Legal People

Taft

Taft is pleased to announce that numerous attorneys were recognized in Best Lawyers in America® 2024, as “Lawyer of the Year,” and as “Ones to Watch.”  The following local Taft attorneys were cited:

Best Lawyers in America 2024
Peter Alter, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – Real Estate
Jordan S. Bolton, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance
Trey Brice, Land Use and Zoning Law
Mark G. Cooper, Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance
Joel Golden, Trusts and Estates
Jeffrey Heuer, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Construction
Michael Jacobson, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Real Estate
Shirley Kaigler, Trusts and Estates
Lee B. Kellert, Corporate Law
Mark Kowalsky, Litigation – Securities
Mark Krysinski, Real Estate Law
Susan Lichterman, Family Law, Family Law Arbitration
Eli Maroko, Immigration Law
Judith Greenstone Miller, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Brian Raznick, Real Estate Law
James Rose, Appellate Practice
Mark Rubenfire, Real Estate Law
Aaron Sherbin, Trusts and Estates, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
William Sider, Tax Law
Arthur Siegal, Litigation – Environmental
Peter Sugar, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law, Securities Regulation
Susan Sutton, Trusts and Estates
Holli Hart Targan, Information Technology Law
Arthur A. Weiss, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Real Estate Law, Tax Law
Jay Welford, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
Richard Zussman, Real Estate Law

“Lawyer of the Year”
Susan S. Lichterman, Family Law.

“Ones to Watch”
Justin A. Hanna, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
James L. Kresta, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Real Estate
Emily M. Mayer, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law
Kate L. Ringler, Trusts and Estates
Paige M. Szymanski, Litigation – Securities
Daniel M. Ungar, Technology Law
Natalie A. Watkins, Corporate Governance and Compliance Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law

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Honigman LLP

Honigman LLP recently announced that Rana Sadek Roumayah has joined its Labor and Employment Department as a partner in the firm’s Detroit office. Roumayah joins Honigman after working for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for 23 years. At the NLRB, she developed an expertise in traditional labor law and other aspects of employment law. Specializing in case analysis, strategic planning, negotiations and compliance, Roumayah has litigated, negotiated, and tried hundreds of cases.

Roumayah earned her law degree from Wayne State University Law School and her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan.

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Dickinson Wright PLLC

Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce that Jason Z. Brainer has joined the firm’s Troy office as Of Counsel.

Brainer is a litigation attorney focusing his practice on creditor rights, government, corporate and nonprofit law. His legal experience spans both the private and public sectors. He has experience in the areas of international business development, risk, compliance, contract negotiation, and government relations.

Prior to joining DW, Brainer represented major banks in complex litigation and disputes. He also served as a transactional, non-profit, criminal defense and bankruptcy attorney, an international business development specialist in Latin America and Southeast Asia, and was a former U.S. diplomat who specialized in cyber, North Korean, and counterterrorism matters. He is also fluent in Spanish and has used his language proficiency in the practice of law and business development.

Brainer received his B.S. from Vanderbilt University and his law degree from Michigan State University College of Law.

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Secrest Wardle

Secrest Wardle is pleased to announce that several of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© 2024. The firm congratulates Senior Partner Thomas J. Azoni, Executive Partner Derk W. Beckerleg, Senior Partner and Co-Managing Partner Nathan J. Edmonds, Senior Partner Daniel P. Makarski, Senior Partner Mark F. Masters, Senior Partner Mark E. Morley, Senior Partner Anthony A. Randazzo, and Senior Partner, President, and Co-Managing Partner Bruce A. Truex of the Troy office.

Secrest Wardle is also proud to announce that Makarski has received Best Lawyers 2024 “Lawyer of the Year” award in the Insurance Law category for Troy.

In addition, Secrest Wardle is pleased to announce that eight of the firm’s attorneys have received 2024 Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch” recognitions: Matthew J. Consolo, Justin A. Grimske, Matthew C. Lindgren, Kaitlynn M. Milroy, Daniel S. Schrode II, Cleveland B. Simmons, Renee T. Townsend, and Javon L. Williams. All eight attorneys are located in the firm’s Troy office and have been listed in their respective categories in Troy.

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Maddin, Hauser, Roth, & Heller PC

Maddin Hauser proudly congratulates shareholder Kathleen H. Klaus for being welcomed into the Michigan State Bar Foundation 2023 Class of Fellows.

Klaus is a member of Maddin Hauser’s defense and insurance coverage group, specializing in complex professional liability defense, employment defense, and appellate cases. She represents lawyers, accountants, and insurance agents. Additionally, Klaus is a leader within the firm, serving on the executive committee. She has earned numerous awards, including Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year,” Super Lawyers “Top 50 Women in Michigan,” and DBusiness Top Lawyers.

The MSBF Fellows Program supports the foundation in providing leadership and grants to improve the administration of justice and the delivery of civil legal aid to low-income individuals and families.  For additional information, visit www.msbf.org.

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Ottenwess Law

A trio of attorneys from Ottenwess Law have been designated 2023 Michigan Super Lawyers.  

Founding Partner David Ottenwess has been named in the category of Medical Malpractice – Defense. He has been listed as a Michigan Super Lawyer since 2007.

Managing Partner Stephanie Ottenwess has been named as a Michigan Super Lawyer in the area of Health Care Law.

John Monnich Sr., Of Counsel, has also been selected as a Michigan Super Lawyer since 2006. He was listed in the category of Insurance Coverage.

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Jackson Lewis P.C.

Jackson Lewis PC is pleased to announce that seven attorneys from the firm’s Detroit office have been listed in the 30th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Jackson Lewis congratulates the following attorneys named to the 2024 Best Lawyers in America list:

Office Managing Principal and Office Litigation Manager Emily M. Petroski (Employment Law – Management; Litigation – Labor and Employment)

Principal Roderick D. Gillum (Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management; Litigation – Labor and Employment)

Principal Aimee Guthat (Immigration Law)

Principal Maurice G. Jenkins (Labor Law – Management; Litigation – Labor and Employment)

Principal Marlo Johnson Roebuck (Labor Law – Management)

Principal Katherine J. Van Dyke (Employment Law – Management)

Principal Gillian P. Yee (Employment Law – Management)

Bodman PLC

Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that Damali Sahu, a member of the firm’s Banking Practice Group, has been appointed chair of the Board of Directors of Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan.

In this role, Sahu will oversee the 25-member board of directors and provide leadership, guidance, and support for Gleaners’ mission to achieve a hunger-free community in Southeast Michigan. She will serve a term of three years and may be re-elected for up to two successive terms.

Headquartered in Detroit, Gleaners serves five southeast Michigan counties: Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, and Monroe. Gleaners provides food to more than 400 partner agencies, including schools, soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, and others across the region, and supplements the efforts of those partners by offering direct-service, drive-up grocery distributions.

Sahu has a long history of service to charitable, community, and professional organizations. She currently serves as the vice president and treasurer of the board of directors of New Paradigm College Prep school and is on the board of directors of the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion. She previously served as a board member of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Risk Management Association, a board member of African-American Attorneys in Downtown Firms (AAADF), and the vice president and treasurer of the board of directors of University YES Academy in Detroit.

Sahu’s legal practice is focused on representing financial institutions in general commercial loan transactions and real estate transactions, including single lender, syndicated and second lien loan transactions and small business administration guaranteed loans. She also has experience structuring, negotiating, and documenting secured and unsecured commercial loans to borrowers in a variety of industries. She is listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2023 under Banking and Finance Law and was selected for the Crain’s Detroit Business list of Notable Women in Law in 2021.

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Dawda, Mann, Mulcahy, & Sadler PLC

Dawda Mann is proud to announce that several of its attorneys have been recognized as Super Lawyers for 2023.

The recognized attorneys from Dawda Mann are:

Alfredo Casab, Business/Corp
Randal R. Cole, Employment & Labor
Brian J. Considine, Environmental
Edward C. Dawda, Business/Corp
Daniel M. Halprin, Real Estate
Jeffrey D. Moss, Tax
John Mucha III, Civil Litigation: Defense
Glenn G. Ross, Estate & Probate
Susan J. Sadler, Environmental
Marc K. Salach, Business/Corp
Wayne S. Segal, Real Estate
Richard M. Selik, Real Estate
Tyler D. Tennent, Land Use/Zoning
Frances Belzer Wilson, Business Litigation
Kylie E. Bergmann, Real Estate
Samuel Kokoszka, Real Estate
Michael Piggins, Civil Litigation: Defense
Erin Bowen Welch, Real Estate

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Butzel Long

Jennifer Dukarski, Butzel attorney, shareholder, and leader of the firm’s Connected and Autonomous Mobility Team, was featured during the Automotive News Congress on September 12 in Detroit. The global event series brought together the auto industry community to share ideas, insights and inspiration.

Dukarski participated in a panel discussion titled, “Liability of ADAS and Autonomy,” along with Martin Fischer, president, ZF North America and a member of the Board of Management ZF Group; Phil Koopman, associate professor, Carnegie Mellon University; and Pete Bigelow, director of mobility coverage, Automotive News. The panel program discussed who is at fault when the robot gets in a crash – the car owner, the car builder, the tech supplier?

Dukarski focuses her practice at the intersection of technology and communications with an emphasis on emerging and disruptive issues: digital media and content, cybersecurity and privacy, infotainment and shared mobility, and connected and autonomous cars. Dukarski has become a national leader in legal issues facing emerging automotive technology including challenging intellectual property issues surrounding data, artificial intelligence and automated systems.

A self-titled “recovering engineer,” Dukarski was named one of the 30 Women Defining the Future of Technology in January 2020 by Warner Communications for her innovative thoughts and contributions to the tech industry.

Dukarski is a graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law (2010). She’s also a graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy College of Engineering and Science, (B.S., Mechanical Engineering, 1996).

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Michigan Association for Justice

The Michigan Association for Justice (MAJ) has welcomed legal executive Mitchell Albers to the role of legal counsel. Albers will support MAJ’s focus on fighting for and promoting a fair and effective justice system. Steve Pontoni, MAJ executive director, made the announcement.

 Albers has been working in the policy and legislative space for a decade and brings that expertise to his new role at MAJ. Most recently, he served as director of legislative affairs for the Michigan Department of Attorney General, where he coordinated lobbying efforts regarding statutory issues.

Prior to joining the Michigan Department of Attorney General, he was deputy legal counsel and policy adviser in the Michigan House of Representatives Democratic Policy Office and was lead policy adviser for the House committees on Elections & Ethics, Insurance, Ways & Means, and the House Select Committee on Reducing Car Insurance Rates.

Additionally, Albers served as assistant director of government relations for the Michigan Association of School Boards, where he spearheaded advocacy efforts on issues affecting public education.

“MAJ has an established legacy of excellence, and it’s my distinct honor to be a part of the team committed to creating a safer, fairer, and responsible Michigan,” Albers said. “Given the current activity in the state legislature, this is the perfect time for me to join MAJ. I look forward to accomplishing great things with our lobby team on behalf of Michiganders in the days to come.”

Albers earned a B.A. from Bowling Green State University in 2009 and his law degree from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School in 2013.

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Brooks Kushman P.C.

Sangeeta Shah, CEO at Brooks Kushman, was welcomed into the 2023 Class of Fellows by the Michigan State Bar Foundation.

As CEO, Shah is responsible for leading Brooks Kushman’s Executive Committee. In addition to serving as the CEO, Shah maintains an active docket as an IP practitioner with more than 20 years of experience in managing patent portfolios, PTAB matters, patent litigation and opinions. Shah works closely with several Fortune 500 clients for whom she provides strategic counseling and guidance on global intellectual property portfolios. Her patent expertise has resulted in national recognition from Managing IP, Best Lawyers, IAM, AIPLA and the PTAB Bar Association.

Prior to becoming CEO, Shah served as the firm’s chief diversity officer. In that position, she developed and implemented a range of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within and outside of the firm through outreach programs and partnerships. Under her leadership, the firm was recognized in 2018 and 2019 by ChIPs and Diversity Lab as a national Honor Roll Firm for its dedication to advancing diversity and inclusion, and was named a Midsize Mansfield Certified Plus firm in 2022. Shah also hosts the Breaking Mindsets Podcast where she interviews leaders who defy expectations and have accomplished great change in their field.

Established in 1984, the Michigan State Bar Foundation’s Fellows Program recognizes distinguished Michigan lawyers for their professional excellence and service to the community. The Fellows Program supports the Foundation in providing leadership and grants for improvements in the administration of justice and the delivery of civil legal aid to low-income individuals and families.  For additional information on the foundation and its Fellows program, visit www.msbf.org.