Legal People

Bodman PLC

The journal Chambers High Net Worth (HNW), which evaluates legal and financial advisors worldwide, has ranked Bodman PLC as one of Michigan’s top law firms for services to high net worth individuals and families and their closely held businesses.

In the newly released 2020 edition of Chambers HNW, Bodman is one of only three law firms based in Michigan to be ranked at the highest “Band One” level for private wealth law.

Chambers HNW also recognizes individual attorneys who are viewed by their clients and peers as leaders in the field of private wealth law.  Bodman attorneys listed in the 2020 edition include David P. Larsen and Andrew H. Curoe of the firm’s Detroit office and Anthony P. Cracchiolo and Marguerite Munson Lentz of the Troy office.  For 2020, Larsen is one of only six Michigan attorneys ranked at the Band One level as an individual.

The attorneys in Bodman’s High Net Worth Group provide comprehensive legal services to affluent individuals and families. The firm’s clients include some of Michigan’s most well-known families, as well as business owners, executives, athletes, and other professionals seeking to minimize the tax burden on their heirs, make significant charitable donations, or complete complex personal transactions.

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Plunkett Cooney

Attorney Arturo Alfaro recently joined the Transportation Law Practice Group of Plunkett Cooney.

A member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, Alfaro focuses his practice on the defense of first- and third-party auto liability cases on behalf of national insurance companies and their policyholders. His practice includes advising clients on pre-suit claims, including strategic planning for anticipated litigation, and providing opinions regarding coverage and priority. Alfaro is also a Michigan Supreme Court certified Spanish court interpreter.

A recent graduate of the 2020 class of Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, Alfaro received his undergraduate degree in computer information systems from Baker College in 2004.

Active in the metro Detroit legal community, Alfaro is a member of the Hispanic Bar Association of Michigan, the State Bar of Michigan, and the Oakland County and Detroit bar associations.

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The Liblang Law Firm PC

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently announced the following appointments to the Collection Practices Board and the Michigan Women’s Commission:

—Collection Practices Board

Dani K. Liblang, of Birmingham, is an attorney and president of The Liblang Law Firm PC. She earned her law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.

Liblang is appointed to represent professionals for a term commencing July 10, 2020 and expiring June 30, 2024. She succeeds Rebecca Roberts whose term expired June 30, 2020. 

The Michigan Collection Practices Board was created to license and regulate collection agencies that directly or indirectly engage in soliciting a claim for collection or collect, or attempt to collect, a claim owed or due. The board works with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to oversee the practice of approximately 713 collection agencies and 525 collection agency managers. 

This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.  

—Michigan Women’s Commission

Faye Nelson, of Grosse Pointe Woods, is the director of Michigan programs for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Mercy College of Detroit and a law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Nelson is appointed for a term commencing July 16, 2020 and expiring July 15, 2023. She succeeds Barbara Land whose term expires July 15, 2020.

Misti M. Rice, of Rochester Hills, is the executive director of government affairs for Magna Internationa Inc. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Northeastern State University, Master of Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma, and a law degree from the University of Tulsa.  Rice is appointed for a term commencing July 16, 2020 and expiring July 15, 2023. She succeeds Krista Haroutunian whose term expires July 15, 2020.

The Michigan Women’s Commission was created by statute in 1968. The commission’s duties include reviewing the status of women in Michigan, directing attention to critical problems confronting women, recommending ways of overcoming discrimination, enabling women to develop skills, conducting surveys, and recognizing women’s accomplishments and contributions to Michigan.

These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. 

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Butzel Long

Butzel Long attorney and shareholder Claudia Rast has been appointed co-chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Cybersecurity Legal Task Force. To date, she has served six one-year terms since this Task Force was created in 2012.

The Task Force unites representatives from 25 ABA entities with cybersecurity expertise and leaders from the public, private, and technical sectors. From this cross-disciplinary vantage point, the Task Force identifies, compiles, creates, and promotes cybersecurity resources; focuses and coordinates the ABA’s analyses and assessments of cybersecurity proposals; leads projects and spotlights ABA cybersecurity initiatives; and undertakes a wide range of publishing, programming, and outreach.

Rast is a co-author of a book to be published this year titled, “Cyber Incident Response Handbook: A Resource for Attorneys, Law Firms, and Business Professionals.” In 2017, she co-authored a chapter to the second edition of The ABA Cybersecurity Handbook, which is heading for its third update and edition in 2021.

Rast, who chairs Butzel Long’s Intellectual Property, Cybersecurity and Emerging Technology Practice Department, blends her expertise in law, business, and science to assist companies in their strategic use of technology, counseling clients in the areas of privacy, cybersecurity, data security and governance, intellectual property licensing and registration, and the forensic preservation and analysis of electronically stored information.

With the rise of cyber events, and the vulnerability of business as their workforce connects from home in response to COVID-19, Rast’s background in forensics, IT environments and security has proved invaluable to both defend against and respond to cyber attacks and to conduct cybersecurity awareness and response training sessions.

Similarly, over the past several years, Rast has worked within both the IT entrepreneur community and the automotive supplier network to negotiate contracts covering innovative technologies associated with autonomous and connected vehicles, addressing security, privacy, IP ownership, and to the impacts of new laws and regulations, ranging from the General Data Protection Regulation in the EU to the California Consumer Privacy Act.

At the same time, Rast is an experienced environmental lawyer, focusing on alternative energy and sustainability practices, including work on the development of a global Rule of Law Index for environment and energy with the World Justice Project.  In 2019, she moderated an environmental rule of law panel at The Hague sponsored by the World Justice Forum.

She is a frequent national speaker on matters ranging from cybersecurity, privacy, and data governance. In addition, she has published numerous articles including an online privacy course for CPA’s to receive CPE credit.

Rast is a graduate of the University of Michigan (B.S., Natural Resources) and of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. In 2014, she successfully completed the four-week online program, “Tackling the Challenges of Big Data,” developed and taught by the faculty of the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory in collaboration with MIT Professional Education.

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Jackson Lewis PC

 Jackson Lewis PC is pleased to announce that Marlo Johnson Roebuck—managing principal of the firm’s Detroit and Grand Rapids Offices—has been elected a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers in the Class of 2020.

“It is truly an honor to be elected as a Fellow in the Class of 2020,” said Roebuck. “This year’s class is comprised of esteemed legal practitioners and I find myself in good company. I look forward to contributing to the activities of the College and working with many outstanding attorneys throughout the country.”

Roebuck has more than 20 years of legal experience and represents employers on the myriad of laws governing the workplace, including Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. She is an experienced litigator and employment law adviser to employers of all sizes. Roebuck frequently represents employers in the healthcare, financial, professional services, automotive, retail, real estate, higher education, manufacturing and life science industries from internal investigations all the way through trial and appeal.

Roebuck has attained summary judgment and no cause verdicts at trial and arbitration on behalf of clients, as well as procured reasonable settlements in mediation. Her workplace law practice also includes a focus on the matrix of laws governing the privacy, security, and management of data. Roebuck also trains senior leadership and human resource professionals on maintaining compliance with Equal Employment Opportunity policies and is a frequently sought after contributor, speaker, and author on preventing unlawful harassment, making religious accommodations, handling tricky terminations, employment law remedies, and best practices in hiring and inclusivity in the workplace.

Roebuck is a Chambers and Partners ranked attorney and is co-chair of the firm’s African American Attorney Resource Group. She earned her law degree from DePaul University College of Law and earned her B.B.A. from the University of Michigan.

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Dickinson Wright PLLC

Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce that Henry Grix (member, Troy) is listed as a “Leaders in their Fields” by Chambers 2020 High Net Worth (HNW) Guide.  Grix is listed under Private Wealth Law.

In addition, Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce that Attorney Scott A. Petz has been selected among America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators® for 2020. 

Petz is a member in the firm’s Troy office where he focuses his practice in the areas of commercial and business litigation, class and collective actions, labor litigation, consumer protection, and condemnation and land use.

Petz received his B.A. from Kalamazoo College and his law degree from The John Marshall Law School.


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Michigan Defense  Trial Counsel

The Michigan Defense Trial Counsel announces its 2020-2021 leaders.

—Officers:

• MDTC President, Terence P. Durkin of Kitch Attorneys & Counselors

• MDTC Vice President Deborah L. Brouwer of Nemeth Law PC

• MDTC Treasurer John Mucha III of Dawda, Mann, Mulcahy, & Sadler PC

• MDTC Secretary Michael J. Jolet of Hewson & Van Hellemont PC

—New Board Members:

• David F. Hansma of Seyburn Kahn PC

• Fredrick Livingston of Novara Tesija & Catenacci PLLC

• Victoria L. Convertino of Vandeveer Garzia PC

• Lisa Anderson of Rosati, Schultz, Joppich, & Amtsbuechler PC