Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently announced the following appointments to the State Board of Ethics, Detroit Financial Review Commission, and Human Trafficking Commission:
State Board of Ethics
Carlos A. Escurel Jr. is an associate principal attorney at Foley, Baron, Metzger, & Juip PLLC. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Michigan State University and a law degree from Wayne State University Law School. Escurel is appointed to represent Independents for a term commencing March 26, 2021 and expiring February 7, 2025. He succeeds Thomas C. Phillips whose term expired February 7, 2021.
The State Board of Ethics has jurisdiction to determine the ethical conduct of classified or unclassified state employees, and public officers of the executive branch of Michigan state government who are appointed by the Governor or another executive department official.
This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Detroit Financial Review Commission
Ronald L. Rose is a retired senior member with Dykema Gossett PLLC and the former executive director of Detroit Financial Review Commission. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from University of Pennsylvania and a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. Rose is reappointed for a term commencing March 26, 2021 and expiring November 9, 2024.
The Detroit Financial Review Commission is responsible for oversight of the City of Detroit and the Detroit Public Schools Community District. It ensures both are meeting statutory requirements, reviews and approves their budgets, and establishes programs and requirements for prudent fiscal management, among other roles and responsibilities.
This appointment is not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Human Trafficking Commission
Hassan Beydoun is general counsel for the Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Wayne State University and a law degree from University of Iowa College of Law. Beydoun is reappointed to represent individuals submitted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives for a term commencing March 26, 2021 and expiring March 1, 2023.
The Human Trafficking Commission is designed to identify sources for grants that will assist in examining and countering human trafficking, fund research programs to determine the extent and nature of human trafficking in this state, and provide information and training to police officers, prosecutors, court personnel, social services personnel, and other individuals.
This appointment is not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
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Justin G. Klimko, president and CEO of Butzel Long, will receive the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Detroit Lifetime Achievement Award at an event later this year. The award is presented as part of ACG Detroit's Annual M&A All Star Awards. Klimko is a board member and secretary of ACG Detroit.
Based in the firm's Detroit office, Klimko has experience in securities regulation, corporate financing, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and general corporate matters, areas in which he has practiced since 1980. He has received numerous awards and recognitions for business law matters and is ranked as one of Michigan's leading corporate and M&A lawyers.
Klimko is a past chair of the State Bar of Michigan Business Law Section and a past recipient of the Section's Stephen H. Schulman Outstanding Business Lawyer Award. He co-chairs the Section's Corporate Laws Committee, responsible for development of Michigan's corporate statute.
He also has chaired the Section's Ad Hoc Committee on Legal Opinions, which has issued reports to address opinion issues in business transactions, including issues specific to Michigan law, and is a member of the TriBar Opinion Committee, a national committee addressing opinions in business transaction.
Klimko previously taught corporation law as an adjunct professor at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, frequently lectures and authors articles on business law subjects and has served as general editor of a treatise on Michigan Business Forms and as a contributing author for a treatise on Michigan contract law.
He is included in the publication The Best Lawyers in America and enjoys an "AV" rating from the Martindale-Hubbell rating system. Klimko is rated one of Michigan's top Corporate/M&A attorneys by Chambers USA Guide of America's Leading Lawyers for Business and is listed in Michigan Super Lawyers (Mergers and Acquisitions).
In addition, Butzel Long announces that its newly elected board member and Vice President Geaneen M. Arends is the first person of color and third woman to serve in this law firm leadership role in the firm's 167 year history.
Last October, Arends, a shareholder, was named practice department chair for the firm's Corporate and Real Estate Practice Departments. She is responsible for the management and oversight of the firm's Corporate and Real Estate attorneys who report to her as well as for the strategic goals, budgeting, forecasting, and direction of the practice groups.
Based in the firm's Detroit office, Arends concentrates her practice in mergers and acquisitions, business formation, general business and commercial real estate transactions.
"This is a pivotal moment for me in my career and for Butzel Long," said Arends. "I am honored to be the first person of color in the firm's history to be elected to the firm's Board of Directors.
"As a mother to twin daughters, I strive to be a strong role model and they know their future is limitless," she added. "I look forward to serving in this important Butzel Long role."
Arends has a long-time commitment to pro-bono work and community service. She serves as first vice-chair of the Board of Trustees of the Detroit Historical Society (Detroit Historical Museum and Dossin Great Lakes Museum) and is a trustee of the Detroit Educational Television Foundation/Detroit Public Television (Detroit PBS). She also serves on the Steering Committee for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Classical Roots Celebration.
Arends is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, serves on the Real Estate Advisory Board for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, and is an alumna of Leadership Detroit, Class XXVII. She also is the chair of Butzel Long's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.
Arends is a graduate of Michigan State University (B.A., History, 1994) and Boston College Law School (1998). She is admitted to the State Bar of Michigan and the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Michigan.
Butzel Long is also pleased to announce that Kurtis T. Wilder, a shareholder with the firm, has been named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly's Hall of Fame Class of 2021. He is one of 21 attorneys who will be honored during a virtual program on April 13 and profiled in an upcoming edition.
Former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Wilder concentrates his practice in litigation, appeals, and mediation and facilitation. He served on the Michigan Supreme Court following his appointment by Governor Rick Snyder on May 9, 2017. Prior to that time, Wilder served as a judge on the Michigan Court of Appeals from December 1998 to May 2017 and a judge of the Washtenaw County Trial Court from April 1992 to December 1998.
Wilder, the 112th justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, graduated from the University of Michigan with an A.B. degree in Political Science in 1981, and from the University of Michigan Law School with a law degree in 1984.
In 2020, Wilder was elected first vice-chair and chair-elect of the Interlochen Center for the Arts Board of Trustees, and secretary of the Board of Directors of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Wilder also serves on the boards of the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars, and The Children's Foundation. He is an elder and Chancel Choir member at First Presbyterian Church of Plymouth, and has memberships in the Fellows of the Michigan State Bar Foundation, the Federalist Society, Board of Advisors, Lawyers Division-Michigan Chapter, and the Wolverine Bar Association.
He is a past president of the Michigan Judges Association, and past chairman of the State Bar of Michigan Judicial Conference.
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Attorney Brian A. Kreucher has been named to "Michigan's Go To Employment Law Lawyers" class of 2021 by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. The award recognizes the top 20 lawyers across the state in a given practice area as nominated by their peers.
Kreucher, who practices out of Howard & Howard's Royal Oak office, is a labor and employment attorney with more 30 years of experience. He provides strategic advice and defends companies of all sizes in a broad range of industries and fields.
Kreucher assists clients in navigating the "alphabet soup" of employment and labor laws (ADA, ADAA, ADEA, COBRA, EEOC, ERISA, FLSA, FMLA, GINA, MIOSHA, NLRA, OSHA, Title VII, USERRA, WARN, ELCRA and PWDCRA) and provides technical and practical advice on legal compliance.
Kreucher has been recognized by DBusiness "Top Lawyers," (2017; 2019-2020) and Michigan Leading Lawyers in 2020. He received his law degree from Wayne State University Law School and his B.B.A. from the University of Michigan.
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Warner Norcross + Judd has been recognized for the eighth time as a national leader in client services among law firms.
The recent BTI Client Service A-Team survey, conducted by BTI Consulting Group, evaluates individual law firm performance through the eyes of the client. Law firms are judged on 17 activities that fall into four categories related to financial benefits, client loyalty, quality of service and going above and beyond for the client. Corporate counsel looks for firms that offer the deepest understanding of their business, best value proposition and superior client service.
"We are proud to once again be recognized by our clients and by BTI Consulting as a Client Service A-Team member," said Douglas A. Dozeman, managing partner of Warner. "Providing superior service is the cornerstone of our firm, and our clients are at the heart of everything we do. The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted our commitment to clients as we have continued to provide the focus, problem-solving and innovation they have come to expect. It is gratifying to be honored as a leader for these services."
Criteria used include:
• Mobilizes resources quickly
• Fielding the absolute best team
• Quickly assessing the situation
• Understanding the client's business
• Commitment to help
• Delivering value for the dollar
• Client focus
