Butzel recently hosted two key events, the firm’s Annual Attorney and Paralegal Meeting and the Staff and Administrative Retreat and Annual Meeting respectively. Both events took place at the Detroit Athletic Club. A highlight of each event was the presentation of Butzel’s Internal Awards.
—Core Values Award
Honors a Butzel attorney recognized for exemplifying the firm’s values of Excellence. Drive. Trust. and Teamwork. Honoree: Claudia Rast, shareholder
—Excellence in Service & Stewardship
Honors a Butzel attorney recognized for excellence in service and stewardship. Honoree: Reggie Pacis, shareholder
—Litigation Matter of the Year Award
Recognizes teams demonstrating exceptional advocacy, creativity, teamwork, and outstanding litigation results for Butzel’s clients
• Winners
Lead attorneys: Barbara Eckert Buchanan, shareholder; Terrence Miglio, shareholder
Team: Regan Dahle, shareholder; Joanne Brighton, senior paralegal; Megan Fisher, paralegal
—Transactional Matter of the Year Award
Recognizes teams demonstrating exceptional advocacy, creativity, teamwork, and outstanding transactional results for Butzel’s clients
• Winners
Lead Attorney: Justin Klimko, shareholder
Team: Jennifer Consiglio, shareholder; Shanika Owens, shareholder; Thomas Kabel, director; Laura Johnson, shareholder; Susan Johnson, shareholder; Daniel Soleimani, shareholder; Rebecca Davies, shareholder; Lynn McGuire, shareholder; Aaron Kamlay, shareholder; Clara DeMatteis Mager, Director; Linda Armstrong, shareholder; Jeanne Balint, paralegal
—Core Values Award
Honors a Butzel employee recognized for exemplifying the firm’s values of Excellence. Drive. Trust. and Teamwork. Honoree: Teresa Diles, client accounting manager
—2026 Butzel Milestones
• 25 Years at Butzel
Honoree: Penny Anderson, legal assistant
• 35 Years at Butzel
Honorees:
Lorie Johnson, legal assistant
Pam Hensley, senior billing specialist
• 40 Years at Butzel
Honoree: Therese Pawlik, legal assistant
• • •
Bodman is proud to share that David M. Walker, member and chair of the firm’s Detroit Business Advocacy Team, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Michigan Black Business Alliance (MBBA).
Founded in 2021, MBBA works to help close the racial wealth gap by developing programs and advocating for policies that support profitable and sustainable Black-owned businesses connected to public and private economic opportunities. The organization provides access to capital and co-working space, holds networking and educational events, and advocates for business-focused policies at the local, state and federal levels.
As chair of Bodman’s Detroit Business Advocacy team, Walker represents Detroit business owners as outside general counsel on a wide range of legal and business matters. His practice focuses on corporate and securities law, including mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, private placements of securities, and general corporate advice.
Outside of his legal practice, Walker serves as vice president of Business Engagement with the University of Michigan Club in Atlanta, and as a member of the Board of Directors of University of Detroit Mercy Law School Alumni Association.
• • •
Honigman LLP recently announced that Michael E. Carter is joining the firm as senior counsel in the Investigations and White Collar Defense Practice Group within the Litigation Department. Based in Detroit, Carter joins Honigman after serving as executive director of the Federal Community Defender Office (FCDO) of the Eastern District of Michigan.
In transitioning to private practice, Carter will focus on white collar defense—representing individuals in investigations and prosecutions and advising on complex criminal proceedings.
In his previous role, Carter led an office of approximately 45 professionals, managed a multi-million-dollar budget, and supervised the handling of complex, high-volume federal cases. He has represented clients in federal and state courts and handled hundreds of criminal defense cases, including during his tenure with the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia.
Carter earned a law degree from Wayne State University Law School and received his B.A. from the University of Michigan. He began his career as a criminal defense attorney in Michigan before spending four years with the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, returning to Detroit in 2016 to join the Federal Defender Office and later the Neighborhood Defender Service of Detroit.
Honigman is also pleased to announce that Timothy Lee has been recognized in DBusiness’ 30 in Their Thirties listing.
Lee is a partner in Honigman’s Supply Chain & Advanced Manufacturing Transactions practice and concentrates his practice on domestic and cross-border corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and general corporate governance and compliance. He regularly represents businesses and financial institutions in a variety of complex commercial transactions.
• • •
Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce that Thomas Fabbri, Kevin Fanning, Thomas MacFarlane, Jonathan Martone, and Nicholas Papasifakis have joined the firm’s Troy office as members.
Fabbri advises individuals and families on estate planning, probate, charitable planning, estate and trust administration, and related tax matters. He also represents beneficiaries and fiduciaries in estate contests, trust disputes, and other probate litigation matters.
Fabbri works primarily with high net worth individuals and business owners to develop estate plans that address long-term family, financial, and business goals.
His practice includes planning for incapacity, business succession, creditor protection, wealth transfer, estate and generation-skipping transfer tax strategies, and the efficient transfer of assets during life and after death. He regularly prepares wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, and other estate planning documents tailored to each client’s circumstances and priorities.
Fabbri is recognized as a leader in his field by Best Lawyers in America, Michigan Super Lawyers “Rising Stars,” and DBusiness Top Lawyers. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan’s Probate and Estate Planning Section, the State Bar of Michigan’s Tax Section, and the Financial and Estate Planning Council of Metropolitan Detroit. He received his B.A. from Michigan State University and his law degree from Wayne State University Law School.
Fanning is an experienced commercial litigator who represents companies in the manufacturing, technology, electronics, transportation, financial services and securities industries in complex disputes. He has trial experience serving as lead counsel in jury and bench trials before state and federal courts nationwide, and regularly appears before AAA, ICDR, JAMS and FINRA panels in arbitrations throughout the United States and internationally. He has trial experience serving as lead counsel in jury and bench trials and has represented clients before state and federal courts and arbitration panels throughout the country.
Fanning’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, real estate disputes, securities litigation, commercial loan enforcement matters, receiverships, and transportation-related litigation. In addition, he advises clients on emerging legal issues involving unmanned aerial systems (UAS/drone law), accessibility litigation under the ADA, FHA, website compliance under WCAG, and healthcare-related disputes and investigations.
Fanning is recognized as a leader in his field by Best Lawyers in America, Michigan Super Lawyers, and Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s “Go To Lawyer” for Business Litigation. He has been a member of the Board of Directors and Co-Chair of the Membership Committee for the Federal Bar Association, Eastern District of Michigan Chapter, a member of the Commercial Litigation Committee, State Bar of Michigan’s Business Law Section, and served as a barrister in the Oakland County Bar Association Chapter of the American Inns of Court. He received his B.A. from Western Michigan University and his law degree from University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.
MacFarlane works with individuals and business owners on estate planning, wealth transfer, and business succession. He focuses on helping clients put plans in place for the transfer of family wealth, the transition of closely held businesses, and the practical issues that come up as those plans are carried out over time.
MacFarlane’s work includes estate and trust planning, with attention to tax considerations and structure. He also represents beneficiaries and fiduciaries in probate and trust matters, including will contests, fiduciary disputes, and contested estate and trust administrations. These matters often involve family relationships and long-standing expectations, and he works with clients to move through those disputes while keeping the legal and personal issues in view.
MacFarlane is recognized as a leader in his field by Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s “Hall of Fame,” Best Lawyers in America, DBusiness Top Lawyers, Leading Lawyers, and Michigan Super Lawyers. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan’s Probate and Estate Planning Section, the State Bar of Michigan’s Tax Section, the Financial and Estate Planning Council of Metropolitan Detroit, and a charter member of Michigan Leading Lawyers Advisory Board. He received his B.A. from Alma College, his M.B.A. from Wake Forest University, and his law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law.
Martone provides strategic counsel to business and entrepreneurial clients, guiding them through daily operational matters and complex legal challenges. He represents businesses and individuals alike in all areas of business and commercial disputes and litigation, including commercial contract and warranty actions, real estate, zoning, and landlord and tenant disputes, shareholder disputes, and municipal law litigation. Martone is also certified by the Michigan State Court Administrative Office as a Civil Facilitative Mediator and has experience in alternative dispute resolution proceedings. He has experience counseling and representing fiduciaries and interested parties in a wide range of probate, trust, and estate matters, including high-net-worth trust and estate proceedings.
Martone is recognized as a leader in his field by Best Lawyers in America and Michigan Super Lawyers. He is Past President of the Italian American Bar Association of Michigan, a Fellow in the Oakland County Bar Foundation, a member of the State Bar of Michigan, and a past president of the Oakland County Bar Association New Lawyers Section. He received his B.A. from James Madison College, Michigan State University and his law degree from Wayne State University Law School.
Papasifakis advises individuals, families, and business owners on estate planning, asset protection strategies, business matters, and probate and trust administration and litigation. He works closely with clients to design estate plans that reflect their goals around wealth transfer, tax planning, asset protection, probate avoidance, and charitable giving.
Papasifakis is recognized as a leader in his field by Best Lawyers in America and Michigan Super Lawyers “Rising Stars.” He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan’s Probate and Estate Planning Section, the State Bar of Michigan’s Tax Section, Tax Council, and the Hellenic Bar Association. He received his B.B.A. from Western Michigan University and his law degrees from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and New York University School of Law.
• • •
Maddin Hauser is pleased to announce that three attorneys have been elevated to the shareholder level. Krista Cotter Ranta, David T. Lin, and Kevin C. Majewski joined the firm’s Financial Services and Real Property Litigation group in early 2025 and made an immediate positive impact. Lin is also a member of the Bankruptcy, Restructuring, and Debtor-Creditor Rights group.
Ranta represents corporate and commercial clients in civil litigation and post-judgment collection matters. Versed in state and federal laws affecting the banking and collections industry, she has a track record of creating and implementing effective post-judgment collection strategies.
Ranta represents clients in all phases of contested litigation at the trial and appellate levels in state and federal courts, as well as in alternative dispute resolution proceedings. She earned her law degree from Michigan State University College of Law.
Lin has a record of achieving favorable outcomes for lenders facing distressed loans or borrower insolvencies. He guides lenders and other creditors through all stages of the bankruptcy process after a debtor files for bankruptcy relief.
Lin represents his clients’ diverse interests at the pre- and post-judgment stages of commercial litigation. He earned his law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Majewski concentrates his practice on disputes involving real property, construction, mortgages, financial services, and other business matters. He is a methodical advocate, conducting thorough analyses of every detail for each case before devising a strategy to achieve his clients’ goals. Majewski graduated from Michigan State University College of Law.
—Core Values Award
Honors a Butzel attorney recognized for exemplifying the firm’s values of Excellence. Drive. Trust. and Teamwork. Honoree: Claudia Rast, shareholder
—Excellence in Service & Stewardship
Honors a Butzel attorney recognized for excellence in service and stewardship. Honoree: Reggie Pacis, shareholder
—Litigation Matter of the Year Award
Recognizes teams demonstrating exceptional advocacy, creativity, teamwork, and outstanding litigation results for Butzel’s clients
• Winners
Lead attorneys: Barbara Eckert Buchanan, shareholder; Terrence Miglio, shareholder
Team: Regan Dahle, shareholder; Joanne Brighton, senior paralegal; Megan Fisher, paralegal
—Transactional Matter of the Year Award
Recognizes teams demonstrating exceptional advocacy, creativity, teamwork, and outstanding transactional results for Butzel’s clients
• Winners
Lead Attorney: Justin Klimko, shareholder
Team: Jennifer Consiglio, shareholder; Shanika Owens, shareholder; Thomas Kabel, director; Laura Johnson, shareholder; Susan Johnson, shareholder; Daniel Soleimani, shareholder; Rebecca Davies, shareholder; Lynn McGuire, shareholder; Aaron Kamlay, shareholder; Clara DeMatteis Mager, Director; Linda Armstrong, shareholder; Jeanne Balint, paralegal
—Core Values Award
Honors a Butzel employee recognized for exemplifying the firm’s values of Excellence. Drive. Trust. and Teamwork. Honoree: Teresa Diles, client accounting manager
—2026 Butzel Milestones
• 25 Years at Butzel
Honoree: Penny Anderson, legal assistant
• 35 Years at Butzel
Honorees:
Lorie Johnson, legal assistant
Pam Hensley, senior billing specialist
• 40 Years at Butzel
Honoree: Therese Pawlik, legal assistant
• • •
Bodman is proud to share that David M. Walker, member and chair of the firm’s Detroit Business Advocacy Team, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Michigan Black Business Alliance (MBBA).
Founded in 2021, MBBA works to help close the racial wealth gap by developing programs and advocating for policies that support profitable and sustainable Black-owned businesses connected to public and private economic opportunities. The organization provides access to capital and co-working space, holds networking and educational events, and advocates for business-focused policies at the local, state and federal levels.
As chair of Bodman’s Detroit Business Advocacy team, Walker represents Detroit business owners as outside general counsel on a wide range of legal and business matters. His practice focuses on corporate and securities law, including mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, private placements of securities, and general corporate advice.
Outside of his legal practice, Walker serves as vice president of Business Engagement with the University of Michigan Club in Atlanta, and as a member of the Board of Directors of University of Detroit Mercy Law School Alumni Association.
• • •
Honigman LLP recently announced that Michael E. Carter is joining the firm as senior counsel in the Investigations and White Collar Defense Practice Group within the Litigation Department. Based in Detroit, Carter joins Honigman after serving as executive director of the Federal Community Defender Office (FCDO) of the Eastern District of Michigan.
In transitioning to private practice, Carter will focus on white collar defense—representing individuals in investigations and prosecutions and advising on complex criminal proceedings.
In his previous role, Carter led an office of approximately 45 professionals, managed a multi-million-dollar budget, and supervised the handling of complex, high-volume federal cases. He has represented clients in federal and state courts and handled hundreds of criminal defense cases, including during his tenure with the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia.
Carter earned a law degree from Wayne State University Law School and received his B.A. from the University of Michigan. He began his career as a criminal defense attorney in Michigan before spending four years with the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, returning to Detroit in 2016 to join the Federal Defender Office and later the Neighborhood Defender Service of Detroit.
Honigman is also pleased to announce that Timothy Lee has been recognized in DBusiness’ 30 in Their Thirties listing.
Lee is a partner in Honigman’s Supply Chain & Advanced Manufacturing Transactions practice and concentrates his practice on domestic and cross-border corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and general corporate governance and compliance. He regularly represents businesses and financial institutions in a variety of complex commercial transactions.
• • •
Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce that Thomas Fabbri, Kevin Fanning, Thomas MacFarlane, Jonathan Martone, and Nicholas Papasifakis have joined the firm’s Troy office as members.
Fabbri advises individuals and families on estate planning, probate, charitable planning, estate and trust administration, and related tax matters. He also represents beneficiaries and fiduciaries in estate contests, trust disputes, and other probate litigation matters.
Fabbri works primarily with high net worth individuals and business owners to develop estate plans that address long-term family, financial, and business goals.
His practice includes planning for incapacity, business succession, creditor protection, wealth transfer, estate and generation-skipping transfer tax strategies, and the efficient transfer of assets during life and after death. He regularly prepares wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, and other estate planning documents tailored to each client’s circumstances and priorities.
Fabbri is recognized as a leader in his field by Best Lawyers in America, Michigan Super Lawyers “Rising Stars,” and DBusiness Top Lawyers. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan’s Probate and Estate Planning Section, the State Bar of Michigan’s Tax Section, and the Financial and Estate Planning Council of Metropolitan Detroit. He received his B.A. from Michigan State University and his law degree from Wayne State University Law School.
Fanning is an experienced commercial litigator who represents companies in the manufacturing, technology, electronics, transportation, financial services and securities industries in complex disputes. He has trial experience serving as lead counsel in jury and bench trials before state and federal courts nationwide, and regularly appears before AAA, ICDR, JAMS and FINRA panels in arbitrations throughout the United States and internationally. He has trial experience serving as lead counsel in jury and bench trials and has represented clients before state and federal courts and arbitration panels throughout the country.
Fanning’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, real estate disputes, securities litigation, commercial loan enforcement matters, receiverships, and transportation-related litigation. In addition, he advises clients on emerging legal issues involving unmanned aerial systems (UAS/drone law), accessibility litigation under the ADA, FHA, website compliance under WCAG, and healthcare-related disputes and investigations.
Fanning is recognized as a leader in his field by Best Lawyers in America, Michigan Super Lawyers, and Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s “Go To Lawyer” for Business Litigation. He has been a member of the Board of Directors and Co-Chair of the Membership Committee for the Federal Bar Association, Eastern District of Michigan Chapter, a member of the Commercial Litigation Committee, State Bar of Michigan’s Business Law Section, and served as a barrister in the Oakland County Bar Association Chapter of the American Inns of Court. He received his B.A. from Western Michigan University and his law degree from University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.
MacFarlane works with individuals and business owners on estate planning, wealth transfer, and business succession. He focuses on helping clients put plans in place for the transfer of family wealth, the transition of closely held businesses, and the practical issues that come up as those plans are carried out over time.
MacFarlane’s work includes estate and trust planning, with attention to tax considerations and structure. He also represents beneficiaries and fiduciaries in probate and trust matters, including will contests, fiduciary disputes, and contested estate and trust administrations. These matters often involve family relationships and long-standing expectations, and he works with clients to move through those disputes while keeping the legal and personal issues in view.
MacFarlane is recognized as a leader in his field by Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s “Hall of Fame,” Best Lawyers in America, DBusiness Top Lawyers, Leading Lawyers, and Michigan Super Lawyers. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan’s Probate and Estate Planning Section, the State Bar of Michigan’s Tax Section, the Financial and Estate Planning Council of Metropolitan Detroit, and a charter member of Michigan Leading Lawyers Advisory Board. He received his B.A. from Alma College, his M.B.A. from Wake Forest University, and his law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law.
Martone provides strategic counsel to business and entrepreneurial clients, guiding them through daily operational matters and complex legal challenges. He represents businesses and individuals alike in all areas of business and commercial disputes and litigation, including commercial contract and warranty actions, real estate, zoning, and landlord and tenant disputes, shareholder disputes, and municipal law litigation. Martone is also certified by the Michigan State Court Administrative Office as a Civil Facilitative Mediator and has experience in alternative dispute resolution proceedings. He has experience counseling and representing fiduciaries and interested parties in a wide range of probate, trust, and estate matters, including high-net-worth trust and estate proceedings.
Martone is recognized as a leader in his field by Best Lawyers in America and Michigan Super Lawyers. He is Past President of the Italian American Bar Association of Michigan, a Fellow in the Oakland County Bar Foundation, a member of the State Bar of Michigan, and a past president of the Oakland County Bar Association New Lawyers Section. He received his B.A. from James Madison College, Michigan State University and his law degree from Wayne State University Law School.
Papasifakis advises individuals, families, and business owners on estate planning, asset protection strategies, business matters, and probate and trust administration and litigation. He works closely with clients to design estate plans that reflect their goals around wealth transfer, tax planning, asset protection, probate avoidance, and charitable giving.
Papasifakis is recognized as a leader in his field by Best Lawyers in America and Michigan Super Lawyers “Rising Stars.” He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan’s Probate and Estate Planning Section, the State Bar of Michigan’s Tax Section, Tax Council, and the Hellenic Bar Association. He received his B.B.A. from Western Michigan University and his law degrees from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and New York University School of Law.
• • •
Maddin Hauser is pleased to announce that three attorneys have been elevated to the shareholder level. Krista Cotter Ranta, David T. Lin, and Kevin C. Majewski joined the firm’s Financial Services and Real Property Litigation group in early 2025 and made an immediate positive impact. Lin is also a member of the Bankruptcy, Restructuring, and Debtor-Creditor Rights group.
Ranta represents corporate and commercial clients in civil litigation and post-judgment collection matters. Versed in state and federal laws affecting the banking and collections industry, she has a track record of creating and implementing effective post-judgment collection strategies.
Ranta represents clients in all phases of contested litigation at the trial and appellate levels in state and federal courts, as well as in alternative dispute resolution proceedings. She earned her law degree from Michigan State University College of Law.
Lin has a record of achieving favorable outcomes for lenders facing distressed loans or borrower insolvencies. He guides lenders and other creditors through all stages of the bankruptcy process after a debtor files for bankruptcy relief.
Lin represents his clients’ diverse interests at the pre- and post-judgment stages of commercial litigation. He earned his law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Majewski concentrates his practice on disputes involving real property, construction, mortgages, financial services, and other business matters. He is a methodical advocate, conducting thorough analyses of every detail for each case before devising a strategy to achieve his clients’ goals. Majewski graduated from Michigan State University College of Law.
