LEGAL PEOPLE

Collins Einhorn Farrell PC is pleased to announce that attorney Arthur N. Dore has joined the firm.

Dore is a member of the firm’s General and Automotive Liability Practice Group and brings to the firm a background in complex commercial litigation. He has provided counsel in a range of legal issues but has specialized in construction matters including defect and impact claims, demolition, and defense of design professionals. Dore has also advised on real estate transactions, as well as business entity organization and automotive liability.

Dore is a graduate of Wayne State University Law School.  He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Oakland University.

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Barnes & Thornburg has announced that Kevin M. DiDio will be joining the firm’s Corporate Department in the firm’s southeast Michigan office.

DiDio focuses his practice on advising clients in highly technical and regulated industries including manufacturing, healthcare, life sciences, automotive, high-tech, investment banking, and financial services in regulatory matters, mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, and joint ventures. He has managed significant transactions for established manufacturers and startups.

Over the past 25 years, DiDio has become a trusted adviser to businesses seeking knowledgeable guidance in cross-border business transactions, private equity investments, joint ventures and strategic alliances, corporate finance, corporate structure and governance, and business taxation.

DiDio received his B.A. in economics from the University of Michigan and his law degree from Michigan State University College of Law.

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Maddin Hauser is pleased to announce that Andrew M. Creal has joined the firm as an associate attorney.

As a member of the Complex Litigation and Risk Advisory group, Creal will work on business and real estate matters, including general business and contractual disputes, business torts, shareholder oppression claims, supplier disputes, construction litigation, real estate disputes, land use and zoning issues, and other real property matters.  

Creal graduated from Wayne State University Law School in 2019 and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State University’s James Madison College in 2016.

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The Secrest Wardle Executive Committee is pleased to announce that effective March 1, the following attorneys were promoted:

• To the position of executive partner: Darice E. Weber
• To the position of partner: Robert M. Unatin

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Butzel recently elected George B. Donnini to serve on the firm’s Board of Directors during the firm’s annual meeting. He is a returning board member having served in this role from 2014 to 2018.

Donnini has also served in a variety of leadership roles with Butzel during his twenty-plus years at the firm. He currently serves as a Litigation Department chair and co-chair of the firm’s White-Collar Criminal Defense Practice.

Donnini is a shareholder with 20 years of experience in Detroit as a white-collar criminal defense practitioner. Prior to that, he practiced for several years in New York and California – two additional states in which he also is licensed to practice. He has handled a variety of cases including, but not limited to, health care fraud, public corruption, antitrust, environmental, tax, and securities fraud cases. In addition, a significant portion of his practice involves the handling of corporate internal investigations for public and private companies.  He rounded out the 2022 calendar year in impressive style securing two acquittals in federal court on behalf of his clients, one a lawyer, the other a doctor.  

In 2020, Donnini was named a “Notable Veteran” by Crain’s Detroit Business. Donnini, along with a group of local attorneys, formed the Detroit chapter of the Veteran’s Bar Association, to gather for networking and mentorship.

He serves in leadership roles with the Eastern District of Michigan Chapter of the Federal Bar Association (currently serving as president-elect), American Bar Association (ABA), Criminal Justice Section, White Collar Crime Committee; Midwest Regional co-chair (2005-present) and the ABA Criminal Justice Section, Book Board, co-chair (2008-present).

Donnini is a 1995 graduate of George Washington University and a 1998 graduate of Duke University School of Law.

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Brian McKeen, founder and managing partner of McKeen & Associates recently announced the promotion of attorneys Steven Hurbis and Kenneth Lee to co-vice chairs of McKeen & Associates Executive Committee.

McKeen has also named McKeen & Associates attorney Laura Jones and office administrator Mark Hendrixson to the committee as representatives.

Hurbis joined McKeen & Associates after graduating from the University of Illinois College of Law and has distinguished himself in several high-profile medical malpractice cases and obtained large settlements and verdicts. Among other honors, Super Lawyers has named Hurbis a Rising Star.

Lee joined McKeen & Associates in 2015 after practicing business litigation at another firm upon graduation from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School. He has been involved in several high-profile cases and obtained large settlements and verdicts. Among other honors, Lee was recently named a Super Lawyer.

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The latest issue of Urban Aging News highlights an article on “How Important is it for You to Have a Will?” written by Norman “Gene” Richards of Cummings, McClorey, Davis, & Acho PLC. In this article, Richards shares the reasons why someone may—or may not—need a will and outlines what happens to a person’s assets when they have a will in place vs not having a will in place. Urban Aging News is a quarterly publication that provides information, insight, and inspiration for Metro Detroit’s maturing adults.

Richards is an attorney in the firm’s Livonia office where he focuses his practice on estate planning and elder law.  He assists clients with the development of customized estate plans to address their specific needs, including family owned businesses, senior adults concerned about long term care needs, and special needs trusts for children with special needs.