Taft is pleased to welcome litigator Michelle Harrell to its Detroit office. Harrell joins as a partner in the Litigation practice group.
As an attorney and legal consultant, Harrell’s practice focuses on representing clients in complex litigation and counseling clients on how to avoid or resolve litigation matters or other legal disputes. Her experience has ranged from multi-million-dollar disputes among multi-national corporations to neighbors involved in boundary-line disputes to trust beneficiaries’ claims to an estate and everything in-between.
Harrell is recognized as a Rated AV Preeminent Martindale Hubbell attorney, and as a current Super Lawyers and Leading Lawyers honoree. She recently was appointed to the State Bar of Michigan Alternative Dispute Resolution Council in 2023.
• • •
Plunkett Cooney recently expanded its business law department with the addition of senior tax attorney Joseph A. Peterson.
A member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, Peterson serves as Plunkett Cooney’s Tax Law Practice Group leader. His practice is primarily focused on the resolution of individual and business tax controversies, including audit defense, collections and litigation involving the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and/or state of Michigan governmental entities.
Peterson’s expertise includes negotiating the resolution of outstanding tax issues by utilizing penalty abatements, lien removals, discharge or subordination, installment agreements and offers in compromise to settle tax balances, providing individuals and businesses with a fresh start with the IRS or state of Michigan. He has experience obtaining innocent spouse relief for his clients, and he monitors the transcripts for high-net-worth individuals and businesses to prevent additional tax assessments and to address future audits. Peterson also represents clients in U.S. Tax Court.
In addition, Peterson has experience regarding the Employee Retention Credit Program (ERC). He designs and implements models used to complete ERC calculations in conjunction with full Paycheck Protection Program forgiveness. He also consults with clients to safeguard against any future ERC audits conducted by the IRS relating to the program.
Admitted to practice in state and federal courts in Michigan, as well as in the U.S. Tax Court, Peterson received his law degree from Wayne State University Law School in 2015 and his undergraduate degree from Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2012.
In addition, DBusiness magazine recently named 10 metro Detroit attorneys from Plunkett Cooney to its 2024 list of “Top Lawyers.”
Below are the Plunkett Cooney attorneys who received the 2024 DBusiness Top Lawyer honor:
D. Jennifer Andreou (partner, Detroit) – Medical Malpractice Law
Michael P. Ashcraft Jr. (partner, Bloomfield Hills) – Legal Malpractice Law
Douglas C. Bernstein (partner, Bloomfield Hills) – Bankruptcy & Financial Service Law
Stephanie M. Brochert (Associate, Bloomfield Hills) – Insurance Law
Charles W. Browning (partner, Bloomfield Hills) – Insurance Law
Justin J. Hakala (partner, Bloomfield Hills) – Medical Malpractice Law
Mark S. Kopson (partner, Bloomfield Hills) – Health Care Law
Stanley A. Prokop (Of Counsel, Detroit) – Insurance Law
Scott H. Sirich (partner, Bloomfield Hills) – Litigation – Construction
Matthew J. Stanczyk (partner, Detroit) – Product Liability
Plunkett Cooney also recently received national recognition by Best Lawyers® as one of the 2024 “Best Law Firms.”
Plunkett Cooney was recognized in the following 17 first- and second-tier categories in Michigan and Ohio:
Appellate Practice
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Corporate Law
Employment Law - Management
Health Care Law
Insurance Law
Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Municipal
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
Municipal Law
Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Real Estate Law
• • •
Butzel immigration law attorney Reginald A. Pacis conducted virtual training on immigration and employment authorization issues during Global Detroit’s Global Talent Accelerator event on Friday, November 3.
Pacis focuses his practice in immigration law and has handled a variety of immigration matters including H-1B specialty occupation cases, L-1 Intracompany transfers, Labor Certification matters, Immigrant Visa Petitions/Adjustment of Status applications and interviews, TN Free trade cases, H-1B Department of Labor Investigations, I-9 employer verification compliance, and U.S. Port of Entry airport and land port interviews.
In 2018, Pacis was appointed by former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to the Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission (MAPAAC) for a term that began in 2019. In 2021, he was appointed by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to the position of trustee to MAPAAC until his term ended earlier this year.
Pacis was named Immigration Lawyer of the Year in 2023 and 2013, respectively in the field of Immigration Law by The Best Lawyers in America and has been listed in Best Lawyers for several years.
He is a member of the American Bar Association, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), and the Samahang Pilipino Ng Oakland Filipino organization. Pacis served two consecutive one-year terms from 2003 to 2005 as chairperson of the Michigan Chapter of AILA and was a member of the AILA National Board of Governors for those terms.
• • •
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP has been selected as one of the 2024 “Best Law Firms” by Best Lawyers®.
The firm has been recognized for its litigation work in the areas of regulatory enforcement and environmental law. Additionally, six of its offices have received top-tier ratings in multiple practice areas.
Warner has been recognized in the top tier of law firms in Grand Rapids for the following areas of the law:
Appellate practice
Banking and finance
Bankruptcy and creditor debtor rights/insolvency and reorganization
Bet-the-company litigation
Business organizations, including LLCs and partnerships
Closely held companies and family businesses
Commercial litigation
Copyright
Corporate
Elder
Employee benefits
Environmental
Family
Family law mediation
Financial services regulation
International trade and finance
Labor – management
Litigation in the areas of bankruptcy, construction, environmental, intellectual property, labor and employment, patent, real estate and trusts and estates
Mergers and acquisitions
Nonprofit/charities
Patent
Real estate
Securities/capital markets
Tax
Trademark
Trusts and estates
Water
Additionally, Warner’s Bloomfield Hills and Detroit offices were recognized as top-tier law firms.
The Bloomfield Hills office was recognized for bankruptcy and creditor debtor rights/insolvency and reorganization, corporate, family, real estate and trusts and estates.
The Detroit office was recognized for bankruptcy and creditor debtor rights/insolvency and reorganization, business organizations, including LLCs and partnerships, closely held companies and family businesses, as well as commercial litigation, employee benefits, environmental, health care law, tax law and trust and estates.
Warner also had more than 100 attorneys listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2024. Attorneys from each of the firm’s nine offices were featured in the 2024 listings, which were released earlier this year.
• • •
Dickinson Wright is pleased to announce it received 26 national rankings and 60 rankings in Southeast Michigan in the 2024 Best Law Firms® report by Best Lawyers. The firm received 110 first-tier rankings overall.
Below are Dickinson Wright’s local 2024 Best Law Firms® rankings:
Tier 2
DETROIT
Appellate Practice
Banking and Finance Law
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Corporate Governance Law
Employment Law – Management
Environmental Law
International Mergers & Acquisitions
Labor Law – Management
Land Use & Zoning Law
Litigation – Bankruptcy
Litigation – Labor & Employment
Mergers & Acquisitions Law
TROY
Arbitration
Banking and Finance Law
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Health Care Law
Litigation – Banking & Finance
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Litigation – Real Estate
Mediation
Patent Law
Real Estate Law
Trusts & Estates Law
Tier 2
DETROIT
International Trade and Finance Law
Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
Litigation – Antitrust
Real Estate Law
TROY
Immigration Law
Land Use & Zoning Law
Litigation – Patent
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Nonprofit/Charities Law
Securitization and Structured Finance Law
Trademark Law
Tier 3
DETROIT
Litigation – Environmental
Litigation – Tax
TROY
Family Law
• • •
Kemp Klein has been recognized in the 2024 edition of Best Law Firms®, ranked by Best Lawyers®, regionally in 14 practice areas.
Kemp Klein received the following rankings in the 2024 Best Law Firms:
Regional Tier 1
TROY
Corporate Law
Elder Law
Litigation – Trusts & Estates
Real Estate Law
Tax Law
Trusts & Estates Law
Regional Tier 2
TROY
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
Commercial Litigation
Litigation – Tax
Regional Tier 3
TROY
Arbitration
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Family Law
Litigation – Labor & Employment
• • •
BSP Law is proud to be named as a Best Law Firm for 2024 by Best Lawyers.
The firm’s Troy office was named in Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants. The Troy office was also named in Tier 2 for Appellate Practice and Bet-the-Company Litigation.
• • •
Varnum is pleased to announce the addition of three new associates to the Birmingham office:
Lindsay Randolph is a graduate of Wayne State University Law School. She graduated from the University of Michigan.
Margaret Reaume graduated from Wayne State University Law School. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business.
Chanel Taylor is a graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. She attended Wayne State University for her undergraduate degree.
• • •
Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that the firm has been ranked in the 2024 edition of Best Law Firms® both nationally and in multiple Michigan markets.
Bodman has been ranked in the 2024 Best Law Firms list nationally in two practice areas and at the highest possible “Tier 1” level locally in 24 different practice specialties across 4 metropolitan markets.
The local rankings include:
Detroit Metropolitan Tier 1
Banking and Finance Law
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Health Care Law
Litigation-Banking & Finance
Litigation-Bankruptcy
Litigation-Environmental
Litigation-Trusts & Estates
Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
Nonprofit/Charities Law
Real Estate Law
Trusts & Estates Law
Troy Metropolitan Tier 1
Banking and Finance Law
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Employment Law-Management
Labor Law-Management
Litigation-Trusts & Estates
Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Real Estate Law
Trusts & Estates Law
• • •
Clark Hill PLC received national and regional rankings in the 2024 edition of Best Law Firms.
The firm’s local Metropolitan Tier 1 Rankings include:
DETROIT
Banking & Finance Law
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Corporate Law
Employment Law – Management
Immigration Law
Labor Law – Management
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Labor & Employment
Nonprofit/Charities Law
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
TROY
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Education Law
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Employment Law – Management
Family Law
Litigation – Banking and Finance
Litigation – Insurance
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Litigation – Trusts & Estates
Real Estate Law
Trusts & Estates Law
Local Metropolitan Tier 2 Rankings include:
DETROIT
Arbitration
Government Relations Practice
Litigation – Trusts & Estates
Mediation
Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Real Estate Law
Trusts & Estates Law
TROY
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Labor Law – Management
Local Metropolitan Tier 3 Rankings include:
DETROIT
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Land Use & Zoning Law
DETROIT
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Land Use & Zoning Law
• • •
Taft Detroit partner Nicole Meisner will be speaking on five separate panels at the 2023 Payments Compliance Conference on November 8-9. The Payments Compliance Conference (PCC), powered by the Electronic Transactions Association (ETA), is a two-day conference for compliance professionals in Pentagon City, VA.
Meisner co-chairs Taft’s Paytech and Payment Systems practice group. She counsels a wide range of companies in the payments and financial services industries, including acquiring banks, payment processors, independent sales organizations (ISOs), payment facilitators, marketplaces, mobile payment providers, financial technology (FinTech) companies, money transmitters, prepaid access providers, and digital currency companies.
Meisner is a nationally recognized leader on the issues that intersect payments and money transmission and often advises payment companies on navigating the risks of money transmission laws and regulations. She has experience advising clients on various exemptions to money transmitter registration recognized by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) as well as exemptions to licensure, such as the agent-of-the-payee exemption, recognized by several states.
Taft is also pleased to announce that the firm is ranked in the Best Lawyers® 2024 “Best Law Firms.”
Taft is recognized in 30 practice areas nationally, including 20 national Tier 1 rankings. In addition, the firm is ranked in 222 practice areas by metropolitan areas including nine Tier 1 rankings in Detroit:
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Litigation
Litigation – Banking & Finance
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Environmental
Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Real Estate Law
Tax Law
Trusts & Estates Law
• • •
Kitch Attorneys & Counselors is proud to announce that the following attorneys have been recognized for their hard work and dedication by their peers leading to their selection as Top Lawyers by DBusiness in their practice areas:
Tim Brady – Construction Law
Greg Drutchas – Health Care Law
Kaitlyn Elias – Real Estate Law
Christina Ginter – Appellate Law
Katharine Gostek – Appellate Law
John Paul Hessburg – Health Care Law
Meghan Kennedy Riordan – Immigration Law
John Sier – Construction Law, Litigation-Commercial, Litigation-Construction
Craig Thompson – Construction Law
Mark Wisniewski – Product Liability
Jenna Wright Greenman – Medical Malpractice Law
The State Bar of Michigan also recently recognized Kitch’s Joslyn Iafrate for her pro bono efforts in the Michigan Bar Journal’s 2023 A Lawyer Helps Pro Bono Honor Roll. Iafrate committed to more than 30 hours of pro bono legal services to low-income individuals in the metropolitan area.
Iafrate is a principal with the firm’s Detroit office who focuses her practice on medical malpractice defense litigation and premises liability defense. She was named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers in 2022 and 2023.
• • •
Brooks Kushman is proud to announce the firm has been ranked in the 2024 edition of the U.S. News and World Report list of “Best Law Firms” by Best Lawyers.
Nationally, Brooks Kushman holds rankings in Intellectual Property Litigation and Trademark Law. On the regional level, Brooks Kushman holds Tier 1 rankings in Intellectual Property Litigation, Patent Litigation, Patent Law, Copyright Law, and Trademark Law in Detroit.
• • •
Best Lawyers® has once again recognized Kerr Russell as a “Best Law Firm,” having ranked the firm regionally in 19 practice areas. Kerr Russell’s Appellate and Immigration practices moved to Tier 2 designation from Tier 3 in previous years.
The ranked areas include the following:
Metropolitan Tier 1 – Detroit
Construction Law
Corporate Law
Health Care Law
Insurance Law
Litigation – Antitrust
Litigation – Construction
Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Metropolitan Tier 2 – Detroit
Antitrust Law
Appellate Practice
Immigration Law
Land Use & Zoning Law
Litigation – Bankruptcy
Municipal Law
Tax Law
Metropolitan Tier 3 – Detroit
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Litigation
Employment Law – Management
Real Estate Law
• • •
Collins Einhorn Farrell PC’s Appellate Practice Group has been recognized nationally for the 8th year in a row. The 2023 U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” list names the Appellate Practice Group as a National Tier 3. CEF is also proud to be recognized as Regional Tier 1 in 9 practice areas:
Regional Tier 1, Detroit
Appellate Practice
Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law
Insurance Law
Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
Litigation – Insurance
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
Regional Tier 3, Detroit
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• • •
Harness IP is pleased to announce that it has been listed as one of the nation’s “Best Law Firms” in the 2024 edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers®.
The firm also received national recognition in five practice areas and is regionally ranked in 16 practice areas. Locally, the firm’s Troy office was recognized as:
Metropolitan Tier 1
Copyright Law
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Litigation – Patent
Patent Law
Trademark Law
Metropolitan Tier 2
Appellate Practice
• • •
Maddin, Hauser, Roth, & Heller is pleased to announce that DBusiness Magazine has recognized 15 shareholders on the 2024 list of “Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit.” This year, five new attorneys join the list: Martin Frenkel, Mark Hauser, Gary Kravitz, Geoffrey Taylor, and Stewart Weiner.
The recognized attorneys and their respective practice areas include:
Kaitlin A. Brown – Labor & Employment Law
Martin S. Frenkel – Banking & Financial Services Law
Mark R. Hauser – Real Estate Law
Harvey R. Heller – Legal Malpractice Law
Robert D. Kaplow – Trusts & Estates
Kathleen H. Klaus – Legal Malpractice Law; Professional Malpractice Law
Gary A. Kravitz – Real Estate Law
Charles M. Lax – Employee Benefits Law
Steven D. Sallen – Real Estate Law
Ronald A. Sollish – Labor & Employment Law
Geoffrey N. Taylor – Trusts & Estates
Julie B. Teicher – Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights Law
Stewart C.W. Weiner – Family Law
Steve M. Wolock – Legal Malpractice Law
Craig E. Zucker – Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights Law
In addition, Maddin Hauser is pleased to be recognized for its work across several practice areas in the newly released 2024 edition of Best Law Firms. The firm is ranked regionally in 14 practice areas and proudly notes that 12 areas received Tier 1 recognition, the highest tier possible.
Metropolitan Tier 1 – Detroit
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Commercial Litigation
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Employment Law – Individuals
Franchise Law
Insurance Law
Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
Litigation – Bankruptcy
Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
Real Estate Law
Trusts & Estates Law
Metropolitan Tier 3 – Detroit
Corporate Law
Tax Law
• • •
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently announced the appointment of Chase L. Cantrell to the Michigan Board of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons.
Cantrell is the executive director and founder of Building Community Value, a Detroit-based nonprofit dedicated to implementing and facilitating real estate development projects in underserved Detroit neighborhoods. An alumnus of the University of Michigan Law School, Cantrell specialized in real estate and corporate law and has facilitated corporate and real estate acquisitions, sales, and other complex transactions for clients of all sizes— from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies. Cantrell is reappointed to represent the general public for a term commencing November 2, 2023, and expiring June 30, 2027.
The Michigan Board of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons was created under Article 25 of Public Act 299 of 1980, as amended, to license and regulate the practice of real estate brokers and salespersons in Michigan. The Board works with the Department to oversee the practice of real estate salespersons, associate real estate brokers, real estate brokers, and branch offices.
This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
