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Laurel McGiffert '80
the Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) at Plunkett Cooney, has been recognized as one of Crain’s Detroit Business' 2023 Notable Leaders in DEI. This accolade acknowledges McGiffert and fellow honorees for their outstanding contributions to advancing DEI initiatives within their organizations. Crain’s Detroit Business specifically commended McGiffert for her leadership in coordinating discussions, implementing innovative training programs, and prioritizing equity and justice in the community.
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Joseph Peterson '15
recently joined Plunkett Cooney to enhance its business law department as a senior tax attorney. Based in the firm's Bloomfield Hills office, Peterson assumes the role of Tax Law Practice Group Leader at Plunkett Cooney. His primary focus lies in resolving individual and business tax controversies, spanning audit defense, collections, and litigation involving both the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and state of Michigan governmental entities.
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Matthew Abel '85
has recently completed his second term on the State Bar of Michigan Cannabis Law Section Council. Mr. Abel served several terms on the State Bar of Michigan Representative Assembly and currently serves on the Outreach and Education Committee of the State Bar. Matt is a life member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the NORML Legal Committee, and the International Cannabis Bar Association, where he was a founding board member. Mr. Abel worked to help pass the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act in 2008 and was a member of the drafting committee and board of MILEGALIZE, which created, supported, and passed the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act (MRTMA) in 2016. Matt founded the now five partner Cannabis Counsel® law firm which has become a wholly owned subsidiary of the Rivertown Law Firm, which is located on Jefferson Avenue in Detroit in the former home of radio station WWWW. The firm is active politically, and has hosted numerous events at their office.
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Anisa Allen '11
was appointed as a member of Milford Village Council on October 2, 2023.
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Zach Fallstich '06
joined Teleperformance as Senior Corporate Counsel in 2023. Joined Michigan Indian Legal Services as volunteer board member in 2019.
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Mark Steiner
is one of the seven attorneys elected to McDonald Hopkins LLC membership as of October 1, 2023. Steiner is a Member of the Litigation Department and focuses his practice on business litigation, trade secrets, non-compete and unfair competition, and warranty and recall in the automotive industry.
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Stacey Washington
was promoted to Director of Compliance (in-house counsel) at the Archdiocese of Detroit in February 2023. Washington also served as Interim HR Director from March 2023 to August 2023.
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Nadine Hessi
is the newest member of the Trusts & Estates Practice Group of Plunkett Cooney. Hessi, who recently joined the firm as an associate in the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, focuses her practice on trust and estate planning matters, as well as probate and trust litigation. She advises clients on trust agreements, tax law, prenuptial agreements, powers of attorney, wealth strategy planning, retirement planning, and charitable trusts. Her litigation practice includes representation in claims involving alleged breach of fiduciary duty and will/trust contests.
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Tiffany Holland
Joined Rivian as Senior Counsel, Supply Chain & Manufacturing
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Gerald Acker
was nominated by President Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be a Commissioner and U.S. Section chair of the Joint International Commission.
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Danielle Chidiac
was recently named to the Lawyers of Color magazine 2023 Annual Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Hot List. The List annually recognizes junior- and mid-level attorneys across the country who show promise in their careers and demonstrate a strong commitment to advancing diversity in the legal profession.
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Annemarie Linares
has co-founded a Latvian nonprofit organization, AMOS, to ensure that every Latvian who has a serious, chronic, or terminal illness with a limited prognosis can access high quality professional hospice services. AMOS provides highly professional, competent, ethical, patient-centered, value-based, holistic, multidisciplinary, hospice services. The AMOS team interweave medical, social, psychological, spiritual, and care giving support to patients and their families. AMOS is led by an executive team with training and experience in hospice services both in Latvia and the US who are eager to share their considerable experience and expertise for the benefit of fellow Latvians. AMOS operates on value-based healthcare principles. AMOS not only provides state of the art hospice services, but creates efficiencies for the entire Latvian healthcare sector by off-loading hospitals, emergency rooms, emergency medical service brigades, and family doctors.
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Andrew Harris
has joined the firm of Maddin Hauser as a shareholder. Andrew focuses his advocacy on real estate, landlord-tenant, and commercial litigation matters and also handles cases involving state tax issues and insurance. In addition to his diverse and busy practice, Andrew enjoys a vibrant history of public service and active community involvement. He served as an elected member of the Birmingham City Commission from 2015-2019 and as the city’s Mayor from 2017-2018. Additionally, Andrew is an Oakland County Bar Foundation Trustee and former Chairman of the Oakland County Bar Association Real Estate Committee. He is also the President of the Birmingham Little League and serves as legal counsel for the Birmingham Hockey Association.
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Lindsay Abramson
was hired as the Deputy Chief Public Defender of the first-ever Oakland County Public Defender’s Office. Abramson spent 11 years as a Maricopa County Public Defende, in Phoenix, Arizona. During my final years there I was promoted to the Capital unit and was certified death penalty public defender. In 2017, I was appointed to the bench/ judicial officer for four years in the Maricopa County Superior Court. I moved back home to Michigan in January 2022 to be closer to my family. I have worked as the Director of the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office Conviction Integrity and Expungement Unit for the last year. My work resulted in the exoneration of Kenneth Webb, a man who spent 37 years in prison for murder, he did not commit.
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Stephen Ravas
assumed the position of Acting Inspector General at AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism.
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Carla Testani
received the Mary S. Coleman Award at the Women Lawyer’s Association of Michigan Annual Meeting.
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Scott Sirich
Plunkett Cooney partner Scott H. Sirich was recently named to the 2023 class of Go To Lawyers for construction law as determined by Michigan Lawyers Weekly (MiLW). Sirich will be featured, along with 19 other attorneys, in a special section that will appear in the March 27 print and digital editions of MiLW, an industry publication serving the state’s legal community. In its third year, Michigan’s Go To Lawyers is a peer-nomination program that recognizes the top lawyers across the state in a given practice area.
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Corey M. Beaubien
was a guest lecturer at the Michigan State University College of Law for its Intellectual Property Practicum course in March. He discussed subject matter eligibility under 35 USC 101, the origins of the two-step framework, and recent caselaw involving eligibility.
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Howard Hertz
was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award as a “Champion for Artistic Freedom” by the Cultural Council of Birmingham Bloomfield.
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Kyle Kamidoi
was awarded the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel's Golden Gavel Award. the Golden Gavel Award is presented annually to a young lawyer who exemplifies professionalism and courtesy in the practice of law, and who promotes the image and honorable reputation of the profession. The award recognizes achievement within the member’s area of practice as evidenced by his or her knowledge, skill and advocacy, as well as his/her community involvement or pro bono representation and charitable endeavors. The award further recognizes leadership and advancement of the image of the recipient’s peers by way of mentoring, awards, civic leadership or otherwise.
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Andrew M. Creal
has joined Maddin Hauser as an associate attorney. As a member of their Complex Litigation and Risk Advisory group, he will work on business and real estate matters, including general business and contractual disputes, business torts, shareholder oppression claims, supplier disputes, construction litigation, real estate disputes, land use and zoning issues, and other real property matters. Andrew graduated from Wayne State University Law School in 2019 and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State University’s James Madison College in 2016.
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Andrew Kowalkowski
appointed by Governor Whitmer to the 44th District Court bench. Prior to joining the bench, he was an Administrative Law Examiner at the Michigan Department of State.
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Richard G. Himelrick
retired from Tiffany & Bosco, P.A. (Phoenix, AZ). Before retiring, he authored six editions of Arizona Securities Fraud Law: Civil Liability, Defenses, and Remedies. His former partner, Robert D. Mitchell, will continue to update the book as future editions are published.”
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Brian P. Frasier
joins Collins Einhorn Farrell PC. Brian is a member of the firm’s general and automotive liability group. He focuses his practice on the defense of general and first and third-party automobile liability claims. Brian offers clients litigation strategies in several areas of law, including personal injury, product liability, premises liability, consumer protection, and employment, in addition to no-fault/third-party automobile injury cases. He focuses much of his practice on complex antifraud investigations and litigation, including insurance defense and healthcare abuse.
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Amanda Shelton
was elected to the Oakland County Circuit Court bench in November to a six-year term. Prior to joining the bench, she was the founding partner of Shelton & Deon Law Group.
