Butzel attorney and shareholder Mitchell (“Mitch”) Zajac
will be featured during a webinar titled, “Tariffs Aren’t Going Away:
The Procurement Playbook for the New Trade Era” presented by LightSource
on Tuesday, July 14.
The courts struck down the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs and roughly $170B in duties are moving back toward importers. Some may interpret it to mean the tariff era is ending – it isn’t. Notably, Section 232, 301, and the new 122 surcharge all survived. Elevated tariffs are the baseline now – and refunds hinge on deadlines and documentation, not on who overpaid. Most entries won’t be refunded automatically.
During the webinar, Zajac will break down where things stand and LightSource CEO Spencer Penn will frame what it means for the sourcing decisions businesses are making right now.
Zajac’s legal practice includes a focus on automotive, intellectual property, regulatory and emissions compliance. He has experience in commercial litigation, transactional matters, counseling, and negotiating successful resolutions in a variety of sectors, for large corporations and entities of all sizes.
His experience is comprised of commercial automotive advising, including supply chain disputes for light-duty, commercial vehicle, after-market, and remanufacturing suppliers; non-disclosure, joint-development, and public-private-partnership agreements in a variety of industries, including automotive, defense, and construction; product warranty and cost-recovery; product safety and compliance; emissions certification and compliance; international trade and customs, including United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) matters, Section 301 China tariffs, and Section 232 steel and aluminum, and IEEPA tariffs; and e-discovery.
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.
In addition, Lex Mundi recently recognized Butzel as the recipient of the Lex Mundi Equisphere® Deal of the Year Award at the Lex Mundi Annual Conference in Vienna, Austria, recognizing a multi-jurisdictional matter led by a member firm. Butzel is the exclusive member firm in Michigan for Lex Mundi.
Butzel represented Altimetrik Corp., an AI and digital engineering firm, in a multi-jurisdictional transaction in which TPG, a leading global alternative asset firm, acquired a majority stake in Altimetrik and its global subsidiaries. The matter included a complex merger involving hundreds of shareholders and option holders across jurisdictions, which was followed by a significant acquisition to further support Altimetrik’s long-term growth and global structure.
Butzel lead attorneys included Nicholas J. Stasevich and Jennifer E. Consiglio. Other team members included Arthur Dudley II, Laura A. Johnson, Justin G. Klimko, Lynn McGuire, Shanika A. Owens and Daniel Soleimani. Paralegal Jeanne Balint assisted the team as well.
The transaction required close coordination with 15 Lex Mundi member firms worldwide.
• • •
Suzy Siegle, president and CEO of Walsh College, has been named a DBusiness Magazine 2026 Powered by Women Honoree.
Siegle, who currently serves as Walsh College’s ninth president and CEO, earned a bachelor’s degree, an MBA, a law degree, and a doctorate in higher education leadership and management, with her dissertation focused on alternative and innovative operating models for 21st century higher education.
Siegle is a Society of Human Resources Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), a certified executive coach through the Center for Executive Coaching and earned certifications in AI for Business Strategy from MIT Sloan, Augmented Reality through Columbia Executive Education, Applied Neuroscience & Brain Health, the Neuroscience of Learning & Development, and in Consumer Neuroscience & Neuromarketing from Copenhagen Business School.
A board member of the Detroit Economic Club, Siegle has presented at several of its Young Leader events, and is a frequent speaker for the National Management Association’s local leadership development chapter. As a SHRM Senior Certified Professional, she also has attended and presented at several HR conferences.
Her board service and professional engagement include:
• Detroit Economic Club, board member
• The Michigan Venture Capital Association, university partner
• Entrepreneurs’ Organization- Detroit, Strategic Alliance Partner
• Advisory board, Drench LLC
• State Bar of Michigan, member
Siegle is also an author who has written several books
• • •
The law firm of Couzens Lansky, located in Farmington Hills, is pleased to announce that Karen V. Fairman has joined the firm.
Fairman is a member of the Probate & Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan.
She received a B.S. from Wayne State University and her law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. She was admitted to practice in the State of Michigan in 2010.
Fairman has concentrated her legal practice in the areas of estate and trust administration by providing advice and assistance to fiduciaries. She represents clients in Probate Court proceedings of all types including will, trust and estate administration matters, guardianships, conservatorships and trust reformations. She also prosecutes and defends claims by or against Personal Representatives, Trustees, beneficiaries and other interested persons in contested estate, trust and probate matters. This includes will and trust contests, contested proceedings for guardianship and conservatorship and breach of fiduciary duty claims.
• • •
Varnum is pleased to announce that David Joo has joined the firm’s Business and Corporate Practice Team as a partner in the Birmingham office.
Joo focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, and other strategic corporate matters. Fluent in Korean and English, he has experience advising on cross-border transactions involving Korean businesses and multinational companies operating in Korea. His transaction experience includes advising on complex acquisitions, joint ventures, investments, and corporate spin-offs for clients across industries such as automotive, health care, technology, financial services, and manufacturing.
Prior to joining Varnum, Joo practiced at Wall Street and Magic Circle law firms, as well as law firms in Korea. His background also includes capital markets, antitrust and competition, privacy and data security, and financial regulation and compliance matters.
Joo earned his law degree from New York University School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Michigan. He is admitted to practice in New York and is qualified as a Foreign Legal Consultant in Korea.
• • •
Clark Hill is pleased to announce Michael Witzke has joined the firm’s Tax & Estate Planning practice group as a member in the Birmingham office. Witzke represents clients in estate and gift tax planning, special needs planning, asset protection, charitable giving, family office services, and business succession with a focus on protecting and transferring wealth.
With a multidisciplinary background in complex wealth planning solutions, Witzke works closely with high-net-worth families, business owners, and physicians to develop strategies that align with their financial goals and long-term objectives.
Witzke is an active member of the Probate and Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan Legal Financial Network. He previously served as president of the Financial Planning Association of Michigan.
“The firm’s national reach and collaborative nature present a compelling opportunity to better serve clients with their complex planning needs,” Witzke said. “I’m excited to contribute to the continued growth of the Tax & Estate Planning practice group.”
Witzke is admitted to practice in Michigan, Illinois, and Florida and earned his law degree from Wayne State University Law School. He also holds a Retirement Planning Specialist designation from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School.
• • •
Dykema recently announced that Lori McAllister, a nationally recognized insurance industry attorney, has been elected chair of the Board of Directors of the Attorneys’ Liability Assurance Society (ALAS). ALAS is the country’s largest lawyer-owned mutual insurer, providing professional liability coverage to more than 220 law firms representing approximately 84,000 attorneys nationwide, including nearly half of the Am Law 200.
McAllister has served on the ALAS Board of Directors for more than a decade and previously chaired its Audit Committee.
McAllister is a litigator and advisor to insurers and businesses on complex litigation, regulatory matters, corporate governance, and strategic transactions. She serves as outside general counsel to organizations, advising boards of directors and audit committees on governance and risk management issues. She is also recognized for her work guiding mutual insurance company conversions under Michigan’s demutualization statute and counseling clients on significant insurance regulatory matters.
A former member of Dykema’s Executive Board, McAllister also served as the firm’s general counsel for more than a decade. She was inducted into the Michigan Insurance Hall of Fame in 2021 and has been repeatedly ranked by Chambers USA as a leading lawyer in Insurance. She is also regularly recognized by The Best Lawyers in America, including being named “Lawyer of the Year” multiple times.
• • •
McDonald Hopkins is proud to announce that several of its attorneys have been recognized in the 2026 Legal 500 US City Elite rankings. In Detroit, attorneys John Benko and Michael Latiff were ranked.
• • •
Honigman was recently recognized at Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s inaugural Legal Innovation awards event. The firm was presented with the “Best Use of AI in Legal Services” honor for utilizing AI to enhance firm efficiency and yield beneficial client outcomes.
The courts struck down the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs and roughly $170B in duties are moving back toward importers. Some may interpret it to mean the tariff era is ending – it isn’t. Notably, Section 232, 301, and the new 122 surcharge all survived. Elevated tariffs are the baseline now – and refunds hinge on deadlines and documentation, not on who overpaid. Most entries won’t be refunded automatically.
During the webinar, Zajac will break down where things stand and LightSource CEO Spencer Penn will frame what it means for the sourcing decisions businesses are making right now.
Zajac’s legal practice includes a focus on automotive, intellectual property, regulatory and emissions compliance. He has experience in commercial litigation, transactional matters, counseling, and negotiating successful resolutions in a variety of sectors, for large corporations and entities of all sizes.
His experience is comprised of commercial automotive advising, including supply chain disputes for light-duty, commercial vehicle, after-market, and remanufacturing suppliers; non-disclosure, joint-development, and public-private-partnership agreements in a variety of industries, including automotive, defense, and construction; product warranty and cost-recovery; product safety and compliance; emissions certification and compliance; international trade and customs, including United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) matters, Section 301 China tariffs, and Section 232 steel and aluminum, and IEEPA tariffs; and e-discovery.
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.
In addition, Lex Mundi recently recognized Butzel as the recipient of the Lex Mundi Equisphere® Deal of the Year Award at the Lex Mundi Annual Conference in Vienna, Austria, recognizing a multi-jurisdictional matter led by a member firm. Butzel is the exclusive member firm in Michigan for Lex Mundi.
Butzel represented Altimetrik Corp., an AI and digital engineering firm, in a multi-jurisdictional transaction in which TPG, a leading global alternative asset firm, acquired a majority stake in Altimetrik and its global subsidiaries. The matter included a complex merger involving hundreds of shareholders and option holders across jurisdictions, which was followed by a significant acquisition to further support Altimetrik’s long-term growth and global structure.
Butzel lead attorneys included Nicholas J. Stasevich and Jennifer E. Consiglio. Other team members included Arthur Dudley II, Laura A. Johnson, Justin G. Klimko, Lynn McGuire, Shanika A. Owens and Daniel Soleimani. Paralegal Jeanne Balint assisted the team as well.
The transaction required close coordination with 15 Lex Mundi member firms worldwide.
• • •
Suzy Siegle, president and CEO of Walsh College, has been named a DBusiness Magazine 2026 Powered by Women Honoree.
Siegle, who currently serves as Walsh College’s ninth president and CEO, earned a bachelor’s degree, an MBA, a law degree, and a doctorate in higher education leadership and management, with her dissertation focused on alternative and innovative operating models for 21st century higher education.
Siegle is a Society of Human Resources Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), a certified executive coach through the Center for Executive Coaching and earned certifications in AI for Business Strategy from MIT Sloan, Augmented Reality through Columbia Executive Education, Applied Neuroscience & Brain Health, the Neuroscience of Learning & Development, and in Consumer Neuroscience & Neuromarketing from Copenhagen Business School.
A board member of the Detroit Economic Club, Siegle has presented at several of its Young Leader events, and is a frequent speaker for the National Management Association’s local leadership development chapter. As a SHRM Senior Certified Professional, she also has attended and presented at several HR conferences.
Her board service and professional engagement include:
• Detroit Economic Club, board member
• The Michigan Venture Capital Association, university partner
• Entrepreneurs’ Organization- Detroit, Strategic Alliance Partner
• Advisory board, Drench LLC
• State Bar of Michigan, member
Siegle is also an author who has written several books
• • •
The law firm of Couzens Lansky, located in Farmington Hills, is pleased to announce that Karen V. Fairman has joined the firm.
Fairman is a member of the Probate & Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan.
She received a B.S. from Wayne State University and her law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. She was admitted to practice in the State of Michigan in 2010.
Fairman has concentrated her legal practice in the areas of estate and trust administration by providing advice and assistance to fiduciaries. She represents clients in Probate Court proceedings of all types including will, trust and estate administration matters, guardianships, conservatorships and trust reformations. She also prosecutes and defends claims by or against Personal Representatives, Trustees, beneficiaries and other interested persons in contested estate, trust and probate matters. This includes will and trust contests, contested proceedings for guardianship and conservatorship and breach of fiduciary duty claims.
• • •
Varnum is pleased to announce that David Joo has joined the firm’s Business and Corporate Practice Team as a partner in the Birmingham office.
Joo focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, and other strategic corporate matters. Fluent in Korean and English, he has experience advising on cross-border transactions involving Korean businesses and multinational companies operating in Korea. His transaction experience includes advising on complex acquisitions, joint ventures, investments, and corporate spin-offs for clients across industries such as automotive, health care, technology, financial services, and manufacturing.
Prior to joining Varnum, Joo practiced at Wall Street and Magic Circle law firms, as well as law firms in Korea. His background also includes capital markets, antitrust and competition, privacy and data security, and financial regulation and compliance matters.
Joo earned his law degree from New York University School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Michigan. He is admitted to practice in New York and is qualified as a Foreign Legal Consultant in Korea.
• • •
Clark Hill is pleased to announce Michael Witzke has joined the firm’s Tax & Estate Planning practice group as a member in the Birmingham office. Witzke represents clients in estate and gift tax planning, special needs planning, asset protection, charitable giving, family office services, and business succession with a focus on protecting and transferring wealth.
With a multidisciplinary background in complex wealth planning solutions, Witzke works closely with high-net-worth families, business owners, and physicians to develop strategies that align with their financial goals and long-term objectives.
Witzke is an active member of the Probate and Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan Legal Financial Network. He previously served as president of the Financial Planning Association of Michigan.
“The firm’s national reach and collaborative nature present a compelling opportunity to better serve clients with their complex planning needs,” Witzke said. “I’m excited to contribute to the continued growth of the Tax & Estate Planning practice group.”
Witzke is admitted to practice in Michigan, Illinois, and Florida and earned his law degree from Wayne State University Law School. He also holds a Retirement Planning Specialist designation from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School.
• • •
Dykema recently announced that Lori McAllister, a nationally recognized insurance industry attorney, has been elected chair of the Board of Directors of the Attorneys’ Liability Assurance Society (ALAS). ALAS is the country’s largest lawyer-owned mutual insurer, providing professional liability coverage to more than 220 law firms representing approximately 84,000 attorneys nationwide, including nearly half of the Am Law 200.
McAllister has served on the ALAS Board of Directors for more than a decade and previously chaired its Audit Committee.
McAllister is a litigator and advisor to insurers and businesses on complex litigation, regulatory matters, corporate governance, and strategic transactions. She serves as outside general counsel to organizations, advising boards of directors and audit committees on governance and risk management issues. She is also recognized for her work guiding mutual insurance company conversions under Michigan’s demutualization statute and counseling clients on significant insurance regulatory matters.
A former member of Dykema’s Executive Board, McAllister also served as the firm’s general counsel for more than a decade. She was inducted into the Michigan Insurance Hall of Fame in 2021 and has been repeatedly ranked by Chambers USA as a leading lawyer in Insurance. She is also regularly recognized by The Best Lawyers in America, including being named “Lawyer of the Year” multiple times.
• • •
McDonald Hopkins is proud to announce that several of its attorneys have been recognized in the 2026 Legal 500 US City Elite rankings. In Detroit, attorneys John Benko and Michael Latiff were ranked.
• • •
Honigman was recently recognized at Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s inaugural Legal Innovation awards event. The firm was presented with the “Best Use of AI in Legal Services” honor for utilizing AI to enhance firm efficiency and yield beneficial client outcomes.
