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Benjamin Glazebrook '06
a Partner at the Detroit office of Plunkett Cooney, was recently elected to the board of directors of the Detroit Bar Association. In this role, Glazebrook will provide strategic leadership to achieve the Detroit Bar’s goals and objectives. He will also focus on identifying new members and developing opportunities with strategic partners.
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Hon. Chandra W Baker-Robinson '03
a Wayne County Third Circuit Court Judge, has recently joined the Board of the Wayne County Jail Outreach Ministry (WCJOM). WCJOM is a non-profit organization with 501(c)3 status that offers interfaith religious services for inmates at the Wayne County Jail, catering to individuals of all denominations. Additionally, the ministry extends support to returning citizens by providing clothing, food, job placement, mentoring, as well as free medical and dental services.
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Jeffrey Schroder '01
a Partner at the Bloomfield Hills office of Plunkett Cooney, was recently named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly's 2024 list of Go-To Lawyers for Cannabis Law in Michigan. With prior experience as a Michigan Assistant Attorney General and Assistant City Attorney in Warren, Schroder specializes in assisting clients with securing and renewing cannabis business licenses, acquiring operational facilities, and navigating complex regulatory compliance in Michigan.
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Erika Riggs '11
partner at Disability Law Group, received the 2024 Champion of Justice Award from the State Bar of Michigan. This prestigious honor recognizes Attorney Riggs for her exceptional professional excellence and dedication to justice. The award is reserved for legal professionals who demonstrate integrity, superior competence, and extraordinary contributions to their community.
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Courtney Lavender '21
recently joined the Appellate Law Practice Group of Plunkett Cooney. Lavender, who is a member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, focuses her appellate practice in the areas of commercial litigation, governmental law, first- and third-party motor vehicle negligence and insurance coverage disputes. She also has litigation experience defending No-Fault and third-party claims, as well as premises liability, pet liability and defamation matters.
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Shanika Owens '17
an Associate at Butzel, was awarded the Detroit Bar Association Pro Bono Service Award. The award is given to attorneys who demonstrate above and beyond pro bono legal service to the community. Recipients are also recognized by members of the Third Circuit Court Judges and Staff.
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Kameshia Gant '04
A Oakland County Circuit Court Judge, received the Joan Young Judicial Excellence Award from the Women's Bar Association-Oakland Region of WLAM at their Annual Meeting held on May 2, 2024.
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Cloie Chidiac '22
has recently become a member of the Torts & Litigation Practice Group at Plunkett Cooney. In her role, she brings a wealth of experience across various litigation domains, including general liability, insurance law, employment liability, premises liability, family law, commercial litigation, and motor vehicle liability.
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Kim Yapchai '93
has assumed the role of Chief Legal Officer at Teichert, Inc., one of California's longest-standing construction companies. In addition to her professional responsibilities, she actively engages with DirectWomen, an organization dedicated to enhancing the presence of women lawyers on corporate boards. Kim serves on the DirectWomen board and co-chairs the International Committee, leveraging her experience as an alumna of their Board Institute. With a distinguished 30-year career in-house, Kim has held significant roles in Fortune 200 companies, including her recent tenures at Tenneco and Whirlpool.
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Michael Khoury '82
a Partner at FisherBroyles, LLP, was honored with the 17th annual Stephen H. Schulman Outstanding Business Lawyer Award by the State Bar of Michigan’s Business Law Section. This prestigious award recognizes Michigan business lawyers who consistently demonstrate the highest standards of professionalism, practice excellence, and a steadfast commitment to service, ethical conduct, and collegiality within the legal profession. Michael's continued recognition includes listings in Best Lawyers, SuperLawyers, and dBusiness Top Lawyers.
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Michael Cassar '17
recently elected as a shareholder at Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC, specializes in workers' compensation defense within the firm's Employer Services group. With a focus on representing employers, insurance carriers, and third-party administrators across Michigan, Cassar offers comprehensive legal counsel in workers’ compensation matters. Additionally, he advises employers of all sizes on workplace safety and employment law issues.
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Scott Hill '03
has been re-elected as Executive Partner of Varnum LLP. As a member of the Corporate Practice Team, Scott specializes in business representation, including transactions, planning, and counseling. His expertise extends to navigating supply chain opportunities and risks across various levels, as well as providing succession planning support to closely-held businesses. Additionally, Scott dedicates a portion of his practice to advising clients on sales, mergers, and similar transactional matters.
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Thomas Schehr '97
has been appointed by Dykema as a member of its six-person Executive Board. Schehr is an experienced commercial litigator who regularly handles business, financial services, and healthcare disputes. In addition to his work in the trial courts, Schehr has won appeals for clients in important cases before the Michigan Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. He previously served as Director of Dykema’s more than 100-lawyer Financial Industry Group.
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Jordan M. Ewald '21
has been recognized on the Best Lawyers in America: Ones To Watch list for 2024 and she has also been selected by Super Lawyers as a Michigan Rising Star for 2023.
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Marc P. Jerabek '04
a partner at Plunkett Cooney, was elected as one of the five partners to the firm's board of directors. He is also a member of the firm’s DEI Committee and is the first Hispanic member of the board. Jerabek focuses his practice on representing financial institutions, mortgage servicers, large and small businesses, and individuals, helping them navigate legal issues and achieve the best result when facing litigation.
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Holli Hart Targan '85
attorney and partner at Taft was recently recognized by Crain’s Detroit Business as a Notable Woman in Law. Throughout her career, Targan has operated in the paytech industry not only from a legal perspective but also on a leadership level.
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Aleanna Siacon '22
was elected to the Michigan Asian-Pacific American Bar Association Board as their treasurer. In her role as treasurer, Siacon will supervise the custody of MAPABA funds. Siacon is a member of Plunkett Cooney's Torts & Litigation and Governmental Law practice groups. She maintains a diverse litigation practice that includes the defense of premises liability, municipal liability and product liability claims, as well as cases involving general negligence.
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Gergana Sivrieva '19
is currently on sabbatical from Miller Canfield, conducting research at the Faculty of Law at the University of Barcelona on a Fulbright grant. Her research focuses on legacy issues stemming from the Spanish Civil War and the Francoist dictatorship.
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James Kresta '16
is one of the 23 attorneys elected partner for Taft. He is based in Detroit and operates within the Firm's Litigation practice group. James provides counsel and representation to public and private companies across various areas of sophisticated commercial litigation, including shareholder disputes, real estate disputes, constitutional law, restrictive covenants, business torts, employment disputes, and contract disputes. As an attorney in Taft’s Commercial Litigation practice group, James's diverse practice encompasses all aspects of dispute resolution, including contract review, negotiations, pleadings, discovery, substantive motions, trials, and appeals.
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Justin Hanna '12
is among the 23 attorneys elected partner for Taft. Justin operates within the Firm's Business practice group. He specializes in Mergers and Acquisitions, Private Equity and Venture Capital, and Emerging Companies practice groups. Justin's expertise lies in business and real estate law, with a particular focus on middle-market M&A. He is dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs, investors, and businesses of all sizes to achieve growth through effective strategic planning and analysis, regardless of the size, complexity, or scale of representation.
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Jonathan Ajlouny '17
is now a Partner at Honigman LLP. Ajlouny serves as a member of the Litigation Department. He focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation.
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Danielle Romano '22
has recently joined the litigation practice group at Foster Swift law firm, based in the Southfield office. In her role, Romano concentrates her practice on a diverse range of civil litigation areas. These include insurance defense litigation, addressing general liability matters, and handling cases related to first-party No-Fault and third-party auto negligence. Additionally, Romano brings expertise in navigating Michigan's Assigned Claims Plan (MAP) and specializes in servicing insurer defense within this framework. Her addition further strengthens the firm's capabilities in providing comprehensive legal counsel in various litigation matters.
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Roberts Kengis '92
retired from the Allegan County Circuit Court bench in June of 2023, and in November he joined Lennon Miller PLC in Kalamazoo in an Of Counsel role. Mr. Kengis will be focusing on mediation and arbitration of civil and domestic cases.
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Nicole Haelterman '18
has recently become an associate attorney at Bush Seyferth PLLC following the successful completion of two federal clerkships. She served as a clerk for the Honorable Paul L. Maloney in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan and the Honorable Richard A. Griffin in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Her valuable experience in these federal clerkships positions her well in her new role at Bush Seyferth PLLC.
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Kameshia Grant '04
a distinguished Oakland County Circuit Court Judge, has been chosen as the recipient of the prestigious Michael K. Lee Memorial Award. This honor was bestowed upon her during the biennial Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Taste of Diversity reception. The award, presented by the Oakland County Bar Association's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to fostering and promoting diversity within the legal profession. Judge Kameshia Grant stands out as a true champion of diversity in her contributions to the legal community.
