LEGAL PEOPLE

Matthew Schneider, the Michigan Supreme Court's chief of staff and general counsel, has been recognized as a "Leader in the Law" by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. A former federal prosecutor, Schneider was honored for his role in reforms to Michigan's judicial branch, including advocating for, and helping to draft, legislation to eliminate 36 trial court judgeships that were no longer justified by those courts' workloads. Schneider also helped draft and successfully advocated for Public Act 338 of 2012 to make it easier for courts to adopt concurrent jurisdiction plans. Concurrent jurisdiction plans allow circuit, probate, and district courts within the same judicial circuit to combine some functions and administration, making courts more efficient and improving public service. Schneider said he is "deeply honored to be recognized by Lawyers Weekly." But, he added, "the court reform work we've done so far is just the first wave. Our focus now is on performance measurement and technology, both of which are critical to helping the courts provide the best public service possible." Of particular importance is the "Next Generation" case information project, Schneider said. "The Michigan state courts don't have a single centralized system with detailed case information; 'NextGen' will fill that void. 'NextGen' was successfully piloted in Berrien County in August 2012; now the goal is to implement it in every one of the 249 trial court locations that currently use a system supported by Judicial Information Systems, the information technology division of the State Court Administrative Office. Ultimately, we hope every state trial court will be on NextGen." Schneider and colleagues plan to advocate for the restoration of $2.5 million in funding for the "NextGen" project; Governor Snyder included the funding in his proposed budget for the judiciary, but that funding was not included in budgets reported by Senate and House judiciary budget subcommittees. "With that funding, we're looking at a five-year roll-out of 'NextGen,' which is still longer than we'd like, but without the funding, we're looking at a much longer wait to get to a statewide system - perhaps as long as 20 years," Schneider said. "We don't think the Michigan public should have to wait that long for all the improvements that a unified case management system offers." Before joining the Supreme Court in 2011, Schneider was an assistant U.S. attorney in Detroit where he started in 2003; he served in the Public Corruption Unit which investigates and prosecutes corrupt public officials, organized crime, drug traffickers, and others. His responsibilities included training other attorneys and law enforcement officials. From 2002-2003, Schneider served as senior advisor and assistant general counsel in the White House Budget Office where he provided legal and policy advice to cabinet members and senior presidential staff. From 2000-2002, he was an associate in the Washington, D.C. law firm of Wiley, Rein, & Fielding LLP, where he advised clients on business and trade issues. Schneider earned his undergraduate degree in International Relations from Michigan State University. From 1996-1997, he served as public events and advance coordinator for Governor John Engler. A 2000 graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, Schneider is an adjunct professor at the Michigan State University College of Law where he teaches advanced criminal procedure. * * * Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce that Lingyan Yan has joined the firm as director of China Business Development. She will be based out of the firm's Troy office. Yan joins the firm from the Detroit Chinese Business Association, where she was executive vice president. With global business experience, she works with American and Chinese companies to identify China or U.S. market opportunities. Yan's advanced cross-cultural and bilingual language skills plus the experiences gained from her work has helped her to create a vast network of accomplished entrepreneurs, affluent investors and senior government officials from both the U.S. and China. At Dickinson Wright, Yan will lead efforts to promote the firm's China Practice and enhance the firm's cooperation and partnership with Chinese Companies doing business in North America. Yan is a member of the International Business Service Advisory Council for Automation Alley and an International Advisory Board Member of the China Association for Science and Technology. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Economics from Zhejiang University and a Master's degree in International Business Administration from California University of PA. Dickinson Wright PLLC is also pleased to announce that attorney Kathleen Lang has been selected to receive the 2013 "Excellence in Defense Award" from the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel. She is the first female recipient of the organization's highest honor. Lang will receive her award at the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel's Awards Banquet on June 22 at the Crystal Mountain Resort and Spa. Lang is a Member in Dickinson Wright's Detroit office and is the director of strategic development for the firm. With more than 25 years of experience, she has successfully represented clients in business litigation, class actions, intellectual property litigation, as well as environmental and personal injury defense. Lang has tried and arbitrated cases in federal and state forums throughout the United States and abroad, and counsels clients in litigation avoidance and pre-litigation strategy. Lang is a frequent lecturer and author of civil litigation topics and litigation skill, and is involved in leadership roles in many state and national bar organizations, and trial lawyer honorary societies. She earned her B.A. from Michigan State University and her law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. * * * Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, and Cohn LLP is pleased to announce that Joseph Aviv, a partner in its Litigation Department and office co-managing partner in the firm's Oakland County office, has been named one of 30 "Leaders in the Law" for 2013 by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. Aviv's practice focuses on complex corporate, securities, and class action litigation, constitutional law, trusts and non-routine matrimonial and divorce matters involving the valuation of family businesses. He also serves Honigman as a member of the Board of Directors, as co-leader of the Securities and Corporate Governance Litigation Practice Group, as leader of the Matrimonial and Family Law Practice Group, and as co-leader of the Trusts and Estate Litigation Practice Group. Michigan Lawyers Weekly also recognized Aviv in 2003 as "Lawyer of the Year" for his successful defense of Taubman Centers Inc. in the hostile takeover by another national shopping center development company. His accomplishments have been recognized by multiple peer and client rating organizations. Aviv has been recognized by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, from 2005 to 2012, as a Top Lawyer in the first tier of lawyers in the Litigation/General Commercial field in Michigan. Aviv has been named in the "Top 10" by Michigan Super Lawyers for five straight years, 2008 to 2012, and recognized by Best Lawyers in America from 2006 to 2013. He earned his law degree from Boston University and an A.B. from Brandeis University. Additionally,Howard B. Goldman has joined Honigman as a partner in the firm's Real Estate Department. He will be located in Honigman's Oakland County office. Goldman has been a practicing real estate lawyer for more than 25 years and has significant experience in representing borrowers and lenders in real estate transactions. He focuses his practice on negotiating secured loans, commercial mortgage-backed security loans, refinancings, loan workouts and foreclosures, ground leases and commercial sales and leasing matters. Goldman is a Fellow in the American College of Mortgage Attorneys and has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Michigan Super Lawyers and in DBusiness magazine's "Top Lawyers." He earned his law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law and a B.B.A. in accounting from Loyola University. He is admitted to practice in Michigan, Illinois and New York. Goldman joins Honigman from Thompson & Knight LLP in Detroit. Honigman also announces that Richard A. Barr and H. Kirk Meadows, partners in the firm's Environmental Department, recently authored a chapter of the American Bar publication, "Implementing Institutional Controls at Brownfields and Other Contaminated Sites," Second Edition. Barr is based in Honigman's Detroit office and chairs the firm's Investment Incentives and Tax Savings Practice Group. He focuses on the redevelopment of contaminated sites including the use of federal, state and local incentives for Brownfield redevelopment. He is a member of the Environmental Advisory Rules Committee of the State of Michigan Office of Regulatory Reinvention; the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Collaborative Stakeholder's Initiative; the Environmental Energy Policy Committee of the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce; and of the Environmental Policy Committee of the Michigan Manufacturers Association. He frequently speaks on the issues of tax incentives and Brownfield redevelopment at numerous conferences and symposia. Barr has been named to The Best Lawyers in America; as a "Top Lawyer" by DBusiness; and as a Michigan Super Lawyer. He earned his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and a B.B.A. in accounting from the University of Michigan. Meadows is based in Honigman's Lansing office. His practice covers a variety of environmental matters, with a focus on Brownfield redevelopment and related tax incentives, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and state law cleanups, corporate and real estate transactions, environmental permitting, environmental litigation and administrative appeals. He has been recognized by Michigan Super Lawyers as a "Rising Star." Meadows earned his law degree from Case Western Reserve University. He earned his B.A. from Michigan State University. * * * Sean M. Walsh, an attorney specializing in business disputes, has joined Butzel Long as a senior attorney. Walsh concentrates his practice in the area of business disputes, including automotive supply chain disputes, client, customer and vendor insolvency and bankruptcy, shareholder disputes, intellectual property disputes, medical billing and insurance fraud disputes and the enforcement and/or defense of actions for the violation of restrictive covenants. He regularly represents creditors, potential purchasers of assets and debtors in connection with the prosecution and defense of actions filed in the United States Bankruptcy Courts, including actions filed to set aside and/or recover avoidable preferences and other avoidance actions under Chapter 5 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, together with general bankruptcy matters on behalf of creditors, purchasers of assets and business debtors. Walsh has been admitted to practice law in the State of Michigan, the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan and Northern District of Illinois (including the Trial Bar), as well as a variety of federal District Courts and Bankruptcy Courts on a pro hac vice basis, including the Southern District of New York and the Northern District of Texas. He is fluent in Spanish, a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute and was named as a "Top Lawyer" for 2011 & 2012 by DBusiness magazine. Walsh is a graduate of Southern Methodist University, B.A. (Biology & Spanish - 1989), and he earned his law degree from the University of Toledo, College of Law, in 1993. * * * Adrienne Dresevic, founding shareholder of Southfield-based The Health Law Partners, spoke before the Radiology Business Management Association (RBMA) at their 2013 Building Better Radiology Marketing Program. Founding Shareholder Jessica Gustafson made the announcement. As a featured speaker, Dresevic spoke on two different legal and compliance subjects: "Marketing Your Services - What You Need to Know to Stay Out of Trouble," and "Continue the Conversation: Stark Q&A with the Attorney." The presentation and Q&A session reviewed the various marketing compliance matters and fraud and abuse issues that radiology providers face when developing and promoting their businesses. An avid writer and speaker, Dresevic has published more than 60 articles on health care law and presents at national conferences throughout the year. Dresevic's practice encompasses the full spectrum of health care law. She earned her law degree from Wayne State University Law School. * * * Michigan accident attorney Joumana Kayrouz announced the launching of the Joumana Kayrouz & Daughters Foundation with a initial $50,000 endowment. Named in honor of herself and her two daughters, Stephanie and Nathalie, the Kayrouz & Daughters Foundation will underwrite a special TV program in Lebanon that will showcase the challenges of needy people there and provide them with support. The show was broadcast on Lebanon's popular OTV (OTV.com) and worldwide during the Easter holiday season beginning March 31, the traditional date for the celebration of Easter among Catholics, through Sunday May 5, the date of the Orthodox Easter. "I have been very fortunate and my legal business has been very successful, thanks to God's blessings. I have always sought to share my successes with individuals, especially families and children who are in need," Kayrouz said in announcing the creation of the Kayrouz & Daughters Foundation. "The foundation will strive to help people in need, especially those seeking to overcome medical challenges. We are starting in Lebanon, but I hope to move forward and expand that outside of Lebanon to also include Metro-Detroit." Over the years, in founding the Michigan Center for Personal Injury and the Law Offices of Joumana Kayrouz PLLC, Kayrouz has been a major source of charitable donations to worthy causes, including but not limited last year donating $50,000 to the St. Jude's Children's Hospital in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the hospital's founding. Kayrouz said she was inspired to create the foundation during a visit to Lebanon this past December with Randa Berri, the Second Lady of Lebanon and the wife of the Speaker of the House Nabih Berri. Berri is also the head of the Lebanese Welfare Association for the Handicapped, and during the visit, the two discussed their mutual concern for the plight of disabled victims, especially children. Kayrouz donated $50,000 to Berri's charitable work and announced plans to build an Eye Center through Berri's own foundation. The foundation's vice president is Elie Farah, who represents the Kayrouz & Daughters Foundation in Lebanon, is supervising the production of the OTV Satellite TV special to be called "Oxygen." Farah said that the show has already identified 10 families who each has a special need. Each week, the stories and challenges of two of the families will be showcased in the one-hour TV show that will be broadcast throughout the world beginning with the show's March 31 premiere. Farah said the cases involved children and people who have been diagnosed with cancer, who are near blind, who are disabled in many different ways, and families who are in need of financial support. Kayrouz emphasized that the Kayrouz & Daughters Foundation will seek to help people regardless of race, religion or ethnic origin. Among those whose stories will be shared in the TV Program Oxygen include Christians, Muslims, Lebanese and Syrians. * * * Abbott Nicholson PC recently announced that it has been awarded recertification in Meritas, a global alliance of business law firms. Abbott Nicholson joined Meritas in 1990, and as a condition of its membership, is required to successfully complete recertification every three years. "We are proud of our firm's achievements, and look forward to continuing our relationship with Meritas," William D. Gilbride Jr., Abbott Nicholson president and CEO, said. "Meritas' Quality Assurance Program is not just valuable for our clients seeking legal expertise around the world, it also provides us with a framework to consistently monitor and address the quality of our services." * * * On Friday, April 12, Lorraine H. Weber will receive the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan's prestigious Jean King award during WLAM's ninety-fifth annual conference at the historic Book Cadillac. The award is the latest in a long series of recognitions for Weber, who has served as the executive director of the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association Foundation since 2003 and as co-founder and executive director of For The Seventh Generation, the DMBA's program for foster children, since 2005. "It would be a huge understatement to say that I'm thrilled to receive this award," said Weber. "Every legal professional in our state is deeply aware of the many contributions Jean King has made in politics, social policy, and education to advance the cause of women's equality. She is a role model and an inspiration, and I'm deeply honored to be recognized in her name." The daughter and granddaughter of attorneys and a graduate of the University of Michigan and Boston College of Law, Weber first joined the Wayne County Probate Court in 1979 and went on to serve the Probate and Juvenile Courts in several capacities, including as a referee of the Juvenile Division, for most of the next 18 years. Weber left the bench in July of 1997 to serve as special advisor to the State Bar of Michigan Task Force on Racial/Ethnic and Gender Issues in the Courts and the Legal Profession and director of the State Bar of Michigan Open Justice Commission. Under the leadership of Justice Marilyn Kelly and Judge Harold Hood, Weber worked with the commission to develop and administer numerous programs and initiatives specifically aimed at eliminating all forms of bias within the legal profession and promoting fairness in the courts. In August 2009, she was appointed the first Michigan Supreme Court Director of Access and Fairness by then Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Marilyn Kelly. In 2010 Weber was appointed by Chief Justice Kelly as co-chair of the Michigan Solutions on Self Help Task Force along with Linda Rexer of the Michigan State Bar Foundation. Together they led a statewide collaboration of judges, courts, lawyers, bar associations, funders, nonprofit legal aid agencies, legal self-help centers and others to develop a statewide system for providing comprehensive services to the public and courts for self-represented litigants, including the creation of the Michigan Legal Help website. She currently contributes to the ongoing development of this initiative in partnership with the Michigan State Bar Foundation. Weber is former chair of the State Bar of Michigan Representative Assembly and past president of the Women Lawyers Association, Wayne Region. She is a founding member and former board member of the National Consortium on Racial and Ethnic Fairness Issues in the Courts and received the Consortium's Founders Award in 1999. In 2003, Weber received the Community Service Pride Award from the Triangle Foundation, and in 2008 she was the recipient of the prestigious State Bar of Michigan Champion of Justice Award for her lifetime career of service to the causes of equal and open justice. * * * The law and professional service firms of Clark Hill PLC and Thorp Reed & Armstrong, LLP announce an agreement to merge the two firms, each with more than 100 years of history. The firms expect the merger to close in the second quarter of this year. The combined firm includes more than 300 attorneys in a wide variety of practice areas. The firm will operate in 12 offices in seven states plus the District of Columbia. Office locations are in Birmingham, Mich., Chicago, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Princeton, N.J., Washington, D.C., Wheeling, W.Va., and Wilmington, Del. The combined firm will utilize the brand name Clark Hill Thorp Reed in chosen markets, including all geographic markets where Thorp Reed & Armstrong has a presence today. However, its legal name will remain Clark Hill and the Clark Hill name will continue to be used in all of Clark Hill's current markets. The combined firm's decentralized structure empowers local offices to make business decisions in close proximity to clients in ways that meet the needs of their individual markets, while remaining consistent with the firm's culture and values. "This merger allows us to provide more value to our clients, with more expertise and capabilities in more places," said John J. Hern Jr., CEO of Clark Hill PLC and the combined firm. "We're investing in client relationships of all sizes while staying core to the common DNA which has made both firms successful for more than a century." The combined firm will offer clients specialized legal knowledge and extensive experience and resources in practice areas such as: * Banking and Finance Law. * Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law. * Technology and Intellectual Property Law. * Corporate Law. * Litigation. * Employment Law. * Insurance and Reinsurance. * Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation. * Construction and Real Estate Law. * Manufacturing and Distribution. * Bankruptcy and Financial Reorganization. Additionally, the merger will provide a strong foundation in which to develop new legal practice areas. * * * Sommers Schwartz PC is pleased to announce the election of attorney Jason J. Thompson to its Board of Directors. Thompson will join Matthew Curtis, Rick Groffsky, Kevin Stoops, and Dan Swanson who were all re-elected to the Board. Thompson, a senior shareholder with Sommers Schwartz, joined the firm in 2008 and chairs the firm's Complex Litigation Department. His practice focuses on class actions, multidistrict litigation (MDL), and other complex litigation in Michigan and around the country, and regularly appears in state and federal courts nationwide. Thompson has experience in a wide variety of cases, including defective pharmaceutical drugs and devices, consumer rights, RICO, FLSA (wage and hour violations), qui tam (False Claim Act and whistle blower cases), antitrust, and environmental torts. He represents institutional clients, such as municipalities, healthcare plans, and unions in complex business litigation, as well as individuals in personal injury and mass tort cases. Thompson earned his law degree from Michigan State University College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Southern California. He is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and has been listed among the Michigan Super Lawyers® since 2006. He is an active member of both the American Association for Justice and the Michigan Association for Justice, and will be teaching Complex Litigation as an adjunct professor at the Michigan State University College of Law beginning this fall. Published: Mon, Apr 8, 2013