Press Releases

Dykema, a leading national law firm, today announced the addition of Paulina Garga-Chmiel to its Financial Services Litigation Practice Group and Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities Special Servicer Group as senior counsel in the firm’s Chicago office. She will focus on loan enforcement and complex creditors’ rights issues.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that Dallas-based attorney Tory Finley has been selected for inclusion into The National Black Lawyers - Top 40 Under 40 in Texas. 

Respondents to Dykema’s 17th annual M&A Outlook Survey believe nothing will break the stride of U.S. M&A dealmakers over the year to come, with most viewing the Biden administration’s legislative agenda as positively impacting activity.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that Chicago-based attorney Steven D. Mroczkowski has been selected as a Fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America (CLSA). The CLSA is an invitation-only international honorary association composed of preeminent lawyers specializing in construction law and related fields.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that the firm was nationally ranked in 12 practice areas in the 2022 U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” list, and received a total of 138 metropolitan rankings representing various areas of law.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, will join 50 other firms in participating in Diversity Lab and ChIPs commitment to take at least one “Do Something Hard” action as part of the 2021 Inclusion Blueprint.

Darek Hayes, a father of three, was released from prison yesterday as a result of a post-conviction plea deal approved by a court in Caddo Parish. Hayes had been serving a life without the possibility of parole sentence for possessing a firearm. He was one of approximately 1,500 people serving sentences based on convictions arising from non-unanimous jury verdicts. The Dykema team of Ted Seitz and Kyle Asher represented Hayes through the firm's pro bono involvement with The Promise of Justice Initiative (PJI).

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that Lansing-based Member Ann Fillingham was appointed to serve as President of the National Association of Bond Lawyers (NABL).

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that Dallas-based Member Eric White has been appointed to serve as assistant leader of the firm’s corporate finance practice group.

Sentenced to life without the possibility of parole as an adolescent, Victor Lee Polk has been released from prison today after a decades-long fight for review of his case. Led by Theodore Seitz, Erin Sedmak and Ryan VanOver, a pro bono team of defense lawyers at national law firm Dykema in April defeated the State’s motion to re-sentence him to a life without the possibility of parole sentence and secured a term-of-years sentence from the Genesee County’s 7th Judicial Circuit Court making Polk immediately eligible for parole. The parole board found that Polk should be released after 28 years of time served for his offenses.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that James (Jimmy) Azadian, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.-based Co-Leader of the firm’s nationwide Appellate and Complex Motion Practice, has been appointed by the President of the American Bar Association (ABA) to serve on the ABA’s Standing Committee on Amicus Curiae Briefs.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that 13 of its Texas-based attorneys—from multiple practice areas—were named to the 2021 Texas Super Lawyer list by Texas Super Lawyers Magazine. Of those recognized, both Chris Kratovil and Deborah Williamson were each included on Super Lawyers “Top Lists.” 

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that Danielle Rushing, San Antonio-based attorney in the firm’s Bankruptcy Practice, was selected by the American Bar Association (ABA) Business Law Section Business Bankruptcy Committee’s (“BBC”) for the inaugural class of 20/20 Partners Rising Young Leader Award. Rushing will be honored at the BBC luncheon during the hybrid National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges in Indianapolis, Indiana, from October 6-9, 2021.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, today announced that James (Jimmy) Azadian was named a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America (LCA). Azadian was selected for the LCA due to his nationally prolific work supporting trial teams as embedded appellate counsel.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC) reappointed Sean C. Griffin to its Board of Directors and promoted him from director to senior director. In addition, Griffin will also serve as the Chair of the Data, Breach, Privacy and Cyber Insurance Section.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, today announced the addition of John W. Fraser to its Government Policy & Practice Group in the firm’s Lansing office. Fraser, who will serve as Michigan Team Leader of the firm’s Cannabis Group, joins Dykema after establishing and leading the cannabis practice at Grewal Law in Okemos, Mich.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that 157 of its attorneys, in multiple practice areas and markets, have been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© 2022 guide and the Best Lawyers "Ones to Watch" list. Additionally, 14 of the firm’s practitioners have been named Best Lawyers 2022 “Lawyer of the Year,” a special distinction conferred upon a single lawyer within a practice area and metropolitan market.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that the American Bar Association (ABA) appointed Harold D. Pope to serve a three-year term on its Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary representing the Sixth Circuit federal courts. The Sixth Circuit compromises Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that 31 of its attorneys from the firm’s Michigan offices—and from multiple practice areas—were named to the 2021 Super Lawyers list by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine. Additionally, 13 of the firm’s attorneys were named to the 2021 Michigan Rising Stars list.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced that Ryan Borelo, San Antonio-based attorney in the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group, was selected by the State Bar of Texas (SBOT) as one of only 20 attorneys in Texas to be a member of the 2021-22 class of LeadershipSBOT.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, today announced that Lori McAllister, Lansing-based member of the firm’s Executive Board and member in the firm’s Insurance Industry Group, was selected as an inductee to the Michigan Insurance Hall of Fame. McAllister will be recognized at the Hall of Fame’s 26th annual induction ceremony and dinner held on Wednesday, October 27, 2021, at the Crowne Plaza Lansing West.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, successfully defended Kia America in a product liability case in the Superior Court of California, Orange County. On Thursday, July 22, 2021, after a two-month trial, the jury deliberated for just over 60 minutes before returning a 12-0 defense verdict in favor of Kia. Plaintiff sought more than $103M in damages.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, today announced the addition of Catherine S. Bowe to its Corporate Finance Practice Group as Senior Counsel in the firm’s Dallas office. Bowe joins Dykema after practicing with Exall Legal Advisors, PLLC in Dallas for four years.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that Minneapolis-based member Kristina Kaluza has been recognized as a 2021 "Rising Star" in the Minnesota edition of Super Lawyers. 

Dykema, a leading national law firm, today announced that Daniela Gonzales Aldape will join its Product Liability and Class Action Practice Group as a Member in the firm’s San Antonio office. Aldape joins Dykema after practicing with Prichard Young LLP in San Antonio for the past 17 years. Aldape’s start date with Dykema is August 1, 2021.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that it will join more than 160 large law firms from the U.S. and Canada in participating in Diversity Lab’s Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certification process launching July 15, 2021.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, today announced that Jim Burns, Washington, D.C.-based attorney James M. Burns has been appointed to serve as co-chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Antitrust Law Section’s Public Education and Outreach Committee.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, today announced that Danielle Rushing, San Antonio-based attorney in the firm’s Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Creditors' Rights Practice Group, was appointed to serve as Chair of the Bankruptcy Law Committee for the American Bar Association (ABA) Young Lawyers Division. Her term begins September 1, 2021, and will run through August 31, 2022.

Dykema is proud to announce that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted the firm a 2020 Patent Pro Bono Achievement Certificate, which recognizes individuals and law firms that assist financially under-resourced inventors and small businesses seeking patents. Dykema is one of only 28 corporations to receive the 2020 certificate.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that the firm’s Automotive Product Liability Litigation, Automotive Litigation, Gaming & Indian Law, and Cannabis Law practices are ranked by the Legal 500 United States 2021 (The Legal 500). Furthermore, three of Dykema's four recognized practices are ranked as at least one of the top six firms in the nation in their respective categories.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that Allison M. Scott, Los Angeles-based attorney in the firm's Labor & Employment Practice group, has been named a 2021 Rising Stars in the Southern California edition of Super Lawyers.