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Alexandru Salar
has joined Collins Einhorn Farrell PC. Alexandru focuses his practice on defense litigation for the firm’s General and Automotive Liability practice group. His practice includes first-party No-Fault claims, uninsured and underinsured motorist claims, automobile negligence, and general liability matters. Alexandru has experience with general and automotive liability claims through all phases of litigation.
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James Reid IV
has joined its Labor and Employment Department as a partner in the firm's Ann Arbor office. Reid specializes in counseling business owners, entrepreneurs, C-suite executives, in-house counsel, and human resource directors to help them make strategic business decisions from hiring to firing. He helps clients comply with the ever-changing and overlapping laws, including the Age Discrimination and Employment Act (ADEA), Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) among others.
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Noraline Issak
was admitted to the Bar of the United States Supreme Court. The swearing-in ceremony took place on November 1, 2022, in Washington D.C. Nellie L. King, President of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, moved for her admission before the full Court with Chief Justice John Roberts presiding.
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Stephen P. Brown
a partner of Plunkett Cooney, one of the Midwest’s oldest and largest law firms, was recently inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Coverage Counsel (ACCC). Established in 2012, the ACCC is composed of nearly 400 insurance coverage and extracontractual counsel in the United States and Canada. Membership is by invitation only and is reserved exclusively for attorneys who have engaged substantially in the practice of insurance law for at least 15 consecutive years and who have met the ACCC Board of Regents’ requirements.
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Lewis Kolak
has joined Vector North America as General Counsel. Kolak earned his master's degree from Auburn University and his bachelor's degree from Saginaw Valley State University.
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Richard Smart, III
received the Daniel J. Wright Lifetime Achievement Award from the Michigan Supreme Court, Child Welfare Services Department on November 22, 2022 for his service to children and families in the Child Welfare System. Throughout his career, Richard has served as a Referee, Chief Referee, and Deputy Court Administrator in the Juvenile Section of the Third Circuit Court. His innovative leadership has helped thousands of families in Wayne County.
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Rachel Pinch
now leads the Law Office of Rachel M. Pinch (formerly the Law Office of David S. Hankus) where she represents claimants throughout Michigan in claims for Social Security Disability Benefits and Supplemental Security Income.
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Anisa Allen
was recently promoted to Managing Attorney for Progressive House Counsel, in December 2022.
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Sandra D. Glazier
has been appointed a commissioner to the ABA Commission on Law and Aging. The Commission is an interdisciplinary body of experts in aging and law, including lawyers, judges, health and social services professionals, academics, and advocates, that work on a wide range of law-related issues that affect our aging population and focus on strengthening and securing the legal rights, dignity, autonomy, quality of life and quality of care of older adults. The Commission accomplishes its work through research, policy development, advocacy, education, training, and through assistance to lawyers, bar associations, and others working on aging issues.
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LTC (R) John E. Walus
was selected as the Macomb County Veteran of the Year for 2022. The proclamation partially stated that he "unselfishly gives his time, energy, and undaunted efforts to Macomb County's large and growing community of veterans in need." In his law practice, he provides assistance to veterans seeking service-connected disability benefits and to those who are experiencing work-related issues.
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Michael Butterfield
was included in the 2023 edition of the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America in the areas of: Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants.
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Briana L Combs
recently joined the Appellate Law Practice Group of Plunkett Cooney. Combs focuses her appellate practice in the areas of commercial litigation, government law, employment litigation, first- and third-party motor vehicle negligence and medical malpractice.
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Martin S. Frenkel (1994)
was selected by Michigan Lawyers Weekly for its 2022 class of Leaders in the Law. Marty is a skilled advocate and counselor in real estate and financial services risk management, litigation, and regulatory compliance, with particular emphasis on mortgage, banking, construction, real estate development, landlord/tenant, land use, complex insurance coverage, and title-related issues
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Pamela Chapman Enslen (1981)
has been elected to serve a 3-year term on the Board of Governors of the American Bar Association. The Board is the governing body of the ABA. This is Pamela's second term on the Board.
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Ben Sobczak (2009)
was elected to the State Bar of
Michigan's Cannabis Law Section Council. He will provide regulatory and trasactional-based services to cannabis companies in various jurisdictions throughout the US and Canada.
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Howard Cohen (1987)
has joined Elia & Ponto, PLLC, as a litigation attorney and associate. Cohen earned his bachelor's degree from Wayne State University (1984).
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Mike Serra (2013)
the Principal Product Counsel at Cisco Systems, Inc., was recognized by Crain's Business Detroit as a member of its 2022 "40 Under 40" class.
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Mark V. Breaugh (2020)
has joined Maddin Hauseras an associate attorney. Mark is a member of our Complex Litigation and Risk Advisory group, where he will work on a broad range of business and civil litigation matters. Before joining Maddin Hauser, Mark was an attorney with a boutique firm litigating matters in state and federal court for individuals and corporate clients. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Albion College in 2017
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Lisa B. Hysni (1987)
has joined Kerr Russell as a Member and Chair of the firm's Real Estate practice group. She will focus her practice on negotiating leases for commercial clients, representing owners and developers in the sale and financing of commercial properties, and navigating clients through real estate laws and regulations. Hysni earned her bachelor's degree from Michigan State University.
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Robert B. Labe (1984)
has been appointed to the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel's Fiduciary Administration Task Force. A partner with Williams, Williams, Rattner & Plunkett, P.C., in Birmingham, Michigan, he advises high net worth individuals and families on estate planning, trust, and estate matters, probate disputes, and tax planning. He also represents companies in business and succession planning. Rob was inducted as an ACTEC Fellow in 2017.
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Justin J. Hakala (2009)
was recently named to the 2022 class of Go To Lawyers for medical malpractice law as determined by Michigan Lawyers Weekly (MiLW). Hakala will be featured, along with 19 other attorneys, in a special section that will appear in the Oct. 31 print and digital editions of MiLW, an industry publication serving the state's legal community. In its third year, the "Go To Lawyers" program recognizes the top plaintiff and defense lawyers across the state in a given practice area.
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Tanya E.J. Lundberg (2007)
has joined Maddin Hauser as an associate office administrator. Tanya will support the Chief Office Administrator and assist in the firm’s recruiting efforts and enhancing professional development opportunities. She joins Maddin Hauser from University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, where she was the Assistant Dean of Career Services and Outreach.
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Michael J. McClory (1984)
was
appointed to Wayne County Circuit Court bench by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. McClory was previously chief deputy probate register for Wayne County, a position he has held since 2005. He has been with the probate court since 1991, having served as a court attorney and then director of special projects.
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Lee Hornberger (LLM 1982)
received the Distinguished Service Award from the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section of the State Bar of Michigan in recognition of significant contributions to the field of dispute resolution.
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Essence Patterson (2020)
was named president of the Detroit Bar Association Barristers Section for the 2022-2023 year. Patterson is an associate at Honigman. She earned her bachelor's from Howard University.
