Butzel attorney and Shareholder David J. DeVine has been named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s “Leaders in the Law” Class of 2026. He is one of 34 attorneys who will be recognized at a luncheon and awards celebration on November 20.
DeVine focuses his practice in the areas of business litigation and counseling. For nearly 20 years, business clients have sought his counsel in an array of industries, especially automotive, construction, and real estate, and DeVine has served as counsel in many high-stakes, multi-million-dollar matters for his clients in state and federal court in Michigan and beyond.
As a member of Butzel’s Automotive Industry Team, DeVine concentrates a significant part of his practice on representing clients in contract disputes and supply chain matters, particularly those involving pricing, warranty, and tooling issues. He counsels suppliers of all sizes on contract terms, litigation avoidance, and dispute resolution strategies, and DeVine has published and spoken on automotive supply-chain topics. He is a regular trade association presenter and likewise has been a repeated contributor to Butzel Long and MEMA’s annual “OEM Light Vehicle Terms and Conditions Comparative Analysis” book.
In addition to his experience representing automotive clients, DeVine also has experience in trade secret and non-compete cases, shareholder disputes, and high-value insurance coverage litigation, and he is a member of Butzel’s Construction Specialty Team.
DeVine has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America®, Michigan Super Lawyers, DBusiness Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit, and Corporate LiveWire.
He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, United States Supreme Court Bar, Oakland County Bar Association, Oakland County Bar Foundation, and Federal Bar Association - Eastern District of Michigan Chapter. He also is involved with Motor Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and numerous non-profit community organizations.
DeVine earned a law degree from Emory University School of Law and a B.A. from the University of Michigan.
• • •
Abigail Richards, an Oakland County family law attorney and founder of Richards Family Law PLLC, has been selected to the 2026 Super Lawyers Rising Stars list. This is the third year Richards has been named to the list. The selection follows her recognition earlier this year as a Top 10 Under 40 attorney.
Richards has more than 10 years of experience focused exclusively on family law. She earned her law degree from Michigan State University College of Law and has been licensed to practice in Michigan since 2016.
• • •
Plunkett Cooney recently expanded its Transportation Law and Torts & Litigation practice groups with the addition of attorney Abraham J. Newhouse.
A member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, Newhouse focuses his practice on the defense of claims involving motor vehicle negligence and No-Fault Law, subrogation, and premises liability.
Newhouse represents motorists, rental car companies, and corporations in first- and third-party motor vehicle liability matters. He has defended his clients in cases involving Michigan No-Fault personal injury protection benefits, automobile injuries, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, fraud/rescission, and uninsured/underinsured motorist benefits claims. Newhouse also has experience resolving claims assigned by the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan, the state’s insurer of last resort.
Newhouse earned his law degree from Michigan State University College of Law in 2021 and his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2018.
In addition, Michael P. Ashcraft Jr., secretary/treasurer of Plunkett Cooney’s Board of Directors, was recently nominated by Michigan Lawyers Weekly (MiLW) as one of its 2026 Leaders in the Law. This year’s class will be honored during the annual Leaders in the Law Awards Luncheon on November 20 at The Mint at Michigan First Conference Center in Lathrup Village.
Ashcraft, who is a partner in Plunkett Cooney’s Bloomfield Hills office, serves as a co-leader of the firm’s Professional Liability Practice Group. A professional liability attorney, he concentrates his practice primarily on the defense of judges, attorneys, accountants, and their firms in professional liability, responsibility and licensing matters. In addition, he counsels professional firms on professional responsibility, ethics, risk management, and claims avoidance issues.
Ashcraft graduated from Michigan State University College of Law in 1992 and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in 1987. He is a member of several professional organizations, including the State Bar of Michigan, the American Board of Trial Advocates, the American Bar Association’s Committee on Professional Responsibility and Liability (Lawyers’ Professional Liability Consortium), and the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers.
• • •
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently announced appointments to the following boards and commissions:
—Governor’s Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect
Judge Yasmine Poles is a judge of the Oakland County Circuit Court. Poles previously served as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Macomb County.
Poles earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Michigan and a law degree from the Wayne State University School of Law. Poles will be reappointed to represent civil court judges for a term commencing January 1, 2026, and expiring December 31, 2029.
Created by Executive Order 2013-4, rescinding Executive Order 2010-18, the Governor’s Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect is established within the Department of Human Services and is designed as a multidisciplinary task force for the purposes of the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. The Task Force consists of 18 members appointed by the Governor for three-year terms who are professionals with knowledge and experience relating to the criminal justice system and issues of child physical abuse, child neglect, child sexual abuse and exploitation, and child maltreatment related fatalities.
This appointment is not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
—Michigan Board of Nursing
Ian Hickman is an attorney at Hewson & Van Hellemont PC. Hickman earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Michigan and a Juris Doctor from Wayne State University.
Hickman is appointed as a member of the public for a term commencing October 1, 2026, and expiring June 30, 2030. Hickman succeeds Joseph Thurston, whose term has expired.
The Michigan Board of Nursing was created to establish qualifications for nurse licensure, to establish standards for education and approve nurse education programs, develop, and implement criteria for assurance of continued competency, and take disciplinary action against licensees when the health, safety, and welfare of the public has been adversely affected.
Thia appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
—Michigan Board of Pharmacy
Mitra Jafary-Hariri is an in-house lawyer for a technology company. Jafary-Hariri earned a Bachelor of Arts in education from Wayne State University, a Master of Science in teaching with a concentration in special education from Pace University, and a law degree from the Howard University School of Law. Jafary-Hariri is appointed as a member of the public for a term commencing October 1, 2026, and expiring June 30, 2027. Jafary-Hariri succeeds David Hills, who has resigned.
The Michigan Board of Pharmacy was enacted as part of the Public Health Code to oversee the practice of pharmacy as a health service, the clinical application of which includes the encouragement of safety and efficacy in the prescribing, dispensing, administering and use of drugs and related articles for the prevention of illness and the maintenance and management of health. The Public Health Code mandates certain responsibilities and duties for a health professional licensing board including promoting and protecting the public’s health, safety, and welfare.
This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
• • •
Fishman Stewart PLLC is pleased to announce that firm partner Barbara Mandell has been named to the Leaders in the Law, class of 2026, by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. The announcement of Mandell’s inclusion was made by Fishman Stewart CEO Michael Stewart.
Mandell’s practice focuses on commercial litigation, copyright and trademark law, and antitrust. She litigates, arbitrates, and counsels her clients on patent, trademark and licensing matters, theft of trade secrets, breach of license and franchise agreements, trade dress and copyright infringement claims, and counterfeiting, unfair competition, and false advertising claims. She has presided over more than 70 commercial arbitrations, including at least 40 that advanced to written awards, for the American Arbitration Association, either as a solo arbitrator or on a panel, including as the panel chair.
Mandell is also a multi-year honoree of Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers, a DBusiness Top Lawyer honoree, and two-time recipient of the Lexology Client Choice award in the trademarks category.
• • •
Ottenwess Law PLC congratulates David Ottenwess and Eric Ramar for being selected for inclusion in the 2026 “Michigan Legal 250” by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
• • •
Miller Johnson is pleased to announce that Brandon C. Griffith has been named a 2026 “Leader in the Law” by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
“I’m grateful to Michigan Lawyers Weekly for this recognition and to the clients who trust us with the ideas their businesses are built on,” said Griffith. “It is as much a reflection of the support I’ve received from outstanding clients, colleagues, and mentors as it is a reflection of my own work. It is a privilege to practice law alongside so many talented professionals and to serve our clients and community every day.”
Griffith chairs Miller Johnson’s Intellectual Property Procurement and Transactions Practice Group, where he helps clients protect, enforce, and allocate rights in their business-critical intellectual property (IP). He counsels clients in the complexities of managing their business and IP strategy, from preparing and prosecuting domestic and foreign patent applications, to advising on the development, use, and ownership of technology and IP in interparty transactions and agreements. Griffith has guided clients through complex IP issues in hundreds of merger and acquisition transactions, positioning clients’ IP to be preserved and leveraged for maximum value on the sell side, and uncovering and vetting IP issues before closing on the buy side.
Griffith received his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 2010 and his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 2003.
• • •
McDonald Hopkins congratulates James Giszczak on his recognition by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as a 2026 Leaders in the Law honoree.
Giszczak currently serves as co-president of McDonald Hopkins, co-chair of the firm’s national Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice, and a member of the firm’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
For more than 34 years, Giszczak has distinguished himself through his client work, leadership, mentorship and commitment to strengthening both the legal profession and his community. His influence extends beyond his work with clients, helping shape McDonald Hopkins, the field of data privacy and cybersecurity, and the many people he has mentored and worked alongside throughout his career.
McDonald Hopkins is also proud to recognize Adam J. Baginski, Detroit office, who hac been elected to the firm’s membership.
Baginski is part of the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions group. His practice is focused on advising clients in a variety of industries, including private equity funds, in complex transactional matters, such as domestic and international mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, distressed acquisitions and dispositions, and other business transactions. His services include due diligence support, drafting and negotiating principal transaction documents and ancillary agreements, and general strategic advice.
• • •
The State Bar of Michigan recently honored Honigman attorney Len Niehoff with its John W. Reed Michigan Lawyer Legacy Award which is given periodically “to a Michigan law school educator whose influence on lawyers has elevated the quality of legal practice in [Michigan].”
A litigation attorney, Niehoff possesses 35 years of experience focusing in the areas of media law, higher education law, and appellate litigation. He is also a professor at the University of Michigan Law School where he teaches courses in civil procedure, ethics, evidence, the First Amendment, and media law.
• • •
Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce that Benjamin Sobczak has been recognized in the 2026 Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers list by Cannabis Law Report and Cannabis Law Journal.
Sobczak, a member in Dickinson Wright’s Troy office, represents clients in complex business disputes, including shareholder conflicts, securities litigation, class actions, and business torts. He also serves as outside counsel to cannabis companies across the U.S. and Canada, advising on regulatory, transactional, and operational matters.
• • •
Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that Sarah J. Williams has been named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s 2026 list of Leaders in the Law. Honorees will be recognized on November 20 at The Mint at Michigan First Conference Center.
Williams is a member in Bodman’s Business Law Practice Group and serves as corporate counsel to a variety of businesses in matters involving mergers, acquisitions, corporate governance, commercial contracts, corporate finance, and debt and equity financing, including private equity, venture capital, and angel investments. She frequently works with technology-based startups throughout the Detroit and Ann Arbor markets, as well as businesses in the aviation services industry.
Williams is active in the firm’s leadership, serving as chair of the Associate Evaluation and Compensation Committee and as a member of the Executive Committee, the Opportunity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee, and the Alumni Committee. She also serves as chair of Programming Directorship for the Business Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan.
Williams has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Corporate Law, in Chambers USA for Corporate/M&A work, and has been recognized by Michigan Rising Stars for Business Law. She was recently named as a “Notable Woman in Law” by Crain’s Detroit Business and has been listed in DBusiness magazine’s Top Lawyers list for her work in Mergers & Acquisitions law.
• • •
Dykema is proud to announce that Rochelle Lento has been selected by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as a 2026 “Leader in the Law.” Lento will be recognized at an awards ceremony on Friday, November 20,at The Mint at Michigan First Conference Center.
Lento’s practice focuses on affordable housing and community development, guiding developers and nonprofit organizations through complex transactions that create and preserve housing for low-income families and seniors. Her work brings together public and private financing to transform vacant properties, restore historic buildings, and expand access to stable housing throughout Michigan.
Beyond her client work, Lento has demonstrated a commitment to her community and the legal profession. She chairs the board of Alternatives for Girls and is a founding board member and former president of People for Palmer Park. She also teaches affordable housing development at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and previously chaired the American Bar Association Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development Law.
Lento earned a law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and a B.A. from the State University of New York at Potsdam.
• • •
Garan attorney Christina M. Mazzara has been named a 2026 Leader in the Law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
A shareholder at Garan, Mazzara focuses her practice on personal injury and property insurance defense, including No-Fault/PIP claims, automobile negligence, premises liability, and insurance coverage disputes.
Mazzara also shares her expertise with the broader community. Recently, at Garan’s Troy Breakfast Seminar, she presented “PIP Claims Under the Consumer Protection Act: The Law Just Changed on You.” Last year, she presented “Diminished Value Mini Tort Claims: Key Legal and Practical Considerations” at the IAM Seminar for Insurance Claims Professionals, as well as the Troy Breakfast Seminar.
• • •
Giarmarco, Mullins, & Horton, PC is pleased to announce that Lindsay Hazen, a member of the firm’s Education Law Group, has been appointed to the State Bar of Michigan’s United States Courts Committee for the 2026–2027 Bar year. Hazen’s appointment began October 1.
As a member of the United States Courts Committee, Hazen will participate in the committee’s work and activities throughout the upcoming bar year.
In addition, Anne Gabbert, an attorney in the firm’s Municipal Group, has been appointed to the Lawyers and Judges Assistance Committee of the State Bar of Michigan for the 2026–2027 Bar year.
Gabbert’s one-year appointment began October 1. The Lawyers and Judges Assistance Committee is associated with the State Bar of Michigan’s Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program (LJAP), which supports Michigan legal professionals in optimizing their overall well-being and, when appropriate, facilitates their involvement in the program’s monitoring services.
GMH is also pleased to announce that Elizabeth Favaro, a member of the firm’s Board of Directors, has been nominated by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as a 2026 Leader in the Law.
Favaro, who is a partner in the firm’s Business Litigation Group, is a trial attorney with nearly 20 years of courtroom experience. She concentrates her practice primarily on the defense of corporations in product liability, consumer, personal injury, and commercial matters. She has managed and tried litigation matters involving a variety of disputes throughout Michigan and across the country, including proceedings in state and federal trial and appellate courts, as well as arbitration.
Favaro works with a publicly traded consumer product manufacturing company on litigation and discovery strategies, as well as product liability matters. She also represents large insurance carriers in No-Fault coverage and litigation matters, as well as small to mid-sized companies in a variety of commercial and employment matters, including non-compete agreements, trade secrets,
discrimination claims, insurance coverage, and franchise law. She is a speaker and author on these and other business law matters.
In addition to her legal practice, Favaro serves on the firm’s Board of Directors and is involved with organizations dedicated to feeding children both locally and abroad. Before becoming an attorney, she was an investigative reporter and news anchor, earning an Emmy Award for her work.
• • •
Brooks Kushman is pleased to announce its inclusion on Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s 2026 Empowering Women list. The firm supports professional advancement for women through mentorship, leadership development, networking opportunities, and an inclusive workplace culture.
DeVine focuses his practice in the areas of business litigation and counseling. For nearly 20 years, business clients have sought his counsel in an array of industries, especially automotive, construction, and real estate, and DeVine has served as counsel in many high-stakes, multi-million-dollar matters for his clients in state and federal court in Michigan and beyond.
As a member of Butzel’s Automotive Industry Team, DeVine concentrates a significant part of his practice on representing clients in contract disputes and supply chain matters, particularly those involving pricing, warranty, and tooling issues. He counsels suppliers of all sizes on contract terms, litigation avoidance, and dispute resolution strategies, and DeVine has published and spoken on automotive supply-chain topics. He is a regular trade association presenter and likewise has been a repeated contributor to Butzel Long and MEMA’s annual “OEM Light Vehicle Terms and Conditions Comparative Analysis” book.
In addition to his experience representing automotive clients, DeVine also has experience in trade secret and non-compete cases, shareholder disputes, and high-value insurance coverage litigation, and he is a member of Butzel’s Construction Specialty Team.
DeVine has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America®, Michigan Super Lawyers, DBusiness Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit, and Corporate LiveWire.
He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, United States Supreme Court Bar, Oakland County Bar Association, Oakland County Bar Foundation, and Federal Bar Association - Eastern District of Michigan Chapter. He also is involved with Motor Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and numerous non-profit community organizations.
DeVine earned a law degree from Emory University School of Law and a B.A. from the University of Michigan.
• • •
Abigail Richards, an Oakland County family law attorney and founder of Richards Family Law PLLC, has been selected to the 2026 Super Lawyers Rising Stars list. This is the third year Richards has been named to the list. The selection follows her recognition earlier this year as a Top 10 Under 40 attorney.
Richards has more than 10 years of experience focused exclusively on family law. She earned her law degree from Michigan State University College of Law and has been licensed to practice in Michigan since 2016.
• • •
Plunkett Cooney recently expanded its Transportation Law and Torts & Litigation practice groups with the addition of attorney Abraham J. Newhouse.
A member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, Newhouse focuses his practice on the defense of claims involving motor vehicle negligence and No-Fault Law, subrogation, and premises liability.
Newhouse represents motorists, rental car companies, and corporations in first- and third-party motor vehicle liability matters. He has defended his clients in cases involving Michigan No-Fault personal injury protection benefits, automobile injuries, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, fraud/rescission, and uninsured/underinsured motorist benefits claims. Newhouse also has experience resolving claims assigned by the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan, the state’s insurer of last resort.
Newhouse earned his law degree from Michigan State University College of Law in 2021 and his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2018.
In addition, Michael P. Ashcraft Jr., secretary/treasurer of Plunkett Cooney’s Board of Directors, was recently nominated by Michigan Lawyers Weekly (MiLW) as one of its 2026 Leaders in the Law. This year’s class will be honored during the annual Leaders in the Law Awards Luncheon on November 20 at The Mint at Michigan First Conference Center in Lathrup Village.
Ashcraft, who is a partner in Plunkett Cooney’s Bloomfield Hills office, serves as a co-leader of the firm’s Professional Liability Practice Group. A professional liability attorney, he concentrates his practice primarily on the defense of judges, attorneys, accountants, and their firms in professional liability, responsibility and licensing matters. In addition, he counsels professional firms on professional responsibility, ethics, risk management, and claims avoidance issues.
Ashcraft graduated from Michigan State University College of Law in 1992 and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in 1987. He is a member of several professional organizations, including the State Bar of Michigan, the American Board of Trial Advocates, the American Bar Association’s Committee on Professional Responsibility and Liability (Lawyers’ Professional Liability Consortium), and the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers.
• • •
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently announced appointments to the following boards and commissions:
—Governor’s Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect
Judge Yasmine Poles is a judge of the Oakland County Circuit Court. Poles previously served as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Macomb County.
Poles earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Michigan and a law degree from the Wayne State University School of Law. Poles will be reappointed to represent civil court judges for a term commencing January 1, 2026, and expiring December 31, 2029.
Created by Executive Order 2013-4, rescinding Executive Order 2010-18, the Governor’s Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect is established within the Department of Human Services and is designed as a multidisciplinary task force for the purposes of the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. The Task Force consists of 18 members appointed by the Governor for three-year terms who are professionals with knowledge and experience relating to the criminal justice system and issues of child physical abuse, child neglect, child sexual abuse and exploitation, and child maltreatment related fatalities.
This appointment is not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
—Michigan Board of Nursing
Ian Hickman is an attorney at Hewson & Van Hellemont PC. Hickman earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Michigan and a Juris Doctor from Wayne State University.
Hickman is appointed as a member of the public for a term commencing October 1, 2026, and expiring June 30, 2030. Hickman succeeds Joseph Thurston, whose term has expired.
The Michigan Board of Nursing was created to establish qualifications for nurse licensure, to establish standards for education and approve nurse education programs, develop, and implement criteria for assurance of continued competency, and take disciplinary action against licensees when the health, safety, and welfare of the public has been adversely affected.
Thia appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
—Michigan Board of Pharmacy
Mitra Jafary-Hariri is an in-house lawyer for a technology company. Jafary-Hariri earned a Bachelor of Arts in education from Wayne State University, a Master of Science in teaching with a concentration in special education from Pace University, and a law degree from the Howard University School of Law. Jafary-Hariri is appointed as a member of the public for a term commencing October 1, 2026, and expiring June 30, 2027. Jafary-Hariri succeeds David Hills, who has resigned.
The Michigan Board of Pharmacy was enacted as part of the Public Health Code to oversee the practice of pharmacy as a health service, the clinical application of which includes the encouragement of safety and efficacy in the prescribing, dispensing, administering and use of drugs and related articles for the prevention of illness and the maintenance and management of health. The Public Health Code mandates certain responsibilities and duties for a health professional licensing board including promoting and protecting the public’s health, safety, and welfare.
This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
• • •
Fishman Stewart PLLC is pleased to announce that firm partner Barbara Mandell has been named to the Leaders in the Law, class of 2026, by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. The announcement of Mandell’s inclusion was made by Fishman Stewart CEO Michael Stewart.
Mandell’s practice focuses on commercial litigation, copyright and trademark law, and antitrust. She litigates, arbitrates, and counsels her clients on patent, trademark and licensing matters, theft of trade secrets, breach of license and franchise agreements, trade dress and copyright infringement claims, and counterfeiting, unfair competition, and false advertising claims. She has presided over more than 70 commercial arbitrations, including at least 40 that advanced to written awards, for the American Arbitration Association, either as a solo arbitrator or on a panel, including as the panel chair.
Mandell is also a multi-year honoree of Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers, a DBusiness Top Lawyer honoree, and two-time recipient of the Lexology Client Choice award in the trademarks category.
• • •
Ottenwess Law PLC congratulates David Ottenwess and Eric Ramar for being selected for inclusion in the 2026 “Michigan Legal 250” by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
• • •
Miller Johnson is pleased to announce that Brandon C. Griffith has been named a 2026 “Leader in the Law” by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
“I’m grateful to Michigan Lawyers Weekly for this recognition and to the clients who trust us with the ideas their businesses are built on,” said Griffith. “It is as much a reflection of the support I’ve received from outstanding clients, colleagues, and mentors as it is a reflection of my own work. It is a privilege to practice law alongside so many talented professionals and to serve our clients and community every day.”
Griffith chairs Miller Johnson’s Intellectual Property Procurement and Transactions Practice Group, where he helps clients protect, enforce, and allocate rights in their business-critical intellectual property (IP). He counsels clients in the complexities of managing their business and IP strategy, from preparing and prosecuting domestic and foreign patent applications, to advising on the development, use, and ownership of technology and IP in interparty transactions and agreements. Griffith has guided clients through complex IP issues in hundreds of merger and acquisition transactions, positioning clients’ IP to be preserved and leveraged for maximum value on the sell side, and uncovering and vetting IP issues before closing on the buy side.
Griffith received his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 2010 and his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 2003.
• • •
McDonald Hopkins congratulates James Giszczak on his recognition by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as a 2026 Leaders in the Law honoree.
Giszczak currently serves as co-president of McDonald Hopkins, co-chair of the firm’s national Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice, and a member of the firm’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
For more than 34 years, Giszczak has distinguished himself through his client work, leadership, mentorship and commitment to strengthening both the legal profession and his community. His influence extends beyond his work with clients, helping shape McDonald Hopkins, the field of data privacy and cybersecurity, and the many people he has mentored and worked alongside throughout his career.
McDonald Hopkins is also proud to recognize Adam J. Baginski, Detroit office, who hac been elected to the firm’s membership.
Baginski is part of the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions group. His practice is focused on advising clients in a variety of industries, including private equity funds, in complex transactional matters, such as domestic and international mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, distressed acquisitions and dispositions, and other business transactions. His services include due diligence support, drafting and negotiating principal transaction documents and ancillary agreements, and general strategic advice.
• • •
The State Bar of Michigan recently honored Honigman attorney Len Niehoff with its John W. Reed Michigan Lawyer Legacy Award which is given periodically “to a Michigan law school educator whose influence on lawyers has elevated the quality of legal practice in [Michigan].”
A litigation attorney, Niehoff possesses 35 years of experience focusing in the areas of media law, higher education law, and appellate litigation. He is also a professor at the University of Michigan Law School where he teaches courses in civil procedure, ethics, evidence, the First Amendment, and media law.
• • •
Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce that Benjamin Sobczak has been recognized in the 2026 Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers list by Cannabis Law Report and Cannabis Law Journal.
Sobczak, a member in Dickinson Wright’s Troy office, represents clients in complex business disputes, including shareholder conflicts, securities litigation, class actions, and business torts. He also serves as outside counsel to cannabis companies across the U.S. and Canada, advising on regulatory, transactional, and operational matters.
• • •
Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that Sarah J. Williams has been named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s 2026 list of Leaders in the Law. Honorees will be recognized on November 20 at The Mint at Michigan First Conference Center.
Williams is a member in Bodman’s Business Law Practice Group and serves as corporate counsel to a variety of businesses in matters involving mergers, acquisitions, corporate governance, commercial contracts, corporate finance, and debt and equity financing, including private equity, venture capital, and angel investments. She frequently works with technology-based startups throughout the Detroit and Ann Arbor markets, as well as businesses in the aviation services industry.
Williams is active in the firm’s leadership, serving as chair of the Associate Evaluation and Compensation Committee and as a member of the Executive Committee, the Opportunity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee, and the Alumni Committee. She also serves as chair of Programming Directorship for the Business Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan.
Williams has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Corporate Law, in Chambers USA for Corporate/M&A work, and has been recognized by Michigan Rising Stars for Business Law. She was recently named as a “Notable Woman in Law” by Crain’s Detroit Business and has been listed in DBusiness magazine’s Top Lawyers list for her work in Mergers & Acquisitions law.
• • •
Dykema is proud to announce that Rochelle Lento has been selected by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as a 2026 “Leader in the Law.” Lento will be recognized at an awards ceremony on Friday, November 20,at The Mint at Michigan First Conference Center.
Lento’s practice focuses on affordable housing and community development, guiding developers and nonprofit organizations through complex transactions that create and preserve housing for low-income families and seniors. Her work brings together public and private financing to transform vacant properties, restore historic buildings, and expand access to stable housing throughout Michigan.
Beyond her client work, Lento has demonstrated a commitment to her community and the legal profession. She chairs the board of Alternatives for Girls and is a founding board member and former president of People for Palmer Park. She also teaches affordable housing development at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and previously chaired the American Bar Association Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development Law.
Lento earned a law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and a B.A. from the State University of New York at Potsdam.
• • •
Garan attorney Christina M. Mazzara has been named a 2026 Leader in the Law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
A shareholder at Garan, Mazzara focuses her practice on personal injury and property insurance defense, including No-Fault/PIP claims, automobile negligence, premises liability, and insurance coverage disputes.
Mazzara also shares her expertise with the broader community. Recently, at Garan’s Troy Breakfast Seminar, she presented “PIP Claims Under the Consumer Protection Act: The Law Just Changed on You.” Last year, she presented “Diminished Value Mini Tort Claims: Key Legal and Practical Considerations” at the IAM Seminar for Insurance Claims Professionals, as well as the Troy Breakfast Seminar.
• • •
Giarmarco, Mullins, & Horton, PC is pleased to announce that Lindsay Hazen, a member of the firm’s Education Law Group, has been appointed to the State Bar of Michigan’s United States Courts Committee for the 2026–2027 Bar year. Hazen’s appointment began October 1.
As a member of the United States Courts Committee, Hazen will participate in the committee’s work and activities throughout the upcoming bar year.
In addition, Anne Gabbert, an attorney in the firm’s Municipal Group, has been appointed to the Lawyers and Judges Assistance Committee of the State Bar of Michigan for the 2026–2027 Bar year.
Gabbert’s one-year appointment began October 1. The Lawyers and Judges Assistance Committee is associated with the State Bar of Michigan’s Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program (LJAP), which supports Michigan legal professionals in optimizing their overall well-being and, when appropriate, facilitates their involvement in the program’s monitoring services.
GMH is also pleased to announce that Elizabeth Favaro, a member of the firm’s Board of Directors, has been nominated by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as a 2026 Leader in the Law.
Favaro, who is a partner in the firm’s Business Litigation Group, is a trial attorney with nearly 20 years of courtroom experience. She concentrates her practice primarily on the defense of corporations in product liability, consumer, personal injury, and commercial matters. She has managed and tried litigation matters involving a variety of disputes throughout Michigan and across the country, including proceedings in state and federal trial and appellate courts, as well as arbitration.
Favaro works with a publicly traded consumer product manufacturing company on litigation and discovery strategies, as well as product liability matters. She also represents large insurance carriers in No-Fault coverage and litigation matters, as well as small to mid-sized companies in a variety of commercial and employment matters, including non-compete agreements, trade secrets,
discrimination claims, insurance coverage, and franchise law. She is a speaker and author on these and other business law matters.
In addition to her legal practice, Favaro serves on the firm’s Board of Directors and is involved with organizations dedicated to feeding children both locally and abroad. Before becoming an attorney, she was an investigative reporter and news anchor, earning an Emmy Award for her work.
• • •
Brooks Kushman is pleased to announce its inclusion on Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s 2026 Empowering Women list. The firm supports professional advancement for women through mentorship, leadership development, networking opportunities, and an inclusive workplace culture.
