Top Lawyers 2009

The exclusive list of the 2009 Best Lawyers in America in metro Detroit, including Ann Arbor, highlights the depth of the region’s legal expertise.
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Illustration by Gary Hovland

Detroit has long been a parochial market, due to the large number of entrepreneurs that emerged from the first wave of auto workers that arrived here more than a century ago. That’s a big reason why the Detroit Regional Chamber is the largest such organization in the country, with more than 20,000 members, the vast majority of which are small businesses under sole proprietorship.

Protecting the legal interests of all those companies (and their workers), whether it’s the Detroit Three automakers and their suppliers or the mom-and-pop shops that line our major freeways, streets, and boulevards, falls on a multitude of area lawyers well-versed in nearly every aspect of the law, from mergers and acquisitions to corporate governance and compliance — and everything in between.

With so much homegrown talent, outside law firms have had a tough time breaking into the market, due in large part to the vast reach of our business community (the same goes for other industries like real estate). It also means the home team is on the road, protecting the rights of our companies expanding across the country or overseas.

On the following pages, we present the lawyers cited by their peers as the best in their field, based on the Best Lawyers in America list for metro Detroit. We also profile five lawyers who were cited multiple times for their legal expertise in individual categories. In addition, a glossary of all of the law firms cited can be found on our website at www.dbusiness.com.

— R.J. King, editor


Alternative Dispute Resolution

Tracy L. Allen, Bodman
Samuel C. Damren, Dykema
James P. Feeney, Dykema
Kevin S. Hendrick, Clark Hill
Stuart M. Israel, Martens Ice
Barbara A. Johannessen, Mediation Specialists
Alan M. Kanter, Vestevich Mallender
Allyn D. Kantor, Miller Canfield
Peter M. Kellett, Dykema
Sheldon G. Larky, Sheldon G. Larky
Richard J. Maddin, Maddin Hauser
Paul F. Monicatti, Paul F. Monicatti
Michael G. Nowakowski, Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service
Martin I. Reisig, Martin Reisig
Richard A. Soble, Soble Rowe Krichbaum

Antitrust Law

Irwin M. Alterman, Kemp Klein
Gregory L. Curtner, Miller Canfield
David A. Ettinger, Honigman Miller
Howard B. Iwrey, Dykema
Monte D. Jahnke, Kerr, Russell and Weber
Philip J. Kessler, Butzel Long
William A. Sankbeil, Kerr, Russell and Weber
Larry J. Saylor, Miller Canfield

Appellate Law

Mark R. Bendure, Bendure & Thomas
James E. Brenner, Clark Hill
Neil H. Fink, Law Offices of Neil H. Fink
Mark R. Granzotto, Mark R. Granzotto
James G. Gross, Gross, Nemeth & Silverman
Elizabeth L. Jacobs, Law Office of Elizabeth Jacobs
John P. Jacobs, John P. Jacobs
Robert G. Kamenec, Plunkett Cooney
Raymond W. Morganti, Siemion Huckabay
Christine D. Oldani, Plunkett Cooney
Rosalind Rochkind, Garan Lucow & Miller
Mary Massaron, Ross Plunkett Cooney
Daniel S. Saylor, Garan Lucow & Miller
Brian G. Shannon, Jaffe Raitt
Noreen L. Slank, Collins Einhorn

Banking Law

James L. Allen, Miller Canfield
Robert S. Bolton, Jaffe Raitt
Robert J. Diehl Jr., Bodman
Craig W. Hammond, Dickinson Wright
John J. Hern Jr., Clark Hill
Kathleen O’Callaghan Hickey, Bodman
David D. Joswick, Miller Canfield
Douglas M. Kilbourne, Miller Canfield
Joseph J. Kochanek, Bodman
John K. Lawrence, Dickinson Wright
Patrick J. Ledwidge, Dickinson Wright
Thomas W. Linn, Miller Canfield
David K. McLeod, Miller Canfield
Cyril Moscow, Honigman Miller
David K. Page, Honigman Miller
Steven A. Roach, Miller Canfield
Nicholas P. Scavone Jr., Bodman
William P. Shield Jr., Dickinson Wright
Larry R. Shulman, Bodman
James A. Simpson, Miller Canfield
Amanda Van Dusen, Miller Canfield
Carl H. von Ende, Miller Canfield

Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law

Marc M. Bakst, Bodman
Donald F. Baty Jr., Honigman Miller
William T. Burgess, Dickinson Wright
I. William Cohen, Pepper Hamilton
Robert J. Diehl Jr., Bodman
Douglas S. Ellmann, Ellmann & Ellmann
Earle I. Erman, Erman Teicher
Joseph M. Fischer, Carson Fischer
Jack A. Gibson Jr., Jack A. Gibson
Jonathan S. Green, Miller Canfield
Wallace M. Handler, Sullivan Ward
Robert S. Hertzberg, Pepper Hamilton
Edgar C. Howbert, Dickinson Wright
Steven G. Howell, Dickinson Wright
Dennis S. Kayes, Pepper Hamilton
Richardo I. Kilpatrick, Kilpatrick and Associates
Kay Standridge Kress, Pepper Hamilton
Stephen S. LaPlante, Miller Canfield
Ralph E. McDowell, Bodman
Judy A. O’Neill, Foley & Lardner
James A. Plemmons, Dickinson Wright
Louis P. Rochkind, Jaffe Raitt
Barbara Rom, Pepper Hamilton
Ronald L. Rose, Dykema
E. Todd Sable, Honigman Miller
Sheryl L. Toby, Dykema
Sheldon S. Toll, Law Office of Sheldon S. Toll
Michael H. Traison, Miller Canfield
Robert B. Weiss, Honigman Miller
Jay L. Welford, Jaffe Raitt
Scott A. Wolfson, Honigman Miller

Bet-the-Company Litigation

Norman C. Ankers, Honigman Miller
Keefe A. Brooks, Butzel Long
Lawrence G. Campbell, Dickinson Wright
Thomas W. Cranmer, Miller Canfield
Eugene Driker, Barris Sott
James P. Feeney, Dykema
Philip J. Kessler, Butzel Long
Edward H. Pappas, Dickinson Wright
Richard E. Rassel, Butzel Long
William A. Sankbeil, Kerr, Russell and Weber
Carl H. von Ende, Miller Canfield
Sharon M. Woods, Barris Sott

Civil Rights Law

Patricia A. Stamler, Hertz Schram

Commercial Litigation

Peter M. Alter, Honigman Miller
Irwin M. Alterman, Kemp Klein
Norman C. Ankers, Honigman Miller
Susan Artinian, Dykema
Joseph Aviv, Honigman Miller
Mark T. Boonstra, Miller Canfield
Charles W. Borgsdorf, Hooper Hathaway
Keefe A. Brooks, Butzel Long
James M. Cameron Jr., Dykema
Lawrence G. Campbell, Dickinson Wright
Robert M. Carson, Carson Fischer
Pat D. Conner, Ellis Eby
Thomas W. Cranmer, Miller Canfield
Samuel C. Damren, Dykema
Eugene Driker, Barris Sott
W. Mack Faison, Miller Canfield
James P. Feeney, Dykema
Robert J. Franzinger, Dykema
Dennis M. Haffey, Dykema
William P. Hampton, Secrest Wardle
Michael W. Hartmann, Miller Canfield
Raymond W. Henney, Honigman Miller
Jeffrey G. Heuer, Jaffe Raitt
E. Edward Hood, Dykema
Norman Hyman, Honigman Miller
Robert M. Jackson, Honigman Miller
John P. Jacobs, John P. Jacobs
William R. Jansen, Warner Norcross & Judd
Allyn D. Kantor, Miller Canfield
Peter M. Kellett, Dykema
Philip J. Kessler, Butzel Long
Richard J. Landau, RJ Landau Partners
Kathleen A. Lang, Dickinson Wright
Michael B. Lewiston, Bodman
Daniel P. Malone, Butzel Long
Marta A. Manildi, Miller Canfield
Thomas G. McNeill, Dickinson Wright
David S. Mendelson, Law Offices of David Mendelson
E. Powell Miller, The Miller Law Firm
Sonal Hope Mithani, Miller Canfield
Edward H. Pappas, Dickinson Wright
Thomas G. Parachini, Miller Canfield
Marilyn A. Peters, Dykema
Allen J. Philbrick, Conlin, McKenney & Philbrick
Thomas G. Plunkett, Williams Williams
Clarence L. Pozza Jr., Miller Canfield
Richard E. Rassel, Butzel Long
William A. Sankbeil, Kerr, Russell and Weber
Bruce L. Sendek, Butzel Long
Joel H. Serlin, Seyburn Kahn
John A. Shea, John A. Shea
Mark A. Stern, Honigman Miller
Thomas J. Tallerico, Bodman
Thomas Van Dusen, Bodman
Carl H. von Ende, Miller Canfield
Bruce T. Wallace, Hooper Hathaway
Stephen F. Wasinger, Stephen Wasinger
I.W. Winsten, Honigman Miller
Timothy D. Wittlinger, Clark Hill
Sharon M. Woods, Barris Sott
Rodger D. Young, Young & Susser
Richard E. Zuckerman, Honigman Miller

Construction Law

Harvey W. Berman, Bodman
James R. Case, Kerr, Russell and Weber
Lawrence M. Dudek, Miller Canfield
Kevin J. Gleeson, Sullivan Ward
Margaret E. Greene, Honigman Miller
John K. Grylls, John K. Grylls
David M. Hayes, Clark Hill
Kevin S. Hendrick, Clark Hill
Jeffrey G. Heuer, Jaffe Raitt
Ronald E. Hodess, Miller Canfield
Mark L. McAlpine, McAlpine & Associates
James A. Samborn, Dickinson Wright
John M. Sier, Kitch Drutchas
Ronald P. Strote, May, Simpson & Strote
Stuart H. Teger, Honigman Miller

Corporate Governance and Compliance Law

Patrick D. Daugherty, Foley & Lardner
David Foltyn, Honigman Miller
Justin G. Klimko, Butzel Long
Donald J. Kunz, Honigman Miller
Mark A. Metz, Dykema
Aleksandra A. Miziolek, Dykema
Cyril Moscow, Honigman Miller

Corporate Law

Thomas G. Appleman, Miller Canfield
Brad B. Arbuckle, Miller Canfield
James R. Beuche, Hooper Hathaway
Bruce D. Birgbauer, Miller Canfield
Richard M. Bolton, Dickinson Wright
Charles W. Borgsdorf, Hooper Hathaway
James C. Bruno, Butzel Long
James R. Cambridge, Kerr, Russell and Weber
Timothy R. Damschroder, Bodman
Herold Deason, Bodman
Laurence B. Deitch, Bodman
Bernadette M. Dennehy, Dickinson Wright
Arthur Dudley II, Butzel Long
Patrick T. Duerr, Honigman Miller
David Foltyn, Honigman Miller
Verne C. Hampton II, Dickinson Wright
John J. Hern Jr., Clark Hill
Mark R. High, Dickinson Wright
Robert A. Hudson, Butzel Long
James L. Hughes, Butzel Long
Ira J. Jaffe, Jaffe Raitt
David D. Joswick, Miller Canfield
Barbara A. Kaye, Honigman Miller
Joseph W. Kimmell, Butzel Long
Justin G. Klimko, Butzel Long
Jin-Kyu Koh, Dykema
George E. Kuehn, Butzel Long
Donald J. Kunz, Honigman Miller
Patrick J. Ledwidge, Dickinson Wright
F. Thomas Lewand, Bodman
Chris L. McKenney, Conlin, McKenney & Philbrick
Mark A. Metz, Dykema
Daniel H. Minkus, Clark Hill
Jeffrey H. Miro, Honigman Miller
Aleksandra A. Miziolek, Dykema
Cyril Moscow, Honigman Miller
David K. Page, Honigman Miller
Alex L. Parrish, Honigman Miller
David N. Parsigian, Honigman Miller
Randolph S. Perry, Randolph S. Perry
Ian J. Reach, Reach Law Firm
Paul R. Rentenbach, Dykema
Raynold A. Schmick, Schmick Law Offices
James A. Schriemer, Conlin, McKenney & Philbrick
Rex E. Schlaybaugh Jr., Dykema
Alan E. Schwartz, Honigman Miller
Alan S. Schwartz, Honigman Miller
Jerome M. Schwartz, Dickinson Wright
Erik H. Serr, Miller Canfield
Mark Shaevsky, Mark Shaevsky & Associates
Samuel T. Stahl, Honigman Miller
Nicholas J. Stasevich, Butzel Long
Peter Sugar, Jaffe Raitt
Duane L. Tarnacki, Clark Hill
Thomas S. Vaughn, Dykema

DUI/DWI Defense

Patrick T. Barone, Barone Defense Firm
Robert W. Larin, Larin & Leonard
Kimberly W. Stout, Kimberly W. Stout

Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law

Alan T. Ackerman, Ackerman Ackerman & Dynowski
Norman C. Ankers, Honigman Miller
H. Adam Cohen, Steinhardt Pesick & Cohen
Darius W. Dynkowski, Ackerman Ackerman & Dynowski
Jerome P. Pesick, Steinhardt Pesick & Cohen
Mark J. Zausmer, Zausmer Kaufman

Employee-Benefits Law

Alexander B. Bragdon, Butzel Long
Orin D. Brustad, Miller Canfield
Robert G. Buydens, Butzel Long
John H. Eggertsen, John H. Eggertsen
Larry J. Ferguson, Ferguson & Widmayer
Kalman G. Goren, Miller Canfield
Roberta Granadier, Butzel Long
Margaret A. Hunter, Dykema
Theresa C. Joswick, Law Office of Theresa C. Joswick
Nancy Keppelman, Stevenson Keppelman Associates
Mary Jo Larson, Warner Norcross & Judd
Charles M. Lax, Maddin Hauser
Christopher A. McMican, Miller Canfield
Andrew Nickelhoff, Sachs Waldman
David M. Rosenberger, Rosenberger Law Group
Jordan S. Schreier, Butzel Long
Robert B. Stevenson, Stevenson Keppelman
Deborah W. Thompson, Miller Canfield
David B. Walters, Bodman
Warren J. Widmayer, Ferguson & Widmayer

Energy Law

Joseph M. Polito, Honigman Miller
Peter W. Waldmeir, Miller Canfield

Entertainment Law

Howard Hertz, Hertz Schram
Michael A. Novak, Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton

Environmental Law

Margaret A. Coughlin, Dickinson Wright
Fredrick J. Dindoffer, Bodman
Kenneth C. Gold, Honigman Miller
Philip A. Grashoff Jr., Strobl & Sharp
Jeffrey K. Haynes, Beier Howlett
Anna M. Maiuri, Miller Canfield
Steven C. Nadeau, Honigman Miller
James K. O’Brien, Dean & Fulkerson
Joseph M. Polito, Honigman Miller
Jack D. Shumate, Butzel Long
Thomas P. Wilczak, Pepper Hamilton

Family Law

Joseph Aviv, Honigman Miller
Mark A. Bank, The Law Firm of John F. Schaefer
William M. Brukoff, Sommers Schwartz
Frederick G. Buesser III, Butzel Long
Carole L. Chiamp, Chiamp & Associates
Robert Z. Feldstein, Kemp Klein
Timothy T. Fryhoff, Fryhoff & Lynch
Edward D. Gold, Butzel Long
Hanley M. Gurwin, Dickinson Wright
William P. Hampton, Secrest Wardle
William O. Lynch, Meyer Kirk
Donald E. McGinnis Jr., Donald E. McGinnis Jr.
John F. Mills, Williams Williams
Kenneth E. Prather, Kenneth E. Prather Sr.
Diana Raimi, Moran, Raimi & Goethal
Harriet B. Rotter, Harriet B. Rotter
John F. Schaefer, The Law Firm of John F. Schaefer
Kurt E. Schnelz, Schnelz Wells
Richard S. Victor, Law Offices of Richard Victor

First-Amendment Law

Herschel P. Fink, Honigman Miller
Laurie J. Michelson, Butzel Long
Leonard M. Niehoff, Butzel Long
Richard E. Rassel, Butzel Long
John J. Ronayne III, Bernardi, Ronayne & Glusac
James E. Stewart, Butzel Long

Franchise Law

David A. Ettinger, Honigman Miller

Government-Relations Law

George W. Ash, Foley & Lardner
G. Scott Romney, Honigman Miller

Health-Care Law

Maria B. Abrahamsen, Dykema
William M. Cassetta, Honigman Miller
Bettye S. Elkins, Miller Canfield
Gilbert M. Frimet, Foster Swift
Alan Gilchrist, Foster Swift
William O. Hochkammer, Honigman Miller
James L. Hughes, Butzel Long
Monte D. Jahnke, Kerr, Russell and Weber
Kathrin E. Kudner, Dykema
Seth M. Lloyd, Dykema
Stuart M. Lockman, Honigman Miller
Kenneth Marcus, Honigman Miller \
Thomas J. McGraw, Dykema
Joseph G. Nuyen Jr., Nuyen, Tomtishen and Aoun
Roselyn R. Parmenter, Miller Canfield
Julie E. Robertson, Honigman Miller
Alan T. Rogalski, Foster Swift
Linda S. Ross, Honigman Miller
Chris E. Rossman, Foley & Lardner
Timothy D. Sochocki, Miller Canfield
Keith J. Soltis, Kotz, Sangster, Wysocki and Berg
Andrew B. Wachler, Wachler & Associates

Immigration Law

Christian S. Allen, Ellis Porter
Dorothy H. Basmaji, Vercruysse Murray & Calzone
Thomas A. Bassett, Thomas Bassett and Associates
Ingrid K. Brey, Ingrid K. Brey
Debra Auerbach Clephane, Vercruysse Murray & Calzone
Scott F. Cooper, Fragomen Del Rey
William H. Dance, Abbott Nicholson
Leila Freijy, Fragomen Del Rey
Carol A. Friend, Honigman Miller
Elise S. Levasseur, Dickinson Wright
Clara DeMatteis Mager, Butzel Long
Derek I. Meier, Dykema
Charles Steven Owen, Owen & Associates
Reginald A. Pacis, Butzel Long
David H. Paruch, Law Offices of David H. Paruch
Larry J. Stringer, Dickinson Wright

Information-Technology Law

Bettye S. Elkins, Miller Canfield
Marta A. Manildi, Miller Canfield
Kathryn L. Ossian, Miller Canfield
Linda S. Ross, Honigman Miller
Stephen L. Tupper, Dykema
Holli Hart Targan, Jaffe Raitt

Insurance Law

William M. Cassetta, Honigman Miller
William O. Hochkammer, Honigman Miller
Monte D. Jahnke, Kerr, Russell and Weber
John R. Monnich, John R. Monnich
Julie E. Robertson, Honigman Miller
Rosalind Rochkind, Garan Lucow & Miller
Daniel S. Saylor, Garan Lucow & Miller

Intellectual-Property Law

Frank A. Angileri, Brooks Kushman
Marjory G. Basile, Miller Canfield
James M. Cameron Jr., Dykema
Bernard J. Cantor, Bernard J. Cantor
Mark Cantor, Brooks Kushman
Eric M. Dobrusin, Dobrusin & Thennisch
Richard D. Grauer, Rader, Fishman and Grauer
Alan N. Harris, Bodman
William H. Honaker, Dickinson Wright
J. Michael Huget, Butzel Long
Lawrence R. Jordan, Jaffe Raitt
Susan M. Kornfield, Bodman
Michael A. Lisi, Honigman Miller
Marta A. Manildi, Miller Canfield
Steven L. Oberholtzer, Brinks Hofer
R. Terrance Rader, Rader, Fishman and Grauer
Michael B. Stewart, Rader, Fishman and Grauer
Thomas N. Young, Young Basile

International-Trade and -Finance Law

Bruce D. Birgbauer, Miller Canfield
James C. Bruno, Butzel Long
D. Kerry Crenshaw, Clark Hill
Robert A. Hudson, Butzel Long

Labor and Employment Law

Brian S. Ahearn, Sullivan Ward
William B. Balke, Littler Mendelson
Fred W. Batten, Clark Hill
Kathleen L. Bogas, Law Offices of Kathleen Bogas
Thomas P. Brady, Clark Hill
Darcie R. Brault, Dib, Fagan and Brault
Dennis P. Brescoll, Brescoll & Brescoll
James A. Brescoll, Brescoll & Brescoll
Daniel J. Bretz, Clark Hill
Beverly H. Burns, Miller Canfield
David B. Calzone, Vercruysse Murray & Calzone
John C. Cashen, Bodman
Connie M. Cessante, Clark Hill
Paul W. Coughenour, Clark Hill
Lynne E. Deitch, Butzel Long
David R. Deromedi, Dickinson Wright
Carey A. Dewitt, Butzel Long
Charles C. DeWitt Jr., Littler Mendelson
Dennis M. Devaney, Strobl & Sharp
Donna J. Donati, Miller Canfield
Sue Ellen Eisenberg, Sue Ellen Eisenberg & Associates
John A. Entenman, Dykema
Martin Jay Galvin, Dykema
Donald J. Gasiorek, Gasiorek, Morgan, & Greco
Leonard D. Givens, Miller Canfield
John L. Gierak, Clark Hill
Linda O. Goldberg, Miller Canfield
Joseph A. Golden, Pitt McGehee
Deborah L. Gordon, Deborah L. Gordon
Christine A. Green, Green Green
Philip Green, Green Green
Gordon A. Gregory, Gregory Moore
John P. Hancock Jr., Butzel Long
Elizabeth P. Hardy, Kienbaum Opperwall
Thomas M.J. Hathaway, Clark Hill
Ronald R. Helveston, Helveston & Helveston
Timothy H. Howlett, Dickinson Wright
Linn A. Hynds, Honigman Miller
Stuart M. Israel, Martens Ice
Thomas G. Kienbaum, Kienbaum Opperwall
J. Douglas Korney, Law Offices of J. Douglas Korney
David A. Kotzian, David A. Kotzian
Seth M. Lloyd, Dykema
Thomas E. Marshall, Thomas E. Marshall
Cary S. McGehee, Pitt McGehee
Samuel C. McKnight, Klimist McKnight
James M. Moore, Gregory Moore
Stanley C. Moore III, Plunkett Cooney
Sam G. Morgan, Gasiorek, Morgan, & Greco
Gregory V. Murray, Vercruysse Murray & Calzone
Melvin J. Muskovitz, Dykema
Andrew Nickelhoff, Sachs Waldman
Megan P. Norris, Miller Canfield
Theodore R. Opperwall, Kienbaum Opperwall
Robert W. Palmer, Pitt McGehee
Eric J. Pelton, Kienbaum Opperwall
Michael L. Pitt, Pitt McGehee
Ronald J. Reosti, Reosti, James & Sirlin
Joseph A. Ritok Jr., Dykema
John R. Runyan Jr., Sachs Waldman
Ronald J. Santo, Dykema
William D. Sargent, Honigman Miller
Richard J. Seryak, Miller Canfield
Patricia A. Stamler, Hertz Schram
Daniel D. Swanson, Sommers Schwartz
Louis Theros, Dickinson Wright
Daniel B. Tukel, Butzel Long
Reginald M. Turner Jr., Clark Hill
Robert M. Vercruysse, Vercruysse Murray & Calzone
Jerome R. Watson, Miller Canfield

Land Use & Zoning Law

David W. Berry, Berry, Reynolds & Rogowski
Karl R. Frankena, Conlin, McKenney & Philbrick
Susan K. Friedlaender, Honigman Miller
Joseph F. Galvin, Miller Canfield
Alan M. Greene, Dykema
Norman Hyman, Honigman Miller
Edward F. Kickham, Kickham Hanley
Richard D. Rattner, Williams Williams
Lawrence R. Ternan, Beier Howlett

Legal-Malpractice Law

Lawrence J. Acker, Lawrence J. Acker
Michael P. Ashcraft Jr., Plunkett Cooney
David M. Black, Sommers Schwartz
Thomas H. Blaske, Blaske & Blaske
David W. Christensen, Charfoos & Christensen
Barry J. Gates, Barry J. Gates
Michael W. Hartmann, Miller Canfield
Harvey R. Heller, Maddin Hauser
Steven M. Wolock, Maddin Hauser

Leveraged Buyouts and Private-Equity Law

David Foltyn, Honigman Miller
Donald J. Kunz, Honigman Miller
David N. Parsigian, Honigman Miller

Mass Tort Litigation

Robert J. Haddad, Miller Canfield
Stephen J. Ott, Miller Canfield
Brian S. Westenberg, Miller Canfield

Medical-Malpractice Law

David W. Christensen, Charfoos & Christensen
Peter A. Davis, Davis & Kuhnke
William C. Gage, Gage & Little
Richard M. Goodman, Goodman Kalahar
Russell Gregory, Gregory & Reiter
James N. Martin, Martin, Bacon & Martin
Stephen D. McGraw, Kerr, Russell and Weber
Thomas L. Misuraca, Garan Lucow & Miller
John Patrick O’Leary, O’Leary & O’Leary
Jesse M. Reiter, Gregory & Reiter
Norman H. Rosen, Erlich, Rosen and Bartnick
Robert P. Roth, Portnoy & Roth
Heidi L. Salter-Ferris, Ferris & Salter
Robert P. Siemion, Siemion Huckabay
Edward R. Stein, Smith Haughey
Judith Susskind, The Thurswell Law Group
Gerald Thurswell, The Thurswell Law Group
J. Lee Tilson, Lee Tilson
Norman D. Tucker, Sommers Schwartz
Bruce A. Vande Vusse, Foster Swift
Barry P. Waldman, Sachs Waldman
D.J. Watters, Plunkett Cooney

Mergers & Acquisitions Law

J. Michael Bernard, Dykema
Timothy R. Damschroder, Bodman
David Foltyn, Honigman Miller
David D. Joswick, Miller Canfield
Justin G. Klimko, Butzel Long
Donald J. Kunz, Honigman Miller
Gerald T. Lievois, Dykema
Jeffrey H. Miro, Honigman Miller
Cyril Moscow, Honigman Miller
Alan S. Schwartz, Honigman Miller
Samuel T. Stahl, Honigman Miller

Municipal Law

Terence M. Donnelly, Dickinson Wright
Joseph F. Galvin, Miller Canfield
William P. Hampton, Secrest Wardle

Native-American  Law

Riyaz Kanji, Kanji & Katzen

Natural-Resources Law

Joseph M. Polito, Honigman Miller

Nonprofit/Charities Law

Christopher A. Ballard, Bodman
Christopher J. Dine, Bodman
Jane Forbes, Dykema
James L. Hughes, Butzel Long
Charles Nida, Honigman Miller
Randolph S. Perry, Randolph S. Perry
Duane L. Tarnacki, Clark Hill
Harvey B. Wallace II, Berry Moorman

Non-White-Collar-Criminal Defense

Anthony T. Chambers, Anthony T. Chambers
Thomas W. Cranmer, Miller Canfield
Don Ferris, Ferris & Salter
Neil H. Fink, Law Offices of Neil H. Fink
Steven J. Fishman, Fishman Group
Robert S. Harrison, Robert Harrison & Associates
Elizabeth L. Jacobs, Law Office of Elizabeth Jacobs
Matthew F. Leitman, Miller Canfield
Robert M. Morgan, Robert M. Morgan
Douglas R. Mullkoff, Kessler, Mulkoff & Hooberman
John A. Shea, John A. Shea
Joseph A. Simon, Simon & Geherin
James C. Thomas, Plunkett Cooney

Oil & Gas Law

John H. Norris, Dickinson Wright

Personal-Injury Litigation

James L. Borin, Garan Lucow & Miller
William R. Buesser, Buesser & Buesser
William D. Booth, Plunkett Cooney
Lawrence S. Charfoos, Charfoos & Christensen
David W. Christensen, Charfoos & Christensen
Wilson A. Copeland II, Grier, Copeland & Williams
Mark R. Daane, Hooper Hathaway
Peter A. Davis, Davis & Kuhnke
Don Ferris, Ferris & Salter
Richard D. Fox, Sommers Schwartz
Jerome A. Galante, Plunkett Cooney
Robert F. Garvey, Robert F. Garvey
David R. Getto, Sommers Schwartz
Dennis M. Goebel, Harvey Kruse
Richard M. Goodman, Goodman Kalahar
George A. Googasian, The Googasian Firm
Richard L. Groffsky, Sommers Schwartz
Lawrence E. Gursten, Gursten Koltonow
Steven M. Gursten, Gursten Koltonow
Paul W. Hines, Sommers Schwartz
Charles A. Huckabay, Siemion Huckabay
John P. Jacobs, John P. Jacobs
Edward M. Kronk, Butzel Long
Kathleen A. Lang, Dickinson Wright
Arthur Y. Liss, Liss Seder & Andrews
Robert E. Logeman, Logeman, Iafrate & Pollard
Frank Mafrice, Frank Mafrice
Daniel P. Malone, Butzel Long
James N. Martin, Martin, Bacon & Martin
Stephen D. McGraw, Kerr, Russell and Weber
Wayne Miller, Miller & Tischler
Andrew S. Muth, Muth and Shapiro
Thomas C. O’Brien, Miller Canfield
John Patrick O’Leary, O’Leary & O’Leary
Jules B. Olsman, Olsman, Mueller & James
Stephen J. Ott, Miller Canfield
Allen J. Philbrick, Conlin, McKenney & Philbrick
Marietta S. Robinson, Law Offices of Marietta S. Robinson
Paul A. Rosen, Rosen and Lovell
Heidi L. Salter-Ferris, Ferris & Salter
William C. Schaefer, Driggers, Schutz & Herbst
Daniel J. Scully Jr., Clark Hill
Joseph C. Smith, Smith & Gibson
Roger A. Smith, Garan Lucow & Miller
Edward R. Stein, Smith Haughey
Judith Susskind, The Thurswell Law Group
Gerald Thurswell, The Thurswell Law Group
Norman D. Tucker, Sommers Schwartz
Barry P. Waldman, Sachs Waldman
D.J. Watters, Plunkett Cooney
James E. Wynne, Butzel Long

Product-Liability Litigation

James M. Cameron Jr., Dykema
David W. Christensen, Charfoos & Christensen
Peter A. Davis, Davis & Kuhnke
James P. Feeney, Dykema
Richard M. Goodman, Goodman Kalahar
Peter M. Kellett, Dykema
Edward M. Kronk, Butzel Long
James N. Martin, Martin, Bacon & Martin
Stephen J. Ott, Miller Canfield
Daniel J. Scully Jr., Clark Hill
Barry P. Waldman, Sachs Waldman

Professional-Malpractice Law

William R. Buesser, Buesser & Buesser
David W. Christensen, Charfoos & Christensen
George A. Googasian, The Googasian Firm
Michael W. Hartmann, Miller Canfield
Steven M. Wolock, Maddin Hauser
Sharon M. Woods, Barris Sott

Public-Finance Law

Harold W. Bulger Jr., Miller Canfield
Terence M. Donnelly, Dickinson Wright
Brant A. Freer, Miller Canfield
Donald W. Keim, Miller Canfield
Jeffrey M. McHugh, Miller Canfield
Joel L. Piell, Miller Canfield
Jerry T. Rupley, Miller Canfield
Stephen G. Schafer, Jaffe Raitt
Robert L. Schwartz, Butzel Long
Amanda Van Dusen, Miller Canfield

Real-Estate Law

James C. Adams, Butzel Long
Joel S. Adelman, Honigman Miller
C. Leslie Banas, Honigman Miller
William G. Barris, Barris Sott
Jorge I. Beltran, Butzel Long
Robert A. Berlow, Taubman, Nadis & Neuman
Maurice S. Binkow, Honigman Miller
Robert S. Bolton, Jaffe Raitt
Stephen A. Bromberg, Butzel Long
Richard J. Burstein, Honigman Miller
James N. Candler Jr., Dickinson Wright
Edward C. Dawda, Dawda Mann
Stephen E. Dawson, Dickinson Wright
Gordon N. Didier, Butzel Long
Paul R. Dimond, Miller Canfield
Lawrence M. Dudek, Miller Canfield
William B. Dunn, Clark Hill
Joseph M. Fazio, Miller Canfield
Fred J. Fechheimer, Dykema
James S. Fontichiaro, Barris Sott
Susan K. Friedlaender, Honigman Miller
Karl R. Frankena, Conlin, McKenney & Philbrick
Joseph F. Galvin, Miller Canfield
Robert E. Gilbert, Miller Canfield
Howard B. Goldman, Butzel Long
Alan M. Greene, Dykema
William P. Hampton, Secrest Wardle
Vicki R. Harding, Pepper Hamilton
Mark R. Hauser, Maddin Hauser
Carl W. Herstein, Honigman Miller
David W. Hipp, Bodman
Ronald E. Hodess, Miller Canfield
Alan M. Hurvitz, Honigman Miller
Norman Hyman, Honigman Miller
John E. Jacobs, Maddin Hauser
Martin L. Katz, Honigman Miller
Joel D. Kellman, Dykema
Edward F. Kickham, Kickham Hanley
Timothy M. Koltun, Clark Hill
Joseph Lloyd, Chard & Lloyd
Howard N. Luckoff, Honigman Miller
Michael W. Maddin, Maddin Hauser
Richard J. Maddin, Maddin Hauser
Lawrence D. McLaughlin, Honigman Miller
Michael D. Mulcahy, Dawda Mann
William T. Myers, Myers Nelson
Allan Nachman, Butzel Long
Robert R. Nix II, Kerr, Russell and Weber
Stephen G. Palms, Miller Canfield
Robert V. Peterson, Dickinson Wright
Cameron H. Piggott, Dykema
Ian J. Reach, Reach Law Firm
J. Adam Rothstein, Honigman Miller
Lowell D. Salesin, Maddin Hauser
Anthony J. Saulino Jr., Butzel Long
Leon M. Schurgin, Bodman
Michael B. Shapiro, Honigman Miller
Daniel M. Share, Barris Sott
C. Kim Shierk, Myers Nelson
Andrew Z. Spilkin, Bodman
Wilfred A. Steiner Jr., Dykema
Gary A. Taback, Sommers Schwartz
Brad M. Tomtishen, Nuyen, Tomtishen and Aoun
J. Kevin Trimmer, Miller Canfield
Arthur A. Weiss, Jaffe Raitt
Sheldon P. Winkelman, Honigman Miller
Laurence E. Winokur, Dickinson Wright
William J. Zousmer, Honigman Miller
Richard A. Zussman, Jaffe Raitt

Securities Law

Thomas G. Appleman, Miller Canfield
Brad B. Arbuckle, Miller Canfield
Patrick D. Daugherty, Foley & Lardner
David Foltyn, Honigman Miller
Barbara A. Kaye, Honigman Miller
Justin G. Klimko, Butzel Long
Jin-Kyu Koh, Dykema
Donald J. Kunz, Honigman Miller
D. Richard McDonald, Dykema
Mark A. Metz, Dykema
Cyril Moscow, Honigman Miller
David N. Parsigian, Honigman Miller
Rex E. Schlaybaugh Jr., Dykema
Alan E. Schwartz, Honigman Miller
Alan S. Schwartz, Honigman Miller
Peter Sugar, Jaffe Raitt
Thomas S. Vaughn, Dykema

Sports Law

Gregory L. Curtner, Miller Canfield

Tax Law

Lynn M. Brimer, Strobl & Sharp
Roger Cook, Honigman Miller
Brant A. Freer, Miller Canfield
Steven E. Grob, Dykema
Michael A. Indenbaum, Honigman Miller
Robert B. Joslyn, Robert B. Joslyn
Stewart L. Mandell, Honigman Miller
Samuel J. McKim III, Miller Canfield
Jeffrey H. Miro, Honigman Miller
Charles Nida, Honigman Miller
Randolph S. Perry, Randolph S. Perry
Steven J. Schwartz, Sommers Schwartz
Richard S. Soble, Honigman Miller
Stevan Uzelac, Honigman Miller
Linda A. Wasserman, Honigman Miller
Warren J. Widmayer, Ferguson & Widmayer

Technology Law

Susan M. Kornfield, Bodman

Trusts and Estates

James E. Beall, Stark Reagan
Joseph A. Bonventre, Clark Hill
Joseph P. Buttiglieri, Kemp Klein
Michael G. Cumming, Dykema
Andrew H. Curoe, Bodman
Marie R. Deveney, Dykema
Gregory V. DiCenso, Miller Canfield
James M. Elsworth, Dykema
William E. Fisher, Dykema
Joel S. Golden, Jaffe Raitt
Sebastian V. Grassi Jr., Grassi & Toering
George W. Gregory, George W. Gregory
Henry M. Grix, Dickinson Wright
David M. Hempstead, Bodman
Frederick H. Hoops III, Clark Hill
Stephen W. Jones, Beier Howlett
Robert B. Joslyn, Robert B. Joslyn
Shirley A. Kaigler, Jaffe Raitt
Robert E. Kass, Barris Sott
Kenneth E. Konop, Miller Canfield
David P. Larsen, Bodman
Judith F. Layne, Dickinson Wright
Marguerite Munson Lentz, Honigman Miller
James H. LoPrete, LoPrete & Lyneis
John D. Mabley, Smith & Mabley
J. Thomas MacFarlane, Clark Hill
Dennis M. Mitzel, Berry Moorman
Charles Nida, Honigman Miller
Leonard J. Prekel, Morris Rowland
Patricia Gormely Prince, The Prince Law Firm
Douglas J. Rasmussen, Clark Hill
David W. Sommerfeld, Butzel Long
James P. Spica, Warner Norcross & Judd
Thomas F. Sweeney, Clark Hill
David M. Thoms, Miller Canfield
Lauren M. Underwood, Lauren M. Underwood
Harvey B. Wallace II, Berry Moorman
Linda A. Wasserman, Honigman Miller
Nancy H. Welber, Nancy H. Welber
Susan S. Westerman, Westerman & Associates
James W. Williams, Miller Canfield

Venture-Capital Law

Donald J. Kunz, Honigman Miller
Cyril Moscow, Honigman Miller
Michael B. Staebler, Pepper Hamilton

White-Collar-Criminal Defense

Christopher A. Andreoff, Jaffe Raitt
Anthony T. Chambers, Anthony T. Chambers
Thomas W. Cranmer, Miller Canfield
David F. DuMouchel, Butzel Long
Don Ferris, Ferris & Salter
Neil H. Fink, Law Offices of Neil H. Fink
Steven J. Fishman, Fishman Group
Robert S. Harrison, Robert Harrison & Associates
Matthew F. Leitman, Miller Canfield
Robert M. Morgan, Robert M. Morgan
Douglas R. Mullkoff, Kessler, Mulkoff & Hooberman
Thomas C. O’Brien, Miller Canfield
Walter J. Piszczatowski, Hertz Schram
John A. Shea, John A. Shea
Joseph A. Simon, Simon & Geherin
James C. Thomas, Plunkett Cooney
Richard E. Zuckerman, Honigman Miller

Workers-Compensation Law

Myron B. Charfoos, Charfoos Reiter
John P. Charters, Charters Heck
Norton J. Cohen, Miller Cohen
Donald G. Ducey, Conklin Benham
T.F. Felker Jr., Conklin Benham
James R. Geroux, Plunkett Cooney
Gerald M. Marcinkoski, Lacey & Jones
Walter Noeske, Conklin Benham
Donald L. Petrulis, Charters Heck
James Reiter, Charfoos Reiter
Richard L. Warsh, Richard L. Warsh


Discovery: Creating the Top Lawyers List

These lists are excerpted from The Best Lawyers in America® 2009, which includes listings for more than 36,000 lawyers in 80 specialties, in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Best Lawyers in America® is published by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, South Carolina and can be ordered directly from the publisher. For information call 803-648-0300; write 129 First Avenue, SW, Aiken, SC 29801; e-mail info@bestlawyers.com; or visit www.bestlawyers.com. Online subscriptions to Best Lawyers® databases are available at www.bestlawyers.com.

Disclaimer: Woodward/White Inc., has used its best efforts in assembling material for this list but does not warrant that the information contained herein is complete or accurate, and does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. All listed attorneys have been verified as being members in good standing with their respective state bar associations as of August 1, 2008, where that information is publicly available. Consumers should contact their state bar for verification and additional information prior to securing legal services of any attorney.

Copyright 2008 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC. All rights reserved. This list, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission. No commercial use of this list may be made without permission of Woodward/White, Inc. No fees may be charged, directly or indirectly, for the use of this list without permission. “The Best Lawyers in America” and “Best Lawyers” are registered trademarks of Woodward/White, Inc.

This list is excerpted from the 2009 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, the preeminent referral guide to the legal profession in the United States. Published since 1983, Best Lawyers lists attorneys in 80 specialties, representing all 50 states, who have been chosen through an exhaustive survey in which thousands of the nation’s top lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. The 2009 edition of Best Lawyers is based on more than 2.2 evaluations of lawyers by other lawyers.

Methodology: The method used to compile Best Lawyers remains unchanged since the first edition was compiled more than 25 years ago. Lawyers are chosen for inclusion based solely on the vote of their peers. Listings cannot be bought, and no purchase is required to be included. In this regard, Best Lawyers remains the gold standard of reliability and integrity in lawyer ratings.

The nomination pool for the 2009 edition consisted of all lawyers whose names appeared in the previous edition of Best Lawyers, lawyers who were nominated since the previous survey, and new nominees solicited from listed attorneys. In general, lawyers were asked to vote only on nominees in their own specialty in their own jurisdiction. Lawyers in closely related specialties were asked to vote across specialties, as were lawyers in smaller jurisdictions. Where specialties are national or international in nature, lawyers were asked to vote nationally, as well as locally. Voting lawyers were also given an opportunity to offer more detailed comments on nominees. Each year, half of the voting pool receives fax or e-mail ballots; the other half is polled by phone.

Voting lawyers were provided this general guideline for determining if a nominee should be listed among “the best”: “If you had a close friend or relative who needed a real estate lawyer (for example), and you could not handle the case yourself, to whom would you refer them?” All votes and comments were solicited with a guarantee of confidentiality – a critical factor in the viability and validity of Best Lawyers® surveys. To ensure the rigor of the selection process, lawyers were urged to use only their highest standards when voting, and to evaluate each nominee based only on his or her individual merits. The additional comments were used to make more accurate comparisons between voting patterns and weight votes accordingly. Best Lawyers uses various methodological tools to identify and correct for anomalies in both the nomination and voting process.

Ultimately, of course, a lawyer’s inclusion is based on the subjective judgments of his or her fellow attorneys. While it is true that the lists may at times disproportionately reward visibility or popularity, the breadth of the survey, the candor of the respondents, and the sophistication of the polling methodology largely correct for any biases.

For these reasons, Best Lawyers lists continue to represent the most reliable,
accurate and useful guide to the best lawyers in the United States available anywhere. Best Lawyers lists are available at www.bestlawyers.com. “Best Lawyers,” and “The Best Lawyers in America” are registered trademarks of Woodward/White, Inc.