LEGAL PEOPLE

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel recently announced Children and Youth Services Division Chief Veneshia Cezil is being appointed as bureau chief in charge of the Attorney General’s Criminal Justice Bureau. The Criminal Justice Bureau includes the Department’s Children and Youth Services Division, Criminal Appellate Division, Criminal Division, and Financial Crimes Division.

Cezil joined the Department in 2015 and became the Children and Youth Services Division chief in April. During her time with the department, she has given hundreds of children a voice by representing the Department of Health and Human Services in child abuse and neglect cases.

Prior to joining the department, Cezil worked for the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office in its General Trials Division where she prosecuted cases from assaultive crimes and larcenies, to drug crimes, armed robberies and sexual assault crimes.

“It is both an honor and a privilege to serve in this new role,” Cezil said.

“The people of Michigan deserve an Attorney General’s Office that works to protect them and their rights, and that sacred responsibility is what guides our work every day. We have a talented team and I’m excited to be part of it.”

The Western Michigan University Cooley Law School graduate will retain her role as division chief and assumed her new responsibilities as bureau chief on Monday, Aug. 12.

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Associate attorney Laura A. Van Hyfte recently joined Plunkett Cooney as the newest member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Practice Group.

Van Hyfte has expertise in the areas of real property, contract disputes and resort-area land use and development. A member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, Van Hyfte also has experience handling issues involving downtown development authorities, municipal planning and TIF funding.

Admitted to practice before the state and federal courts in Michigan and before the tribal courts of Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Van Hyfte received both her law and undergraduate degrees from the University of Michigan.

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Fifteen Kerr, Russell, and Weber PLC members were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2020.  Kerr Russell also had two members named as Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year:”  James R. Cambridge was named the Best Lawyers 2020 Corporate Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Detroit, and Joanne Geha Swanson was named the Best Lawyers 2020 Litigation – Antitrust “Lawyer of the Year” in Detroit.

Eleven of the named attorneys have been listed in The Best Lawyers in America for more than five years.

Kerr Russell’s 2020 The Best Lawyers in America© include:

Robert S. Anderson – Immigration Law
Jason W. Bank – Bankruptcy & Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency & Reorganization Law
James R. Cambridge – Corporate Law
Michael D. Carroll – Construction Law; Litigation – Construction
Mark M. Cunningham – Construction Law
Curtis J. DeRoo – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
John D. Gatti – Tax Law
Patrick J. Haddad – Health Care Law
Fred K. Herrmann – Antitrust Law
Mark C. Knoth – Employment Law – Management
Eric I. Lark – Corporate Law
Stephen D. McGraw – Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Daniel J. Schulte – Health Care Law
Joanne Geha Swanson – Appellate Practice; Litigation – Antitrust
Kurt R. Vilders – Real Estate Law

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Seven attorneys from Foster Swift’s Southfield office were selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2020. Firm-wide, 42 attorneys were included. Each year’s new edition is launched for the following calendar year.

Listed are Southfield attorneys and their areas of practice:

Dirk H. Beckwith, Construction Law
Michael R. Blum, Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management
Julie I. Fershtman, Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law
Gilbert H. Frimet, Health Care Law
Paul J. Millenbach, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions-Defendants
Brian J. Renaud, Administrative/Regulatory Law
Bruce A. Vande Vusse, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants

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Sixty Butzel Long attorneys have been chosen by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2020 (copyright 2020 by Woodward/White Inc. of Aiken, SC).
Moreover, firm attorney Robert A. Hudson has been named Lawyer of the Year— Detroit (International Trade and Finance).

Notably, David Devine (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights/ Insolvency and Reorganization Law) – Detroit; William Kliffel (Product Liability Litigation – Defendants) – Detroit; William A. Penner (Trusts and Estates) – Bloomfield Hills; and, Robert H. Schwartz (Health Care Law) – Bloomfield Hills; have been named to Best Lawyers for the first time.

The following local Butzel Long attorneys were selected for the 2020 edition:

• BLOOMFIELD HILLS OFFICE
Alexander B. Bragdon, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Litigation – ERISA
Stephen A. Bromberg, Litigation – Real Estate, Real Estate Law
Carey A. DeWitt, Employment Law Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
W. Patrick Dreisig, Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law, Corporate Governance Law
Geoffrey S. Gallinger, Real Estate Law
Debra A. Geroux, Health Care Law
Michael Golab, Corporate Law
Beth S. Gotthelf, Environmental Law, Litigation Environmental
David W. Hipp, Real Estate Law
Thomas A. Kabel, Real Estate Law
Sheldon H. Klein, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Antitrust
Bushra A. Malik, Immigration Law
Allan Nachman, Real Estate Law
Max J. Newman, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/ Insolvency and Reorganization Law
William A. Penner, Trusts and Estates
Robert P. Perry, Trusts and Estates
R. Peter Prokop, Corporate Law, Tax Law
Thomas B. Radom, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/ Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Richard E. Rassel, Commercial Litigation
Brett A. Rendeiro, Commercial Litigation
Dennis B. Schultz, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Real Estate
Robert H. Schwartz, Health Care Law
T. Gordon Scupholm II, Family Law
John D. Selesko, Trusts and Estates
Thomas L. Shaevsky, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Litigation – ERISA
Jack D. Shumate, Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental
Thomas C. Simpson, Litigation – Real Estate, Real Estate Law
David W. Sommerfeld, Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates
Daniel B. Tukel, Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment

• DETROIT OFFICE
Linda J. Armstrong, Immigration Law
James C. Bruno, Corporate Law, International Trade and Finance Law
David Devine, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/ Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Arthur Dudley II, Corporate Law
David F. DuMouchel, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law
Eric J. Flessland, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction
John P. Hancock Jr., Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management , Litigation – Labor and Employment
Robert A. Hudson, Corporate Law, International Trade and Finance Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
William Kliffel, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Justin G. Klimko, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Compliance Law, Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities/ Capital Markets Law, Securities Regulation
Phillip C. Korovesis, Commercial Litigation
Mark R. Lezotte, Health Care Law
Clara DeMatteis Mager, Immigration Law
Donald B. Miller, Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Mark T. Nelson, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Litigation – Trusts and Estates
Reginald A. Pacis, Immigration Law
James S. Rosenfeld, Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
Bruce L. Sendek, Commercial Litigation
Nicholas J. Stasevich, Corporate Law
James E. Wynne, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants

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Best Lawyers of America named John F. Schaefer and the Law Firm of John F. Schaefer to its 2020 Best Lawyers and Best Law Firms lists. 

Schaefer has been recognized on this list since its inception in 1983, and all subsequent years. In 2013, the publication recognized Schaefer as Lawyer of the Year.

The Law Firm of John F. Schaefer was founded in 1996 and is dedicated the practice of matrimonial and family law. Schaefer, an internationally recognized family law expert, specializes in complex and high profile divorce cases and keeps offices in Birmingham, Grosse Pointe and Harbor Springs.

The Michigan State University College of Law library is named after Schaefer, where he has served as trustee emeritus and adjunct law professor for more than 30 years.

He serves, and has served, on numerous boards and associations including the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the State of Michigan and Oakland County Bars.

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Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce that 106 of the firm’s attorneys in Michigan have been included in Best Lawyers in America® 2020 edition.
Local Dickinson Wright attorneys recognized on this year’s list include:

• DETROIT
Dennis W. Archer, Commercial Litigation, Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
Allison R. Bach, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Richard M. Bolton, Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
William T. Burgess, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, International Mergers & Acquisitions, Litigation – Bankruptcy
Lawrence G. Campbell, Commercial Litigation, International Mergers & Acquisitions
James N. Candler Jr., Gaming Law, Real Estate Law
Dawn R. Copley, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Christopher A. Cornwall, Construction Law
David R. Deromedi, Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management
Phillip J. DeRosier, Appellate Practice
K. Scott Hamilton, Appellate Practice
Mark R. High, Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law
Steven G. Howell, Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
Timothy H. Howlett, Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
W. Anthony Jenkins, Corporate Law, Municipal Law
John K. Lawrence, Banking and Finance Law
Andrew W. MacLeod, International Mergers & Acquisitions
Kenneth J. McIntyre, Commercial Litigation
Thomas G. McNeill, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – Merger and Acquisitions, Litigation – Securities
Sharon R. Newlon, Energy Law, Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental
Francis R. Ortiz, Commercial Litigation
James B. Perry, Employment Law – Management
James A. Plemmons, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Bankruptcy
Robert F. Rhoades, Litigation and Controversy – Tax
William P. Shield Jr., Banking and Finance Law
James P. Spica, Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates
Theodore B. Sylwestrzak, Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Bruce C. Thelen, International Trade and Finance Law
L. Pahl Zinn, Litigation – Antitrust

• TROY
Christian S. Allen, Immigration Law
Timothy L. Andersson, Corporate Law
Kevin M. Bernys, Trusts and Estates
Margaret A. Coughlin, Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental
Roger H. Cummings, Corporate Law, International Trade and Finance Law
Stephen E. Dawson, Real Estate Law
Joseph W. DeLave, Litigation – Construction
J. Benjamin Dolan, Litigation – Real Estate
Terence M. Donnelly, Municipal Law, Public Finance Law
John P. Gonway, Real Estate Law
Deborah L. Grace, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Roberta P. Granadier, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Eric W. Gregory, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Henry M. Grix, Nonprofit/Charities Law, Trusts and Estates
Craig W. Hammond, Banking and Finance Law, Public Finance Law
William H. Honaker, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent, Patent Law, Trademark Law
Robert P. Hurlbert, Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Richard A. Jones, Patent Law
Robert B. Joslyn, Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates
Monica J. Labe, Real Estate Law
Judith Fertel Layne, Trusts and Estates
Elise S. Levasseur, Immigration Law
Elizabeth L. Luckenbach, Trusts and Estates
Christopher C. Maeso, Corporate Law
Anna M. Maiuri, Environmental Law, Litigation – Regulatory and Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
Kelly M. Martorano, Environmental Law
Cynthia A. Moore, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
John H. Norris, Energy Law, Environmental Law, Natural Resources Law, Oil and Gas Law
Edward H. Pappas, Arbitration, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Real Estate, Mediation
Robert V. Peterson, Real Estate Law
Scott A. Petz, Commercial Litigation
Elissa N. Pinto, Immigration Law
Daniel D. Quick, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – Intellectual Property
William L. Rosin, Corporate Law
Robert L. Schwartz, Public Finance Law
Lynn Capp Sirich, Family Law
Robert L. Stearns, Litigation – Intellectual Property
Peter H. Webster, Land Use and Zoning Law
Rhonda D. Welburn, Municipal Law, Public Finance Law
J. Bryan Williams, Corporate Law, International Mergers & Acquisitions
Mark E. Wilson, Health Care Law
Laurence E. Winokur, Real Estate Law
Kathryn S. Wood, Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
Paul M. Wyzgoski, Municipal Law, Public Finance Law
Katheryne L. Zelenock, Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law, Real Estate Law, Securitization and Structured Finance Law

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Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that 48 of its attorneys have been listed in the 2020 edition of the highly respected peer-review publication, The Best Lawyers in America.
Local Bodman attorneys listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2020, including the practice areas under which they are listed, are:

• DETROIT
Marc M. Bakst (Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation-Bankruptcy)
Andrew H. Curoe (Trusts and Estates)
Herold M. Deason (Corporate Law)
Laurence B. Deitch (Corporate Law)
Robert J. Diehl Jr. (Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Litigation-Banking and Finance, Litigation-Bankruptcy)
Forrest O. Dillon (Corporate Law)
Fredrick J. Dindoffer (Environmental Law, Litigation-Environmental)
Christopher J. Dine (Non-Profit / Charities Law)
David M. Hempstead (Trusts and Estates)
Kathleen O’Callaghan Hickey (Banking and Finance Law)
George G. Kemsley (Commercial Litigation)
Joseph J. Kochanek (Banking and Finance Law)
David P. Larsen (Litigation-Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates)
Marguerite Munson Lentz (Trusts and Estates)
Dennis J. Levasseur (Commercial Litigation, Litigation-Banking and Finance, Litigation-Intellectual Property)
Ralph E. McDowell (Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Litigation-Bankruptcy)
Adam B. Norlander (Banking and Finance Law)
Joseph G. Nuyen Jr. (Health Care Law)
Michael B. Peterman (Banking and Finance Law, Real Estate Law)
Jeffrey G. Raphelson (Commercial Litigation)
Damali A. Sahu (Banking and Finance Law)
Nicholas P. Scavone Jr. (Banking and Finance Law, Real Estate Law)
Joseph J. Shannon (Commercial Litigation)
Bonnie S. Sherr (Banking and Finance Law)
E. William S. Shipman (Health Care Law)
Larry R. Shulman (Banking and Finance Law)
David C. Stone (Corporate Law)
Brian R. Trumbauer (Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation-Bankruptcy)
Jaimee L. Witten (Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law)

• TROY
J. Adam Behrendt (Litigation-Banking and Finance)
Barbara A. Bowman (Banking and Finance Law, Municipal Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law)
John C. Cashen (Employment Law-Management, Labor Law-Management, Qui Tam Law)
Steven J. Fishman (Labor Law-Management)
Gregory J. Gamalski (Real Estate Law)
Michael B. Lewiston (Commercial Litigation, Litigation-Real Estate, Litigation-Trusts and Estates)
Donald H. Scharg (Employment Law-Management)
Andrew Z. Spilkin (Real Estate Law)
Thomas J. Tallerico (Commercial Litigation)
Thomas Van Dusen (Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation-Trusts and Estates)
David B. Walters (Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law)
Wendy L. Zabriskie (Banking and Finance Law)
Glen M. Zatz (Real Estate Law)

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Secrest Wardle is pleased to announce that six of the firm’s attorneys have been listed in The Best Lawyers in America© for 2020. The firm congratulates Thomas J. Azoni, Derk W. Beckerleg, Nathan J. Edmonds, Daniel P. Makarski, Mark E. Morley, and Bruce A. Truex. All six attorneys are located in the firm’s Troy office and have been listed in their respective categories in Troy.

Thomas J. Azoni is listed in the Insurance Law and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants categories. Azoni is a senior partner at Secrest Wardle. He is a member of the firm’s Amusement and Leisure, General Negligence, Motor Vehicle Litigation, Premises Liability, and Trucking/Commercial Vehicle Litigation Practice Groups. Azoni serves as chair of the general Negligence Practice Group and as a chair of the Motor Vehicle Litigation Practice Group.

Derk W. Beckerleg is listed in the Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Litigation – Municipal, and Municipal Law categories. Beckerleg is an executive partner at Secrest Wardle. He is a member and chair of the firm’s Governmental Litigation, Municipal, and Real Estate Practice Groups. Beckerleg serves as the managing partner of the Municipal Law Practice Group. He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America© for 10 years and is also the recipient of the Best Lawyers 2020 Litigation – Land Use and Zoning-Troy, Michigan “Lawyer of the Year” Award. 

Nathan J. Edmonds is listed in the Litigation – Insurance category. Edmonds is a senior partner and co-managing partner of Secrest Wardle. He is a member of the firm’s Amusement and Leisure, Motor Vehicle Litigation, Premises Liability, and Property, Fire and Casualty Practice Groups.

Daniel P. Makarski is listed in the Arbitration, Insurance Law, and Litigation – Insurance categories. Makarski is a senior partner at Secrest Wardle. He is a member of the firm’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice Group and serves as chair of the group. Additionally, Daniel Makarski is the recipient of the Best Lawyers 2020 Litigation - Insurance-Troy, Michigan “Lawyer of the Year” Award.

Mark E. Morley is listed in the Insurance Law, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants, Litigation – Insurance, and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants categories. Morley is a senior partner at Secrest Wardle. He is a member of the firm’s Alternative Dispute Resolution, Employment, Insurance Coverage, Malpractice/Professional Liability, Motor Vehicle Litigation, Product Liability, and Trucking/Commercial Vehicle Litigation Practice Groups.  Morley serves as chair of the Insurance Coverage and Malpractice/Professional Liability Practice Groups. He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America© for 5 years.

Bruce A. Truex is listed in the Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance, and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants categories. Truex is a senior partner, president, and co-managing partner of Secrest Wardle. He is a member and serves as chair of the firm’s Commercial and Business Law, Employment, Environmental and Toxic Tort, and Product Liability Practice Groups. He additionally serves as a chair of the Intellectual Property/Advertising Injury Practice Group, and is a member of the Construction Practice Group.