LEGAL PEOPLE

Dykema Gossett PLLC, a national law firm, recently announced the addition of Edward C. Wolfe as a member of the firm in the Litigation department in Dykema's Bloomfield Hills office. Prior to joining Dykema, Wolfe served in the office of the general counsel with General Motors Company where he was responsible for supervising the company's Electronic Discovery and Discovery Processes on a global basis.

Wolfe concentrates his practice in the areas of discovery and electronic discovery (e-discovery), including global discovery processes, information management; complex class actions and product liability litigation. In the areas of discovery, e-discovery and information management, Wolfe is experienced in the development and rollout of methodologies and policies related to the creation, management, distribution and retention of information in all media platforms. Wolfe has experience in negotiating and managing electronic information vendor contracts to meet increasing performance requirements. Wolfe has managed large teams of discovery personnel, and also collaborated with attorneys and business unit representatives throughout the world on all matters relating to litigation and the discovery search and response process.

In the area of general litigation, Wolfe has a wide variety of experience in complex class actions - including MDL proceedings - as well as in contract, commercial, dealer and product liability litigation.

Wolfe is a member of the steering committee for the Sedona Conference Working Group on Electronic Document Retention and Production. Since joining The Sedona Conference in 2004, Wolfe has participated in the writing, editing and publication of papers including "The Sedona Guidelines: Best Practice Guidelines and Commentary for Managing Information and Records in the Electronic Age;" "The Sedona Conference on Legal Holds;" "The Sedona Conference on Email Management;" and "A Nutshell on Negotiating E-Discovery Search Protocols." He is also a former board member of the Corporate E-Discovery Forum (CEDF). Wolfe earned his B.A. from John Carroll University and his law degree from the University of Notre Dame.

Dykema also recently announced the appointment of Jin-Kyu Koh as leader. Koh is based in the Detroit office and served as the office managing member of the Detroit Office for the past four years.

The Korean Business Team is a cross-disciplinary team consisting of approximately 25 lawyers dedicated to providing the full array of legal services to Korean-based companies operating in the United States, as well as to multi-national companies operating in Korea.

The recent passage of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement will serve as a catalyst for ever increasing activity here in the United States for Korean based companies, as well as increased activities of U.S. companies operating in Korea.

"For Korean-based companies who seek top-tier, effective and practical legal representation, one that really understands their culture and business, we look to become their 'go-to' resource," said Koh.

Koh, who was born in Seoul, has experience in all matters of corporate finance, from mergers and acquisitions to public and private offerings of equity and debt securities to angel and venture capital financings. In addition, he provides general corporate representation to firms in the information technology, biotechnology and life sciences, casino gaming and sports and entertainment industries.

Additionally, the firm is pleased to announce that its Antitrust and Trade Regulation practice group was named to the Law360 Competition 100, a list of the 100 largest Competition practices in the U.S., as identified in Law360's annual survey. The survey is conducted among law firms with 100 or more lawyers as well as select boutique firms.

Dykema's Antitrust and Trade Regulation group is an interdisciplinary team that draws upon lawyers from the firm's litigation, corporate, government policy and intellectual property practices. As reflected in this year's Law360 report, Dykema ranks as the 57th largest Competition practice in the U.S., and the largest of any firm based in Michigan, where Dykema was founded 86 years ago.

Dykema's Antitrust and Trade Regulation practice spans an array of industries worldwide. The firm advises clients in such realms as automotive, finance, health care, sports, computer hardware and software, military, medical devices, consumer products, transportation and energy.

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Chosen from nearly 400 nominees, Richard Bernstein and Norman Yatooma of were named to L. Brooks Patterson's "elite 40 Under 40" at the State of the County address on February 8.

Both attorneys were chosen for representing the best of Oakland County, excelling in his field while working to improve the quality of life for the community by giving back.

"The members of my 'Elite 40 Under 40' represent where Oakland County is headed tomorrow: charging into the knowledge-based economy, providing strong leadership and engaged in improving the quality of life in our region," said Patterson in his 2012 State of the County address.

"The 'Elite 40' represent my vision for Oakland County. These young men and women truly make a statement about the talent that abounds in Oakland County, and as far as I'm concerned, confirm a bright future for our region and our country."

Bernstein, an associate partner with The Sam Bernstein Law Firm, has won many high-profile cases, representing clients who otherwise would not have a voice and the resources to fight injustice. He challenged the City of Detroit, and won, when wheelchair lifts on city buses were not maintained. He fought for disabled access to the University of Michigan football stadium, and won. He also led successful fights to retain special education programs in Michigan schools and maintain proper and safe street crossings for disabled pedestrians, among additional victories in personal injury cases.

A graduate of the University of Michigan and the Northwestern University Law School, Bernstein has been blind since birth. He has overcome his disability in significant ways, including working to successfully complete multiple marathons and triathlons. He has also taught courses in political science at the University of Michigan and held statewide office as the chair of the Board of Governors at Wayne State University.

Yatooma practices in all Michigan trial and appellate courts, as well as before federal courts and arbitration panels across the United States. He has been admitted to practice in state and federal courts in Michigan, as well as before the federal courts of Florida, California, Utah, and Louisiana.

Norman Yatooma founded Norman Yatooma & Associates PC in August of 2000, after leaving Butzel Long PC. Yatooma represents corporate and individual clients on a domestic and international level, personally concentrating his litigation practice in franchise, class action and corporate law and has represented hundreds of businesses and individuals throughout the world in both litigation and transactional work.

In addition to his many professional accomplishments, Yatooma has continued to maintain his standing in the community through his involvement in many charitable organizations, including his role as founder and president of Yatooma's Foundation For The Kids founded in the name and memory of his late father. Yatooma also serves as chairman and president of Charity Motors, Inc., board member of the Alzheimer's Association, advisory board member of the Anti-Defamation League, advisory board member of Oak Park Business and Education Alliance, board member of the Band of Angels, and council member of the Oakland County Sheriff's Advisory Council.

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Intellectual property law firm Brooks Kushman PC has been ranked as one of the largest intellectual property practices in the world. National legal publication Law360 released its "IP 100" list, which recognizes law firms based on the total number of attorneys in the intellectual property practices.

"This recognition from Law360 confirms yet again that Brooks Kushman is a major international player in IP law," said Mark A. Cantor, president of Brooks Kushman. "We're thrilled to continue growing, both in Detroit and Los Angeles, with extremely talented patent and trademark attorneys and are excited that Law360 chose to recognize our growth and prominence in the field."

Brooks Kushman's place at Number 70 on Law360's "Top 100" list comes after a year of accolades, further reinforcing the expertise and leadership of the firm's attorneys. In January, the firm announced that ten attorneys were named to International Trademark Association (INTA) committees for the 2012-2013 term, which is based on a selective application process.

Brooks Kushman president Mark A. Cantor and shareholder Frank A. Angileri were named to the 2011 Best Lawyers in America list in the IP category. Additionally, five intellectual property attorneys at the firm were named to the 2011 Michigan Super Lawyers listing for the second straight year, while three of Brooks Kushman's up-and-coming attorneys were honored as 2011 Rising Stars.

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John Bruno has been named vice president and deputy general counsel at The Auto Club Group (ACG).

Bruno was most recently a partner at Locke Lord, LLP, a national law firm with more than 700 attorneys. He has more than 28 years experience in the financial industry as regulator, attorney and investment banker. Bruno has an extensive knowledge of banking and consumer finance law, regulations, policies and procedures as well as corporate law, including mergers and acquisitions.

He has provided legal and financial counsel to numerous boards and senior managements and has successfully completed several precedent-setting transactions in the financial institutions area.

A 1980 graduate of The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration, Bruno received a law degree from The Ohio State University College of Law in 1983. He is active in the OSU Alumni Association and has established the Bruno Family Fund to provide scholarships to students attending OSU.

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Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak, & Stewart PC, a labor and employment law firm, welcomes Matthew Carmona as an associate to the firm's metro Detroit office. Carmona is an experienced litigator in both employment and traditional labor matters across a broad array of industries including telecommunications, automotive, financial, and municipal. He is experienced in guiding employers through the growing workplace issue of wage and hour compliance, and represents employers in all aspects of discrimination claims, retaliation, wrongful discharge, and other employment torts.

Prior to joining Ogletree Deakins, Carmona was with Fraser, Trebilcock, Davis, & Dunlap PC. Earlier in his career, he served as the Labor Relations manager for The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. (Bloomberg BNA). At Bloomberg BNA, he was responsible for representing management in all aspects of BNA's relationship with its labor union, including employee performance management, grievances, arbitrations, collective bargaining, employment discrimination lawsuits, and counseling managers on a variety of labor and employment issues. Carmona's arrival, combined with the additions of associates Donelle Buratto and Miyuki Oshima, deepens the bench strength of the metro Detroit office.

Carmona gained litigation experience as an integral part of the trial team for one of the largest Act 312 proceedings in the State of Michigan which resulted in unprecedented employer gains in pension reform. He also served on a team of attorneys that defended a class action health care benefits lawsuit in state court, which concluded with a facilitated settlement resulting in more than $20 million of annual employer savings while maintaining low cost and quality health care options for the class members.

Carmona is an active member of the State Bar of Michigan, the American Bar Association's Labor and Employment Section, the Shamrock Bar Association, and the Michigan Public Employer Labor Relations Association. He earned his law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2004 and graduated from Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations.

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Andrew B. Wachler of Wachler & Associates PC spoke to the Healthcare Financial Management Association chapters from Missouri and Illinois in St. Louis.

The presentation was titled, "The Current Landscape of Medicaid and Medicare Contractors." The program provided an update on the key players in the Medicare and Medicaid audit landscape including Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs), Medicaid Integrity Contractors (MICs), MACs and ZPICs.

It also addressed two demonstration programs recently announced by CMS: the Part A to Part B Rebilling Demonstration Program and the Recovery Auditor Pre-Payment Review Demonstration Program.

Wachler has been practicing health care law for more than 25 years. He counsels health care providers and organizations nationwide in a variety of health care legal matters. In addition, he writes and speaks nationally to professional organizations and other entities on health care law topics such as Medicare appeals, Stark and fraud and abuse, HIPAA, and other topics.

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Jonathan C. Myers has been named partner at Southfield-based Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer, & Weiss PC. Jaffe CEO Richard Zussman made the announcement.

Myers is a member of the firm's Insolvency and Reorganization practice group, with a focus on bankruptcy, insolvency, and commercial litigation.

He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and is a graduate of Wayne State University Law School.

A published author and frequent speaker, Myers is a member of several professional associations and committees including the American Bankruptcy Institute and the State Bar of Michigan's Business Law Section and Debtor/Creditor Rights Committee.

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Stephen McKenney has joined Neuman Anderson PC, a Birmingham-based business law firm specializing in complex commercial litigation. Neuman Anderson PC Managing Partner Kenneth Neuman made the announcement.

McKenney concentrates his practice in complex commercial litigation. Prior to joining Neuman Anderson, he ran a private practice and served as a law clerk from 2002-2003 for United States District Judge James C. Cacheris, Eastern District of Virginia. McKenney has served as lead trial counsel in numerous civil cases, with trial experience in both state and federal courts.

A 1999 graduate of John Carroll University and a 2002 graduate of Michigan State University College of Law, McKenney is a member of the State Bar of Michigan Litigation Section and is licensed to practice in the state courts in Michigan, the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, the United States Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the United States Tax Court.

McKenney will work out of the firm's new Birmingham office located at 401 South Old Woodward, Suite 460.

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Wolfson Bolton PLLC is pleased to announce that attorney H. Roger Mali has joined the law firm. The announcement was made by Scott Wolfson, member, Wolfson Bolton PLLC.

Mali, who was previously a partner at Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, and Cohn LLP's Real Estate Department, will concentrate his practice on complex corporate and real estate transactions.

Mali is a member of the State Bar of Michigan (Business Law Section, Section Development Director since 2006), International Council of Shopping Centers and the Urban Land Institute. In addition, he is involved in the community at Cranbrook Schools as part of the Board of Governors and a Trout Unlimited Member.

He has been recognized by Michigan Super Lawyers as a Rising Star from 2009-2011.

Mali is a graduate of Cranbrook High School, Bowdoin College (BA), and Wayne State University Law School.

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Dickinson Wright attorney Henry M. Grix is proud to announce he has become a community partner of the Southeast Michigan program of LEAVE A LEGACY. Through their partnership, Grix maintains his commitment to the community by supporting and promoting the need for individuals to support their favorite charities in their wills or estate plans.

Grix is a member in the firm's Troy office. His practice focuses on the areas of estate planning and administration, nonprofit organizations and taxation. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America and Michigan Super Lawyers for his work in the areas of trusts and estates. Grix received a B.A., and his law degree from the University of Michigan.

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Maddin, Hauser, Wartell, Roth, & Heller PC, a Southfield-based law firm, announced the hiring of Daniel Warsh as an associate attorney.

Warsh began working at Maddin Hauser in May 2011 as a summer associate. His responsibilities included performing legal research and drafting memorandums on bankruptcy, real estate, corporate and employment-law related matters.

Warsh's experience also includes an internship with the Michigan Supreme Court in the chambers of Michigan Supreme Court Justice Diane Hathaway, where he worked on cases involving criminal and civil matters.

He earned his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. Warsh also graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania.

Published: Mon, Feb 20, 2012