LEGAL PEOPLE

Aaron E. Bass has joined Southfield-based Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer, & Weiss PC as an associate in the firm's corporate and real estate practice groups. Jaffe CEO Richard Zussman made the announcement. Bass previously served as a judicial intern for U.S. District Court Judge Gerald E. Rosen, Eastern District of Michigan, and as a clinician for the University of Michigan Urban Communities Transactional Law Clinic. Bass earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, and is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School. * * * Andrew B. Wachler of Wachler & Associates PC presented "RAC Audits - 101" to attendees of the Healthcare Billing and Management Association's Regional Meeting in Orlando, Florida. Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) are government contractors paid on a contingency basis to recover Medicare overpayments to health care providers and to identify underpayments. The Healthcare Billing and Management Association national organization based in Laguna Beach, California. Its membership is comprised of more than 30,000 employees at more than 600 companies, managing claims on behalf of hospital-based physicians, physician practices and other providers. An increasing number also offer accounts receivable management, consulting, electronic medical record services and practice management functions. Wachler has been practicing health care law for more than 25 years. He counsels health care providers and organizations nationwide in a variety of health care legal matters. In addition, he writes and speaks nationally to professional organizations and other entities on health care law topics such as Medicare appeals, Stark and fraud and abuse, HIPAA, and other topics. In addition, Amy K. Fehn of Wachler & Associates PC presented "HIPAA Requirements for ASCs" to an audience of Ambulatory Surgery Center owners and operators at the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASC) annual meeting in Orlando, Florida. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a law designed to provide privacy standards to protect patients' medical records and other health information provided to health plans, doctors, hospitals and other health care providers. The Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASC) a national advocacy organization located in Alexandria, Virginia, represents the interests of those who own, operate and seek the services of ASCs; provides membership services; and advocates for ambulatory surgery at the state and federal levels. Fehn has authored and co-authored numerous articles on health care issues and has spoken on HIPAA to various local and national organizations. She is the co-author of workbooks on HIPAA Privacy for the Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA), the Federated Ambulatory Surgery Association (FASA) and co-author of a workbook on HIPAA Security published by United Communications Group. She and principal of the firm, Andrew Wachler, recently co-authored an article on the new HIPAA Breach Notification Rules, which was published in the ABA's Health Lawyer publication. Fehn has represented physicians and health care organizations in health care regulatory and corporate matters for the past 11 years. Prior to graduating from law school, she served as a registered nurse in the coronary care unit, and later worked as a clinical systems analyst for the hospital's information systems. * * * Dykema Gossett PLLC recently announced that for the second time since 2009, it has been named Detroit's top corporate law firm by Corporate Board Member magazine. This year's study is Corporate Board Member's 11th annual Legal Industry Research Study, a comprehensive ranking by U.S. corporate directors and general counsel of the nation's top corporate law firms. To be considered, law firms must maintain a practice in business, corporate or commercial law, and must be one of the largest 15 to 20 firms in its metropolitan area by number of attorneys. Directors and general counsel within each area are polled to identify the firms they most likely select to aid their companies on a broad range of corporate legal issues. Survey results are then based on the number of votes received. According to the 2011 study, directors and general counsel who work in the Detroit area give top honors to Dykema. "Being named Detroit's top corporate law firm by Corporate Board Member magazine is an honor that recognizes Dykema's reputation as a superior corporate and securities law firm, but importantly, because it is decided by those we serve in various corporate capacities," said Rex E. Schlaybaugh Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Dykema. "This recognition is a true testament of our dedication to service, results and value-the foundations of our practice and the advice we give to our clients." This year, a total of 25 major metropolitan areas were included in the poll. A complete listing of the survey results will be published in the second quarter issue of Corporate Board Member magazine. * * * Zausmer, Kaufman, August, Caldwell & Tayler PC attorney Gary August has been elected vice chair of the Residential Builders' and Maintenance and Alteration Contractors' Board. August is one of three people representing the general public on the organization's nine-member board. Created in 1980, the Residential Builders' and Maintenance and Alteration Contractors' Board licenses and regulates those engaged in the construction of a residential structure or combination residential and commercial structure. As a shareholder of Zausmer, Kaufman, August, Caldwell & Tayler PC, August serves many high profile clients in cases involving construction law, general litigation, and insurance coverage. * * * Dirk Beckwith, shareholder at the law firm of Foster, Swift, Collins, & Smith PC, has been named as the new first vice president of the Transportation Lawyers Association (TLA). TLA is an independent international organization of attorneys, serving the transportation industry since 1937. The new officers of the TLA were elected at its annual meeting on May 12, 2011. Beckwith has experience representing motor carriers and railroads and handles both regulatory and administrative matters for those engaged in the transportation industry. He has been involved in several landmark decisions for the trucking and railroad industries, as well. In addition to serving as first vice president of the TLA, Beckwith is a member of the Association for Transportation Law Professionals, where he previously held the position of regional vice president. Beckwith is a frequent speaker and attendee of meetings for organizations like the Trucking Insurance Defense Association, Transportation Loss Prevention and Security Association and the Conference of Freight Council. Also, Beckwith serves as a mediator and case evaluator for the State of Michigan circuit and district courts and is an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association. Beckwith is a graduate of the University of Michigan and earned his law degree from the Wayne State University Law School. TLA attorneys located in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe represent both providers and users of transportation and logistics services from all modes of the transportation industry, including air, rail, truck and maritime companies. Further information about TLA can be obtained by visiting its website at www.translaw.org. * * * Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, and Cohn LLP is pleased to announce that Bonnie R. Shaw has joined Honigman as an attorney in the firm's Litigation Department as part of its Intellectual Property (IP) practice. Honigman's IP practice has grown significantly in recent years, with the number of IP attorneys tripling in the last three years. Shaw will concentrate her practice on intellectual property litigation, including patents, trademarks, trade secrets, copyrights and contracts. Before earning her law degree, Shaw was a project engineer at General Motors where she designed and calibrated emissions testing equipment. She earned a law degree from Michigan State University College of Law with a concentration in Intellectual Property and a B.S., with honors, from Michigan State University in Mechanical Engineering. Shaw joins Honigman from Brinks, Hofe,r Gilson, & Lione in Ann Arbor. In addition, Linda S. Ross, a partner and chair of the Health Care Department at Honigman, and Mary L. Pate, a partner in the firm's Litigation Department, recently hosted a session of the Michigan Health Care Human Resources Conference titled "Social Media for Health Care Providers: Embracing the Opportunities and Overcoming the Challenges." The conference, which was organized by the Michigan Healthcare Human Resources Association (MHHRA) and the Michigan Health & Hospital Association Service Corporation (MHASC), provided networking opportunities and training for Michigan health care human resources management professionals. Ross and Pate addressed such topics as the explosion of social media, health law and employment law considerations and tips for embracing opportunities offered by social media and overcoming the challenges in doing so. In her practice, Ross represents hospitals, physicians and other health care systems and providers regarding affiliations, acquisitions, divestitures, mergers, reorganizations and joint ventures. She also advises health care providers about compliance matters including the Stark Law, the Anti-kickback Statute, self-disclosures to the Office of Inspector General, and laws and regulations affecting tax-exempt entities. Ross has been named in "Best Lawyers in America" from 2005 to 2011 and "Michigan Super Lawyers" from 2007 to 2010, as well as one of its top 50 women from 2007 to 2010. She also was recognized as a "Top Lawyer" by DBusiness in 2010 and 2011. She earned a law degree from Wayne State University Law School, an M.S. in Dental Public Health from Boston University, and a B.S. in Dental Hygiene from the University of Michigan. Mary L. Pate represents clients in labor and employment and general litigation. In addition, she advises employers regarding employment issues, including discrimination, harassment, whistleblower claims, employment policies, manuals and contracts, and wage and hour laws. Pate represents employers before agencies such as the National Labor Relations Board, the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the United States Department of Labor and the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. Pate earned a law degree from Seattle University School of Law, an M.B.A. from the University of Alaska and a B.B.A. from the University of Kentucky. The MHHRA is an affiliate chapter of the American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration. Its purpose is to lead and serve its members by supporting the development of human resources practitioners, serving as a resource to them and enhancing the role of human resource management in health care. * * * C. Jesse Green, director of communications for the Michigan Association for Justice, and chair of the State Bar of Michigan Law and the Media Committee, spoke on "Dealing With The News Media" at the Women Lawyers Association Annual Meeting at Soaring Eagle in Mt. Pleasant on Friday, April 29. In addtion, as part of its 66th Annual Convention, the MAJ conducted its annual business meeting and elected a new leadership team. Each year five MAJ officers are elected by the general membership for a for a one year term effective July 1. MAJ's leadership team for 2011-2012 consists of: MAJ President Michael Behm of Behm & Behm; MAJ President-Elect Marc Lipton of Lipton Law Center; MAJ Vice President Gerald Acker of Goodman Acker; MAJ Secretary Scott A. Goodwin of Goodwin & Scieszka; and MAJ Treasurer Ven Johnson of The Fieger Firm. Published: Mon, May 23, 2011