In the News

Lance Boldrey, Leader of Dykema’s Cannabist Law Practice and Co-Leader of the Firm’s Gaming & Indian Law group, was named one of Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s 2020 “Leaders in the Law.” A luncheon celebrating the honorees will be held on April 9, 2020, at the Detroit Marriott in Troy, where the 2020 “Lawyer of the Year” will be announced.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, is proud to announce that the firm handled two of the “Top Verdicts of 2019” in California as recognized by the Daily Journal in its annual feature highlighting the largest and most significant verdicts and appellate reversals in California in 2019. Dykema’s two cases are included among only 44 total verdicts from the state of California to receive such recognition.

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, was quoted in the HR Magazine article “Keep Clear of These Common Overtime Errors.”

Ashley R. Fickel, Los Angeles-based member in Dykema’s Financial Services Litigation Practice Group, will serve as a featured speaker for the California Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Legal Issues Webinar on Feb. 25.

Dykema’s Automotive Industry Group was profiled by Law360 as part of its recognition as a “Practice Group of the Year” in Transportation Law for 2019.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, is extremely proud to announce that it was selected by firm client DXC Technology to receive its 2020 Strategic Partner Award for Empowerment. The Strategic Partner Awards are the highest form of recognition DXC confers on its outside counsel and are modeled after the values of its Legal Department; Trust, Ownership and Empowerment. The Empowerment Award was presented to Dykema for helping DXC achieve its objectives at the company’s Strategic Partner Summit held at its headquarters in Tysons, Virginia.

Cory Webster, Los Angeles-based senior counsel in Dykema’s litigation and appellate groups, was quoted in the Daily Journal article “State high court will hear another Dynamex case.”

Jonathan Aberman, Chicago-based member in Dykema’s Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Creditors’ Rights Group, is set to serve as a featured speaker for the Financial Poise webinar series “Ethical Issues in Real Estate-Based Bankruptcies 2020.” Aberman will co-present the premier webinar in the series, “Valuing Real Estate Assets,” which will take place Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at 11 a.m. Central.

Bob Leavitt, Chicago-based Senior Counsel in Dykema’s Financial Industry Group and Business Services Department, served as a featured speaker at a Wisconsin Association for Financial Professionals (WIAFP) luncheon. Leavitt’s presentation, “Deposit Account Control Agreements: A General Introduction,” provided a solid understanding of the uses for and issues surrounding DACAs from the viewpoint of the three interested parties; the lender, the borrower and the depository institution.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, is proud to announce that its Automotive Industry Group was recognized as a “Practice Group of the Year” in Transportation Law for 2019 by Law360. Dykema was one of only five firms selected nationwide. Now in the program’s 10th year, the Law360 Practice Group of the Year awards honor the law firms behind the litigation wins and major deals that resonated throughout the legal industry in the past year.

Dykema Automotive Industry Group members Brian Smith, Laura Baucus and Mark Malven each contributed to the Chambers Associate article “The rise of self-driving cars: the expert view from Dykema.”

For the third consecutive year, Alison Ashmore, Dallas-based member in Dykema's Litigation Department, was named among D Magazine’s “Best Lawyers Under 40.” 

Andrew P. Scott, Chicago-based member in Dykema’s Real Estate and Cannabis Practice Groups, participated in a Q&A with Law.com's cannabis newsletter Higher Law.

Michael Dorfman, Chicago-based member in Dykema’s Intellectual Property Practice Group, was quoted extensively in the Law360 article “Patent Litigation Trends to Watch in 2020.”

Tania Shapiro-Barr, M.D., Minneapolis-based Senior Attorney in Dykema’s Intellectual Property Practice Group, was quoted in the Law360 article, “Patent Legislation To Watch In 2020,” which examined possible new limits on pharmaceutical patents, an overhaul on patent eligibility law, and Congressional response to the Federal Circuit’s October 31 decision saying the structure of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board is unconstitutional.

Dante A. Stella, Detroit-based member in Dykema’s Business Litigation Group and Leader of the firm's Discovery Management and E-Discovery Group, was quoted in the recent Legaltech News article, "Legal Tech’s Predictions for E-Discovery in 2020."

Thomas Moga, Bloomfield Hills-based Senior Counsel in Dykema’s Intellectual Property practice, was quoted in the CapitalWatch article, “Chinese Auto Stocks Rise on Phase One Deal on Trade.”

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, was quoted in the Bloomberg Law article, “New Rule Boosts Worker Perks Without Impacting Overtime (1).” The new rule is scheduled to take effect January 15, 2020.

Flex Ltd. and its collaborative work with Dykema was “Commended” by Financial Times for its North America Innovative Lawyers 2019 Awards and for its corresponding annual special report, “North America Innovative Lawyers.” Flex and Dykema’s work was part of one of only eight entries recognized by Financial Times in the “Talent, Strategy and Changing Behaviours (in-house)” category.

Flex Ltd. and its collaborative work with Dykema has has been shortlisted by Financial Times for its North America Innovative Lawyers 2019 Awards and for its corresponding annual special report, “North America Innovative Lawyers.” Flex and Dykema’s work is being considered as part of a broader entry for the legal team’s work on talent, strategy and changing behaviors.

In light of national cases threatening transgender rights and confusion around legal protections in Michigan, attorneys from Dykema and Ford Motor Company teamed up with the Fair Michigan Foundation and Ruth Ellis Center to host a pro bono clinic for transgender individuals wishing to formally change their names to match their identity. Fox 2 Detroit (WJBK) covered the clinic with its story “Ruth Ellis Center offering name change help for Transgender community: Attorneys are helping a population often victimized by discrimination.”

The Hon. Phylis Speedlin, San Antonio-based senior counsel in Dykema’s Litigation Group and former Texas Fourth Court of Appeals Justice, was quoted in the Texas Super Lawyers cover story, “’In Different Shoes’ – Five Texas Women Follow the ‘Path Through the Jungle’ Carved by Predecessors Like Sandra Day O’Connor.” 

Jonathan Aberman, Chicago-based member in Dykema’s Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Creditors’ Rights Group, served as a featured speaker at The Chicago Bar Association’s Honorable Robert E. Ginsberg Annual Program on Commercial Bankruptcy.

Dykema’s Automotive Industry Group has announced the release of The Open Road, a blog providing timely analysis of developments in the automotive industry. As this sector faces new challenges from technological innovations, emerging business models, and legislation and policy developments, The Open Road will help insiders navigate the legal and regulatory issues facing the rapidly evolving automotive industry landscape.

Brian Colao, Director of Dykema's DSO Industry Group, served as a featured presenter of the webinar “Opportunities in the Current DSO Marketplace,” hosted by Planet DDS. The presentation took place on Wednesday, November 6, 2019.

Courtney Kissel, Bloomfield Hills-based member in Dykema’s Government Policy & Practice group, was named one of 30 “Up & Coming Lawyers” for 2019 by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. A luncheon celebrating the honorees will be held December 5 at the Detroit Marriott in Troy, Michigan.

Thomas Moga, Bloomfield Hills-based Senior Counsel in Dykema’s Intellectual Property practice group, served a panelist at the recent American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., joining several other attorneys in discussing ethical considerations in design patent practice. Some of Moga’s comments were shared in the Managing Intellectual Property article “AIPLA 2019: The Dilemma of Design Rights.”

Los Angeles-based Dykema attorneys Cory L. Webster, Laura P. Worsinger and Allison M. Scott co-authored the article "Retroactivity of Dynamex and AB 5," for the Daily Journal. In addition, Jimmy Azadian was quoted in the article.

While Flex is known for its innovation in tech and manufacturing services, their legal team creates dynamic solutions in its own regard. Flex’s Scott Offer, Executive Vice President & General Counsel, and Andy Powell, Vice President & Deputy General Counsel, teamed up with Dykema to create a mutually beneficial mentorship program that boosts both business and employee morale. Learn more from this ACC Docket article, "How to Boost Business — and Employee Morale — by Partnering with Your Law Firm," co-authored by Powell and Dykema’s Michael Wippler.

Dykema is proud to announce that seven attorneys from its Financial Industry Group contributed to the 2020 Edition of the Practising Law Institute’s (PLI) Consumer Financial Services Answer Book.

Sean C. Griffin, Washington, D.C.-based Member in Dykema’s Commercial Litigation Group, will serve as a featured panelist at the Law Firm Business Trends Institute Oct. 4-6, 2019, in Washington, D.C., as presented by Chief Legal Executive LLC.

Jennifer Fraser, Washington, D.C.-based member in Dykema’s Intellectual Property Practice Group, will serve as a featured speaker at the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) 47th Annual Meeting taking place Sept. 24-26, 2019, in Washington, D.C.

Abad Lopez, Chicago-based Member in Dykema’s Labor and Employment Practice Group, was quoted in Law360 article titled “Employers Need Game Plan For Fantasy Football At Office.”

AB 5 is making waves in California by changing the way companies will classify workers. AB 5 codifies the ABC test adopted by the California Supreme Court in Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court (2018) 4 Cal.4th 903 (“Dynamex”). In Dynamex, the Court held that for violations of California’s wage orders, a worker is presumed to be an employee, unless the business proves the following:

On September 18, 2019, Dykema’s Detroit office hosted the Detroit Urban Debate League (“D-UDL”) for a tournament to kick off its 2019-2020 season. The topic for debate was, “Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reduce Direct Commercial Sales and/or Foreign Military Sales of arms from the United States.”

Tim McCarthy, Dallas-based senior counsel in Dykema’s Commercial Litigation Practice Group, will serve as a featured speaker at the New York City Bar event, “U.S.-Egyptian Relations:  Challenges and Opportunities,” which is set for Monday, Sept. 23 at 6:30 p.m.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, is proud to announce that several of its women attorneys were named to various “Top 50” Women Lawyers lists by Super Lawyers in 2019. Jill M. Wheaton, Deborah D. Williamson and Alison R. Ashmore, each received exclusive recognition in their respective states.

Ed Weil, Chicago-based attorney in Dykema’s Financial Industry Group, will serve as a featured moderator at the Information Management Network’s (IMN) 9th Annual Midwest Bank Special Assets & Credit Officer’s Forum. The conference takes place Sept. 12-13, 2019, in Chicago. Dykema is also sponsoring the conference.

Michigan-based attorneys Mark G. Malven, Leader of Dykema’s Technology and Outsourcing Transactions practice, and Brian R. Balow, Senior Counsel in Dykema's Corporate Finance Practice Group, will both serve as featured speakers at the State Bar of Michigan IT Law Section’s 12th Annual Information Technology Seminar & Annual Meeting on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019, in Plymouth, Mich.

Laura C. Baucus and Joseph H. Hickey, both of whom are members of Dykema’s Financial Services Litigation practice group, will serve as featured speakers at the American Conference Institute (ACI) 26th National Forum on Residential Mortgage Regulatory Enforcement & Litigation. Baucus is also Co-Chairing the two-day event, which is set to take place at the Omni Dallas Hotel Park West from Oct. 29-30 in Dallas, Texas.

Three members of Dykema’s Automotive Industry Group—Mark Malven, who Leads the firm’s Technology and Outsourcing Transactions practice group, Tom Alleman, Co-Director of the firm’s Insurance Industry Group, and Jesse Halfon, attorney in Dykema’s Litigation Department—will all serve as featured speakers at the World Services Group 2019 Annual Meeting, which takes place Sept. 4-6 in Washington, D.C. Dykema is also serving as co-host for the entire event.

Van Lindberg, San Antonio-based member in Dykema’s Intellectual Property practice and the firm’s Automotive Industry Group, will serve as a featured speaker at the 3rd annual Autolex: Autonomous Vehicle Legal Forum hosted by Benchmark Litigation and Managing IP. The forum will take place Sept. 10, 2019, at the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel in Detroit and will focus on disruptive changes occurring in the automobile industry as autonomous vehicles become a reality.

Shelly Edgerton, Lansing-based senior counsel in Dykema’s Government Policy & Practice Group and former Director of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), was quoted extensively in the Credit Union Journal article, “Assessing the fallout from one credit union’s pot-banking exit.”

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today the addition of Joanne L. Zimolzak to its Insurance Industry Group and Business Litigation Practice as a Member in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office. Zimolzak joins Dykema after practicing at LeClairRyan. Prior to LeClairRyan, she served as the Office Managing Partner of the Dentons LLP Washington, D.C., office.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, is proud to announce that in addition to being selected by the San Antonio Business Journal as a 2019 Outstanding Lawyers Awards recipient, the publication has chosen Dykema’s Deborah Williamson as its annual Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Williamson and the other Outstanding Lawyers honorees will be formally recognized at an event scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 3 at The Veranda in San Antonio.

Over the years, much has been written about the Bankruptcy Code’s treatment of small businesses, and the American Bankruptcy Institute Commission’s testimony to Congress this summer made clear that the existing law fell short of providing necessary relief for small businesses. For example, of the 18,000 small business bankruptcy cases filed between 2008 and 2015, less than 27% of those cases resulted in confirmed plans of reorganization. And these numbers excluded countless small businesses that, for a variety of reasons, did not or could not seek bankruptcy relief.