Butzel recently added attorney Veronica Shaykhet as
an associate in the firm’s Troy office. She is dedicated to delivering
counsel to clients facing litigation and dispute resolution matters.
Shaykhet works with individuals and entities in a variety of sectors to
understand their businesses and their objectives, developing strategies
tailored to their needs.
Prior to joining Butzel, Shaykhet spent more than eight years as a television news reporter. She worked at stations across the state, including FOX 2 in Detroit. Through her stories, Shaykhet enjoyed helping people and showcasing Michigan’s unique communities. Once she decided to focus on law, Shaykhet interned at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. There, she drafted motions, assisted with trial preparation, and more. She also interned with U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Edmund, Eastern District of Michigan, where she drafted an order and observed various court proceedings.
Shaykhet earned a law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and graduated first in her class. She graduated from Central Michigan University with a double major in Broadcast Journalism and Integrative Public Relations.
• • •
McKeen & Associates is proud to announce that eight of its attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers.
The following attorneys were named to the 2026 Michigan Super Lawyers list:
Brian McKeen
J. Kelly Carley
Richard Counsman
Andrew Kay
John LaParl Jr.
Kenneth Lee
David Tirella
In addition, McKeen attorney Kiersten Jo Reinhold was recognized as a 2026 Michigan Rising Star, an honor reserved for outstanding attorneys early in their careers.
Brian McKeen also received two of the publication’s highest distinctions, earning a place among the Top 10 Lawyers in Michigan and the Top Five Personal Injury Lawyers in Michigan.
• • •
Kemp Klein is proud to announce that twelve of its attorneys have been recognized on the 2026 Michigan Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.
The following attorneys were named 2026 Michigan Super Lawyers:
C. Leslie Banas – Business / Corporate Law
Joseph P. Buttiglieri – Estate & Trust Litigation
Ralph A. Castelli Jr. – Business / Corporate Law
Mark R. Filipp – Employment Litigation: Defense
Brian R. Jenney – Estate & Probate Law
Alan A. May – Estate & Probate Law
Brian H. Rolfe – Business Litigation
Amy A. Stawski – Family Law
Cynthia L. Umphrey – Business / Corporate Law
Robert S. Zawideh – Estate & Trust Litigation
Prior to joining Butzel, Shaykhet spent more than eight years as a television news reporter. She worked at stations across the state, including FOX 2 in Detroit. Through her stories, Shaykhet enjoyed helping people and showcasing Michigan’s unique communities. Once she decided to focus on law, Shaykhet interned at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. There, she drafted motions, assisted with trial preparation, and more. She also interned with U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Edmund, Eastern District of Michigan, where she drafted an order and observed various court proceedings.
Shaykhet earned a law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and graduated first in her class. She graduated from Central Michigan University with a double major in Broadcast Journalism and Integrative Public Relations.
• • •
McKeen & Associates is proud to announce that eight of its attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers.
The following attorneys were named to the 2026 Michigan Super Lawyers list:
Brian McKeen
J. Kelly Carley
Richard Counsman
Andrew Kay
John LaParl Jr.
Kenneth Lee
David Tirella
In addition, McKeen attorney Kiersten Jo Reinhold was recognized as a 2026 Michigan Rising Star, an honor reserved for outstanding attorneys early in their careers.
Brian McKeen also received two of the publication’s highest distinctions, earning a place among the Top 10 Lawyers in Michigan and the Top Five Personal Injury Lawyers in Michigan.
• • •
Kemp Klein is proud to announce that twelve of its attorneys have been recognized on the 2026 Michigan Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.
The following attorneys were named 2026 Michigan Super Lawyers:
C. Leslie Banas – Business / Corporate Law
Joseph P. Buttiglieri – Estate & Trust Litigation
Ralph A. Castelli Jr. – Business / Corporate Law
Mark R. Filipp – Employment Litigation: Defense
Brian R. Jenney – Estate & Probate Law
Alan A. May – Estate & Probate Law
Brian H. Rolfe – Business Litigation
Amy A. Stawski – Family Law
Cynthia L. Umphrey – Business / Corporate Law
Robert S. Zawideh – Estate & Trust Litigation
Brian R. Jenney was also recognized among the Top 100: 2026 Michigan Super Lawyers.
The following attorneys were named 2026 Michigan Rising Stars:
Casey W. Callahan – Estate & Probate Law
Austin W. Probst – Estate & Probate Law
Casey W. Callahan – Estate & Probate Law
Austin W. Probst – Estate & Probate Law
• • •
Varnum is pleased to announce that Robert Silman has joined the firm’s Litigation and ADR Practice Team in the Novi office.
Silman represents clients in commercial litigation and other business-related claims, including contract, tort, fraud, products liability, and negligence matters. He works with businesses to evaluate risk, develop litigation strategy, and navigate cases through fact development, discovery, briefing, motions practice, and resolution.
His background includes internal investigations, drawing on prior work representing clients in litigation and investigation-related matters. He also served as a judicial extern to
U.S. District Court Judge Sara L. Ellis, Northern District of Illinois.
Silman earned his law degree from Indiana University Maurer School of Law and his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan.
• • •
Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that Gregory LaVoy has joined the firm as a Member in the firm’s Litigation Practice Group.
Based in Bodman’s Troy office, LaVoy represents clients in complex litigation in state and federal courts. He has experience handling a range of matters involving construction defects, tort and automobile liability, premises liability, and other disputes. He has successfully represented clients before Michigan’s appellate courts, obtaining a number of reversals of trial court rulings.
Before joining Bodman, LaVoy was a partner at a Michigan-based civil defense firm, where he handled a range of appellate and civil litigation matters. After earning his law degree, he served as a law clerk to Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert P. Young Jr.
• • •
Taft is pleased to announce that 48 attorneys in its Detroit office have been selected to the Leading Lawyers Network for 2026. This includes three Emerging Lawyers.
Following are the Taft Detroit honorees:
Gus Andreasen
Thomas Bejin
Marko J. Belej
Jeremy D. Bisdorf
Jordan S. Bolton
Joshua M. Borson (Emerging Lawyer)
Trey Brice
Christopher Cataldo
Kimberly Clayson
Mark G. Cooper
Thomas Coughlin
Joseph J. DeVito
Steven Enwright
Kreuza Gjezi
Joel S. Golden
Michelle C. Harrell
Michael F. Jacobson
Lee Kellert
Milton I. Kovinsky
Mark L. Kowalsky
Richard Kruger
Sara M. Kruse
Mark P. Krysinski
Joseph Lash
Jennifer M. LaTosch
Steven Lefkofsky
Bill Lentine
Robert E. Lewis
Susan S. Lichterman
Eli Maroko
Emily Mayer (Emerging Lawyer)
Derek D. McLeod
Nicole Meisner
Judith Greenstone Miller
Gregory W. Moore
Elizabeth Rogers
Mark D. Rubenfire
Michelle A. Rubin (Emerging Lawyer)
Stuart Schwartz
Aaron H. Sherbin
William E. Sider
Arthur Siegal
Gina Staudacher
Susan M. Sutton
Scott R. Torpey
Thomas Walters
Billee Lightvoet Ward
Arthur A. Weiss
Jeffrey Weiss
Jay Welford
Richard A. Zussman
• • •
Brooks Kushman is proud to announce that eight of the firm’s attorneys have been named to the 2026 Michigan Super Lawyers:
John LeRoy – a shareholder in Brooks Kushman’s Intellectual Property Litigation practice, representing clients in high-tech disputes involving patents, trade secrets, copyrights, software, electronics, and mechanical systems. With more than two decades of IP litigation experience and advanced technical training in electrical and mechanical engineering, he helps clients navigate technology disputes, licensing issues, and business-critical innovation challenges. LeRoy also leads the firm’s FRAND and other licensing disputes work and Open Source Compliance practice, advising automotive OEMs, suppliers, and technology companies on standard essential patent licensing, source code audits, and open source software compliance. His work is relevant to companies in automotive and mobility, electrical and computer technology, information technology services and software, and medical devices and healthcare brands industries.
Christopher Smith – co-chair of the Litigation practice at Brooks Kushman, where he focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation. He represents Fortune 500 companies and startups in IP matters across industries including automotive (including infotainment), medical devices, internet technologies such as content delivery networks, and telecommunications including fiber optics. Smith is a registered patent attorney before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and is recognized for his work in high-stakes intellectual property litigation, including the preparation of infringement and invalidity opinions and strategic counseling in technically complex disputes.
Hope Shovein – a shareholder and co-chair of Brooks Kushman’s Trademark practice, counseling clients on the development, protection, and enforcement of valuable brand assets. She advises companies on trademark clearance, prosecution, portfolio management, and enforcement strategies that support long-term brand growth. Her work is relevant for businesses in retail, e-commerce, and direct-to-consumer spaces, as well as companies managing complex consumer products portfolios. Shovein helps clients align their brand protection strategies with broader business goals in domestic and international markets.
Marc Lorelli – a shareholder and co-chair of Brooks Kushman’s Intellectual Property Litigation practice, representing clients in high-stakes disputes involving patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and other IP assets. He helps companies protect innovation, manage risk, and resolve complex conflicts through litigation, negotiation, and strategic enforcement. Lorelli’s work supports clients across technology-focused industries, including automotive and mobility, industrial manufacturing, and consumer-facing markets. He also brings litigation insight to matters involving trademark enforcement, trade secrets, and broader IP portfolio strategy.
Frank Angileri – a shareholder in Brooks Kushman’s Intellectual Property Litigation practice, helping clients enforce and defend valuable intellectual property rights. He counsels businesses on litigation strategy involving patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and other competitive assets. Angileri’s experience is beneficial to companies in innovation-driven sectors, including automotive and mobility, industrial manufacturing, and advanced materials. His litigation perspective helps clients connect enforcement decisions with practical business objectives.
Molly Mack Crandall – a co-chair of Brooks Kushman’s Trademark practice, where she focuses on trademark clearance, prosecution, enforcement, licensing, and brand protection. She counsels clients ranging from startups to established companies on strategies for developing, protecting, and maintaining strong brand portfolios. Her practice includes work tied to licensing and agreements, online enforcement, and matters before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Crandall’s experience is relevant for clients in consumer products, retail, e-commerce, and direct-to-consumer, and entrepreneurs and startups markets.
William Abbatt – a shareholder in Brooks Kushman’s Patent Prosecution practice, helping innovators secure patent protection for technologies and products. He works with clients to develop patent portfolios that support commercialization, investment, and long-term competitive advantage. His technical background and prosecution experience support clients in sectors such as industrial manufacturing, advanced materials, and automotive and mobility. Abbatt helps clients connect patent strategy with broader business and innovation goals.
Rebecca Cantor – a shareholder whose practice spans Trademark and Intellectual Property Litigation matters, giving clients a practical perspective on both brand protection and enforcement. She advises businesses on trademark strategy, dispute resolution, and the protection of valuable intellectual property assets. Her work is relevant for companies navigating retail, e-commerce, and direct-to-consumer, consumer products, and other brand-focused markets. Cantor helps clients develop legal strategies that support commercial goals while protecting brand equity.
Charles A. Bieneman – a shareholder in Brooks Kushman’s Patent Prosecution practice, assisting clients with protecting innovation through thoughtful patent portfolio development. He works with inventors and businesses to identify protectable technologies and align patent strategies with long-term growth. His practice supports companies in technical sectors such as industrial manufacturing, automotive and mobility, and advanced materials. Bieneman helps clients approach patent prosecution with a focus on business value, enforceability, and competitive positioning.
Five of the firm’s attorneys were also named to the 2026 Rising Stars list, which honors lawyers who are under 40 years old, or who have been practicing for 10 years or less:
Chelsea Pasquali – a shareholder in Brooks Kushman’s Intellectual Property Litigation practice, representing clients in disputes involving intellectual property and related business issues. She helps companies protect innovations, manage litigation risk, and enforce rights in competitive markets. Her work supports clients across industries where IP is central to business value, including consumer products, retail, e-commerce, and direct-to-consumer, and industrial manufacturing. Pasquali brings a litigation perspective to strategies involving patents, trademarks, and trade secrets.
Dustin Zak – a registered patent attorney who focuses his practice on patent litigation and prosecution. Zak possesses a range of technical experience, from chemical and material arts to software applications and artificial intelligence. He has technical knowledge related to cybersecurity and computer technologies. During his studies, Zak immersed himself in many technical topics including C++, Java, and visual basic programming, networking, open-source networking, end-user computing, ethical hacking and offensive security, cyber intelligence, Linux security administration, information security, risk-vulnerability analysis, and digital forensics.
Reza Roghani Esfahani – an intellectual property litigation attorney with experience in patent and trade secret disputes involving mechanical, chemical, pharmaceutical, and computer-related technologies. His practice includes Intellectual Property Litigation, Patent Prosecution, Post-Grant Proceedings, and Trade Secrets matters. Esfahani’s technical background supports clients in sectors such as automotive and mobility, industrial manufacturing, life sciences and biotechnology, and medical devices. He helps clients protect and defend business-critical technologies through strategies grounded in both legal and technical understanding.
Fatima Kassem – an associate in Brooks Kushman’s Trademark practice, assisting clients with trademark clearance, prosecution, portfolio management, and brand protection. She helps businesses secure and maintain trademark rights while supporting broader strategies for protecting brand identity in competitive markets. Her work is well aligned with clients in retail, e-commerce, and direct-to-consumer, consumer products, and entrepreneurs and startups sectors. Kassem supports clients in building trademark strategies that can grow with their business.
Chloe Conway – an associate in Brooks Kushman’s Trademark practice, helping clients protect and strengthen brands through trademark counseling. She assists with trademark prosecution, portfolio management, enforcement considerations, and brand protection strategy. Her work supports companies in brand-driven industries, including consumer products, retail, e-commerce, and direct-to-consumer, and entrepreneurs and startups. Conway helps clients approach trademark protection with a focus on long-term business growth and market positioning.
Silman represents clients in commercial litigation and other business-related claims, including contract, tort, fraud, products liability, and negligence matters. He works with businesses to evaluate risk, develop litigation strategy, and navigate cases through fact development, discovery, briefing, motions practice, and resolution.
His background includes internal investigations, drawing on prior work representing clients in litigation and investigation-related matters. He also served as a judicial extern to
U.S. District Court Judge Sara L. Ellis, Northern District of Illinois.
Silman earned his law degree from Indiana University Maurer School of Law and his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan.
• • •
Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that Gregory LaVoy has joined the firm as a Member in the firm’s Litigation Practice Group.
Based in Bodman’s Troy office, LaVoy represents clients in complex litigation in state and federal courts. He has experience handling a range of matters involving construction defects, tort and automobile liability, premises liability, and other disputes. He has successfully represented clients before Michigan’s appellate courts, obtaining a number of reversals of trial court rulings.
Before joining Bodman, LaVoy was a partner at a Michigan-based civil defense firm, where he handled a range of appellate and civil litigation matters. After earning his law degree, he served as a law clerk to Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert P. Young Jr.
• • •
Taft is pleased to announce that 48 attorneys in its Detroit office have been selected to the Leading Lawyers Network for 2026. This includes three Emerging Lawyers.
Following are the Taft Detroit honorees:
Gus Andreasen
Thomas Bejin
Marko J. Belej
Jeremy D. Bisdorf
Jordan S. Bolton
Joshua M. Borson (Emerging Lawyer)
Trey Brice
Christopher Cataldo
Kimberly Clayson
Mark G. Cooper
Thomas Coughlin
Joseph J. DeVito
Steven Enwright
Kreuza Gjezi
Joel S. Golden
Michelle C. Harrell
Michael F. Jacobson
Lee Kellert
Milton I. Kovinsky
Mark L. Kowalsky
Richard Kruger
Sara M. Kruse
Mark P. Krysinski
Joseph Lash
Jennifer M. LaTosch
Steven Lefkofsky
Bill Lentine
Robert E. Lewis
Susan S. Lichterman
Eli Maroko
Emily Mayer (Emerging Lawyer)
Derek D. McLeod
Nicole Meisner
Judith Greenstone Miller
Gregory W. Moore
Elizabeth Rogers
Mark D. Rubenfire
Michelle A. Rubin (Emerging Lawyer)
Stuart Schwartz
Aaron H. Sherbin
William E. Sider
Arthur Siegal
Gina Staudacher
Susan M. Sutton
Scott R. Torpey
Thomas Walters
Billee Lightvoet Ward
Arthur A. Weiss
Jeffrey Weiss
Jay Welford
Richard A. Zussman
• • •
Brooks Kushman is proud to announce that eight of the firm’s attorneys have been named to the 2026 Michigan Super Lawyers:
John LeRoy – a shareholder in Brooks Kushman’s Intellectual Property Litigation practice, representing clients in high-tech disputes involving patents, trade secrets, copyrights, software, electronics, and mechanical systems. With more than two decades of IP litigation experience and advanced technical training in electrical and mechanical engineering, he helps clients navigate technology disputes, licensing issues, and business-critical innovation challenges. LeRoy also leads the firm’s FRAND and other licensing disputes work and Open Source Compliance practice, advising automotive OEMs, suppliers, and technology companies on standard essential patent licensing, source code audits, and open source software compliance. His work is relevant to companies in automotive and mobility, electrical and computer technology, information technology services and software, and medical devices and healthcare brands industries.
Christopher Smith – co-chair of the Litigation practice at Brooks Kushman, where he focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation. He represents Fortune 500 companies and startups in IP matters across industries including automotive (including infotainment), medical devices, internet technologies such as content delivery networks, and telecommunications including fiber optics. Smith is a registered patent attorney before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and is recognized for his work in high-stakes intellectual property litigation, including the preparation of infringement and invalidity opinions and strategic counseling in technically complex disputes.
Hope Shovein – a shareholder and co-chair of Brooks Kushman’s Trademark practice, counseling clients on the development, protection, and enforcement of valuable brand assets. She advises companies on trademark clearance, prosecution, portfolio management, and enforcement strategies that support long-term brand growth. Her work is relevant for businesses in retail, e-commerce, and direct-to-consumer spaces, as well as companies managing complex consumer products portfolios. Shovein helps clients align their brand protection strategies with broader business goals in domestic and international markets.
Marc Lorelli – a shareholder and co-chair of Brooks Kushman’s Intellectual Property Litigation practice, representing clients in high-stakes disputes involving patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and other IP assets. He helps companies protect innovation, manage risk, and resolve complex conflicts through litigation, negotiation, and strategic enforcement. Lorelli’s work supports clients across technology-focused industries, including automotive and mobility, industrial manufacturing, and consumer-facing markets. He also brings litigation insight to matters involving trademark enforcement, trade secrets, and broader IP portfolio strategy.
Frank Angileri – a shareholder in Brooks Kushman’s Intellectual Property Litigation practice, helping clients enforce and defend valuable intellectual property rights. He counsels businesses on litigation strategy involving patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and other competitive assets. Angileri’s experience is beneficial to companies in innovation-driven sectors, including automotive and mobility, industrial manufacturing, and advanced materials. His litigation perspective helps clients connect enforcement decisions with practical business objectives.
Molly Mack Crandall – a co-chair of Brooks Kushman’s Trademark practice, where she focuses on trademark clearance, prosecution, enforcement, licensing, and brand protection. She counsels clients ranging from startups to established companies on strategies for developing, protecting, and maintaining strong brand portfolios. Her practice includes work tied to licensing and agreements, online enforcement, and matters before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Crandall’s experience is relevant for clients in consumer products, retail, e-commerce, and direct-to-consumer, and entrepreneurs and startups markets.
William Abbatt – a shareholder in Brooks Kushman’s Patent Prosecution practice, helping innovators secure patent protection for technologies and products. He works with clients to develop patent portfolios that support commercialization, investment, and long-term competitive advantage. His technical background and prosecution experience support clients in sectors such as industrial manufacturing, advanced materials, and automotive and mobility. Abbatt helps clients connect patent strategy with broader business and innovation goals.
Rebecca Cantor – a shareholder whose practice spans Trademark and Intellectual Property Litigation matters, giving clients a practical perspective on both brand protection and enforcement. She advises businesses on trademark strategy, dispute resolution, and the protection of valuable intellectual property assets. Her work is relevant for companies navigating retail, e-commerce, and direct-to-consumer, consumer products, and other brand-focused markets. Cantor helps clients develop legal strategies that support commercial goals while protecting brand equity.
Charles A. Bieneman – a shareholder in Brooks Kushman’s Patent Prosecution practice, assisting clients with protecting innovation through thoughtful patent portfolio development. He works with inventors and businesses to identify protectable technologies and align patent strategies with long-term growth. His practice supports companies in technical sectors such as industrial manufacturing, automotive and mobility, and advanced materials. Bieneman helps clients approach patent prosecution with a focus on business value, enforceability, and competitive positioning.
Five of the firm’s attorneys were also named to the 2026 Rising Stars list, which honors lawyers who are under 40 years old, or who have been practicing for 10 years or less:
Chelsea Pasquali – a shareholder in Brooks Kushman’s Intellectual Property Litigation practice, representing clients in disputes involving intellectual property and related business issues. She helps companies protect innovations, manage litigation risk, and enforce rights in competitive markets. Her work supports clients across industries where IP is central to business value, including consumer products, retail, e-commerce, and direct-to-consumer, and industrial manufacturing. Pasquali brings a litigation perspective to strategies involving patents, trademarks, and trade secrets.
Dustin Zak – a registered patent attorney who focuses his practice on patent litigation and prosecution. Zak possesses a range of technical experience, from chemical and material arts to software applications and artificial intelligence. He has technical knowledge related to cybersecurity and computer technologies. During his studies, Zak immersed himself in many technical topics including C++, Java, and visual basic programming, networking, open-source networking, end-user computing, ethical hacking and offensive security, cyber intelligence, Linux security administration, information security, risk-vulnerability analysis, and digital forensics.
Reza Roghani Esfahani – an intellectual property litigation attorney with experience in patent and trade secret disputes involving mechanical, chemical, pharmaceutical, and computer-related technologies. His practice includes Intellectual Property Litigation, Patent Prosecution, Post-Grant Proceedings, and Trade Secrets matters. Esfahani’s technical background supports clients in sectors such as automotive and mobility, industrial manufacturing, life sciences and biotechnology, and medical devices. He helps clients protect and defend business-critical technologies through strategies grounded in both legal and technical understanding.
Fatima Kassem – an associate in Brooks Kushman’s Trademark practice, assisting clients with trademark clearance, prosecution, portfolio management, and brand protection. She helps businesses secure and maintain trademark rights while supporting broader strategies for protecting brand identity in competitive markets. Her work is well aligned with clients in retail, e-commerce, and direct-to-consumer, consumer products, and entrepreneurs and startups sectors. Kassem supports clients in building trademark strategies that can grow with their business.
Chloe Conway – an associate in Brooks Kushman’s Trademark practice, helping clients protect and strengthen brands through trademark counseling. She assists with trademark prosecution, portfolio management, enforcement considerations, and brand protection strategy. Her work supports companies in brand-driven industries, including consumer products, retail, e-commerce, and direct-to-consumer, and entrepreneurs and startups. Conway helps clients approach trademark protection with a focus on long-term business growth and market positioning.
