Legal People

Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP HONIGMAN, MILLER, SCHWARTZ, AND COHN LLP (Honigman) is pleased to announce that LUKE A. SUCHYTA has joined the firm as an Attorney in its Labor and Employment Department. Suchyta will concentrate his practice on assisting with a full range of labor and employment issues, including regulatory compliance measures; employee contracts; federal and state wage and hour compliance; and employee documentation laws. He earned a law degree from Wayne State University Law School; a B.S., with honors, in Economics and a B.A., with honors, in Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy from Michigan State University. Suchyta comes to Honigman from Kelly Services, Inc. in Troy, where he served on its regulatory compliance team addressing wage and hour issues. ---------- Dobrusin & Thennisch PC ERIC M. DOBRUSIN and JEFFREY P. THENNISCH, managing partners of DOBRUSIN & THENNISCH PC, are pleased to announce that JOHN VanOPHEM has joined the firm as a shareholder. Moving his intellectual property counseling practice from Detroit-based Butzel Long, VanOphem brings more than 18 years of intellectual property law experience to Dobrusin Thennisch, also having served as in-house counsel at two Fortune 500 companies. VanOphem received his law degree from Detroit College of Law in 1993 and his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University in 1990 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit. VanOphem currently serves on the Board of Directors and is a past president of the Michigan Intellectual Property Lawyers Association. He is also the author of the Intellectual Property chapter of the 2009 Original Equipment Supplier Association's North American OEM Term and Conditions Comparative Analysis. ---------- Butzel Long BUTZEL LONG attorney and shareholder REGINALD A. PACIS discussed immigration issues for foreign national students at Madonna University on March 24. Based in Butzel Long's Detroit office, Pacis concentrates 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. Pacis is listed in The Best Lawyers in America (Immigration Law). He is a member of the American Bar Association, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), and the Samahang Pilipino Ng Oakland Filipino organization. He served two consecutive terms from 2003 to 2004 and 2004 to 2005 as Chairperson of the Michigan Chapter of AILA and was a member of the AILA National Board of Governors for those terms. He previously served as Secretary (2001 to 2003) and Membership Chairperson of the Michigan Chapter of AILA (1998 to 2003). Pacis has been a speaker on immigration topics at many business, Hispanic, and Filipino presentations. Pacis has served in a variety of committees in the Filipino community and is a member of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce of Michigan. He completed an appointment by former Governor Granholm for service on the Advisory Committee for Asian Pacific American Affairs (ACAPAA). He served on the Michigan AILA Advocacy Committee from 2007 to 2010. Pacis previously served as Chairperson of the Michigan AILA Committee responsible for liaison with the Michigan Customs and Border Protection ("CBP") Agency, a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security presiding over inspections and security of the U.S. border, from 2005 to 2007. His service expanded to the AILA National CBP liaison Committee as a member and Vice Chair. He now serves as Chair of the AILA National CBP liaison Committee. Pacis earned his law degree from the Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University in 1996 and his B.A. from James Madison College at Michigan State University in 1992. He joined the State Bar of Michigan in 1997. In addition, Butzel Long attorney and shareholder SCOTT T. PATTERSON was a featured speaker during the American Society of Employers Conference on March 16 in Novi. Patterson's presentation focused on the challenges employers face regarding social media in the workplace. Based in Butzel Long's Bloomfield Hills office, Patterson represents employers in labor and employment law and business-related immigration matters. He has extensive experience representing employers in state and federal courts and before government agencies in defense of employment-related claims. Patterson also represents employers in arbitration proceedings and collective bargaining negotiations. In addition to litigating employment-based lawsuits, Patterson is actively involved in advising clients on compliance with federal, state and local laws affecting the employment relationship and assisting employers in developing employment policies and practices designed to comply with applicable laws and avoid employment claims. Patterson also represents employers and employees in business-related immigration matters such as temporary employment visas, including H-2B visas for seasonal workers in the hospitality and construction industries, and in obtaining permanent residency status for employees. He is a frequent lecturer on employment-related matters and conducts training for employers on various issues including sexual harassment prevention, avoiding discharged-related claims, and Family Medical Leave Act compliance. Patterson is a member of the Labor Law Section of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan, and the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Michigan Chapter. Patterson is a graduate of the Detroit College of Law (1986) and the University of Virginia (1983). Additionally, Butzel Long attorney and shareholder ROBERT A. BOONIN, a frequent speaker on labor and employment matters, will be a featured speaker during The Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) 36th Annual Labor and Employment Law Symposium on April 14 in Plymouth. Mr. Boonin will provide an update on the Fair Labor Standards Act. He will also participate in a panel presentation where he will discuss wage and hour compliance. Boonin's law practice is largely concentrated in the areas of labor, employment discrimination and education law. He has represented public and private sector clients across the country, in over 30 jurisdictions, in wrongful termination, employment discrimination, wage and hour, tenure proceedings and other employment-related lawsuits and claims, as well as in labor grievance arbitrations, labor negotiations, unfair labor practices and representational proceedings and labor strikes. Boonin is active in national and state bar association sections in labor and employment law and public contract law. He is an active member of the American Bar Association's Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee and the American Employment Law Council. He is a Fellow and Past-President of the Litigation Counsel of America (a national legal honorary). He also is Chair-Elect of the Wage and Hour Defense Institute. Boonin is also a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Law Lawyers (a prestigious and highly limited national honorary of employment law practitioners). He has been repeatedly recognized by his peers as a Super Lawyer in labor and employment law matters. His other professional services include: Past-President, Board member and a founder of the Michigan Council of School Attorneys; a member of the NSBA's Council of School Attorneys; a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys; and a member of the local chapter of the Labor and Employment Relations Association. Boonin is a past chair of the Washtenaw County Bar Association's Employment Law Section, and a past Co-Chair of its Trial Practice Section. He also serves on the Boards of Directors of the Ann Arbor/ Ypsilanti Regional Chamber of Commerce and Ann Arbor's Main Street Area Association. Boonin is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School (1985) and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (1976). He also earned a Master's Degree in Labor and Industrial Relations from Michigan State University (1980). ---------- Dykema DYKEMA announces the addition of CHRISTOPHER R. MIKULA to its Detroit legal team. Mikula is an accomplished attorney, specializing in employment and labor law. Mikula comes to Dykema from the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare Michigan, where he served as Legal Director since 2008. In that capacity, Mikula was chief in-house counsel for the officers, directors, executive board and staff of this noted healthcare workers' union. Mikula has advised and defended SEIU management in a diverse array of labor and employment issues, litigating roughly 200 labor arbitration hearings on matters as diverse as collective bargaining agreements and minimum wage disputes and addressed such regulatory realms as Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act and ERISA. With Dykema, Mikula will use his unique perspectives and experience in assisting Dykema clients with the entire range of labor and employment issues they confront. Mikula, who was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 2006, obtained his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. While at Michigan, Mikula was awarded a post-graduate fellowship to the University's Legal Assistance to Urban Communities Clinic in Detroit. Mikula serves on the Practice and Procedure Committee of the National Labor Relations Board -- Region 7, is a member of the Labor Advisory Panel of the American Arbitration Association and is a member of the Labor and Employment Section of the State Bar of Michigan. ---------- Zausmer, Kaufman, August, Caldwell & Tayler, P.C. ZAUSMER, KAUFMAN, AUGUST, CALDWELL, & TAYLER PC attorney GARY AUGUST has been recognized by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as one of Michigan's "Leaders in the Law 2011." As a shareholder of the firm, August serves many high profile clients in cases involving construction law, general litigation, and insurance coverage. Among his career accomplishments is acting as lead litigation counsel for some of the largest construction projects in southeast Michigan, including Northwest Airlines' construction of the $1.2 billion Edward H. McNamara Terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. In 2010, as a result of his work for the City of Dearborn on its combined sewer overflow project, the Northwestern University School of Law alum secured the largest settlement of the year for the entire State of Michigan, as reported by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. ---------- Nemeth Burwell P.C. Attorneys with NEMETH BURWELL P.C., a Detroit law firm exclusively serving employers in the areas of labor and employment law, have been active recently in leading discussions on a variety of employment law topics. Nemeth Burwell's "Raising the Bar," an educational series raising employer awareness of current issues in employment and labor law, addressed topical legal issues at its Jan. 19th seminar, titled 2011 Labor and Employment Law Update. The presenters were TERRY BONNETTE and CLIFF HAMMOND. DEBORAH BROUWER spoke on the topic of "Privacy, Social Media and Employment Law" at a Jan. 25th presentation for Sterling Educational Services (SES) in Detroit. PATRICIA NEMETH was a panelist at the Oakland County Bar Association's "Hanging Out Your Own Shingle" presentation on February 17th. Earlier this month, LINDA BURWELL and PATRICIA NEMETH addressed social networking issues affecting employers in a presentation entitled, "Hey, Get out of my Face...Book!" The presentations took place in New York and Ohio. Terry Bonnette will present on the same topic to the Health Care Association of Michigan on March 31. ---------- Warner, Norcross, & Judd LLP Two partners in the Southfield office of WARNER, NORCROSS, & JUDD LLP have been recognized as leading Michigan attorneys by Chambers USA 2011. MARY JO LARSON and LISA B. ZIMMER were among 11 attorneys at Warner Norcross to be recognized by Chambers, which is published annually by London-based Chambers and Partners and highlights top firms and attorneys in each state. Both were acknowledged for their expertise in employee benefits and executive compensation. For the ninth consecutive year, Chambers recognized Warner Norcross as a leading law firm in the state. In addition to its strength in employee benefits, the firm was acknowledged in the areas of banking and finance, corporate, mergers and acquisitions, and commercial litigation. In addition, Warner Norcross has been chosen by in-house counsel at selected Fortune 500 companies as one of the nation's "Go-To Law Firms" in 2010 in two practice areas. Warner Norcross was recognized for its expertise in litigation and labor and employment law by Corporate Counsel magazine, which surveyed Fortune 500 companies and conducted independent research to compile the ranking. The law firm was highlighted in a directory of leading law firms distributed to more than 500 general counsel throughout the United States. The 70+ attorneys in the Litigation and Trial Services Practice Group at Warner Norcross have a strong track record of success. The law firm serves as national business litigation counsel for Whirlpool Corp., the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of home appliances. Warner Norcross also handles litigation for many other national and international companies in a broad range of industries, including automotive, consumer products, office furniture, financial services and others. The Employee Benefits and Labor and Employment practice groups serve more than 800 employer-clients by providing comprehensive employment relations and employee benefits counsel and services. Working with publicly traded and privately held clients, Warner Norcross advises employers on employee benefits packages and on all aspects of hiring and supervising employees in both union and non-union environments. The law firm also works with clients to design, develop and manage employee benefit programs, executive compensation plans, retirement plans and incentive programs. ---------- Dickinson Wright PLLC DICKINSON WRIGHT PLLC recently named three members of the firm to management positions, effective March 1. JASON P. KLINGENSMITH, a member in the firm's Detroit office has been appointed to the firm's Management Group. As one of the Management Group's six members, Klingensmith is responsible for the firm's associates, legal assistants and human resources, as well as the firm's law school and associate recruitment efforts. Klingensmith will continue his law practice, in which he has extensive litigation experience, at both the trial and appellate levels, in Federal and State courts and before Arbitration panels. He focuses his practice in commercial litigation, automotive litigation, bankruptcy litigation, franchise and distribution litigation, financial services litigation and real estate litigation. Klingensmith is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, Federal Bar Association, American Bar Association, and University of Michigan Alumni Association. For several years, he has been listed in Michigan Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Business Litigation. He earned a B.A. from The University of Michigan and a law degree from Northwestern University School of Law. MONICA J. LABE is a member in the firm's Bloomfield Hills office and has been appointed to the firm's Management Group. As one of the Management Group's six members, Labe is responsible for the firm's Finance and Marketing areas. She was the Practice Department Manager for Real Estate, Energy and Sustainability, and Environmental practice areas for the past three years. Labe will continue her law practice, in which she has extensive experience representing large corporations, developers, real estate private equity firms, lenders and real estate investment companies in the acquisition, development, leasing, financing, construction and disposition of complex real estate projects throughout the U.S. For more than 17 years, she has represented a major Tier 1 Automotive Supplier and its related companies in significant real estate projects and transactions nationwide. Labe has been named in Chambers USA as one of the "Leaders in Michigan"; Best Lawyers in America; Michigan Super Lawyers; and dBusiness "Top Lawyer." She is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, State Bar of California, Detroit Bar Association, Oakland Bar Association, and Board Member, Anti-Defamation League of Michigan. She earned a B.A. from University of Michigan and a law degree from Northwestern University School of Law (Arlyn Miner Writing Book Award). LESLEE M. LEWIS is a member in the firm's Grand Rapids office and has been appointed Practice Department Manager for Dickinson Wright's Real Estate, Energy and Sustainability, and Environmental Law practice areas firm wide, including its five Michigan offices, Las Vegas, Nashville, Phoenix, Washington, D.C., and Toronto, Ontario. Lewis has more than 15 years experience in large corporate and middle market loan originations, multi-million dollar strategic real estate leasing, development, finance, construction, acquisition and disposition projects, and a significant practice representing wind farms and nonprofit organizations in real estate and corporate matters. She is a speaker and author for the American Bar Association, American Law Institute -- American Bar Association (ALI-ABA), ICSC, USGBC and the State Bar of Michigan on matters relating to real estate, banking and green building. She is a member of the American Law Institute, is on the National Editorial Board for ALI-ABA's The Practical Real Estate Lawyer, is Co-Chair of the Residential Transactions Committee for the State Bar of Michigan Real Property Law Section, and a member of Women Lawyers Alliance. She is president of the Board of Directors of Lake Michigan Academy. Leslee is a graduate of Alma College and Notre Dame Law School. ---------- Brooks Kushman P.C. BROOKS KUSHMAN recently hired STEPHEN L. SCHARF as a senior attorney based at the firm's Southfield headquarters. The announcement was made by Mark Cantor, president of the firm. In his new role, Scharf will further expand Brooks Kushman's trademark practice with his more than 20 years of IP law experience and specialized focus on domestic and international trademarks matters, including trademark registration, enforcement, protection and dispute resolution. With more than 15 years of in-house experience, Scharf has held IP positions with several major companies. As assistant general counsel, IP, at American Greetings Corp., Scharf was responsible for all legal aspects of patents, trademarks, copyrights, IP litigation, IP licensing, as well as management of the global IP portfolios. A registered patent attorney, Scharf is a member of the American Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, Ohio State Bar Association and International Trademark Association. He is also admitted to the Supreme Court of the State of Ohio, Supreme Court of the State of Michigan, United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and Federal Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. As a member of the Ohio National Guard, Scharf holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Air Force Reserves, and currently serves as an Air Force Judge Advocate for the 180th Fighter Wing in Toledo, Ohio. Scharf earned his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in Ann Arbor and his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan College of Engineering. ---------- Cantor Colburn LLP As reported in Intellectual Property Today's March 2011 issue, CANTOR COLBURN LLP was issued 1,841 utility patents and 91 design patents by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 2010, representing a 26 percent increase over the prior year and ranking it ninth in the magazine's annual list of "Top Patent Firms." This is the fourth consecutive year that Cantor Colburn is ranked among the country's Top 20 firms for patents issued in the magazine's annual feature. Cantor Colburn is a full service intellectual property specialty firm with offices in Troy, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Houston, and Hartford, Conn. Published: Mon, Mar 28, 2011

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