Legal People

Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that Gregory J. Gamalski, member of the firm's Real Estate Practice Group, has been appointed treasurer of the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan.

With more than 3,500 members, the Real Property Law Section is one of the largest groups within the State Bar of Michigan. The section provides education and information on real property law issues through seminars, publications, and networking events, as well as advocacy in the Legislature and in precedential cases involving real property law.

Gamalski counsels individuals and public and private businesses on real estate matters involving zoning, land use, acquisition, disposition, development, financing, and property tax issues. He also represents corporate clients in a variety of general business transactions.

He is a frequent speaker on real estate topics on behalf of the State Bar of Michigan and the Institute of Continuing Legal Education. He is the author of multiple articles published in Michigan Real Property Review, most recently "A Socratic Discourse Regarding Section 67(3) On the Condominium Act and Related Philosophical Digressions" and "An Agricultural Law Analysis of Green Acres and the City: A Curly Pig Tale of a Problem." He is also a member and past chair of the Oakland County Bar Association's Real Estate Committee.

Gamalski is listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2019 under Real Estate Law. He has been selected as "Top Lawyer" for Real Estate Law by DBusiness magazine for five consecutive years.

Bodman PLC is also pleased to announce that David M. Hempstead, member at the Detroit office was inducted into the Wayne State University Law School Alumni Wall of Fame.

The Wayne Law Alumni Wall of Fame Award is the highest honor awarded by the Law School and is given to either alumni who have distinguished themselves by contributions made in their particular field of work or in the betterment of humanity, or to former faculty and staff who have had a significant impact on the Law School.

In addition to his role as leader of Bodman's very successful High Net Worth Practice Group and as the firm's vice chairman for many years, Hempstead has served and continues to serve on many Board of Directors for the non-profit community, including the Detroit Institute of Arts, The Edsel and Eleanor Ford House, Henry Ford Health System, Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan and the Wayne State University Board of Visitors. Hempstead has been a significant contributor to the success of the Law School, serving as co-chair of a recent highly successful capital campaign.

In honor of Hempstead, Bodman established the David M. Hempstead Scholarship Fund at the Wayne State University Law School. The scholarships are available to incoming Wayne Law students who attended Detroit public high schools, underperforming Michigan high schools, historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Hispanic Serving Institutions.

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Andrey Tomkiw, a partner in Dinsmore & Shohl's Labor and Employment department, has been recognized by Super Lawyers as one of Michigan's Top 100 Lawyers for 2018.

In addition, Tomkiw was also selected to the 2018 Best Lawyers list in the category of Litigation Labor and Employment. He's also been named a Top Lawyer by DBusiness magazine nine years running.

"I strive to build a strong reputation among my peers as an attorney committed to my clients' goals and needs," said Tomkiw. "It's an honor to know they think highly enough of me to recognize my work."

Tomkiw counsels business owners on a range of issues including litigation avoidance, wage and hour, general corporate matters, and sophisticated employee relations. His litigation experience includes employment defense litigation, non-compete enforcement, shareholder dispute litigation, and other complex employment matters. He has represented business owners in front of numerous state and federal agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, National Labor Relations Board, Unemployment Insurance Agency and the Department of Labor.

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Kerr Russell member John D. Gatti has been named to Class XV of the Detroit Regional Chamber's Leadership Detroit program. Leadership Detroit Class XV showcases 70 leaders across Southeast Michigan representing a cross-section of the community, including business, organized labor, government, education, media, civic groups, health services and community organizations.

Gatti has more than 20 years of experience in business law and the laws of taxation. A certified public accountant as well as an attorney, Gatti concentrates his practice in the areas of taxation, mergers and acquisitions, business law, real estate law, and estate planning. He serves as the firm's administrative partner and chairs the firm's Taxation Practice Group.

Gatti regularly advises clients in a variety of areas including mergers and acquisitions, business formations, succession planning, real estate, joint ventures and general corporate matters.

He has experience involving a variety of federal, state and multi-state income and franchise tax issues relating to corporate, partnership and limited liability company acquisitions, dispositions and restructurings. Gatti advises on a wide range of tax issues including Subchapters C, K and S, consolidated returns, income tax accounting and captive insurance companies.

Gatti currently sits on the Board of Directors and serves as treasurer for The Guidance Center in addition to acting as treasurer and trustee for the Grosse Ile Township school district. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America© and DBusiness Magazine's "Top Lawyers."

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The Dobrusin Law Firm PC is pleased to announce that Super Lawyers Magazine has recognized attorney Eric Dobrusin as a Michigan Super Lawyer and Daniel P. Aleksynas, Paul Palinski, Kristen Pursley, and Daniela Walters as Rising Stars for 2018.

- Dobrusin concentrates his practice in patent counseling and strategic patent prosecution, with particular emphasis in the fields of materials science (including plastics, ceramics, metals and electronic materials), biomedical technologies, and automotive technologies.

- Aleksynas represents a range of clients from startup companies that are beginning to develop their intellectual property to companies that have a well-established portfolio.

- Palinski concentrates his practice in patent counseling and strategic patent prosecution, with particular emphasis in the mechanical, electromechanical, and biomedical technologies.

- Pursley represents clients who are tier-one suppliers for the automotive industry, medical diagnostic and device manufacturers, and consumer product and packaging producers.

- Walters is a patent attorney, who prior to practicing law and joining the firm, was an engineer in the automotive industry.

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Maddin, Hauser, Roth, & Heller PC is pleased to announce that 18 of its attorneys have been selected to the 2018 Michigan Super Lawyers® list. The following is a list of the Maddin Hauser attorneys named to the 2018 Michigan Super Lawyers® (name, title, practice area and years selected):

- Earle I. Erman, shareholder; Bankruptcy: Business (2006-2018).

- Jonathan B. Frank, Of Counsel; Business Litigation (2013-2018).

- David H. Freedman, shareholder; Business and Corporate (2010-2018).

- David E. Hart, shareholder, Executive Committee member and co-chair of Financial Services and Real Property Litigation Group; Real Estate (2007-2018).

- Mark R. Hauser, firm co-founder, CFO and Executive Committee member; Real Estate (2007-2018).

- Harvey R. Heller, shareholder, Executive Committee member and chairman of Defense and Insurance Coverage Practice Group; Professional Liability: Defense (2006-2018).

- Robert D. Kaplow, shareholder; Estate Planning and Probate (2006, 2010-2018).

- Kathleen H. Klaus, shareholder; Professional Liability: Defense (2013-2018).

- Charles M. Lax, shareholder; Employee Benefits (2006-2018).

- Richard F. Roth, shareholder; Business and Corporate (2007-2013, 2015-2018).

- Steven D. Sallen, president, CEO, Executive Committee member, and co-chairman of Real Estate Practice Group; Real Estate (2010-2013, 2018).

- Julie Beth Teicher, shareholder; Bankruptcy: Business (2010-2018).

- Stewart C.W. Weiner, shareholder; Family Law (2017-2018).

- Steven M. Wolock, shareholder; Professional Liability: Defense (2007-2018).

Additionally, four attorneys were named to the 2018 Michigan Rising Stars List, an exclusive list recognizing no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state:

- Kaitlin A. Brown, shareholder; Employment and Labor (2014-2018).

- R.J. Cronkhite, associate; Business Litigation (2014-2018).

- Evan H. Kaploe, shareholder; Tax (2014-2018).

- James M. Reid IV, shareholder, Executive Committee member, co-chairman of Corporate/Employment Practice Group; Employment and Labor (2015-2018).

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Dykema recently announced the addition of Brian R. Balow to its Corporate Finance Practice Group as a senior counsel in the firm's Bloomfield Hills office. Balow joins Dykema after spending the past 17 years practicing at both Dawda, Mann, Mulcahy, & Sadler PLC, where he served as chief Privacy and Information Security officer, and Dickinson Wright PLLC, where he served as director of the Intellectual Property, Business technology, Telecommunications, and Energy Practice Department.

Balow practices commercial and business law, with a focus on technology and intellectual property. He has experience with a wide range of technology transactions, including licenses, joint development agreements, strategic alliances, joint ventures, and outsourcing deals, including representing a Fortune 50 manufacturing company. He has also handled domestic and international trademark licensing matters for clients.

Over the past decade, Balow has handled substantial work in privacy, data security and cyberlaw/cybersecurity, specifically in the areas of health information technology and telemedicine legal and regulatory issues, as well as cybersecurity issues pertinent to connected and autonomous vehicles. He has also acted as outside general counsel for several organizations and regularly advised on governance and risk management issues.

Balow has also spent the past six years as antitrust counsel to the IT Leadership Council of the Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA), as well as nearly a decade as pro bono counsel for the Michigan Children's Law Center.

Prior to moving into private practice, Balow served as corporate counsel/director of Legal Affairs with FANUC Robotics. He earned a law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law, as well as a B.A. in Sociology from Western Michigan University.

In addition, Dykema is proud to announce that Sherrie Farrell has been named to Savoy Magazine's 2018 Most Influential Black Lawyers list. The list is comprised of the "best of the best" of Black lawyers that are partners within leading national law firms, corporate and general counsel from Fortune 1000 corporations. This marks the second time Farrell was included in Savoy's annual listing.

Farrell is the office managing member of the firm's Detroit office and chair of the firm's Diversity and Inclusion Committee. A member of the firm's Litigation Department, she advises clients on all aspects of business disputes, including a broad range of complex litigation and bankruptcy matters. Farrell has experience serving as a national coordinating counsel and serves as national discovery counsel for a Fortune 25 manufacturer in asbestos and other toxic tort litigation. She also is a member of the Eastern District of Michigan's Bankruptcy Mediation Panel.

Farrell is an active member of the community, serving as a board member for Develop Detroit, Gift of Life-Michigan, and the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion as well as being involved in many other organizations. She is a past president of the Wolverine Bar Association and the Women's Lawyers Association of Michigan.

Throughout her career, Farrell has received professional accolades, including the D. Augustus Straker Bar Association Trailblazer Award, the Wolverine Bar Association President's Award for promotion of diversity in the legal profession, and also being honored as a Michigan Chronicle Woman of Excellence. In addition, African-American Managing Partners & General Counsel named her its Pathfinder Managing Partner of the Year award in 2015. She has also been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® each year since 2013 and by Michigan Super Lawyers® each year since 2014.

Farrell earned a law degree from the Detroit College of Law and a B.A. from Wayne State University.

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Hospice of Michigan and its affiliate Arbor Hospice are pleased to announce the promotion of attorney Gregory J. Parry to general counsel.

Hospice of Michigan hired Parry in 2015 as director of contract services. Hospice of Michigan and Arbor Hospice affiliated in 2016. Parry is credited with playing key roles integrating the agencies. Parry first added director of real estate to his title placing him in charge of 20 commercial and healthcare facilities and managers across Michigan; achieved joint CHAP accreditation for contract services; guided the sale of Hospice of Michigan's headquarters in Detroit; contracted and oversaw pivotal and time sensitive renovation projects including The Residence of Arbor Hospice's relocation to Saline, and makeover of administrative headquarters in Ann Arbor; and provided valuable legal and business counsel.

As general counsel, Parry will provide strategic and daily legal, business, and risk management advice to executive and high-level leadership. Parry will remain in charge of contract services and real estate.

First in his family to attend college, Parry graduated from Western Michigan University. From there, he graduated from Michigan State University College of Law. Parry worked in private practice for 20 years including Butzel Long PLLC, and Dickinson Wright PLLC, specializing in complex regulatory matters and transactional due diligence mostly representing Fortune 500 companies.

Parry is rated "AV Preeminent 5/5" by Martindale-Hubbell® highest peer review score for legal ability and ethics. The watershed events of 9/11, followed by Hurricane Katrina, inspired Parry to deepen his focus and expertise in legal and business risk management. In 2009, Parry earned his Masters of Homeland Security Leadership from University of Connecticut / U.S. Naval Post Graduate School. In 2011, Michigan Lawyers Weekly honored Parry as among the State's elite "Leaders in the Law."

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Thirty Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC attorneys were recently named to Michigan Super Lawyers® and Michigan Rising Stars 2018.

The Howard & Howard attorneys and the practice areas under which they are listed in Michigan Super Lawyers 2018 are as follows:

- Mark A. Davis -  president & CEO, Real Estate

- Joseph J. DeVito, Mergers & Acquisitions

- Mary C. Dirkes, Business Litigation

- Lisa S. Gretchko, Creditor/Debtor Rights

- Andrew (Jake) Grove, Intellectual Property Litigation

- Sam J. Haidle, Intellectual Property

- David M. LaPrairie, Intellectual Property

- Miles T. Macik, Business Litigation

- Patrick M. McCarthy, Business Litigation

- Gerald E. McGlynn III, Intellectual Property

- Richard M. Miettinen, Mergers & Acquisitions

- Mark W. Peyser, Business Litigation

- Brad A. Rayle, Employment Litigation: Defense

- Jeffrey A. Sadowski, Intellectual Property Litigation

- Thomas H. Walters, Business Litigation

- Timothy M. Wittebort, Business/Corporate

The Howard & Howard attorneys and the practice areas under which they are listed in Michigan Rising Stars 2018 are as follows:

- Michael M. Bell, Banking

- Brandon J. Booth, Business/Corporate

- Alex G. Cavanaugh, Business Litigation

- Nicholas T. Chapie, Business/Corporate

- Stephen P. Dunn, Business Litigation

- Paul T. Engel, Intellectual Property

- Sam A. Fares, Intellectual Property

- Michael O. Fawaz, Business Litigation

- Jeffrey A. Hoover, Mergers & Acquisitions

- Andre O. Perrotta, Health Care

- Mark C. Vanneste, Business Litigation

- Brandon J. Wilson, Business Litigation

- Jacob P. Woolbright, Intellectual Property

- Evonne Xu, International

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Plunkett Cooney attorney Elaine M. Pohl was named as one of Michigan Lawyers Weekly's 2018 "Women in the Law."

Pohl was among 30 women honored at the luncheon on Sept. 20 at the Detroit Marriott in Troy.

Pohl is a partner in the firm's Bloomfield Hills office where she maintains a national practice counseling insurers in complex property and casualty disputes, including litigated and non-litigated matters. Pohl's insurance coverage experience extends to claims involving professional liability, construction defects, bodily injuries, environmental contamination, and personal and advertising injury issues. She also has niche expertise in the area of liquor licensing.

Selected as a Rising Star in insurance coverage by Michigan Super Lawyer magazine, Pohl is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association, the Michigan Licensed Beverage Association, and she has served in leadership positions in the Insurance and Indemnity Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan (immediate past chair, chair, chair elect, secretary and treasurer) and the DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar (Insurance Law Committee's Compendia chair and former editor of covered events).

Pohl received her law degree from Indiana University School of Law in 1999. She received her undergraduate degree from Villanova University in1996.

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A total of 43 Varnum attorneys have been recognized by Michigan Super Lawyers for 2018, including 11 honored as Michigan Rising Stars.

Local Varnum attorneys who have been recognized as 2018 Super Lawyers include:

DETROIT

- Brendan G. Best, Bankruptcy: Business

- Richard A. Hooker, Employment & Labor

- Terrence J. Miglio, Employment & Labor

NOVI

- Thomas H. Bergh, Estate & Probate

- Dennis Devaney, Employment & Labor

- Richard T. Hewlett, Construction Litigation

- Eric M. Nemeth, Tax

- Julia A. Perkins, Family Law

Local Varnum attorneys who have been recognized as 2018 Michigan Rising Stars include:

- Bradley S. Defoe, Business Litigation (Novi)

- Mallory A. Field, Business/Corporate (Detroit)

- Erin Klug, Intellectual Property (Novi)

- Michael J. Romaya, Securities and Corporate Finance (Novi)

- Kristen Veresh, Banking (Novi)

- Salvatore (Sam) J. Vitale, Business Litigation (Novi)

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Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, and Cohn LLP is proud to be the first Michigan-based law firm to sign the American Bar Association's pledge to address substance abuse and mental health issues in the legal industry. Honigman is joined by twelve law firms in signing the pledge, including Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, Duane Morris, Latham & Watkins, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, Nixon Peabody and Perkins Coie.

The pledge seeks to reduce the level of substance abuse disorders and mental health distress in the legal profession. Firms that sign the pledge's seven-point framework commit to providing mental health and substance abuse education to attorneys and staff, change the role that alcohol plays at firm events, provide confidential access to addiction and mental health experts, and implement back-to-work policies following treatment. The ABA hopes that all legal employers will take the pledge by January 2019.

"Wellness has long been a priority for the firm and we are very proud to be an early adopter of this pledge," said David Foltyn, chairman and CEO of Honigman. "While Honigman already provides robust wellness, mental health and confidential, no-cost substance abuse counseling, the ABA pledge provides the framework to improve our offerings."

Honigman's early participation in this campaign is one of the firm's most recent efforts to promote wellness and to address the needs of their community. Over the past few years, Honigman has broadened its summer associate program to include more activities that don't feature alcohol such as volunteering, kayaking and cooking classes. The firm has also offered progressive mental health programs, such as a digital health training program that explored the impact of digital habits on the mind, body and spirit.

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Attorney Brett Rendeiro has joined Butzel Long as a shareholder practicing in the firm's Bloomfield Hills office.

Rendeiro concentrates his practice in employment law and complex commercial litigation. His broad employment and business litigation experience includes matters involving claims of discrimination and harassment, misappropriation of trade secrets and confidential information, breach of restrictive covenants, shareholder oppression, breach of fiduciary duties, fraudulent transfers, Fair Labor Standards Act violations and public accessibility violations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Rendeiro regularly represents clients in the automotive, professional services, retail, manufacturing, education and banking industries.

Prior to joining Butzel Long, Rendeiro worked with a large Michigan law firm, where he was recognized in Best Lawyers in America® (2014-present), in Leading Lawyers in the areas of Commercial Litigation and Employment Law Management (2017-present), named a Future Star by Benchmark Litigation (2014-present) and named as a Top Lawyer by DBusiness magazine (2015).

Currently, Rendeiro serves as chairman of the Children's Leukemia Foundation of Michigan. He has served on the Foundation's Board since 2009. Rendeiro is a member of the Federal Bar Association of the Eastern District of Michigan, Oakland County Bar Association and State Bar of Michigan.

Rendeiro is a graduate of Wayne State University Law School and Eastern Michigan University.

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Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce that attorney Elissa Noujaim Pinto has joined the firm's Troy office as Of Counsel.

Over the last seventeen years, Pinto has focused her immigration practice on business immigration, and she has gained experience representing local, national and international companies in obtaining authorization for foreign national employees to work temporarily and permanently in the United States, through various work-authorized visa classifications and employment-based permanent residence processes.

Pinto regularly provides comprehensive guidance to business clients with respect to their foreign national workforce, including short and long-term strategy and planning, immigration compliance as well as immigration-related issues that arise on a daily basis. She has assisted clients with internal audits and provides useful and practical training on how to conduct self-audits to ensure compliance with ever-evolving and complex immigration laws and policies. Pinto has also advised on the drafting and establishment of immigration policies and practices for companies, in conjunction with human resources personnel and management input. She regularly provides training that is tailored to company workforce and foreign employment policies and practices, including strategy and best-practice reviews to streamline the immigration process for human resources staff, management, and their foreign national employees.

This year, Pinto has given several presentations in Portuguese in various cities in Brazil, including a seminar hosted by the Brazilian American Chamber (AmCham Brasil) on the U.S. business immigration process, and a series of seminars in collaboration with Baker Tilly on the EB-5 Investor Greencard process. This fall she is collaborating with Baker Tilly on another series of seminars on the EB-5 program, to be presented in Portuguese in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association's International Law Section, and the State Bar of Michigan's International Law Section. She is recognized as a leader in her field by Best Lawyers in America, Michigan Super Lawyers "Rising Stars," and was featured in the "2018 Powered by Women" section in DBusiness.

Pinto received her B.A. from the University of Michigan and her law degree from Wayne State University Law School. She is fluent in Portuguese (Brazilian) and proficient in Spanish and French.

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Dawda, Mann, Mulcahy, & Sadler PLC recently announced that 16 of its attorneys have been recognized as 2018 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars. Managing Member Curt Mann made the announcement.

The following Dawda Mann attorneys were recognized as 2018 Super Lawyers or Rising Stars:

Kylie E. Bergmann: Rising Stars 2017-2018, Real Estate, Business/Corporate

Randal R. Cole: Super Lawyers 2014-2018, Employment & Labor, Employment Litigation

Brian J. Considine: Super Lawyers 2017-2018, Environmental, Energy & Natural Resources, Intellectual Property

Edward C. Dawda: Super Lawyers 2006-2018, Business/Corporate, Real Estate, Estate Planning & Probate

Theresa C. Joswick: Super Lawyers 2007-2018, Employee Benefits

Adam B. Kutinsky: Super Lawyers 2013-2018, Business Litigation, Insurance Coverage, Real Estate

Christopher M. Mann: Rising Stars 2016-2018, Estate Planning & Probate, Closely Held Business, Tax

Jeffrey D. Moss: Super Lawyers 2017-2018, Tax, Estate Planning & Probate, Nonprofit Organizations

John Mucha III: Super Lawyers 2010-2018, Civil Litigation, Land Use/Zoning, Business Litigation, Real Estate, Construction Litigation

Michael D. Mulcahy: Super Lawyers 2006-2018, Real Estate, Business/Corporate, Mergers & Acquisitions

Glenn G. Ross: Super Lawyers 2017-2018, Estate Planning & Probate, Tax, Business/Corporate

Susan J. Sadler: Super Lawyers 2006-2018, Environmental, Energy & Natural Resources, Business/Corporate

Wayne S. Segal: Super Lawyers 2007-2018, Real Estate, Banking

Tyler D. Tennent: Super Lawyers 2014-2018, Land Use/Zoning, Environmental, Business/Corporate, Government Contracts, Real Estate, General Litigation

Erin Bowen Welch: Rising Stars 2017-2018, Real Estate

Frances Belzer Wilson: Rising Stars 2010-2018, Business Litigation, Creditor Debtor Rights, General Litigation

Published: Mon, Sep 24, 2018