LEGAL PEOPLE

Potestivo & Associates PC is pleased to announce the hiring of Nathan Lichtman. He joined the attorney team on Monday, Nov. 11, and will be located at the firm's Rochester Hills office serving as an associate attorney. Lichtman will be assisting with the firm's Illinois operations. He has an established presence at the firm as he has been employed as a title coordinator/law clerk at the Rochester Hills office since March 2013. In 2002, Lichtman completed his B.A. in Communications at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He also earned a M.A. in Journalism from Marquette University, where he graduated in 2004. In May 2012, Nathan earned his law degree at the University of Detroit Mercy Law School. Prior to joining Potestivo & Associates PC, Lichtman worked for over two years as a Title Review Law Clerk at a Detroit area law firm. During his final year of law school, he was a member of the Veterans Appellate Clinic and assisted with representing disabled veterans for potential appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Lichtman is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the Oakland County Bar Association. * * * Ossian Law PC is pleased to announce that Kathryn Ossian has been named to the DBusiness Top Lawyers 2014 list for Information Technology Law. Ossian has been listed in this category continuously since 2011. Ossian Law PC is based in Ferndale and focuses exclusively on Information Technology Law. * * * Foley announced today that it has been named the U.S. News - Best Lawyers® "Law Firm of the Year - Health Care Law" for the third consecutive year. Foley received 26 national first-tier rankings as well as 129 first-tier rankings on the 2014 U.S. News - Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms" list. Foley's first-tier rankings include: National First-Tier Rankings * Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. * Biotechnology Law. * Commercial Litigation. * Corporate Law. * Derivatives and Futures Law. * Environmental Law. * Franchise Law. * Health Care Law. * Land Use & Zoning Law. * Litigation - Bankruptcy. * Litigation - Construction. * Litigation - Intellectual Property. * Litigation - Patent. * Litigation - Real Estate. * Litigation - Securities. * Litigation - Tax. * Mining Law. * Patent Law. * Public Finance Law. * Real Estate Law. * Securities/Capital Markets Law. * Securities Regulation. * Sports Law. * Tax Law. * Trademark Law. * Trusts & Estates Law Local Metropolitan First-Tier Rankings Detroit * Commercial Litigation. * Corporate Law. * Employment Law - Management. * Government Relations Practice. * Health Care Law. * Labor Law - Management. * Litigation - Bankruptcy. * Litigation - Labor & Employment. * Securities/Capital Markets Law. * Securities Regulation. * * * David M. Thoms, a principal at Miller Canfield, has been elected to a three-year term on the board of directors of the French-American Foundation of New York City. The French-American Foundation works to enrich the relationship between France and the United States by bringing together leaders to discuss issues such as education, immigration, defense, energy, business and urban development, among other issues. Thoms has been a leader in the French-American community for years. His service includes being a longtime board member and current president of the Alliance Française de Grosse Pointe and a past president of the French Festival of Detroit. He is a former board member and past president of the Federation of Alliances Françaises-USA and a current board member of the American Society of the French Academic Palms. He was awarded the Officier dans l'Ordre des Palmes Academiques by the French Government for his contributions to French culture and education. At Miller Canfield, Thoms spends time in both the New York City and Troy. offices. He assists clients with their business, estate and succession planning matters as well as assisting non-profit and charitable organizations with policy, tax, compliance, governance and fundraising. Thoms earned his law degrees from University of Detroit-Mercy School of Law and Wayne State University Law School. He also earned his bachelor's degree from Kalamazoo College and a master's degree in urban planning from Wayne State. * * * Andrew B. Wachler spoke on Medicare and Medicaid audit contractors to members of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice at the group's 2013 conference in Washington, D.C. The program focused on specific home health and hospice issues that contractors target during Medicare and Medicaid audits, an area in which home health and hospice providers are experiencing increased scrutiny. NAHC is the largest professional association representing the interests of Americans who need home care (including acute, long-term, and terminal care) and the caregivers that provide them with in-home health and supportive services. Wachler has been practicing health care law for over 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. * * * Plante Moran announced that CPA and attorney Dean Rocheleau will serve as office tax director of Plante Moran's new Detroit office, which is scheduled to open Nov.18 in the Compuware Building. Rocheleau, who joined Plante Moran in 1980 and became a tax partner in 1989, is currently based in the Southfield office. His practice has an emphasis on real estate and construction and he has specialized expertise in the taxation of limited liability companies, partnerships, and S corporations and their owners. Rocheleau earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting from Western Michigan University and a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants, the Financial and Estate Planning Council of Metropolitan Detroit (Past President), the American Bar Association - Taxation and Real Property, Probate and Trust Sections, the State Bar of Michigan - Taxation and Real Property Sections, and the Oakland County Bar Association - Taxation and Real Estate Committees (two time past chairperson of Taxation Committee). Rocheleau is also treasurer of the Lighthouse of Oakland County board of trustees. * * * Butzel Long recently received an award from the Association of Mexican Professionals in Michigan (APROMEX) at its annual Gala Dinner Dance. APROMEX is a non-profit organization created to link Mexican professionals in Michigan. The award presented to Butzel Long is called "Te-Palehua-Mi" which translates into "One who helps others." The yearly award recognizes support and leadership commitment to the Mexican Professional Community in Michigan. Clara DeMatteis Mager, who is an attorney, shareholder and Practice Group leader for the Immigration Group at Butzel Long, accepted the award on behalf of Butzel Long. The firm has an international team of attorneys who have assisted clients in establishing and operating successful businesses in Mexico for many years. Butzel Long attorneys effectively provide U.S., Canadian, Asian and European companies doing business in Mexico with a wide array of services such as identification of business opportunities, incorporating legal entities such as maquiladoras (IMMEX), shelters, site location, real estate, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, tax, labor, immigration, customs, financing, intellectual property, litigation and government relations. Butzel Long has Alliance offices in Mexico City and Monterrey offering clients a single point of contact and on-the-ground capabilities in Mexico's primary government and business centers. * * * Bloomfield Hills - based Hertz Schram has been named one of the nation's "Best Law Firms" by U.S. News & World Report and The Best Lawyers in America for 2014. The firm was ranked nationally as a top law firm for Employment & Labor litigation and White-Collar Criminal Defense, and locally for Employment law and Labor litigation. * * * Clark Hill attorneys Daniel J. Bretz, Stacy Leshock Dee, and Ray J. Koenig III were elected to the firm's Executive Committee, CEO John Hern announced. The Executive Committee serves as the governing board of the firm and committee members are elected by member vote. Each individual will serve a term that begins on January 1, 2014. Bretz is based in Detroit, Dee is based in Pittsburgh and Koenig is based in Chicago. Bretz is the co-chair of Clark Hill's Labor & Employment Law Practice Group and has served on the firm's Executive Committee since 2011. He represents clients across the entire spectrum of employment and labor law, and in multiple industries including health care, transportation, construction, automotive and hospitality. In addition, Clark Hill attorney Paul S. Magy is being honored by the International Order of DeMolay and is being inducted into its Legion of Honor. DeMolay is the Masonic sponsored youth organization dedicated to preparing young men to lead responsible and productive lives contributing to society. DeMolay opens doors for young men aged 12 to 21 by developing their civic awareness, personal responsibility, and leadership skills so vitally needed in society. DeMolay's Legion of Honor was founded for the purpose of bringing together a select few out of the millions who have been members of DeMolay. Legion of Honor recipients must have actively demonstrated outstanding leadership in their civic, professional and spiritual lives and can be implicitly relied upon to aid others in carrying the ideals of DeMolay into every walk of life. Magy has been actively involved in his faith, having served as president of his synagogue, Adat Shalom in Farmington Hills, Michigan and having served the Jewish Theological Seminary of America as the chairman of its Rabbinical School Board. He has demonstrated leadership in his profession as a commercial real estate attorney by serving as Michigan State Director of the International Council of Shopping Centers and National Chairman of its Legal Advisory Council. Magy is also the current president of the Building Owners and Managers Association of Metro Detroit. He has been active in the government relations functions on the state and federal levels for each organization. Magy joins fellow Clark Hill attorney Roderick S. Coy who was previously made a member of DeMolay's Legion of Honor and was the organization's first International Master Councilor, the title given to its president. Magy is a member of Clark Hill's Real Estate Practice Group. His commercial real estate experience includes acquisition, development, finance, zoning, leasing and sale of commercial real estate, in addition to litigation related to those areas, including receiverships, distressed assets and retailer bankruptcy. He has experience representing all forms of commercial property owners, developers, property managers, and brokers. * * * Carly Osadetz has joined Ogletree Deakins as an associate. Osadetz represents employers in a variety of labor and employment litigation matters in both state and federal court, including claims involving employment discrimination, family and medical leave, and wage and hour issues. She also counsels employers on day-to-day labor and employment matters. Osadetz earned her law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. * * * Miller Canfield Chief Executive Officer Michael McGee has been appointed to the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce's board of directors. Before taking the helm as CEO in April 2013, McGee was a long-time member of Miller Canfield's Public Finance team with nearly three decades of public policy experience and a broad legal background. He played a major role in the drafting of Michigan's emergency management law and before becoming CEO, he represented several municipalities operating under emergency management, including Detroit. He is named a Best Lawyer for his work in Public Finance Law and is recognized as an expert in public entity law, public/private partnerships and intergovernmental cooperation. McGee received his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School, M.P.P. from the Institute (now Ford School) of Public Policy Studies, and A.B. from the University of Michigan with an emphasis on economic analysis. His board service includes the Citizens Research Council of Michigan and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments where he was SEMCOG's vice chairman. Miller Canfield also announced that U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers ranked the firm among the nation's best law firms in the 2014 edition of "Best Law Firms." Miller Canfield received national first-tier rankings in Labor Law-Management and Public Finance Law. In addition, Miller Canfield has more first-tier metropolitan rankings than any other law firm in Michigan--78 in all--and is the only firm with a first-tier ranking in Michigan in Private Funds / Hedge Funds Law. * * * For the ninth consecutive year, the Michigan Business & Professional Association (MBPA) has named Plunkett Cooney as one of "Metropolitan Detroit's 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For." The MBPA honored the 101 Best and Brightest companies at the luncheon on Wednesday, Oct. 30, at the Henry Hotel in Dearborn. The "101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For" honor is presented annually in several markets, including Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, and Houston, as well as nationally. * * * The Bloomfield Hills-based law firm of Dalton & Tomich has relocated to downtown Detroit and the storied Chrysler House, formerly the Dime Building. The announcement was made by firm principals Dan Dalton and Zana Tomich. Dalton & Tomich's new address is: 719 Griswold Street, Suite 270, Detroit, 48226. Dalton & Tomich's new offices are located in the building's Mezzanine level and will serve as home base for the firm's team. Chrysler House is owned by Dan Gilbert's Rock Ventures. Designed in the Neo-Classical style by architect and urban planner Daniel Burnham, the former Dime Building first opened in 1912. "We are dedicated to bringing our legal and business expertise to the entrepreneurs and investors who are driving Detroit's resurgence," said Dalton. "We look forward to playing a tangible role and contributing to all that is happening in our great city." The principals of Dalton & Tomich have been consistently and nationally recognized among the industry's finest, including being named as a "2013 Top Rated Lawyer in Land Use and Zoning" by American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbellª; recognized by Michigan Super Lawyers in the area of land use and zoning, and business and corporate law; a "Top Lawyer" by DBusiness since 2009; and one of the top 25 "Leaders in the Law" in the State of Michigan in 2010. * * * Jamal M. Edwards has joined Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, and Cohn LLP as a partner in the firm's Intellectual Property Department's IP Litigation Practice Group. He brings legal and management experience to Honigman and will be located in the firm's Detroit office. Edwards will focus his IP Litigation practice on health care, technology and financial services. In the past year, he assisted, as an executive consultant, successful turnarounds for two start-up technology companies--one in health care and one in financial services. For the preceding two years, he successfully led a turnaround for a federally qualified health center in Chicago where he served as CEO. Edwards was a partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Chicago for several years, focusing his practice on IP, particularly in patent and trade secret litigation and counseling private equity investors and their technology holding companies. He previously was regional counsel for the IBM Corporation in Chicago. Prior to practicing law, he was an executive with Equifax Inc. where he led aspects of its risk management and card services businesses including an internal automated locations services startup division. Edwards earned a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and a B.A. from Morehouse College. After law school, he served as a judicial clerk for U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Roger L. Gregory, Fourth Circuit, in Richmond, Virginia, and for U.S. District Court Judge Raymond A. Jackson, Eastern District of Virginia in Norfolk. He is licensed to practice law in Michigan and Illinois. Additionally, for the fifth time Honigman was recognized as one of Metropolitan Detroit's 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For and as an 2013 Elite Winner in the category of Strategic Company Performance by the Michigan Business and Professional Association (MBPA) at its annual awards event. The luncheon was held at the Henry Hotel in Dearborn. This is also the firm's second time as an Elite Winner in Metropolitan Detroit. Honigman was one of only 12 Metropolitan Detroit businesses, and the only law firm, to earn Elite recognition. The Elite winners are selected based on achieving the highest score in their respective categories in the "101 Best and Brightest" MBPA survey and represent the "best of the best" performers in each category. Honigman was also recognized nationally for the past two years as one of the Best and Brightest Companies To Work For by the National Association for Business Resources. In addition, the firm has also been recognized for the past three years by the MBPA among West Michigan's 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For and for the past two years as an Elite Winner. Further, Honigman was recognized as one of the "50 Best Law Firms for Women" by Working Mother magazine and Flex-Time Lawyers, LLC for five years and as a "Top Workplace" by the Detroit Free Press for the past two years. * * * The American Bar Association Business Law Section has awarded Paul Hage, a partner at full-service business law firm Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer, & Weiss PC, with the Kathryn R. Hedit Memorial Award. Jaffe CEO Bill Sider proudly made the announcement. Each year, the Business Bankruptcy Committee of the Business Law Section nationally recognizes one young lawyer who has made outstanding contributions within the business bankruptcy community. The Kathryn R. Hedit Memorial Award is the highest recognition given by the organization, and is in memory of Hedit, a former chair of the Business Bankruptcy Committee. A member of Jaffe's Insolvency and Reorganization Practice Group, Hage represents asset purchasers, creditors' committees, debtors, secured and unsecured creditors, and trustees in bankruptcy proceedings nationwide. He currently serves as newsletter editor of the American Bankruptcy Institute's (ABI) Unsecured Trade Creditor's Committee, a coordinating editor for the ABI Journal, a member of the editorial advisory board for the Norton Journal of Bankruptcy Law & Practice and a contributing editor for both the Norton Annual Survey of Bankruptcy Law and the Norton Bankruptcy Law & Practice 3d treatise. Hage is currently serving as president of the Michigan Chapter of the Turnaround Management Association, which is a global organization dedicated to turnaround management, corporate restructuring and distressed investing disciplines. Additionally, Hage is the co-chair of the Claims and Priorities Subcommittee of the American Bar Association's Business Bankruptcy Committee. Hage earned his bachelor's degree from James Madison College at Michigan State University and his law degrees from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and St. John's University School of Law. * * * Five attorneys from Southfield-based Maddin, Hauser, Wartell, Roth, & Heller PC were named to DBusiness' list of 2013 Top Lawyers. All five also made the list in 2012, including shareholders Mark R. Hauser, Harvey R. Heller, and Charles M. Lax, each of whom earned their third consecutive selections. The recipients and the respective categories in which they were honored include: * Mark R. Hauser, managing director and Executive Management Committee member; Tax Law. * Harvey R. Heller, shareholder and Executive Management Committee member; Legal Malpractice Law. * Charles M. Lax, shareholder; Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. * Rebecca M. Turner, shareholder; Franchise Law. * Stewart C. Weiner, shareholder; Construction Law. Founded in 1982, Southfield, Michigan-based Maddin, Hauser, Wartell, Roth, & Heller PC is a multi-specialty law firm serving individuals, businesses and government entities. * * * Fraser Trebilcock attorney Michael P. Donnelly was recently elected to the position of chair-elect of the Litigation Section of the State Bar of Michigan. He currently serves as secretary of the Litigation Section. Donnelly is vice-president of the firm and the managing shareholderof the firm's Detroit office. He is one of only five attorneys in Michigan and 318 worldwide named a 2011 BTI Client Service All-Star by corporate counsel from Fortune 1000 companies. Donnelly has been selected on multiple occasions, including in 2013, as one of the "Top Lawyers" in Detroit by DBusiness Magazine for commercial litigation. Published: Mon, Nov 18, 2013