Len Wolfe is Director of the firm's Regulated Industries Department and Practice Group Leader of the Government Policy practice group. His practice encompasses several areas of legal representation, including general corporate matters, education law, public policy litigation, and general administrative law (including representing clients before various state departments, agencies and boards). Mr. Wolfe has been involved in the drafting of complex legislation and administrative rules on a variety of matters including economic development, Open Meetings Act, Freedom of Information Act, state ethics and conflicts of interest, casino gaming, telecommunication, school funding and a variety of school reform issues. In addition, Mr. Wolfe has experience with other governmental matters, including Office of Auditor General performance audits and the process and drafting of Interlocal Agreements, Executive Orders, Executive Directives, as well as Attorney General and Advisory Opinion requests. Mr. Wolfe is also a registered lobbyist.
Prior to joining Dykema, Mr. Wolfe worked in the Michigan State Senate and clerked with the Executive Office of Governor John Engler's legal division. Mr. Wolfe also interned in Washington, D.C. for former United States Senator Dan Quayle. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Wolfe was employed in the private sector as an asset manager with a Michigan-based financial institution.
Experience
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Appointed as a Special Assistant Attorney General and part of the Dykema team that represented the State of Michigan in the privatization of the State Accident Fund of Michigan
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Significant experience handling state procurement and bid protest matters in front of the State Administrative Board involving various state departments and agencies including Department of Management and Budget, Michigan Department of Corrections, Michigan Department of Education, Department of Community Health, Department of Labor and Economic Growth, Office of Financial & Insurance Services, State Police and Bureau of State Lottery
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Represent Fortune 500 companies doing business with the state, K-12 schools and institutions of higher education
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Member of the Dykema team that successfully defended the constitutionality of the state's original charter school law
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Member of Dykema team that drafted original charter school law and urban high school academy law
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Assisted National Trade Association in drafting of other state charter school laws
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Involved in the formation of over one hundred new public charter schools in Michigan on behalf of several state public universities and two community colleges
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Represents Bay Mills Community College Board of Regents, a tribally-controlled college governing board, in authorizing public charter schools, including schools with a Native American-focused curriculum
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Member of Dykema team involved in the creation of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Michigan Public Educational Facilities Authority
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Lead outside counsel on the negotiation and creation of the Greater Wayne Economic Development Corporation, a public body corporate created under interlocal agreement by and among the Wayne County EDC, City of Taylor EDC and City of Detroit EDC
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Represent both gaming and non-gaming related casino suppliers before the Michigan Gaming Control Board
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Lead outside regulatory counsel responsible for negotiating and obtaining Michigan Gaming Control Board approval of $1 billion acquisition and acquisition financing in connection with sale of ownership interest in Detroit Entertainment, L.L.C. (d/b/a MotorCity Casino)
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Served as an expert witness in trial and arbitration proceedings concerning Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act and Gaming Board Rules
Significant Decisions
- Michigan Education Association v Superintendent of Public Instruction, et al, Michigan Court of Appeals, No. 267714 (2006) , Motion for summary disposition granted on behalf of client, Coalition for Educational Choice, dismissing complaint challenging constitutionality and legality of the Bay Mills Community College Board of Regents as a charter school authorizing body. (Published Opinion)
- Metro Charter Academy v Grand Valley State University, 2005 Mich App LEXIS 2062 (Mich Ct App August 23, 2005)
- Attorney General v. Michigan Public Service Commission, and Edison Sault Electric Company, Michigan Court of Appeals, Case No. 192001 (January 20, 1998) (Unpublished opinion)
- GTE North, Inc. v. MCI Telecommunications, et al, Michigan Court of Appeals, Case No. 198324 (December 30, 1997) (Unpublished Opinion)
- Council Of Organizations and Others for Education about Parochiaid v Governor John Engler, et al, 455 MICH 557; 566 NW2d 208 (1997), Successfully defended constitutionality of state's first charter school law. Case set forth the constitutional requirements for a "public school" under Michigan law.
Seminars and Speeches
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4/2007
Update on Charter School Legal and Litigation Issues, (Moderator/Panelist) United States Department of Education Charter School Showcase, Washington, DC
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10/2006
Public or Private? Legal Issues in Defining Charter Schools, (Moderator/Presenter) NACSA Annual Conference, San Diego, CA
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10/2005
Overview of Conflicts of Interest and State Ethics, (Presenter) Michigan School Boards Association Fall Law Conference, Lansing, MI
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10/2005
Charter School Law, (Panel Moderator/Panelist) National Association of Charter School Authorizers Annual Conference, Denver, CO
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10/2004
Charter Schools: Unique Public-Private Partnerships for Community Colleges, (Presenter) ACCT Annual Leadership Conference, New Orleans, LA
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10/2004
Charter School Law, (Panelist) National Association of Charter School Authorizers Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA
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10/2003
Educational Management Companies, (Panelist) National Association of Charter School Authorizers Annual Conference, San Diego, CA
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10/2002
Educational Management Companies, (Panelist) National Association of Charter School Authorizers Annual Conference, San Antonio, TX
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2/2002
Charter School Financing, (Presenter) National Charter Schools Institute, Lansing, MI
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10/2001
Overview of Open Meetings Act and FOIA, (Presenter) Ingham County Bar Association Luncheon Lecture Series, Lansing, MI
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5/2001
Michigan Freedom of Information Act, (Presenter) Lorman Education, Ypsilanti, MI
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4/2001
Overview of State Procurement Process, (Presenter) National Contract Manager's Association - Detroit Chapter, Ann Arbor, MI
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11/2000
Overview of FOIA and State Bid Protests, (Presenter) National Contract Manager's Association - West Michigan Chapter, Grand Rapids, MI
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1999
FOIA and Conflicts of Interest Law, (Presenter) Ferris State University Board Training Seminar, Big Rapids, MI
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12/1998
Conflicts of Interest and Incompatible Public Offices, (Presenter) MAPSA Conference, Ypsilanti, MI
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5/1997
Church-State Issues and Charter Schools, (Presenter) Michigan Chronicle Event, Detroit, MI
Publications
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"Balanced Leadership for Lasting Change," The Definitive Guide to Charter School Oversight in Michigan (MCCSA Publication)
(December 2006)
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"Understanding Governance and Re-Thinking Regulation," Testimony on White Paper, McPherson Commission, Grand Rapids, MI
(December 2001)
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"Public School Academy Authorizing Bodies: Chartering Authorities, Oversight Bodies and Fiscal Agents," (prepared for Central Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, Ferris State University and Eastern Michigan University)
(August 1998)
Professional Associations
- Member, State Ethics Board (Appointed to a four-year term by Governor John Engler) (2001-2005)
- Board Member, Michigan Chamber of Commerce (2006-present)
- Board Member, Westside Community YMCA (2005-present)
- Alternate Board Member, Delta Township Zoning Appeals Board (2005-present)
- Advisory Board Member, CMU Lem Tucker Journalism Scholarship Dinner, Detroit, Michigan (2002-present)
- Panel Member, Policy Committee, National Association of Charter School Authorizers (2006)
- Co-Chair, Republican Lawyers For Michigan
- National Republican Lawyer's Association
Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward White, Inc.'s 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 Editions) (Gaming Law)
- Named a Michigan "Super Lawyer" (Law & Politics, 2007, 2008 & 2009 editions) (Schools & Education, Political Law, Administrative Law)
- Fellow, State Bar of Michigan Foundation (2004-present)
- Scholar, Engalitcheff Institute on Comparative Political and Economic Systems program, Georgetown University (1988)
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