LEGAL PEOPLE

Trott & Trott PC attorneys David A. Trott, Jeffrey R. Raff, Marcy J. Ford, and Jeanne M. Kivi have been recognized as 2013 Top Lawyers by DBusiness magazine. Trott, chairman of the firm, was selected in the Real Estate Law category. He is the former president of USFN, a 50-state trade association serving the mortgage banking industry. He currently sits on the State Building Authority Board of Trustees, and also serves on the Karmanos Cancer Institute Board of Directors. A 1981 graduate of the University of Michigan, Trott earned his law degree from Duke University School of Law in 1985. Selected in the Business Litigation category, Raff currently serves as managing partner of Trott. As an active participant in industry organizations, Raff is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, USFN, Michigan Mortgage Lenders Association, and the Association of Credit and Collection Professionals. He is a 1992 graduate of Michigan State University, where he earned a degree in finance, and is a 1996 graduate of University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Ford, partner and executive vice president at Trott, was selected in the Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights category. She serves as the chair of Trott's Executive Committee and is president of USFN. Ford is a graduate of Western Michigan University, where she earned her master's degree. She is also a 1993 graduate of Wayne State University Law School. Selected in the Real Estate Law Category, Kivi is partner and managing attorney of the foreclosure department for Trott. She sits on Trott's Executive Committee, and is also an active member of the Michigan Land Title Association, the State Bar of Michigan and USFN. Kivi is a 1993 graduate of Albion College, and a 1996 graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. She is licensed to practice in the Eastern District of the United States District Court. * * * Doreen L. Hoffman, managing partner of Trott Recovery Services PLLC has been recognized as a 2013 Top Lawyer by DBusiness magazine. Hoffman was selected in the Collections category. She earned her law degree from the Detroit College of Law, and her bachelor's degree from Michigan State University. A published author and frequent speaker, she serves on the Michigan Association Collection Agencies board. Hoffman is also the State of Michigan's compliance chair for The Association for Credit and Collection Professionals and a member of the State Bar of Michigan. * * * Barris, Sott, Denn, & Driker PLLC is pleased to announce that it has been ranked among the top law firms in the country by U.S. News-Best Lawyers® for 2012-2013. In the metropolitan Detroit rankings, the firm was placed in Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation, Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law, Real Estate Litigation, Eminent Domain & Condemnation Litigation, and Real Estate Law. The firm was also ranked in five other categories in metropolitan Detroit and in two categories nationally. * * * Bodman PLC has again achieved the highest possible "highly recommended" rating for commercial litigation services in the 2013 edition of "Benchmark Litigation: The Definitive Guide to America's Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys." It is the fourth consecutive year that Bodman has achieved the highest rating. Bodman is one of only six Michigan firms that are rated as highly recommended for commercial litigation in Benchmark 2013. In addition to rating law firms, the publishers of Benchmark honor individual attorneys who received particularly strong endorsements from clients and peers. For 2013, Benchmark has rated the following Bodman PLC attorneys as "local litigation stars": Michelle Thurber Czapski (Detroit office); George G. Kemsley (Detroit office); Dennis J. Levasseur (Detroit office); Joseph J. Shannon (Detroit office); Thomas J. Tallerico (Troy office); and Thomas Van Dusen (Troy office). Local attorney Thomas P. Bruetsch (Detroit office) was honored as a "future star." * * * Collins, Einhorn, Farrell, & Ulanoff PC announced that two of its attorneys were selected among the 2013 Best Lawyers® in America "Detroit Lawyers of the Year" in their respective practice areas. Best Lawyers named Shareholder and President Michael J. Sullivan the 2013 Detroit Professional Malpractice Law -- Defendants "Lawyer of the Year" for the third consecutive year. Fellow Shareholder Noreen L. Slank was selected the 2013 Detroit Appellate Practice "Lawyer of the Year." Sullivan has nearly 30 years of litigation experience. In the professional liability arena, he has defended attorneys, physicians, accountants, architects, engineers, real estate appraisers, real estate brokers and title agents in defense of significant claims involving personal injury, property damage and business loss. The University of Detroit Mercy School of Law alumnus also has experience in product liability litigation, and maintains an active general civil litigation practice, including business disputes, insurance disputes, and personal injury defense. Slank has practiced in the state and federal appellate courts since 1980 with an emphasis on the defense of medical and legal malpractice actions, insurance coverage disputes, and the defense of catastrophic personal injury cases. She practices both in appellate courts and in the trial courts (particularly during post-verdict proceedings). Slank is a past chair of the Appellate Practice Section of the State Bar of Michigan and frequent author, editor, and lecturer on a variety of procedural and substantive legal issues. * * * The law firm of Couzens Lansky is pleased to announce 10 attorneys from the Farmington Hills office have been named as Michigan Super Lawyers for 2012. The following attorneys from Couzens Lansky have been recognized in 2012: * Jack S. Couzens II - Estate Planning and Probate. * Jerry M. Ellis* - Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights. * Donald M. Lansky* - Mergers and Acquisitions. * Kathryn Gilson Sussman - Estate Planning and Probate. * Donald A. Wagner* - Banking. * Gregg A. Nathanson* - Real Estate. * David A. Lawrence - Employment and Labor. * Ronn S. Nadis* - Real Estate. * Phillip J. Neuman* - Business Litigation. * Robert A. Berlow* - Real Estate. * Business Edition 2012 If Business Edition, 2012 has been noted, these attorneys have been recognized in a separate national publication for their outstanding achievement in their area of business practice. Each attorney receiving this award exhibits excellence in the practice of law and has also been included on a Super Lawyers list in 2011. * * * Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce that attorney Phillip J. DeRosier was elected chair of the State Bar of Michigan's Appellate Practice Section on Sept. 20. DeRosier is a member in the firm's Detroit office where he specializes in appellate litigation. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America and Michigan Super Lawyers as a leader in the appellate practice area. DeRosier earned his B.A. from Michigan State University and his law degree from the Cooley Law School. * * * Dickinson Wright PLLC received 60 first-tier rankings in the 2013 "Best Law Firms" report by U.S. News and Best Lawyers. The survey ranked Dickinson Wright in 55 different practice areas overall. The firm received first-tier recognition in 59 practice areas in Michigan. The firm was also recognized for legal excellence for practices in our Las Vegas, Nashville, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. offices. State/Metropolitan Rankings Tier 1 Ann Arbor Banking and Finance Law Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law Corporate Law Litigation - Bankruptcy Litigation - Construction Litigation - Patent Mergers & Acquisitions Law Non-Profit/Charities Law Detroit Appellate Practice Arbitration Banking and Finance Law Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law Commercial Litigation Corporate Governance Law Corporate Law Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law Employment Law - Management Environmental Law Family Law Immigration Law International Trade and Finance Law Labor Law - Management Litigation - Antitrust Litigation - Bankruptcy Litigation - Eminent Domain & Condemnation Litigation - Environmental Litigation - Labor & Employment Litigation - Real Estate Mediation Mergers & Acquisitions Law Public Finance Law Real Estate Law Trademark Law Trusts & Estates Law Grand Rapids Banking and Finance Law Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law Commercial Litigation Construction Law Land Use & Zoning Law Litigation - Banking & Finance Litigation - Bankruptcy Litigation - Construction Litigation - Eminent Domain & Condemnation Litigation - Land Use & Zoning Municipal Law Public Finance Law Real Estate Law Lansing Administrative/Regulatory Law Appellate Practice Commercial Litigation Employment Law - Management Gaming Law Government Relations Practice Health Care Law Insurance Law Labor Law - Management Litigation - Eminent Domain & Condemnation Municipal Law Public Finance Law Washington, D.C. Gaming Law Tier 2 Ann Arbor Construction Law Health Care Law Detroit Litigation - Banking & Finance Litigation - Intellectual Property Litigation - Mergers & Acquisitions Litigation - Trusts & Estates Municipal Law Natural Resources Law Oil & Gas Law Patent Law Private Equity Law Securities/Capital Markets Law Securities Regulation Grand Rapids Corporate Law Lansing Litigation - Banking & Finance Litigation - ERISA Litigation - Real Estate Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Tax Law Las Vegas Litigation - Intellectual Property Nashville Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures & Television Land Use & Zoning Law Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Defendants Phoenix Real Estate Law Tier 3 Detroit Litigation - Patent Litigation - Securities Lansing Corporate Law Nashville Banking and Finance Law Commercial Litigation Real Estate Law National Rankings Tier 2 Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law Corporate Law Employment Law - Management Immigration Law Labor Law - Management Patent Law Private Equity Law Trademark Law Tier 3 Appellate Practice Banking and Finance Law Commercial Litigation Environmental Law International Trade and Finance Law Litigation - Environmental Litigation - Labor & Employment Litigation - Real Estate Mergers & Acquisitions Law Public Finance Law Real Estate Law Securities/Capital Markets Law Trusts & Estates Law Dickinson Wright is also pleased to announce that 61 of the firm's attorneys have been selected by DBusiness as 2013 Top Lawyers. Among the local 2013 Top Lawyers honorees are: Detroit * Michelle L. Alamo, Construction Litigation. * Richard M. Bolton, Business Law, Corporate Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law. * William T. Burgess, Civil Rights Law. * Lawrence G. Campbell, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Commercial Litigation * James N. Candler Jr., Real Estate Law. * Christopher A. Cornwall, Construction Law. * Bernadette M. Dennehy, Corporate Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law. * David R. Deromedi, Employee Benefits Law, Labor and Employment Law. * Phillip J. DeRosier, Appellate Law. * Frank A. Hamidi, Business Litigation. * Verne C. Hampton II, Corporate Governance and Compliance Law, Securities Law. * Mark R. High, Business Law, Corporate Law, International Trade and Finance law. * Edgar C. Howbert, Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights. * Steven G. Howell, Banking & Financial Service Law, Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights. * Timothy H. Howlett, Labor and Employment Law. * W. Anthony Jenkins, Entertainment and Sports Law, Municipal Law . * Kathleen A. Lang, Business Litigation, Civil Rights Law, Product Liability Law. * John K. Lawrence, Banking & Financial Service Law, Civil Rights Law. * Kenneth J. McIntyre, Antitrust Law. * Thomas G. McNeill, Business Litigation, Commercial Litigation. * Sharon R. Newlon, Energy Law, Environmental Law . * Francis R. Ortiz, Appellate Law. * James A. Plemmons, Bankru* ptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights. * William P. Shield Jr., Banking & Financial Service Law. * Theodore B. Sylwestrzak, Banking & Financial Service Law, Civil Rights Law. * Bruce C. Thelen, Corporate Law, International Trade and Finance Law. * Kathryn S. Wood, Labor and Employment Law, Product Liability Law. * L. Pahl Zinn, Antitrust Law. Troy * John S. Artz, Intellectual Property Law. * Margaret A. Coughlin, Environmental Law. * Roger H. Cummings, Business Law, Corporate Law, International Trade and Finance Law. * Stephen E. Dawson, Banking & Financial Service Law. * Joseph W. DeLave, Construction Litigation. * J. Benjamin Dolan, Business Litigation . * Terence M. Donnelly, Municipal Law, Public Finance Law. * Deborah L. Grace, Employee Benefits Law. * Henry M. Grix, Trusts and Estates. * Hanley M. Gurwin, Family Law. * Craig W. Hammond, Municipal Law, Public Finance Law. * William H. Honaker, Intellectual Property Law. * Monica J. Labe, Real Estate Law. * Judith Fertel Layne, Nonprofit/Charities Law, Trusts and Estates. * Elise S. Levasseur, Immigration Law. * Christopher C. Maseo, Business Law. * Cynthia A. Moore, Corporate Governance and Compliance Law, Employee Benefits Law, Tax Law. * John H. Norris, Energy Law. * Edward H. Pappas, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Business Litigation, Commercial Litigation. * Richard W. Paul, Commercial Litigation, Product Liability Law. * Robert V. Peterson, Real Estate Law. * Daniel D. Quick, Business Litigation, Commercial Litigation. * Michael T. Raymond, Business Law, Corporate Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, Securities Law. * Jerome M. Schwartz, Banking & Financial Service Law, Securities Law. * Larry J. Stringer, Immigration Law. * Peter H. Webster, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Land Use & Zoning Law. * J. Bryan Williams, Business Law, Corporate Governance and Compliance Law. * Katheryne L. Zelenock, Banking & Financial Service Law, Real Estate Law. * * * Foley & Lardner LLP recently announced that it has been named the U.S. News - Best Lawyers "Law Firm of the Year" in Health Care Law for the second consecutive year. In addition, Foley achieved first-tier rankings in 134 practice areas locally and nationally in the U.S. News - Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms" rankings for 2013. Practices are classified and ranked in national and metropolitan categories established by U.S. News - Best Lawyers. Foley's first-tier rankings include: Metropolitan First-Tier Rankings Detroit Employment Law - Management Government Relations Practice Health Care Law Litigation - Bankruptcy Securities / Capital Markets Law Securities Regulation National First-Tier Rankings Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law Biotechnology Law Commercial Litigation Corporate Law Derivatives and Futures Law Environmental Law Health Care Law Litigation - Antitrust Litigation - Bankruptcy Litigation - Construction Litigation - Intellectual Property Litigation - Real Estate Litigation - Tax Mining Law Patent Law Product Liability Litigation - Defendants Public Finance Law Securities / Capital Markets Law Sports Law Trademark Law Foley & Lardner is also pleased to announce that eight Detroit office attorneys have been named 2013 Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit by DBusiness. The attorneys named Top Lawyers and their specialized practice areas, as classified by DBusiness magazine, are: * John F. Birmingham; Labor and Employment Law. * Daljit S. Doogal; Corporate Governance and Compliance Law. * Judy A. O'Neill; Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights. * Thomas B. Spillane; Mergers & Acquisitions Law. * Marcus W. Sprow; Intellectual Property Law. * Erin L. Toomey; Government Relations Law. * John R. Trentacosta; Civil Rights Law, Commercial Litigation. * Ann Marie Uetz; Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights. * * * DBusiness Magazine named two lawyers from Fraser Trebilcock as Detroit's Top Lawyers. Michael P. Donnelly was named Top Lawyer for 2013 in the area of commercial litigation. This is his second year named as a Top Lawyer. Donnelly represents an array of clients, including Fortune 500 companies, in complex commercial litigation matters, ranging from large insurance fraud matters to intellectual property cases. He also represents companies and associations in antitrust and consumer protection matters. In 2011, he was one of only five attorneys in Michigan and 318 worldwide named as a BTI Client Service All-Star. Daniel Cherrin was also named Top Lawyer for 2013 by dbusiness for his work in government relations law. Cherrin provides public relations and government relations counsel to corporations, not-for-profits and individual clients on state and federal regulatory and legislative matters, as well as issues affecting corporate and individual reputation, crisis management and the media. Cherrin has developed a successful track record of positive legislative accomplishments for clients around issues affecting early childhood education, higher education, defense, economic development and homeland security. He is the former Communications director for the City of Detroit and press secretary to Interim Mayor Kenneth V. Cockrel Jr. and has served as the spokesperson for The Ann Arbor Art Fair and an 1800 MW off shore wind proposal in Southwestern Ontario. * * * Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton has been rated as a First Tier Law Firm 2013. Best Lawyers has released the 2013 "Best Law Firms" rankings, providing a comprehensive view of the U.S. legal profession that is unprecedented both in the range of firms represented and in the range of qualitative and quantitative data used to develop the rankings. The national first-tier rankings will be featured in U.S. News & World Report's Money issue, on newsstands Nov.20. Additionally, John C. Clark, partner of the law firm, Giarmarco, Mullins, & Horton, has been appointed as Special Assistant Attorney General of the State of Michigan. Clark concentrates his practice in the areas of labor and employment law, servicing clients in both the public and private sector. Clark has been a member of the firm since 1995. In addition, he is a certified employment arbitrator through the American Arbitration Association overseeing complicated employment matters litigated by both public and private sector claimants. Clark has experience in labor and employment law, including contract negotiations, arbitrations, employment discrimination claims, wrongful discharge matters, civil rights complaints, proceedings in state and federal court, as well as matters pending before the Michigan Employment Relations Commission, the Michigan Department of Civil Rights and the National Labor Relations Board. Clark represents a variety of public and private sector clients, including several high profile Metro Detroit cities and townships, private sector manufacturing companies, as well as various non-profit organizations and public and charter schools. * * * Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC is pleased to announce that U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers ranked the firm among the nation's best law firms in the 2013 Edition of "Best Firms in America." Howard & Howard also received first-tier rankings in Detroit in Litigation-Intellectual Property and Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law. * * * Twenty-five attorneys from Southfield-based Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer, & Weiss PC were selected as Top Lawyers for 2013 by DBusiness magazine. Jaffe CEO Bill Sider made the announcement. The publication has recognized the following Jaffe attorneys: Appellate Law Brian G. Shannon Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law Thomas E. Coughlin Paul R. Hage Louis P. Rochkind Jay L. Welford Business Law Ira J. Jaffe Peter Sugar Commercial Litigation Peter M. Alter Corporate Law Ira J. Jaffe Jeffrey M. Weiss Peter Sugar Criminal Defense - White Collar Christopher A. Andreoff Employee Benefits Law Deborah L. Baughman Entertainment and Sports Lawrence R. Jordan Finance Holli H. Targan Immigration Law Eli Maroko Information Technology Law Michael S. Khoury Intellectual Property Law Jeremy D. Bisdorf Lawrence R. Jordan Michael S. Khoury Peter M. Falkenstein Mergers & Acquisitions Law Jeffrey M. Weiss Public Finance Law Stephen G. Schafer Real Estate Law Mark D. Rubenfire Richard A. Zussman Securities Law Mark L. Kowalsky Peter Sugar Tax Law Robert E. Lewis William E. Sider Arthur A. Weiss Trusts and Estates Susan M. Sutton * * * S. Lee Johnson, a partner in Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, and Cohn LLP's environmental practice group, has been elected secretary/treasurer of the Environmental Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan for 2012-2013. This section provides education, information and analysis about issues of concern through meetings, seminars, its website, public service programs and publication of the Michigan Environmental Law Journal. Johnson counsels large and small manufacturers, real estate developers, mining firms and utilities regarding environmental regulation with particular emphasis on air pollution regulation, and the environmental aspects of commercial transactions. He also represents businesses and individuals in administrative disputes with state and federal environmental regulatory agencies. He is also past chair of the Environmental Law Section's Air Committee, a member of the American Bar Association's Environment, Energy and Resources Section and past chair of the Air and Waste Management Association's East Michigan Chapter. Johnson earned his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and a B.A. in communication and philosophy from Michigan State University. * * * Farmington Hills-based law firm Fabian, Sklar, & King PC recently announced that shareholder Patrick King has been recognized as a 2013 Top Lawyer by DBusiness magazine as the only attorney representing policyholders in the practice area of Insurance Law. With more than 35 years experience, King has litigated hundreds of cases involving insurance matters, including potential arson and fraud defenses. One notable achievement in his career is obtaining one of the largest multi-million dollar judgments against an insurance agent in Michigan's legal history. In addition, King is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI) through the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI) and has lectured extensively on a variety of topics relating to the origin and cause of fires and explosions. He has also been appointed to the National Fire Protection Association Technical Committee on Fire Investigations as an alternate member and co-authored the chapter on property insurance in Michigan Insurance Law and Practice published by the Institute for Continuing Legal Education (ICLE). His professional memberships include the American Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, Michigan Association for Justice, National Fire Protection Association, and International Association of Arson Investigators. He earned a B.A. from the University ofMichigan in 1974 and his law degree from Wayne State University Law School in 1977. * * * Southfield-based Maddin, Hauser, Wartell, Roth, & Heller PC is pleased to announce that six of its attorneys have been named 2013 DBusiness Top Lawyers. Of the six, shareholders Mark R. Hauser, Harvey R. Heller, Charles M. Lax, and Lowell D. Salesin are returning members to this list. The recipients and the respective categories in which they were honored include: * Hauser, managing director and Executive Management Committee member; Tax Law. * Heller, shareholder and Executive Management Committee member; Legal Malpractice Law. * Lax, shareholder; Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. * Salesin, shareholder and Executive Management Committee member; Real Estate Law. * Rebecca M. Turner, shareholder; Franchise Law. * Stewart C. Weiner, shareholder; Construction Law . * * * May, Simpson, & Strote PC in Bloomfield Hills is honored to receive the designation of Tier-1 law firm in the areas of Construction Law and Litigation-Construction by Best Lawyers®, Best Law Firms. The firm also recognizes three of its partners, Thomas C. Simpson, Ronald P. Strote, and John A. Forrest for their outstanding achievements. Simpson, a Michigan Super Lawyer in real estate for each year the designation has been available to Michigan attorneys, has been recognized by Best Lawyers® 2013 in the areas of litigation-real estate and real estate law and recognized as a Top Lawyer by DBusiness® magazine. He was elected to the American College of Real Estate Lawyers in 1989 and is a member of the American College Committee on Title Insurance Law. His practice concentrates in the areas of Real Estate, Title Insurance Law, Civil Litigation and Corporate Law. Strote, Best Lawyers®, Detroit Area Construction Lawyer of the Year has been named Best Lawyers, 2013 Detroit Litigation-Construction Lawyer of the Year. He has also been acknowledged as one of the top 100 lawyers in Michigan by Michigan Super Lawyers® for the fifth consecutive year. Strote has also been named a Top Lawyer in DBusiness magazine for 2013. In addition to his client representation, he is actively involved in alternative dispute resolution as an arbitrator and mediator, being certified by the International Mediation Institute, The Hague, Netherlands. Forrest has been named Top Lawyer in DBusiness magazine for 2013. Forrest's practice focuses on Franchise and Distribution Law, Commercial Contracts, Business Planning, and Corporate Law. * * * 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 2013 edition of "Best Law Firms." Miller Canfield has more first-tier metropolitan rankings than any other law firm in Michigan - 77 in all - and is the only firm with a first-tier ranking in Michigan in Private Funds / Hedge Funds Law. In addition, Miller Canfield has the most first-tier rankings in the U.S. in Municipal Litigation and received national first-tier rankings in Product Liability Litigation-Defendants, Professional Malpractice Law-Defendants and Public Finance Law. * * * Ken Neuman, managing partner of Neuman Anderson PC, a Birmingham-based business law firm specializing in complex commercial litigation, has been named one of The Best Lawyers in America® in the practice area of real estate litigation for the second consecutive year. Neuman concentrates his practice in complex commercial litigation and business consulting, with a focus on corporate, real estate/construction, accounting and forensic issues, and contract disputes. He has more than 25 years of litigation experience and has obtained multiple verdicts and arbitration awards in excess of $1 million, including an $11 million breach of contract action judgment and a $3 million judgment in a suit involving a civil fraud case. Neuman is a registered certified public accountant (CPA) and spent several years with one of the "big eight" accounting firms prior to beginning his legal career. He has been named a Michigan Super Lawyer since 2007 and a DBusiness magazine Top Lawyer. Neuman is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, Michigan Association for Justice, and American Association of Attorney-Certified Public Accountants. He is a graduate of Michigan State University and Wayne State University Law School. * * * Plunkett Cooney recently received a top AV® PreeminentTM rating from Martindale-HubbellTM, a leading legal services peer and client review service. "This is a significant accomplishment for Plunkett Cooney and is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our attorneys and staff," said the firm's President and CEO Henry B. Cooney. "I'm extremely happy and proud to know that our clients and peers from other firms consider Plunkett Cooney to be a top tier law firm." Following its award notification, Plunkett Cooney was listed among Martindale-Hubbell's AV® PreeminentTM firms in a special feature appearing in a recent issue of Fortune magazine. In addition to Plunkett Cooney's firm level rating, over 56 percent of its attorneys have personally received an AV® PreeminentTM rating based on feedback from their peers. According to Martindale-Hubbell, Plunkett Cooney has one of the highest percentages of AV® PreeminentTM rated attorneys. Additionally, in its annual review of the state's top young attorneys, Michigan Super Lawyers magazine has awarded 11 lawyers from Plunkett Cooney, one of Michigan's oldest and largest law firms, its "Rising Star" honor. Attorneys Hilary A. Ballentine, Celeste M. Dunn, Paul J. Dwaihy; Gary W. Francis, Jeffrey S. Hengeveld, Marc P. Jerabeck, Chiara Mattieson, Megan P. McKnight, Lauren B. McMillen, George A. Netschke IV, and Elaine M. Pohl were recently notified of their "Rising Star" mention in the 2012 edition of Michigan Super Lawyers magazine. A first time Rising Star is attorney McMillen of the firm's Bloomfield Hills office. McMillen concentrates her practice in the area of insurance coverage, which includes such issues as environmental contamination, construction defect and high-exposure product liability claims. She is admitted to practice in Michigan and Indiana's state and federal courts, as well as in Illinois. A graduate of Michigan State University College of Law in 2007, McMillen earned her undergraduate degree from the James Madison College at Michigan State University in 2004. Ballentine is a member of the firm's Bloomfield Hills office who concentrates her practice exclusively in the area of appellate law with an emphasis on general liability, municipal law, construction liability, constitutional law and medical liability cases. Ballentine is admitted to practice in Michigan's state and federal courts. A graduate from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 2006, she earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan - Dearborn in 2003. Dunn, a senior attorney in the firm's Litigation Department, focuses her practice in the areas of family law and domestic relations. Dunn has helped clients resolve a variety of family law matters, including, but not limited to, divorce litigation, custody and parenting time disputes, child support, spousal support, change of domicile actions, enforcement and contempt proceedings, personal protection orders and pre and post-nuptial agreements. A member of the firm's Bloomfield Hills office, she is admitted to practice in Michigan's state and federal courts. Dunn earned her law degree from Wayne State University Law School in 2000, and she earned her undergraduate degree from Michigan State University in 1994. In the area of medical malpractice, Dwaihy has been named a "Rising Star" in 2008, 2010 and 2011, and again this year for his work in this complex area of practice. A member of the firm's Mount Clemens office and Medical Liability Practice Group, Dwaihy concentrates his practice on defending medical malpractice litigation with a particular emphasis on birth trauma cases. A graduate from Michigan State University College of Law in 2003, he earned his undergraduate degree from University of Michigan in 2000. A member of Plunkett Cooney's Labor and Employment Practice Group, Francis has once again this year been recognized as a "Rising Star," an honor he first received in 2008. Francis focuses his practice primarily on traditional labor law, employment law and employee benefits (ERISA). A member of the firm's Bloomfield Hills office, Francis received his master's degree in Labor Law from Wayne State University Law School in 2007 and both his undergraduate and law degrees from Michigan State University. Hengeveld has been recognized as a "Rising Star" in 2008, 2010 and 2011 in the area of professional liability: defense. He exclusively represents attorneys, accountants and real estate professionals in professional liability litigation with various types of underlying issues ranging from bankruptcy to motor vehicle no-fault law. Hengeveld is a 2003 graduate of Michigan State University College of Law, and he earned his undergraduate degree from James Madison College at Michigan State University in 2000. Previously recognized as a "Rising Star" in 2009, Jerabek is a member of the firm's Banking, Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights Practice Group. Jerabek has particular experience in commercial transactions; creditor's rights; real estate law, including evictions, quiet title, boundary disputes, dangerous building proceedings, curing title defects; commercial litigation and collections. He graduated from Wayne State University Law School in 2004 and received his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University in 2000. Mattieson, a member of the firm's Litigation and Commercial Litigation practice groups, was 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. Her clients include insurance companies, national retail chains, financial institutions and other businesses involved in litigation. Mattieson received her law and undergraduate degrees from Wayne State University in 2003 and 2000, respectively. Also named a "Rising Star" for the past three consecutive years is McKnight, an attorney in Plunkett Cooney's Banking, Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights and Commercial Litigation practice groups. Recognized for her work in business litigation, McKnight focuses her practice primarily in the area of banking and lender liability disputes. She has experience representing financial institutions and corporate clients in disputes ranging from loan defaults and workouts to complex collection actions and real estate litigation. McKnight earned her law degree from University of Michigan Law School in 2003 and her undergraduate degree from Kalamazoo College in 1999. A member of the firm's Construction Law and Banking, Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights practice groups, Netschke has been recognized for four consecutive years as a "Rising Star" in the area of construction litigation. Another of his primary practice areas is banking law where he has particular expertise with commercial real estate loan workouts, including mortgage foreclosures, deed in lieu transactions, receiverships, sales through receivers, REO sales and resulting litigation. Netschke earned his law degree from Wayne State University Law School in 2001 and his undergraduate degree from James Madison College at Michigan State University in 1996. Rounding out Plunkett Cooney's list of "Rising Stars" for 2012 is Pohl, a partner in the firm's Bloomfield Hills office. Pohl has been selected as a "Rising Star" for her experience and expertise in the area of insurance coverage. Pohl represents insurance companies in litigation involving complex insurance coverage disputes. A graduate of Indiana University School of Law in 1999, she received her undergraduate degree from Villanova University in 1996. Also, Michigan Super Lawyers magazine recently named 32 attorneys from Plunkett Cooney to its 2012 list of "Super Lawyers." Below is a list of local Plunkett Cooney's partners who have received the 2012 Michigan Super Lawyer designation: Plunkett Cooney's Bloomfield Hills office members: * Michael P. Ashcraft Jr. - Professional Liability: Defense. * Douglas C. Bernstein - Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights. * William D. Booth - Alternative Dispute Resolution. * Charles W. Browning - Insurance Coverage. * Henry B. Cooney - Civil Litigation Defense. * Dennis G. Cowan - Land Use/Zoning. * Jerome A. Galante - Construction Litigation. * Jeffrey C. Gerish - Appellate. * Robert G. Kamenec - Appellate. * Theresa Smith Lloyd - Employment & Labor . * Stanley C. Moore III - Employment & Labor. * Kenneth C. Newa - Insurance Coverage. * Scott H. Sirich - Construction Litigation . * Leslie J. Stein - Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights. * D. Jerry Watters - Personal Injury Defense: Medical Malpractice . * Michael D. Weaver - Personal Injury Defense: Products. Plunkett Cooney's Detroit office members: * Loretta M. Ames - Personal Injury Defense: General. * Ernest R. Bazzana - Appellate. * James R. Geroux - Workers' Compensation. * Christine D. Oldani - Appellate. * Stanley A. Prokop - Insurance Coverage. * Mary Catherine Rentz - Insurance Coverage Plunkett Cooney's Mount Clemens office members:. * D. Jennifer Andreou - Personal Injury Defense: Medical Malpractice. * Lawrence R. Donaldson - Alternative Dispute Resolution. Additionally, Mary Massaron Ross, a partner of Plunkett Cooney was recently installed as President of the DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar (DRI). Massaron Ross, who currently serves as Plunkett Cooney's Appellate Law Practice Group Leader and a member of the firm's Board of Directors, became President of DRI for a one-year term during the DRI annual meeting on Oct. 24-28 in New Orleans. To serve as president is the culmination of Massaron Ross's long-time service to DRI, an international organization based in Chicago with more than 22,000 members including attorneys defending businesses and individuals in civil litigation as well as many corporate and insurer in-house attorneys. Massaron Ross has served in a number of leadership positions, including chair of DRI's Appellate Advocacy Committee, serving as a member of its Amicus Committee, and serving for three years on the board of directors. Known as "the Voice of the Defense Bar," DRI has existed for more than 50 years. During that time, DRI has provided outstanding educational and informational resources to its members. DRI also offers many opportunities for liaison among defense trial lawyers, corporate America, and state and local defense organizations. Massaron Ross, who previously served as a law clerk to former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Patricia J. Boyle, practices in Plunkett Cooney's Bloomfield Hills office. She has handled hundreds of appeals in state and federal appellate courts, including having appeared in the Michigan Supreme Court, the Indiana Supreme Court, and the Ohio Supreme Court. She has handled more than one hundred cases in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and has also appeared in the Third and Seventh Circuit Courts of Appeal. Massaron Ross is a past chair of the Appellate Practice Section of the State Bar of Michigan and the American Bar Association (ABA) Council of Appellate Lawyers (CAL), a division of the Appellate Judges Conference. A member of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, Massaron Ross co-chairs the Michigan Appellate Bench Bar Conference Foundation, an organization of Michigan appellate judges and lawyers. She is also a former chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Amicus Curiae Briefs, the five-member committee that oversees preparation of ABA briefs for filing in the U.S. Supreme Court. * * * Andrew B. Wachler of Wachler & Associates presented "The Audit Landscape: MICs, RACs and ZPICs," to an audience of nursing and assisted living professionals at the HCAM/MCAL 2012 National Convention and Expo in Grand Rapids in September. In addition to discussing strategic approaches and comprehensive audit defenses, Wachler emphasized that assisted living professionals must focus on compliance measures to proactively prepare for scrutiny from Medicare and Medicaid contractors. Steps that assisted living professionals could take include implementing a compliance program that addresses actions a health care entity should take in the event of an audit or if a third-party payor or government entity institutes an investigation. In addition, compliance programs are effective tools to outline proper documentation protocols, including the retention of documentation. Although Medicare and Medicaid audit contractors are very active, health care providers with effective compliance programs are better prepared for an audit in the event one occurs. Wachler also delivered, "MICs, MACs, RACs and ZPICs: Latest Developments, Emerging Legal Issues and Successful Appeal Strategies," to the Physician Hospitals of America (PHA), at the group's annual conference in Austin, TX, in September. In addition to discussing strategic approaches and comprehensive audit defenses, Wachler emphasized that health care providers must focus on compliance measures to proactively prepare for scrutiny from Medicare and Medicaid contractors. He also presented, "RACs, MACs, ZPICs and Other Contractors: Latest Developments and Successful Strategies for Combating Medicare Audits," to AHLA/HCCA members at a fraud and compliance event in Baltimore, MD, in October. In addition to discussing strategic approaches and comprehensive audit defenses, Wachler emphasized that health care providers must focus on compliance measures to proactively prepare for scrutiny from Medicare and Medicaid contractors. 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. * * * Two attorneys from Williams, Williams, Rattner, & Plunkett PC in Birmingham have been selected for inclusion in Thomson Reuters' list of the "The Top 100" Michigan attorneys listed in "SuperLawyers 2012." James P. Cunningham is a partner whose law practice focuses on family law and Richard D. Rattner, is partner whose law practice focuses on real estate, land use, zoning and corporate law. * * * Eric J. Pelton of Kienbaum, Opperwall, Hardy, & Pelton PLC was elected as a Fellow to the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.Election as a Fellow is the highest recognition by one's colleagues of sustained outstanding performance in the labor and employment law profession, exemplifying integrity, dedication, and excellence. The 17th installation of Fellows was held on Nov. 3 in Atlanta. With the current installation, the college is represented by 1,200 members in 43 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and six Canadian provinces. Pelton is a founding member of the firm, Kienbaum, Opperwall, Hardy, & Pelton, and serves as its managing member. He has represented employers in litigation and concerning traditional labor matters for 25 years. He has tried, arbitrated, and mediated cases throughout the country. He has also enjoyed representing clients on election law issues and previously served on the Michigan Board of State Canvassers. Pelton is currently a member of the Michigan Board of Law Examiners having been appointed by the Governor on nomination by the Michigan Supreme Court. Pelton has been identified by Chambers USA as a leader in the employment field in Michigan. He is also listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the employment and labor field. Published: Mon, Nov 19, 2012