LEGAL PEOPLE

Potestivo & Associates PC is pleased to announce the hiring of attorney Anthony J. DeClercq. DeClercq joined the team of 27 attorneys on Jan. 30. Based in the firm's downtown Rochester office, he will serve as an associate attorney supporting the Litigation Department.

Prior to his new role, DeClercq held several clerkships and internships, including working as a law clerk for Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Kathryn A. Viviano. DeClercq earned his Bachelor of Science in History from Central Michigan University and his law degree from Michigan State University College of Law.

DeClercq gained real estate and finance experience in his previous positions, including serving as a mortgage underwriter at a local wholesale mortgage company. He enjoys knowing he makes a difference through his philanthropic activities. One of DeClercq's most rewarding experiences was heading up a project that helped create awareness and prevention for senior homelessness. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and is also a certified notary public.

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Litigator Trevor J. Zamborsky joins Secrest Wardle's Troy office as an associate. Zamborsky is a member of the firm's Motor Vehicle Litigation practice group. He focuses on first- and third-party automobile negligence claims. Before joining Secrest Wardle, Zamborsky worked in Southeast Michigan handling a variety of personal injury, civil rights, and bankruptcy matters.

Zamborsky earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Michigan University in 2007. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School in 2012.

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Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce that attorney Monica J. Labe has been named a "2017 Leader in the Law" by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.

Labe is a senior member in the firm's Troy office and a member of the firm's Management Group, with oversight responsibility for its 10 practice departments and for the firm's business development and marketing initiatives. Prior to holding this position, she was the practice department manager for the Real Estate and Environmental practice groups for several years. She has experience representing multi-national corporations, developers, real estate private equity firms, lenders and real estate investment companies in the acquisition, development, leasing, financing, construction and disposition of industrial, office, retail, mixed-use and entertainment projects throughout Michigan and the U.S.

In 2016, Labe was named to Crain's Detroit Business' "50 Names to Know Real Estate," a special report that identified and recognized the dealmakers, attorneys, landlords, developers, and financiers who make things happen in metro Detroit's commercial real estate scene. Labe is also recognized as a leader in her field by Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America, and Michigan Super Lawyers. She was also named a 2012 "Women in the Law" honoree by Michigan Lawyers Weekly and has been listed on several top Super Lawyers lists over the years, including Top 100 Lawyers and Top 25 Women Business Lawyers in Michigan.

Labe is active in her community, serving on various boards and committees for both professional and community organizations. She is a Fellow of the American College of Real Estate Attorneys and is a member of the Real Property Council of the State Bar of Michigan. In addition to being a member of the Michigan bar, she is also a member of the California bar. Her other community involvement includes serving as board member and mentor to high school students for Winning Futures.

Labe is an avid speaker and writer, having spoken in front of participants of the State Bar of Michigan, ICLE, ALI-ABA (national video and webinar broadcasts) and ISCS Continuing Education programs and seminars. She has also been published in national publications, including The Practical Real Estate Lawyer.

Labe received her B.A. from the University of Michigan and her law degree from Northwestern University School of Law.

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Collins, Einhorn, Farrell PC is pleased to announce that attorney Ashley S. Dickey has joined the firm's General and Automotive Liability Practice Group, where she focuses on first- and third-party automobile defense, premises liability actions and construction liability matters.

Dickey has experience in defending personal injury and general liability matters, and has represented insurers, corporations, and individuals in the areas of subrogation, insurance coverage, probate, motor vehicle, premises liability, construction, property, and employment.

Dickey received a Bachelor of Arts from Oakland University in 2009 and a law degree from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School in 2014.

Dickey is a member of the Litigation and Insurance Sections of the State Bar of Michigan, and the Oakland County Bar Association.

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Butzel Long continues to grow with the addition of attorney Donald V. Orlandoni as shareholder. He is based in Butzel's Detroit office.

Orlandoni represents companies and individuals in complex business and commercial matters. He has a record of achieving positive outcomes for his clients through experienced counseling and in pre-lawsuit negotiations, state and federal court litigation, arbitration, and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.

Orlandoni has expertise in the following areas:

- Commercial contract disputes, including manufacturing supply-chain and other disputes arising under the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC).

- Business disputes involving breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, conversion, negligence, and other torts.

- Non-compete and trade secret litigation.

- Franchising and distribution disputes involving trademark, trade secret, non-compete, and other contract claims.

Orlandoni has represented clients across a wide range of industries, including automotive, aerospace, and other manufacturers. He has experience in the following areas:

- Consumer and commercial financial services litigation.

- WARN Act litigation.

- Defense of insurance companies.

- Legal malpractice defense.

- OSHA and MIOSHA claims.

- Avoidance (preference) actions and claims litigation in commercial bankruptcies.

In those capacities, he has successfully represented manufacturers, banks, commercial lenders and loan servicers, private equity firms, as well as property, casualty, life, and commercial insurance companies.

Before he became a lawyer, Orlandoni worked in the automotive and pharmaceutical industries. He also served as an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps.

Orlandoni earned a law degree from Wayne State University Law School. He received a B.S. from the United States Naval Academy.

In addition, Geoffrey S. Gallinger, Butzel Long attorney and shareholder, has been elected an officer of the board of directors for another three-year term of the historic Detroit Athletic Club (DAC). He is in line to be first vice-president in 2018 and president in 2019.

As a member of the DAC Board of Directors over the past three years, he also has served as corporate secretary (2015) and served on numerous DAC committees, including Executive, House, Strategic Planning (chair) and Community Outreach (vice-chair).

Gallinger's practice includes counseling clients regarding general business and corporate planning needs, including all forms of real estate transactions and developments, acquisitions, leasing, financing and condominiums.

He has experience in mergers and acquisitions, partnerships and joint ventures, shareholder matters and general business transactions. His areas of specialty are corporate and business transactions, real estate transactions, development and financing, troubled asset and work-out restructuring and financing.

Gallinger serves on the Downtown Detroit Partnership Stakeholder's Committee; board of directors (and past chair) for the Salvation Army Detroit Metropolitan Advisory Board; board of directors (and past chair) of the Denby Children's Home Advisory Board; board of directors of the Metropolitan Detroit Harbor Light Advisory Board; board of directors of the Booth Legal Aid Clinic; Detroit Economic Club Gold Club member; member of Urban Land Institute and Larson Leadership Program.

He is a member of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law, and Business Law Sections of the American Bar Association and the Real Property Law, Business Law Sections of the State Bar of Michigan. He is a lecturer and author of articles for corporate and trade groups, bar association sections and business and professional seminars regarding real estate, and contract law and employment matters.

Gallinger graduated from Michigan State University College of Law and Michigan State University.

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Bodman PLC is pleased to announce Yueyang (Sophie) Zhang has joined the firm as a staff attorney based in the Troy office.

As a member of Bodman's Enterprise Procurement Group (EPG), Zhang represents business clients in connection with the drafting and negotiation of commercial contracts, including vendor contracts for a broad range of goods and services.

Zhang is a graduate of Wayne State University Law School. She served judicial internships with Chief Judge Gerald E. Rosen and with Judge Gershwin A. Drain of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. She also worked as a student attorney with the Wayne Law Business and Community Law Clinic, advising small business clients on a variety of contract, corporate, tax, and intellectual property matters.

Prior to attending law school in the United States, Zhang earned her undergraduate degree in China. There, she worked as a legal intern and advisor, gaining experience with principles of Chinese law and business and providing counseling on import and export regulations and tax issues. She is a native speaker of Mandarin Chinese.

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Gillian Yee, a shareholder in Ogletree Deakins' Detroit (Metro) office, been selected by The International Law Office and Lexology as a 2017 Client Choice Award recipient.

Yee is the exclusive winner of the Employment & Benefits category for Michigan for the third consecutive year. She was selected based on her ability to add real value to clients' business.

Published: Mon, Feb 13, 2017