Courtney F. Kissel

Member

Perhaps the best way to describe Courtney Kissel is an outside general counsel for regulatory and legislative issues. Private and public sector clients rely on her heightened ability to simplify and navigate complicated government policies, state constitutions, and administrative regulations while accomplishing the client's goals.

Much of Courtney's practice is devoted to guiding K-12 schools, universities, utilities, insurance companies, and other clients through the complex regulations that govern their operations.

Because of her keen understanding of regulatory and legislative processes, she drafts proposed legislation, helps implement compliance procedures, and interprets complicated statutory and constitutional issues. But when unfair and unworkable rules pose structural or even existential threats to her clients, she advocates for rule changes through negotiation, administrative proceedings, or courtroom litigation.

Courtney's storytelling skills make her an effective and persuasive advocate. She describes problems and risks in ways that resonate with clients, policymakers, and judges and enable them to see the merit of her proposed solutions.

Constitutional issues are Courtney's forte. She enjoys delving into clauses affecting institutions of higher education, including funding, autonomy, and academic freedom, and analyzing Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act provisions for other clients. Governors in four states have retained her in various matters, including tribal gaming and tribal sovereignty, and The Legal 500 US 2022 recognized Courtney as a key lawyer with a “track record for advising governors on jurisdictional issues.”

In the public finance area, Courtney has been bond counsel and underwriter's counsel to several state and local issuers. She also handles appeals for various companies and nonprofits in forums such as the Michigan Court of Appeals, the Michigan Supreme Court, the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Courtney has played vital roles in developing younger lawyers and ensuring the overall safety of the firm. She received Dykema's first-ever "mentor of the year" award, and she served as the COVID Executive Order point person, tracking executive orders and restrictions in real-time and advising clients and firm leadership on appropriate protocols.

“ Clients don't see me only as 'the lawyer.' I'm an actual person to them, like they are to me. ”

Education

- University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, Law Review, Note & Comment Editor
- University of Michigan, A.B., with highest distinction

Bar and Court Admissions

Bar Admissions
- Michigan, 2010
- Wisconsin, 2010
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan

Professional Recognition

- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Energy Law, 2023 and 2024
- Recognized by The Legal 500 United States as a Key Lawyer for Native American Law, 2022
- Named to Oakland County Executive’s Elite 40 Under 40 Class of 2020
- Recognized in Michigan Super Lawyers^®as a Rising Star in Government Relations, Appellate and Constitutional Law, 2017-2020
- Recipient of the 2015 Distinguished Brief Award, Thomas M. Cooley Law Review, for Brief of Amicus Curiae Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Supreme Court Docket No. 147700 (regarding the applicability of Michigan's freedom-to-work law to state employees under the Michigan Constitution)
- Award for Academic Excellence in Substantive Criminal Law, Secured Transactions, and Constitutional Law II

Affiliations

- State Bar of Michigan
- State Bar of Wisconsin
- Ingham County Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- Women Lawyers Association of Michigan
- Detroit Economic Club, Young Leader Member
- Advancing Women in Energy

Bloomfield Hills 248-203-0743

Lansing 517-374-9100

Areas of client focus

Practices

Government Solutions Public Finance Nonprofits and Tax-Exempt Organizations Appellate and Critical Motions Administrative Hearings and Licensing

Industries

Power and Utilities Energy and Natural Resources Education Gaming and Native American Law Insurance Regulatory and Compliance

Latest News and Insights

Press Releases8.17.23

194 Dykema Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 and Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch”

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that 194 of its attorneys, in multiple practice…

Publications5.17.23

Michigan Wants to Reach 100% Clean Energy by 2035 - Here's Their Plan

A new bill package from state senators would move Michigan to 100% clean energy by 2035. Richard…

Press Releases8.18.22

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that 180 of its attorneys, in multiple practice…

Reproductive Freedom For All et al v Board of State Canvassers et al, ___ Mich ___; ___ NW2d ___ (2022), Successfully obtained an order of mandamus compelling the Board of State Canvassers to certify ballot proposal following a 2-2 deadlock.
Covenant Medical Center, Inc v State Farm Mut Auto Ins Co, 500 Mich 191; 895 NW2d 490 (2017). Successfully challenged a provider’s right to sue a no-fault insurer for the payment of no-fault benefits under Michigan’s No-Fault Act.
Charter Twp of Oshtemo v Mich Elec Transmission Co LLC (In re Mich Elec Transmission Co for Transmission Line), 500 Mich 988; 894 NW2d 551 (2017). Successfully defended against a challenge to the constitutionality of the Michigan Public Service Commission’s certificate to an electric transmission company under the Michigan Electric Transmission Line Certification Act.
Coalition Protecting Auto No-Fault v. Michigan Catastrophic Claims Ass'n, 317 Mich App 1; 894 NW2d 758 (2016). Successfully defended against a challenge, on remand, to the constitutionality of the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association’s statutory exemption to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act.
Council of Orgs & Others for Educ. About Parochiaid v State, 326 Mich App 124; 931 NW2d 65 (2018): Successfully defended the constitutionality of legislative appropriation designated to reimburse nonpublic schools for certain costs of complying with State health, safety and welfare mandates.
Smith v McPharlin, ___F Supp 3d___; 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 151043 (ED Mich, May 11, 2018). Successfully defended the constitutionality of Michigan’s No-Fault Act in federal court.
Ace American Insurance Company v Workers’ Compensation Agency/Director, unpublished decision of the Court of Appeals (Feb 17, 2015). Amicus curiae of the Michigan Insurance Coalition in support of Court of Claims’ holding that the filing of a form notice did not create insurance liability independent of an insurance policy to which that form refers.
Demery v Auto Club Ins Ass’n, 2014 Mich. App. LEXIS 1044. Successfully obtained reversal of a trial court’s grant of discovery against a non-party to produce confidential and proprietary information that was irrelevant to the Plaintiff’s claims. Michigan Supreme Court denied application for leave. 2015 Mich. LEXIS 77.
In re City of Benton Harbor Mayoral Recall Petition, Michigan Supreme Court Case No. 150019 (2014). Obtained emergency reversal of lower court decision directing City Clerk to count duplicate recall petition signatures.
Coalition Protecting Auto No-Fault et al v The Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association, 305 Mich App 301; 852 NW2d 229 (2014). Successfully defended against a challenge to the constitutionality of the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association’s statutory exemption from the Freedom of Information Act.
Old Republic Ins Co v Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association, 493 Mich 856; 820 NW2d 777 (2012). Michigan Supreme Court denied leave to appeal a Court of Appeals’ decision that upheld the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association’s right to recognize when member insurer’s recover payments from third parties when evaluating the Association’s indemnification obligation.
Herrick District Library v. Library of Michigan, 293 Mich App 571; 810 NW2d 110 (2011). Amicus curiae of the Ann Arbor District Library in support of successful challenge to the Library of Michigan’s power to adopt administrative rules governing the distribution of state aid to public libraries.
Groves, et al v Michigan Department of Corrections, Public Communications Services, Inc., et al, 295 Mich App 1; 811 NW2d 563 (2011). Successfully defended award of Michigan Department of Corrections contract by State of Michigan to client.

Bloomfield Hills 248-203-0743

Lansing 517-374-9100

Areas of client focus

Practices

Government Solutions Public Finance Nonprofits and Tax-Exempt Organizations Appellate and Critical Motions Administrative Hearings and Licensing

Industries

Power and Utilities Energy and Natural Resources Education Gaming and Native American Law Insurance Regulatory and Compliance

08.17.23

194 Dykema Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 and Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch”

Press Releases

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that 194 of its attorneys, in multiple practice areas and markets, have been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© 2024 guide and the Best…
05.17.23

Michigan Wants to Reach 100% Clean Energy by 2035 - Here's Their Plan

Publications

A new bill package from state senators would move Michigan to 100% clean energy by 2035. Richard Aaron, Courtney Kissel, and Jason Hanselman of Dykema’s Energy and Natural Resources Industry Group…
08.18.22

180 Dykema Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2023 and Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch”

Press Releases

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that 180 of its attorneys, in multiple practice areas and markets, have been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© 2023 guide and the Best…
06.08.22

Legal 500 U.S. 2022 Ranks Dykema Among Nation’s Best in Four Categories

Press Releases

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that the firm’s Automotive Product Liability Litigation, Automotive Litigation, Gaming and Native American Law, and Cannabis Law practices are…
03.01.22

The Detroit Free Press Covers Dykema's Victory After SCOTUS Ruling in Complex Native American Law Case

Press Mentions

Lance Boldrey was quoted in the Detroit Free Press article, “U.S. Supreme Court nixes tribe's contention that much of 'Up North' is tribal reservation.” In the article, Boldrey commented on the…
03.31.21

Michigan Open Meetings Act Compliance: (Nearly) Back to Business as Usual

Legal Alerts

As of today, March 31, 2021, no longer may public bodies take advantage of the “any reason” remote meeting provisions of the Open Meetings Act. With the Legislature’s prior extension of the “any…

View All

Bloomfield Hills 248-203-0743

Lansing 517-374-9100

Areas of client focus

Practices

Government Solutions Public Finance Nonprofits and Tax-Exempt Organizations Appellate and Critical Motions Administrative Hearings and Licensing

Industries

Power and Utilities Energy and Natural Resources Education Gaming and Native American Law Insurance Regulatory and Compliance

Courtney F. Kissel

Bar Admissions

Court Admissions

Contact

Areas of client focus

Practices

Industries

Latest News and Insights

Contact

Areas of client focus

Practices

Industries

194 Dykema Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 and Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch”

Press Releases

Michigan Wants to Reach 100% Clean Energy by 2035 - Here's Their Plan

Publications

180 Dykema Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2023 and Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch”

Press Releases

Legal 500 U.S. 2022 Ranks Dykema Among Nation’s Best in Four Categories

Press Releases

The Detroit Free Press Covers Dykema's Victory After SCOTUS Ruling in Complex Native American Law Case

Press Mentions

Michigan Open Meetings Act Compliance: (Nearly) Back to Business as Usual

Legal Alerts

Contact

Areas of client focus

Practices

Industries