Columns

The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan (ACLU) recently announced that Bonsitu Kitaba-Gaviglio will be its next legal director. With the organization since 2016, and deputy legal director since 2019, Kitaba-Gaviglio has been serving as the organization’s interim legal director since the departure of her predecessor, Dan Korobkin, who was appointed to serve as a judge on the Michigan Court of Appeals in April.  

While at the ACLU, Kitaba-Gaviglio has worked on a wide range of civil rights cases involving reproductive rights, economic justice, racial justice, and free speech, among others. She has litigated cases on behalf of a class of Black homeowners in Detroit who were subjected to illegal tax foreclosures, and Flint residents during the Flint Water Crisis to secure the replacement of all lead pipes in the city. Kitaba-Gaviglio also co-wrote the state constitutional amendment, Reproductive Freedom for All, a voter approved ballot measure that enshrined reproductive rights in the Michigan Constitution in 2022. 

Kitaba-Gaviglio has frequently been recognized for her legal advocacy, earning the State Bar of Michigan’s 2024 Champion of Justice Award, Planned Parenthood of Michigan’s 2023 Social Justice Award, and Michigan Lawyer’s Weekly 2022 Influential Women of Law award, among others.? 

A native of Canada and graduate of the University of Toronto, Kitaba-Gaviglio has lived in Detroit since moving here in 2011 to attend Wayne State University Law School. 

“It is the honor of a lifetime to assume the role of legal director of the ACLU of Michigan, an organization that has transformed countless lives and been an unwavering guardian of justice,” said Kitaba-Gaviglio.  “To follow in the footsteps of extraordinary legal directors like Michael Steinberg and Daniel Korobkin is a privilege and a sacred responsibility. 

“Each day, I am driven by a core purpose: to champion the rights of our clients and every person who calls Michigan home. The work ahead will not be easy. The threats to the Constitution and the rights we hold as most fundamental are profound and urgent. Our legal advocacy requires both being nimble in the moment to ensure we are beating back against the attacks on our most fundamental civil rights and liberties while building long-term litigation strategies that reform and dismantle systems of oppression.  

“I am fortunate to work alongside a remarkable team whose brilliance, dedication, and shared sense of purpose inspire me constantly. Together, we find strength in our mission and joy in the work itself. 

“This moment would not be possible without my parents, whose lives embody the very ideals I now dedicate myself to defending. Coming from distant parts of the world, they built their lives on a foundation of sacrifice, activism, and simple acts of kindness. They showed me that justice is a living practice which demands courage, compassion, and an unshakeable belief in our shared humanity.  

“I am ready, and I am deeply honored to lead this exceptional legal team as we defend the rights and freedoms of every person in Michigan.”  

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Foley, Baron, Metzger, & Juip PLLC is pleased to announce that associate attorney Chloé Schumacher has been selected as the 2026 Young Lawyers Golden Gavel Award recipient by the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (MDTC).

This honor is awarded to outstanding young attorneys who demonstrate exemplary advocacy skills, a strong commitment to the legal profession, and meaningful leadership within the defense bar. 

Schumacher will be formally recognized at the 10th Annual Legal Excellence Awards to be held at The Gem Theatre on Thursday, March 19, 2026.

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Courtney A. Lavender, an appellate attorney at Plunkett Cooney, was recently elected as a council member of the Appellate Practice Section of the State Bar of Michigan.

Lavender, who will serve a three-year term, was elected during the Section’s Nov. 21 board meeting after two seats were vacated following the annual meeting. Consisting of the chairperson, chairperson-elect, secretary, treasurer and 17 at-large members, the Appellate Practice Section Council provides education, information and analysis on relevant appellate law issues through meetings, seminars, public service initiatives and more.

A member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, Lavender focuses her appellate practice in the areas of commercial litigation, governmental law, first- and third-party motor vehicle negligence and insurance coverage disputes. She also has litigation experience defending No-Fault and third-party claims, as well as premises liability, pet liability and defamation matters.

Lavender received her law degree from Wayne State University Law School in 2021. Following law school, she worked as a research attorney at the Michigan Court of Appeals. Lavender received her undergraduate degree in 2017 from the University of Michigan.  

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BSP Law congratulates nine of its attorneys who have been recognized by DBusiness on their 2026 Top Lawyers List.  The recognitions are as follows:

Bishop Bartoni – Product Liability
Stephanie Douglas – Appellate Law
Derek Linkous – Appellate Law
William McDonald – Product Liability
Susan McKeever – Appellate Law
Roger Meyers – Litigation – Commercial
Moheeb Murray – Litigation – Commercial
Patrick Seyferth – Product Liability
Justin Weiner – Product Liability

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Honigman Partner Alex Parrish has been recognized in Michigan Chronicle’s 2025 Power 50 listing. This recognition honors the region’s most impactful Black leaders across government, business, faith, education, and more.

Parrish regularly advises companies on an array of transactional matters, including capital formation; mergers and acquisitions; joint ventures; the issuance, sale, and regulation of securities; and general corporate matters, including corporate governance.

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Brooks Kushman is proud to announce the firm has been ranked in the 2026 edition of the U.S. News and World Report list of “Best Law Firms®” by Best Lawyers®.

Nationally, Brooks Kushman holds a tier-three ranking in Trademark Law. On the regional level, Brooks Kushman holds a tier-two ranking in Copyright Law and tier-one rankings in Intellectual Property Litigation, Patent Litigation, Patent Law, and Trademark Law in Metro Detroit.

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Maddin Hauser is pleased to announce that Anaria Rambus has joined the firm as an associate. Newly admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 2025, Rambus will support several Maddin Hauser practices.
Rambus brings a foundation in diverse areas of the law, developed through her academic achievements and practical experiences. She earned her law degree at Wayne State University Law School.

A former Maddin Hauser summer associate, Rambus was a student attorney for the law school’s Business and Community Law Clinic. She also served as a judicial extern for U.S. District Court Judges Denise Page Hood and Jonathan J.C. Gray, Eastern District of Michigan.

By Marie E. Matyjaszek 

When you’re going through a divorce or custody battle, you want to ensure that everything is buttoned up and clearly worded with no inconsistencies. This can prove difficult when you have to draft the many documents required – mandated forms, settlement agreements, support calculations, and of course the judgment itself. Don’t forget the notice of hearing, proofs of service and throw in a Friend of the Court approval to boot. 

So what happens if something written in one document doesn’t match what is provided for in another? If it concerns support, Michigan Court Rule (MCR) 3.211 has the answer for you.  

In a divorce with minor children, child support must be addressed, even if the monthly support amount is zero. The State Court Administrator’s Office (SCAO) mandates the use of Uniform Support Orders (USOs), which are broken down into two types: Uniform Child Support Orders, or UCSOs, for child support, and Uniform Spousal Support Orders (USSOs) if spousal support is ordered. Both documents must tag along and be entered with the judgment or order.

You would think a quick copy and paste would eliminate any inconsistencies between the order and USO, right? Wrong. The USOs are forms which are vastly different from judgments, with fun boxes to check and grids to fill in carefully with the correct numbers from support guideline printouts. If you mix up the parties or confuse the variety of terms used (plaintiff, defendant, payer, support recipient), things can go downhill quickly.

MCR 3.211 provides that the “Uniform Support Order shall govern if the terms of the judgment or order conflict with the Uniform Support Order.” That means that what is written on the entered USO trumps. If your judgment says dad pays mom $500 a month in child support, but you reverse the names in the UCSO boxes and list mom as the payer and dad as the payee, mom’s paycheck is going to be missing $500 per month, which can have significant financial impact until it is corrected.

When it comes to spousal support, one important detail to ensure is correct on all documents is modifiability. If the judgment provides for spousal support to be non-modifiable and terminate after 5 years, but that is not mentioned on the USSO, nor does it incorporate/merge the judgment’s terms, guess what – spousal support is modifiable because the USO trumps. 

USOs are updated on a fairly regular basis, and the court will only accept the most updated forms for entry, so if you haven’t done a divorce in a while, be certain to check that you are using the current form and that the terms of the order and USO match. When it comes to entered orders, you don’t want to hear the court start singing “one of these things is not like the other.”

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Marie E. Matyjaszek is a judicial attorney at the Washtenaw County Trial Court; however, the views expressed in this column are her own. She can be reached by emailing her at matyjasz@hotmail.com.

By Stuart Collis

Do you want to have greater scheduling flexibility? Do you want to choose your own clients? Do you want to make money for yourself rather than someone else? If you answered any of these questions in the affirmative, then perhaps you want to become a sole practitioner.

As someone who practiced for nearly 19 years on my own, I can attest to the benefits and detriments of being a sole practitioner. There are several things that should be considered, however, before taking the leap.

It is impossible to be a successful sole practitioner unless a lawyer is also a good administrator. In my time as a sole practitioner, I knew that I liked trying cases, loved researching the law, and loved writing briefs. However, what I strongly disliked was running my own accounting, ordering supplies, deciding which internet or phone plan was best for my business, and figuring out which computers, photocopiers, and fax machines were best for me to complete my work. As a sole practitioner, a lawyer needs to be an expert on all these things.

Furthermore, unless a lawyer is entering sole practice with a great deal of start up cash, that lawyer is also going to be their own secretary, bookkeeper, and law clerk. Lawyers can only bill for time spent on a client’s case, which means that as a sole practitioner, a lawyer is spending time working on many non-billable matters.

Then, a lawyer must consider where they are getting clients. If an attorney breaks from a firm, there is no clear guidance under the Michigan Professional Rules of Conduct as to whether the client belongs to the firm or the attorney who serviced the client. Therefore, it is imperative once a lawyer chooses to leave the firm and go solo, that both the lawyer and the law firm discuss the lawyer’s departure with each client that the lawyer services. Each client has the right to decide which lawyer the client wants to handle its affairs. Interfering with the client’s right to choose their own counsel violates MRPC 1.16. For more information regarding changing law firms, a lawyer should consult the State Bar’s article, “Changing Firms: Ethical Responsibilities for Lawyers and Law Firms.” 

Regardless of whether a lawyer is starting from scratch or continuing to service clients from their prior law firm, a sole practitioner will not survive without developing a steady stream of clients. Marketing is essential for a sole practitioner. In this day, one cannot survive without a web presence. So, who is going to build your website, do search engine optimization, or advertise for the sole practitioner? All these things can be costly.

However, there are marketing opportunities that can be done for minimal cost. One easy method is to network. Networking can be accomplished by joining associations, getting involved with the association committees, and going to association events.

Another free marketing opportunity is social media. A lawyer can utilize Facebook, TikTok, and even Reddit. However, if one markets in this way, a lawyer needs to make certain there is compliance with MRPC 7.1 – 7.5.

A law practice can also be built by accepting court appointments. This approach might be time-sensitive and have some minimal costs associated with it, as there may be educational requirements, and the classes required to get on the court-appointed lists may only be offered periodically. On the other hand, this strategy can open up a plethora of new clients (albeit at reduced fees), and other networking opportunities in fields such as criminal misdemeanors, felonies, juvenile law, guardianships and conservatorships, and mental illness cases. It also is a great way to get in front of judges and build a rapport with the court.

One drawback to being a sole practitioner is, what does a sole practitioner do when they have to be in two courts at once? Can you manipulate the cases with the courts that you can be at one court later than the other, or does the lawyer need to spend time trying to get one or the other courts to adjourn the case? What happens if neither court will move the case? Does the sole practitioner know someone whom they trust to handle the case when the sole practitioner cannot? How do you plan vacation time around potential court dates? Remember, if the sole practitioner is not working, there is no money coming into the practice. These are all common problems for a sole practitioner and must be considered before taking the leap into the sole practice world.

Most importantly, lawyers have an ethical duty to our clients that lasts not only beyond their deaths but the lawyer’s own death. All Michigan attorneys in private practice are required to name a person with knowledge of their practice and designate an interim administrator or enroll in the State Bar of Michigan Interim Administrator Program. The purpose of this rule is to allow for the smooth transition of a law practice and its clients when a lawyer resigns, is disbarred, suspended, disappears, is imprisoned, has become disabled or incapacitated, or died. 

I have encountered this situation twice in one year alone where opposing counsels have died and, in one case, had not named anyone to administer the practice. For the protection of the
solo’s clients, transition planning is an essential step in creating a sole practice – knowing who you could trust with your clients when your practice ends.

Becoming a sole practitioner can be extremely rewarding. The ability to leave the office for personal activities is quite enticing. Personally, I made numerous events that I might not have been able to attend if I was working in a large firm. However, being the sole person responsible for every facet of the practice also meant that I worked numerous times past midnight and on weekends without compensation because non-legal things (or even legal things) had to get accomplished.

Therefore, before making the leap, it is important that one considers all the other aspects of sole practice before leaving the comfort of a firm.

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Stuart Collis, of Collis, Griffor & Hendra, is licensed in the states of Michigan, New York, and Illinois. This column is reprinted with permission from the Washtenaw County Bar Association newsletter Res Ipsa Loquitur.

By Berl Falbaum

They say that politics makes strange bedfellows but sometimes political divorces can also be bizarre.

We recently experienced a weird political marriage as well as a kooky political divorce both of which, I thought, deserved some examination.

Both cases reminded me of the fictional story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, a story in which the good, respectable Dr. Jekyll, who has evil urges, transforms himself into a villainous Mr. Hyde by drinking a special serum.

First the marriage:

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, described by Donald Trump as a “communist lunatic,” recently met in the Oval Office with the president whom he called a “fascist, despot and a threat to democracy.” 

Normally you would expect political fireworks with the Secret Service assigning more agents to such a meeting.

But it was all kumbaya, like the two had not seen each other since kindergarten. The only things missing were balloons and party horns. 

“I expect to be helping him, not hurting him,” said the converted Trump. “A big help. The better he does, the happier I am, I just met with a man who’s a very rational person…”

Not to be outdone, Mamdani, who is a democratic socialist, offered: “What I really appreciate about the President is the meeting that we had focused not on places of disagreement, which there are many, and also focused on the shared purpose that we have in serving New Yorkers, And frankly, that is something that could transform the lives of eight and half million people who are currently struggling under a cost-of-living crisis.”

This was so unusual that both the left and the right had trouble digesting this political heresy. Some dyed in the wool MAGAs were apoplectic.

I figured that Mamdani had nothing to lose in meeting with this threat to democracy; indeed, he receives national publicity for “reaching out.”

And, if Trump endorses and meets with him, he wins some acceptability, especially among Republicans.

As to Trump (Mr. Hyde), I concluded he met with Mamdani behind closed doors and promised not to send the National Guard to New York if Mamdani reduces taxes on Trump properties in the city.

Trump is not averse to publicity either nor to changing his mind. He would have no problem blasting Mamdani again — and soon — arguing that the meeting in his office never happened. Dr. Jekyll’s serum works both ways.

Mamdani already opened the door for another Trump turnaround when, a day after his political embrace with Trump, said he still considers the president a fascist and a danger of democracy.

Now to the political divorce:

A female Donald Trump (Mrs. Hyde), U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia) split with the real male Donald Trump.

For five years Greene told us that Trump was the second coming but announced, while taking a few potshots at her former political hero, that she would resign from Congress in January.

Specifically, she did not like Trump blocking the release of the Epstein Files (before changing his mind) and he was not pursuing “America First” policies.

In her about-face, Greene, who once compared Trump not only to Jesus but also Nelson Mandela, must have taken more than one portion of Dr. Jekyll’s serum to convert from the Hyde personality.

She actually makes some remarkable observations in her four-page resignation statement.  While President Eisenhower, when leaving office in 1961, condemned the military-industrial complex, Greene warned us against the political industrial complex of both parties, stating, “…election cycle by election cycle, in order to elect whichever side can convince Americans to hate the other side more.”

Or this: “Many common Americans are no longer easily convinced by paid political propaganda spokespersons and consultants on TV and paid shills on social medial obediently serving with cult-like conviction to force others to swallow the political party talking points.”

In her statement, she said she favors term limits in the House and does not “think Congress should be a lifelong career or an assisted living facility.”

Trump, who thought Greene was the third coming (after him), wasted no time and called her a “traitor.”  A few days earlier, he would have used that word to characterize Mamdani.

If that were not enough, then she posted the following on X:

“Everyone just runs their mouths but results are the only thing that matter to the American people. Smears, lies, attacks, and name calling is childish behavior, divisive, and bad for our country. Memes and red meat rants do nothing. Actions speak louder than words.

“Be quiet, be kind, be humble and fix the real problems that are crushing Americans. Not foreign country’s problems. Not the donor’s problems. The American people’s problems that both political parties created and dumped on the American people.”

She did not mention you-know-who by name. But to write that she had to gorge on Dr. Jekyll’s potion. Talk about a “road to Damascus” moment.

Even Robert Louis Stevenson who wrote “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” would have argued that his story is much more believable than the Trump-Mamdani-Greene saga.

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Berl Falbaum is a veteran journalist and author of 12 books.

Butzel immigration law attorney Reginald A. Pacis was invited back to campus by his alma mater, Michigan State University’s James Madison College, to participate in an alumni panel discussion on “U.S. Immigration Today” on Wednesday, November 19. Pacis spoke during a lecture for a course titled “Introduction to the Study of Public Affairs.”

Pacis focuses his practice in immigration law and has handled a variety of immigration matters including H-1B specialty occupation cases, L-1 Intracompany transfers, Labor Certification matters, Immigrant Visa Petitions/Adjustment of Status applications and interviews, TN Free trade cases, H-1B Department of Labor Investigations, I-9 employer verification compliance, and U.S. Port of Entry airport and land port interviews. 

He was named Immigration Lawyer of the Year in 2025, 2023 and 2013, respectively in the field of Immigration Law by The Best Lawyers in America and has been listed in Best Lawyers for several years. 

Pacis is a member of the American Bar Association, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), and the Samahang Pilipino Ng Oakland Filipino organization. He served two consecutive one-year terms from 2003 to 2005 as chairperson of the Michigan Chapter of AILA and was a member of the AILA National Board of Governors for those terms. 

In addition, 27 Butzel attorneys have been named Top Lawyers in metro Detroit 2026 by DBusiness magazine. The local attorneys and their practice areas are listed below:

—Detroit office
Eric J. Flessland, Construction Law, Litigation - Construction
Bernard J. Fuhs, Franchise Law
Justin G. Klimko, Corporate Law
Mark R. Lezotte, Health Care Law 
Clara DeMatteis Mager, Immigration Law
Brett J. Miller, Labor & Employment Law
Reginald A. Pacis, Immigration Law
James S. Rosenfeld, Labor & Employment Law
Bruce L. Sendek, Litigation – Commercial 
Angela Emmerling Shapiro, Information Management & Discovery Law
Kurtis T. Wilder, Arbitration

—Troy office
Rebecca S. Davies, Labor & Employment Law
Michael C. Decker, Litigation – Construction 
George B. Donnini, Criminal Defense - White-Collar
David F. DuMouchel, Criminal Defense - White-Collar
Beth S. Gotthelf, Environmental Law
Laura E. Johnson, Corporate Law
Susan L. Johnson, Environmental Law
Thomas A. Kabel, Real Estate Law
Sheldon H. Klein, Antitrust Law
Daniel J. McCarthy, Appellate Law
Robert P. Perry, Trusts & Estates
Robert H. Schwartz, Health Care Law

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Attorney Peter J. Florian recently joined the Torts & Litigation Practice Group of Plunkett Cooney.

Focusing his practice on general litigation defense, Florian represents a range of clients, including policyholders from some of the world’s leading insurance companies, in claims involving premises liability, general negligence such as slip-and-fall incidents, and first- and third-party motor vehicle negligence cases involving personal injury and comparative negligence issues.

In addition to his litigation work, Florian has experience handling mortgage workouts and foreclosures, title disputes, and homeowner association contract matters.

A member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, Florian earned his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 2025. He received his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University in 2019.

In addition, DBusiness magazine recently named six Plunkett Cooney metro Detroit attorneys from to its 2026 list of Top Lawyers. 

Below are the Plunkett Cooney attorneys who received the 2026 DBusiness Top Lawyer honor: 

Douglas C. Bernstein (Bloomfield Hills) – Bankruptcy & Financial Service Law
Charles W. Browning (Bloomfield Hills) – Insurance Law 
Kenneth R. Chadwell (Detroit) – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Jeffrey C. Gerish (Bloomfield Hills) – Appellate Law
Jeffrey S. Hengeveld (Bloomfield Hills) – Legal Malpractice
Frank T. Mamat (Bloomfield Hills) – Labor and Employment Law

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Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced appointments to the following boards and commissions:

Denise Ilitch was appointed to the State of Michigan Investment Board. Ilitch is an owner of Ilitch Family Companies, president of Ilitch Enterprises LLC, and a member of the University of Michigan Board of Regents. She has also been named one of the 100 Most Influential Women by Crain’s Detroit Business. Ilitch earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and government from the University of Michigan and a law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.

Ilitch will be reappointed as an individual with knowledge or experience in securities investment, pension administration, or pension law, past or current fiduciary oversight experience of investment pools similar to the Retirement System, or extensive professional financial knowledge and experience for a term commencing November 27, 2025, and expiring November 26, 2029. 

When the state pension plan governance structure was changed from a sole fiduciary model to a board model, fund investment responsibilities shifted from the state treasurer to the new State of Michigan Investment Board, created within the Michigan Department of Treasury. The board is comprised of the state treasurer, who will serve as the board’s chairperson, the state budget director, and three individuals with institutional investment or extensive financial experience, appointed by the governor to serve four-year terms.  

This appointment is not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. 

Jamia Davis was apponted to the Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services.  She is a document review attorney for KLDiscovery and the managing attorney at the Law Office of Jamia Davis PLLC. Davis previously worked as a paralegal specialist at the U.S. Small Business Administration. She is currently the chairperson of the Michigan Statewide Independent Living Council. Davis earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Michigan State University, a certificate in paralegal studies from Oakland Community College, and a law degree from Cooley Law School. 

Davis will be appointed to represent the Statewide Independent Living Council for a term commencing January 1, 2026, and expiring December 31, 2028. Davis succeeds Steve Locke, whose term will expire. 

The Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services reviews, analyzes, and advises Michigan’s rehabilitation programs and services, and advises the department director and Governor. The Council works in partnership with Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS) and the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs’ Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (LEO-BSBP). 

This appointment is not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. 

Leslie Kohn was appointed to the Michigan Board of Chiropractic.  She is the owner of the Law Office of Leslie M. Kohn PLLC. Kohn earned a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Wayne State University. Kohn will be reappointed as a member of the general public for a term commencing January 1, 2026, and expiring December 31, 2029. 

The Michigan Board of Chiropractic was originally formed with the enactment of Public Act 145 of 1933. On September 30, 1978, this authority was transferred to the Public Health Code, Public Act 368 of 1978, as amended. The “practice of chiropractic” means that discipline within the healing arts that deals with the human nervous system and the musculoskeletal system and their interrelationship with other body systems. The Board also has the obligation to take disciplinary action against licensees who have adversely affected the public’s health, safety, and welfare. The board works with the department to oversee the practice of approximately 2,863 chiropractors.  

This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. 

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Genesee County 67th District Judge Herman Marable Jr. was recently elected to a five-year term to serve as the historian of the National Bar Association (NBA) Judicial Council. The election occurred at the 100th Annual NBA Convention held in July. Marable has served as a member of the Judicial Council Executive Committee since 2017.

“I am excited to serve in this position. We know now more than ever the importance of preserving our story accurately for those who will follow us,” Marable said

A native of Flint, Marable was elected as a 68th District judge in 2000. He was re-elected in 2006, 2012, 2018, and 2024. In 2016, the 68th District Court was 
absorbed by the 67th District Court thus making him a member of that bench.

He established the Judge Marable Student of the Month/Year Program in 2004 to encourage high school students to focus on education and career goals. 

Marable also established the Herman Sr. and Iris Marable Senior Citizen of the Month Award to recognize persons over age 60 who have dedicated themselves to community service.

In addition to the National Bar Association, Marable is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Genesee County Bar Association, the Mallory, Van Dyne, Scott Bar Association, and the Association of Black Judges of Michigan. He is admitted to practice in state and federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court. He is also a member of the Michigan Judicial Council. 

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Michigan State University College of Law Professor David Favre?received a? Lifetime Achievement Award?at the National Animal Law Conference in Chicago on 
October 18. 

This award recognizes Favre’s more than five decades of work in animal law. His service began in 1982 when he co-founded the Animal Legal Defense Fund. 
Since, Favre was instrumental in establishing MSU College of Law as a national leader in this field and in creating the?Animal Legal & Historical Center (www.animallaw.info), a global resource for lawyers and advocates. 

Favre has written several articles and books dealing with animal issues including such topics as animal cruelty, animal rights, wildlife law, the property status of animals, and international control of trade in endangered species. He has presented to international audiences on these topics and hosted international academic conferences in the United States, Spain, and Hong Kong.

His books include “Animal Law: Welfare, Interest, and Rights” (3ed), “Respecting Animal, The Future of Animal Law,” and “International Trade in Endangered Species.” 

Favre was a founding board member of the ABA Committee on Animal Law; and was honored with the Excellence in Animal Law Award from the AALS Animal Law Section.

•            •            •

Latitude, a legal staffing company that provides law firms and corporate legal departments with former in-house and Big Law attorneys for sophisticated interim legal roles, has opened a new regional office in Detroit.

Jay Harrington will lead the new Detroit office.  Harrington, a University of Michigan Law School graduate, began his career in Skadden’s Corporate Restructuring practice and later practiced at Foley & Lardner LLP before founding his own boutique firm representing companies and executives in complex business disputes. 
Over the past decade, Harrington has advised global and regional law firms and partners on growing their practices through his consulting firm and has built a wide LinkedIn following for his business development insights.

Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Latitude has corporate offices in multiple locations nationwide.

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Foley, Baron, Metzger, & Juip is pleased to announce that Joseph P. McGill has completed the State Court Administrator Office’s required training to serve as a certified neutral mediator in Michigan.

McGill has decades of legal practice experience—including service as past president of the State Bar of Michigan, his role as Honorary Consul of Ireland for Michigan, and his work in complex civil and commercial litigation. He is available to mediate a range of disputes, including professional liability, insurance coverage, construction, employment, commercial litigation, probate, family law, environmental, intellectual property, product liability, real estate, RLUIPA, and general civil cases.

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Miller Johnson is pleased to announce that Todd Holleman has been named a Fellow of the Detroit Bar Association (DBA). As a Fellow, Holleman will continue to support the Association’s pro bono, education, and community service initiatives.

Holleman is a member of Miller Johnson’s Litigation Section in Detroit. His practice is focused on commercial litigation and arbitration matters in state and federal courts in Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin.  He has experience in a variety of business disputes involving commercial contracts including automotive supplier disputes, shareholder disputes, sales commission disputes, and securities disputes representing clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to individuals.

Holleman has been a member of the Detroit Bar Association throughout his 25-year career in the private sector. He has supported DBA events and recently participated in the Detroit Legal Services Clinic at the Wayne County Circuit Court, where he found it fulfilling to use his legal experience to assist individuals in need and mentor younger attorneys.

Holleman graduated with his law degree from Wayne State University Law School.  He is active in leadership with the Section of Litigation of the American Bar Association for more than a decade and is a member of the Securities Industry Financial Markets Association.

•            •            •

DBusiness Journal has recognized six McDonald Hopkins attorneys as 2026 Top Lawyers.  The attorneys recognized as 2026 Top Lawyers:

Joshua Gadharf, Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights Law
Miriam Rosen, Labor & Employment Law
John Benko, Commercial Litigation
Tim Lowe, Commercial Litigation
Mark Steiner, Commercial Litigation
Stephen M. Gross, Mergers & Acquisitions Law

•            •            •

Kemp Klein is honored to announce that twenty-four of its attorneys have been recognized in the DBusiness Magazine 2026 Top Lawyers list. Those listed include:

Amanda Afton Martin, Tax Law
Robert S. Zawideh, Trust and Estates
Richard C. Bruder, his work in Mergers & Acquisitions Law and Securities Law
Raymond L. Morrow, his work in Litigation – Construction
Ralph A. Castelli, his work in Corporate Law
Norman D. Orr, his work in Bankruptcy and Creditor / Debtor Rights Law
Neal Nusholtz, Tax Law
Ronald. S. Nixon, Appellate Law
Matthew W. Frank, Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Mark R. Filipp, Labor and Employment Law
Joseph P. Buttiglieri, Trust & Estates
James P. Davey, Litigation – Construction
Faith M. Gaudaen, Litigation – Construction
Edward M. Nahhat, Appellate Law
David D. Marsh, Real Estate Law
Cynthia L. Umphrey, Corporate Law
William E. Haines II, Trusts & Estates
C. Leslie Banas, Real Estate Law
Brian H. Rolfe, Litigation – Commercial
Brian R. Jenney, Trusts and Estates
Austin W. Probst, Trusts and Estates
Amy W. Stawski, Family Law
William B. Acker, his work in Tax Law
Alan A. May, Trusts and Estates

•            •            •

Dawda PLC is pleased to announce that 21 attorneys have been selected for inclusion in DBusiness Magazine’s 2026 Top Lawyers list, representing eight distinct practice areas:

—Real Estate Law: Kylie E. Bergmann, Edward C. Dawda, Daniel M. Halprin, Joseph M. Judge, Christopher R. Martella, Todd A. Schafer, and Erin Bowen Welch

—Environmental Law: Brian J. Considine, Susan J. Sadler, and Tyler D. Tennent

—Commercial Litigation: Eric A. Ladasz, John Mucha III, and Frances Belzer Wilson

—Corporate Law: Alfredo Casab and Marc K. Salach

—Banking & Financial Services Law: Wayne S. Segal and Robert A. Wright III

—Trusts and Estates: Katie Lynn Ringler and Glenn G. Ross

—Labor and Employment Law: Randal R. Cole

—Nonprofit/Charities Law: Jeffrey D. Moss

•            •            •

DBusiness Magazine has named 75 Honigman attorneys in its 2026 edition of Top Lawyers. This year, Honigman attorneys were recognized for their excellence across nearly 30 practice areas. This year’s recipients are as follows:

Thomas J. Appledorn, Intellectual Property and Patent Law
Scott D. Barnett, Litigation – Patents
Richard A. Barr, Environmental Law
Danielle F. Bass, Information Technology Law
Michael S. Ben, Securities Law
Jennifer L. Benedict, Health Care Law
Jewel Haji Boelstler, Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Andrew J. Boes, Intellectual Property and Patent Law
Jonathan R. Borenstein, Real Estate Law
Alexander J. Burridge, Employee Benefits Law
James Combs, Tax Law
Jackie Cook, Tax Law
Meghan N. Covino, Immigration Law
Michelle P. Crockett, Labor and Employment Law
Sean F. Crotty, Labor and Employment Law
Rian C. Dawson, Litigation – Banking and Finance
Matthew S. Disbrow, Labor and Employment Law
Michelle “Cheli” Bleda Drew, Banking & Financial Services Law
Jacob Drouillard, Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Michael D. DuBay, Corporate Law
Kimberly A. Dudek, Banking & Financial Service Law
David A. Ettinger, Litigation – Antitrust
Scott D. Foess, Tax Law
Amy B. Folbe, Family Law
Michael K. Hauser, Tax Law
Raymond W. Henney, Litigation – Banking and Finance
Michael P. Hindelang, Litigation – Commercial
Karl A. Hochkammer, Commercial Law
J. Patrick Howe, Food and Beverage Law
J. Michael Huget, Copyright Law
Michael A. Indenbaum, Tax Law
David J. Jacob, Real Estate Law
S. Lee Johnson, Environmental Law
Eric M. Jones, Mergers & Acquisitions Law
John P. Kanan, Corporate Law
Barbara A. Kaye, Banking & Financial Service Law
Matthew Keuten, Health Care Law
Scott B. Kitei, Bankruptcy and Creditor / Debtor Rights Law
Samantha A. Kopacz, Employee Benefits Law
Anessa Owen Kramer, Intellectual Property and Patent Law
Donald J. Kunz, Corporate Law
Jeffrey Kuras, Securities Law
Jeffrey Lamb, Litigation – Commercial
Evan J. Leibhan, Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Stewart L. Mandell, Tax Law
Chauncey C. Mayfield II, Commercial Law
Steven Migliore, Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Michael E. Morden, Trusts and Estates
Matthew J. Moussiaux, Corporate Law
Charles Nida, Trusts and Estates
Joshua Opperer, Corporate Law
Alex L. Parrish, Corporate Law
Maryam Karnib Parshall, Real Estate Law
Karen R. Pifer, Real Estate Law
Matthew E. Radler, Labor and Employment Law
James Reid IV, Labor and Employment Law
Julie E. Reitz, Copyright Law
Robert Riley, Appellate Law
J. Adam Rothstein, Real Estate Law
E. Todd Sable, Bankruptcy and Creditor / Debtor Rights Law
Lowell Salesin, Real Estate Law
Alan J. Salle, Real Estate Law
Matthew Schneider, Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Clara L. Seymour, Banking & Financial Service Law
Eric J. Sosenko, Intellectual Property and Patent Law
Deborah (Bea) Swedlow, Litigation – Intellectual Property
Matthew H. Szalach, Intellectual Property and Patent Law
Leigh C. Taggart, Litigation – Intellectual Property
Grace Trueman, Trusts and Estates
Matthew R. VanWasshnova, Mergers & Acquisitions
Sarah Waidelich, Litigation - Patents
Glenn Walter, Bankruptcy and Creditor / Debtor Rights Law
Linda Wasserman, Trust and Estates
Brandon J. Wilson, Litigation - Construction
I.W. Winsten, Arbitration
•            •            •
Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce that 32 of the firm’s attorneys have been included in DBusiness 2026 Top Lawyers.  Below is a list of local Dickinson Wright lawyers included in this year’s list:

—Detroit
Aaron V. Burrell, Labor and Employment Law
David R. Deromedi, Labor and Employment Law
Phillip J. DeRosier, Appellate Law
Steven G. Howell, Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law
Timothy H. Howlett, Labor and Employment Law
James A. Plemmons, Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law
William P. Shield Jr., Banking & Financial Services Law
Theodore B. Sylwestrzak, Banking & Financial Services Law
Bruce C. Thelen, International Trade Law
L. Pahl Zinn, Antitrust Law

—Troy
Erin R. Cobane, Real Estate Law
Jaclyn Culler, Employee Benefits Law
Deborah L. Grace, Employee Benefits Law
Roberta P. Granadier, Employee Benefits Law
Eric W. Gregory, Employee Benefits Law
Craig W. Hammond, Public Finance Law
Elise S. Levasseur, Immigration Law
Elizabeth L. Luckenbach, Trusts & Estates
Michael J. Lusardi, Real Estate Law
James A. Martone, Litigation – Commercial 
Cynthia A. Moore, Employee Benefits Law
Daniel D. Quick, Commercial Law
Michael T. Raymond, Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Kristyn P. Recchia, Family Law
AnnMarie Sanford, Environmental Law
Lynn Capp Sirich, Family Law
Michael Vogt, Land Use & Zoning Law
Mark E. Wilson, Health Care Law

•            •            •

Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that the firm has been ranked in Tier 1 for Financial and Corporate Law in IFLR1000 2025.

Bodman is one of only two Michigan-based law firms recognized in the Michigan Tier 1 category for Financial and Corporate Law and has more individual attorneys listed in IFLR1000’s Michigan rankings than any other law firm.

Bodman also received a “Notable” ranking for M&A Law in IFLR1000’s United States national rankings, with three attorneys receiving United States recognitions in their respective fields.

The three Bodman lawyers recognized with United States rankings and their area of legal specialty, are:

Highly Regarded – State
Joseph J. Kochanek (Banking)
Larry R. Shulman (Banking)

Notable Practitioners
Melissa Lewis (Banking)

The eight Bodman lawyers recognized in the Michigan rankings as “Highly Regarded Practitioners,” with their area of legal specialty, are:

Gene P. Bowen (M&A)
Timothy R. Damschroder (M&A)
Laurence B. Deitch (M&A)
Robert J. Diehl Jr. (Banking, Restructuring)
Kathleen O’Callaghan Hickey (Banking)
Joseph J. Kochanek (Banking)
Carrie Leahy (M&A)
Larry R. Shulman (Banking)

•            •            •

Eight attorneys in Taft’s Detroit office were named to DBusiness Magazine 2026 Top Lawyers. Following are the Taft honorees:

Marko J. Belej (Tax Law)
Steven J. Enwright (Corporate Law)
Ethan R. Holtz (Litigation – Commercial)
Lee Kellert (Mergers & Acquisitions Law)
Mark L. Kowalsky (Litigation – Commercial)
Richard Kruger (Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights Law)
Eli Maroko (Immigration Law)
Arthur H. Siegal (Environmental Law)
•            •            •
Three Howard & Howard attorneys have been named to DBusiness Magazine’s 2026 Top Lawyers list.  The firm is pleased to congratulate Brian A. Kreucher, Daniel H. Bliss, and Patrick M. McCarthy.

•            •            •

Brooks Kushman announces that attorneys Marc Lorelli and Frank Angileri have been named to the DBusiness 2026 Top Lawyers list in the category of Litigation: Intellectual Property.

Lorelli, who serves as the co-chair of the firm’s Litigation Practice, manages high-value intellectual property disputes across the country. His work spans patent, trademark, trade secret, and copyright matters.

Angileri, who previously served as president of the firm, brings decades of experience in intellectual property litigation and post-grant matters. 

•            •            •

Maddin Hauser is pleased to announce that seven shareholders have earned a spot on DBusiness Magazine’s 2026 Top Lawyers list.  Maddin Hauser’s recognized attorneys include:

Harvey R. Heller – Legal Malpractice Law 
Kathleen H. Klaus – Legal Malpractice Law
Gary M. Remer – Franchise Law
Steven D. Sallen – Real Estate Law
David M. Saperstein – Legal Malpractice Law
Julie B. Teicher – Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law
Craig E. Zucker – Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law

By Michelle A. Behnke
 
The American Bar Association firmly maintains that judicial independence is vital to preserving the integrity of our system of justice. Efforts to intimidate or remove judges for their lawful decisions risk turning our courts into arenas of political retribution rather than impartial arbiters of justice.

The ABA is alarmed by the growing pattern of lawmakers threatening or starting impeachment processes against sitting judges because of disagreement with rulings they have made. The independence of the judiciary is the most essential safeguard of a free society, the rule of law in our country and public confidence in our justice system. Threats to remove judges who are issuing decisions based on the facts and the law cannot be tolerated.

State representatives in Texas and Utah recently have filed impeachment articles against judges who issued rulings with which they disagreed. The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action and Federal Rights announced that they will hold hearings that will focus on impeaching “rogue” judges but have postponed them as of now. Earlier this year, members of the U.S. House attempted to impeach six separate federal judges over their rulings. Recently, the U.S. deputy attorney general attacked the judiciary, urging young lawyers to join what he called a “war” against “rogue activist judges.”

The separation of powers and public respect for our judicial system are critical to our functioning democracy. If judges feel pressured to weigh political matters in their decision-making rather than concentrating solely on the facts of the case, the applicable law and the Constitution, the justice system suffers.

Citizens, including members of Congress, should be able to analyze, discuss and debate judges’ rulings. But calls for impeachment without any  impeachable offense, accompanied by inflammatory rhetoric, undermine the public’s trust in the rule of law and our constitutional government. Historically, impeachment power by Congress against judges has only been used after a conviction for a serious crime or corrupt or other egregious conduct. In the last 222 years, the House of Representatives has voted to impeach only 15 federal judges, and only eight of those impeachments were followed by convictions in the Senate.

In March, Chief Justice John Roberts issued a statement on the topic saying that, “For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision. The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose.”

Justice must be administered according to legal principles and facts, not driven by political expediency or public opinion. Disagreement with a ruling does not justify removal; instead, it should lead to healthy debate, legal challenges and the development of the law through the appellate process.

The strength of our democracy lies in the separation of powers and the independence of our courts. We urge policymakers to foster a judicial environment where judges can decide cases based on law, free from political influence, intimidation or threats of impeachment. Only then can we ensure a fair, unbiased system that preserves the rights of all Americans.
————————
Michelle A. Behnke, a member of the Boardman Clark law firm in Madison, Wisconsin, is president of the American Bar Association.  Prior to joining the firm, she was the principal of the firm Michelle Behnke & Associates, where her practice focused on business, real estate and estate planning.  Behnke’s experience in the real estate area was recognized by her election to membership in the American College of Real Estate Lawyers.  She has also been elected into The American Law Institute, the American Bar Foundation Fellows and the Wisconsin Bar Foundation Fellows.  

(https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2025/11/statement-from-aba-president-re-judicial-independence/)