Legal People

American Bar Association
The new chair of an American Bar Association committee that sets and enforces ethical standards of conduct for tax lawyers will be Linda Beale, professor of law at Wayne State University Law School.
She’s the author of an award-winning and often-quoted blog called “A Taxing Matter” that makes money and tax issues easily understood, and also takes on American tax policies that “operate for the high and mighty,” in her words.
Beale will assume the chair of the ABA’s Section of Taxation Committee on Standards of Tax Practice on July 1 for a two-year term. She previously served as vice-chair. As chair, Beale will have a chance to “affect the development and administration of the tax laws” through the group’s programs and projects, according to Michael Hirschfeld, chair-elect of the ABA Section of Taxation.
The committee also is charged with providing education to the public about taxes and tax systems, a calling already undertaken daily by Beale, who teaches courses on Corporate Taxation, Partnership Taxation and Income Taxation.
She has a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Duke University, a master’s and a Ph.D. in linguistics from Cornell University, and law degrees from Cornell Law School New York University. Before her law school career, she was a tax law practitioner, a Congressional staffer, a Peace Corps volunteer and a university administrator.
Beale is the author of numerous publications on tax policy, and is co-author of “Corporate Taxation,” a textbook for students earning LL.M. degrees in taxation.

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Plunkett Cooney

Attorney Adele P. Jorissen recently joined the Healthcare Industry Group of Plunkett Cooney.
An associate in the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, Jorissen concentrates her practice exclusively in the area of healthcare law. She represents a variety of healthcare providers in Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor and other third-party payor audit appeals and corporate and transactional matters, including sales and acquisitions, certificate of need and counseling on Stark, Anti-kickback, HIPAA and Medicare and Medicaid compliance.
Named a 2013 DBusiness Top Lawyer in Metro Detroit in the area of Health Care Law, Jorissen is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the American Bar Association and the American Health Lawyers Association.
Jorissen earned her law degree from Ave Maria School of Law in 2007 and her undergraduate degree from the University of Dallas in 2004.

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Ossian Law PC
Kathryn Ossian, former senior principal at Miller Canfield, recently opened her own practice in Ferndale named Ossian Law PC exclusively focusing on Information Technology law.
Additionally, Ossian was re-elected to a three year term to the Board of Governors of the Armenian Bar Association.  The election took place at the bar association's Annual Meeting held in San Diego, California from May 18-20. Ossian Law is located in Ferndale where the firm also hosts presentations and workshops on hot IT Law topics and trends. More information can be found at Ossianlaw.com.

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Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss, P.C.
R. Christopher Cataldo, a partner at Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer & Weiss PC, has been selected as a 2013 Top Rated Lawyer in Commercial Litigation by American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell. Jaffe CEO Bill Sider made the announcement.
Cataldo specializes in commercial litigation and is the co-practice group coordinator for the Firm’s Litigation Practice Group. In addition to this award, Cataldo was recognized as a DBusiness Top Lawyer in 2012. He is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, and American Bar Association.
A graduate of the University of Michigan, Cataldo went on to earn his law degree from Wayne State University Law School.
Additionally, Jaffe Raitt recently sponsored a fundraising event to benefit Kids Kicking Cancer, helping to raise more than $13,000 for the nationally recognized nonprofit organization. Jaffe attorney Deborah Rubin coordinated the event in partnership with Kids Kicking Cancer Founder, Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg and the Sports Club of West Bloomfield.
More than 100 children participated in the event, held at The Sports Club of West Bloomfield. Each child was asked to solicit donations for participating in a “sports-a-thon,” which included gymnastics, tennis, and martial arts. In addition to these activities, the event featured its first-ever family 5k walk/run, a martial arts demonstration from the students of Kids Kicking Cancer, entertainment, food and prizes.
Kids Kicking Cancer was founded in metro Detroit and helps children manage the stress and pain of their disease and treatments through personalized coaching instructed by black belt martial artists. These children achieve power, peace and purpose by teaching their deep breathing techniques to others to help them reduce stress.
“It is an honor to work for a firm that is so supportive of local charitable organizations and this event was no exception,” said Rubin. “With Jaffe’s support, we were able to sponsor an amazing event, and raise significant funds, which ultimately will help ease the pain of very sick children while empowering them to heal physically, spiritually and emotionally.”
More information about Kids Kicking Cancer can be found at www.powerpeacepurpose.com.

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Secrest, Wardle, Lynch Hampton, Truex & Morley PC
Secrest, Wardle, Lynch, Hampton, Truex, & Morley PC is pleased to announce that Terri L. Antisdale has joined its Motor Vehicle Litigation and Fire, Property and Casualty Practice Groups, with a focus on Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and a specialty in property cases involving fire loss.
Antisdale currently serves as an Oakland County magistrate and is a former Oakland County assistant prosecuting attorney (1996- 2008). During her twelve years of service, she dedicated the majority of her time to prosecuting staged motor vehicle accidents, insurance fraud, arson, and insurance related violent crimes. Eight of those years were served as a special prosecutor handling cases that included bank robbery and assault with an attempt to commit murder.
Antisdale completed courses provided by the Michigan Arson Prevention Committee, the Michigan State Police Fire Marshal’s Division, and other private agencies regarding the investigation and prosecution of Arson. She currently teaches courses for the International Association of Arson Investigator’s Expert Testimony Program and is a former instructor for the Prosecuting Attorney’s Coordinating Counsel, the National College of District Attorneys, the Oakland County Police Academy, and the Wayne State University Moot Court Program. Her expertise spans the spectrum of arson from claims involving motor vehicles/motor homes to structure fires.
Antisdale is also experienced in the practice area of Family Law and has dedicated a significant amount of time to reuniting families and fighting abuses within the court system. Her Family Law experience includes handling cases involving high-level media attention, paternity, custody, child support, divorce, and post judgment litigation.
She is the recipient of the following awards:
• Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan’s Distinguished Service Award (2002 and 2007).
• Oakland County Achievement Award (2006 and 2011).
• Detroit College of Law’s Outstanding Law Graduate Award (1996).
• Wayne County Neighborhood Legal Services/Children’s Center for Justice and Peace, Street Law Program Award (1995).
• Jurisprudence Achievement Award, Domestic Relations, Detroit College of Law (1995).
Antisdale earned her law degree from the Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University and her Bachelor of Science Degree from Western Michigan University.

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Hertz Schram PC
Bloomfield Hills-based law firm Hertz Schram PC has announced the addition of Kristin Lusn, formerly of Lusn Law PLLC, to its expansion into downtown Detroit. Lusn will primarily focus her practice in the Corporate, Litigation, and Real Estate sections of the firm as well as downtown business development.
Prior to joining Hertz Schram, Lusn was a litigator for several years with a local firm and subsequently established her own legal practice, with a focus in providing legal services primarily to entrepreneurs in Detroit and its surrounding areas. She is a graduate of the Michigan State University Eli Broad School of Business and Management and Michigan State University College of Law.
Lusn actively participates in and initiates Detroit-based community activities and events, including service to the Detroit Historical Society as a trustee and founding member of the young professional 313 Society auxiliary and the Detroit Institute of Arts Founders Junior Council as a board member. She is also a committee member and founding chairperson of the young professionals group, “Riviere28,” for the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy.
Lusn was chosen as a Rising Star in Super Lawyers, and was recognized as a DBusiness Top Lawyer. She was selected as the 2012 “Community Impact Award” recipient by the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association (DMBA) and subsequently has become a board member of the DMBA Barristers Section.

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Collins, Einhorn, Farrell
Collins Einhorn Farrell attorney Melissa E. Graves was installed as president of the Women’s Bar Association at its annual dinner on Thursday, May 23.
Graves concentrates her practice on the defense of professional liability claims and has represented both attorneys and health care professionals. She also is involved in the defense of general liability matters. In the past year, Graves has been selected among the “Rising Stars” by Michigan Super Lawyers and as a Top Lawyer by DBusiness.
Graves is a 2002 graduate of the Wayne State University Law School. She is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Western District of Michigan.

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Butzel Long
Butzel Long attorney and shareholder Beth S. Gotthelf, who is in her 10th year at the law firm, has been appointed as the firm’s first Director of Innovation and External Relations, according to Butzel Long President and Managing Shareholder Justin Klimko.
Gotthelf represents and counsels a diverse mix of clients. She also is chair of Butzel’s Aerospace and Defense Industry Team and co-chair of the Energy and Sustainability Practice Team.
Recently, Gotthelf became an executive-in-residence with the Macomb-OU INCubator. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Better Business Bureau and has been appointed to its Executive Committee. Gotthelf is vice president of the Executive Council of the Michigan Israel Business Bridge. She has been very active in bar associations, including in the State Bar of Michigan, Environmental Law Section, where she served as past chair. She is past vice chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law, Water Quality and Wetlands, and former vice chair of the Keystone Committee. She is past chair of the Environmental Law Committee of the Oakland County Bar Association and is a past member of the State Bar Representative Assembly on behalf of Oakland County.
She served on the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce Leadership Committee for Transportation, and is past chair of the Chamber’s Task Force on Water and Sewer Issues. She is a Fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation.
Gotthelf is chair of the City of Birmingham Brownfield Redevelopment Authority. She is past co-chair of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Legislative Action Committee. Gotthelf was on the Federal Advisory Committee charged with recommending stormwater rules and served as a director of the Detroit Area Commercial Board of Realtors, which covers the State of Michigan. She serves as an arbitrator for the National Arbitration Forum.
Gotthelf was selected as one of 20 influential leaders by Michigan Lawyers Weekly - Women in Law (2010). She was named in Michigan Super Lawyers (2006-12) and as one of the “Top 50 Female Michigan Super Lawyers” (2006 and 2008). Gotthelf is listed in DBusiness Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit, Environmental Law, 2011-2013; Energy Law, 2011-2012; Government Relations Law, 2011-2012. Most recently, she was named one of Metro Detroit’s Fab Five to be featured in the June issue of MY magazine.
She has received several awards and special recognitions, including as an emerging leader by the Detroit Regional Chamber (2003); the National Association of Metal Finishers (2002); Corp! Magazine as one of “Michigan’s 95 Most Powerful Women” (2002); Corp! Magazine’s “Top 10 Business Attorneys for Southeast Michigan” (1999); and Crain’s Detroit Business’ 40 Under 40 in1994.
Gotthelf is a graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law (1985) and Oakland University (B.S. Public Administration and Public Policy, 1980). In 2009, she received an Oakland University Distinguished Alumni Award.

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Foley & Lardner LLP

Scott Seabolt, a partner in Foley’s Detroit office, has been elected chair of the firm’s eDiscovery & Data Management Practice. Seabolt’s proficiency in eDiscovery & Data Management comes from extensive experience trying numerous complex litigation matters, from pre-litigation investigations through trial and appeal in a variety of forums throughout the Midwest.
Seabolt is also a member of Foley’s Business Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Securities Enforcement & Litigation Practices as well as the Automotive Industry Team. His practice focuses on complex business litigation, including securities litigation, international disputes, False Claims Act, RICO, class action defense, antitrust, trade secrets, supply chain disputes and other complex commercial matters.
Seabolt earned his B.A. in mathematics and economics from the University of Michigan, and received his law degree from Cornell Law School. He is a graduate of Leadership Detroit XXVII.

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Michigan Judges Retirement System Board
Gov. Rick Snyder recently announced the reappointment of Oakland County 48th District Court Judge Diane D’Agostini, of Bloomfield Hills, to the Michigan Judges Retirement System Board.
Housed within the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget’s Office of Retirement Services, the five-member board oversees the Judges Retirement System Defined Benefit plan.
D’Agostini was elected to the 48th District Court in 2000, with jurisdiction over the townships of Bloomfield and West Bloomfield and the cities of Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Keego Harbor, Orchard Lake Village, and Sylvan Lake. Re-elected in 2006 and 2012, she continues to serve as chief district judge by appointment of the Michigan Supreme Court. She previously worked as assistant prosecutor for Oakland County.
D’Agostini earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Wayne State University and a law degree from the Michigan State University – Detroit College of Law. She will continue to represent judges who are members of the retirement system.
D’Agostini will serve a four-year term that expires March 31, 2017, and her appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.