Wayne State University

Aim Higher

Alumni Accomplishments

  • Rebecca L. Weekley, '04, has joined Hertz Schram PC in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., as an associate. She concentrates her practice in real estate law, specifically in the areas of title litigation, construction, landlord-tenant and foreclosure litigation.
    November 13, 2008

  • Joey Agree, '04, has been named president and COO of Farmington Hills-based real estate investment trust Agree Realty Corp.
    June 9, 2009

  • Emily Ballenberger, '04, a Plunkett Cooney medical malpractice attorney, was named as a 2009 recipient of the Young Lawyers' Section - Golden Gavel Award by the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel.
    June 23, 2009

  • Jonathan Mann, '04, has joined The Law Offices of Robin Bresky. Mann will represent the firm's clients in appellate and litigation support matters.
    March 5, 2010

  • Matthew B. Van DykMatthew B. Van Dyk, '04, a Miller Canfield associate, has been elected to a one-year term as chairman of the board of directors of the Kalamazoo County Economic Development Corporation. At Miller Canfield, Van Dyk focuses his practice on real-estate related issues including development and financing for institutional and individual clients in businesses, government and non-profits. He is also a member of the Kalamazoo County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Board.  
    May 18, 2010

  • Matthew Van Dyk, '04, was highlighted in an article on Mlive.com. Read the article here.
    July 26, 2010

  • Donna M. MacKenzie, '04, was named a 2010 Up and Coming Lawyer by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. Click here for more information.
    November 2, 2010

  • A'Jené M. MaxwellA'Jené M. Maxwell, '04, a partner in Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP's real estate department, has been named by Michigan FrontPage (FP) and Real Times Media as one of the 2010 FP:Thirty. The honorees were identified by their nominators as "one of the most influential and inspiring emerging leaders in Metro Detroit." Maxwell's law practice focuses on industrial, office, retail and residential real estate financing, leasing, acquisition and disposition. He also advises clients with regard to property tax, incentives, zoning and land use matters.
    November 24, 2010

  • Terry Bonnette, '04, presented "How to Keep Rockin' when the EEOC's a Knockin'" to the Health Care Association of Michigan (HCAM) in Mt. Pleasant on September 19 with Patricia Nemeth, '90. He also presented on social networking issues affecting employers at the Greater Ann Arbor Society for Human Resource Management (GAASHRM) in November.
    December 6, 2010

  • Michael K. Hauser Michael K. Hauser , '04, has been named a shareholder at Maddin Hauser Wartell Roth and Heller PC. A CPA, Hauser focuses his practice on partnership and corporate tax, state and federal taxation of estate transactions, gift and estate tax and general business matters.
    January 18, 2011

  • Rebecca L. Weekley, '04, has been named general counsel to Collex Collision Experts Inc., the preeminent auto body and collision repair specialists in Metro Detroit and Southwest Florida. Headquartered in Clinton Township, Mich., Collex has earned national recognition in the collision repair industry. In her position, Rebecca will be engaging primarily in matters concerning real estate transactions, contractual negotiations, employment issues and collections.
    January 20, 2011

  • Jeffrey S. AronoffJeffrey S. Aronoff, '04, has been elected principal of the law firm of Miller Canfield. Aronoff specializes in all types of public finance, including municipal infrastructure finance, economic development finance and school finance.  
    January 26, 2011

  • Matthew B. Van DykMatthew B. Van Dyk, '04, has been elected principal of the law firm of Miller Canfield in the Kalamazoo office. Van Dyk represents clients in a wide range of real estate-related matters, including zoning and entitlement issues, tax and governmental incentive projects, regulatory issues, planned developments, 1031 transactions, affordable housing projects, land assemblage, multi-state development and financing, commercial and residential development, condominium development, mixed-use development, acquisitions, dispositions and leasing.
    January 26, 2011

  • Ryan J. RiehlRyan J. Riehl, '04, LL.M. '08, has been elected principal of the law firm of Miller Canfield. Riehl focuses his practice on federal and state of Michigan tax issues.
    January 26, 2011

  • Matt Wikander, '04, has been named a shareholder at Smith Haughey Rice and Roegge. Wikander practices in the areas of employment, commercial, and personal injury matters including those involving catastrophic injuries and wrongful death cases.
    January 31, 2011

  • Andy DragovicAndy Dragovic, '04, has joined Southfield-based Sommers Schwartz PC as an associate in the firm's personal injury litigation department. Dragovic will handle personal injury, medical malpractice and auto negligence cases. Dragovic earned a B.S. in Psychology from Michigan State University and an LL.M. in Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution from George Washington University Law School. 
    February 4, 2011

  • Matthew B. Van Dyk , '04, was elected a principal of Miller Canfield last month. Van Dyk, who works in the firms Kalamazoo office, represents clients in real estate-related matters, including zoning and entitlement issues, tax and governmental incentive projects, acquisitions, dispositions and leasing.
    March 1, 2011

  • Terry Bonnette , '04, of Nemeth Burwell PC, gave a presentation entitled "2011 Labor and Employment Law Update" at Nemeth Burwell's January Raising the Bar seminar. She will give a presentation on social networking issues affecting employers to the Health Care Association of Michigan on March 31.
    March 23, 2011

  • Matthew B. Van Dyk Matthew B. Van Dyk , '04, principal with Miller Canfield, has been re-elected to a one-year term as chair of the board of directors of the Kalamazoo County Economic Development Corporation. 
    May 9, 2011

  • Michael K. HauserMichael K. Hauser, '04, CPA of Maddin Hauser Wartell Roth and Heller PC, will be a featured presenter at the upcoming Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants Management Information and Business Show, which is scheduled for Wednesday, June 29-Thursday, June 30.
    June 23, 2011

  • Jeffrey S. AronoffJeffrey S. Aronoff, '04, a principal in the Detroit office of the law firm of Miller Canfield, has been selected for the prestigious Marshall Memorial Fellowship. The fellowship sends emerging professional and community leaders on a 24-day tour of several European cities to meet with various political, business, cultural and community leaders to exchange best practices. There are 46 fellows participating this year from across the U.S., four from Michigan.
    July 20, 2011

  • Terry Bonnette, '04, made a presentation titled Strategies for Dealing with the Problem Employee at Nemeth Burwell PC's Raising the Bar seminar in May 2011.
    August 2, 2011

  • Terry BonnetteTerry Bonnette, '04, of Nemeth Burwell PC, co-wrote an article with Patricia Nemeth '84, LL.M. '90, entitled, "Don't be Blind-Sided by GINA: The Surprisingly Wide Reach of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act," which was published in the October/November issue of Executive Counsel Magazine.
    November 3, 2011

  • Bryan H. ZairBryan H. Zair, '04, has been named a partner at Mayer Brown, in the Corporate and Securities practice group in the firm's Chicago office.
    February 10, 2012

  • Michael JonesMichael Jones, '04, was named partner at the law firm Warner Norcross. Jones concentrates his practice in the areas of
    mergers and acquisitions, general corporate law and corporate finance. He has been named a Rising Star by Michigan Super Lawyers.
    March 8, 2012

  • Allison BachAllison Bach, '04, was listed in Michigan Super Lawyers as a "Rising Star" for Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights. Bach is a member in Dickinson Wright PLLC's office in Detroit. She focuses her practice in the areas of banking and financial services, bankruptcy, restructuring and creditors' rights, and workouts, restructurings and foreclosures.
    October 22, 2012

  • Jeremy StephensJeremy Stephens, '04, was promoted to major in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps.  He is scheduled to receive his L.L.M. in military law this spring and his follow on assignment will be as a professor of criminal law at the U.S. Army JAG School on the grounds of the University of Virginia.
    January 17, 2013

  • Terry BonnetteTerry Bonnette, '04, has been named a partner at Detroit-based employment law firm Nemeth Burwell P.C. He had been a senior attorney. Bonnette joined Nemeth Burwell in 2004 after working as a law clerk at the firm. He focuses his practice on labor and employment counseling and litigation, counseling clients on a wide range of contract compliance and regulatory compliance issues, including the Family Medical Leave Act, Wage and Hour laws and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Additionally, Bonnette has represented clients in litigation before state and federal courts, administrative agencies and arbitrators. A prodigious writer and speaker, Bonnette has presented, written and co-authored articles on a number of employment law topics and workplace trends, including overtime, social media, disabilities, managing contingent and virtual employees, identity theft and wrongful discharge and retaliation. Prior to joining Nemeth Burwell, Bonnette was an instructor in argumentation, persuasion and speech writing at Bradley University and Eastern Michigan University.  He also coached the nationally ranked speech teams at both schools.      
    March 26, 2013

  • Kristopher K. Hulliberger, '03, is now a shareholder with Howard & Howard Attorneys, PLLC. Hulliberger concentrates his practice in patent and trademark preparation and prosecution and patent, trademark and trade secret litigation with a particular emphasis in chemical, computer and mechanical technologies.
    June 24, 2009

  • Kevin Plumstead, '03, has earned LEED Green Associate accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council.
    August 4, 2009

  • Achla Karnani, '03, has been named as a principal at Moran, Raimi, Goethel and Karnani, PC. Karnani concentrates her practice in the area of family law. She was named a Rising Star by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine (2008) and was the first recipient of the Washtenaw County Bar's Pre-eminent Young Lawyer Award (2005). She has completed the ICLE Family Law Certificate Program, as well as served as co-chair of the WCBA Family Law Section for two years, as the Friend of the Court liaison for the WCBA for a year and on the board of the Washtenaw County Chapter of the Women Lawyers' Association of Michigan.  
    August 19, 2009

  • Jeffrey StefanJeffrey Stefan, '03, of Barris, Sott, Denn & Driker, PLLC, was appointed to the board of directors of Abundant Care Training Services, a non-profit organization in Detroit.
    May 2, 2010

  • Chiara Mattieson Chiara Mattieson , '03, has joined Plunkett Cooney as a member of the firm's Litigation and Commercial Litigation practice groups.
    October 4, 2010

  • Kristopher K. HullibergerKristopher K. Hulliberger, '03, of Howard and Howard Attorneys PLLC, was named to DBusiness Top Lawyers 2011. Attorneys were selected through a process that included a peer review survey that polled more than 15,000 private attorneys in Oakland, Wayne, Macomb, Washtenaw and Livingston counties. 
    November 16, 2010

  • Ami Patel Gadhia, '03, will be promoted to senior licensing associate at the Johns Hopkins Technology Transfer office in Baltimore, Md., effective Dec. 1, 2010. Gadhia also earned her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Wayne State University, as well as an LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law from George Washington University.
    November 22, 2010

  • David G. MichaelDavid G. Michael, '03, an associate at Maddin Hauser Wartell Roth and Heller PC, of Southfield, Michigan, has been appointed by the American Bar Association (ABA) as co-chair of the Banking and Lender Liability Subcommittee of the ABA Litigation Section's Commercial and Business Litigation Committee for 2010-2011.
    January 6, 2011

  • Jennifer M. Woodside WojtalaJennifer M. Woodside Wojtala, '03, has been elected principal of Harness Dickey and Pierce PLC, a national intellectual property law firm. Her practice includes patent preparation and prosecution, as well as opinion work, including patentability, freedom to market; validity searches and opinions; and ex parte and inter partes patent reexaminations in the chemical, nano-technology and material arts.  
    January 31, 2011

  • Brendan G. Best, '03, has become a partner of Schafer and Weiner PLLC. Best's practice focuses on representing companies and creditors' committees in Chapter 11 cases and out-of-court restructurings. Best represents a broad array of clients, from sole proprietors and individual investors to multinational corporations, in a wide variety of industries, including automotive, real estate and homebuilding. Best joined the firm as an associate in 2008. Prior to joining the firm, he worked as an associate in the bankruptcy group at Dykema Gosset PLLC in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
    July 15, 2011

  • Daniel B. SchwalmDaniel B. Schwalm, '03, was appointed assistant Warren County attorney in Indianola, Iowa. He previously served as assistant Madison County attorney in Winterset, Iowa.    
    July 15, 2011

  • Shelley White-ThomasShelley White-Thomas, '03, of the White-Thomas Law Firm PLLC in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., was selected as the January Business Neighbor Volunteer of the Month through United Way of the Eastern Upper Peninsula's Spotlight Recognition Program.
    March 2, 2012

  • Ami Gadhia, '03, recently received a Certified Licensing Professional certification.
    March 8, 2012

  • Shelley White-ThomasShelley White-Thomas, '03, was named to the Michigan Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers as one of the top up-and-coming attorneys in Michigan for 2012. White-Thomas focuses her law practice in the areas of estate planning, probate and trust administration, elder law, special needs planning and veterans' benefits.
    October 3, 2012

  • Chiara MattiesonChiara Mattieson, '03, was awarded "Rising Star" status by Michigan Super Lawyers magazine. A member of the Litigation and Commercial Litigation practice groups at Plunkett Cooney, she has been named a "Rising Star" for the past four consecutive years for her expertise in business litigation and bankruptcy and creditor/debtor rights. Mattieson concentrates her practice on litigation defense in the areas of premises, motor vehicle, general liability, retail law and business law.
    November 7, 2012

  • Andrew HarrisAndrew Harris, '03, joined the Detroit office of Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney Ltd. as an associate attorney. Harris counsels and defends clients in all aspects of commercial real estate, premise liability, business transactions disputes, and construction contracts and disputes. He also actively represents clients in federal and state tax law matters. Harris has extensive experience in the defense of lawyers and accountants in professional liability cases. Harris was named to the 2008 and 2012 Michigan Super Lawyers lists. He is actively involved in several legal and civic organizations including multiple sections of the Michigan State Bar.
    April 16, 2013

  • Michelle MartinMichelle Martin, '03, was hired as policy director of the National Council on Medicaid Home Care, an affiliate of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice. She is responsible for the development of model program policy standards through the engagement with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Medicaid Access and Payment Advisory Commission, Congress and Medicaid stakeholders. She works on several key priorities in home care standards including transitions to managed care, dual eligible integration, provider qualifications, rate setting and quality of care. Martin came to NAHC and the Medicaid Council by way of the Medicaid Health Plans of America where she was the director of its Center for Best Practices.    
    April 17, 2013

  • Adrienne Dresevic, '02,
    co-founded the Health Law Partners, PC, a boutique firm specializing in healthcare law in Southfield, Mich., with Abby Pendleton, '96, Rob Iwrey, '93, and Jessica Gustafson, '05.
    June 18, 2009

  • Matthew B. Woodworth, '02, has been made a shareholder with Howard & Howard Attorneys, PLLC. He practices out of the firm's Royal Oak, Mich., office.
    July 6, 2009

  • Melissa GravesMelissa Graves, '02, has been hired by Southfield-based Collins Einhorn Farrell and Ulanoff PC. Graves, who has represented both attorneys and healthcare professionals, focuses her practice on the defense of professional liability claims. She also is involved in the defense of general liability matters.  
    October 19, 2010

  • Ryan McCarthy, '02, has been promoted to principal at Fish and Richardson. He will continue to focus his practice on patent prosecution, litigation, opinion work, IP due diligence and IP strategy and portfolio management. Previously, he worked in Munich, prosecuting patents before the German and European patent offices.
    January 31, 2011

  • Robert K. Fergan, '02, an attorney in the Ann Arbor office of Brinks Hofer Gilson and Lione, has been selected to participate in Leadership Detroit, a regional community leadership program sponsored by the Detroit Regional Chamber. Fergan's practice at Brinks focuses on client counseling, licensing and patent prosecution in the United States and in other countries under the rules of the Patent Cooperation Treaty. He has prepared and prosecuted patents in the electrical, mechanical, electro-optical and computer science arts as well as patents related to business methods.  
    September 20, 2011

  • Robert K. FerganRobert K. Fergan, '02, an attorney in the Ann Arbor office of Brinks Hofer Gilson and Lione, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the U.S., has been elected as a shareholder effective January 2012.
    December 1, 2011

  • Walter Bentley III, '02,   was featured in a story in the Oakland County Legal News about his 10 years of experience as an assistant prosecutor with the  Wayne County Prosecutor's Office. He is starting a private practice, and also will continue his 3-year-old tutoring business, Bentley Prep LLC, which prepares students for the Law School Admissions Test and helps with the law school application process. The story can be found at http://www.legalnews.com/oakland/1364554/.  
    July 11, 2012

  • Rebecca Hodge SnyderRebecca Hodge Snyder, '02, was featured in a Naples Sun Times (Florida) article about participants in the Marco Island Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Marco Program. She is a founding attorney of the Law Offices of Hodge and Snyder.
    August 26, 2012

  • Adrienne DresevicAdrienne Dresevic, '02, was appointed chair of the American Bar Association Publications Committee, liaison from that committee to The Health Lawyer Editorial Board, and chair of the Stark & Anti-Kickback Toolkit Editorial Board. She is the founding partner of Southfield-based The Health Law Partners, and specializes her practice in Stark and fraud abuse.
    September 11, 2012

  • Amy NeumannAmy Neumann, '02, was recognized as a "Michigan Rising Star" by Super Lawyers magazine. She is an attorney and co-manager of the litigation practice group with a concentration on mortgage banking, default servicing and real estate with Farmington Hills-based Trott & Trott PC.
    September 11, 2012

  • Jordan FieldJordan Field, '02, was named one of "30 in their Thirties 2012" by dbusiness http://www.dbusiness.com/DBusiness/September-October-2012/30-in-Their-Thirties/. As an employee of the Detroit Tigers, he drafted a mission statement, prepared a business plan, and pitched the proposal for the Detroit Tigers Foundation to the team leadership. In 2005, the Detroit Tigers Foundation was formed, with Field leading the way as director. The foundation raised $1.1 million last year from special events and promotional sales, in addition to receiving support from players and the team itself. Its mission: Refurbish inner-city ball fields.
    October 9, 2012

  • Jeffrey DoyleJeffrey Doyle, '02, joined Reising Ethington PC. The firm specializes solely in the practice of intellectual property law. Doyle's expertise includes medical equipment, motor control systems, battery charging systems and other high-tech matters.  He is a patent attorney with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.
    October 31, 2012

  • Rolf LoweRolf Lowe, '02, was named a 2013 DBusiness Top Lawyer in the Health Care Law category. Lowe, an attorney with Rogers Mantese & Associates PC,  concentrates his practice primarily on representing health care providers and professionals in professional licensing matters, labor and employment matters associated with health care, civil rights claims, administrative actions, business matters, health care compliance matters and compliance committee operations, hospital staff privilege actions, civil litigation and mediation. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, American Health Lawyers Association and Michigan Public Employers Labor Relations Association.
    November 27, 2012

  • Adrienne DresevicAdrienne Dresevic, '02, was featured in a Motion Magazine story titled "In Good Health: Partners find their niche in legal field." She is a co-founder of The Health Law Partners legal firm.
    December 5, 2012

  • Adrienne DresevicAdrienne Dresevic, '02, spoke recently before the Radiology Business Management Association at its 2013 Building Better Radiology Marketing Program. She is founding shareholder of Southfield-based The Health Law Partners. As a featured speaker, Dresevic spoke on two different legal and compliance subjects: "Marketing Your Services - What You Need to Know to Stay Out of Trouble" and "Continue the Conversation: Stark Q&A with the Attorney." The presentation and Q&A session reviewed the various marketing compliance matters and fraud and abuse issues that radiology providers face when developing and promoting their businesses. An avid writer and speaker, Dresevic has published more than 60 articles on health care law and presents at national conferences throughout the year. Dresevic's practice encompasses the full spectrum of health care law.
    April 8, 2013

  • Shanna BoughtonShanna Boughton, '02, joined LeClairRyan as a partner on the firm's Financial Services Litigation and Regulation Practice Area and Banking Industry teams. She is in the national law firm's Boston office. An experienced litigator, Boughton concentrates her practice on lender liability defense, complex commercial litigation, insurance defense and bankruptcy matters. She has successfully defended lenders and servicers in allegations of fraud, predatory lending, and alleged violations of Truth in Lending and Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act in both state and federal courts. She also represents secured and unsecured creditors in all facets of bankruptcy matters including motions for relief from stay, proof of claim filings, and adversary proceedings. Additionally, Boughton has successfully represented clients in a wide range of complex litigation matters including products liability, premises liability, construction disputes, automobile torts, coverage disputes, and bad faith claims. She also handles complex business disputes involving contract, tort and breach of fiduciary duty claims. Boughton has appeared on "Practical Law," a series featuring leaders in the legal community, to speak on the implications of the Bankruptcy Reform Act. She also regularly volunteers with Boston Cares, an organization which promotes community service throughout the greater Boston area through coordinated team volunteer efforts.  
    May 21, 2013

  • Melissa GravesMelissa Graves, '02, was installed as president of the Women's Bar Association. She is an attorney with Collins Einhorn Farrell. Graves concentrates her practice on the defense of professional liability claims and has represented both attorneys and health care professionals. She also is involved in the defense of general liability matters. In the past year, Graves has been selected among the "Rising Stars" by Michigan Super Lawyers and as a Top Lawyer by DBusiness.  
    May 21, 2013

  • Brittany M. Schultz, '01, was elected to membership of Dykema and serves on the firm’s Automotive Industry Team. In her five years with the firm, Schultz has helped defend automotive manufacturers and suppliers in a number of high-profile cases including personal injury class actions, wrongful death cases and more.
    February 9, 2009

  • John D. Wright, '01, is a member of Dickinson Wright PLLC firm’s Bloomfield Hills office. He focuses his practice in intellectual property.
    February 9, 2009

  • Carol A. Romej, '01, will be a featured speaker during a Lorman Education Services Program titled, “Document Retention and Destruction in Michigan” on May 7, 2009 in Troy. Romej’s presentation will focus on “Modern Concepts to Data and Record Management.” Romej is one of seven speakers featured during the program.
    February 9, 2009

  • George A. Netschke IV, '01, of Plunkett Cooney, was named a "Rising Star" in Michigan Super Lawyers magazine. Netschke IV was recognized for his construction litigation experience. His focus is on representing design professionals, general contractors, construction managers, sub-contractors, and owners in both commercial and personal injury litigation.
    February 3, 2009

  • Gjon Juncaj, '01, senior litigation counsel in the Civil Divisions Office of Immigration Litigation, District Court Section, has received the Attorney General's Special Commendation Award for Outstanding Service in the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. The award is used to recognize employees and other individuals for outstanding contributions to the accomplishment of the Department’s mission.
    January 21, 2009

  • Anthony Kandare, '01, has joined Plumsea Law Group LLC as an attorney in the firm's Bethesda, MD office. Kandare has considerable experience in patent prosecution, client counseling, and the preparation of patentability, validity and infringement opinions.
    March 20, 2009

  • Carol Romej, '01, a Butzel Long attorney and shareholder, was a featured speaker at a document retention and destruction seminar in Southfield, Mich. Her topic was "Modern Concepts in Data and Records Management."
    May 18, 2009

  • Bob Wolford, '01, was recognized as an "Up and Coming Lawyer" by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
    November 17, 2009

  • Sherry D. O'Neal, '01, a Dickinson Wright attorney, was recently named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly's list of "Up and Coming Lawyers."
    November 17, 2009

  • Homayune Ghaussi, '01, has been elected a partner of Warner, Norcross & Judd, LLP.
    December 8, 2009

  • Douglas Salzenstein, '01, a partner in Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn's Litigation Department, was named Young Activist of the Year by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Metropolitan Detroit.
    June 29, 2010

  • Christine L. Pfeiffer, '01, joined Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman, PC, as associate attorney.
    May 17, 2010

  • Brittany Schultz, '01, was named a 2010 Up and Coming Lawyer by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. Click here for more information.
    November 2, 2010

  • Derek W. Meinecke, '01, was named a 2010 Up and Coming Lawyer by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. Click here for more information.
    November 2, 2010

  • Homayune A. Ghaussi, '01, was named a 2010 Up and Coming Lawyer by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. Click here for more information.
    November 2, 2010

  • Brandon K. BuckBrandon K. Buck, '01, has been named a shareholder at Maddin Hauser Wartell Roth and Heller PC. He concentrates his practice in the areas of business disputes, franchising, real estate, commercial and general litigation and creditor's rights law.
    January 18, 2011

  • Jeffrey J. ChappJeffrey J. Chapp, '01, was elected principal of Harness Dickey and Pierce PLC, a national intellectual property law firm. His practice includes preparing and prosecuting patents, trademarks and copyrights, as well as opinion and agreement consulting and preparation, in the aerospace, automotive, communication, computer, electrical, electronic and mechanical industries.
    January 31, 2011

  • Derek Meinecke, '01, recently was honored with the Courage to Lead Award by the Oakland County SAVE Task Force. He was featured in an Oakland Press article titled "Award honors those who help the vulnerable." Click here for the article.
    July 7, 2011

  • Gabriel Triculescu, '01, was featured in a Legal News article titled "Of two worlds: Immigration attorney strives to help people stay in their new country." Click here for the article.
    July 12, 2011

  • Steve WalmsleySteve Walmsley, '01, was quoted in a press release about the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office announcing plans to open three more regional offices (Dallas, Denver and Silicon Valley) besides the one in Detroit set to open July 13. Walmsley is a shareholder with Reising Ethington P.C., an intellectual property law firm with offices in both the Detroit and Dallas markets where new federal patent offices are opening. Reising Ethington was included in meetings with David Kappos, director of the USPTO, during the planning stages of the new Detroit office. "Having patent offices located in the same market as our Detroit and Dallas offices will provide valuable and tangible benefits for our clients," Walmsley said. "Our attorneys will be able to meet face-to-face with a patent examiner without having to spend an entire day going to Washington, D.C. This will save our clients time and money."
    July 9, 2012

  • Kara Tertzak LividiniKara Tertzak Lividini, '01, was named one of "30 in their Thirties 2012" by dbusiness (http://www.dbusiness.com/DBusiness/September-October-2012/30-in-Their-Thirties/). She is a member of Ford Motor Co.'s litigation team and president of the Downriver Bar Association. She also helped create the annual Purple Sport Coat Award in 2009 to honor her father, the late Judge Kaye Tertzag.
    October 9, 2012

  • Eric KocibaEric Kociba, '01, has joined Southfield-based Collins Einhorn Farrell & Ulanoff PC. Kociba represents businesses and individuals in litigation, including claims of product liability, business torts, contract disputes and corporate secrets. His experience is broad based, involving matters as diverse as the representation of a public utility against a multinational construction company, a cargo airline against an aircraft conversion facility and a property leasing company against a Tier 1 automotive supplier. Kociba also has experience as in-house counsel at two large companies, including a national fuel distributor with revenues of more than $1 billion. Additionally, he has litigated cases involving free speech, zoning regulations and noncompetition agreements.
    March 8, 2013

  • Elissa PintoElissa Pinto, '01, was elected shareholder at Butzel Long.Based in the firm's Detroit office, Pinto concentrates her practice on immigration law. She has focused her immigration practice on business immigration, and has gained extensive experience representing local, national and international companies in obtaining authorization for foreign national employees to work temporarily and permanently in the United States, through various work-authorized visa classifications - including H-1B, TN, L-1 and O-1 - and employment-based permanent residence processes, including Multinational Manager/Executive, Extraordinary Ability Alien and Outstanding Researcher and PERM Alien Labor Certifications.
    May 21, 2013

  • Russell Moy, '00, recently joined the Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA) as General Counsel and Senior Advisor to SURA's President. SURA is a consortium of over sixty universities and colleges, and through a joint venture with Computer Science Corporation, operates the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility for the U.S. Department of Energy. SURA also manages research initiatives in information technology, coastal research, and technology commercialization. He lives in Washington, DC.
    February 17, 2009

  • Matthew P. Allen, '00, was elected a principal by Miller Canfield. He is a business, IP, and criminal trial lawyer who has tried and arbitrated a wide variety of cases in a wide variety of venues, from tough criminal cases in the trenches of Detroit’s criminal courts to sophisticated, complex multimillion-dollar international intellectual property cases. He also is a skilled appellate lawyer who has handled a wide variety of appellate cases in the Michigan Court of Appeals, the Michigan Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit..
    February 10, 2009

  • Megan Cavanagh, '00, was announced as a shareholder for the Law Firm of Garan Lucow Miller. Cavanagh was named 2008 Super Lawyers "Rising Stars" by Michigan Super Lawyers for her work with insurance defense.
    February 9, 2009

  • Russell Moy, '00, recently joined the Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA) as General Counsel and Senior Advisor to SURA's President. SURA is a consortium of over 60 universities and colleges, and through a joint venture with Computer Science Corporation, operates the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility for the US Department of Energy. SURA also manages research initiatives in information technology, coastal research, and technology commercialization. He lives in Washington, D.C.
    February 3, 2009

  • Rebecca L. Weekley, '00, joined the Bloomfield Hills-based law firm Hertz Schram PC as an associate. She concentrates her practice in real estate law, specifically in the areas of litigation, construction, landlord-tenant and foreclosure litigation.
    November 13, 2008

  • Andrea Laginess Moody, '00, was featured in a Detroit Legal News story about how the support of her family and friends helped her to overcome the loss of her husband while working and taking care of her son.
    June 8, 2009

  • Nicole E. Wilinski, '00, recently joined Plunkett Cooney's Insurance Law Practice Group.
    November 24, 2009

  • Kevin Kalczynski, '00, of Barris, Sott, Denn & Driker, was named a "Future Star" in the 2010 edition of "Benchmark Litigation," an annual leading guide to America's top litigation firms and attorneys.
    December 14, 2009

  • Michelle P. Crockett, '00, a labor and employment lawyer and principal at Miller Canfield, is the new chair of the firm's "Women of Miller Canfield" legal and business network. In her new role, Crockett will lead the firm's more than 100 female lawyers in strengthening their internal, professional relationships with colleagues in all of Miller Canfield's 18 offices. She will also coordinate and foster building business relationships through external strategic business networking and educational events.
    February 17, 2010

  • Matthew AllenMatthew Allen, '00, a principal and business and securities lawyer with Miller Canfield's Litigation and Trial Group, recently published an analysis of new interpretations of corporate proxy and disclosure rules by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in an article titled, "SEC Opens the Door for Climate Change-Related Shareholder Proposals and Disclosure Requirements, With Potential New Liabilities for Public Companies," published in the prestigious Bureau of National Affairs' (BNA) Securities Regulation & Law Report.
    March 8, 2010

  • Matthew P. AllenMatthew P. Allen, '00, Miller Canfield principal, was published in The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law's Entrepreneurial Business Law Journal (Vol. 5, No. 1, 2010) for his article, "A Lesson from History, Roosevelt to Obama - The Evolution of Broker-Dealer Regulation: From Self-Regulation, Arbitration, and Suitability to Federal Regulation, Litigation, and Fiduciary Duty."
    August 18, 2010

  • Michael Hamblin, '00, gave a presentation titled "New Developments in Taxability of Attendant Care and Other PI Claims" at the 2010 Michigan Association for Justice (MAJ) No-Fault Institute.
    September 10, 2010

  • Michelle P. Crockett Michelle P. Crockett , '00, of Miller Canfield, has been honored by the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association (DMBA) with the President's Award. The President's Award is granted to a young attorney whose early career has exhibited high standards of service to the profession, clients and public.
    October 27, 2010

  • Christopher Darrow, '00, was selected as a Top Lawyer in intellectual property law by DBusiness magazine.  
    November 24, 2010

  • Nicole E. WilinskiNicole E. Wilinski, '00, Plunkett Cooney insurance coverage attorney, was recently named an "Up & Coming Lawyers" by Michigan Lawyers Weekly, a publication serving the state's legal community.
    December 21, 2010

  • Todd C. Fracassi, '00, has been elected as a partner at Pepper Hamilton. He is a member of the Environmental Practice Group in the Detroit office. He also is a member of the firm's Sustainability, CleanTech and Climate Change Team. Fracassi is engaged primarily in matters of environmental litigation and regulatory affairs, and corporate environmental counseling.  
    January 5, 2011

  • Celeste M. WolfeCeleste M. Wolfe, '00, has been elected a shareholder of the law firm of Giarmarco Mullins and Horton PC. She is in the firm's litigation department where she concentrates her practice in family law and litigation.
    February 9, 2011

  • Matthew P. AllenMatthew P. Allen, '00, recently co-authored, "The New Form ADV Part 2 and the 'Plain English' Movement of the SEC, FINRA, and Michigan's OFIR," in the Spring 2011 Michigan Business Law Journal. The article examines the changes to Part 2 of the Form ADV by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC). Allen is a Miller Canfield business, securities, and intellectual property litigator and trial lawyer who assists businesses, executives, broker dealers, and investment advisers in an array of SEC, FINRA, OFIR and other governmental-related inquiries, examinations, investigations and enforcement actions. He is co-chairman of the Broker Dealer and Investment Adviser sub-committee of the ABA Securities Litigation Committee.    
    May 5, 2011

  • Matthew P. AllenMatthew P. Allen, '00, a principal in the Troy, Mich. office of the law firm of Miller Canfield, recently presented on "Economic Espionage - Protecting Your Intellectual Property Worldwide," along with the FBI Detroit Division.
    July 6, 2011

  • Lisa HamamehLisa Hamameh, '00, this year's recipient of the Oakland County Bar Association's Frances R. Avadenka Memorial Award, was featured in a Detroit Legal News article titled "Community servant receives coveted award from the bar." Hamameh is recognized for her commitment to providing an affordable path for regular working class people to improve their lot in life. Click here for the article.    
    July 6, 2011

  • Dawn Reamer, '00, recently joined Aisin Holdings of America Inc. as its company attorney.
    July 15, 2011

  • Jim Harlan, '00, recently became general counsel of Xtera Communications Inc. in Allen, Texas.
    August 2, 2011

  • Thomas P. BruetschThomas P. Bruetsch, '00, an attorney at Bodman PLC, was recognized in the just-released 2012 edition of Benchmark Litigation, a guide to America’s leading litigation firms and attorneys for his commercial litigation work. Benchmark honors law firms and individual attorneys who received particularly strong endorsements from clients and peers in an exhaustive annual research survey.
    December 13, 2011

  • Christopher G. DarrowChristopher G. Darrow, '00, a patent attorney and partner with Young Basile Hanlon and MacFarlane PC, was named a "Rising Star" in intellectual property litigation by Super Lawyer magazine.
    January 3, 2012

  • Adam KutinskyAdam Kutinsky, '00, co-wrote an article with Sarah Barbantini titled "The uniqueness of professional-liability policies" for the Feb. 17 issue of Michigan Lawyers Weekly. Kutinsky is a principal at Kitch Drutchas Wagner Valitutti and Sherbrook with the Commercial Litigation group; Barbantini, a third year student at Wayne Law, is a law clerk on his team.
    February 28, 2012

  • Monica MooreMonica Moore, '00, senior attorney at Detroit-based employment law firm Nemeth Burwell PC, has been named one of the Michigan Chronicle's Women of Excellence for 2012.
    March 8, 2012

  • Kevin KalczynskiKevin Kalczynski, '00, was appointed to the State Bar of Michigan Professional Ethics Committee for a three-year term beginning October 2012. Kalczynski also was appointed to the Board of Directors for Boys Hope Girls Hope of Michigan Inc., and was named a 2012 "Future Star" by Benchmark Litigation and a 2012 "Rising Star" by Super Lawyers magazine. His practice is concentrated in business litigation, representing plaintiffs and defendants in business tort and breach of contract matters. He is a member with Detroit law firm Barris Sott Denn & Driker PLLC.
    September 17, 2012

  • Kevin KalczynskiKevin Kalczynski, '00, was selected for inclusion in "The Best Lawyers in America 2013" for excellence in commercial litigation. He is a member with Barris Sott Denn & Driker PLLC.
    October 8, 2012

  • Celeste DunnCeleste Dunn, '00, was awarded "Rising Star" status by Michigan Super Lawyers magazine. A senior attorney in the Litigation Department at Plunkett Cooney, she focuses her practice in the areas of family law and domestic relations.
    November 7, 2012

  • Dawn ReamerDawn Reamer, '00, will represent parents and guardians of individuals with disabilities through her new appointment  to the Michigan Statewide Independent Living Council.  She is a company attorney for Aisin Holdings of America Inc. She previously worked as a staff attorney and as corporate counsel for Yazaki North America Inc.
    January 5, 2013

  • Kevin KalczynskiKevin Kalczynski, '00, has been named to L. Brooks Patterson's Elite 40 Under 40 Class of 2013. The program recognizes 40 professional and executive leaders under age 40 who have achieved success and excellence in their field and community and who live or work in Oakland County. Kalczysnki, a member with Detroit law firm Barris Sott, Denn & Driker PLLC, will be honored at an awards ceremony on April 23, 2013. Kalczynski's  practice focuses on complex commercial disputes representing both plaintiffs and defendants in contract and business tort matters. He also routinely represents major law firms in legal malpractice matters. Kevin was recently appointed to the Board of Directors for Boys Hope Girls Hope of Michigan Inc.
    February 12, 2013

  • Matthew AllenMatthew Allen, '00, co-presented at the Winter Meeting of the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel on Joint Defense Agreements: Benefits, Pitfalls and Best Practices.  A principal at Miller Canfield, Allen is a business, securities, and intellectual property litigator and trial lawyer who has tried and arbitrated a wide variety of intellectual property, securities, and business disputes in a wide array of forums.  His significant intellectual property litigation experience includes representing companies in international corporate espionage investigations and prosecutions, and in national and international IP litigation and arbitration.
    February 15, 2013

  • Michelle CrockettMichelle Crockett, '00, was named Diversity Director at Miller Canfield, where she is a principal and practices labor and employment law. She also serves on the board of Alternatives for Girls, a Detroit-based organization focused on helping at-risk girls lead better lives. Crockett was the subject of a March 20 feature story in the Detroit Legal News.
    March 20, 2013

  • Brian FrasierBrian Frasier, '00, was added as global marketing communications coordinator in the Detroit office of Miller Canfield. Frasier came to Miller Canfield from Michigan Lawyers Weekly where he was a legal reporter covering the Michigan Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. In 2012, he won the Sam Spencer Excellence in Journalism award for his analysis of Michigan's six 2012 ballot initiatives. A licensed Michigan attorney, Frasier brings a unique perspective gained through seven years of litigation experience, as well.
    March 24, 2013

  • Lisa HamamehLisa Hamameh, '00, joined Foster Swift's Farmington Hills office as a senior attorney. She is a member of the firm's Administrative and Municipal practice group. Hamameh brings more than 10 years of experience practicing law in the following areas: municipal law, land use and zoning, liquor license acquisition and transfers, appeals and violation defense. landlord-tenant and summary proceedings, real estate litigation, criminal prosecution and defense, homeowners and condominium association representation. She is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, Oakland County Bar Association, Macomb County Bar Association, American Bar Association and Arab American Bar Association. Hamameh is also a member of the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys; American Institute of Architects; Sterling Heights, Shelby, Utica Chamber of Commerce; and the American Arab Chamber of Commerce. Hamameh is a contributing co-author in the following Institute of Continuing Legal Education Publications: Michigan Municipal Law 2012 and Michigan Criminal Procedure 2010. In 2011, she received Oakland County Bar Association's Frances Avadenka Memorial Award for significant contributions to the community beyond the legal profession. She has also been included as a "Michigan Rising Star" by Michigan Super Lawyers for 2011 and 2012.  
    May 8, 2013

  • Brent N. Bateman, '99, was named one of the 2009 Utah Legal Elite by Utah Business Magazine. Brent is the Lead Attorney in the Utah Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman.
    February 9, 2009

  • Mark A. Frentrup, '99, has been elected a principal of Harness, Dickey, & Pierce PLC. His practice includes patent searching and opinions relating to patentability, infringement, and freedom to practice, as well as preparation and prosecution of patent applications in a wide variety of chemical and mechanical arts, with a specialty in organic and polymer chemistry.
    February 9, 2009

  • Thomas A. Kabel, '99, led a roundtable discussion during the ICSC 2009 Michigan Continuing Education program for Real Estate Professionals on April 29, 2009, in Novi, Mich.
    June 8, 2009

  • Michael Gibbs, '99, who serves as vice president and general counsel of Whataburger, is pleased to announce that Whataburger has recently moved its corporate headquarters from Corpus Christi, Texas, to San Antonio, Texas, to better manage its 700-plus restaurants and $1.2 billion in system wide sales. Gibbs oversees all the corporate governance, litigation, contracts, employment and intellectual property matters, as well as assists in the management of franchising activities. He and his wife are raising their two sons, 9 and 7, as young Texans.
    August 18, 2009

  • Todd Holleman, '99, a principal with Miller Canfield, will serve a third term (2009-2010) as co-chair of the Appellate Practice Committee for the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Litigation.
    November 17, 2009

  • Theodore Nittis, '99, was recently hired by Oswald Companies in its fast-growing Lawyers Professional Liability practice. He will counsel clients on risk management, program placement, and serve as lead claims advocate with insurance underwriters and carriers.
    January 19, 2010

  • Jeffrey D. Moss, '99, Butzel Long attorney and shareholder, published a substantial guest article that appears in the January/February 2010 edition of Probate & Property magazine, a national publication of the American Bar Association (ABA). The title of the article is "Solar Panels, Tax Incentives and Your House."
    January 19, 2010

  • Jeffrey D. Moss, '99, was named a shareholder with Butzel Long. Previously, Moss was a senior attorney with the firm. He has significant transactional experience with a special emphasis on tax planning. As tax issues arise in many different types of transactions and situations, Moss has worked with corporations, limited liability companies, entrepreneurs, physicians and real estate developers to achieve their business and tax goals. His experience and services include mergers and acquisitions, international tax planning, choice of entity and tax-advantaged structures, including joint ventures and other reorganizations.
    March 26, 2010

  • Stephanie Hoos, '99, recently became corporate counsel to Barry Diller's media and Internet company, IAC/InterActive Corp (Mindspark) in New York City.  
    July 12, 2010

  • David M. LaPrairieDavid M. LaPrairie, '99, of Howard and Howard Attorneys PLLC, was named to DBusiness Top Lawyers 2011. Attorneys were selected through a process that included a peer review survey that polled more than 15,000 private attorneys in Oakland, Wayne, Macomb, Washtenaw and Livingston counties. 
    November 16, 2010

  • David MichaelDavid Michael, '99, has been named an associate attorney at Maddin Hauser Wartell Roth and Heller PC, a Southfield, Michigan-based law firm. Michael practices in the areas of business, commercial and real estate litigation, with a concentration in banking and mortgage-lender litigation. He is a board member of the Wayne Law Alumni Association.
    December 6, 2010

  • Eric D. CarlsonEric D. Carlson, '99, has been elected principal of the law firm of Miller Canfield. Carlson specializes in all types of commercial matters including contract negotiation, litigation and insolvency issues.
    January 26, 2011

  • Jeffrey D. MossJeffrey D. Moss, '99, LL.M., joined Dawda Mann PLC as a member, practicing in the areas of tax law, business and medical transactions, estate planning and tax-exempt nonprofit matters. Moss counsels companies and their owners, individuals, fiduciaries and beneficiaries regarding tax planning, succession planning and compliance. ABA Property and Probate magazine named Moss' January 2010 article, "Solar Panels, Tax Incentives and Your House," the Best Cutting Edge Article of 2010. Moss was also named a Top Lawyer by DBusiness magazine for 2011 in the areas of tax law and nonprofit/charities law.  
    April 19, 2011

  • Charles PhoenixCharles Phoenix, '99, of Phoenix Law, was named a 2011 executive cabinet member for the American Heart Association in Lee County, Fla. He also recently received a "Superb 10 Ranking" among AVVO highest rated lawyers from Martindale-Hubbell, and served as a 2011 Sponsor for the Sanibel-Captiva Baseball Little League and the American Cancer Society and American Heart Association Lee County Heart Walk.
    July 27, 2011

  • David M. LaPrairieDavid M. LaPrairie, '99, of the law firm Howard and Howard, has been named to DBusiness Top Lawyers 2012.
    November 3, 2011

  • Kenneth PhillipsKenneth Phillips, '99, was hired as vice president and general counsel by Amerigon Inc., doing business as Gentherm, a developer of thermal management technologies.  He is responsible for managing all aspects of the company's regulatory compliance activities. From 1999 until joining Gentherm, Phillips was a partner in the Detroit office of Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP.
    July 31, 2012

  • Carrie Lynn Fuca, '98, recently joined the Fitch firm. Prior to joining Fitch, Fuca ran her own firm in Macomb County for five years. She has argued cases in the Michigan Court of Appeals and the Michigan Supreme Court.
    February 9, 2009

  • Mark D. Baker, '98, after serving in the U.S. Navy's JAGC for nearly 10 years, and reaching the rank of Lieutenant Commander, left active service last summer and transfered to the reserves. At that time he took a civilian position in Washington, D.C. as an Assistant Counsel to the Inspector General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. During his time in the Navy he was the senior prosecutor for Naval Station Everett, north of Seattle, Washington, the installation attorney for the Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base in Southeastern Georgia, a fleet attorney for the Atlantic Fleet, in Norfolk, Virginia, and an appellate legal clerk for the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals in Washington, D.C.
    February 3, 2009

  • Carrie Lynn Fuca, '98, has joined the Fitch firm in the Mt. Clemens office. She gained experience in the Wayne County Prosecutors office, working for another general practice firm, and as a Macomb County case evaluator. Prior to joining, Fuca ran her own firm in Macomb County for five years. She has argued cases in the Michigan Court of Appeals and the Michigan Supreme Court. Fuca also served as an executive board member of the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association, and ran for Macomb County Circuit Judge in 2006.
    February 8, 2009

  • Alexander G. Domenicucci, '98, a partner in Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP's Tax Department, was elected as chair of the State Bar of Michigan Taxation Section's Business Entities Committee. His term will last through 2010.
    December 1, 2009

  • Alexander G. Domenicucci, '98, partner with Honigman, Miller, Schwartz and Cohn, LLP, spoke at the 12th Annual Michigan Conference on Affordable Housing. His presentation was titled, "Top Ten Tax issues in Structuring Low-Income Housing Credit Transactions."
    May 17, 2010

  • Stephen L. Tupper, '98, a member of Dykema's corporate finance practice group and leader of the firm's privacy, data secruity and e-commerce practice and the aviation transactions and finance team, was included in the 2011 edition of Best Lawyers in America.
    September 2, 2010

  • Alexander G. DomenicucciAlexander G. Domenicucci, '98, of Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP, recently moderated an Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) panel titled "Successfully Handling Partnership Tax Issues."
    October 8, 2010

  • Julie NicholsJulie Nichols, '98, was hired by Southfield-based Collins Einhorn Farrell and Ulanoff PC. Nichols devotes a significant portion of her practice to insurance coverage matters and provides advice to clients with respect to coverage opinions, coverage analysis and the litigation of declaratory actions involving issues of insurance coverage with respect to commercial liability, automobile, homeowners and employment policies.
    June 2, 2011

  • George V. Cassar, Jr.George V. Cassar, Jr., '98, a shareholder at Southfield-based Maddin Hauser Wartell Roth and Heller PC, has been selected to serve on the board of directors for Legatus and The Judson Center. Both terms are for two years.
    February 27, 2012

  • J. Matthew SerraJ. Matthew Serra, '98, was named executive director of Faculty Personnel Services at Central Michigan University. Operations of FPS include personnel functions and contract administration for CMU's tenure-eligible faculty, fixed-term faculty and graduate assistant employee groups.
    March 6, 2012

  • D. Lee KhachaturianD. Lee Khachaturian, '98, was listed in Best Lawyers in America and Michigan Super Lawyers. Khachaturian is a member in Dickinson Wright PLLC's office in Detroit. She focuses her practice in the areas of commercial and business litigation, environmental, insurance and ERISA litigation, and labor and employment litigation.
     
    October 22, 2012

  • Mary Margaret O'DonnellMary Margaret O'Donnell, '98, moved her expanding firm, Blue Filament Intellectual Property LLC, to a larger location at 450 N. Old Woodward in Birmingham. Founded in 2011 by O'Donnell, the firm specializes in intellectual property, including trademarks, copyrights, domain names, brand protection, brand management and enforcement, risk assessment, Trademark Trial and Appeal Board proceedings and dispute resolution. She has been recognized as a SuperLawyer Rising Star, a Michigan Lawyer's Weekly Up & Coming Attorney and a Crain's Detroit Business 40 Under 40 business leader. She received an LLM in intellectual property from the Universite Bordeaux IV in France, and is one of the five donors behind the creation of the Brass Ring Scholarship at Wayne Law. 
    November 1, 2012

  • Deborah BlairDeborah Blair, '98, was appointed by Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano to be the director of administration for the Wayne County Department of Public Services.  She has worked for Wayne County in various capacities since 1996.  She also was elected to serve as an alternate member to the Wayne County DIA Art Institute Authority Board.
    November 30, 2012

  • Kevin A. Smith, '97, was elected a principal by Miller Canfield. Smith represents municipal, governmental agency and private clients in evaluating, structuring and documenting a broad range of traditional and complex tax-exempt or taxable financings, including general obligation bonds, collateralized lease revenue bonds, general revenue bonds, private activity bonds, deficit funding and cash flow borrowings. His particular areas of expertise include traditional fixed rate, variable rate and multi-modal financing structures.
    February 10, 2009

  • Jeffrey C. Hicks, '97, was recently elected to the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce 2009 Board of Directors as Legal Counsel. Hicks is a partner with the Lansing firm of Hicks & Mullett, PLLC and practices extensively in real property and business law.
    February 9, 2009

  • Joseph B. Urban, '97, was recently admitted as a member of Clark Hill's Birmingham office, where he concentrates his practice in the areas of municipal finance, education law, and real estate law. Urban has represented Michigan school district and municipal clients, as well as private entities providing financing to these organizations for over a decade. He has extensive experience in municipal and school finance, regularly serving as bond and underwriter's counsel for school districts, public school academies, and other governmental units as well as counseling them in the acquisition and disposition of real property.
    February 7, 2009

  • Jeffrey C. Hicks, '97, was recently elected to a four year term on the Delta Township Board of Trustees. He previously served on and chaired the Delta Township Zoning Board of Appeals. Hicks is a partner with the Lansing firm of Hicks & Mullett, PLLC and practices extensively in real property and business law.
    November 18, 2008

  • George V. Cassar Jr., '97, shareholder at the Southfield-based law firm of Maddin, Hauser, Wartell, Roth and Heller, PC, has been selected by Inforum to serve on its Finance Committee.    
    June 1, 2009

  • Jason Bank, '97, has joined Kerr, Russell and Weber, PLC as a member of the firm, leading the firm's bankruptcy and restructuring practice.
    July 7, 2009

  • Jeffrey C. Hicks, '97, of the Lansing law firm, Hicks & Mullett, PLLC, was recently elected President of The Rotary Club of Lansing Foundation. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that exists to raise funds for the awarding of grants to support the charitable endeavors of the Rotary Club of Lansing.
    July 7, 2009

  • Robert P. Tiplady II, '97, of Dykema, was listed in the 2010 Best Lawyers in America guide. He practices in the areas of estate planning and probate, including wills, trust agreements, powers of attorney, probate and trust administration, probate litigation, and gift, estate and generation skipping transfer tax planning.  Tiplady has substantial experience advising fiduciaries and beneficiaries in contested and uncontested probate matters.
    August 28, 2009

  • Pete N. Kiousis, '97, has joined the Bloomfield Hills office of Rader, Fishman & Grauer, PLLC, a leading national intellectual property law firm, as an of counsel attorney.
    December 18, 2009

  • Jeffrey C. HicksJeffrey C. Hicks, '97, a partner with the Lansing firm Hicks & Mullett, PLLC, was recently elected to the 2010 Board of Directors of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce. He will serve on the Executive Committee as Legal Counsel.  Hicks was also recently appointed to a three-year term on the Ingham Regional Healthcare Foundation of Ingham Regional Medical Center. He practices extensively in the areas of real property and business law.
    December 22, 2009

  • George V. Cassar Jr.George V. Cassar Jr., '97, of Southfield-based Maddin, Hauser, Wartell, Roth and Heller PC, has been named to the Board of Directors of Don Bosco Hall. Don Bosco Hall (www.donboscohall.org) is a Detroit-based, non-profit agency that provides supportive human services to enhance the quality of life for youth and their families residing in the metropolitan Detroit-Wayne County community. In his position he will be involved with the organization's social media initiatives and in gathering financial and non-financial support for Don Bosco Hall and the many activities it supports. Cassar focuses his practice in the areas of estate and business succession planning, taxation and probate.  
    February 3, 2010

  • Sue NolanSue Nolan, '97, recently had an article published in the ABA Health Lawyer
    February 19, 2010

  • Jeffrey C. HicksJeffrey C. Hicks, '97, of the Lansing firm Hicks & Mullett, PLLC recently received the prestigious Community Service Award from the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce at its 2010 Annual Dinner. The award is given annually to recognize outstanding individuals of sound moral character who give of their time and expertise to make Lansing a better community and serve as an inspiration to the community and a credit to their business or profession. Hicks was also recently appointed to serve on the Michigan Municipal League's Legislative Governance Committee and the Land Use and Economic Development Committee. Hicks practices extensively in the areas of real property and business law.
    March 3, 2010

  • George CassarGeorge Cassar, '97, an attorney with Southfield-based Maddin, Hauser, Wartell, Roth & Heller, P.C., was recently selected to the board of directors for the Miracle League of Plymouth.
    April 8, 2010

  • Jeffrey C. HicksJeffrey C. Hicks, '97, managing partner of the Lansing firm Hicks & Mullett, PLLC, was recently elected to the National Executive Board of the Michigan State University Alumni Association. He previously served two years on the Association's Advisory Council. Hicks practices extensively in the areas of real property and business law.
    May 18, 2010

  • Eric T. CarverEric T. Carver, '97, LL.M., of Dykema, was ranked by his peers as a leader in trusts and estates in the 2010 edition of Best Lawyers in America.
    June 24, 2010

  • Eric T. CarverEric T. Carver, '97, an attorney with the Detroit office of Dykema, was included in the 2011 Best Lawyers of America guide.
    August 31, 2010

  • Suzanne D. Nolan, '97, co-authored an article in the Fall 2010 Michigan Medical Law Report titled "Watching the Bottom Line: How Health Care Practices Can Control Employee Health Insurance Costs."
    October 6, 2010

  • Eric T. CarverEric T. Carver, '97, LL.M., of Dykema, was elected secretary and treasurer of the Financial and Estate Planning Council of Metropolitan Detroit (FEPCMD), effective Jan. 1, 2011. Carver has served for the last five years on the FEPCMD's Board of Directors. He was elected unanimously to serve a one-year term for both offices. The election took place at the FEPCMD's Annual meeting on Nov. 9, 2010.  
    November 17, 2010

  • Steven J. EnwrightSteven J. Enwright, '97, and Andrey T. Tomkiw, '92, have formed Tomkiw Enwright PLC, a new law firm in Royal Oak, Mich., dedicated to providing personalized and strategic legal services to leading and emerging businesses. Tomkiw Enwright will focus on representing businesses in the areas of labor and employment law, complex litigation, business formation and planning, venture finance, entertainment/ media law and general corporate counsel.
    March 4, 2011

  • Veronica R. LeonardVeronica R. Leonard, '97, has formed Veronica R. Leonard PLLC. The firm concentrates its practice in all areas of family law (divorce, custody, child support and parenting time issues) as well as probate and estate planning. The firm, online at www.leonardfamilylaw.com, is located in Southfield, Mich.
    June 7, 2011

  • Jeffrey C. HicksJeffrey C. Hicks, '97, managing partner of the Lansing law firm Hicks and Mullett PLLC, was recently appointed to the Michigan Office of Regulatory Reinvention's Occupational Licensing Advisory Rules Committee. The Committee will assist the Office of Regulatory Reinvention in identifying duplicative, obsolete, unnecessary or unduly restrictive occupation licensing rules that are not conducive to Michigan's business growth and job creation. The committee will evaluate each of Michigan's 91 regulated occupations to determine whether the rules currently in place provide enough benefits to outweigh the cost to taxpayers. Hicks practices extensively in the areas of real property and business law.    
    August 5, 2011

  • Michael T. PriceMichael T. Price, '97, has joined the Southfield-based firm of Collins, Einhorn, Farrell and Ulanoff PC. Price focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation and employment litigation law.
    April 16, 2012

  • Cynthia HaffeyCynthia Haffey, '97, was named one of 20 awardees of Michigan Lawyer Weekly's Women in the Law 2012. She is with Butzel Long.
    July 30, 2012

  • Jeffrey HicksJeffrey Hicks, '97, was recently re-elected to the Delta Township Board as trustee.  Hicks practices extensively in the areas of real property and business law as a managing partner of Hicks & Mullett PLLC.
    November 29, 2012

  • Jeffrey HicksJeffrey Hicks, '97, was recently elected to the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.  He will serve on the Board's Executive Committee as general counsel.  He practices extensively in the areas of real property and business law as a managing partner of Hicks & Mullett PLLC in Lansing.
    January 9, 2013

  • Cynthia HaffeyCynthia Haffey, '97, was elected to a two-year term on the Board of Directors at Butzel Long. Haffey is a shareholder and vice president practicing in Butzel Long's Detroit office. She represents corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships in complex disputes involving a wide range of corporate and commercial matters. She regularly appears before the federal and state courts, as well as arbitration tribunals. She represents clients in cases involving commercial disputes and business litigation, including automotive supply chain disputes, shareholder, partner and owner disputes, corporate mergers, acquisitions and other transaction disputes, fraud and other business torts, sales commission disputes, non-compete agreements and trade secrets, real estate disputes, construction contract disputes, anti-trust, bankruptcy and securities litigation.  In addition, Haffey also has significant experience in advising and defending clients at trial and in arbitration in age, sex, and racial discrimination actions and other wrongful discharge claims. Haffey currently serves as the co-chair of the firm's Automotive Practice Group, chair of the firm's Women's Initiative Committee and a co-chair of the Federal Bar Association, Eastern District of Michigan Chapter's Social Justice Committee.
    March 29, 2013

  • Suzanne NolanSuzanne Nolan, '97, joined the Detroit office of Kitch Drutchas Wagner Valitutti & Sherbrook. Nolan has substantial experience and regularly performs legal services for healthcare providers and technology companies on a wide variety of transactional and regulatory compliance matters including entity formation, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, real estate, contracts and corporate governance. Combining these skills and experience, Nolan will devote a substantial portion of her practice to advising and assisting health care providers on the creation, protection and licensing of all types of intellectual property; the development, distribution, buying, selling and licensing of technology goods and services; and on health care information technology including the privacy and security of healthcare information.  
    May 8, 2013

  • Jeffrey HicksJeffrey Hicks, '97, joined Dart Container Corp. as assistant general counsel for Corporate Real Estate. Hicks has practiced extensively in the areas of real estate and business law for 15 years. He is a former managing partner of the Lansing firm Hicks & Mullett PLLC.
    May 9, 2013

  • Sherry O’Neal, '96, is a new member of the Dickinson Wright PLLC firm. O’Neal focuses her expertise in commercial and business litigation, labor and employment relations, ERISA litigation.
    February 9, 2009

  • Michael Socha, '96, has recently become a member of the Dickinson Wright PLLC firm. He focuses his practice in commercial, business and product liability litigation.
    February 9, 2009

  • Steven Tyshka, '96, joined Lutheran Social Services of Michigan as vice president of services for senior adults. Tyshka will oversee operation of three senior retirement communities, three freestanding skilled nursing facilities including Luther Manor in Saginaw, 15 subsidized apartment complexes and a home care program. He previously worked for Sunrise Senior Living in southeast Michigan.
    March 4, 2009

  • Norman Richards, '96, has joined the Farmington Hills office of Foster, Swift, Collins, and Smith PC as a shareholder. Richards is a leading attorney in the areas of estate planning (wills, trusts and powers of attorney), estate taxes, elder law and disability planning, probate and trust administration, real estate, and business formation and succession planning. He volunteers as a legal advisor to seniors through the Farmington Hills Costick Center. He is a frequent lecturer with organizations such as the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Lorman Education Services, the Alzheimer’s Association of Southeast Michigan and private interest groups.
    December 1, 2008

  • Matthew Schenk, '96, has been named by Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano as new chief of staff and assistant deputy CEO. Schenk, who most recently served as an assistant Wayne County executive, is replacing Nancy Mouradian and William Wolfson.
    March 27, 2009

  • Abby Pendleton, '96, co-founded the Health Law Partners, PC, a boutique firm specializing in healthcare law in Southfield, Mich., with Rob Iwrey, '93, Adrienne Dresevic, '02, and Jessica Gustafson, '05.
    June 18, 2009

  • Stephen T. Portell, '96, has joined the Tucson-based office of Haralson, Miller, Pitt, Feldman & McAnally PLC. Portell's practice includes automotive and heavy equipment product liability, drug and medical device, insurance coverage, class-action and business litigation. He is admitted to practice law in Arizona state courts and the U.S. District Court for Arizona, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. Prior to joining the firm, Portell was an equity partner with Quarles & Brady LLP and an associate with Snell & Wilmer LLP. Portell graduated summa cum laude from the University of Detroit. He is former president of the Pima County Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division and currently serves on the Arizona Supreme Court's Judicial Performance Review Commission and as a special magistrate for the Tucson City Court.
    October 23, 2009

  • Chris Bzdok, '96, a principal with Olson, Bzdok & Howard, PC, was elected Mayor of Traverse City.
    November 23, 2009

  • Marcy Ford, '96, EVP and managing partner of Trott & Trott PC's Bankruptcy and Foreclosure First Legal Department, has been recognized in the 16th edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Trott was one of only two attorneys in the state of Michigan recognized for the practice of mortgage banking foreclosure law.
    January 26, 2010

  • John P. GonwayJohn P. Gonway, '96, a shareholder at Maddin, Hauser, Wartell, Roth & Heller P.C., a Southfield, Michigan-based law firm, is the director of advocacy for the Michigan Mountain Biking Association (MMBA).  
    March 17, 2010

  • John P. GonwayJohn P. Gonway, '96, a shareholder at Maddin, Hauser, Wartell, Roth & Heller P.C., a Southfield-based law firm, has been appointed to the Snowmobile and Trails Advisory Council by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm.
    April 8, 2010

  • Julian C. Swearengin, '96, has left the litigation department of Bank of America Merrill Lynch and has been elected principal and named associate general counsel at Bessemer Trust. He has also joined the adjunct faculty at New York Law School where he will be teaching courses on securities litigation and government investigations.
    July 16, 2010

  • Michelle D. Bayer, '96, co-authored an article in the Fall 2010 Michigan Medical Law Report titled "On the Hot Seat: Handling Hospital Investigations and Other Privileging Disputes."
    October 6, 2010

  • Carol Parker Carol Parker , '96, was selected by the American Council on Education to participate in its 2012-2013 Fellows Program. Parker currently serves as Associate Dean for Finance and Administration at the University of New Mexico School of Law.
    April 6, 2012

  • Marcy FordMarcy Ford, '96, was the subject of a feature story in the Washtenaw County Legal News for being named president of the USFN, formerly known as the U.S. Foreclosure Network. Ford is a partner and executive vice president of Trott & Trott in Farmington Hills.
    November 5, 2012

  • Abby PendletonAbby Pendleton, '96, was featured in a Motion Magazine story titled "In Good Health: Partners find their niche in legal field." She is a co-founder of The Health Law Partners legal firm.
    December 5, 2012

  • Jodi Munn SchebelJodi Munn Schebel, '96, was elected as a member of Dickinson Wright PLLC. She focuses her practice on the areas of commercial and business litigation, insurance, and product liability and personal injury. Schebel is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, the Defense Research Institute and the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association. She is also a speaker and author, writing the chapter on "Dismissals and Defaults" for the book, "Michigan Civil Procedure."
    January 11, 2013

  • Joseph GustavusJoseph Gustavus, '96, was slated as a speaker at the American Conference Institute's 7th annual National Exports Control Forum on International Technology Transfers and Deemed Export Compliance, Jan. 28-29 in San Francisco. Gustavus will serve as a panel member on "Monitoring Technology Transfer and Deemed Export Compliance by Foreign Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Parents and Joint Ventures." Gustavus is a corporate attorney with Miller Canfield representing multinational clients and clients primarily in the automotive, defense, aerospace, software and information technology sectors.  He counsels and assists clients with their complex domestic and international acquisitions and commercial transactions, ITAR and export control compliance issues, corporate governance and with building, demonstrating, and protecting the value of their intellectual property rights. He is also a certified public accountant.
    January 15, 2013

  • Rebecca SczepanskiRebecca Sczepanski, '96, joined HunterMaclean, a leading business law firm with offices in Savannah and Brunswick (Georgia), as of counsel with the firm's ERISA and Employee Benefits Practice Group. An accomplished attorney and C.P.A., Sczepanski brings extensive experience advising for-profit and non-profit clients on ERISA and employee benefits issues including qualified plans, welfare plans, investment policy statements and fiduciary responsibilities, IRS submissions and Department of Labor audits and investigations. Before joining HunterMaclean, Sczepanski served as senior counsel at the law firm of Ice Miller LLP in Indianapolis, Ind., and as general counsel for Employee Health Insurance Management Inc. in Southfield.    
    April 22, 2013

  • Sara KruseSara Kruse, '96, was named co-practice group coordinator for Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss PC's  Emerging and Growth Business Practice Group. Kruse, a partner with the firm, has developed a robust practice in guiding her clients through large corporate transactions, where she represents both private and public companies in all aspects of their legal needs - from formation to equity financing to acquisition. Kruse is also a member of the Corporate and Securities and Regulations Practice Groups at the firm. She is also a long-standing and active member of Jaffe's Women's Caucus Group, which was recently awarded the Inaugural Women's Resource Center Award by the Michigan Women's Foundation. She has represented several clients in complex business transactions that have received Crain's Detroit Business Merger & Acquisition awards, including multiple ‘Deal of the Year' recognitions.  
    May 17, 2013

  • Gerald J. Gleeson II, '95, was elected a principal by Miller Canfield. He specializes in criminal and civil litigation. He has handled cases in federal court and various courts across Michigan and has personally tried more than 180 jury trials to verdict. He is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association Board of Directors, where he is chair of the Criminal Committee.
    February 10, 2009

  • Humma S. Siddiqi, '95, was recently elected to membership of Dykema. Siddiqi's practice focuses on automotive, toxic tort and other general litigation matters.
    February 9, 2009

  • James J. Boutrous II, '95, joined the Detroit Office of McDonald Hopkins' Labor and Employment Counseling and Litigation Practice, which specializes in representing management in all aspects of labor and employment law at both the state and federal level. Boutrous has extensive non-compete and trade secret experience, which includes counseling, auditing, and drafting agreements. Boutrous's national practice involves both prosecuting and defending employers in non-competition and trade secret litigation, with significant injunction hearing experience. He is a member of the Non-Compete/Trade Secrets Subcommittee of the American Bar Association's Labor and Employment Law Section. Boutrous is also a skilled employment litigator, with trial experience in employment discrimination matters, defending employers in labor arbitrations, as well as labor and employment counseling.
    He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1992 from the University of Notre Dame.
    October 23, 2009

  • Gerry Gleason, '95, a Miller Canfield principal, served as moderator for the Oakland County Bar Association's Seminar "Preservation of Electronic Evidence, e-Discovery: No Longer an Option -- It's a Rule, So Now What?"
    November 17, 2009

  • Dwight K. Hamilton, '95, was named the new assistant vice president for Affirmative Action at Grand Valley. He will start his new job at Grand Valley on Jan. 7, 2010. 
    December 15, 2009

  • William D. Adams, '95, has been named partner at Southfield-based Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer and Weiss, PC. Adams is a member of the firm's Litigation Practice Group. He primarily supports the firm's Aviation Practice Group, specializing in aircraft-related litigation both in Michigan and nationwide.
    February 23, 2010

  • Antoinette M. Pilzner, '95, has joined the Detroit office of McDonald Hopkins LLC as a member in the firm's national Employee Benefits and Labor and Employment Counseling and Litigation Practice Groups, which provide legal services to a diverse group of clients throughout the United States. Pilzner, who has 15 years of experience advising clients in the areas of ERISA, employee benefits and executive compensation, is also a certified public accountant.
    February 28, 2010

  • Joseph J. DeVitoJoseph J. DeVito, '95, LL.M. 2005, of Howard and Howard Attorneys PLLC, was named to DBusiness Top Lawyers 2011. Attorneys were selected through a process that included a peer review survey that polled more than 15,000 private attorneys in Oakland, Wayne, Macomb, Washtenaw and Livingston counties. 
    November 16, 2010

  • Bradley E. Lerner, '95, recently joined the legal department of ValueOptions, Inc. the largest privately-owned behavioral health maintenance organization (BHMO) in the United States. ValueOptions provides behavioral healthcare management to Fortune 500 companies, national and regional health plans, and federal, state, and local governments. Brad formerly worked at the Federal Communications Commission and Cavalier Telephone, LLC. In his position, Brad will be monitoring health care legislation for executive leadership.
    January 3, 2011

  • Monica D. Moons, '95, of Couzens Lansky of Farmington Hills, was chosen as a 2011 FIVE STAR Wealth Manager. She is part of a select group, representing less than 7 percent of wealth managers in the Detroit metropolitan area. The award is based on survey results from thousands of consumers and other financial services professionals.
    August 16, 2011

  • Joseph J. DeVitoJoseph J. DeVito, '95, LL.M. '05, of the law firm Howard and Howard, has been named to DBusiness Top Lawyers 2012.
    November 3, 2011

  • Joseph J. DeVitoJoseph J. DeVito, '95, , LL.M., '05, an attorney with Howard and Howard Attorneys PLLC, has been named chair of the firm's Corporate Practice Group.
    March 6, 2012

  • David NykanenDavid Nykanen, '95, formed, with Michael Dorfman, a full-service law fim, Nykanen Dorfman PLLC, in Farmington Hills specializing in real estate, litigation, property tax and business issues. He was featured in the Macomb County Legal News.
    September 6, 2012

  • Rebecca DaviesRebecca Davies, '95, was scheduled as a featured speaker for an Oct. 21-23 panel presentation at the North American Transportation Employee Relations Association's 26th annual conference in Florida. She is a board member of NATERA and a shareholder with Butzel Long. Davies concentrates her practice primarily in the areas of employment law and commercial litigation, and counsels employers regarding compliance under federal and state employment laws, drafts policies and procedures, and advises on preventative strategies.
    September 11, 2012

  • Sean CookSean Cook, '95, joined the law firm of Warner Norcross & Judd LLP as a partner. Cook, who is also a certified public accountant, concentrates his practice in corporate and individual tax, estate planning, commercial law and mergers and acquisitions. He has extensive experience with transactions, including business formation, stock and asset sales, tax free reorganizations and related issues.
    January 10, 2013