LEGAL PEOPLE

Butzel attorney George B. Donnini was elected president of the Federal Bar Association, Eastern District of Michigan Chapter, on June 7 during the organization’s Annual Dinner. The Federal Bar Association, founded in 1920 by a group of federal government lawyers, is recognized as the professional organization for private attorneys, government lawyers and judges involved in federal practice.

Donnini is a member of the Butzel Board of Directors. He currently serves as a Litigation Department chair and co-chair of the firm’s White-Collar Criminal Defense Practice.

Donnini is a shareholder with 20 years of experience in Detroit as a white-collar criminal defense practitioner. Prior to that, he practiced for several years in New York and California – two additional states that he also is licensed to practice. He has handled a variety of cases including, but not limited to, health care fraud, public corruption, antitrust, environmental, tax, and securities fraud cases. In addition, a significant portion of his practice involves the handling of corporate internal investigations for public and private companies.

In 2020, Donnini was named a “Notable Veteran” by Crain’s Detroit Business. Donnini, along with a group of local attorneys, formed the Detroit chapter of the Veteran’s Bar Association, to gather for networking and mentorship.

He is a member of the American Bar Association (ABA), Criminal Justice Section, White Collar Crime Committee; Midwest Regional co-chair (2005-present) and the ABA Criminal Justice Section, Book Board, co-chair (2008-present).

Donnini is a 1995 graduate of The George Washington University and a 1998 graduate of the Duke University School of Law.

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Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce that Joseph J. Pytel (member, Troy) has been elected president of the Michigan Intellectual Property Law Association.

Pytel concentrates his practice on providing strategic counseling on intellectual property matters and preparing and prosecuting patent applications. He has experience in the electrical, computer hardware and software, and mechanical arts. In addition to patent preparation and prosecution, he has experience in providing patentability and infringement opinions.

Pytel is recognized as a leader in his field by Michigan Super Lawyers Rising Stars and is a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association.

The Michigan Intellectual Property Law Association (MIPLA) is an association of intellectual property attorneys, patent agents, and law students from across the State of Michigan interested in patents, trademarks, copyrights, and other intellectual property issues.

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Varnum partner Will Thompson has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Detroit Bar Association. He was elected to a two-year term at the DBA’s May meeting.

Thompson is a partner on the Litigation Team at Varnum. His practice is primarily focused on complex commercial, tax, and insolvency litigation. He assists clients with a wide variety of commercial litigation issues, ranging from standard breach of contract claims to complex ERISA fraud claims and white-collar defense.

Founded in 1836, the DBA serves approximately 900 members of Detroit’s legal community through networking, practice development and community service. Major initiatives in the coming year include completion of a new strategic plan and starting a New Lawyer Bootcamp, as well as adding more programming for attorneys who have been practicing under 10 years.

Thompson has been a member of the Detroit Bar Association for several years and formerly served as secretary for the Debtor and Creditor Rights Section. He also serves as vice president of the Detroit Veterans Bar Association.

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The Dobrusin Law Firm congratulates associate Eric S. Hydorn on his graduation from Leadership Oakland’s Cornerstone Program.

Each year, local leaders selected to join the Cornerstone class engage in productive dialogue with community experts about social issues impacting southeast Michigan. The Cornerstone program provides an opportunity for emerging leaders to get informed and take action to improve the Oakland County community.

The LOXXXIII term kicked off with a Leadership Development Retreat in the fall, followed by monthly day-long sessions led by subject matter experts. The program culminated in a Day of Service project organized by the class. Throughout the program, Hydorn and his classmates actively engaged in developing individual and community leadership goals to strengthen Oakland County and neighboring communities.

Dobrusin was proud to sponsor this year’s LOXXXIII Day of Service. This year, Hydorn and his fellow leaders chose to partner with Center for Success, a non-profit dedicated to improving literacy rates for Pontiac youth. The 2023 Cornerstone class led the charge in renovating the community space at the Center for Success Pontiac location.

Hydorn is just the latest member of the Dobrusin team to participate in this program. Past Dobrusin Leadership Oakland graduates include Kristen Pursley, Katherine Pacynski, and Daniela Walters.

Hydorn assists clients ranging from large corporations to solo inventors with drafting and prosecuting patent applications and preparing opinions directed to freedom-to-operate, patentability, invalidity, and infringement. He focuses his practice on chemical, biological, mechanical, electromechanical, and software innovations.

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Dykema is proud to announce that Adam Fishkind was selected by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as a “Go To Lawyer” for Commercial Real Estate Law.

Fishkind serves as the office managing member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office and is a co-team leader of the firm’s Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities Special Servicer group. He is an advisor for all parties involved in real estate-based transactions including investors, lenders, developers, owners, and operators.

Fishkind earned a law degree from DePaul University, and a B.A. from Michigan State University.

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Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently announced the appointment of Kelly Burris to the Michigan Aeronautics Commission.

Burris has owned Burris Law PLLC since 2016.  Burris earned a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from Western Michigan University, an M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Washington University, and a law degree from St. Louis University. She has more than 11 years of experience as an aeronautical engineer between roles with McDonnell Douglas and Boeing. She also holds a Private Pilot license and has moe than 2,000 hours as pilot-in-command. Burris is reappointed for a term commencing June 15, 2023 and expiring May 27, 2027.

The Michigan Aeronautics Commission is responsible for the general supervision of all aeronautics within the state. The commission is empowered by state law to make rules and regulations
governing all airports, flight schools, and other aeronautical activities.    

This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.   

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Taft has been recognized as No. 68 in the 2023 National Law Journal (NLJ) 500, an annual survey that lists the largest law firms in the United States based on the average number of full-time equivalent attorneys for the previous year. Taft advanced 13 spots from the 2022 NLJ 500.

A new entrant on the list in 2017, Taft continues to rise in the ranks as it expands across markets. With Taft’s 2022 expansion into the Detroit market through the Jaffe merger, the firm is now comprised of approximately 850 attorneys in eight primary Midwest markets and the District of Colombia.

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Meghan Kennedy Riordan, team lead of the Kitch Immigration Law Department, was honored with the Charles R. Rutherford Jr. Award, given in honor of the late Charles R. Rutherford Jr.

Riordan was presented with the award by the Incorporated Society of Irish American Lawyers (ISIAL) on June 21 at The Gem Theatre in Detroit at its annual scholarship and awards dinner.  The ISIAL was founded in 1978 and is comprised of members of the Michigan Irish American legal community.

Kennedy Riordan heads the firm’s Immigration Law Practice Group and has more than 32 years of experience in all aspects of immigration law. She has experience in both employment-based/ corporate and family related immigration law.

Kennedy Riordan has provided pro bono services to many Michigan organizations some of which include the Pope Francis Center, OLGC PBJ Ministry, the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC), the Archdiocese of Detroit and Lansing, the Felician Child Care Centers, and the WLAM Foundation. She has also provided her services to many Irish organizations including the Irish Network Detroit, where she is currently serving as president of the organization. She is also a past president of the ISIAL.

Kennedy Riordan’s accomplishments have led to her being selected as a Michigan Super Lawyer.  She was also selected by DBusiness Magazine as a Top Lawyer in Michigan in the field of immigration law, and was recognized by Best Lawyers in America® as a “Best Lawyer” in the field of Immigration Law.  She was recognized as a Leading Lawyer in 2021 and 2022.

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Giarmarco, Mullins, & Horton PC is pleased to introduce Robert Mills as the latest addition to its Business Litigation Group. His practice focuses on matters involving consumer products liability, commercial litigation, employment disputes, and insurance defense.

Mills operates outside of the courtroom as well, providing risk management and insurance coverage counsel for both small businesses and multinational corporations.

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Chanille Carswell, chief diversity officer and co-chair of Litigation at Brooks Kushman PC, will be serving as a panelist at the 2nd Annual Break Into Law Conference to share her expertise and experience in IP Law.

The Break Into Law Conference is a two-day virtual conference designed to help BIPOC (black, indigenous, and people of color), first-generation, and other marginalized aspiring legal professionals access legal education and workplace opportunities, leading to shifts in the workplace and the community.

Carswell is active in the legal community and is dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) both within Brooks Kushman and the greater legal community. As a part of these efforts, she has facilitated the firm’s partnership with organizations that share the firm’s commitment to diversity in the legal profession.

As co-chair of Litigation at the firm, Carswell has more than 20 years of litigation experience across the country. She focuses her practice on trademark, trade dress, and copyright litigation, representing prominent brands in the enforcement of their IP assets in District Courts, as well as opposition and cancellation proceedings before the TTAB. Carswell’s experience also includes trademark counseling, protection, enforcement, and the management of the domestic and foreign trademark portfolios of Fortune 500 companies.