Legal People ...

Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce that Benjamin Sobczak (member, Troy) has been elected to the State Bar of Michigan’s Cannabis Law Section Council.

“I’m honored to join the Cannabis Law Section Council and look forward to working with my colleagues to expand the Council’s work throughout the state,” Sobczak said.

The Cannabis Law Section Council works to improve and expand the knowledge of lawyers who engage in the practice of cannabis law within the State of Michigan.

Sobczak serves as outside general counsel providing regulatory and transactional-based services to cannabis companies in various jurisdictions throughout the U.S. and Canada. He is a frequent speaker at professional seminars and conferences and is recognized as a leading legal contributor to the Michigan cannabis industry.

Prior to joining Dickinson Wright, Sobczak served as the chief legal officer for a vertically integrated cannabis company with operations in Michigan and Massachusetts.

In addition, Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce that the firm’s litigation practice and its attorneys are recognized in the Benchmark Litigation United States 2023 Edition.

Benchmark Litigation recognized the following Dickinson Wright litigation practices and attorneys:

Michigan – Highly Recommended

Phillip DeRosier – United States (National) and Local Litigation Star
Brandon Hubbard – United States (National) and Local Litigation Star
Thomas McNeill – United States (National) and Local Litigation Star
Scott Petz – Future Star

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Crain’s Detroit Business recently named Jennifer LaTosch, attorney and partner at Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer, & Weiss, a Notable LGBTQ in Business. Jaffe CEO Mark Cooper made the announcement.

The Notable LGBTQ in Business award recognizes individuals in the Metro Detroit area who create safety and community where they live and work. The leaders on this list are change agents, door-openers and role models who hire and mentor other LBGTQ people and help them succeed.

As a partner and attorney in the firm’s Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice groups, LaTosch specializes in family and domestic relations law, including routine and complex divorces, post-judgment matters, custody and parenting time disputes, and other matters related to child support, adoption, and personal protection orders.

In addition to her work with clients, LaTosch is a member of Jaffe’s DEI Committee which is committed to creating a culturally responsive, sensitive and empowering environment for the firm’s attorneys, staff and clients. She has been involved in various efforts to help the firm move its culture forward in an intentional and inclusive manner.

Outside of the firm, LaTosch has served on the Board of Education for Ferndale Public Schools since 2014. In her eight-year tenure, she has led a complete restructuring of the district— making it one of the most welcoming and affirming school districts for LGBTQ students and staff in the state.

LaTosch graduated from Albion College with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and later earned her law degree from Wayne State University Law School. She is also certified in Collaborative Divorce Practice by the Collaborative Practice Institute of Michigan (CPIM).

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Butzel has added associate attorneys Erin Malone and Mostafa Shanta to the firm.

Malone concentrates her practice in the areas of media law, intellectual property, cybersecurity, technology, and litigation and dispute resolution in general. She focuses her practice on assisting with issues particularly in the areas of First Amendment, defamation, privacy, content-based claims, access issues, data protection, cybersecurity threat assessment, data breach and cyberattacks. She additionally assists in advising on pre-publication reviews, retraction demands, fair use analysis, licensing, entertainment contracts, and copyrights.

Malone earned a law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.  She is a graduate of the University of Michigan, where she received her B.A. in English and a B.A. in the Program in the Environment.

After receiving her undergraduate degree, Malone worked in advertising in Detroit in print production before shifting careers into the media realm. She became a photojournalist in local television news and worked with reporters and producers to deliver daily news for many years. Later on, she was promoted to field producer, producing her own feature segments.

Malone became certified as an FAA Part 107 drone pilot for commercial operators during her time in broadcast news and still flies her drone in her spare time. She enjoys advising and maintaining connections with media professionals as she understands the rigors of the daily life of a journalist and media professional.

Based in Butzel’s Detroit office, Shanta concentrates his practice on business and commercial litigation.

Shanta is a graduate of Michigan State University College of Law. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Yale University.

In addition, Butzel attorney Quendale G. Simmons has been named to Leadership Detroit’s Class XLIII.

Based in Butzel’s Detroit office, Simmons primarily focuses his practice on Business & Commercial Litigation. As a part of his practice, he represents businesses in complex business disputes and advises clients regarding their business legal needs.

Prior to joining Butzel, Simmons’ practice included the representation of corporations and individuals in civil litigation disputes involving personal, property, and casualty insurance claims. He also has worked as a judicial law clerk at the Wayne County Circuit Court, where he wrote judicial memoranda and legal opinions regarding pending civil lawsuits.

Simmons was recently named to The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch, Commercial Litigation, 2023. He is admitted to practice law in the State of Michigan and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Simmons is a graduate of the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law (2013).  He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan in 2010.

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The Law Offices of Barton Morris and Cannabis Legal Group have moved to Troy after spending more than 20 years in Royal Oak. The new office, which will be located at 801 West Big Beaver Road, will take up the entire sixth floor of the building.

Morris and his two dozen employees will occupy more than 13,000 square feet. Morris, who heads the criminal defense law firm, also practices corporate and business law including Real Estate, Intellectual Property, and a variety of transactional matters. Morris also founded Cannabis Legal Group.

Morris stated, “We needed a much larger space as I want to continue expanding my practice in order to serve the needs of all of our clients.”

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Zausmer Shareholder Devin Sullivan was recently named to Crain’s Detroit Business’ 2022 class of 40 under 40.

Sullivan, who has been an attorney at Zausmer since 2011 and a shareholder since 2018, focuses his practice on eminent domain matters, property law, and commercial litigation.  He frequently represents condemning agencies in complex eminent domain cases and was a key member of the trial team for multiple condemnation trial victories in Michigan’s Thumb region.  

Through his work as a special assistant attorney general, Sullivan has also been instrumental in securing land for the Gordie Howe International Bridge project.

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Varnum attorney Jailah Emerson has been appointed director of programming for the Wayne Region Women Lawyers Association of Michigan.

Emerson is an associate attorney on Varnum’s Litigation and Trial Practice Team. Her practice is primarily focused on complex commercial, family law, tax and insolvency litigation. She assists clients with a wide variety of commercial litigation issues ranging from standard breach of contract claims to complex real estate disputes.

Prior to her employment at Varnum, Emerson served as a legal intern at the U.S. Department of Justice and in the general counsel office of DTE. She also served as a legal extern to U.S. District Court Judge Victoria A. Roberts, Eastern District of Michigan. She graduated from University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and received her undergraduate degree from Michigan State University.

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Brooks Kushman is proud to announce that attorney Chelsea Pasquali has been named a “Rising Star” by Managing Intellectual Property (MIP) Magazine.

Pasquali focuses her practice on intellectual property litigation with an emphasis on patent, trademark, trade dress, unfair competition, and copyright litigation. She represents Fortune 500 Corporations, small businesses, and individuals in a variety of intellectual property claims.

Pasquali is experienced in the representation of trademark owners in opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, as well as counseling clients on clearance, prosecution, false advertising, enforcement of trademarks and copyrights, and counseling on domain name issues and license agreements.

Throughout her career, Pasquali has litigated a variety of cases in state and federal court. She has also represented clients before the Michigan Court of Appeals.

Brooks Kushman is also pleased to welcome Francesca Cusumano as the newest addition to its growing litigation team.

Cusumano focuses her practice on intellectual property litigation, patent preparation, and patent prosecution. She works in a variety of technology areas including industrial chemicals, materials sciences, and automotive systems.

Cusumano earned a law degree from Wayne State University Law School.  Prior to that, she graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and a minor in Moral and Political Philosophy.