Sixty-nine lawyers in the Dykema law firm have been ranked by their peers as leaders in their respective fields in the newly published Woodward/White Best Lawyers in America guide. The legal referral guide includes 14 attorneys based in Dykema's Bloomfield Hills office: Maria B. Abrahamsen (Health Care Law); Michael G. Cumming (Trusts and Estates); Robert L. Duty (Labor and Employment Law); James P. Feeney (Alternative Dispute Resolution, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation and Product Liability Litigation); Alan M. Greene (Land Use & Zoning Law, Real Estate Law); Dennis M. Haffey (Commercial Litigation); Howard B. Iwrey (Antitrust Law); Joel D. Kellman (Real Estate Law); Gerald T. Lievois (Mergers & Acquisitions Law, Securities Law); D. Richard McDonald (Securities Law); Marilyn A. Peters (Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation); Ronald L. Rose (Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law); Sheryl L. Toby (Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law); and Stephen L. Tupper (Information Technology Law).
First published in 1983, Best Lawyers is one of the most respected peer-review publications in the legal profession, and recognition is based on an exhaustive annual peer-review survey. For the new U.S. edition, more than 24,125 leading attorneys cast more than 2.8 million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in the same and related specialties. Because of the rigorous and transparent methodology used by Best Lawyers, and because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor.
Maria B. Abrahamsen, member of the Health Care practice group, focuses her practice on representation of health care facilities and practitioners in corporate and regulatory matters, with emphasis on medical staff matters, reimbursement, and regulation of hospital-physician financial relationships. She is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association; Health Care Financial Management Association, Eastern Michigan; State Bar of Michigan; and the Oakland County Bar Association. A resident of Bloomfield Village, Abrahamsen received her J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, and her B.A. from the University of Michigan.
Michael G. Cumming, member of the Taxation and Estates practice group, focuses on estate planning, probate and trust administration and related tax matters. He also represents clients in probate and trust contests, and premarital agreement negotiations. Cumming is the former editor of the Michigan Probate and Estate Planning Journal. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and is a member of the following: The Financial and Estate Planning Council of Metropolitan Detroit, the Taxation Sections of the American Bar Association and the State Bar of Michigan, the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association and the Probate and Estate Planning Advisory Committee of the Institute for Continuing Legal Education. A resident of Grosse Pointe Park, Cumming received his B.B.A., with high distinction, from the University of Michigan and his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame.
Robert L. Duty's practice focuses on the following areas: Employment Litigation, Negotiation of Executive Contracts, Employment Consulting on Mergers and Acquisitions, Non-Compete/Trade Secret Litigation, Contract Negotiations with Labor Unions, Employment Practices Liability Insurance, and General Labor and Employment advice and services. He is a Resident expert in the State of Michigan on Equal Employment Law for The Experts Forum, a comprehensive web-based risk management platform available to thousands of employers and several major insurance carriers around the country. A resident of Auburn Hills, Duty received a B.A., Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Colorado and a J.D. from American University.
James P. Feeney, director of the firm's National Litigation Practice, has appeared in over 1500 cases throughout the United States, and has tried approximately 70 complex civil matters to verdict. Feeney represents corporations in the defense of both individual and class action suits alleging a wide variety of tortious and contractual violations resulting in claims for compensatory and punitive damages. Representative clients include automobile manufacturers, media companies and pharmaceutical companies. A resident of Birmingham, Feeney received his B.A., Phi Beta Kappa, and his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Michigan.
Alan M. Greene is a member of the Real Estate practice group and is the Firm's director of professional personnel. Greene's practice focuses on real estate development and construction projects, including zoning and land use matters, regulatory proceedings and litigation involving real estate and construction matters. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the Oakland County Bar Association. A resident of Bloomfield Hills, Greene received his A.B. from the University of Michigan and his J.D., magna cum laude, from Wayne State University.
Dennis M. Haffey, for years the director of Dykema's Litigation Department, focuses on general business litigation in jury and bench trials in federal and state courts as well as arbitrations, with an emphasis on shareholder and owner rights, securities fraud, accounting malpractice, sales commission disputes, supply chain claims, and disputes arising from commercial transactions. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan, and the Oakland County Bar Association. A resident of Bloomfield Hills, Haffey received his B.A., cum laude, and his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Michigan.
Howard B. Iwrey, member of the Litigation practice group and head of the firm's Antitrust and Trade Regulation practice area, focuses on all aspects of antitrust, trade regulation and franchising law. His experience includes both litigation and counseling in mergers, joint ventures, dealer and franchise termination, tying, monopolization, price fixing, price discrimination and franchise disclosure and registration issues. Iwrey is a past Chairperson of the State Bar of Michigan Antitrust, Franchising and Trade Regulation Section. A resident of West Bloomfield, Iwrey received his A.B., with high distinction and high honors, and his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Michigan.
Joel D. Kellman's practice focuses on real estate and commercial lending with an emphasis on (i) real estate development; (ii) construction lending; (iii) traditional real estate lending; (iv) transactions with tax and related incentives on behalf of developers and lenders. Kellman represents non-profit community development groups engaged in neighborhood redevelopment and also practices in the areas of commercial leasing and loan work-outs and restructuring. A resident of Huntington Woods, he received a B.A. from Kenyon College and a J.D. from the University of Michigan.
Gerald T. Lievois represents companies in complex financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, and general corporate and contract matters. His extensive experience in M&A work for public and private companies is particularly valuable to clients who are involved in critical stages of their company's lifecycle. Lievois has provided legal counsel in negotiated acquisitions, leveraged buyouts and recapitalizations. He also represents issuers in public and private securities offerings, secured and unsecured debt offerings, and high-yield debt offerings. Lievois also represents venture capital and other private equity funds in acquisition transactions and provides general corporate counsel to private equity portfolio companies. A resident of Bloomfield Hills, he received a B.A., cum laude, from Michigan State University and a J.D., cum laude and Order of the Coif, from Wayne State University.
D. Richard McDonald, leader of the Securities-Public Company practice area, focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and corporate securities transactions. McDonald counsels public companies and Director Special Committees on all aspects of corporate governance as well as SEC reporting, disclosure and compliance issues. McDonald also represents privately-held businesses and emerging companies in venture capital, joint venture, bank financing, shareholder arrangements and general corporate matters. A resident of Beverly Hills, McDonald received his B.A. from Wittenberg University, his M.A. from Syracuse University, and his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Michigan.
Marilyn A. Peters is the Managing Member of the firm's Bloomfield Hills office. Her practice focuses on complex commercial litigation with an emphasis on major construction cases and general business disputes litigation, including shareholder claims, supplier disputes, and general contract litigation. Peters previously served on the firm's Executive Committee. A resident of Bloomfield Township, Peters received her B.A., summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from Wayne State University and her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Michigan.
Ronald L. Rose is the co-leader of the Bankruptcy practice group and a member of the firm's Real Estate Workout Team. He is a fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy and holds the distinction of being named a Best Lawyer in America for the 26 years that it has been published. His experience includes bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, and commercial matters, covering issues arising under the Inform Commercial Code and the Bankruptcy Code. Rose has represented parties in complex commercial and corporate transactions and in significant bankruptcy litigation. A resident of Birmingham, Rose received his J.D. from the University of Michigan and his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Economics.
Sheryl L. Toby is the co-leader of the Bankruptcy and Corporate Restructuring practice group. Toby is known for her approach in providing creative solutions to creditors, debtors and lenders in addressing troubled company situations. Toby is a frequent national speaker and consultant in her field. She has been recognized by awards such as: Named "Michigan Super Lawyer" in Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights by Law & Politics (2007 & 2008); in 1999 selected to Crain's Detroit Business "40 Under 40" list; in 1999 received honorable mention as one of the country's Outstanding Young Bankruptcy Professionals by Turnaround and Workout Publications; featured in an article in the March 5, 2004 Daily Bankruptcy Review "Mover and Shaker of the Week"; served in numerous positions for national and local organizations such as Co-Chair, American Bankruptcy Institute, Commercial Fraud Task Force Committee, 2007-2008; Member, Board of Directors, American Bankruptcy Institute Central States Division; Chair, Michigan Network - International Women's Insolvency/Restructuring Confederation and numerous other positions. A resident of Sylvan Lake, Toby received her B.A. from Michigan State University and her J.D., cum laude, from Wayne State University.
Stephen L. Tupper is a member in the Corporate Finance practice group and is the leader of the firm's Privacy, Data Security, and E-Commerce practice and the Aviation Transactions and Finance team. His practice focuses on electronic commerce, technology development and licensing, mergers and acquisitions, outsourcing relationships, aviation and aerospace, and general corporate law matters. His experience comes in part from ten years with commercial banks and one of the world's premier e-commerce and outsourcing providers. He is a past chair of the Information Technology Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. Tupper is a pilot with advanced ratings, and he serves as a major and assistant legal officer for the Michigan Wing of Civil Air Patrol (USAF Auxiliary). A resident of Bloomfield Hills, Tupper received his B.A. from Albion College, his M.B.A. from Western Michigan University, and his J.D., cum laude, from Wayne State University.
Published: Thu, Sep 9, 2010
