Cardelli, Lanfear &Buikema celebrating 20 years

The law firm of Cardelli, Lanfear, and Buikema is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and continues to add attorneys, and local and nationally known clients. Founded by civil trial attorney Thomas G. Cardelli in January 1991, the firm represents corporations like Otis Elevator, Westfield Insurance Company, Allianz Insurance Company, Liberty Mutual/Indiana Insurance Company, Barton Mallow, Harley Davidson Motor Company, Carrier Corporation, Pratt & Whitney Company, and Dana Corporation. Cardelli, a graduate of Michigan State and Detroit College of Law, started his career in 1980 with Fox & Fletcher, which later became Fletcher, Cardelli and Tice, a civil litigation firm specializing in the defense of personal injury matters. Cardelli started his own firm in 1991 in the Buhl Building in Detroit and had revenues of $600K that first year. Cardelli has steadily grown his firm since then. In 1994 he purchased and moved into the renovated 17,000 square foot former St. Mary's Convent building at 322 West Lincoln in downtown Royal Oak. He added Carl Lanfear as a partner in 2000, Eric Buikema as a partner in 2004, opened a Grand Rapids office headed up by partner Anthony F. Caffrey III, and also practices in northern Ohio. The firm has 13 attorneys, three paralegals, 14 support staff, and annual revenues of between $3 and $4 M. "We've enjoyed significant growth in 20 years, especially the last ten," says Cardelli. "We want to grow to be a firm with at least 25 attorneys, expand our operations in Grand Rapids and open offices throughout the state, as well as develop more of a presence in northern Ohio." "We represent a host of nationally-known companies, but also represent a lot of local people and corporations involved in injury/accident cases," says Cardelli. "We want to talk to any one who needs an attorney. If we can't represent them, we will refer them to a trusted firm that can. We've been involved in local and national litigation, and tried a commercial case that eventually was reported in the Supreme Court for California." Cardelli says that one of the biggest changes he has seen over the years is the soaring cost of litigation. "The cost of litigation is out of control. Many companies and individuals find it difficult to have their matters decided by a jury due to cost. This is wrong and we need to do a better job of allowing litigants to get in front of a jury without bankrupting a party. We need limits on the amount of discovery each side is entitled to, and stricter timetables." Cardelli, a native of Pole Town and a graduate of St. Alphonsus High School, is a big supporter of the local community and his firm endeavors to help charitable causes throughout the year. They regular give an annual monetary donation and supply of clothes to the South Oakland Shelter, donations to Shrine of the Little Flower, and the firm provides all the copying needs for St. Mary's Church and school in Royal Oak. The firm plans a celebratory open house some time in the spring or early summer. Published: Fri, Feb 11, 2011

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