Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, and Cohn LLP is pleased to announce that Kenneth R. Marcus, a partner in the firm’s Health Care Department, spoke at the Healthcare Financial Management Association’s (HMFA) 57th Annual Fall Conference. The theme of the conference was “Working in Partnership,” and Marcus’ presentation was entitled “How to Counter the RAC (Recovery Audit Contractor): What Every Provider Should Know from a Legal Perspective.” The HMFA conference took place on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at The Inn at St. John’s in Plymouth. Marcus was also a speaker at the HMFA’s spring 2010 conference.
Marcus is a nationally-recognized authority on Medicare and Medicaid payment appeal issues. He has successfully represented numerous hospitals in individual and group appeals before the Provider Reimbursement Review Board and the federal courts. In addition, he frequently advises clients in matters involving the Medicare and Medicaid Anti-fraud and Abuse Provisions, the Stark Act, and the Federal False Claims Act, including representation of clients accused of violating these laws and consultation regarding business arrangements potentially exposed to liability under these laws.
Marcus is a member of the Board for the HMFA’s Eastern Michigan Chapter, the founder and inaugural chair of its Compliance Committee and an Advanced Member of the HMFA. He is a recipient of HFMA’s Gold, Silver and Bronze Certificates, the National Yeager Award, the Outstanding Committee Chair Award and the 2003 Ernest Laetz Award. Marcus also received the Founders Medal of Honor from the HFMA’s Eastern Michigan Chapter.
He has been named in “The Best Lawyers in America” from 2008 to 2011 and in Michigan Super Lawyer from 2007 to 2010. Additionally, DBusiness named him a “Top Lawyer” in 2010.
Marcus earned his law degrees from Wayne State University Law School. He also earned an M.H.S.A. from the University of Michigan and a B.A. from the State University of New York.
Additionally, Honigman is pleased to announce that Laura A. Brodeur-McGeorge, a partner in the firm’s Labor and Employment Department, has been appointed as a member of the State Bar of Michigan’s Client Protection Fund Committee from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, 2013. The committee reimburses clients who have been victimized by lawyers who violate the profession’s ethical standards and misappropriate funds entrusted to them.
Brodeur-McGeorge focuses her practice on counseling clients on employment matters, employee health and safety issues, contract disputes, trade secrets and restrictive covenants. She also litigates employment matters in federal and state courts and before various administrative agencies and arbitration tribunals.
In addition to her position on the State Bar of Michigan Client Protection Fund Committee, Brodeur-McGeorge is a Fellow of the Oakland County Bar Foundation and is a member of the American Bar Association, Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association and the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan.
Brodeur-McGeorge earned her law degree from Wayne State University Law School and a B.S. in management from Oakland University.
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The Bloomfield Hills office of Ogletree Deakins has earned a Tier 1 ranking in employment law in the recent U.S. News – Best Lawyers 2010 Best Law Firms list released recently. The inaugural rankings showcase 8,782 different law firms ranked in one or more of 81 major practice areas.
Thomas A. Cattel is the managing shareholder of Ogletree Deakins’ Bloomfield Hills office.
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Weltman, Weinberg, & Reis Co., LPA (WWR) is pleased to announce the expansion of the Real Estate Default Group (REDG) leadership team with the recent addition of Dave Zbozen.
Zbozen joins the WWR Real Estate Default Group with more than 17 years of experience in the mortgage industry including management, operations and sales. He will manage the foreclosure team for the Real Estate Default Group in the WWR Michigan and Cleveland offices.
Over the years, Zbozen has held key leadership positions with Associates Home Equity, Accredited Home Lenders, FMF Capital and most recently, PNC Bank.
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The law firm of Beier Howlett in Bloomfield Hills has been named to the inaugural edition of the 2010 “Best Law Firms” by U.S. News Media Group and Best Lawyers. The firm received a Tier 1 ranking in Detroit for its Municipal Law practice, where its attorneys have represented local governmental units for several generations and served as city and school district attorneys throughout metro Detroit. The firm also received a Tier 2 ranking for both its Environmental Law practice and Trust & Estates Law practice.
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Foley & Lardner LLP recently announced its rankings in the 2010 Chambers USA Client’s Guide published by Chambers & Partners, publishers of internationally-recognized guides to law firms and lawyers. The firm has 26 practices and 67 attorneys ranked locally and nationally this year, an increase in both the number of practices and attorneys ranked in 2009. Among its practices ranked nationally, Foley’s Health Care practice is newly named to this list. Of the 67 attorneys recognized, 14 were either named for the first time or in a new category.
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Clark Hill attorney Jeremy S. Motz will present “School Building Construction and the Common Misperceptions of the Law” on Oct. 4, during the 12th Annual Michigan School Business Officials Facilities/Operations Director Conference. The Conference will be held Sunday, Oct. 3, through Tuesday, Oct. 5, at the Shanty Creek Resort in Thompsonville, Michigan.
Motz is an associate in the Birmingham office of Clark Hill PLC and is a member of the Education and Municipal Law Group. He principally focuses his practice in the areas of education, construction and real estate law, assisting public and private sector entities in a wide variety of transactional matters.
Motz regularly counsels public school districts and charter schools with respect to a variety of operational issues, as well as compliance with the Revised School Code, the Freedom of Information Act, the Open Meetings Act, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and other laws governing public bodies. He has experience advising educational entities in the areas of food service; transportation and custodial services; procurement of supplies and equipment; construction; technology; public bidding; contract drafting; facilities and property management; outsourcing of non-instructional services; and corporate governance.
In addition to his education practice, he has experience representing public and private land owners in connection with wireless communications (cell tower) facilities. Motz regularly advises land owners with respect to leasing, co-location and expansion of wireless communication facilities, as well as various trade receivables financing transactions relative to the rents due under leasing arrangements for these facilities.
Motz is also a frequent presenter on education law issues to many groups, including the Michigan School Business Officials and other local school business groups throughout the State.
Prior to joining Clark Hill, Jeremy completed a judicial internship with Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Christopher M. Murray.
Motz is a member of the Michigan Counsel of School Attorneys, the Michigan School Business Officials, the Michigan Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Oakland County Bar Association, the Alpha Sigma Nu Honor Society and the Justice Frank Murphy Honor Society.
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Dykema announces Kathrin E. Kudner, a member of the firm’s Health Care practice group, provided a Legal Overview of the impact of Health Care Reform on start-up and early stage life sciences companies, focusing on the areas of drugs, diagnostics and medical devices, at the 2010 SUMMIT presented by the West Michigan Science & Technology Initiative (WMSTI). This conference was held at the Loosemore Auditorium of Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids on Sept. 28.
As a member of the Health Care practice group, Kudner represents health care providers, payors, and biotechnology companies in all aspects of health care law. Her practice focuses on FDA regulation, Medicare and Medicaid compliance, tax exemption, HIPAA and contractual matters. Kudner is a member of the firm’s Biotechnology/Life Sciences, Financial Crisis and Insurance Teams. With the recent enactment of health reform legislation, Kudner has been in the forefront to assist employers, providers, payors and biotechnology companies with interpretation of the new law and implementation of its requirements. She speaks frequently on topics related to health reform, FDA regulation, HIPAA and compliance.
Kudner earned a B.A. from the University of Colorado, a M.S. from the University of Missouri, and her law degree from the University of Toledo.
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Hertz Schram PC recently announced the hiring of Christopher H. Tovar, former general counsel and chief compliance officer to Investment Professionals, Inc., a San Antonio, Texas-based brokerage and investment advisory firm, as a partner in its securities law practice.
Along with firm founder Bradley J. Schram, and partners Robert Geller and Lisa Kavalhuna, Tovar will lead Hertz Schram’s Securities team in offering the full range of services to FINRA-member broker dealers, SEC and state-registered investment advisors, individual brokers, financial planners, insurance agents, corporate directors, officers, and claim services, including all facets of litigation and arbitration defense, as well as all areas of regulatory compliance, firm risk management, and transactional support.
A graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, Tovar began his career in the securities industry as a broker with Morgan Stanley and later with CUNA Brokerage Services, where he learned the business from the ground up in wirehouse and credit union settings. Tovar then spent several years at a Houston law firm where he focused on all facets of FINRA proceedings involving customer claims, employment, regulatory and employment matters.
Tovar has since worked independently, serving brokers as well as investors, in arbitrations and court settings. In the course of his service to broker dealers and investment advisory firms, he has dealt extensively with the SEC, FINRA and with a multitude of state securities and insurance regulators, representing brokers. In recent years, Tovar served as in-house counsel and in compliance, where, he believes, his talents and skills, particularly during some of the most challenging times in market history, were tested and refined.
According to Tovar, “Protecting a brokerage’s reputation, among its peers in the industry, potential hires, and among investors, is critical to its success over the long term, and to our success as securities attorneys.”
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The Bloomfield Hills family law firm of Law Offices of Victor and Victor PLLC is proud to announce that father and son partners Richard S. Victor and Daniel R. Victor have both been named to the 2011 edition of “Best Lawyers in America” for their practice of Family Law. Daniel Victor is one of the youngest attorneys in the United States to have received this major recognition. Victor and Victor were also selected as the “Top rated Family Law Firm” in Bloomfield Hills, by the national publication.
In addition, their law firm has received the distinguished recognition by US News and World Report as one of the top ten “Tier One” Family Law Firms in the Metro Detroit area.
Senior partner Richard Victor was also selected by his peers, for a fifth consecutive year, to be a Michigan Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers Magazine, as well as being named, to be included in DBusiness magazines’ 2010 list of Top Lawyers in the state of Michigan. Senior associate Keri Middelditch Wigod was selected for a second time as a “Michigan Rising Star” by “Super Lawyers Magazine” as well.
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Five Brooks Kushman lawyers have been named to the 2010.
Additionally, two of the firm’s up-and-coming attorneys were named to the 2010 “Rising Stars” list, which honors lawyers who are 40 years old or younger, or who have been practicing for 10 years or less.
The Brooks Kushman lawyers that have been named to the 2010 Super Lawyers list are:
Mark A. Cantor (IP Litigation Category) – president, registered patent attorney, professional engineer and one of the firm’s five founders – has handled and tried litigation cases relating to patents, trademarks, trade secrets and copyrights in a number of national and international forums. Under his direction, the Brooks Kushman legal team has grown by 50 percent, as well as expanded its reach through the opening of a Los Angeles office.
Thomas A. Lewry (IP Litigation Category) – shareholder and registered patent attorney – heads the firm’s litigation group and has experience in IP and commercial litigation. As a result, he has tried cases in federal and state courts around the country.
William G. Abbatt (IP Category) – shareholder and registered patent attorney – has experience in defining and protecting inventions for a diverse client base. Abbatt’s forté lies in counseling inventors and business owners so they can be profitable, create jobs and gain recognition by the cost-effective use of patent law.
John E. Nemazi (IP Category) – shareholder and registered patent attorney – provides counsel that combines elements of law, marketing and design. An engineer at heart, his expertise is helping clients find paths to market by designing around existing inventions.
Frank A. Angileri (IP Litigation Category) – shareholder and registered patent attorney – serves as lead counsel for a variety of Brooks Kushman’s clients, from individuals to major corporations, in IP and commercial litigation matters. With an active practice, Angileri has handled cases in numerous federal courts across the country.
The Brooks Kushman lawyers who were named to the 2010 “Rising Star” list are:
John S. LeRoy – shareholder and registered patent attorney – has an active practice that focuses on patent litigation and appeals in the software, electrical and mechanical arts.
Michael D. Turner – associate and registered patent attorney – focuses his practice on domestic and foreign patent prosecution for mechanical and electromechanical matters, systems, business methods and designs.
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Butzel Long co-hosted a briefing on Sept. 21 along with the Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA) to discuss current legal and commercial issues, “An Update on Key Contract Terms and Legal Issues Affecting Suppliers.” The meeting focused on commercial relationships and trends in warranty, anti-trust, federal regulation, contract terms and conditions, supply chain regulations and risk management.
The program featured Butzel Long attorneys and shareholders including Jim Bruno, Dan Dulworth, Bert Donovan, Bill Kohler and Ed Kronk.
Butzel Long partnered with OESA to develop the “Comparative Analysis,” which compares terms and conditions of BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Toyota and VW, as well as the “OESA Model Terms and Conditions.” The document was created in 2008, and updated in 2009 and 2010.
Additionally, Butzel Long attorney William J. Kohler had a special opportunity recently to introduce Nate Young, president, NewNorth Center Design in Business, as one of the featured speakers during the 12th Annual Automotive Suppliers Symposium on Sept. 22 in Grand Rapids.
The seminar focused on the future of the automotive industry. Speakers addressed the near-and long-term outlooks of the industry, as well as the emergence of different models of mobility and the opportunities they present for suppliers. Butzel Long was a sponsor of the program.
Kohler co-chairs Butzel Long’s Global Automotive Practice Group. He has domestic and international experience in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, distribution arrangements, supply arrangements, supplier and customer workouts and bankruptcies, intellectual property arrangements, and general corporate matters.
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Southfield-based law firm Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer ,Weiss PC is pleased to announce that 15 of its lawyers were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in “The Best Lawyers in America 2011.”
The publication recognized the following Jaffe attorneys in its listing:
• Brian G. Shannon (2007) – Appellate Law.
• Louis P. Rochkind (1983) and Jay L. Welford (2003) – Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law.
• Peter M. Alter (2007) and Jeffrey G. Heuer (2005) – Commercial Litigation.
• Jeffrey G. Heuer – Construction Law.
• Ira J. Jaffe (1983) and Peter Sugar (2005) – Corporate Law.
• Christopher A. Andreoff (2009) – Criminal Defense: White-Collar.
• Holli Hart Targan (2009) – Information Technology Law.
• Lawrence R. Jordan (2005) – Intellectual Property Law.
• Arthur A. Weiss (2008) – Mergers & Acquisitions Law.
• Stephen G. Schafer (2005) – Public Finance Law.
• Arthur A. Weiss (2008) and Richard A. Zussman (2006) – Real Estate Law.
• Peter Sugar (2005) – Securities Law .
• Joel S. Golden (2007) and Shirley A. Kaigler (2007) – Trusts and Estates.
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Kemp Klein law firm celebrates shareholders Irwin M. Alterman, Joseph P. Buttiglieri, Alan A. May, and Patricia M. Paruch, as well as Of Counsel Robert Z. Feldstein this year for being named to the 2011 edition of “Best Lawyers in America.”
Alterman is a shareholder of Kemp Klein Law Firm and an alumnus of both Princeton University and Columbia University Law School. He has been listed in every edition of “Best Lawyers in America” for the last twenty-four years, and continues to be recognized for excellence in antitrust and franchise law.
Buttiglieri is a shareholder of Kemp Klein Law Firm concentrating his practice in the areas of probate litigation and administration, conservatorships, guardianships, wrongful death distributions, and family law. Buttiglieri is a popular speaker and writer on topics in his focus areas. He is recognized for excellence in Trusts and Estates.
May is a shareholder of Kemp Klein Law Firm and has written and lectured extensively on guardianships and conservatorships, and has taught classes at Wayne State University and Oakland University on these topics. May is recognized for excellence in Trusts and Estates.
Paruch is a shareholder of Kemp Klein Law Firm with a 25-year history of service to southeast Michigan communities. She served as ,ayor of the City of Royal Oak, City Commissioner, and as a member of the Royal Oak Planning Commission. Mrs. Paruch is recognized for excellence in environmental law.
Feldstein is President of Robert Z. Feldstein PC, and is Of Counsel to Kemp Klein Law Firm. Feldstein is recognized for excellence in family law. He has been honored by his inclusion in Best Lawyers in America for the past twenty consecutive years, and was named the Detroit Area Best Lawyers Family Lawyer of the Year for 2010.
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Andrew B. Wachler of Wachler & Associates PC addressed attendees at the 4th Annual RAC Summit in Washington, D.C. during the “Boot Camp” portion of the conference and the Legal Update session.
Wachler provided a detailed account of the appeals process conducted by Medicare Recovery Audit Contractors, including a thorough review of successful appeals strategies.
Wachler has been practicing health care law for more than 25 years. He counsels health care providers and organizations nationwide in a variety of health care legal matters. In addition, he writes and speaks nationally to professional organizations and other entities on health care law topics such as Medicare appeals, Stark and fraud and abuse, HIPAA, and other topics.
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Attorney and Michigan Association for Justice Director of Communications C. Jesse Green has been appointed as the chair of the State Bar Law & The Media Committee for 2010-2011. Law & the Media is a standing committee with a mandate to “develop, recommend, and support programs that promote a positive relationship between the law and the media” and to “study and identify sources of friction between the courts, lawyers, and the electronic and print press, and recommend solutions.” Green has served on the Committee since 2002.
Green is an award-winning journalist whose work has appeared in the Legal News and Motion magazine, served as the front page writer and legal analyst for Michigan Lawyers Weekly, and has worked with many successful issue advocacy and political projects and campaigns. Green has been director of Communications for the Michigan Association for Justice since 2002.
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Miller Canfield, with offices in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Poland and China, announced that U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers ranked the firm among the nation’s best law firms in the inaugural edition of “Best Law Firms in America.” Miller Canfield has more first-tier metropolitan rankings than any other law firm in Michigan and is one of the top 20 firms in the U.S. in number of first-tier metropolitan rankings – 53 in all.
The U.S. News & World Report-Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms in America” rankings included 9,500 client surveys and a response from every Fortune 100 company. Clients voted on expertise, responsiveness, understanding of a business and its needs, cost-effectiveness, civility, and whether they would refer another client to a firm.
The law firm of Miller Canfield offers businesses, governments, nonprofits, individuals and families a broad array of integrated legal and business services in over 55 areas. With Michigan roots for 158 years and a global reach for two decades, the firm has 350 lawyers throughout offices in Michigan, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Canada, Mexico, Poland and China.
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Eight attorneys in the Southfield law office of Warner, Norcross, & Judd LLP have been named “Super Lawyers” in the fifth annual publication of “Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine,” while two attorneys were recognized as “Rising Stars.”
Michael G. Brady, Michael G. Cruse, William R. Jansen, Steven C. Kohl, Mary Jo Larson, Linda Paullin-Hebden, Fredric A. Smith, and Lisa B. Zimmer were among 61 Warner Norcross attorneys named to “Michigan Super Lawyers.”
Jansen and Larsen have been named as “Super Lawyers” since the publication began. Larson was recognized as one of the “Top 50 Women Michigan Super Lawyers” and one of the “Top 100 Super Lawyers.”
Homayune A. Ghaussi and Sarah C. Lindsey were recognized as “Rising Stars. Rising Stars” must be under the age of 40 or in practice for fewer than 10 years and have attained a high degree of peer recognition and personal achievement.
