LEGAL PEOPLE

Fraser Trebilcock recently announced that it has formed a new practice group to assist clients in responding to crises or otherwise deal with the media when a client's reputation is at risk. "Avoiding and dealing with potential crises is critical to an organization's success," said Thaddeus Morgan, president of Fraser Trebilcock. "Successfully identifying, mitigating and managing risk in today's business environment calls for a team of business-savvy and experienced legal and PR professionals with the insight and experience to create effective and immediate solutions in such a volatile market. Based on the need of our clients, we decided to create an in-house practice group to help our clients deal with the media, particularly when litigation may be involved." Food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, cars and other consumer products are increasingly being subjected to product recalls. A recall attracts attention, affects the manufactures reputation and could result in litigation or even a class action lawsuit. In this mobile age, where news breaks as it happens, reputations that took years to create can change in an instant. Attorneys are the first responders to help minimize the risk and help their clients respond or react. Daniel Cherrin, the former communications director for the City of Detroit and press secretary to former Mayor Kenneth V. Cockrel Jr. will be leading the newly formed "Crisis Management, Litigation and Strategic Communications" practice group, with a team of experienced litigators and other media-savvy attorneys. "We are equipped to assist clients in every aspect of a corporate crisis, from avoiding crises in the first place, to the initial response and serving as the on site spokesperson, to assisting the company with any on going investigations and if necessary litigation or regulatory and legislative support," said Cherrin. Now, Fraser Trebillcock and its subsidiary, Fraser Consulting, can help companies avoid, manage and recover from very difficult situations. The attorneys have worked on cases involving: * Land Use. * Employment discrimination. * Environmental clean ups. * Infrastructure disputes. * Municipal issues. * Criminal matters. * Off shore wind projects. * Class action lawsuits. * * * After spending approximately four years honing her skills as corporate coverage counsel for a property and casualty insurance company, Maryanne B. Foster recently rejoined Plunkett Cooney as an insurance coverage attorney. A member of the firm's Bloomfield Hills office, Foster represents and counsels insurance companies in insurance coverage matters arising from claims involving bad faith, construction defects, mass torts, environmental, defective manufacturing and/or products, asbestos, mold, Chinese drywall, personal and advertising injuries, employers liability and errors and omissions. Foster also has underwriting experience and has defended clients in general civil litigation matters, including claims involving construction and product defects, premises liability, motor vehicle negligence and trucking liability. A frequent presenter on insurance coverage topics, including risk transfer, contractual indemnity, claim handling, and defending under a reservation of rights, Foster is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar and the Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association. She is admitted in state and federal courts in Michigan and has been admitted to practice pro hac vice in several states. Foster earned her law degree from the University of Detroit School of Law in 1994. While there, she clerked for the U.S. Attorney's office for the Eastern District of Michigan. She earned her undergraduate degree from Michigan State University in 1987. * * * Phillip C. Korovesis was elected president of the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (MDTC) during its Annual Meeting May 19-21 in Mount Pleasant. Previously, Korovesis served as vice-president of the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel. Based in Butzel Long's Detroit office, Korovesis is a Litigation Practice Group leader and also serves as the chair of Butzel Long's Trade Secret and Non-Compete Specialty Team, which focuses on trade secret, non-compete and business tort litigation. Korovesis' practice is focused on commercial disputes, with trial, litigation and consultation expertise in non-compete/trade secret disputes, product liability defense, life insurance claims and business and financial services industry disputes. He has tried cases in state and federal courts in various parts of the country and has represented clients in state and federal appellate courts. He has arbitrated cases before the American Arbitration Association, the National Association of Securities Dealers, and the New York Stock Exchange (now The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority). Korovesis is a regular presenter on trade secret and non-compete issues to lawyers and other professionals. He is an active member of the Defense Research Institute in the commercial litigation, product liability and life insurance areas. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, and the American Bar Association. Korovesis is a graduate of Wayne State University (B.S., 1984; law degree, 1987). He also is a graduate of Leadership Oakland, Class XVIII, and has been recognized by "Michigan Super Lawyers" (Business Litigation). In addition, Butzel Long attorney and shareholder David F. DuMouchel was a featured speaker on May 23 during Inside Counsel Magazine's 11th annual SuperConference in Chicago. The conference is designed to provide senior-level legal professionals insights, ideas and solutions to help them meet their growing responsibilities and evolving needs. Developed by in-house counsel, for in-house counsel, the focus of the sessions was on exploring a legal department "best practices model" in key practice areas. DuMouchel participated in a panel presentation titled, "Proactive Techniques for Defending Government Investigations." "Inside Counsel Magazine's SuperConference is a top-tier conference presented for and by attorneys," said DuMouchel. "It was an extraordinary opportunity to participate in such an important conference." Based in Butzel Long's Detroit office, DuMouchel chairs the firm's Corporate Compliance, Internal Investigations and Criminal Defense practice. DuMouchel's practice is limited to white collar criminal defense, professional licensure and criminal health care, criminal IRS investigations of both taxpayers and professionals, SEC enforcement of corporate executives, public corruption, as well as grand jury investigations, internal corporate investigations and compliance. DuMouchel is a recipient of the Leonard Gilman Award from the Federal Bar Association as the outstanding criminal law practitioner in the Eastern District of Michigan. He has been named by "Best Lawyers" as the "2010 Detroit Criminal Defense: White-Collar Lawyer of the Year." Only a single lawyer in each specialty in each community is honored as the "Lawyer of the Year." He has been listed in each Best Lawyers edition for the last 25 years, up to and including the most recent. He also is listed in "Chambers USA: America's Leading Business Lawyers," and in "Michigan Super Lawyers." DuMouchel also is a frequent speaker on internal corporate investigations and federal criminal procedure matters. DuMouchel is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and serves as a member of the Criminal Procedure Committee, and is a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers. * * * Tad Roumayah has joined Southfield-based Sommer Schwartz PC as an associate in the firm's Business Litigation Department. Roumayah graduated from Wayne State University Law School and Oakland University with his B.A. Roumayah will focus his practice on Commercial and Employment Litigation. Additionally, Lance C. Young has also joined the firm as a shareholder in it's Business Litigation Department. Young graduated from Cooley Law School, University of Michigan, MBA and Michigan State, B.A. Young will focus his practice on Class Action Litigation which includes Antitrust, Consumer Protection, Securities/GAAP Compliance, ERISA and Corporate Duties/Derivative Suits * * * Randy M. Awdish, an attorney in the Detroit office of Pepper Hamilton LLP, has been selected for the XXI Leadership Oakland Class. The program develops leadership skills, exposes individuals to key issues impacting the region and enables participants to reach their full potential personally, professionally, and through public service to their communities. Since 1990, the Leadership Oakland Cornerstone Program has brought together more than 800 leaders from corporate, civic and non-profit organizations throughout the community. Each year, as part of the 9-month program, 50 developing leaders delve into the issues facing the region -- from education, government and the justice system to health and human services and race and ethnic diversity. In-depth, monthly sessions, lead by experts in each of these arenas, focus on both the treasures and challenges facing the region. At Pepper Hamilton, Awdish represents clients in commercial transactions, with an emphasis on real estate and corporate matters. Awdish's real estate practice involves a broad range of matters, including experience in leasing matters representing both landlords and tenants in large and small leasing matters involving retail, office, ground and industrial leases. His practice also includes real estate acquisitions and dispositions and zoning matters. Awdish also works closely with the firm's environmental group in resolving special issues involving the purchase, sale or leasing of industrial and other environmentally sensitive property. Awdish has served as a mentor to summer associates and continues to mentor junior associates. He has also served on the firm's Associate Liaison Committee. He earned a B.A. in 1998 from Wayne State University and a law degree in 2002 from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. * * * The law firm of Engle & Associates PC announces the opening of its Pontiac office. Headed up by attorney Ralph M. Engle and mediator Danae V. Hanes, the boutique law firm opened its doors this month, offering clients zealous representation in a responsive and effective way to help reach their goals, whether through alternative dispute resolution or trial. The law firm represents plaintiffs and defendants in claims and litigation, practicing in the areas of family, probate, criminal, commercial, contract, and real estate law. The firm also provides in-house intervention services, offering clients strategic support through team and family based gang intervention, community gang-problem analysis, gang prevention and intervention strategies, prisoner re-entry and also assists communities and community agencies in reducing youth based crime and gang activities "by design." Engle is the Principal with the firm. After graduating from Michigan State University (B.A. in Communication) he attended law school at University of Detroit Mercy. While he was in law school, Engle interned with the Army Corps of Engineers and The Oakland Mediation Center and then clerked for the law firm of Talpos & Arnold PC in Troy. When he was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan, Engle became an attorney with Talpos & Arnold PC and shortly thereafter, he took an in-house counsel position with one of the larger auto industry corporations in Metro Detroit. Hanes began mediating in 1999 when trained by the FBI as part of a youth-based collaborative project between the Troy Police Department and Troy Boys and Girls Club. Hanes completed the 40-Hour General Civil Mediator Training at Oakland Mediation Center with trainers Nanci S. Klein and Harvey Burdick in 2003. Educated at Wayne State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Peace and Conflict Studies, Hanes has been trained in civil, criminal and domestic mediation techniques as well as gang and substance abuse intervention techniques. Hanes specializes in civil, parenting time, divorce, victim-offender, criminal restitution, prisoner re-entry and interventions. Engle & Associates PC is located at 30 North Saginaw, Suite 713 in Pontiac, and can be reached at (248) 481-8439; facsimile (248) 481-8673; and www.EngleAndAssociates.com. Published: Mon, Jun 6, 2011