Goodman Acker P.C.
Goodman Acker announces the promotion of attorney Ronita Bahri to partner. Bahri brings ten years of legal experience, a track record of multimillion-dollar case wins, and a commitment to the community to her new role.
Bahri joined Goodman Acker in 2015. She has served as associate attorney to Partner Tim Sulolli and recently sat as co-counsel in a major medical malpractice trial win.
Bahri earned her undergraduate degrees in political science and psychology from Wayne State University and went on to receive her law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law. In 2017, she was recognized by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as an “Up & Coming Lawyer” and most recently, she was selected as a 2025 Super Lawyer.
Beyond the courtroom, Bahri is involved in the Chaldean-American community in Metro Detroit—home to more than 160,000 Chaldeans. She works with organizations supporting refugees in the U.S. and rebuilding efforts in Iraq, where many Chaldean communities were devastated by ISIS.
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Varnum LLP
Varnum is pleased to announce that Mark Chasteen, former assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, has joined the firm as a partner in its White Collar Defense and Government Investigations practice.
Chasteen brings 17 years of federal prosecutorial experience, most recently serving as chief of the White Collar Crime Unit, as well as deputy chief of the Appellate Division and Violent & Organized Crime Unit. In his leadership role, Chasteen oversaw a team of 20 attorneys prosecuting complex matters involving health care fraud, bribery, money laundering, and other financial crimes. His work included investigations into fraudulent billing involving Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance, as well as the illegal diversion of prescription drugs.
Chasteen joins a team that has represented clients in some of the region’s most high-profile matters, including the defense of individuals in the Flint Water Crisis, service on the General Motors Ignition Switch Monitorship, and the independent investigation of the Oxford School Shooting. The team also routinely defends businesses and individuals in civil and criminal tax matters.
“I’m excited to bring my experience to Varnum and contribute to the firm’s strong reputation in white collar defense and government investigations,” said Chasteen. “This new role offers the opportunity to partner with businesses and boards of directors as they navigate investigations and enforcement actions brought by state attorneys general, the DOJ, and other regulators.”
Chasteen earned his law degree from Yale Law School and his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan.
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National Center for State Court
Elizabeth Clement began service on May 1 as the National Center for State Court’s president and chief executive officer. She succeeds Mary McQueen who had assumed the role of NCSC president in July 2004 and announced her intention to retire in August of last year. Clement becomes the fifth president in the organization’s history, and the second judge to fill the role.
“I am honored to serve as president of NCSC,” said Clement. “As a witness to NCSC’s important initiatives, I am excited to work with the organization’s talented team to extend the reach of its critical work. I look forward to building on our strong services as we strengthen judicial systems across the country and the world, enhancing accessibility, transparency, and efficiency.”
Clement has extensive state court experience. She joined the Michigan Supreme Court in November 2017, becoming the 113th justice and the 11th woman to serve on the bench. In November 2018, she was elected by the voters of Michigan to an eight-year term. In November 2022, she was chosen unanimously by her colleagues to serve as chief justice, making her the seventh woman to step into that role.
Prior to her election to the court, Clement served as chief legal counsel to the governor of Michigan, advising on a wide variety of legal, legislative, and policy matters. Her duties included working with the Attorney General’s Office on litigation affecting the state of Michigan, negotiating tribal compacts and settlement agreements, and interviewing and recommending appointees to Court of Appeals and Supreme Court judicial vacancies.
As she begins her tenure, Clement has identified several priorities for NCSC, including listening to the needs of state court leaders and building actionable strategies to meet those needs; revitalizing NCSC’s mission-driven purpose through increased staff engagement; and diversifying its funding streams.
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Fishman Stewart PLLC
Intellectual property specialty law firm Fishman Stewart PLLC continues to bolster its patent, trademark, and IP consulting practices in the sciences with the addition of Julie Staple, who joins the firm as a partner, and Benjamin Becker, associate attorney. The announcement was made by Co-Managing Partner Michael Stewart.
Staple has more than 20 years of experience in intellectual property law and joins the firm after many years at the Ann Arbor office of Dinsmore. She is a patent attorney, focusing on patent application preparation and prosecution, both nationally and internationally. She has written and prosecuted patents in an assortment of areas relating to biotechnology, including molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry, pharmaceuticals, chemistry, cancer biology and bio electrochemical systems. She understands the entire patent process from beginning to end and finds great satisfaction in translating “patentese” for the technical experts with whom she works.
Prior to her career as an attorney, Staple studied biology with a specialization in molecular biology and neuroscience. A Ph.D. credentialed technical subject matter expert, she worked with groups at the Glaxo Institute for Molecular Biology in Geneva, Switzerland, and at the University of Lausanne investigating mechanisms of regulation of synaptic protein heterogeneity in CNS synapses. She obtained a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School, as well as a doctorate in neuroscience, a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science, both in biology, all from the University of Michigan.
Becker focuses on trademark law and IP consulting, helping clients navigate brand protection and intellectual property strategy. He enjoys the opportunities IP law presents to stay attuned to scientific advancements and evaluate how to apply them to best serve his clients. Prior to practicing law, he worked in banking and environmental compliance, gaining experience in understanding complex legal issues and government entities.
Becker earned a law degree from the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Policy from Drake University.
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Butzel Long
Butzel attorney and shareholder Mitchell (“Mitch”) Zajac will be a featured presenter during the 2025 EV Small Business Suppliers Forum on June 5 in Chattanooga. He will discuss the impact of tariffs on the EV market. The Forum is organized by the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG), the Tennessee Automotive Manufacturers Association (TAMA), and the TriState Minority Supplier Development Council (TSMSDC).
Zajac has experience in commercial litigation, transactional matters, and negotiating successful resolutions that have earned him an enviable reputation when it comes to achieving results that benefit clients. He counsels and represents professionals in a variety of sectors, large corporations, and entities of all sizes in automotive, intellectual property, regulatory and emissions compliance, to name a few.
He is a registered patent attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Zajac counsels and represents clients in intellectual property (IP) matters such as complex trade secret, copyright, and patent litigation. His experience encompasses IP administrative proceedings, including patent inter partes review (IPR) proceedings, patent prosecution in the USPTO, and advising on patent portfolio development and management.
Before joining Butzel, Zajac was an engineer at a Detroit Three automaker. In this role, he was an advocate for progress and change in a variety of functions, including powertrain and engine systems design and development; design and development engineering, including customer sourcing, quality, and design; international program, supply chain, and manufacturing management, including responsibility for vehicle chief engineering, product planning and branding; two global manufacturing facilities, supply chain management and customs, vehicle safety certification, fuel economy and greenhouse gas certification, and emissions compliance; purchasing and supplier quality, including re-writing production part approval processes (PPAP), customer tooling quality and payment; vehicle safety and regulatory compliance, both safety, working directly with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and emissions, working directly with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), California Air Resources Board (CARB), and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) with a focus on emissions.
Zajac is chair of Cooley Law School’s Board of Directors. He joined Cooley’s Board of Directors in 2020 and was elected vice-chair in 2022. He also is a member of the WMU Alumni Association Board of Directors, and a member of the WMU Lee Honors College Dean’s Advisory Board. Additionally, Zajac is a member of the Michigan Chapter of the American Inns of Court and the Detroit Bar Association.
In addition, Butzel attorney and shareholder Eric J. Flessland has been named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s “Go To Lawyers for Construction Law.”
Based in Butzel’s Detroit office, Flessland is recognized by clients and his peers for his extensive knowledge of Construction Law and the construction industry. The focus of his practice centers primarily on representation of heavy construction contractors and their trade associations in the public and private sectors. His experience encompasses representing construction contractors on public and private works projects from inception through close out.
He represents the full spectrum of construction professionals, including developers, construction managers, general contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers on every type of project. Flessland has handled matters from tunnels, roadways, and underground infrastructure to above ground industrial, commercial, and residential structures. He provides practical preventative advice on all aspects of a project, from bid to punch list, including contract review and revision, and contractual and insurance coverage claims. He also has handled dispute resolution matters of all sizes and importance affecting the construction industry.
Additional areas where Flessland has experience extend to insurance and suretyship issues affecting the construction industry. He has drafted a range of contract agreements for project owners, contractors, and subcontractors. His representation of firm clients covers a wide range of public and private matters including enforcement of competitive bidding procedures on local- and state-funded public works projects; project level claims analysis, claim preservation and avoidance counseling; complex construction claims litigation; and contract dispute resolution. He provides legal and legislative consultation on issues affecting the heavy civil construction industry.
Flessland is a regular lecturer to various contractor associations and frequently contributes articles for publication in the Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation Association’s trade magazine, Cross Section. He is a member of the American Bar Association’s Forum Committee on the Construction Industry and the State Bar of Michigan’s Subcommittee on Construction Liens and Bonds.
Over the course of his career, Flessland has tried matters in United States District Courts in Indiana, Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. He has appeared in the Michigan and Indiana Court of Appeals, Michigan circuit courts throughout the state, and state trial courts in Indiana and Ohio. His experience includes arbitrating and mediating construction disputes.
Flessland earned a law degree from Wayne State University Law School and his Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University. He has been recognized by his peers and several legal publications for his experience in the areas of Construction Law and Construction Litigation. He was named by The Best Lawyers in America® as “Lawyer of the Year” for Litigation-Construction in 2022.
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Plunkett Cooney
Plunkett Cooney recently continued the expansion of its Medical Liability Practice Group with the addition of attorney James L. Frisch.
An associate attorney in Plunkett Cooney’s Bloomfield Hills office, Frisch concentrates his practice primarily in the area of medical malpractice defense. He represents health care organizations and private practice professionals in complex medical malpractice claims and other personal injury and insurance claims throughout Michigan. He also represents healthcare providers in state licensing and regulatory matters.
In addition to his medical litigation practice, Frisch has experience with first- and third-party motor vehicle negligence matters, having previously served as in-house counsel for a national auto insurer.
Admitted to practice law in state and federal courts in Michigan, Frisch is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the American and Oakland County bar associations. Frisch received his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 2019. While in law school, he served as a judicial clerk for Oakland County Probate Court Judge Linda S. Hallmark. He received his undergraduate degree from Central Michigan University in 2015.
Goodman Acker announces the promotion of attorney Ronita Bahri to partner. Bahri brings ten years of legal experience, a track record of multimillion-dollar case wins, and a commitment to the community to her new role.
Bahri joined Goodman Acker in 2015. She has served as associate attorney to Partner Tim Sulolli and recently sat as co-counsel in a major medical malpractice trial win.
Bahri earned her undergraduate degrees in political science and psychology from Wayne State University and went on to receive her law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law. In 2017, she was recognized by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as an “Up & Coming Lawyer” and most recently, she was selected as a 2025 Super Lawyer.
Beyond the courtroom, Bahri is involved in the Chaldean-American community in Metro Detroit—home to more than 160,000 Chaldeans. She works with organizations supporting refugees in the U.S. and rebuilding efforts in Iraq, where many Chaldean communities were devastated by ISIS.
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Varnum LLP
Varnum is pleased to announce that Mark Chasteen, former assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, has joined the firm as a partner in its White Collar Defense and Government Investigations practice.
Chasteen brings 17 years of federal prosecutorial experience, most recently serving as chief of the White Collar Crime Unit, as well as deputy chief of the Appellate Division and Violent & Organized Crime Unit. In his leadership role, Chasteen oversaw a team of 20 attorneys prosecuting complex matters involving health care fraud, bribery, money laundering, and other financial crimes. His work included investigations into fraudulent billing involving Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance, as well as the illegal diversion of prescription drugs.
Chasteen joins a team that has represented clients in some of the region’s most high-profile matters, including the defense of individuals in the Flint Water Crisis, service on the General Motors Ignition Switch Monitorship, and the independent investigation of the Oxford School Shooting. The team also routinely defends businesses and individuals in civil and criminal tax matters.
“I’m excited to bring my experience to Varnum and contribute to the firm’s strong reputation in white collar defense and government investigations,” said Chasteen. “This new role offers the opportunity to partner with businesses and boards of directors as they navigate investigations and enforcement actions brought by state attorneys general, the DOJ, and other regulators.”
Chasteen earned his law degree from Yale Law School and his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan.
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National Center for State Court
Elizabeth Clement began service on May 1 as the National Center for State Court’s president and chief executive officer. She succeeds Mary McQueen who had assumed the role of NCSC president in July 2004 and announced her intention to retire in August of last year. Clement becomes the fifth president in the organization’s history, and the second judge to fill the role.
“I am honored to serve as president of NCSC,” said Clement. “As a witness to NCSC’s important initiatives, I am excited to work with the organization’s talented team to extend the reach of its critical work. I look forward to building on our strong services as we strengthen judicial systems across the country and the world, enhancing accessibility, transparency, and efficiency.”
Clement has extensive state court experience. She joined the Michigan Supreme Court in November 2017, becoming the 113th justice and the 11th woman to serve on the bench. In November 2018, she was elected by the voters of Michigan to an eight-year term. In November 2022, she was chosen unanimously by her colleagues to serve as chief justice, making her the seventh woman to step into that role.
Prior to her election to the court, Clement served as chief legal counsel to the governor of Michigan, advising on a wide variety of legal, legislative, and policy matters. Her duties included working with the Attorney General’s Office on litigation affecting the state of Michigan, negotiating tribal compacts and settlement agreements, and interviewing and recommending appointees to Court of Appeals and Supreme Court judicial vacancies.
As she begins her tenure, Clement has identified several priorities for NCSC, including listening to the needs of state court leaders and building actionable strategies to meet those needs; revitalizing NCSC’s mission-driven purpose through increased staff engagement; and diversifying its funding streams.
—————
Fishman Stewart PLLC
Intellectual property specialty law firm Fishman Stewart PLLC continues to bolster its patent, trademark, and IP consulting practices in the sciences with the addition of Julie Staple, who joins the firm as a partner, and Benjamin Becker, associate attorney. The announcement was made by Co-Managing Partner Michael Stewart.
Staple has more than 20 years of experience in intellectual property law and joins the firm after many years at the Ann Arbor office of Dinsmore. She is a patent attorney, focusing on patent application preparation and prosecution, both nationally and internationally. She has written and prosecuted patents in an assortment of areas relating to biotechnology, including molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry, pharmaceuticals, chemistry, cancer biology and bio electrochemical systems. She understands the entire patent process from beginning to end and finds great satisfaction in translating “patentese” for the technical experts with whom she works.
Prior to her career as an attorney, Staple studied biology with a specialization in molecular biology and neuroscience. A Ph.D. credentialed technical subject matter expert, she worked with groups at the Glaxo Institute for Molecular Biology in Geneva, Switzerland, and at the University of Lausanne investigating mechanisms of regulation of synaptic protein heterogeneity in CNS synapses. She obtained a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School, as well as a doctorate in neuroscience, a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science, both in biology, all from the University of Michigan.
Becker focuses on trademark law and IP consulting, helping clients navigate brand protection and intellectual property strategy. He enjoys the opportunities IP law presents to stay attuned to scientific advancements and evaluate how to apply them to best serve his clients. Prior to practicing law, he worked in banking and environmental compliance, gaining experience in understanding complex legal issues and government entities.
Becker earned a law degree from the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Policy from Drake University.
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Butzel Long
Butzel attorney and shareholder Mitchell (“Mitch”) Zajac will be a featured presenter during the 2025 EV Small Business Suppliers Forum on June 5 in Chattanooga. He will discuss the impact of tariffs on the EV market. The Forum is organized by the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG), the Tennessee Automotive Manufacturers Association (TAMA), and the TriState Minority Supplier Development Council (TSMSDC).
Zajac has experience in commercial litigation, transactional matters, and negotiating successful resolutions that have earned him an enviable reputation when it comes to achieving results that benefit clients. He counsels and represents professionals in a variety of sectors, large corporations, and entities of all sizes in automotive, intellectual property, regulatory and emissions compliance, to name a few.
He is a registered patent attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Zajac counsels and represents clients in intellectual property (IP) matters such as complex trade secret, copyright, and patent litigation. His experience encompasses IP administrative proceedings, including patent inter partes review (IPR) proceedings, patent prosecution in the USPTO, and advising on patent portfolio development and management.
Before joining Butzel, Zajac was an engineer at a Detroit Three automaker. In this role, he was an advocate for progress and change in a variety of functions, including powertrain and engine systems design and development; design and development engineering, including customer sourcing, quality, and design; international program, supply chain, and manufacturing management, including responsibility for vehicle chief engineering, product planning and branding; two global manufacturing facilities, supply chain management and customs, vehicle safety certification, fuel economy and greenhouse gas certification, and emissions compliance; purchasing and supplier quality, including re-writing production part approval processes (PPAP), customer tooling quality and payment; vehicle safety and regulatory compliance, both safety, working directly with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and emissions, working directly with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), California Air Resources Board (CARB), and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) with a focus on emissions.
Zajac is chair of Cooley Law School’s Board of Directors. He joined Cooley’s Board of Directors in 2020 and was elected vice-chair in 2022. He also is a member of the WMU Alumni Association Board of Directors, and a member of the WMU Lee Honors College Dean’s Advisory Board. Additionally, Zajac is a member of the Michigan Chapter of the American Inns of Court and the Detroit Bar Association.
In addition, Butzel attorney and shareholder Eric J. Flessland has been named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s “Go To Lawyers for Construction Law.”
Based in Butzel’s Detroit office, Flessland is recognized by clients and his peers for his extensive knowledge of Construction Law and the construction industry. The focus of his practice centers primarily on representation of heavy construction contractors and their trade associations in the public and private sectors. His experience encompasses representing construction contractors on public and private works projects from inception through close out.
He represents the full spectrum of construction professionals, including developers, construction managers, general contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers on every type of project. Flessland has handled matters from tunnels, roadways, and underground infrastructure to above ground industrial, commercial, and residential structures. He provides practical preventative advice on all aspects of a project, from bid to punch list, including contract review and revision, and contractual and insurance coverage claims. He also has handled dispute resolution matters of all sizes and importance affecting the construction industry.
Additional areas where Flessland has experience extend to insurance and suretyship issues affecting the construction industry. He has drafted a range of contract agreements for project owners, contractors, and subcontractors. His representation of firm clients covers a wide range of public and private matters including enforcement of competitive bidding procedures on local- and state-funded public works projects; project level claims analysis, claim preservation and avoidance counseling; complex construction claims litigation; and contract dispute resolution. He provides legal and legislative consultation on issues affecting the heavy civil construction industry.
Flessland is a regular lecturer to various contractor associations and frequently contributes articles for publication in the Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation Association’s trade magazine, Cross Section. He is a member of the American Bar Association’s Forum Committee on the Construction Industry and the State Bar of Michigan’s Subcommittee on Construction Liens and Bonds.
Over the course of his career, Flessland has tried matters in United States District Courts in Indiana, Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. He has appeared in the Michigan and Indiana Court of Appeals, Michigan circuit courts throughout the state, and state trial courts in Indiana and Ohio. His experience includes arbitrating and mediating construction disputes.
Flessland earned a law degree from Wayne State University Law School and his Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University. He has been recognized by his peers and several legal publications for his experience in the areas of Construction Law and Construction Litigation. He was named by The Best Lawyers in America® as “Lawyer of the Year” for Litigation-Construction in 2022.
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Plunkett Cooney
Plunkett Cooney recently continued the expansion of its Medical Liability Practice Group with the addition of attorney James L. Frisch.
An associate attorney in Plunkett Cooney’s Bloomfield Hills office, Frisch concentrates his practice primarily in the area of medical malpractice defense. He represents health care organizations and private practice professionals in complex medical malpractice claims and other personal injury and insurance claims throughout Michigan. He also represents healthcare providers in state licensing and regulatory matters.
In addition to his medical litigation practice, Frisch has experience with first- and third-party motor vehicle negligence matters, having previously served as in-house counsel for a national auto insurer.
Admitted to practice law in state and federal courts in Michigan, Frisch is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the American and Oakland County bar associations. Frisch received his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 2019. While in law school, he served as a judicial clerk for Oakland County Probate Court Judge Linda S. Hallmark. He received his undergraduate degree from Central Michigan University in 2015.
