Legal People July 18

Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP
Linda S. Ross, a partner and chair of the Health Care Department at Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, and Cohn LLP, recently addressed the HealthcareNEXT Inforum industry group. She participated in a panel discussion regarding how hospitals, health systems and physicians can best position themselves in relation to the new health care laws. The event took place in the DMC Children’s Hospital Auditorium.

In her practice, Ross represents hospitals, physicians and other health care systems and providers regarding affiliations, acquisitions, divestitures, mergers, reorganizations and joint ventures. She also advises health care providers about compliance matters including the Stark Law, the Anti-kickback Statute, self-disclosures to the Office of Inspector General, and laws and regulations affecting tax-exempt entities.

Ross has been named in Best Lawyers in America from 2005 to 2011 and Michigan Super Lawyers from 2007 to 2010, as well as one of its top 50 women from 2007 to 2010. She also was recognized as a “Top Lawyer” by DBusiness in 2010 and 2011 and is Martindale-Hubbell AV® PreeminentTM Peer Review Rated.

She earned her law degree from Wayne State University Law School and an M.S. in Dental Public Health from Boston University and a B.S. in Dental Hygiene from the University of Michigan.

Honigman is also pleased to announce that Kathryn A. Katz, an attorney in the firm’s Trusts and Estates Department, has been named to the Summer in the City Board of Directors. Summer in the City is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to bring a diverse group of young people to Detroit neighborhoods to participate in painting, gardening and youth enrichment programs.

At Honigman, Katz counsels individuals on various aspects of estate and wealth transfer planning, including the preparation of wills and trusts, and the formation and operation of private foundations and public charities.

Katz earned her law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and a B.A. in History and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin.

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State Appellate Defender Office (SADO)
The State Appellate Defender Office is pleased to announce that Marla R. McCowan has been chosen as manager of the Criminal Defense Resource Center, SADO’s training and support division. The CDRC develops and administers statewide training projects funded by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards, operates SADO’s web site for criminal defense attorneys (www.sado.org), and publishes the very popular Defender Books series. McCowan succeeds Dawn Van Hoek, who became SADO director in March, 2011.

McCowan has been an assistant defender at SADO since 1998, and will retain a portion of her caseload responsibilities while managing the CDRC.

She previously served as staff attorney/pro se clerk in the United States District Court for Michigan’s Eastern District, and has authored numerous editions of the “Defender Habeas Book.”

An experienced educator, McCowan has served as an adjunct professor in Appellate Practice Clinics at both Wayne State University Law School and the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. She also represented the Defendant- Appellee in Renico v Lett, a case recently heard in the United States Supreme Court.

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American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan recently announced that the State Bar of Michigan has named Executive Director Kary L. Moss a 2011 Champion of Justice award recipient. Moss is among only seven practicing lawyers or judges, including Jacqueline Doig, Barry L. Howard, Monica Nuckolls, Edward H. Pappas, Rebecca Shiemke and Judge M.T. Thompson Jr., recognized this year for integrity, superior professional competence and outstanding accomplishments in their communities.

“I’m truly honored to receive this award and hope to continue to exemplify its values of fairness, equality and justice for all,” said Moss.

Moss has served as the executive director of the ACLU of Michigan since 1998. Since joining the staff, she has spearheaded tremendous growth in the organization. In addition to leading two effective capital and operating campaigns, she oversees the organization’s programs that have included high-impact and important civil rights cases, such as the country’s first challenge to the government’s effort to close immigration court hearings to the public and warrantless wiretapping by the National Security Administration. She also serves as the president of the ACLU’s Executive Director Council, representing all state directors in the ACLU.

She earned a Master’s in International Affairs from Columbia University and her law degree from CUNY Law School at Queen’s College. Prior to joining the ACLU of Michigan, she clerked at the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and then served as staff attorney with the ACLU in New York. Moss is a member of the Advisory Board of The Detroit News Editorial Page and American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and has served on the boards of Advocates and Leaders for Police and Community Trust, Citizens United, Michigan Coalition for Justice, and the Ecology Center.

Moss will be officially honored at the State Bar of Michigan Annual Meeting Awards Banquet on Wed., Sept. 14, at the Dearborn Hyatt.

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Plunkett Cooney
Plunkett Cooney recently reclaimed its position on The National Law Journal’s (NLJ) Top 250 annual survey of the nation’s largest law firms.

“Plunkett Cooney continues to grow thanks to the hard work and efforts of our attorneys and staff,” said President and CEO Henry B. Cooney. “To be on the Top 250 list once again is an accomplishment particularly in light of our state’s troubled economy.”

With most of the largest law firms shedding lawyers at a brisk clip in 2010, the NLJ noted that Plunkett Cooney bucked that trend by posting significant growth last year thanks in part to the increased attorney headcount in the litigation, insurance law and banking practice groups. The firm, which fell of the NLJ 250 last in 2003, is ranked 242.

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Miller Canfield
The law firm of Miller Canfield announces that Irene Bruce Hathaway has been appointed resident director of the Detroit office where she will manage the office’s overall operations. She remains a principal of the firm in the Litigation and Trial Group.

For more than 25 years as a litigator, Hathaway has been involved in a wide variety of cases involving industries including manufacturing, food, health care, and franchising.

She earned her law degree from Michigan State University College of Law and her B.A. from the University of Michigan.

Also, Matthew P. Allen, a principal in the Troy office of the law firm of Miller Canfield, recently presented on “Economic Espionage – Protecting Your Intellectual Property Worldwide,” along with the FBI Detroit Division.

Allen, FBI Special Agent Chris Bartolo and other leaders from the FBI Detroit Division discussed the impact of intellectual property theft and corporate espionage in the global marketplace. Allen and Bartolo discussed the various domestic and international resources available to companies to protect their valuable intellectual property assets, as well as how to handle internal corporate IP audits and investigations of alleged IP misappropriation and how best to work with the government in parallel civil and criminal IP proceedings. 

Allen is a business, securities, and intellectual property litigator and trial lawyer who has tried and arbitrated a variety of intellectual property, securities, and business disputes in a wide array of forums. His intellectual property litigation experience includes representing companies in international corporate espionage investigations and prosecutions, and in national and international IP litigation and arbitration. He earned his law degree from Wayne State University Law School, and his B.A. from the State University of New York College at Fredonia. He also served as a judicial law clerk in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

In addition, Miller Canfield announces that it has been “highly recommended” as a leading litigation firm in Michigan in the 5th edition of “Benchmark Litigation: The Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys,” published by Legal Media Group.

The guide gives special recognition to Miller Canfield litigators Thomas W. Cranmer (Commercial Litigation and White-Collar Crime); Gregory L. Curtner (Commercial Litigation and Intellectual Property); Donna J. Donati (Civil Litigation); Michael W. Hartmann (Commercial Litigation); A. Michael Palizzi (Commercial Litigation); Clarence L. Pozza Jr. (Commercial Litigation and Securities) and Carl H. von Ende (Antitrust, Intellectual Property and Securities).

Addition,ally, Clifford W. Taylor, former chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court and of counsel at Miller Canfield, presented “A Forum on Methods of Judicial Selection” along with retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. The Michigan Task Force on Methods of Judicial Selection sponsored the event held at the Wayne State University Law School on June 14 in Detroit.

At Miller Canfield, Taylor appears on behalf of amici curiae on appeals involving federal and state constitutional, statutory and public policy matters. He consults regarding appeal strategy, court decisions and justices, settlement strategy on appeal, and participates in mock appeals and preparation for oral argument on appeal. He also serves as an arbitrator and mediator.

He earned his law degree from the George Washington University Law School and his B.A. from the University of Michigan.

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Michigan Compensation Appellate Commission
Gov. Rick Snyder recently announced the inaugural appointments to the Michigan Compensation Appellate Commission.

The 9-member commission, created by Executive Order 2011-6 to merge the authorities and responsibilities of the Workers’ Compensation Appellate Commission and the Employment Security Board of Review, will consider appeals of decisions issued by magistrates and administrative law examiners in the areas of unemployment and workers’ compensation. Of the nine members initially appointed, three members serve a two-year term expiring July 31, 2013, three members serve a three-year term expiring July 31, 2014, and three members serve a four-year term expiring July 31, 2015.

Jack Wheatley is appointed as chair and Danielle Brown, Garry Goolsby, Patricia Halm, Lester Owczarski, Greg Przybylo, L’Mell Smith, George Wyatt III, and Neal Young are appointed as members.

— Two-year terms expiring July 31, 2013:
Brown, of Troy, has served as an administrative law judge in the Michigan Administrative Hearing System since 2009. She previously worked in the Office of the Public Defender of Washtenaw County and as assistant deputy legal counsel in the executive office of the governor. Brown earned a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and a law degree from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

Halm, of Lansing, has been a member of the Michigan Tax Tribunal since 2003, including serving as chair from 2007 to 2011. She previously served as an administrative law specialist in the Department of Treasury, policy counsel for the Senate Democratic Office and city attorney for the City of Midland. Halm earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Michigan State University and a law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

Owczarski, of West Bloomfield, most recently practiced private law. He previously served as a member of the Michigan Employment Security Board of Review, as an administrative law judge on the Michigan Liquor Control Commission and as a legal assistant to the Workers’ Compensation Board of Magistrates. Owczarski earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Detroit and a law degree from the University of Detroit School of Law.

— Three-year terms expiring July 31, 2014:
Smith, of Lansing, served as a member of the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board from 1988 to 1991 and the Workers’ Compensation Board of Magistrates from 1991 to 2006. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and a law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

Wheatley, of Royal Oak, is an attorney specializing in worker’s compensation, utility regulation and labor law with Lacey & Jones LLP. He also works as a special assistant to the attorney general representing the state in Workers’ Compensation second injury fund cases. He previously served as director of the Michigan Unemployment Agency and director of the Bureau of Workers’ Disability Compensation. Wheatley earned both a bachelor’s and law degree from Wayne State University. He is also named chair to serve at the pleasure of the governor.

Wyatt, of East Lansing, is a member of the Michigan Workers’ Compensation Appellate Commission. He previously worked in private practice for law firms in Saginaw, East Lansing, Flint and Eastpointe. Wyatt earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Vanderbilt University.

— Four-year terms expiring July, 31 2015:
Goolsby, of Lansing, is a member of the Michigan Employment Security Board of Review. He previously served on the Workers’ Compensation Board of Magistrates and the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board. Goolsby has also practiced private law and worked as a special assistant for the attorney general. He earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ohio University and a law degree from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

Przybylo, of Okemos, is the current chair of the Workers’ Compensation Appellate Commission. He previously worked in private practice and as a trial attorney for an East Lansing insurance company. Przybylo earned a bachelor’s degree from Olivet College and a law degree from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

Young, of Grand Rapids, has served as a member of the Michigan Employment Security Board of Review since 1994. He previously worked as an associate focusing on unemployment compensation with the Miller, Johnson, Snell and Cummiskey law firm. Young earned a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and a law degree from the Wayne State University Law School.

All appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.

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Demorest Law Firm, PLLC
David Nykanen, principal at Demorest Law Firm, PLLC in Royal Oak, will be making a roundtable presentation on “Appraisals and Attorneys” at the State Bar of Michigan Real Property Law Section’s Summer Conference, held from July 20-23, at the Grand Traverse Resort in Acme. Nykanen is a member of the Council of the RPLS, its governing body, as well as the former chair of its Continuing Legal Education and State and Local Taxation Committees.

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Dykema Gossett PLLC
Dykema Gossett PLLC recently announced the addition of associate attorney Donald V. Orlandoni to the firm’s office in Bloomfield Hills. Orlandoni graduated from Wayne State University Law School in 2007 and earned his Bachelor of Science in History from the United States Naval Academy in 1995.

Before joining Dykema, Orlandoni successfully represented a diverse range of client business entities in several commercial and real estate litigation matters and in bankruptcy. He was recently named a Michigan “Rising Star” by “Super Lawyers” magazine and will continue his commercial and real estate litigation practice at Dykema, with a focus on representing financial service providers.

In law school, Orlandoni interned at the Supreme Court of Michigan for Justice Maura D. Corrigan.

Before entering law school, Orlandoni worked in the automotive and pharmaceutical industries and earlier served as an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps. He currently chairs the Veterans Committee of the Oakland County Bar Association.

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Butzel Long
Nine Butzel Long attorneys in Michigan are recognized in the “Chambers USA — America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2011 The Client’s Guide.”

Three new additions to the Chambers USA Guide are Butzel Long attorneys Robert A. Boonin, Patrick A. Karbowski and Jordan Schreier.

The following Butzel Long attorneys are highlighted in Chambers USA:
• Robert A. Boonin — Labor and Employment.
• Stephen A. Bromberg — Real Estate.
• Robert G. Buydens — Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation.
• David F. DuMouchel — Litigation: White-Collar Crime and Government Investigations.
• John P. Hancock Jr. — Labor and Employment.
• Patrick A. Karbowski — Real Estate.
• Justin G. Klimko — Corporate/ Mergers and Acquisitions.
• Jordan Schreier — Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation.
• Daniel B. Tukel — Labor and Employment.

Klimko is president and managing Shareholder of Butzel Long and serves on the firm’s Board of Directors. He is based in the firm’s Detroit office.

Klimko has experience in securities regulation, corporate financing, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and general corporate matters, fields in which he has practiced since 1980. Klimko has experience in securities regulation matters for publicly and privately held companies.

Boonin is a shareholder practicing in Butzel Long’s Ann Arbor office.

Boonin’s practice is largely concentrated in the areas of labor, employment discrimination, public contract and education law. He has represented public and private sector clients across the country, in over 30 jurisdictions, in wrongful termination, employment discrimination, wage and hour, tenure proceedings and other employment-related lawsuits and claims, as well as in labor grievance arbitrations, labor negotiations, unfair labor practices and representational proceedings and labor strikes. He is well versed in NLRB issues, having practiced before that agency in many NLRB Regions.

Bromberg is Counsel to Butzel Long and based in the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office. He served as a director and president of Butzel Long. Bromberg has represented borrowers and institutional lenders, purchasers and sellers, non-profit entities and contractors and owners in all kinds of office, commercial shopping center, apartment and subdivisions matters, and major construction and zoning matters and workouts, reorganizations and foreclosures, in years of specialization in real estate transactions and litigation.

Buydens is a shareholder practicing in Butzel Long’s Detroit office. Buydens concentrates his practice in the area of employee benefits including preparation of pension, money purchase, employee stock purchase, and profit sharing plans for individuals, partnerships, corporations and multiple-employer organizations, as well as the preparation of master plans for profit and non-profit corporations. He has experience in providing advice on and drafting welfare benefit plans, including self-funded health care plans, flexible benefit plans, disability plans, and life insurance plans. He is experienced in executive compensation which includes the preparation of deferred compensation plans, management incentive plans, bonus plans and stock option plans. Buydens has been active in the multi-employer and multiple-employer pension area and is experienced in advising clients on plan terminations and withdrawals from multi-employer and multiple-employer plans.

DuMouchel is a shareholder practicing in Butzel Long’s Detroit office. DuMouchel chairs the firm’s Corporate Compliance, Internal Investigations and Criminal Defense practice. DuMouchel’s practice is limited to 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.

Hancoc is a shareholder based in Butzel Long’s Detroit office. Hancock’s practice focuses on collective bargaining negotiations and arbitrations as well as counseling of both public and private employers. He also has done employment litigation and OSHA litigation. Hancock has served as chief negotiator in numerous collective bargaining negotiations for public schools, municipal and public utilities as well as clients in various other businesses ranging from casinos to steel plants to hospitals and country clubs. A good portion of his practice is devoted to counseling clients on employment issues.

Karbowski is a shareholder practicing in Butzel Long’s Bloomfield Hills office. His practice includes both transactions and litigation, with concentrations in the areas of real estate and general business. Karbowski has served as the chairperson of the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan and is an ex officio member of its governing Council, as well as a member of many of its committees including its Pro Bono and ADR Committees. He is a member of the Real Estate Advisory Board for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education. He has also served as an adjunct professor of law teaching Real Estate Transactions at the Ave Maria School of Law.

Schreier is a shareholder in Butzel Long’s Ann Arbor office. He is a vice-president of the firm, serves on the firm’s Board of Directors and is the Practice Group Leader for the Employee Benefits Practice Group. He represents clients primarily in the area of ERISA, employee benefits and compensation. Schreier’s practice primarily involves advising profit and nonprofit employers on planning and compliance issues involving all aspects of employee benefits, including welfare benefits, qualified retirement and other deferred compensation plans.

Tukel is a shareholder practicing in Butzel Long’s Detroit office and serves as chair of the firm’s Labor and Employment Law Department. Tukel’s practice is devoted to representing both public and private employers in state and federal discrimination and wrongful discharge litigation, as well as traditional labor matters such as collective bargaining and union organizational drives. He regularly counsels employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, in statutory compliance and in creating, implementing and administering employee handbooks and other personnel policies and practices.

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