of community and business organizations’ governing boards, including the Detroit Economic Club and the National Charter Schools Institute. He is also a Fellow and Lifetime Member of the State Bar of Michigan Foundation.
Wolfe earned his law degree from the Indiana University McKinney School of Law and a B.A. from the James Madison College at Michigan State University. Before joining Dykema, he worked in the Michigan Legislature, the United States Senate, and the Michigan Governor’s office.
In addition, Dykema recently announced that it received 19 total practice area rankings and numerous individual attorney rankings and recognition in the 2026 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business guide. Chambers USA recognized the following Dykema practices in Michigan:
• Corporate/M&A
• Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
• Energy & Natural Resources
• Labor & Employment
• Litigation: General Commercial
• Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
• Public Finance
• Real Estate
Chambers USA recognized the following Dykema Michigan attorneys, as identified by jurisdiction and practice area:
Richard Aaron—Energy & Natural Resources
Banu Basaran—Public Finance
Jennifer Beidel—Litigation – White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
Michael Bernard—Corporate/M&A
Robert A. Boonin—Labor & Employment
Amy M. Christen—Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
Mark Chutkow—Litigation – White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
Michael P. Cooney—Litigation: General Commercial
Adam M. Fishkind—Real Estate
James P. Feeney—Litigation: General Commercial
Kyle R. Hauberg—Real Estate
James F. Hermon—Labor & Employment
Eric S. Klein—Healthcare
Jin-Kyu Koh—Corporate/ M&A
Lori McAllister—Insurance
• • •
Brooks Kushman is pleased to announce that Shareholder Robyn Lederman and Senior Attorney Elizabeth “Libby” Janda have been recognized in the Lexology IP Index.
Lederman was recognized in two categories, the IP Index and Thought Leadership Index, underscoring her intellectual property practice and her longstanding reputation as an advisor to clients on trademark, copyright, licensing, and brand protection matters. Janda was recognized in one category, the IP Index, for her work counseling clients on trademark prosecution, portfolio management, enforcement, and brand strategy.
Lederman is a shareholder at Brooks Kushman and serves as a member of the Executive Committee. She counsels clients on domestic and international trademark selection, clearance, prosecution, enforcement, licensing, and portfolio management. Lederman works with companies ranging from startups to global brands, helping them protect and maximize the value of their intellectual property assets. She is a recognized leader in trademark law and frequently speaks and writes on issues related to brand protection and intellectual property strategy. Lederman was also recently named to the World Trademark Review (WTR) Global Leaders 2026 list.
Janda is a shareholder at Brooks Kushman whose practice focuses on trademark, copyright, and brand protection matters. She advises clients on trademark clearance, prosecution, portfolio management, enforcement, and licensing strategies both in the United States and internationally. Janda works closely with clients across a variety of industries to develop practical intellectual property solutions that support their business objectives and protect valuable brand assets.
“I’m honored to be serving as President of the Oakland County Bar Association for 2026-2027,” Burrell says. “I look forward to working with our Board of Directors, membership, judiciary, and the public to continue to further the OCBA’s mission of being the premier resource for navigating the legal and judicial system in Oakland County.”
Burrell is a business lawyer whose practice centers on complex corporate strategy, high-stakes commercial litigation, internal and external investigations, appellate advocacy, labor and employment matters, and minority business enterprise counseling. He also serves as the chair of Dickinson Wright’s Diversity Committee and has previously co-chaired litigation training and contributed to the firm’s lateral-recruiting strategy.
Burrell has served in leadership roles for numerous organizations and committees including the American Bar Association’s Coalition of Racial and Ethnic Justice, the State Bar of Michigan’s Board of Commissioners (Executive Committee), State Bar’s Representative Assembly (chair), the State Bar’s Equal Access Initiative (co-chair), the D. Augustus Straker Bar Association (president), the National Bar Association’s Board of Governors (affiliate representative), and the Thomas M. Cooley Law School Board of Directors.
Burrell has been recognized as a leader in his field by numerous publications including Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America, Legal 500, Michigan Super Lawyers, Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Crain’s Detroit Business, National Bar Association, DBusiness, Profiles in Diversity Journal, Diversity MBA Magazine, and Savoy Magazine. The D. Augustus Straker Bar Association honored him with its Trailblazers Award.
• • •
Butzel is among Michigan’s leading law firms named to Chambers USA 2026 – America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2026 – The Client’s Guide.
Butzel practice areas included in Chambers USA 2026 are:
• Corporate/Mergers and Acquisitions
• Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
• Immigration
• Labor & Employment
• Litigation: General Commercial
• Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
• Real Estate
Butzel attorneys ranked and highlighted in Chambers USA 2026 include:
—Corporate/M&A
Jennifer E. Consiglio
Justin G. Klimko
Nicholas J. Stasevich
—Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
Lynn McGuire
Mark W. Jane
Robert B. Stevenson – Senior Statespeople
—Healthcare
Robert H. Schwartz
—Immigration
Linda J. Armstrong
Bushra A. Malik
Clara DeMatteis Mager
Reginald A. Pacis
—Labor & Employment
Barbara Eckert Buchanan
Brett J. Miller
Carey A. DeWitt
Daniel B. Tukel
James S. Rosenfeld
—Litigation: General Commercial
Bernard J. Fuhs
Bruce L. Sendek
Cynthia J. Haffey
Daniel R.W. Rustmann
—Litigation: Mediators
Lee T. Silver
—Litigation: White-Collar Litigation & Government Investigations
David F. DuMouchel
George B. Donnini
—Real Estate
Ashley Aldea – Up and Coming
David W. Hipp – Senior Statespeople
Thomas A. Kabel
• • •
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law awarded Elizabeth Sherowski, assistant professor of law, the 2026 James T. Barnes Sr. Memorial Faculty Scholar Award. Each year, a full-time faculty member is chosen to receive this award based on scholarship, teaching excellence, and public service.
Sherwoski was nominated by Gabi Vizzaccaro ‘26, who served as the 2025-2026 editor-in-chief of the Detroit Mercy Law Review. Any member of the faculty or student body can nominate a professor for the annual Barnes Scholar Award.
Sherowski joined the Detroit Mercy Law faculty in 2020. She is a nationally recognized expert in learner-focused pedagogy and has written and presented extensively on making legal education more transparent, accessible, and accountable to students. She is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and previously worked as an assistant prosecuting attorney and in private practice.
Drawing on her legal practice and teaching experience, Sherowski takes a creative approach to educating law students. Her many hours of service coaching Moot Court improved student brief writing. She also volunteered with the Inns of Court to improve her professional connections and assist students in finding jobs and mentors. Her work on the Teaching Effectiveness Committee helped create supportive structures for observing instructors and providing teaching feedback.
In addition, Detroit Mercy Law appointed J. Richard Broughton, associate dean of Faculty Research and Development and Professor of Law, as the Philip J. McElroy Professor of Law, in recognition of his contributions to legal scholarship and teaching.
Broughton is an expert in criminal and constitutional law. His scholarship focuses on the separation of powers, constitutional law and politics, and crime policy. A member of the faculty since 2009, he has received several teaching awards and has served in numerous leadership and committee roles. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas and affiliated with The Federalist Society and The Alexander Hamilton Society.
Prior to joining legal academia, Broughton served in the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. His work involved federal prosecutions of violent crime related to gang activity, drug trafficking, organized crime, and racketeering. He also served as assistant attorney general of Texas for Capital and Post-Conviction Litigation, as a law clerk to the presiding judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, and as a law clerk for the House Judiciary Committee during the 106th Congress.
The McElroy Professorship appointment is at the discretion of the dean of the School of Law. Broughton is the third recipient, following Larry Dubin, emeritus professor of law, and Jelani Jefferson Exum, former dean and professor of law.
• • •
Former Hartmann & Nihem PLLC attorneys Nancy A. Nihem and Haley A. Monaghan-Punch recently joined Plunkett Cooney to create the firm’s new Grosse Pointe office.
Nihem, who was a former principal of Hartmann & Nihem PLLC, joins Plunkett Cooney as a senior attorney in the firm’s Trusts and Estates Practice Group and as managing attorney of the new location, which is located at 63 Kercheval, Suite 200, in Grosse Pointe Farms. In addition to Nihem and Monaghan-Punch, a former Hartmann & Nihem legal assistant has also joined Plunkett Cooney.
With more than 35 years of experience, Nihem creates tailored plans and strategies involving estates, business succession, estate tax, and gifting. She has experience drafting wills, trusts and powers of attorney for both financial and health care decision-making, as well as serving as a successor trustee and advising personal representatives, trustees, fiduciaries, and beneficiaries in both complex and uncontested estate and trust administration matters.
Admitted to practice in state and federal courts in Michigan, Nihem is a member of the State Bar of Michigan. She graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 1991 and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Detroit in 1987.
Associate attorney Monaghan-Punch also joined the firm as a member of the Trusts & Estates Practice Group. She focuses her practice on probate and trust administration and sophisticated estate planning matters across Michigan.
In addition to handling estate plans, wills, and trusts, Monaghan-Punch has experience advising clients with probate proceedings, estates holding diversified investment portfolios, multi-property real estate interests, retirement assets, and closely held business interests.
Monaghan-Punch is a 2019 graduate of Cooley Law School. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in 2015.
• • •
Foley & Lardner LLP is proud to once again be recognized by Chambers & Partners as one of the leading law firms in the country in the 2026 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.
In Michigan, Foley acheived practice rankings for Corporate/M&A and Litigation: General Commercial. Foley Michigan attorneys earned individual rankings:
Daljit Doogal, Corporate/ M&A (Eminent Practitioners)
Gjina Lucaj, Corporate/M&A
Omar Lucia, Corporate/M&A
Norman Ankers, Litigation: General Commercial (Band 1)
Vanessa Miller, Litigation: General Commercial
• • •
For the 24th consecutive year, Warner Norcross + Judd LLP has been recognized as one of the leading law firms in Michigan by Chambers USA 2026.
Warner has been ranked as one of Michigan’s leading law firms in the areas of corporate/mergers and acquisitions, employee benefits and executive compensation and general commercial litigation, with individual rankings in insurance and health care.
Local attorneys have been awarded for their work in the areas above. They are:
Michael Brady, general commercial litigation
Mary Jo Larson, employee benefits and executive compensation
Linda Paullin-Hebden, corporate/mergers and acquisitions
Alan Rogalski, health care
Jennifer Watkins, employee benefits and executive compensation
Lisa Zimmer, employee benefits and executive compensation
In addition, Warner Norcross + Judd LLP has welcomed Hadyn C. Pettersen as an associate.
Pettersen will join the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Group, representing corporate clients at all levels of federal and state court. His experience includes class action and multidistrict litigation, supply chain disputes, consumer protection matters, government investigations and toxic tort claims. He will practice in the firm’s Detroit office.
Prior to joining Warner, Pettersen was a law clerk for U.S. Court of Appeals Judge S. Kyle Duncan, Fifth Circuit. Earlier in his career, he practiced in the Washington, D.C., office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. He has authored merits and amicus briefs at the U.S. Supreme Court and federal and state courts of appeal.
Pettersen is a fellow of The Good Counselor Project and a member of the Michigan Chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the Detroit Bar Association.
Pettersen earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and a law degree from Notre Dame Law School.
• • •
Zausmer Shareholder Cameron Getto has been elected to serve on the Council of the Negligence Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan.
As a member of the Council, Getto will help guide initiatives that support Michigan attorneys and the broader legal community. The Council’s work includes publishing legal commentary and case summaries, providing continuing legal education programs, evaluating proposed legislation and court rule changes, supporting scholarships for Michigan law students, and preparing amicus briefs when invited by the Michigan Supreme Court.
Getto previously served two years as a non-voting liaison to the Council on behalf of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).
“I am grateful for the opportunity and look forward to serving as an elected, voting member over the next three years,” Getto said.
For more than 20 years, Getto has litigated complex matters involving professional negligence, products liability, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, pharmaceuticals, employment disputes, and other complex tort and commercial claims. In addition to his trial practice, he contributes to the legal profession through publications, presentations, and professional service.
• • •
Bush Seyferth is proud to once again be ranked by Chambers USA Guide in the 2026 Edition.
The firm was ranked Band 1 for Product Liability: Automobile (USA – Nationwide) and Band 2 for Litigation: General Commercial (Michigan).
The following Bush Seyferth attorneys received individual rankings:
Patrick Seyferth – Band 1 for both Product Liability: Automobile (USA – Nationwide) and Litigation: General Commercial (Michigan)
Derek Linkous – Up & Coming for Litigation: General Commercial (Michigan)
Moheeb Murray – Band 1 for Insurance (Michigan)
Roger Meyers – Band 2 for Litigation: General Commercial (Michigan)
• • •
Three Honigman LLP Intellectual Property partners received recognition from the World Trademark Review (WTR) as honorees in its 2026 Global Leaders: Private Practice list.
Honigman honorees are:
Julie Reitz, leader of Honigman’s Trademark and Copyright Practice Group, assists large organizations as they manage their global trademark and copyright portfolios. She represents national and multinational clients with distinguished intellectual property portfolios. She has been previously recognized by WTR as a Global Leader and named in the WTR 1000 since 2017.
Anessa Owen Kramer, Honigman intellectual property partner, specializes in managing large international trademark portfolios. Her experience touches all areas of trademark law, with a particular emphasis on enforcement and counseling on complex trademark issues and disputes. She has been previously recognized by WTR as a Global Leader and named in the WTR 1000 since 2015.
Deborah (Bea) Swedlow, managing partner and leader of the Intellectual Property Litigation Practice Group, assists clients in developing strategic plans for enforcing and protecting their brands and supporting their innovation, as well as engaging in anti-counterfeiting/anti-piracy litigation. She was also previously named by WTR as a Global Leader and also in the WTR 1000.
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Fishman Stewart PLLC, celebrating 30 years in 2026, is pleased to announce firm Managing Partner Michael B. Stewart has again been included in the IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals – 2026. Additionally, the firm has been recognized in the IAM Patent 1000 directory for several consecutive years at the bronze level.
In this year’s edition, Stewart received a silver ranking in the category of litigation and a recommendation in the prosecution category. A co-founder of Fishman Stewart, he provides partnership and counsel to CEOs and senior executives around the globe. An engineer and attorney, coupled with a formal education in English, Stewart strives to protect client creativity and propriety work.
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Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that Thomas Trapnell has joined the firm as a Member in its Real Estate and Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice Groups.
Based in Bodman’s Troy office, Trapnell represents developers, general contractors, and subcontractors in transactional matters and dispute resolution. His litigation experience includes representing owners,
contractors, and subcontractors on both the plaintiff and defense sides in matters involving bridge rehabilitation, highway and arena construction, sewer interceptor repair, and allegations of defective design.
Before joining Bodman, Trapnell practiced with an Atlanta-based construction law firm. He also served as general counsel to a heavy civil contractor based in Detroit, where he negotiated contracts, change orders, and claims for projects including multi-unit residential developments, industrial facilities, and the Gordie Howe International Bridge.
Trapnell earned his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and his undergraduate degree from Princeton University.
Bodman is also pleased to announce that the firm has been named Pro Bono Attorneys of the Year by Legal Services of Eastern Michigan (LSEM).
For three decades, LSEM has presented its Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award to an attorney who has “given freely and graciously of their time and energy to provide free legal assistance to those of modest means.” Although the award is typically presented to an individual, LSEM chose to recognize Bodman’s collective commitment to pro bono service this year.
Established in 1951, LSEM provides free civil legal assistance to individuals and families with limited financial resources, with a particular focus on matters affecting basic survival needs. The organization serves residents across 14 mid-Michigan counties.
Bodman’s pro bono program, coordinated by Pro Bono Counsel Julie Nichols and supported by the firm’s Pro Bono Committee, provides free services to homeless and low-income residents who may otherwise have no access to legal services.
Through partnerships with legal aid organizations throughout Michigan, including LSEM, Bodman attorneys contribute their time and talents to a wide range of matters aimed at supporting underserved communities, promoting economic opportunities, and addressing large-scale injustices. Collectively, Bodman professionals devoted more than 4,000 hours to pro bono service in 2025.
In addition, Bodman is proud to share that it has once again been rated as one of Michigan’s top business law firms by the prestigious Chambers USA.
In the recently released 2026 edition, Chambers placed Bodman in “band one” (the highest possible level) for Banking & Finance, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, and Insurance work. Bodman has been ranked in band one for Banking & Finance continuously for over two decades.
Chambers also ranked Bodman among Michigan’s top law firms for Corporate/M&A, Labor & Employment, Litigation: General Commercial, and Real Estate.
In addition to overall firm ratings, Bodman attorneys were recognized as leaders in eight practice areas, including:
• Banking & Finance: David C. Bosman, Brian P. Foley, Kathleen O’Callaghan Hickey, Joseph J. Kochanek, Adam B. Norlander, and Larry R. Shulman
• Bankruptcy/Restructuring: Robert J. Diehl Jr., Ralph E. McDowell, Brian R. Trumbauer, and Jaimee L. Witten
• Corporate/M&A: Gene P. Bowen, Timothy R. Damschroder, Carrie Leahy, and Sarah J. Williams
• Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation: David B. Walters
• Insurance: Michael G. Costello and Michelle Thurber Czapski
• Intellectual Property: Susan M. Kornfield
• Labor & Employment: Gary S. Fealk and Aaron D. Graves
• Litigation: General Commercial: Michelle Thurber Czapski and Joseph J. Shannon
• Real Estate: Michael B. Peterman, Nicholas P. Scavone Jr., and Andrew Z. Spilkin
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Dykema recently announced that Len Wolfe was re-elected to serve for a third three-year term as the firm’s chair and CEO. Wolfe’s next term commences on January 1, 2027.
During his first two terms, Wolfe led Dykema to record financial performance years while advancing a number of strategic initiatives, including the firm’s expansion into the Milwaukee and Houston markets, significant growth in attorney headcount, a refresh of Dykema’s strategic plan, the launch of a Leadership Institute for emerging leaders, the revitalization of the firm’s Client Interview Program, and investments in technology and AI-driven initiatives to enhance client service and operational efficiency.
During his third term, Wolfe will continue to focus on strategic growth, enhancing client service, and expanding Dykema’s geographic footprint and practice capabilities.
“I am honored by the confidence my partners have placed in me and grateful for the opportunity to continue serving Dykema as Chair and CEO,” Wolfe said. “Over the past six years, we have strengthened our firm, expanded our reach, and continued to invest in our people and our clients. I am excited to build on that momentum as we pursue strategic growth, deepen client relationships, and position Dykema for continued long-term success.”
For more than 30 years, Wolfe has practiced government policy and regulatory law, helping clients implement public policy initiatives. He first joined Dykema as a summer associate before ascending into leadership roles within the firm. Prior to his election as chair and CEO, Wolfe served as a member of the firm’s Executive Board. He also served as director of Dykema’s Regulated Industries Department and leader of the firm’s Government Policy and Practice Group for nearly 10 years.
Wolfe is known for his work with public charter schools and was selected as a member of the Michigan Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame in 2022, was named to “Who’s Who in Detroit Business” by Crain’s Detroit Business, and has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America each year since 2007, including being named “Lawyer of the Year” for his region for various practice areas in 2019, 2025, and 2026.
Outside of Dykema, Wolfe serves or has served on a number of community and business organizations’ governing boards, including the Detroit Economic Club and the National Charter Schools Institute. He is also a Fellow and Lifetime Member of the State Bar of Michigan Foundation.
Wolfe earned his law degree from the Indiana University McKinney School of Law and a B.A. from the James Madison College at Michigan State University. Before joining Dykema, he worked in the Michigan Legislature, the United States Senate, and the Michigan Governor’s office.
In addition, Dykema recently announced that it received 19 total practice area rankings and numerous individual attorney rankings and recognition in the 2026 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business guide. Chambers USA recognized the following Dykema practices in Michigan:
• Corporate/M&A
• Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
• Energy & Natural Resources
• Labor & Employment
• Litigation: General Commercial
• Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
• Public Finance
• Real Estate
Chambers USA recognized the following Dykema Michigan attorneys, as identified by jurisdiction and practice area:
Richard Aaron—Energy & Natural Resources
Banu Basaran—Public Finance
Jennifer Beidel—Litigation – White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
Michael Bernard—Corporate/M&A
Robert A. Boonin—Labor & Employment
Amy M. Christen—Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
Mark Chutkow—Litigation – White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
Michael P. Cooney—Litigation: General Commercial
Adam M. Fishkind—Real Estate
James P. Feeney—Litigation: General Commercial
Kyle R. Hauberg—Real Estate
James F. Hermon—Labor & Employment
Eric S. Klein—Healthcare
Jin-Kyu Koh—Corporate/ M&A
Lori McAllister—Insurance
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Brooks Kushman is pleased to announce that Shareholder Robyn Lederman and Senior Attorney Elizabeth “Libby” Janda have been recognized in the Lexology IP Index.
Lederman was recognized in two categories, the IP Index and Thought Leadership Index, underscoring her intellectual property practice and her longstanding reputation as an advisor to clients on trademark, copyright, licensing, and brand protection matters. Janda was recognized in one category, the IP Index, for her work counseling clients on trademark prosecution, portfolio management, enforcement, and brand strategy.
Lederman is a shareholder at Brooks Kushman and serves as a member of the Executive Committee. She counsels clients on domestic and international trademark selection, clearance, prosecution, enforcement, licensing, and portfolio management. Lederman works with companies ranging from startups to global brands, helping them protect and maximize the value of their intellectual property assets. She is a recognized leader in trademark law and frequently speaks and writes on issues related to brand protection and intellectual property strategy. Lederman was also recently named to the World Trademark Review (WTR) Global Leaders 2026 list.
Janda is a shareholder at Brooks Kushman whose practice focuses on trademark, copyright, and brand protection matters. She advises clients on trademark clearance, prosecution, portfolio management, enforcement, and licensing strategies both in the United States and internationally. Janda works closely with clients across a variety of industries to develop practical intellectual property solutions that support their business objectives and protect valuable brand assets.
