Attorney, shareholder, and board of directors’ member at Detroit’s Butzel, Paul M. Mersino, has been appointed to serve as Butzel’s next president and CEO effective in March 2023, when he will begin his term at the firm’s annual meeting.
“This is an exciting time for Butzel,” says Mersino. “We have an excellent foundation based on a rich legacy of nearly 170 years of service as a law firm. We have also added several attorneys this year and we continue to grow and plan for the future. I am honored to have the opportunity to continue to work with so many great attorneys and great people.”
Mersino was elected to Butzel’s Board in March 2020. Prior to serving on the firm’s board, he was the chair of the firm’s litigation practice department. In this role, he was responsible for the management and oversight of the firm’s commercial litigation attorneys who reported to him for the strategic goals, budgeting, forecasting, and direction of the practice group.
“We are excited to transition firm leadership to the next generation of leaders,” says Justin Klimko, the firm’s current president and CEO. “Paul will be an enthusiastic and effective President. Working with the rest of our Board, he will strive to continue our culture of collegiality and excellence. He has leadership experience as a former practice department chair and current board member and will continue our unrelenting focus on the future.”
Mersino represents public and private companies, in several areas including complex commercial litigation, contract disputes, non-compete and trade secret disputes, automotive supplier disputes, construction litigation, and first amendment litigation.
Mersino has seen successes in trials and cases across the country, having obtained jury verdicts, summary judgment rulings, dismissal of cases against his clients, and settlements favorable to his clients in state and federal courts throughout the nation.
He is a 2008 graduate of Ave Maria School of Law, where he graduated magna cum laude and was a member of Law Review and the State Championship Moot Court team. He earned his undergraduate degree from Northwood University.
In 2020, Mersino was named to DBusiness magazine’s “30 in Their Thirties.” He has been recognized as a Top Lawyer by DBusiness magazine, a Michigan Super Lawyer, as one of Oakland County’s “40 under 40,” and as an “Up and Coming Lawyer” by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
