2 Metro Detroit attorneys to receive prestigious State Bar award

The State Bar of Michigan will give Barry L. Howard, Of Counsel to the Law Firm of Lipson Neilson Cole Seltzer & Garin PC, and Edward H. Pappas, chairman of Dickinson Wright, PLLC, the Champion of Justice Award at their annual meeting in September.

The Champion of Justice Award is given to practicing lawyers and judges of integrity and adherence to the highest principles and traditions of the legal profession, superior professional competence, and an extraordinary professional accomplishment that benefits the nation, the state, or the local community in which the lawyer or judge lives.

Howard and Pappas have shown outstanding leadership of the State Bar of Michigan's Judicial Crossroad Task Force. The task force, which included more than 125 leaders from the bench, bar, and broader justice community, developed recommendations that will transform, streamline, and modernize Michigan's judicial system to deliver justice and provide access to justice to all of the people in the State of Michigan.

Both Howard and Pappas have had long and distinguished law careers that stand out in the community.

Howard was appointed to the Oakland Circuit Bench by Governor James J. Blanchard in 1989. He served 12 years, including as Chief Judge from 2000 to 2001. Prior to the appointment, he operated a general litigation practice and served as counsel for the Police Officers Association of Michigan, receiving their Distinguished Service Award in 1996. In 1995, he was selected as "one of the top five most respected judges" in the state by WDIV-Channel 4 Lawyers' Survey. In 2000, he served as President of the Michigan Judges Association. He now has a successful Alternative Dispute Resolution practice.

Pappas is the chairman of Dickinson Wright PLLC and focuses his practice on complex commercial and business litigation, arbitration and mediation. He has authored or co-authored various publications, including the definitive treatise on Michigan Business Torts, and is a frequent speaker on litigation, arbitration and mediation issues. Mr. Pappas is a past president of State Bar of Michigan (2008-2009) and the Oakland County Bar Association (1997-1998). He is a Fellow of the State and Oakland County Bar Foundations, American College of Civil Trial Mediators and International Society of Barristers. He is listed in Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Michigan Super Lawyers, and Benchmark Litigation Stars, and in 2009 was selected as one of the Top 25 Leaders in the Law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.

Published: Thu, Sep 1, 2011

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