Arlene Switzer Steinfield, Dallas-based Senior Counsel in Dykema Cox Smith’s Labor and Employment Practice, was recognized in D Magazine‘s CEO’s special edition, The Dallas 500. Steinfield was one of only six honorees recognized in the area of “Law-Labor and Employment.” D CEO celebrated this year’s honorees with a reception on November 16, 2016.

The Dallas 500 is a special print edition of D CEO that celebrates the most influential and powerful business leaders in North Texas. It is the result of a year-long research initiative from the editors of D CEO, compiling a list based on extensive contacts in local business circles and hundreds of interviews. Unprecedented in scope, The Dallas 500 provides an engaging, personal look at the people across 60 categories that make Dallas such a powerful economic force.

In a release, the firm said:

Steinfield has more than 38 years of experience representing management in labor and employment law. In her practice, she litigates employment discrimination cases and workplace disputes in state and federal court, conducts employment law compliance training, counsels employers on preventative compliance strategies, and appears frequently on behalf of employers before numerous administrative agencies including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor Employment Standards Administration, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the National Labor Relations Board. She also serves as an independent investigator of internal workplace harassment and discrimination complaints, and as a mediator in workplace disputes. Ms. Steinfield’s proactive approach to employee relations enables her clients to address employee disputes effectively. What distinguishes Ms. Steinfield is her ability to devise creative and practical strategies for resolving personnel disputes with minimal disruption to the employer’s operations.

Outside of her practice, Steinfield serves on the Board of Governors for the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, is a Fellow of the American, Texas and Dallas Bar Foundations, and is a Trustee with the Texas International Theatrical Arts Society. She has been recognized by Chambers USA as a Leader in Labor and Employment each year since 2007, and by The Best Lawyers of America® and Texas Super Lawyers® each year since 2003, including being listed in the Texas Super Lawyers® “Top 100 Lawyers in Texas” (2011), the “Top 100 Lawyers in Dallas/Fort Worth” (2011-2013), and the “Top 50 Women Lawyers in Texas” (2010-2013, 2015).

Steinfield received a B.A., with distinction, from the University of Rochester, and her J.D., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center, where she served on the Executive Editorial Board of the American Criminal Law Review.

Dallas litigation boutique Estes Thorne & Carr PLLC has been recognized among the 100 largest women-owned businesses in North Texas by the Dallas Business Journal.

One of only two law firms to be included in the 2016 Top 100, this is the first time Estes Thorne & Carr has earned recognition, debuting at No. 58. When founded in 2008, the firm was among only a handful of women-owned law firms in Dallas and has since grown to be one of the largest and most respected in Texas.

“Some clients may come to us because we are a women-owned firm, but we’ve built lasting relationships based on the quality of our work and our dedication to seeing the client succeed,” said managing partner Jessica Thorne. “We are exceptionally proud of the accomplishments of this firm and that we have built a reputation as one of the leading litigation firms in North Texas on the basis of the work we do.”

Read the release.

Goodell DeVries received rankings in 10 practice areas in the 2017 “Best Law Firms” list by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®, including being ranked Tier 1 Nationally for Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions and Tier 1 Regionally for Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law (Defendants), Mass Tort/Class Action (Defendants), Medical Malpractice Law (Defendants), Personal Injury Litigation (Defendants), and Product Liability Litigation (Defendants).

The U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their field, and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process. Clients and peers were asked to evaluate firms based on the following criteria: responsiveness, understanding of a business and its needs, cost-effectiveness, integrity and civility, as well as whether they would refer a matter to the firm and/or consider the firm a worthy competitor.

Firms included in the 2017 “Best Law Firms” list are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Achieving a ranking signals a unique combination of quality and breadth of legal expertise, and reflects the high level of respect that a firm has earned among other leading lawyers and clients in the same community and practice areas.

“Goodell DeVries is very proud to once again be recognized as a top tier law firm both nationally and regionally,” says Linda S. Woolf, Managing Partner at the firm. “For the past 28 years, we have made it our mission to, not only provide our clients with efficient and effective results, but also to have a deep understanding of our clients’ business. This has enabled us to serve the dual role of advocate and trusted advisor. Having our clients and peers recognize our commitment and dedication in 10 practice areas is truly an honor.”

Goodell DeVries received rankings in the following areas:

National Awards
Tier 1, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants

Metropolitan Awards
Tier 1, Baltimore, Commercial Litigation
Tier 1, Baltimore, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
Tier 1, Baltimore, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
Tier 1, Baltimore, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
Tier 1, Baltimore, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Tier 1, Baltimore, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Tier 2, Philadelphia, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
Tier 2, Philadelphia, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Tier 3, Baltimore Litigation – Construction

For the first time, family law boutique Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson, LLP, has earned both national and metropolitan Best Law Firms honors in three practice areas from U.S. News & World Report and The Best Lawyers in America.

In a release, the firm said the recently released 2017 Best Law Firms list includes national honors for the firm’s appellate practice. Although the firm has consistently earned top Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan honors for its work, including recognition for family law eight consecutive years, this marks the firm’s first national ranking.

“It is exceptionally rare to find an Appellate attorney who focuses on Family Law work, and we are very proud to be working with two of the very best in the country,” said firm Partner Keith Nelson. “The expertise and insights of Richard Orsinger and Brad LaMorgese have proven invaluable to countless clients.”

To be eligible for Best Law Firms rankings, a firm must have at least one lawyer listed in the 2017 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Earlier this year, nine of the firm’s 15 attorneys were honored individually for their work in Family Law: Orsinger, Nelson and LaMorgese; Scott Downing, Jeff Anderson, Lon Loveless, Will Reppeto, Paula Bennett and Marilea Lewis. In addition, Orsinger and LaMorgese were honored in the area of appellate law, and Lewis was recognized for her mediation practice.

Final selection to The Best Law Firms list is based on client and attorney evaluations, along with peer review by attorneys within the same practice area and editorial review. The full 2017 Best Law Firms list can be found at http://bestlawfirms.usnews.com/.

For the fifth consecutive year, the commercial litigation and intellectual property firm Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.C., or AZA, is being recognized among the nation’s Best Law Firms by U.S. News & World Report and The Best Lawyers in America.

Houston’s AZA is listed in the 2017 top tier of area metropolitan law firms for commercial litigation. The selection of Best Law Firms is based on a rigorous process that includes client and lawyer evaluations and peer review from other attorneys in the same practice areas, the firm said in a release.

Earlier this year nine AZA lawyers were selected for the 2017 edition of The Best Lawyers in America for their work in commercial and intellectual property litigation. The firm and its lawyers also received recognition in the Chambers USA 2016 guide, 2017 edition of Benchmark Litigation, and the  the 2016 Texas Super Lawyers list.

Read the article.

Dallas litigation boutique Estes Thorne & Carr PLLC has been recognized among the 100 largest women-owned businesses in North Texas by the Dallas Business Journal.

One of only two law firms to be included in the 2016 Top 100, this is the first time Estes Thorne & Carr has earned recognition, debuting at No. 58. When founded in 2008, the firm was among only a handful of women-owned law firms in Dallas and has since grown to be one of the largest and most respected in Texas.

“Some clients may come to us because we are a women-owned firm, but we’ve built lasting relationships based on the quality of our work and our dedication to seeing the client succeed,” said managing partner Jessica Thorne. “We are exceptionally proud of the accomplishments of this firm and that we have built a reputation as one of the leading litigation firms in North Texas on the basis of the work we do.”

Of the 65 companies reporting 100 percent female ownership to the Dallas Business Journal, Estes Thorne & Carr was the 35^th largest. To be eligible for the list, a company must self-report a minimum of 51 percent women ownership or control.

The national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP announced that Chicago partner W. David Braun will receive the Niels Friedrichs Legacy Award from the German-American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest (GACC Midwest).

Braun will receive the award at the GACC Awards Gala, a nationwide celebration of excellence in German-American business, at the Intercontinental Hotel in Chicago on October 28. Under his guidance, GACC Midwest saw continuous growth of the organization through the introduction of many progressive initiatives, such as expanding the Chamber’s consulting services for medium-sized German businesses, and bringing German-style dual apprenticeship programs to the United States. His guidance has also led to the continued growth of the beloved Christkindlmarket in Chicago, including the newest location opening this winter in Naperville.

He joined GACC Midwest’s Board of Directors in 2000, becoming Chairman in 2003. In 2013, he was elected as the inaugural Chairman of the Board of the German American Chambers of Commerce (GACCs), comprising seven offices in the US. He currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the GACCs. He will step down as GACC Midwest’s Chairman in 2017.

The award is named after the Chamber’s first Managing Director of over thirty years, Niels Friedrichs. David Braun is the second recipient after former President & CEO of GACC Midwest, Simone Pohl, who received the award in 2015. “I’m very honored to receive this award,” said Braun. “I have enjoyed my time serving GACC and will continue to support them in the future.”

Braun is a member of the firm’s Business Law Practice Group, where he focuses on U.S. and foreign corporate, licensing, and antitrust law. He represents principally U.S. client interests in Europe and European clients in the U.S., including the establishment of new businesses and joint ventures; licensing of intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, including distributorships and sales representative agreements, antitrust counseling, and litigation with respect to such matters.

He received his law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School and his bachelor’s degree, with distinction, from the University of Illinois. He also studied law at the University of Munich and was a research assistant at the Max-Planck-Institute for Foreign and International Patent, Copyright and Competition Law in Munich.

DLA Piper has been recognized with the President’s Award by the Alternative and Direct Investment Securities Association (ADISA) for the firm’s  service to the alternative investment securities industry.

ADISA is a national trade association of decision makers who influence over 30,000 professionals involved in alternative investments, primarily non-traded alternatives. These typically include non-traded Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), Business Development Companies (BDCs), Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs) and private and public funds (LPs/LLCs), 1031 exchange programs (DSTs/TICs), energy and oil and gas interests, equipment leasing programs, and other alternative and direct investment offerings.

DLA Piper received the award on September 27, 2016 at ADISA’s Annual Conference and Trade Show in Las Vegas. John Grady, a partner in DLA Piper’s Philadelphia office, is the President-Elect of ADISA, and currently chairs its Legislative and Regulatory Committee. He will take over from the current President, Mike Bendix, on January 1, 2017. Darryl Steinhause, a partner in DLA Piper’s San Diego office, currently serves as general counsel to ADISA and its Board of Directors. Darryl Steinhause has been active in the association since its formation and in the past has been a member of the Board of Directors and numerous committees and has been active in ADISA’s interaction with the SEC and FINRA.

Four members of Grant Thornton LLP‘s Risk, Regulatory and Legal Affairs team have received First Chair Awards for excellence in legal counsel.

This organization brings together private practice and in-house attorneys together with the common goal of networking and recognizing the accomplishments in the legal profession. The First Chair Awards annually selects in-house counsel members who have made significant contributions to the legal community and honors them for their accomplishments in the past year.

The winners are:

• Associate general counsel Chris Stathopoulos – Won the 2016 Top Assistant General Counsel award. Prior to joining the firm, he was an attorney at Winston & Strawn LLP. Stathopoulos received a juris doctor degree from the University of Michigan Law School.
• Senior legal counsel Jason Anderson – Won the 2016 Top Litigation Counsel award. Anderson served as a special trial attorney for the Internal Revenue Service prior to joining Grant Thornton. He received a juris doctor degree from the University of Illinois College of Law.
• Senior counsel Elizabeth Epstein – Won the 2016 Top Corporate Counsel award. Prior to joining the firm, Epstein was an associate attorney at Stein, Ray & Harris LLP. She received a juris doctor degree from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law.
• Senior counsel Hina Sodha – Won the 2016 Top Employment Counsel award. She has served in Grant Thornton’s Regulatory, Risk and Legal Affairs department for more than six years. Sodha received a juris doctor degree from DePaul University College of Law.

Dallas lawyer Deborah Hankinson has earned recognition in Benchmark Litigation as a Local Litigation Star among Texas appellate attorneys. It is the second time the former Texas Supreme Court justice has been selected for this prestigious honor.

Produced by London-based Legal Media Group, Benchmark Litigation is the only publication to focus exclusively on U.S. litigators and litigation-focused law firms. Attorneys undergo rigorous screening by the publication’s editorial team. The team also conducts extensive face-to-face interviews with judges, leading appellate lawyers and general counsel of Fortune 500 companies to make its final selections.

In a release, the firm said:

Benchmark Litigation is just the latest honor earned in 2016 by Ms. Hankinson. In recognition of her mediation, arbitration and appellate work, earlier this year she also was named to:

• The Texas Super Lawyers list of the state’s top legal practitioners for a 14^th consecutive year.
• The Best Lawyers in America for 2017. Best Lawyers is among the oldest and most respected legal guides based in the United States.
• Texas Lawyer Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her tenure on the Texas Supreme Court and for her role in the establishment of the Texas Access to Justice Commission.
• The National Law Journal’s inaugural ADR Champions listing, recognizing the top 48 alternative dispute resolution trailblazers from across the nation.
• D Magazine’s Best Lawyers in Dallas for an 11^th time.

The Expert Institute has opened its 2016 Best Legal Blog Contest and is accepting votes.

Over the past month, the Institute has received thousands of nominations for the contest and has narrowed the field to more than 500 blogs, listed by category.

“We’ve broken our nominees into nine different categories – ranging from criminal law to legal technology – pitting them against each other in a head-to-head contest judged by the authority that matters most: their readers,” the Institute says on its website.

Blogs will be ranked within their category by the number of votes they receive. The three blogs that receive the most votes overall will win prizes as well as a permanent spot on the Institute’s Best Legal Blogs page. Readers can submit one vote per blog, but can vote for as many blogs as they like across every category.

The polls will be open until Nov. 14, at 12 a.m. EST.

See nominees and cast votes.

The International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) has elected Andrew Kopon, Jr. president-elect for the 2016-2017 term. Beginning in July 2017, he will serve as president of the IADC, which is the preeminent, invitation-only, global legal organization for attorneys who represent corporate and insurance interests.

Kopon is a founding member of Kopon Airdo, LLC in Chicago. His practice focuses on complex civil litigation matters, including class actions, mass tort litigation and employment litigation. He has worked as national and regional counsel for major consumer and commercial product manufacturers and has successfully tried and argued cases before the Illinois Supreme Court.

In addition to his service to the IADC and its Foundation, Kopon is an active member of the Defense Research Institute, Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, and National Foundation for Judicial Excellence. He is Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent™ rated and has been recognized by Illinois Super Lawyers and Leading Lawyers Network for multiple years. He received his J.D. from The John Marshall Law School and B.A. from Providence College.

Founded in 1920, the IADC has approximately 2,500 members from six continents, more than 45 countries and all 50 U.S. states and includes corporate and insurance defense attorneys and insurance executives. The core purposes of the IADC are to enhance the development of skills, promote professionalism and facilitate camaraderie among its members and their clients, as well as the broader civil justice community. The IADC also takes a leadership role in many areas of legal reform and professional development.

Farrell Fritz announced that Jennifer Gebbie has recently been appointed to The Child Center of NY’s board. She will serve a three-year term.

Gebbie, a Wantagh, NY resident, is a real estate associate. She earned her Juris Doctor degree from Hofstra University School of Law and her B.S. from Pennsylvania State University.

The Child Center of NY seeks to strengthen children and families through skills, opportunities and emotional support to build healthy, successful lives. The Center’s main program areas include early childhood education, behavioral health, prevention & family support and youth development.

Fort Worth lawyer Steve Laird has once again been recognized by his peers and independent researchers, who have named him to the Top 100 Super Lawyers in Texas and Best Lawyers in America.

On his website, Laird has published articles with headlines such as “Study Shows Incredible Benefits of Collision Avoidance Systems,” “Texting and Driving Accidents on the Rise,” “Speed Limiter Delay Raises Danger on Highways,” “Questions Created by Catastrophic Injury, Wrongful Death,” “New Highway Law Allows Too-Low Insurance, Hides Safety Scores” and “Tractor-Trailer Cameras Benefit Safety.”

His firm, the Law Offices of Steven C. Laird, P.C., is located at 1119 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Worth, Texas 76104.

Read more.

Farrell Fritz had a combined total of 30 attorneys selected to the 2016 New York Metro Super Lawyers and New York Metro Rising Stars lists.

The firm’s 20 attorneys selected to the 2016 New York Metro Super Lawyers list and the practice areas for which they have been recognized are: Peter A. Mahler, John P. McEntee, James M. Wicks and Peter B. Zlotnick (Business Litigation); Peter L. Curry (Real Estate); Jed C. Albert, Eric M. Kramer and Patricia C. Marcin (Estate & Probate); John (Jack) J. Barnosky, Ilene S. Cooper, John R. Morken and Eric W. Penzer (Estate & Trust Litigation); Ted A. Berkowitz and Patrick T. Collins (Bankruptcy: Business); Charlotte A. Biblow (Environmental); Heather P. Harrison (Employee Litigation: Defense); Domenique Camacho Moran (Employment & Labor); Jason S. Samuels (Construction Litigation); Louis Vlahos (Tax); and Joel R. Weiss (Criminal Defense: White Collar).

The firm also saw 10 attorneysselected to the 2016 New York Metro Rising Stars list. The attorneys and the practice areas for which they have been recognized are: Kathryn Carney Cole, Matthew D. Donovan, Franklin C. McRoberts, Adam M. Rafsky, Michael A.H. Schoenberg and Aaron E. Zerykier (Business Litigation); Brian P. Corrigan, Jaclene D’Agostino and Robert M. Harper (Estate & Trust Litigation); and Veronique A. Urban (Bankruptcy: Business).

Brian Corrigan recently joined the firm and was selected to the list while he was at his predecessor firm, Holland & Knight LLP.

Beth A. Scharpf (Estate & Probate) was selected to the list while she was an associate at Farrell Fritz. She is now an attorney at Wiggin and Dana in New York, NY.

This year marks Jack Barnosky’s tenth year on the Super Lawyers list. Jed C. Albert, Heather P. Harrison, Jason S. Samuels and Adam M. Rafsky were selected for inclusion for the first time this year. This is the fourth consecutive year James M. Wicks was selected to the New York – Metro Super Lawyers Top 100 list. The Top 100 group of lawyers received the highest point totals in the New York Metro nomination, research and blue ribbon process.

Six attorneys from the Texas trial law firm Deans & Lyons, LLP, have earned selection to the 2016 Texas Super Lawyers listing.

“From the start, our firm has focused on providing clients with innovative and aggressive representation. We are appreciative to receive the recognition of our peers, as it demonstrates that others respect what we are doing for our clients,” says firm co-founder Michael Lyons. “I have tremendous respect for the work of these outstanding lawyers, and I am so proud to work alongside them.”

Lyons was selected to the Super Lawyers list for a fourth consecutive time based upon his work on catastrophic personal injury cases and high exposure commercial litigation. Firm co-founder Gregory Deans also earned his fourth consecutive appearance on the list for his work in civil litigation and mass torts. Both attorneys are based in Dallas.

Houston partner Jeff Nobles and of counsel Thomas Sartwelle both were selected to Super Lawyers for the 14^th consecutive year for their work in appellate cases and civil litigation, respectively.

Dallas partners Brian Lauten and Katherine Stepp both earned their third consecutive Super Lawyers selections for their work in commercial litigation and civil litigation, respectively.

To develop the list of Texas’ top attorneys, researchers with Thomson Reuters conduct a statewide survey asking lawyers to nominate their top legal peers. A blue-ribbon panel of attorneys then assists the Super Lawyers staff with final selections. No more than 5 percent of Texas attorneys are chosen each year.

The Texas Super Lawyers list is featured in the October 2016 issues of Texas Monthly and Super Lawyers magazines and is available at www.superlawyers.com.

Earlier this year, Dallas partners Robert Bogdanowicz III, Courtney Bowline and Christopher Simmons and associate Kathleen Kilanowski were selected to the companion 2016 Texas Rising Stars listing, which honors the state’s top young lawyers.

Deans & Lyons, LLP, has offices in Dallas and Houston.

Ten attorneys from the family law boutique Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson, LLP, have been selected to the 2016 Texas Super Lawyers listing, including five lawyers among the Top 100 in the state. No other Family Law firm in Texas has as many attorneys named to the Top 100.

Name partners Richard Orsinger, Keith Nelson, Scott Downing and Jeffrey Anderson have earned a place on the list of the top family law attorneys every year since Texas Super Lawyers was established in 2003.

Dallas partner Brad LaMorgese was named to the listing for the 13^th time. This is the fourth listing for associate Hunter Lewis of Dallas and partner Amber Liddell Alwais of San Antonio, with Dallas partners William Reppeto and Lon Loveless each earning their third selections. Marilea Lewis, of counsel in Dallas, was honored for a fifth year.

In addition, several firm lawyers earned special recognition in the exclusive listing, including:

Top 100 attorneys in Texas:

• Richard Orsinger (14 years)
• Scott Downing (5)
• Jeffrey Anderson (1)
• Brad LaMorgese (4)
• Marilea Lewis (2)

Top 50 women attorneys in Texas

• Marilea Lewis (3)

Top 100 attorneys in Dallas-Fort Worth

• Scott Downing (6)
• Jeff Anderson (3)
• Brad LaMorgese (4)
• Marilea Lewis (3)

Top 50 attorneys in Central/West Texas

• Richard Orsinger (13)

Super Lawyers selections are based on peer nominations and evaluations, as well as independent editorial research. No more than 5 percent of Texas attorneys are chosen each year. The full 2016 listing appears in the October editions of Texas Monthly and the Super Lawyers Texas issue, available online at http://www.superlawyers.com.

Fifteen-lawyeer Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson has offices in Dallas, San Antonio and Frisco, Texas.

Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP  announces that 36 of the firm’s Texas attorneys have been recognized on the 2016 Texas Super Lawyers list. In addition, Denver partner Leonard M. MacPhee was named to the 2016 Colorado Super Lawyers list.

“Super Lawyers works diligently to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of reputable attorneys,” says Gardere Chair Holland N. O’Neil. “We applaud our 37 attorneys who have worked hard to be recognized as go-to lawyers in their respective areas.”

For the third consecutive year partner Geoffrey H. Bracken earned additional honors as one of the Top 100 Attorneys in Houston. Bracken’s litigation practice focuses on commercial, construction, copyright infringement, wrongful death and personal injury disputes, particularly disputes related to oil and gas exploration, as well as production.

Gardere attorneys named to the 2016 Texas and Colorado Super Lawyers lists, and their areas of practice, include: 

Austin:

• Mark Vane – Government Relations
• Kimberly A. Yelkin – Government Relations

 Dallas:

• Marshall J. Doke Jr. – Government Contracts
• Craig B. Florence – Business Litigation
• Ronald M. Gaswirth – Employment and Labor
• Kenneth R. Glaser – Intellectual Property
• Lawrence B. Goldstein – Mergers and Acquisitions
• Douglas A. Harrison – Family Law
• Carrie B. Hoffman – Employment and Labor
• Kevin L. Kelley – Real Estate
• Joyce Mazero – Franchise/Dealership
• Stephen A. McCartin – Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights
• Todd Murray – Securities Litigation
• Cynthia Brotman Nelson – Real Estate
• Keith V. Novick – Estate and Probate
• Holland N. O’Neil – Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights
• Alan J. Perkins – Mergers and Acquisitions
• Clifford J. Risman – Real Estate
• Deirdre B. Ruckman – Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights
• Robert Sarfatis – Mergers and Acquisitions
• Larry L. Schoenbrun – Mergers and Acquisitions
• Kay Lyn Schwartz – Intellectual Property
• Paul V. Storm – Intellectual Property Litigation
• David H. Timmins – Insurance Coverage
• Richard A. Tulli – Securities and Corporate Finance
• Peter S. Vogel – Intellectual Property Litigation
• Richard L. Waggoner – Mergers and Acquisitions

Denver:

• Leonard H. MacPhee – Franchise/Dealership

Houston:

• Eric A. Blumrosen – Mergers and Acquisitions
• Geoffrey H. Bracken – Business Litigation
• Daniel L. Cohen – Mergers and Acquisitions
• Jeffrey S. Davis – Civil Litigation: Defense
• Craig D. Dillard – Business Litigation
• Douglas K. Eyberg – Mergers and Acquisitions
• John P. Melko – Creditor Debtor Rights
• Lawrence J. Pirtle – Estate Planning and Probate
• Rachel Powitzky Steely – Employee Litigation: Defense

Super Lawyers, a division of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers in more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. Each year, no more than 5 percent of attorneys are designated for this honor in each participating state. The Texas Super Lawyers list will be included in the October 2016 issues of Texas Monthly and the Texas edition of Super Lawyersmagazine. The Colorado Super Lawyers list was featured in the Colorado edition of Super Lawyers magazine published earlier this year.

Dykema announced that 44 of its attorneys from the firm’s five Michigan offices, and from multiple practice areas, were named to the 2016 Super Lawyers list by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine. Additionally, 18 of the firm’s attorneys were named to the 2016 Rising Stars list.

Three of the firm’s Michigan practitioners were also included on Super Lawyers “Top Lists.” These honorees, and the Top List(s) they have been included on, are:

• Maria B. Abrahamsen – Top 50: 2016 Women Michigan Super Lawyers; Top 25: 2016 Women Business Michigan Super Lawyers
• James P. Feeney – Top 100: 2016 Michigan Super Lawyers
• Brian M. Moore – Top 50: 2016 Michigan Super Lawyers; Top 100: 2016 Michigan Super Lawyers

The Super Lawyers designation, conferred upon the most respected legal practitioners in the state, is based upon peer recognition and professional achievement. No more than five percent of the lawyers in each state are selected by the research team to receive this honor. The Dykema attorneys named on the 2016 Michigan Super Lawyers list, identified by Michigan office and the practice area(s) for which they are being recognized, are:

Ann Arbor

• Maria B. Abrahamsen – Health Care
• Marie R. Deveney – Estate Planning & Probate; Tax: Consumer
• Kathrin E. Kudner – Health Care; Food and Drugs; Business/Corporate
• Ronald J. Santo – Employment & Labor
• Robert P. Tiplady – Estate Planning & Probate
• Jill M. Wheaton – Appellate; Civil Litigation: Defense; Personal Injury – Products: Defense

Bloomfield Hills

• Brendan J. Cahill – Business/Corporate; Mergers & Acquisitions; Securities & Corporate Finance
• Michael G. Cumming – Estate Planning & Probate; Tax
• Stephen R. Estey – Land Use/Zoning; Eminent Domain; General Litigation
• James P. Feeney – Personal Injury – Products: Defense; Civil Litigation: Defense; Class Action/Mass Torts
• Adam M. Fishkind – Real Estate: Business
• Alan M. Greene – Land Use/Zoning; Eminent Domain; Construction Litigation
• Dennis M. Haffey – Business Litigation; Professional Liability: Defense; Securities Litigation
• Kyle R. Hauberg – Real Estate: Business
• Margaret Adams Hunter – Employee Benefits
• Howard B. Iwrey – Antitrust Litigation; Franchise/Dealership
• Mark G. Malven – Technology Transactions; Mergers & Acquisitions; Business/Corporate
• Bonnie Mayfield – Employment Litigation: Defense; Personal Injury – Products: Defense; Class Actions/Mass Torts
• D. Richard McDonald – Securities & Corporate Finance; Mergers & Acquisitions
• Brian M. Moore – Business Litigation; General Litigation; Real Estate: Business
• Paul L. Nystrom – Business Litigation; Personal Injury – Products: Defense; Class Actions/Mass Torts; Land Use/Zoning
• Rex E. Schlaybaugh, Jr. – Securities & Corporate Finance; Mergers & Acquisitions
• Sheryl L. Toby – Bankruptcy: Business; Creditor Debtor Rights: Business
• Stephen L. Tupper – Technology Transactions; Mergers & Acquisitions

Detroit

• J. Michael Bernard – Mergers & Acquisitions; Business/Corporate; Securities & Corporate Finance
• Robert A. Boonin – Employment & Labor; Employment Litigation: Defense; Schools & Education
• Eric Thomas Carver – Estate & Trust Litigation; Estate Planning & Probate; Business/Corporate
• Michael P. Cooney – Personal Injury – Products: Defense; Business Litigation; Intellectual Property Litigation; Class Action/Mass Torts
• Samuel C. Damren – Business Litigation; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Closely Held Business
• Sherrie L. Farrell – Business Litigation; Business/Corporate; Bankruptcy: Business; Class Action/Mass Torts
• Grant P. Gilezan – Environmental; Energy & Natural Resources; Environmental Litigation
• Steven E. Grob – Tax: Business; Estate Planning & Probate
• Kathryn J. Humphrey – Aviation and Aerospace; Personal Injury – Products: Defense; General Litigation
• Mark D. Jacobs – Environmental; Utilities; Administrative Law
• Peter M. Kellett – Class Action/Mass Torts; Business Litigation; Personal Injury – Products: Defense
• Joel D. Kellman – Real Estate: Business; Banking; Nonprofit Organizations
• Jin-Kyu Koh – Mergers & Acquisitions; Business/Corporate; Healthcare
• Cameron H. Piggott – Real Estate: Business; Energy & Natural Resources
• Thomas M. Schehr – Business Litigation

Grand Rapids

• James S. Brady – Criminal Defense; Civil Litigation: Defense
• Brian J. Page – Real Estate: Business; Business/Corporate; Banking

Lansing

• Richard J. Aaron – Utilities; Energy & Natural Resources; Administrative Law
• Ann D. Fillingham – Government Finance; Business/Corporate
• Lori McAllister – Business Litigation; Insurance Coverage; Securities Litigation; Class Action/Mass Torts; Administrative Law

Rising Stars are those up-and-coming attorneys who are 40 years of age or younger and have practiced law for 10 years or less. No more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team to receive this honor. The Dykema attorneys named on the 2016 Rising Stars list, identified by Michigan office and the practice area(s) for which they are being recognized, are:

Ann Arbor

• David M. George – Class Action/Mass Torts; E-Discovery; Consumer Law; General Litigation
• Noah S. Hurwitz – Business Litigation; Employment & Labor; Civil Litigation: Defense
• Cody D. Rockey – Antitrust Litigation

Bloomfield Hills

• Michael J. Blalock – Business Litigation; Civil Litigation: Defense
• Jong-Ju Chang – Business Litigation
• William C. Lentine – Tax: Business; Estate Planning & Probate; Mergers & Acquisitions
• Todd C. Schebor – Environmental; Environmental Litigation; Eminent Domain
• Christyn M. Scott – General Litigation; Real Estate: Business
• Thomas H. Trapnell – Business Litigation; Franchise/Dealership; Consumer Law
• Michael R. Vogt – Real Estate: Business
• Jeanne M. Whalen – Technology Transactions; Mergers & Acquisitions; Health Care

Detroit

• Jennifer Boueri Chilson – Business Litigation
• Janet L. Conigliaro – Class Action/Mass Torts
• Robert Hugh Ellis – Business Litigation
• Nasseem S. Ramin – Business Litigation
• Boyd White, III – Class Action/Mass Torts; Personal Injury – Products: Defense; Business Litigation

Grand Rapids

• Elisa J. Lintemuth – Employment Litigation: Defense; Business Litigation; Employment & Labor
• Dawn N. Williams – Consumer Law

The national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP announced that American Lawyer has included the firm in this year’s rankings of the National Report.

The report consists of 94 law firms ranked by third, fourth, and fifth-year associates, who rated their workplace on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest score. The associates rated their firms based on the following criteria:

• Compensation and benefits
• Training and guidance
• Relations with partners and other associates
• The interest and satisfaction level of the work
• The firm’s policy on billable hours and management’s openness about firm strategies
• Partnership chances

Last year, the firm was ranked No. 48th, but this year the firm jumped 20 spots to No. 28.

“We are proud to see our associate program ranked so highly in this national report,” said Firm Chair Kimberly Leach Johnson. “We take seriously our goal of helping these very promising associates become great lawyers, and work to do that through mentorship, open communication and meaningful opportunities.”