LEGAL PEOPLE

Potestivo & Associates P.C.

Potestivo & Associates PC is pleased to announce the hiring of Jeremy L. Marks who will serve as supervising bankruptcy attorney in the firm's downtown Rochester office.

Marks joined Potestivo & Associates PC in July. Marks works at the firm's Rochester office and serves as the supervising bankruptcy attorney in the Michigan Bankruptcy Department.

Marks graduated from Michigan State University with a B.A in Political Science Pre-Law. He then went on to obtain his law degree in 2009 from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing. During his time in law school, he served as an extern in the preliminary hearings division for the Michigan Court of Appeals.

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Secrest Wardle

Secrest Wardle Executive Partner Margaret Scott, and law clerk Laura Ivezaj, both of the firm's Troy location, attended the Women Officials Network (WON) Foundation's quarterly networking breakfast on June 9.

At the event, Scott was elected to the WON Board of Directors for a one year term. Oakland County 52-4 District Court Judge Kirsten N. Hartig and Oakland County Probate Court Judge Jennifer S. Callaghan were also elected to one year positions on the Board.

The breakfast was held at the Doyle Center in Bloomfield Hills. Guest speaker Beth Talbert, creator and director of Oakland University's Women's Leadership Institute, presented the topic "Advancing Women in Leadership What the Numbers Really Say." Talbert is a faculty member and serves as the chief undergraduate adviser in the Communication program at Oakland University.

Scott is an executive partner located in Secrest Wardle's Troy location. She is a member of the firm's Motor Vehicle Litigation, Municipal, and Property, Fire and Casualty Practice Groups.

Scott received the Bob Sattler Award by the North Central Regional Chapter-International Association of Auto Theft Investigators in 2007. She also received an Award for Professional Excellence for services provided to the Michigan State Police characterized by outstanding performance of duty and a personal commitment to the excellence associated with the prosecution of a 1998 Western Wayne Auto Theft Unit investigation. Scott has been awarded the William V. Liddane Award by the Help Eliminate Auto Theft (H.E.A.T.) Organization in recognition of her advocacy in reducing auto-theft related crimes in Michigan.

Scott is a member of the Michigan Lawyers Weekly Class of 2015 "Women in the Law," recognized for her meaningful and inspiring contributions made to the legal community. She is past chair of the Michigan Anti-Car Theft Campaign Committee. Currently, Scott serves as chair of the Michigan Arson Prevention Committee's Governmental Resource Committee. Scott has also been awarded a Challenge Coin by the North Oakland County Veteran's Treatment Court for her involvement in the program in her role as a district court prosecutor.

Established in 1997, Women Officials Network envisions more women in leadership positions at all levels of government. WON empowers the leaders of today and mentors women leaders of tomorrow while encouraging women to become involved in public policy through elected and appointed office.

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 District Michigan Court of Appeals

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder recently announced the appointment of Thomas Cameron to the 1st District Michigan Court of Appeals.

Cameron has been on the Third Circuit Court in Wayne County since being appointed in April 2014. Cameron played a lead role in reforming the indigent defense appointments process in Wayne County. Prior to serving as a judge, Cameron was an assistant attorney general and bureau chief in the Department of Attorney General and an assistant prosecutor in Wayne and Kalamazoo counties.

Cameron is active in professional organizations including the Michigan Judges Association where he serves as the co-chair of the Criminal Committee, Michigan Domestic & Sexual Violence Prevention & Treatment Board, the Federalist Society, the Boy Scouts of America, and the Incorporated Society of Irish American Lawyers. He is a graduate of the Michigan Political Leadership Program and previously served as both vice chair and chair of the Michigan Commission of Law Enforcement Standards and as a board member of the Prosecution Attorneys Coordinating Counsel.

Cameron earned a bachelor's degree from Western Michigan University and his law degree from Wayne State University Law School. He fills the vacancy created by the appointment of Justice Kurtis Wilder to the Michigan Supreme Court.

Cameron must seek election in November 2018 for the remainder of the term.

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Allen Brothers PLLC

Two attorneys experienced in municipal law will serve as special counsel for Allen Brothers PLLC, partners of the Detroit firm announced recently.

John M. Nader, who previously served as executive vice president and general counsel to the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, will focus on commercial litigation, real property law, contracts, and government regulation.

Nader, who earned a law degree from Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University, has 27 years of experience in real property, municipal and corporate law. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Law Society of Upper Canada and the Essex Law Association of Ontario.

Neil B. Pioch, formerly of Sommers Schwarz PC, will focus on litigation, municipal law and employment matters. Pioch also handles the weekly criminal docket for the City of Inkster and has prosecuted large class and collective actions in federal courts throughout the country.

Named a Super Lawyers' "Rising Star" attorney in 2009-2012, Pioch earned a law degree from Wayne State University Law School. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the American Bar Association.

Allen Brothers PLLC is now headed by David W. Jones. The firm focuses on nine practice areas, including labor and employment, municipal finance, real estate and criminal defense law.

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Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss, P.C.

Detroit Public Television's Board of Directors elected attorney Kenneth John Clarkson as a new members.

Clarkson is a partner in the Southfield office of Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer & Weiss and a member of its Real Estate Practice Group. He has experience with the development of senior living facilities including independent, assisted, and memory care projects.

He also serves on the Board of Directors and Finance Committee of Bedrock Community Development Support, a Michigan non-profit corporation that assists in the development of housing for low income, seniors, veterans, and homeless persons and related services.

Clarkson is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School.

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Wayne County Circuit Court

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder recently announced the appointment of Prentis Edwards Jr. to the Wayne County Circuit Court.

Edwards has been on the Wayne County 36th District Court in Detroit since his appointment in November 2011. Prior to serving as a judge, Edwards was an assistant prosecuting attorney for the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office where he served on the Special Operations Community Prosecution Unit Trials Division prosecuting complex serious violent crimes.

Edwards is a member of the Detroit Bar Association, the Wolverine Bar Association, the Association of Black Judges of Michigan, as well as a member of the Charles H. Wright Museum and a mock trial coordinator. He also has additional professional and community service with the State Bar of Michigan Diversity Inclusion Advisory Committee, the Governmental Bar Association, the NAACP Detroit Chapter, the Michigan Indigent Defendant's Advisory Committee, and the Michigan Supreme Court Administrative Office, Time Guidelines Committee.

Edwards earned a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University in 2002 and his law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2005. He will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Thomas Cameron. Edwards must seek election in November 2018 for a full six-year term.

Published: Mon, Jul 17, 2017