LEGAL PEOPLE

Attorney Mark S. Kopson, who serves as the Healthcare Industry Group Leader of Plunkett Cooney, has been appointed to a one-year term as chair of the Payers, Plans and Managed Care (PPMC) Practice Group of the American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA). The AHLA is the nation's largest nonpartisan educational organization devoted to legal issues in the healthcare field. The association's 12,500 members practice in a variety of healthcare settings. The PPMC Practice Group addresses legal issues concerning health plans, insurers and managed care providers, including provider and government contracting, plan operations and management, litigation, and compliance. PPMC provides education materials and leading-edge content to members from virtually every major US health plan and many of the nation's largest provider organizations As PPMC chair, Kopson's responsibilities include overseeing all PPMC activities, five vice-chairs and three Affinity Groups; working on projects with the AHLA president; and serving as liaison between PPMC and the AHLA board of directors. A shareholder in Plunkett Cooney's Bloomfield Hills office, Kopson represents healthcare providers and integrated delivery systems, payers and other managed care entities in Michigan and throughout the United States. He has experience and expertise in the areas of managed care negotiation, contracting and dispute resolution, performance/outcomes-based reimbursement and revenue cycle, and as well as regulatory compliance and agency investigation response. His practice also includes the formation and counseling of integrated delivery networks, certificates of need and regulatory issues related to for-profit acquisitions of non-profit providers. Kopson is a life member of the AHLA having previously served six years as a vice-chair of PPMC and one year as chair of its Managed Care Contracting Affinity Group, as well as two years on the AHLA Board Mentoring Committee. He is secretary of the Health Care Law Section, and member of the Business Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan; as well as the Business Law, Health Law, and Law Practice Management sections of the American Bar Association. Kopson is a 1985 graduate of the University of Detroit School of Law. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Detroit in 1981. - - - The Michigan Supreme Court has named Edward Zobeck to lead its Human Resources Division. With more than 25 years of experience, Zobeck will provide guidance and leadership on human resource issues for the more than 400 employees of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO), and provide supportive counsel to our trial courts. "I'm impressed by the service commitment of the leadership and staff at the Hall of Justice and looking forward to working with them," said Zobeck. Zobeck was most recently executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Delta Dental Plans of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana where he also served as chief human resources officer for Renaissance Health Service Corporation (RHSC). A nonprofit holding company for Delta Dental Plan companies in 8 states, RHSC companies employ more than 1,100 people. In this role, Zobeck led a staff of 300 where he directed initiatives to integrate affiliated companies in Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, New Mexico, North Carolina, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee. Previously, Zobeck was vice president, Human Resources, with The Auto Club Group (ACG), a multi-line property and casualty insurance company with 6,200 employees. During a 21-year career at the ACG, Zobeck worked in a variety of human resource functions such as training, organizational development, health, welfare, and retirement benefits. In particular, he managed the human resource integration of AAA Clubs acquired by the ACG in Illinois, Nebraska, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Zobeck has both master's and bachelor's degrees from Wayne State University as well as an associate's degree from Macomb County Community College. He began his career as a police officer in the City of Detroit Police Department. - - - Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, and Cohn LLP has earned a place on the State Bar of Michigan's inaugural list of firms at the leadership level in its annual Pro Bono Circle of Excellence. Being at the leadership level indicates that Honigman has achieved 100 percent participation at the highest level of the voluntary pro bono standard set by the State Bar. Qualifying activities include volunteer legal services for low-income individuals and organizations, and financial contributions to support legal services for those clients. "Honigman has been recognized by the State Bar for its pro bono work every year since the inception of the Circle of Excellence 10 years ago and we are proud to be an inaugural member of the leadership level," said Jennifer Belveal, chair of the firm's Pro Bono Committee. "Throughout our firm's 65 year history, we have had a strong commitment to provide services to people who would otherwise be without representation in important legal matters." - - - Pepper Hamilton LLP Corporate Restructuring and Bankruptcy Partner Deborah Kovsky-Apap was named one of Detroit's Top Young Lawyers by DBusiness magazine. Kovsky-Apap focuses her practice on insolvency and out-of-court workouts. She also has litigation and trial experience in the areas of bankruptcy, commercial, and securities law. Kovsky-Apap currently represents the City of Detroit in its Chapter 9 bankruptcy proceedings, the largest municipal bankruptcy filing in U.S. history by debt. "I get a lot of satisfaction knowing that I've done the very best I can for my clients and having the recognition from the community and my peers is very gratifying," Kovsky-Apap said. She is a graduate of Harvard College (1996) and Columbia Law School (2003). - - - Butzel Long attorney Ziyad I. Hermiz is one of 47 business and non-profit professionals who completed the requirements for Leadership Oakland, a year-long leadership development program. The class of LOXXIV gained leadership insight personally, professionally and through public awareness and service. Based in Butzel Long's Detroit office, Hermiz concentrates his practice in the area of business litigation and was named a Michigan Super Lawyers Rising Star (Business Litigation) 2012-2013. Hermiz also has served as a coordinator for the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association's Access to Justice Program's legal clinic, providing pro bono legal services. In 2011, he was honored during the Legal Aid and Defender Association Inc.'s First Annual Laddy's Pro Bono Awards Ceremony for exceptional pro bono volunteer service. Prior to joining Butzel Long, Hermiz interned for U.S. District Court Judge Avern Cohn, Eastern District of Michigan, (2007-2008). Hermiz recently served as the vice president of the Chaldean American Bar Association. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the American Bar Association. Hermiz is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Hermiz is a graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. He completed his undergraduate business studies at Michigan State University. - - - Isaac Sternheim has joined Fink + Associates Law as a litigation associate. Sternheim will work with the firm on commercial litigation, including individual and class actions, with a particular concentration on shareholder oppression, antitrust, municipal law and intergovernmental disputes. Sternheim received his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and his Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Beth Madrash Gohova. Sternheim is licensed to practice law in the State of Michigan and is a member of the American Bar Association and the Oakland County Bar Association. Published: Mon, Jul 28, 2014