In the News

Rochelle E. Lento, Detroit-based member in Dykema’s Real Estate practice group, was named one of 30 “Women in the Law” for 2018 by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.

Sheryl L. Toby, metro Detroit-based member of Dykema’s Business Services Department and Automotive Industry Group, served as a featured speaker at the American Bankruptcy Institute's 14th Annual Mid-Atlantic Bankruptcy Workshop in Hershey, Pa., last week.

Dykema is extremely proud to announce that five of its Michigan-based employees were recognized as Unsung Legal Heroes in the July 30 issue of Michigan Lawyers Weekly. The unsung heroes program honors the state’s most talented and dedicated legal support professionals who have consistently gone above and beyond the call of duty, often behind the scenes.

Jonathan Feld, Chicago-based member and leader of Dykema’s Government Investigations and Corporate Compliance group, was tapped to evaluate the impact of two directives issued by government attorneys Rachel Brand and Michael Granston in the American Lawyer article, “DOJ Memos Making More Appearances in Whistleblower Cases.”

Zachary M. Hoard, Dallas-based member in Dykema’s Business Litigation Group and the Dental Service Organizations (DSO) Industry Group, was the subject of the DrBicuspid article, “Lawyer Advises Growth Focus for Small-Group Formation.” During an interview at Dykema’s Fifth Annual Definitive Conference for Dental Service Organizations, Hoard discussed arriving at a decision to set up a DSO, and the importance of efficiency in the management of dental offices.

Dykema attorneys Steven C. Liedel, Jason Hanselman, W. Alan Wilk, and Gary P. Gordon were selected by the WMU-Cooley Law Review to receive the Distinguished Brief Award in recognition of the filing they composed for the 2017 AFT Michigan [Teachers’ Union] v. State of Michigan, Michigan Supreme Court Case No. 148748, as reported in the Detroit Legal News photo-feature, “Top Scholarly Briefs Filed Before MSC to Be Honored.”

Jeffrey Gifford, San Antonio-based member and leader of Dykema’s Corporate Finance Practice Group, is quoted extensively in the Mergermarket article, “Pressure Building for Vigorous Second Half in Energy Sector.”

Michael Weis, Chicago-based member in Dykema’s Corporate Finance Practice Group, served as a featured presenter on the National Business Institute webcast, “Business Financing Fundamentals for Attorneys,” which was held Monday, July 23. The webcast was designed to serve as a fundamental financing guide designed specifically for attorneys.

Ernest Aliseda, McAllen-based member of Dykema’s Commercial Litigation Group, was the subject of the Texas Border Business article, “Judge Aliseda Secured Republican Nomination for Chief Justice of the [Texas]13th Court of Appeals.” In addition to announcing Aliseda’s nomination to run for Chief Justice in November, the story reviewed his distinguished career in the military, academia, and law.

Dykema is proud to announce that Jason Grinnell, Los Angeles-based senior counsel in Dykema's Real Estate practice group, was recently appointed to serve on the Executive Committee for the California Lawyers Association's Real Property Law Section.

Dykema attorneys R. Lance Boldrey. Brenna McGee, and Richard Y. Cheng have written, “New Bill Addresses Systemic Risk In Cannabis Banking” which appeared in Law360’s Expert Analysis column.

Dykema is proud to announce that the firm was listed as one of only 138 Signatories on the Pro Bono Institute’s 2018 Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge. Since its inception, the Challenge has served as a guidepost to assist major law firms in increasing their commitment to pro bono legal services.

Leonard Wolfe, Lansing-based member of Dykema’s Government Policy & Practice Group, shared his memories with the Detroit Free Press of clerking with fellow law student Raymond Kethledge, now serving on the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Kethledge was a recent contender for the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy.

Brian A. Colao, Dallas-based member and Director of the Dykema's Dental Service Organizations (DSO) Industry Group, discusses the fundamentals of DSOs in a lively and informative interview with the hosts of the Dental Hacks podcast. The episode is titled, “DSOs for Dummies.”

Austin-based corporate finance attorneys Erin Fonté and Brenna McGee deftly tackle a complicated subject in the Law360 Expert Analysis column, “EU Law Brings Data Sharing Pointers For US Financial Companies.”

Robert A. Boonin, Detroit- and Ann Arbor–based member in Dykema’s Labor & Employment Practice Group, and former chair of the Wage and Hour Defense Institute,  favors a posture of collaboration and counseling between the Department of Labor and employers who may be in violation of wage-and-hour laws, as noted in the Daily Labor Report article, “Prosecutors Treating ‘Wage Theft’ as a Crime in These States.”

Andrew P. Scott, Chicago-based member in Dykema’s Real Estate Practice Group, discussed the challenges of building an express rail line connecting downtown Chicago to O’Hare International Airport in the Law360 feature, “Privately Backed Rail And Transit Projects To Watch.”

Richard Lieberman, Chicago-based senior member of Dykema’s Tax Practice group, predicted that the U.S. Supreme Court Decision obligating online businesses to charge state taxes would place a great burden on smaller online vendors in the Law360 article, “Attorneys React To Ruling In South Dakota V. Wayfair.”

Bonnie Mayfield, Detroit-based member of Dykema’s Litigation and Labor & Employment practices, volunteered her time in a mentorship program at Western Michigan University’s Cooley Law School. According to the Detroit Legal News story, “Law School Hosts National Association of Women Judges MentorJet Program,” the annual session invites new attorneys, law school graduates and students to meet with established members of the legal community.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, is proud to announce that it is ranked as a Top 10 U.S. firm in Law360’s “The Best Firms For Minority Attorneys” report. Dykema was listed as the eighth-best U.S. firm in the 300-599 lawyer category when it comes to the racial and ethnic minority diversity of its attorneys.

Robert A. Boonin, Detroit- and Ann Arbor–based member in Dykema’s Labor & Employment Practice Group, delivered a speech to conference-goers on the current status of the Department of Labor, as summarized in the SHRM article, “DOL Has Been Busy During Trump Administration.”

Dykema, a leading national law firm, is proud to announce that it is ranked as a top U.S. firm for diversity in The American Lawyer’s annual “Diversity Scorecard” report. With a Diversity Score of 25.9, Dykema ranks 96th out of all Am Law 200 and National Law Journal 250 law firms, up 21 spots from the firm’s previous ranking.

Leonard Wolfe, Lansing-based member of Dykema’s Government Policy & Practice Group, will serve as a featured speaker at the 2018 National Charter Schools Conference in Austin, Texas, June 17-20, 2018.

Natalie Brouwer Potts, Chicago-based senior counsel in Dykema’s Labor & Employment practice, was interviewed by Ryan Whitacre, Managing Director, In-House Practice Group at Major, Lindsey & Africa, in The Recorder, article, “Q&A: Title IX in the Wake of the USC Physician Sexual Misconduct Scandal.”

In its “High Times For Cannabis Law Blogs” article, Above the Law notes the parallel growth of the legal marijuana industry and the firms with experience handling cannabis regulations, and includes Dykema’s Cannabis Law Blog in its list of online sources. The Firm’s Cannabis Law Practice Group is led by Lansing-based member R. Lance Boldrey.

Jim Hermon, Detroit-based member in Dykema’s Labor & Employment Practice Group, was quoted in the Crain’s Detroit Business article, “Splitting up is hard to do: Visteon-Leuliette severance fight shows old rules are changing.”

Jarrod Smith, Lansing-based senior counsel in Dykema’s Public Finance practice, served as a featured speaker at the 2018 Michigan Investor Summit which took place June 7 in Detroit. The Summit involved the State Treasurer and others on behalf of the State, the Michigan Finance Authority, the Michigan Department of Transportation, the State Building Authority, and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, John Naglick and others on behalf of the City of Detroit. 

Dommond Lonnie, Los Angeles-based member in Dykema’s Litigation Department and Director of the firm’s Automotive Industry Group, was quoted in the Law360 article, “Automotive Regulation To Watch: Midyear Report.”

Elisa Lintemuth, Grand Rapids-based member in Dykema’s Labor & Employment practice group, provided the closing comments in the Bloomberg.com article, “Tax-Law Typo Risks Bankrupting #MeToo Victims Without GOP Fix.”

The Hon. Phylis Speedlin, San Antonio-based senior counsel in Dykema’s Litigation Group and former Texas Fourth Court of Appeals Justice, returned to her alma mater in Ohio to address the 2018 Steubenville High School graduating class, as reported in the Herald-Star article, “SHS Class Faces Challenges, Choices.”

William C. Lentine, Bloomfield Hills-based member in Dykema’s Taxation and Estates Practice Group, recently served as a featured speaker at the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA) Anti-Fraud Issues, Litigation & Business Valuation, Mergers & Acquisitions Conference in Livonia, Michigan.

Van Lindberg, San Antonio-based member in Dykema’s Intellectual Property practice group, was quoted extensively in the Managing Intellectual Property article, “How AI Affects Patent Prosecution and Litigation.”

Thomas B. Alleman, Dallas-based member in Dykema’s Commercial Litigation Practice Group and Director of the Firm’s Insurance Industry Group, was quoted at length in the Law360 article “Contractors May Be Missing Cyberrisks With Insurance Plans.”

Richard Y. Cheng, Dallas-based member of Dykema's Health Care Practice Group and General Counsel for the Texas Cannabis Industry Association, provided comments for the Dallas Observer article, “Texas Backs Off Changes That Could've Led to CBD Confiscation, for Now.”

Paul M. Laurenza, leader of Dykema’s Automotive Government Policy & Practice group and Chairman of the Connected Vehicle Trade Association, comments on the uncertain states of vehicle-to-vehicle advancement and regulatory guidance in the Automotive World article, “Stalled V2V legislation leaves advances to the OEMs.”

Jonathan W. Michael, Chicago-based member in Dykema's Tax & Estate Planning Practice, will serve as a featured speaker at the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education's 61st Annual Estate Planning Short Course. This two-day event, which is considered the preeminent legal education event for estate planning attorneys and trust officers in the State of Illinois, will take place in Champaign May 14-15 and in Chicago May 23-24.

Dykema's Privacy and Data Security Group has announced the release of "The Firewall," a blog providing thorough analysis of emerging issues in privacy and cybersecurity law. The ever-changing world of data and privacy security continually affects how companies operate. Understanding the emerging security threats and the latest government regulatory developments is a critical responsibility of businesses in all industries.

Sherrie L. Farrell, office managing member of Dykema’s Detroit office and chair of the Firm's Diversity and Inclusion Committee, was featured in the Detroit Legal News photo write-up, “Diversity Doer,” which reported on the D. Augustus Straker Bar Association’s Corporate Counsel Breakfast. During the event, Farrell and other notable members of the legal community enjoyed a presentation followed by a discussion session.

Thomas S. Vaughn, Detroit-based member and co-leader of Dykema's M&A practice, and Brian Page, Grand Rapids-based member in Dykema’s Real Estate practice, were quoted at length in the MiBiz.com article, “Tax Reform Adds Fuel to M&A Deal Flow in Q1.”

Elizabeth Khalil, Chicago-based member in Dykema’s Government Policy Practice Group, and Joe Hickey, Bloomfield Hills-based member in the firm's Financial Services Litigation Practice Group, will each serve as featured speakers at the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Legal Issues & Regulatory Compliance Conference set to take place in Los Angeles from April 29- May 2.

Elisa Lintemuth, Grand Rapids-based member in Dykema’s Labor & Employment practice group, contributes some timely advice in the Society for Human Resource Management story, “Reduce Summer Interns’ Vulnerability to Harassment,” which offers guidelines for protecting summer associates and other classes of temporary employees.

Lansing-based attorneys Gary P. Gordon and Jason T. Hanselman of Dykema’s Government Policy & Practice group were photographed for Bridge Magazine’s Public Sector column, “Legal Marijuana Headed to Michigan Ballot; Prevailing Wage Repeal to Court.”

Tania Shapiro-Barr, Minneapolis-based senior attorney in Dykema’s Intellectual Property practice group, was tapped by World Intellectual Property Review to analyze the consequences of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Oil States v. Greene’s Energy for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in the article, “SCOTUS Oil States Decision May Raise More Challenges to IPR: Lawyers.”

Dykema, a leading national law firm, is pleased to announce that seven of its Dallas-based attorneys are listed as “Best Lawyers in Dallas,” in a special editorial feature in the May 2018 issue of D Magazine. 

Eric T. Fingerhut, Office Managing Member of Dykema's Washington, D.C., office and former leader of Dykema’s Trademark & Copyright Practice, co-authored the World Intellectual Property Review article, “Drawing the Battle Lines: Adidas’s Mission to Protect Its Three Stripes.”

Van Lindberg, San Antonio-based member in Dykema’s Intellectual Property practice group, evaluates the opinions reached by the U.S. Supreme Court in Oil States v. Green Energy and SAS Institute Inc. v. Iancu in IPWatchdog, Law360, and IPPRO Patents, noting that the SAS Institute ruling is more likely to affect the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s inter partes right to review and revoke existing patent grants than the Oil States decision.

William C. Lentine, Bloomfield Hills-based member in Dykema’s Taxation and Estates Practice Group, recently served as a featured speaker for the Taxation Section of the State Bar of Michigan’s presentation “Section 280E: Planning and Considerations.” The presentation took a look at the taxation of cannabis and discussed certain aspects of structuring businesses to comply with tax law.

Richard Cheng, Dallas-based member of Dykema's Health Care Practice Group, will serve as a featured speaker at the 23rd Annual Asian Pacific Interest Section Conference for the State Bar of Texas in Austin. Cheng's presentation is titled "Legal Issues in the Cannabis Industry."

Dykema is proud to announce that Jason T. Hanselman, Lansing-based member in Dykema’s Government Policy & Practice group, is participating as a contestant in the Sparrow Foundation’s 9th Annual Dapper Dads Challenge & Fashion Show. Since its inception, this popular event has raised more than $1,600,000 in support of for the Sparrow Foundation’s Women Working Wonders (W3) Committee, which works tirelessly to support the physical and psychological health of women in mid-Michigan.

A pro bono training program for attorneys willing to represent low-income Detroit renters fighting dislodgement that is being spearheaded by Dykema was featured in the Bloomberg Law United States Law Week article, “Dykema, Ford Help Detroit Tenants Facing Eviction.”

Brian A. Colao, Dallas-based member and Director of the firm's Dental Service Organizations (DSO) Industry Group, was recognized as the foremost expert in the field and invited by DentistAdvisors.com to explore the nature of DSOs in its Dentist Money Show interview.

Dykema is proud to announce that the Legal Marketing Association (LMA) recognized its Business Development and Marketing Department as the First Place winner in the Communications: Promotional and Collateral Materials category of the 2018 Your Honor Awards for work relating to the Dykema Alumni Program. Additionally, the firm earned Second Place honors in the Marketing Management and Leadership: Internal Marketing category for its work in Dykema’s lateral integration program.

Van Lindberg, San Antonio-based member in Dykema’s Intellectual Property practice group, comments on how the Oracle v. Google opinion will more clearly establish what constitutes unlicensed use for API (application programming interface) software in the Westlaw Journal Intellectual Property cover story, “Oracle’s Fair-Use Win Against Google Could Have Big Impact, Attorneys Say.”

In response to the Texas Department of State Health Services’ threatened confiscation of foods containing cannabidiol oil (CBD), Richard Y. Cheng, Dallas-based member of Dykema's Health Care Practice Group and General Counsel for the Texas Cannabis Industry Association, has submitted a position paper challenging the SHS’s authority to confiscate such products.

William Kohler, Detroit-based senior counsel in Dykema’s Corporate Finance Practice Group and co-leader of the Autonomous and Connected Vehicle Team, talks about autonomous vehicle lawsuits in the Houston Matters radio interview, “Who’s At Fault When A Self-Driving Car Hurts Someone?”

Richard Y. Cheng, Dallas-based member in Dykema’s health care practice group, was quoted in the Health Care on Bloomberg Law article, “Taking an Experimental Drug Could Jeopardize Your Health Insurance.” 

Joanne R. Lax, Bloomfield Hills-based member in Dykema’s Health Care Practice Group and American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA) board member, praised former mentor and Dykema retiree J. Kay Felt in the AHLA Connections feature, “Profiles of Early AHLA Leaders: J. Kay Felt.”

Robert A. Boonin, Detroit and Ann Arbor–based member in Dykema’s Labor & Employment Practice Group, was quoted in the Society for Human Resource Management news roundup, “DOL’s PAID Program Will Launch in Early April.”

Dykema’s San Antonio office was recognized for donating 2,473 pro bono hours last year in the San Antonio Business Journal, placing it at the top of the publication’s “Pro Bono Law Firms” list. The Journal also noted Dykema’s company-wide number of donated hours, which totaled 13,912 in 2017.

Tom Alleman, Dallas-based member and Director of Dykema’s Insurance Industry Group, served as a featured speaker at the Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA) Q1 Mobility Supplier Forum. The forum took place March 8, 2018, at Flex Automotive’s Silicon Valley Customer Innovation Center in Milpitas, Calif.

Elisa Lintemuth, Grand Rapids-based member in Dykema’s Labor & Employment practice group, was recognized for her career accomplishments in the Grand Rapids Legal News interview, “Elisa Lintemuth, Newly-Elected Member of Dykema, Helps Fulfill GR Office Goals.”

Robert A. Boonin, Detroit and Ann Arbor–based member in Dykema’s Labor & Employment Practice Group, was quoted in the Society for Human Resource Management story, “Self-Audit in Response to DOL PAID Pilot Program.”

Jill M. Wheaton, Ann Arbor-based member in Dykema’s Litigation Department and Leader of the firm’s Appellate practice, served as a nationally recognized speaker at the DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar's joint conference of its Trial Tactics and Appellate Advocacy seminars, which took place at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on March 15, 2018. 

In response to a recent bill package under consideration by the Michigan legislature, Dykema’s Government Policy & Practice Group was tapped by a consortium of Michigan’s public universities to study the consequences of extending the statutory time limit for reporting sex crimes. The universities’ countermeasure and Dykema’s analysis were covered coast-to-coast by national and local media.

Elizabeth Khalil, Chicago-based member in Dykema’s Government Policy Practice Group, was interviewed by Venminder, Inc. for a podcast in which she delved into third-party risk issues as they apply to financial institutions.

James Azadian, Los Angeles-based member in Dykema's Commercial Litigation Practice Group and the firm’s nationwide appellate practice, co-authored the article “2018 New State and Federal Laws” for the Orange County Lawyer.

Phyllis G. Adams, Ann Arbor-based member in Dykema’s Health Care Practice, was named one of 30 “Leaders in the Law” for 2018 by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. A luncheon celebrating the honorees will be held April 5, 2018, at the Detroit Marriott Troy, where the publication will announce the 2018 “Lawyer of the Year.”

Richard Cheng, Dallas-based member of Dykema's Health Care Practice Group, will serve as a featured speaker at the 36th Annual Convention of the Texas & New Mexico Hospice Organization March 2-5, 2018, in San Antonio.

Robert A. Boonin, Detroit and Ann Arbor–based member in Dykema’s Labor & Employment Practice Group, provided the closing comments in the BNA Daily Labor Report Snapshot feature, “Labor Dept. Officials Sit Out Employment Lawyers Conference.”

Van Lindberg, San Antonio-based member in Dykema’s Intellectual Property Practice Group, was quoted at length in the Automotive World article, “Patent Report Shows Shift Away From Traditional Technologies.”

Brian A. Colao, Dallas-based member and Director of the firm's Dental Service Organizations Industry Group, made a guest appearance on the Bulletproof Dental Practice Podcast while attending the Voices of Dentistry Summit in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Christopher D. Kratovil, managing member of Dykema’s Dallas office and member in the firm's Litigation Practice Group, discusses the expanding opportunities in the metroplex due to the flourishing local legal market in the Law360 article, “Why BigLaw Firms Are Hungry To Enter And Grow In Dallas.”