LEGAL PEOPLE

 Oakland County Circuit Court Judge James Alexander has been elected chair of the State Bar Judicial Council for the 2014-2015 bar year.  The Judicial Council consists of representatives of the three judicial associations:  District Judges Association; Probate Judges Association; and the Michigan Judges Association, which represents circuit and court of appeals judges.

Alexander is a former president of the Michigan Judges Association and currently is co-chair of its Legislative Committee.  He was appointed to the bench by Governor John Engler in 2001 and has been re-elected since then.  Prior to his appointment, Alexander was the director of the Governor’s Southeast Michigan office.  Alexander was a shareholder at the Foster Swift firm before beginning his career in public service.  The Oakland County Bar Association honored him with its Distinguished Public Service Award earlier this year.

Alexander serves on the Oakland County Business Court with his colleague, Judge Wendy Potts.  They have both been admitted to the American College of Business Court Judges.  He previously served in the Court’s Family Division, where he is a former presiding judge, and the Civil/Criminal Division.  He was the chief judge pro tem of the Circuit Court for a five-year period.

Also elected to officer positions were Wayne County 21st District Judge Richard Hammer, chair elect; Cass County Probate Court Judge Susan Dobrich, vice chair; Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Lita Popke, secretary; and Muskegon County Circuit Court Judge Tim Hicks, treasurer.

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Rader, Fishman, & Grauer PLLC is pleased to announce that Michael D. Fishman and Michael B. Stewart, both founding partners with the firm, were selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2015.  Both Fishman and Stewart have been recognized on the list of Best Lawyers in America previously.  In addition, Michael Fishman has been designated Best Lawyers 2015 “Lawyer of the Year” for Trademark Law – Detroit.

Fishman was recognized by Best Lawyers® as the 2015 “Lawyer of the Year” for Trademark Law – Detroit Area.  This is the second time that he has received this honor.  In 2013, Fishman was also designated “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers in the field of Trademark Law for the Detroit area.  He has more than 25 years of experience in trademark law, related licensing and litigation and other disciplines of Intellectual Property law and has managed the filing, prosecution and maintenance of thousands of trademark applications and registrations worldwide.  Fishman is also listed in Super Lawyers, DBusiness Top Lawyers, IP Stars, Leading Lawyers and as AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell. Fishman earned his law degree from Wayne State University.

Stewart was recognized by Best Lawyers ® in the area of Litigation – Patent and Patent Law.  He prosecutes and litigates intellectual property matters in a wide variety of disciplines including IT, e-commerce, telecommunications, aerospace and nuclear engineering.  Stewart also advises companies on managing large global intellectual property portfolios. In addition to being listed in Best Lawyers, Stewart has been recognized by Super Lawyers, DBusiness Top Lawyers, IP Stars, Who’s Who in American Law, Who’s Who in the World and as AV Preeminent by Martindale Hubbell. He eanred a law degree, a master’s degree in engineering and a bachelor’s degree in English, all from the University of Michigan.

Rader, Fishman, & Grauer PLLC is also pleased to congratulate attorney Vince C. Ilagan on being named to the list of Rising Stars®2014 by Super Lawyers.

Ilagan’s practice covers domestic and foreign patent prosecution, patent opinions, intellectual property evaluations/due diligence and intellectual property litigation. He has represented and counseled both domestic and international clients in a broad range of technical areas including, mechanical, electromechanical, telecommunications and aerospace.

Ilagan joined Rader, Fishman, & Grauer in 2012.  Prior to joining the firm, Ilagan was IP director for a global research company, headquartered in Virginia, whose focus is identifying business opportunities and risks for Fortune 100 companies by investigating the patent environment. 

He earned his law degree from John Marshall Law School and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan.

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Matthew H. Szalach has joined the Intellectual Property Department at Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, and Cohn LLP as a partner. He is a member of the firm’s Patent Practice Group and is located in its Bloomfield Hills office.

Szalach prepares and prosecutes domestic and international patent applications in mechanical, electromechanical, biomechanical, automotive, controls and electric arts, including reissue patent applications. He also prepares opinions regarding freedom-to-operate, invalidity, patentability and state-of-the-art. Before attending law school, he served as an engineer in the automotive industry.    Szalach is admitted to practice in Michigan, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

He earned a law degree from Wayne State University Law School, an M.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan, and a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Michigan State University.

Szalach joins Honigman from Harness, Dickey, & Pierce PLC.

In addition, B. Michael Ortwein III has joined the Litigation Department at Honigman as a partner. He is a member of the firm’s White Collar Crime and Investigations Practice Group and is located in its Detroit office.

Ortwein is a litigation attorney with more than 10 years of experience and more than 25 trials in state and federal courts. As a former assistant U.S. attorney for both the Eastern District of Michigan and the District of Columbia, he has led hundreds of grand jury investigations, argued appeals, conducted evidentiary hearings and prosecuted a variety of criminal cases, including homicides, large-scale international narcotics trafficking, financial crimes and racketeering. Ortwein is admitted to practice in Michigan and the District of Columbia.

He earned a law degree from Suffolk University Law School and a B.A. in political science from the College of the Holy Cross.

Ortwein joins Honigman from the Eastern District of Michigan U.S. Attorney’s Office.

 Honigman is also pleased to announce that partner Ann T. Hollenbeck has been elected as president elect of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra’s board of directors.  Her term as president will begin in September 2015. Hollenbeck has served the board as its first vice president and vice president of the Policy Committee since 2013. She has been a member of the board since 2008.

Hollenbeck, co-leader of Honigman’s Health Care Practice Group in the Detroit office, advises hospitals, physicians and other providers on the implications of health care reform, human subjects research matters, and fraud and abuse. She advises clients on academic, medical center and health system structures and arrangements, as well as clinical affiliations and physician compensation. Hollenbeck also represents clients in transactional matters such as creating ancillary services arrangements, negotiating joint ventures and developing physician-hospital relationships.

Hollenbeck earned a law degree from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law and a B.S. in accounting from Butler University.

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The following attorneys from the law firm of Dawda, Mann, Mulcahy, and Sadler PLC have been selected to 2014 Super Lawyers:

2014 Michigan Super Lawyers

Randal R. Cole

Edward C. Dawda (additionally selected to— Top 10: Michigan Super Lawyers, Top 100: Michigan Super Lawyers and Top 50: 2014 Michigan Business Super Lawyers)

Daniel Israel

Theresa C. Joswick (additionally selected to Top 50: 2014 Women Michigan Super Lawyers)

John Mucha III

Michael D. Mulcahy

William L. Rosin

Susan J. Sadler

Wayne S. Segal

Tyler D. Tennent

Suanne Tiberio Trimmer

2014 Michigan Rising Stars

Zachary Eskau

Earl R. Johnson

Marc K. Salach

Frances Belzer Wilson

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The law firm of Couzens Lansky is pleased to announce 10 attorneys from the Farmington Hills office have been named as Michigan Super Lawyers for 2014. 

The following attorneys from Couzens Lansky have been recognized in 2014:

Jack S. Couzens II - Estate Planning and Probate.

Jerry M. Ellis* - Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights.

Donald M. Lansky* - Mergers and Acquisitions.

Bruce J. Lazar* - Construction.

Kathryn Gilson Sussman** - Estate Planning and Probate.

Donald A. Wagner* - Banking.

Gregg A. Nathanson* - Real Estate.

David A. Lawrence* - Employment and Labor.

Ronn S. Nadis* - Real Estate.

Phillip J. Neuman* - Business Litigation.

(* These attorneys have also been recognized in Super Lawyers Business Edition for their outstanding achievement in their area of business practice.)

(** These attorneys have also been recognized in Super Lawyers Women’s Edition, a separate national publication, for their exceptional achievement in their area of business practice.)

Couzens Lansky is a full-service business, tax, estate planning, litigation, real estate and commercial law firm with offices in Oakland and Wayne Counties.

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In its annual review of the state’s top young attorneys, Michigan Super Lawyers magazine has awarded several lawyers from Plunkett Cooney its “Rising Star” honor.

Below is a list of Plunkett Cooney attorneys who have received the 2014 Michigan Super Lawyer Rising Star designation:

Bloomfield Hills office

• Hilary A. Ballentine – Appellate.

• Josephine A. DeLorenzo – Appellate.

• Gary W. Francis – Employment & Labor.

• Jeffrey S. Hengeveld – Professional Liability: Defense.

• Marc P. Jerabek – Bankruptcy: Business.

• Patrick C. Lannen – Banking.

• Chiara F. Mattieson – Civil Litigation: Defense.

• Megan P. McKnight – Business Litigation.

• Lauren B. McMillen – Insurance Coverage.

• Elaine M. Pohl – Insurance Coverage.

• Patrick E. Winters – Insurance Coverage.

Detroit office

• Randal M. Brown – Personal Injury General: Defense.

Mt. Clemens office member:

• Paul J. Dwaihy – Personal Injury Medical Malpractice: Defense.

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Farmington Hills-based Young & Associates announced that all six attorneys on staff have been named Super Lawyers.

Young & Associates Founder Rodger D. Young achieved the Super Lawyer designation for the eighth consecutive year. Attorneys J. David Garcia, Jason Killips, Sara MacWilliams, Terry Milne Osgood, and Jaye Quadrozzi were also honored as 2014 Super Lawyers.

With a record of winning 48 out of 53 jury trials, Young leveraged his experience in complex commercial litigation to found the Young & Associates firm in 1991. He has garnered numerous state and national distinctions, including Best Lawyers in America, election to the American College of Trial Lawyers. His non-legal experience includes gubernatorial appointments to the Michigan Environmental Review Board, the Michigan Transportation Commission, and a presidential appointment by President George W. Bush to serve as a United States delegate to the United Nations General Assembly in 2007-2008.

Recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star in 2013, Garcia specializes in issues such as intellectual property, sales representative, automotive supplier, accountant liability, trade secret, unfair competition, business and contract litigation. Garcia earned his law degree at University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Law.

Killips, a 2013 Super Lawyer Rising Star, focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, including intellectual property, accountant liability, automotive supplier and business dispute litigation. He received his law degree at the University of Michigan Law School.

Honored in 2013 as both an Up & Coming Lawyer and a Michigan Super Lawyer, MacWilliams focuses on issues such as health care litigation, contract litigation, trade secrets, intellectual property, and business torts. She was named a Super Lawyers Rising Star for 2010 and 2011 and has secured judgments or settlements in access of $35 million over the last three years. She earned her law degree from the University of Michigan Law School.

Osgood’s practice is focused on complex briefing, particularly in the area of accounting, for both trials and appeals. Since 2002, Osgood has held the top ranking of “AV” for legal ability and professional ethics, by Martindale Hubbelly. She received her law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, where she graduated first in her class. She then clerked for the United States District Court in Kansas City and the Michigan Court of Appeals.

Named one of Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s 2014 Leaders in the Law, Quadrozzi handles day-to-day responsibilities for numerous multi-million dollar cases. She recently represented Oakland Country in the Detroit bankruptcy case, and serves as the director on the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority Board, which is charged with overseeing the regional park system of Wayne, Macomb, Oakland, Livingston, and Washtenaw counties. She was a partner at Katten, Muchin, & Zaviz before joining Young & Associates. Quadrozzi attended University of Michigan Law School where she earned her law degree.

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Butzel Long has announced the following local attorneys have been elected new shareholders: Beth I. deBaptiste, John A. Forrest, and Steven M. Raymond. DeBaptiste, Forrest, and Raymond were among the group of May, Simpson, Strote attorneys who recently joined Butzel.

Based in Butzel Long’s Bloomfield Hills office, Beth I. deBaptiste concentrates her practice in construction law, construction and title insurance litigation, real estate law and litigation and civil business litigation. She is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association, Macomb County Bar Association, Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, and Real Property Law Section, State Bar of Michigan – Construction Law Committee. DeBaptiste earned a law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy and a B.A. from Albion College.

Based in Butzel Long’s Bloomfield Hills office, John A. Forrest focuses his practice in the areas of franchise and distribution law, commercial contracts and business planning and corporate law. He is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association, American Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, Antitrust, Franchising and Trade Regulation Section (past chair); member of Franchise Committee; and American Bar Association Forum Committee on Franchising. Forrest earned law degrees from Wayne State University and the University of Detroit Mercy; and an A.B. from the University of Michigan.

Based in Butzel Long’s Bloomfield Hills office, Steven M. Raymond concentrates his practice in the areas of franchise law, title insurance, real estate law, business civil litigation, business and corporate law and probate and estate law. He is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan – Real Property Section and Probate Section. He serves on the Board of Directors of Marian High School; director, Robert E. Burke Trust Fund; Finance Council and SEED Director, Holy Name Church. Raymond earned his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and his B.S. from Western Michigan University.

Butzel Long also announces tha attorney and shareholder David F. DuMouchel, who chairs the firm’s Internal Investigation and White Collar Practice Group, will moderate a national white collar sentencing panel during the Wayne Law Review Symposium on October 24 at the Wayne State University Law School.

DuMouchel’s practice specializes in the areas of white collar criminal defense, professional licensure and criminal health care, criminal IRS investigations of both taxpayers and professionals, SEC enforcement of corporate executives, public corruption, as well as grand jury investigations, internal corporate investigations and compliance. 

In 2013, DuMouchel was appointed to serve as a voting member of the U.S. Sentencing Commission Practitioners Advisory Group. One person from each of the 11 federal circuits is appointed to this group.

He also was appointed by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan as a member of the Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel, and was appointed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit as a member of the Planning Committee for the 2015 Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference.

DuMouchel is a recipient of the Leonard Gilman Award from the Federal Bar Association as the outstanding criminal law practitioner in the Eastern District of Michigan. He was named by Best Lawyers as the “2010 Detroit Criminal Defense: White-Collar Lawyer of the Year.” Only a single lawyer in each specialty in each community is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year.” 

He has been listed in each Best Lawyers edition for the last 30 years, up to and including the most recent. He also is listed in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers, and in Michigan Super Lawyers. 

DuMouchel is a frequent speaker on internal corporate investigations and federal criminal procedural matters.

DuMouchel is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, an organization limited to one percent of the trial lawyers in a state by invitation; serves as a member of the Criminal Procedure Committee; and, is a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers. DuMouchel served as the first chairman of the State of Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission.

In addition, Butzel Long has taken Casual Fridays a step further by offering employees an opportunity to collectively contribute to a non-profit organization.

A recent firm-sponsored Charity Casual Friday had a snowball effect resulting in a contribution of $3,500 to the Mich.-based Fallen & Wounded Soldiers Fund, which provides the military and their families with assistance that helps with immediate financial needs. Butzel Long issued a challenge along with related matching funds provided by several firm attorneys.

Since 2010, Butzel Long has sponsored Charity Casual Days. Throughout the year, firm employees offer suggestions for non-profit organizations to highlight. At the same time, Butzel Long consistently supports the United Way of Southeastern Michigan, the Black United Fund of Michigan as part of annual campaigns, as well as a holiday gift-giving  program with Focus: HOPE and the Coalition of Temporary Shelters (COTS).

As a firm, Butzel Long supports many local organizations, charities, and community activities.

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Several Fraser Trebilcock attorneys have been selected for inclusion on the 2014 list of Super Lawyers.  Local business litigation attorney Michael P. Donnelly was included on this year’s list.

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Attorney John Fish Jr. has been honored as 2013-2014 Dearborn Rotarian of the Year and awarded a plaque at a Club meeting.

Fish’s service to the club over the past 57 years includes work on committees, fundraisers, and club service projects, along with serving on the board and as president in 1966-67. 

Fish also helped to establish the Dearborn Rotary Foundation, a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, which serves as the “philanthropic arm” of The Dearborn Rotary Club.  The Foundation was made possible by a generous donation from the estate of Dearborn Rotarian Otto Rowan, who was a Dearborn Public Schools educator.

Fish graduated Dearborn St. Alphonsus School and Notre Dame Business and Law Schools.  He met his wife, Mary, of sixty years, at Notre Dame. They have five children, nineteen grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.  He has been a locally practicing attorney for 58 years and specializes in estate planning at Fish, Lake, and Oz.

Fish has kept a copy of the Rotary “Four-Way Test” on his desk for more than 50 years. “The world would be so much better if we all followed ‘Is it the Truth?’” said Fish, adding “We have a responsibility to help others.”