LEGAL PEOPLE

Nemeth Law PC is the new name of the management side labor and employment law firm formerly known as Nemeth Burwell PC. The name change was announced by Patricia Nemeth, who originally founded the firm in 1992 as the law offices of Patricia Nemeth. * * * Andrew B. Wachler, with fellow attorney Don Romano, presented "Latest Developments in Medicare and Medicaid Audits and the Impact of Recent CMS Rulemaking on Part A and Part B Reimbursement" on Sept. 30 at the AHLA/HCCA 2013 Fraud and Compliance Forum in Baltimore. The presentation focused on: * The impact of the CMS Final Rule regarding billing on the submission of claims for Part B reimbursement, including a specific focus on the timeliness of filing requirements under the rule. * The impact of the new definition of inpatient and observation status. * Strategic appeal strategies and proactive compliance measures that health care providers and their counsel should implement based upon these recent developments. The AHLA is a 10,000-member national, nonpartisan educational organization devoted to legal issues in health care. AHLA provides resources to address the issues facing members who practice in law firms, government, in-house settings and academia; and who represent the broad spectrum of the health industry, ranging from physicians and hospitals to HMOs and nursing homes. The Health Care Compliance Association is a compliance and ethics group with more than 6,500 members dedicated to providing resources for industry professionals worldwide. Wachler also participated on a panel at the National Risk Retention Association 2013 Conference in Washington, D.C. that examined the impact of the Affordable Care Act on Medicare and Medicaid RAC audits. Panelists discussed the Accountable Care Act, including the different types of audit contractors and audit appeals processes and potential coverage solutions. The panel explored the most recent risk areas targeted by audit contractors and provided effective compliance strategies and other strategies that physicians may implement to prevent future claim denials and mitigate the risks of overpayment. 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. * * * The law firm of Miller Canfield is pleased to announce that it has been selected as the 2013 Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year by the Legal Aid and Defender Association, a nonprofit organization and the largest provider of free civil legal services to low-income residents of Michigan. "We are honored to receive this award and appreciate the privilege of working with the Legal Aid and contributing to their important work," said Michael McGee, CEO of Miller Canfield. "The firm is proud to continue its long history of supporting local communities by providing pro bono legal services." Earlier this year, Miller Canfield was also named in the 2013 Pro Bono Circle of Excellence by the State Bar of Michigan for its contributions to pro bono work. In selecting Miller Canfield as the Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year, LAD specifically cited the firm's efforts in representing the association's clients in expungement hearings. Before Miller Canfield began taking these cases, clients often appeared on their own behalf against trained prosecutors. LAD also commended Miller Canfield's efforts to help with Macomb County Assisted Pro Se Divorce Clinics in 2012 and 2013. As part of the clinics, lawyers consulted with individuals to review their pleadings, answer questions and offer advice on issues specific to their cases. Miller Canfield will receive the Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year award at the 2013 Laddy's Pro Bono Awards on Nov. 21, at the Theodore Levin United States Courthouse in Detroit. The ceremony will be hosted in the chief judge's Courtroom at 3 p.m. followed by a reception in the Grand Assembly Room. * * * Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, and Cohn LLP partners Jennifer Sheehan Anderson, Anessa Kramer, Michael A. Lisi, and Julie Kretzschmer Reitz have been named to International Trademark Association (INTA) committees for 2014 to 2016. INTA is a global association of trademark owners and professionals dedicated to supporting trademarks and related intellectual property in order to protect consumers and to promote fair and effective commerce. Honigman's IP attorneys serve clients locally, nationally and internationally. Anderson, who has been appointed for a second term to INTA's Pro Bono Committee, is a partner in Honigman's Intellectual Property (IP) Department and its Trademark and Copyright Practice Group. She is an experienced intellectual property attorney who provides guidance on a wide range of matters in the U.S. and international markets, including global clearance and filing strategies for trademarks and enforcement and defense of trademarks. Anderson also has experience in intellectual property due diligence and transfers, and custom registration of Intellectual Property Rights. Anderson has been recognized by Michigan Super Lawyers as a "Rising Star" in 2010 and 2011 and named an "IP Star" by Managing Intellectual Property magazine in 2013. She served as chair of the Intellectual Property Law Section for the State Bar of Michigan in 2010 and 2011. Anderson earned a law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and a B.A. from the University of Maryland-College Park. Kramer, who has been appointed to a second term on INTA's Famous and Well-Known Marks Committee, is a partner in Honigman's IP Department, and its Trademark and Copyright and IP Litigation Practice Groups. Kramer represents a number of owners of well-known brands, counseling them on issues such as global clearance and filing strategies, IP management, trademark enforcement and litigation, and trademark licensing. She also has experience with cutting-edge areas of trademark law, including trade dress protection, dilution and anti-cybersquatting. Kramer has handled well more than 100 U.S. trademark oppositions. In addition, she is a founding member of the Michigan Intellectual Property American Inn of Court and serves as its membership chair. Kramer was recently recognized as an "IP Star" and one of the "Top 250 Women in IP" by Managing Intellectual Property magazine. She has been recognized in Michigan Super Lawyers from 2010 through 2013, as a DBusiness magazine "Top Lawyer" in 2012 and 2013 and in The Best Lawyers in America in 2014. She was also named by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as one of 25 "Leaders in the Law" in 2010. Kramer earned a law degree from George Washington University Law School and a B.A. from Michigan State University. Lisi, who has been appointed to INTA's Legal Practice Resources Committee, is a partner in Honigman's IP Department, leader of the firm's Trademark and Copyright Practice Group and a member of its IP Litigation Practice Group. He has more than 25 years of experience in assisting clients in developing strategic and cost effective programs to manage, purchase, sell, license, and protect and enforce intellectual property assets in the U.S. and around the world. He leads a team of trademark and copyright attorneys and specialists in conducting IP audits, due diligence and evaluations, and in planning, costing and implementing trademark, copyright and domain name portfolio management programs, as well as related investigation, enforcement and anti-counterfeiting campaigns. Lisi has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America from 2008 through 2014 and as a DBusiness magazine "Top Lawyer" from 2011 through 2013. He was named "IP Star" by Managing Intellectual Property magazine in 2013. He also serves INTA as editor of its Trademark Cancellations: International Practice and Procedures database and as chair of its Publications Committee. Lisi earned a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and a B.A. from Carleton College. Reitz, who has been appointed to INTA's Public Resources Committee, is a partner in Honigman's Intellectual Property Department and a member of its Trademark and Copyright Practice Group. She focuses her practice on trademark, copyright and franchise law, primarily assisting large organizations manage their trademark and franchise needs globally. Her clients include national and multi-national franchisors and clients with distinguished trademark portfolios. Reitz was recognized by Michigan Super Lawyers as a "Rising Star" in 2013. She is a member of the State Bar of Michigan's Intellectual Property and Anti-Trust/Franchising Sections. Reitz is also a member of the Michigan Intellectual Property Law Association and the American Bar Association's Forum on Franchising. She earned a law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School and a B.A. from Michigan State University. In addition, James F. Kamp has joined Honigman as a partner in the firm's Intellectual Property Department's IP Litigation Practice Group. He will be located in Honigman's Oakland County office. Honigman's IP practice serves clients locally, nationally and internationally. Kamp has practiced law for nearly 30 years and brings with him experience in successfully navigating the boundaries of law and science for the benefit of his clients. His areas of focus include IP litigation, patent prosecution, patent opinions and licensing, and strategic counseling, particularly in the biotechnology and life sciences fields. His patent applications and opinions relate to bioinformatics, genomics, proteomics, biochemistry, imaging, microbiology, immunology, hematology, medical devices, biomaterials, and research, diagnostic and clinical tools. He earned a law degree from Wayne State University Law School and an M.S. in Interdepartmental Biological Sciences from Michigan State University. Kamp received a B.S. in Microbiology from the University of Michigan. He is licensed to practice law in Michigan. Kamp joins Honigman from Rader, Fishman, & Grauer PLLC in Bloomfield Hills. Honigman is also pleased to announce that Amber A. Hay, an attorney in its Corporate Department, has been named one of the Michigan Chronicle's "40 under 40" for 2013. The award identifies individuals who are young leaders making decisions that will ultimately equip Detroit to compete and thrive in the global market. Hay assists with publicly and privately held company mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, business formation, corporate restructuring, debt financing, information technology outsourcing and other corporate matters. While in law school, she was a summer associate at Honigman and earned the firm's Jack Miller Scholarship, which is named after one of the firm's founding partners. She earned a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and a B.A. in economics and a minor in African studies from the University of Michigan. * * * Rutledge, Manion, Rabaut, Terry, & Thomas PC is proud to announce that Hannah McAuliffe Doherty has joined the firm as an associate. She will work on general liability and medical malpractice defense matters. Doherty received her law degree from Wayne State University Law School and her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan. * * * Warner, Norcross, & Judd LLP recently welcomed two new attorneys to the law firm. The new attorneys have been admitted to the State Bar of Michigan and will practice in the firm's Southfield office. They are: --Amy L. Fredrickson, who received her law degree from Wayne State University Law School. She also earned a bachelor of arts with honors in international relations from Michigan State University. She served as an intern for Michigan Supreme Court Justice Marilyn Kelly and as a consultant for Consulting Services Support Corp. in Troy. --Patrick M. Gunton, who received his law degree from Wayne State University Law School. He also earned a bachelor of arts in history from the University of Michigan and a secondary-education teaching certificate from Oakland University. He has served as a legal intern with auto supplier Robert Bosch. * * * Rader, Fishman, & Grauer PLLC is pleased to congratulate attorney Bradley W. Bidwell on being selected to the 2013 Michigan Rising Stars® list. Bidwell's practice encompasses all aspects of international and domestic trademark prosecution, including enforcement, protection and portfolio management. He also has experience with domestic and international in-use investigations, and trademark prosecution before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. In addition to Bidwell's trademark practice, he also has experience with patent and trade secret litigation in Federal Court, including briefing, oral argumentation, and discovery. Bidwell earned a law degree from Wayne State University and a B.A. in Sociology and Anthropology from Kalamazoo College. * * * Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC is pleased to announce that twenty-five of its attorneys have been named to DBusiness Top Lawyers 2014. They were selected through a process which included a peer review survey that polled more than 18,000 private attorneys in Oakland, Wayne, Macomb, Washtenaw, and Livingston counties. The Howard & Howard attorneys named in DBusinesss Top Lawyers 2014 and the area(s) they are listed under are as follows: Dean W. Amburn, Information Technology Law. Gustaf R. Andreasen, Franchise Law. Jess A. Bahs, Tax Law. Michael J. Beals, Corporate Law. Brandon J. Booth, Corporate Law. Joseph J. DeVito, Corporate Law and Mergers & Acquisitions Law. Stephen P. Dunn, Litigation - Commercial. Michael O. Fawaz, Appellate Law. Robert E. Graziani, Insurance Law. Lisa S. Gretchko, Banking & Financial Service Law; Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law; and Commercial Law. Samuel J. Haidle, Intellectual Property and Patent Law. J. Patrick Howe, Food and Beverage Law. Jeffrey A. Hoover, Banking & Financial Service Law and Mergers & Acquisitions Law. Kristopher K. Hulliberger, Litigation - Patents. Robert B. Johnston, Employee Benefits Law. Rodger A. Kershner, Energy Law. Jon D. Kreucher, Commercial Law and Energy Law. David M. LaPrairie, Intellectual Property and Patent Law. Henry P. Lee, Corporate Law; Tax Law; and Trusts and Estates. Patrick M. McCarthy, Litigation - Commercial. Richard M. Miettinen, Corporate Law. Gary A. Peters, Environmental Law. Mark W. Peyser, Litigation - Commercial. Brad A. Rayle, Alternative Dispute Resolution. Jeffrey A. Sadowski, Information Technology Law; Intellectual Property and Patent Law; and Litigation - Intellectual Property. Lee A. Sartori, Tax Law. Published: Mon, Nov 4, 2013