celebratinglawfirmsthatdemonstrate ... · representing plaintiffs in: n fire and property damage...

MICHIGAN LAWYERS WEEKLY

Celebrating law firms that demonstrateinnovative thinking in the 21st century

Representing Plaintiffs in:

■ Fire and property damage claimsagainst insurance companies

■ Death and injury cases from firesand explosions

■ Fire and explosion investigation

■ Insurance agent errors andomissions cases

REFERRAL FEES HONORED

www.fabiansklar.com ■ 248.553.2000

33450 West Twelve Mile Road ■ Farmington Hills, MI 48331

Certified Fire & Explosion Investigators by the National Association of Fire Investigators. Authors on insurance law and fire and explosion investigations.

Excuse me.How are you handling your intellectual property?

mcgarrybair.com 616 742-3500

Intellectual Property Counselors

®McGarry Bair

Collins Einhorn Farrell&Ulanoff

The Michigan State University College of Law is aprogressive law school with a proud reputation for

excellence.As one of the nation’s few private law schools

affiliated with a major research university, MSU Lawoffers legal education with all the benefits of a largeresearch university combined with the personal attentionof a small school.This allows students to connect theory with practice

and gain academic knowledge along with hands-on,practical experience.An MSU legal education is increasingly recognized

by employers throughout the nation and abroad.Our graduates benefit from a dedicated facultycomposed of accomplished scholars and a curriculumthat includes a well-developed clinical program, anarray of dual-degree programs, and a menu of electivesthat allow students to earn certificates and develop

areas of concentration.The MSU Law faculty is composed of first-rate

scholars who offer an exciting learning environmentand demonstrate a strong commitment to teaching.They strive to ensure that all students are provided withthe tools to succeed in any legal environment.Our faculty hails from the ranks of established

and accomplished attorneys, widely respected scholars,and the most promising newly credentialed facultycandidates.MSU Law makes its home in the heart of MSU’s

campus in East Lansing, which is located four milesfrom Michigan’s Capitol city, Lansing. Everythingstudents need is located in one place.We invite you to discover how the MSU College

of Law’s curriculum and facilities provide studentswith a rich and rewarding legal education.Visit www.law.msu.edu for more information.

A hallmark of the law firm of McGarry Bair is sincererespect to clients and colleagues alike.

The firm values flexibility, honesty, diversity and fun,which combined beat the competition hands down whenit comes to Intellectual Property services. McGarry Bairworks faster, better and more efficiently to give clients asuperior experience.

And they’ll understand if you need to see it tobelieve it.It’s the people and their experience — both in law

and in life — that truly sets the firm apart.At McGarry Bair, it’s about learning about your

business and the reasons behind the work, not just thework itself. And that translates to proactiverepresentation for clients — by understanding the criticalpath of your business and strategizing about your IP.The end result is practical as well as legal advice.The bottom line is that McGarry Bair saves clients

money by offering flexible billing and transacting aglobal business at conservative West Michigan rates —and by being technologically savvy.

Technology is a way to bring partners closer with real-time answers and online access to all of your files. It’s aproven system — just ask their clients.

McGarry Bair’s practice is global in scope and in-cludes — but is not limited to — IP property portfoliomanagement, patent, trademark, and copyright prosecu-tion, technology transfers, joint ventures, employmentagreements, licensing agreements, Web site audits andcompliance and Web site development, to name a few.Things to know about them:They prefer working from multi-screened computers,

not fat paper-filled files.They would rather roll up their shirt sleeves than tuck

in their shirt tails.It’s milk and cookie social time at 10 a.m. every

Wednesday. Come as you are.They like to talk about patents, trademarks, history,

music, high-tech gadgets, sports, good eats, and theantics of kids and pets.In short, if you’re looking for your dad’s law firm, you

may want to keep looking.

Founded in 1986, Fabian, Sklar & King, P.C. is anational leader in representing homeowners and

business owners in fire, explosion and property damagecases, and people who have suffered serious personalinjury or death from fires or explosions.Fabian, Sklar & King, P.C. has played a pivotal role in

the legal profession on a statewide and national level.Michael H. Fabian is an editor of Michigan Insurance

Law and Practice, published by the Institute for ContinuingLegal Education (ICLE), and, with Patrick A. King, authoredthe chapter on property insurance law. Michael Fabianalso authored the chapter titled “Fire Loss InsuranceCoverage Disputes” and Stuart A. Sklar authored thechapter titled “Errors and Omissions by Insurance Agents”in ICLE's Michigan Causes of Action Formbook.Stuart Sklar is the only appointed principal member of

the National Fire Protection Association’s TechnicalCommittee on Fire Investigations who is an attorneyrepresenting policyholders and those injured or killed in

fires and explosions. The committee is responsible forwriting NFPA 921, Guide for Fire and ExplosionInvestigations. He participated in the development of the2001, 2004 and 2008 editions of NFPA 921, and iscurrently working on the 2011 edition. Stuart Sklar is alsoan appointed principal member of the NFPA TechnicalCommittee responsible for NFPA 1033, Standards forProfessional Qualifications for Fire Investigators.Both Stuart Sklar and Patrick King are Certified Fire

and Explosion Investigators (CFEI), and have earned aformal CFEI designation through the National Associationof Fire Investigators (NAFI).Fabian, Sklar & King, P.C. has recovered millions of

dollars in fire injury and death cases as well as propertydamage and products liability litigation. Recently, theyrecovered $21 million for the children of a couple whowere killed in a propane gas explosion. Fabian, Sklar &King, P.C. handles claims throughout Michigan andacross the United States.

SILVER BRONZE

2 1 S T C E N T U R Y I N N O V A T O R S : S P O N S O R S

CONTENTSBrinks Hofer Gilson & Lione ................ 6

Butzel Long ...................................................... 7

Clark Hill PLC ................................................... 8

Collins, Einhorn,Farrell & Ulanoff, P.C. ................................ 9

Fabian, Sklar & King, P.C. .................... 11

Foley & Mansfield PLLP ....................... 11

The Health Law Partners, P.C. ......... 12

Mantese & Rossman, P.C. ................... 12

McGarry Bair PC ........................................ 13

Michael Morse, P.C. ...................................13

Michigan PatientAdvocacy Liaison, PLLC ....................... 14

Miller, Canfield, Paddockand Stone, P.L.C. ........................................ 14

Nemeth Burwell, P.C. ............................. 15

Neuman Anderson P.C. ........................ 16

Plunkett Cooney ....................................... 17

Rader, Fishman & Grauer PLLC ...... 18

Rogers Mantese& Associates P.C. ........................................ 18

Sullivan, Ward,Asher & Patton, P.C. ................................ 20

Thav, Gross, Steinway& Bennett, P.C. ............................................ 21

Wachler & Associates, PC ................... 22

Willis &Willis, PLC .................................... 22

F R O M T H E P U B L I S H E R

A welcome to our21st Century Innovators

“Never before in history has innovation offered promise of so muchto so many in so short a time.”

— BILL GATES, MICROSOFT FOUNDER

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”— STEVE JOBS, APPLE CO-FOUNDER

“Learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success isto think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow.”— WILLIAM POLLARD, AMERICAN BUSINESSMAN

Dear 21st Century Innovators, colleagues and friends,It’s clear what some of the great innovative minds think about the subject,

and we agree: innovation is vital to success.To ensure that they and others in their profession continue to be successful,

the law firms we’re honoring here have worked hard at finding new and dif-ferent ways to successfully advance into the future.This section, this event, is dedicated to their commitment to find a better way

to present evidence, better way to work with their peers, clients and employees,better ways to use technology to suit their specif-ic needs and do their jobs better or faster or at alower cost.It’s about adapting a culture to meet the needs of

the community both inside the office and out.In short, it’s about implementing innovative ideas to

make the profession of law better, more efficient, compas-sionate and in tune with society at large.These innovators have laid the groundwork and are continu-

ally improving on and adding to that groundwork and framework forthe future.

Michigan Lawyers Weekly is proud to join Michigan State Univer-sity College of Law; Fabian, Sklar & King, P.C.; McGarry Bair PC;Collins, Einhorn, Farrell & Ulanoff, P.C.; Nemeth Burwell, P.C.; Neu-man Anderson P.C.; Rader, Fishman & Grauer PLLC; Brinks HoferGilson & Lione; Sullivan, Ward, Asher & Patton, P.C.; Thav, Gross,Steinway & Bennett, P.C.; Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.LC.; Butzel Long; and Wachler &Associates, P.C. in presenting this special section honoring the 21st Century Innovators.

Sincerely,

TURNER

ALAN TURNER

Publisher and Editor in Chief, Michigan Lawyers Weekly

B6 • 21ST CENTURY INNOVATORS August 31, 2009 Cite 23 Mich.L.W. 1062

congratulations

Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, a law firm specializing in patent, trademark and copyright law, is proud to be honored as a 21st Century Innovator.

Congratulations to all 21st Century Innovators.

Suite 200 | 524 South Main Street | Ann Arbor, MI 48104 734.302.6000

The Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione of-fice in Ann Arbor is a guinea pig ofsorts, but members of the firm therecouldn’t be happier.

The Ann Arbor office basically began 10years ago as a startup for the Chicago-basedlaw group, and has retained the entrepre-neurial, startup mentality ever since.

That mindset has served the office well.It has been the proving grounds for theinnovative process of converting from paperto electronic files — a now-complete systemthat soon should be adapted by the firm’sother 170 attorneys spread across five offices.

The Ann Arbor office of the intellectualproperty firm has 18 attorneys and the samenumber of support staff.

“One of the main things is, we’re not forc-ing attorneys to not have paper, but we’recreating an electronic master file so whenthey need a file, they can go to the master,”said shareholder Kelly Burris, who has beenthe driving force behind the initiative.

“I think people would be surprised at howmuch time is spent trying to find a [paper]file, and all the demands for space, rein-forced floors.… I think the big thing is we’reworking through an electronic master, so weare e-mailing and providing secure links tothe information [for clients].”

The effort has resulted in at least a 50 per-cent reduction in cycle time for processingwork, reduction in reassigning personnel,reducing copying, labor and storage costsand improvement in the quality of work,said shareholder Steven L. Oberholtzer.

“The company has developed proprietarysoftware that provides a secure Web portalfor client files and a docketing system withother Brinks software for real-time [client]file inquiries and communications,” Ober-holtzer said. “This system is truly anAnnAr-bor innovation with the majority of the work

developed and completed in Ann Arbor.”Burris, who had a 12-year background as

an engineer, and that profession’s earlyadaptation of computers, was shocked whenshe saw the amount of paperwork involvedin law.

“When I came to a law firm, it was likestepping back in time,” Burris said. “Butthere is good reason for that; using that doc-umentation in court and in various proceed-ings. But this system is just so much moreefficient, you print only what you need.”

Clients have secure, remote access to theirfiles, she said, and each file is custom-madeto adapt to the particular clients’ needs forease of access and use.

“Clients expect you to have access to theirinformation at any time, and if you’re intheir office or out in a meeting and theywant it, we can access it,” Burris said.

“Law firms are under a lot of pressurewith the economy; clients are asking for morevalue, even discounts,” Oberholtzer added.“And the costs haven’t changed, so we’re look-ing at how can we provide more value, andthat’s in more efficiencies to hold costs forthem or, in some cases, to lower costs.”

The outcome has been better than expect-ed, Burris said, and the rest of the firm’s lo-cations are excited to implement the process— especially since Ann Arbor has workedthrough most of the bugs.

— GARY GOSSELIN

Brinks Hofer Gilson & LioneSteven L. Oberholtzer, managing partner

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Shareholder Kelly Burris and managing partner Steven L. Oberholtzer of Brinks Hofer Gilson &Lione have worked to develop a Web portal for clients to inquire on and follow their legal matters.

“I think the big thing is we’reworking through an electronicmaster, so we are e-mailing andproviding secure links to theinformation [for clients].”

— KELLy BURRIS

21ST CENTURY INNOVATORS • B7August 31, 2009Cite 23 Mich.L.W. 1063

WASHINGTON D.C.NEW YORKDETROIT

Butzel Long is pleased to announce it has formed a strategic alliance with a prominent Washington D.C. firm to form a new venture in the nation’s capital – Butzel Long Tighe Patton, PLLC. The two independent law firms will jointly collaborate to provide expanded capabilities to clients with Washington D.C. needs, while providing broader and more effective client service. Butzel Long Tighe Patton, PLLC includes a mix of 22 highly-regarded federal regulatory lawyers, seasoned litigators, and experienced business attorneys.

Ann Arbor Bloomfield Hills Boca Raton Detroit Lansing New York Palm Beach Washington D.C.Alliance Offices Beijing Shanghai Mexico City Monterrey Member Lex Mundi Butzel Long, a professional corporation 313 225 7000

21ST CENTURY LAW

www.butzel.com www.butzeltp.com

If what Ol’ Blue Eyes sang in “NewYork, New York” was true, it looks likeButzel Long can make it anywhere.

Ever since opening a branch officein the Big Apple two years ago, managingpartner Philip J. Kessler said the firm hasmade a name for itself among the moreprominent law firms in its commercial liti-gation, corporate mergers and acquisitions,and real estate matters.

But Kessler said Butzel Long’s geograph-ic expansion strategy was fueled not only bya desire to acquire top New York attorneysto run the office, but to make them fullypart of the firm’s Michigan-based fabric.

That requires integration strategies onboth ends, he explained.

As an example, the New York attorneyswere appointed to important committeeswithin the firm and in standing practicegroups.

“We did not create separate practice groupsfor the New York office, which some firmschoose to do,” Kessler said. “They’d say, ‘Well,New York’s a different place, it ought to haveits own practice group.’ We said no, becausethat would be a barrier to integration.”

Also, some of the new members were fold-ed into the strategic planning committee, so

they could immediately begin contributingto the direction of firm’s future.

The results have been incredible, Kesslersaid, as workflow has been shared between at-torneys in Michigan and Manhattan with ease.

As an example, he recalled an interna-tional auto group project he coordinated.Although a New York firm member had abackground in the legal subject matter per-taining to the venture, he didn’t have anauto grounding. But he was “a quick study,”and became a key member of the team.

“I tease him today that he’s become an au-tomotive lawyer now,” Kessler said. “Heknows all the jargon and what it all means… he’s learned the business.”

By the same token, the East Coast attor-neys bring expertise in Investment Compa-ny Act of 1940 work, which deals with mu-tual funds.

“[W]e had expertise in the rest of the fed-eral securities law,” he said, “so this was anice way to expand our securities law capa-bilities in the most important securities lawmarket in the United States.”

But one thing Kessler said that gave ButzelLong an advantage on MadisonAvenue was itsapproach to the work it wanted.

He said that meant letting the big firmstake the “bet-the-ranch work” and, instead,“bring a capability and value proposition tothat very large slice of the market,” the mid-

dle- to upper-middle sector.“And our rates reflected that,” Kessler ex-

plained. “The rates of our New York lawyersare not those staggering rates that you readabout in legal periodicals.…They are scaledto the end of the market that we seek to pen-etrate and are penetrating.

“When you add to that the regular rates ofour Michigan lawyers,” he added, “and youaverage them in composing an interstate[group] to handle whatever project youmight be trying to attract, you offer the NewYork market an extraordinarily attractivevalue proposition, one that sometimesmakes them blink.”

— DOUGLAS J. LEVY

Butzel LongPhilip J. Kessler,managing partner

o f f I C e I n t e g r a t I o n

Attorneys in Butzel Long’s New york City practice speak with members of the Bloomfield Hills office via videoconferencing.

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“[W]e had expertise in the rest of thefederal securities law, so this was anice way to expand our securitieslaw capabilities in the mostimportant securities law market inthe United States.”

— PHILIP J. KESSLER


UP&&&&&COMINGLAWYERS

Luncheon, November 10, 2009Detroit Marriott, Troy, Michigan

On November 10, 2009,Michigan Lawyers Weekly will honor 20 Up andComing Michigan Lawyers.

Honorees are chosen based on noteworthy cases, unique practice areas, orinteresting community or bar-associated efforts. These are attorneys who havemade a substantial impact and distinguished themselves after practicing 10years or less. They are poised for even greater achievements – join us incelebrating their accomplishments.

Submitting a nomination is easy —Just download the form provided at

www.milawyersweekly.com

MICHIGAN LAWYERS WEEKLY Events

During the past year, when John J.Hern Jr., CEO of Detroit-basedClark Hill PLC, looks at the inno-vations that have made the most

difference to the firm, he points to one thathas not made the firm one cent.

It hasn’t helped him bring in one newclient that he can think of. And it hasn’thelped the firm increase its visibility.

But the series of economic programs, “Eco-nomic Clarity,” is considered by Hern to be asuccess.

“We were trying to find a way to get outuseful information that matters to ourclients, in a way that’s helpful to them,”Hernsaid. “We have to provide value to clients inan economy where value is declining.”

So the firm began hosting free events, inwhich experts — on everything from govern-ment to finance to public relations to banking— would give attendees their expert advice,and answer the burning questions of the day.

The first one was a presentation on theTroubled Asset Relief Program (TARP),which everyone was talking about, but fewunderstood.

“Our clients had heard about it, readabout it, but didn’t know how it would di-rectly affect them,” Hern said.

It was so successful that the firm took theidea to the next level, and organized theEconomic Clarity series.

In the event, Clark Hill assembled a panelthat included its own lawyers Reginald M.Turner and Robert D. Gordon, communica-tions expert Matt Friedman, former LondonFog CEOAndrew Chesley, Lawrence Techno-logical University economics professor HaroldHotelling, and moderator Denise Ilitch.

More than 200 people showed up, and theyweren’t shy about asking questions,Hern said.

“Questions went to issues from, ‘Whatwould the new GM and Chrysler look like?’

to ‘What’s the economic prognosis for South-east Michigan?’ to whether or not the stim-ulus would be effective,” Hern said, addingthat the answer to the latter was, “Maybe.”

The firm will host a similar event inGrand Rapids. Also part of Economic Clari-ty will be a series of videos, each five min-utes long, featuring the different experts,who will discuss issues important to clientsin what Hern calls an “economic tsunami.”

Even though Clark Hill has had to watch itsown bottom line, because the firm is not im-mune to the economic ills affecting the rest of

southeast Michigan, Hern says the programsthat never made him a nickel have been suc-cessful, even if he can’t define that success.

There are no goals to reach or numbersto serve as key indicators, and Hern says hewasn’t anticipating revenue growth as a result.

“I suppose if you base it on feedback andattendance, it’s overwhelmingly positive,”Hern said. “It’s about trying to create valuefor our clients.When they’re down, if we cangive them something of value that they don’thave to write a check for, that’s important.”

— CAROL LUNDBERG

Clark Hill PLCJohn J. Hern Jr., CEO

r e l a t I o n s h I P s

John J. Hern Jr. said that Clark Hill PLC’s “Economic Clarity” programs have been a great way toaddress clients’ concerns in today’s business climate.

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“I suppose if you base it[response to the firm’s ‘EconomicClarity’ events] on feedback andattendance, it’s overwhelminglypositive. It’s about trying to createvalue for our clients. When they’redown, if we can give themsomething of value that theydon’t have to write a check for,that’s important.”

— JOHN J. HERN JR.


In a practice area where a law firm canhave as many as 2,000 cases pendingat any given time, and each of thosecases could include dozens, or even

hundreds of plaintiffs, data managementcan be daunting.

But Southfield firm Collins, Einhorn, Farrell& Ulanoff, P.C. has made data management amission, said shareholder Shannon M. Kos.

The company is leading in the implemen-tation of asbestos-related data managementsystems in a number of counties.

Founded in 1970, the 28-lawyer firm hasspecialized in asbestos litigation defense forthe past two decades. As the practice hasevolved, so has the firm’s data management.

“The problem became finding a reliablemethod to keep track of and manipulate thedata,” Kos said.

What often happens, she said, is thatsomeone may be a plaintiff or a witness in acase, then a year later may be a witness inanother case — for example, a pipefitterwho’s worked on multiple sites where theremight have been asbestos.

By having efficient and searchable data-bases of cases, the firm can find informationthat witness.

“It saves the client a lot of money if we canlook through the old transcript, and we knowwhat the witness is going to say,” Kos said.

What has become the firm’s data manage-ment system started years ago, with MicrosoftWord tables and lists. Then an Access data-base, which allows the firm to create reportsand extract specific data, was added.

All of the asbestos case files are now pa-perless, which saves time in filing and mon-ey in mailing. It allows files to easily be

searched, and shared, and files also can beaccessed remotely.

Not only did the firm implement electron-ic data filing for its own uses, but it took thelead in encouraging other defense and plain-tiffs’ attorneys and the courts to embrace itas well.

“We worked with nine other top law firms inMichigan to create a system in which they di-vide non-client specific tasks to save everyonetime and money,”Kos said. “Each firm only hasto do 10 percent of the common work.”

Then, the firm introduced electronic filingfor the asbestos docket to the circuit courts.Under the traditional paper filing system,courts were being inundated with asbestosfilings that they were not able to manageand that created storage issues.

“There is anywhere from 50 to 1,200 pagesin a discovery brochure,” Kos said. “Those

files were getting lost in e-mail, winding upin spam folders.”

The firm researched the two dozen courtsthat use electronic filing systems created byVeriLaw. The program allows documents tobe uploaded to the VeriLaw system, elimi-nating the problem of lost e-mails and at-tachments and filings.

The firm worked with Wayne County toimplement the system first. It has worked soefficiently, the firm was able to work withthe Midland County courts to use it. Soon,Saginaw County will follow suit.

“It’s increasingly difficult for lawyers whogenerally find themselves sucked into the ‘toomuch to do and too little time do it in’ mindset,”Kos said. “It requires effort. But it’s equallyclear that innovation is an investment in thefirm’s reputation and marketability.”

— CAROL LUNDBERG

Collins,Einhorn,Farrell &Ulanoff, P.C.Michael J. Sullivan, presidentNeilW. MacCallum, chairman

D a t a m a n a g e m e n t

Ann Coleman (left), Monika L. Sullivan, Neil W. MacCallum, Molly Allen, Shannon M. Kos, Katie A. Crowley, Sandy Laba and Leah Anania.

“We worked with nine other top lawfirms in Michigan to create a systemin which they divide non-clientspecific tasks to save everyone timeand money. Each firm only has to do10 percent of the common work.”

— SHANNON M. KOS

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We wish all the other nominees continued success.

A Tradition of Excellence

Proud to be part of the 21st Century Club —

at Collins, Einhorn, Farrell & Ulanoff we value

technology and are committed to remaining on the

cutting edge as new technology develops.

Collins Einhorn Farrell&Ulanoff

4000 Town Center, Suite 909 • Southfield, MI 48075-1473 • Phone: 248-355-4141 • Fax: 248-355-2277 • www.ceflawyers.com

FEDERAL STIMULUS

RENEWABLE ENERGY CREDITS

CARBON FINANCE-CAP AND TRADE

ECONOMIC INCENTIVES

DUE DILIGENCE

CLIMATE CHANGE REGULATION

MUNICIPAL ENERGY BUILDING CODES

SHAREHOLDER RESOLUTIONS

ENERGY EFFICIENCY GRANT PROGRAMS

LEED CERTIFICATION

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

GREEN BUILDING

GO GREEN. SAVE GREEN.

Times are tight. But there’s still a way toget help with new building construction,

renovation, and operating expenses.

Climate change is now a critical area of the law, affecting

business and industry, government and regulatory authorities,

and our personal lives. The management of greenhouse gas

emissions creates challenges and opportunities throughout

the economy as new laws and regulations are enacted at

all government levels. Miller Canfield lawyers throughout

the U.S. — as well as in Canada, Mexico, Europe and

Asia — help clients overcome these challenges and create

opportunities related to these new green issues.

UNITED STATES CANADA MEXICO POLAND CHINA

millercanfield.com/climatechange

We are proud to be recognized

as a 21st Century Innovator by

Michigan Lawyers Weekly.


Asea change was brewing last fall,and John Holmquist Jr. and Gre-gory M. Meihn said it couldn’thave come at a worse time.

The Secretary of Labor was to hire 250wage and hour investigators, while the IRSand the state of Michigan started to look deepinto employment relationships, such as inde-pendent contractors and exempt employees.

The new administration was being toutedas arbiters of employee-friendly changes inthe law, as the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act wasthe first bill President Barack Obama signedinto law.

And with Michigan businesses downsiz-ing, departments such as human resourceswere struggling because, Holmquist said,they “aren’t viewed as profit centers, butrather as cost centers.”

“What struck me was, at a time when theyreally needed to be able to talk to people whocould give them information about what wasgoing to happen and what was happening,there was pressure on them not to makethat phone call because you’re going to gen-erate legal bills,” he said.

Enter the Detroit FM Employment Con-nection program, which Foley & MansfieldPLLP rolled out early this year as an afford-able means to discuss and solve potential la-bor law problems.

For $150 per quarter, employers can callone of the firm’s labor attorneys as often asnecessary during normal business hours.

“You’re going to speak to someone, not amachine, or someone gets back to you inthree or four days,” Meihn said. “You wouldget someone then, or within a very shorttimeframe, to answer your question. Be-cause that’s the value; when you have anemployer who’s trying to decide on, say, anADA case, and what to do with a respectiveemployee who’s ready to come down to the

office and raise an issue, two or three daysfrom now is not enough [time].”

Meihn said that there can be anywhere fromeight to 20 calls a day. He cited a recent exam-ple, where the employer asked whether some-body who had a clear disability could be laidoff. In asking questions, the issue of employeehandbooks and clear job descriptions came up.

“Of course,” he said, “that documentationdid not exist, which led us to suggest to themstrongly, ‘Here’s the answer to why youcalled up, but you’d better start looking atthese issues, because these issues are core toyour operation.’”

Holmquist and Meihn said that the re-newal rate has been solid, and they’re readyto expand the program to other Foley &Mansfield offices across the country.

As for coming up with the fee, Meihn ex-plained, “We tried to find a number that re-quired the client to have some participationin the process, but low enough that theywould see, right in the forefront, the value ofthe system, and, as they got into it, the val-ue would become enormous. And we wouldbe able to take off with the relationship withthem from that point on.

“It’s almost like a safety net they can useand still meet the bottom line.”

— DOUGLAS J. LEVY

Foley &Mansfield PLLPGary D. Sharp, managing partner

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Gregory M. Meihn and Darlene M. Cini of Foley & Mansfield PLLP assist a client via phone withan employment matter, as part of the firm’s Detroit FM Employment Connection program.

“[W]hen you have an employerwho’s trying to decide on, say, anADA case, and what to do with arespective employee who’s ready tocome down to the office and raise anissue, two or three days from now isnot enough [time].”

— JOHN HOLMqUIST JR.

After surveying the devastation forjust an hour, Stuart A. Sklar leftthe scene of the 2006 Ellison Bay,Wis., explosion knowing that the

investigation was going to pose serious lo-gistical problems.

One overlooked piece of evidence can ruina case, and this case was enormous.

The explosion in the remote resort townhad injured seven people and killed twoMichigan lawyers — Patrick and MargaretHigdon of Bloomfield Hills — who were va-cationing there with their family.

Sklar, of Farmington Hills-based fire andexplosion firm Fabian, Sklar & King, P.C.,would be at the scene for a week, working ina large tent with nothing more than electri-cal service. He wondered how he would stayin constant communication with colleaguesand technical experts while he was awayfrom the office.

He decided to take the office with him.It was then that Sklar assembled the con-

tents of the black bag he now calls his “mo-bile office.”

He already had a laptop. But he quicklymade a list of everything else he would needon location: a scanner and printer, which to-gether would serve as a copier; a digital cam-era; and a small video camera.

For less than $3,000, he was able to as-semble everything needed to investigate firescenes, and stay in communication with ateam from all over the country.

On the first day that investigators andlawyers were allowed onto the scene, whenthere was a briefing with the sheriff ’s de-partment, he was able to get all the perti-nent public records and scan them into hislaptop.

Sklar said he can’t believe he neverthought of the mobile before.

“It’s so simple,” he said. “Let’s say I comeacross a piece of corroded pipe, so I need ametallurgist’s opinion. I photograph it andfilm it, and e-mail it to the metallurgist. Im-

mediately he can take a look at it, andrather than hearing from him three weekslater, he’s telling me immediately, ‘The pipeis cut in the wrong place. You should havecut that differently.’”

He can take pictures of products andconsult with experts as if they’re at thescene of the explosion, finding out valuableinformation about product recalls, for exam-ple, which can shape the rest of the investi-gation.

In Wisconsin, he was able to immediatelyget information about a key piece of evi-dence — a combustible gas detector found inthe property owner’s condo — almost imme-diately, just by taking photos of it and send-ing it back to the office, where his colleagueswere able to look up product information.

The investment was worth every penny,and then some. In May, the Higdon familyagreed to a settlement in which the threecouple’s three children received $21 million.

Since assembling the components, Sklarhas added to, and upgraded, the remote of-fice. But the idea remains the same: to keepall the components in one place so he can ef-ficiently and effectively work in any envi-ronment.

— CAROL LUNDBERG

Fabian, Sklar & King, P.C.Michael H. Fabian, Stuart A. Sklar, Patrick A. King, partners

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“Let’s say I come across a pieceof corroded pipe, so I need ametallurgist’s opinion. I photographit and film it, and e-mail it tothe metallurgist. Immediately hecan take a look at it, and ratherthan hearing from him threeweeks later, he’s telling meimmediately, ‘The pipe is cut inthe wrong place. you should havecut that differently.’”

— STUART A. SKLAR

Michael H. Fabian and Stuart A. Sklar survey the damage following wildfires in California.


When a new law firm forms, itseems as though the first ques-tion each of its partners ask is:“Whose name gets top billing?”

For five health care attorneys who decid-ed to form a firm earlier this year, the ques-tion was: “What describes what we do best?”

That answer was incorporated in whatthe quintet chose to call itself: The HealthLaw Partners, P.C.

But while the name is very illustrative,it’s the approach that Robert S. Iwrey, AbbyPendleton, Adrienne Dresevic, Jessica L.Gustafson and Carey F. Kalmowitz bring tothe Southfield-based firm that deserves tobe called innovative.

“The partners decided to clearly commu-nicate the unique nature of our practice,”Iwrey said. “It’s not about us [individually],

it’s about all of us together and what we cando for our clients. The whole is more impor-tant than the parts.”

Iwrey said the founding partners made aconscious decision to give the firm a de-scriptive name rather than a chain of theirown names. This, he explained, would signi-fy to clients that the five were a single enti-ty — not a group of individuals — and thepractice was about just one thing.

“We partner with each other,we partner withthe clients, our referral sources, and the healthcare community,” he said. “We want to achievethe best results for everyone concerned.”

That increased teamwork also manifestsinside the office as a greater transparency,he said. All of the partners know how muchmoney each other are making, everyonetakes part in decisions that affect the firm,and there are no closed-door meetings.

Outside the firm, the greater transparen-cy gives clients a window onto what TheHealth Law Partners do and what thenewest thinking in health law is.

“We have a Web site and a blog that weupdate all the time,” Iwrey said. “We alsohave a Facebook page as well as a presenceon Twitter.”

He said that the firm’s Web site(www.thehlp.com) and blog (www.healthlaw-attorneyblog.com) are continuously updated.

The sites, he added, were created to helpthe firm communicate with its clients, itsprofessional colleagues and the greaterhealth care community. It would dissemi-nate the most up-to-date information onchanges in health care law.

The sites now include short video seg-ments taped by the partners, which explainnew law and new developments in policy re-garding health care.

And that’s all they do at the firm. Theydon’t do contracts and they don’t do taxes. Inturn, that keeps them friends with a lot ofdifferent law groups.

“We have a very good relationship withother law firms,” Iwrey said. “All we’re in-terested in is health care law, so that if an-other firm has a client that needs our serv-ices, they can refer them to us withoutworrying we’ll take their business in otherareas of law.”

— ALEX LUNDBERG

The Health Law Partners, P.C.Robert S. Iwrey, Adrienne Dresevic, Jessica L. Gustafson,Carey F. Kalmowitz and Abby Pendleton, partners

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Lawyers from The Health Partners in South-field at a local watering hole are CareyF. Kalmowitz (from left), Abby Pendleton,Jessica L. Gustafson, Robert S. Iwrey, andAdrienne Dresevic.

“The partners decided to clearlycommunicate the unique nature ofour practice. It’s not about us[individually], it’s about all of ustogether and what we can do for ourclients. The whole is more importantthan the parts.”

— ROBERT S. IWREy

Sometimes an innovation can be asimple as getting back to the basicsand honing in on what clients want.

Mantese and Rossman, P.C. hasdone just that, with a laser-focus on commu-nicating every step of the process in additionto offering a variety of billing options to fitthe clients’ needs.

Hearing time and again from clients thatother attorneys they dealt with were notcommunicating properly, or at all sometimes,and that their need for billing alternativeweren’t being met or even addressed, thefirm sharply focused on those areas.

“One of the things we hear most often is,[clients] want to be kept informed; what’s be-ing done in their case, what’s the cost, whatare the options and what is the prognosis,”said managing partner GerardV.Mantese. “Ifthe case is shaky because witnesses didn’tcome through, we tell them that, and whenthings are going good, we tell them that too.

“With us, we’re on the phone, sending e-mails, sending mail,” Mantese added. “Andfor some clients, we send them every piece ofpaper involved in the case.We get a surpris-ing number of calls from people who are un-happy [elsewhere] because they just don’tknow what’s going on.”

The firm has implemented a very preciselitigation plan, with details about potential

contingencies like additional discovery costsor potential heavy briefing, in order to avoidsurprises to the client.

Mantese & Rossman is aggressive in filingdispositive motions earlier in the processand often gets good results early on andgains momentum, Mantese said. Often,

thousands are saved in discovery, and theproactive approach often helps address theoutcome and assess settlement options.

The firm, which has six attorneys and fourstaff, also diversified its practice, which fo-cuses on business litigation. It now doessome construction litigation, complicated di-vorce proceedings, ERISA, bankruptcy andrepresents several banks.

Recently, its attorneys worked on a large,high profile autism insurance case againstBlue Cross Blue Shield — and won.

“Other firms ask, ‘How do you have such adiversity?’ And it’s that way because we havethe energy level to master the different ar-eas of law,” Mantese said.

The firm has varied its fee structure de-

pending on the needs of the client, includingflat fee, contingency and a mix of hourly andcontingency.

“We think it’s imperative to be courteousand professional and not get involved in nastyskirmishes on timing of depositions and pro-cedural maters that do nothing but waste theclient’s money,” Mantese said. “It makes nosense to pound your chest and yell out aTarzanian roar if you’re not saving money.”

Mantese and partner Mark. C. Rossmanown their building on Big Beaver in Troy,and are now planning to build a mock court-room in the facility in order to better trainand prepare for those times when court isabsolutely necessary, Mantese said.

— GARY GOSSELIN

Mantese &Rossman, P.C.Gerard V. Mantese,managing partner

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Gerard V. Mantese (left) and partner Mark C. Rossman place great emphasis on client communication and flexibility.

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“We think it’s imperative to be courteous and professional and not get involvedin nasty skirmishes on timing of depositions and procedural maters that donothing but waste the client’s money. It makes no sense to pound your chestand yell out a Tarzanian roar if you’re not saving money.”

— GERARD V. MANTESE

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At the law firm of Michael Morse,P.C., there is great value placed oncustomer interaction and client care.

Its attorneys use innovations intechnology to keep people informed, connectedand happy doing business with the firm.

“We try to treat our clients differentlythan other firms,” Morse said. “We put ahigh emphasis on our clients and how we in-teract with them.”

This is primarily done through a compre-hensive use of technology. Everyone in thefirm has a laptop with them at all times andkeeps in touch with the clients and the mainoffice via e-mail and text messaging.

At the office, each desk has a scanner sothat every important document can be im-mediately scanned into the firm’s computers.This results in almost instant electronic ac-cess to vital information from anywhere viaInternet.

“We use everything we can to stay intouch with each other and the clients,”Morse said. “We’ve got a newsletter andblogs on technology and management that Iupdate three times a week. I don’t make anymoney off of them, but I love it.”

All of these technological tools, Morsesaid, help the firm’s clients by putting theright information in the right employees’hands at all times.

“One of our core values is customer serv-ice,” Morse said. “From the first phone call,we treat our customers like family.”

Another unique service Morse offers iswiring clients money, rather than have themcome in for checks.

Morse keeps abreast of the newest tech-nological advancements and brings what’sbest for his firm back to the office.

He recently attended the American BarAssociation’s technology show in Chicago,and come Sept. 11 will be moderating the

ABATechshow in Novi, which he said will bethe first show of its kind for the ABA and theMichigan Association for Justice.

In short, the attorneys and office staff atthe firm uses technology wherever it can tomake life easier and make their operationmore efficient.

But in response to the “all work and noplay” adage, employees at Morse get in morethan just work during the day.

“We try to do a special event every quarter,”Morse said. “Last quarter, we rented a parkand had a barbecue and played baseball.”

Before that, the entire firm went to Holi-day Market in Royal Oak to attend a cookingclass. The firm was divided into five groups

who turned out a number of different en-trees, appetizers and desserts.

After the two-hour instruction and cook-ing period, the teams sat down to share themeals they had worked together to create.

They try to keep the small touches com-ing, too.

“We have a massage therapist come inonce a month and hit everyone in the office,”Morse said. “We have deli days where webring in a tray for lunch and bagel days withcream cheese and other things. We have agrill out back so we can have a barbecue atthe office during the summer.

“People love to come to work here.”— ALEX LUNDBERG

MichaelMorse, P.C.Michael Morse, founderand managing partner

C o m m u n I C a t I o n

Michael Morse and his staff use a variety of technology to communicate with each other and their clients.

“We use everything we can to stay intouch with each other and theclients. We’ve got a newsletter andblogs on technology andmanagement that I update threetimes a week. I don’t make anymoney off of them, but I love it.”

— MICHAEL MORSE

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When McGarry Bair PC wasplanning the move to its newlocation two years ago, mem-bers of the intellectual proper-

ty firm knew they had to build in the latesttechnology to stay a step ahead.

Now, after investing more than $100,000on technology alone, the Grand Rapids-based firm is totally paperless, saving time,money and endless frustration that comeswith hunting down paper files.

“If you looked in our office, it would looklike an air traffic control [tower],” said MaryC. Bonnema, managing partner. “When wedesigned this, we had a vision of where wewanted to be, so we really built the tech in-frastructure to meet those goals.”

Each attorney is equipped with a four-screen computer array, in order to more eas-ily manage several electronic files simulta-neously. In addition, the conference roomshave either large plasma or projectionscreens, so during meetings, everyone canlook at the same documents.

“We don’t ever carry files around; if we goto a meeting, we bring the laptop, which iswireless and you can log in anywhere,” Bon-nema said.

One particularly interesting aspect ofthe whole configuration is that one of thefirm’s attorneys played an integral part intying it all together to fit the unique needs ofMcGarry Bair.

“One of our attorneys designed the infor-mation infrastructure, and linked all thesoftware programs,” Bonnema said. “That’s areally neat [system], and he wrote thatspecifically for us, and that puts us at theforefront of law firms in technology.

“We have to be, [because] we have clientsthat are inventors and are creators, and ifthey see we’re an old, established law firm,they may think we can’t keep up,” Bonnemaexplained. “So we feel it’s important to bejust as adaptable and responsive and just ascreative as those people we work with.”

The system saves the time and hassle ofmanually working on billing, and clientshave access to all of their information — in-cluding the docket, if any, and a schedule ofevents — via a portal created just for them.

The firm has one set of backups on theserver onsite, but it also has a mirror back-

up at a secure location about a mile away.“If we do have a catastrophic event,we’d be

up and running right away,” Bonnema said.McGarry Bair has eight attorneys (five are

shareholders) and a total staff of 23 people, sothey can be quite nimble, Bonnema said,

“Compared to the bigger firms, we canturn in a dime,” she said. “We don’t have somany people making decisions, so we canmove quickly when needed.”

The culture also reflects a relaxed atmos-phere aimed at Gen-X and Gen-Y employeesthat’s more in line with their clients thanperhaps other law firms. For example,

there’s a jeans policy, soda fountain andfreshly baked cookies every Wednesdaymorning.

— GARY GOSSELIN

McGarryBair PCMary C. Bonnema,managing partner

C u t t I n g e D g e

Joel E. Bair (right) discusses a patent file with G. Thomas Williams and Mary C. Bonnema.

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“If you looked in our office, itwould look like an air traffic control[tower]. When we designed this, wehad a vision of where we wanted tobe, so we really built the techinfrastructure to meet those goals.”

— MARy C. BONNEMA


Renewable energy credits, carboncap-and-trade, and sustainable de-velopment weren’t terms oftentossed around in the Michigan le-

gal lexicon of two years ago.But across the nation and the world, leaders

were discussing and engineering large-indus-try carbon dioxide regulations, green buildingand wind- and solar-powered technology.

That bothered Mark J. Bennett, seniorcounsel at Miller, Canfield, Paddock andStone, P.L.C.

“As I look at the Midwest, arguably, this isthe industrial heartland, and we were thefurthest behind,” he said. “The combinationof the industrial targeting and the fact thatfor whatever reason, politically, over theyears we had not been engaged in CO2- andclimate-related issues was the light bulbthat went off for me.”

Anna M. Maiuri, Bennett’s co-counsel,said the formation of Miller Canfield’s cli-mate change practice — the first practicegroup of its kind in Michigan — was simplybeing proactive to client needs.

“When you’re looking at alternative energyand decreasing the carbon footprint and tryingto accomplish several goals at the same time,”she said, “you look at what massive changes inthinking and legislation are going to be neces-sary [and] that our clients are not equipped tohandle. They need assistance in those areasand how to adjust to those changes.”

What gave the group’s genesis an edgewas its interdisciplinary approach and col-lective knowledge. It brought together 15Miller Canfield attorneys — based as closeas metro Detroit, Chicago and Toronto, andas far as Monterrey,Mexico and Shanghai —who specialize in regulatory, real estate, mu-

nicipal law, corporate, tax, litigation and gov-ernmental practice.

The firm was willing to take financialrisks in letting the group build itself — inparticular, Bennett’s devoting all of his timeto research and development.

It also meant, when discussing new prac-tice details, explaining environmental andecological terminology that co-attorneys sawas a virtual foreign language.

But Bennett has been involved with appliedlaw in a business environment for most of hiscareer, and was used to building entities fromscratch. For example, after law school, heformedToxiCheck, an environmental databasethat provided background environmental riskinformation for real estate transactions.

Today, the climate change group includesrepresentation of a European-based carbon-equity fund, which has more than $1 billioninvested for carbon-offset projects; renew-able-energy component manufacturers inwind and solar fields, for whom the groupis helping find states with the best tax in-centives for growth; and helping landlordstake advantage of green-building incentives,earn and maintain LEED certification, andlearn liabilities.

Bennett said that, because climate regula-tions haven’t been solidified in Michigan, or inthe U.S., the group must advise clients onwhere it’s believed things will evolve. It meansstaying ahead of the curve, and interpretingregulations “that are very vague because reg-ulators themselves haven’t been that specific.”

But, he said, the group’s come far since

starting in theory two years ago.“Now we have the luxury of clients with

real-world transactions, who are out theredoing the transactions, and that’s the great-est educator of all,” Bennett said. “That’swhere we’re building a very strong practicalbase of understanding.”

— DOUGLAS J. LEVY

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Anna M. Maiuri and Mark J. Bennett are among Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C.’sclimate change practice attorneys. The group focuses on carbon finance, renewable-energycorporate formation, and green building and sustainable development.

Miller, Canfield, Paddockand Stone, P.L.C.MichaelW. Hartmann, CEO

e n t e r P r I s I n g

“The combination of the industrialtargeting and the fact that forwhatever reason, politically, over theyears we had not been engaged inCO2- and climate-related issues wasthe light bulb that went off for me.”

— MARK J. BENNETT

With few lawyer-advocates forfixed-income patients of nurs-ing homes and long-term carefacilities, Jamie M. Verdi

jumped in to help fill the gap with her firmMichigan Patient Advocacy Liaison, PLLC.

Knowing the type of patients who neededher help the most have limited income, Ver-di saw a creative opportunity where shewould pursue her avocation of caring for oth-ers and making a living.

“I came in contact with a lot of patients innursing homes, and I realized they needed avoice; due to the [often] substandard qualityof care, I knew they needed me to give thema voice,” Verdi said. “I know I won’t get rich,but it’s a very rich and satisfying career be-cause I know I’m helping somebody, helpingthe underdog, helping the people [often] con-sidered throwaways.”

She works with patients and families onpayment arrangements and usually onlycharges a flat fee. She’s able to adapt byworking out of her home, along with the oc-casional use of her husband’s office.

Verdi’s been around the medical commu-nity her entire life, as her mother is a nurse,her brother is a doctor and her twin sister isin the biomedical field.

“I come from a health care-oriented fami-ly; it’s in my blood,” Verdi said.

As an example, she is active with the NYULangone Medical Center.There, she works withchildren with birth defects, helping them tobuild self-esteem, and letting them know that,even after 10 surgeries, things do get better.

Verdi said she’s unique because, whilethere are patient advocates, very few are li-censed attorneys and don’t really have a cer-tification program or licensure issues like abar-member does.

“When people retain me,” she said, “not

only am I credentialed, but have advancedtraining in health law so I have experienceand education in dealing with Medicare andMedicaid and I’m accredited through the VA[Veterans Administration] and can repre-sent people through the Department of Vet-erans Affairs. I give patients peace of mind;they have an attorney working for them.”

Another thing that sets her apart, Verdisaid, is that she intervenes and works with ad-ministrators or assisted living directors to beefup care plans or making sure they are chang-ing dressing on wounds as they’re supposed to.

A lot of home neglect only comes to light inlitigation, but Verdi works to prevent that andget good quality care. If there are problems, shedoes not litigate; rather, she would be a witnessor an observer if the situation got to court.

“I see so many patients in bad situations,complaining to friends and family thatthere’s nothing they could do,” Verdi said.“I’ve had family in places that were in top-rated facilities, and they still died from lackof care or poor care.”

She added, “I provide advocacy and coun-seling; I go to the nursing home and hospitalto work on problems. There is no one outthere doing what I’m doing.”

— GARY GOSSELIN

Michigan PatientAdvocacy Liaison, PLLCJamie M. Verdi, founder and principal

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Jamie M. Verdi is a patient advocate for those in nursing homes or long-term care facilities.

“I came in contact with a lot ofpatients in nursing homes, and Irealized they needed a voice. …I know I won’t get rich, but it’s a veryrich and satisfying career because Iknow I’m helping somebody, helpingthe underdog, helping the people[often] considered throwaways.”

— JAMIE M. VERDI


In describing a whistleblower’s lawsuitthat started last fall, the attorneys atNemeth Burwell, P.C. likened it torounding up thousands of wild stal-

lions on a perpetual stampede.That’s because there were 50,000 docu-

ments for discovery — enough to take overthe Detroit labor and employment firm’s en-tire file room.“[They] kept coming in, and we weren’t

sure when that flow would stop,” said firmpartner Thomas Schramm. “That’s when wesaid, ‘We need to change course.’ We realized… if we don’t get a handle on it now, we’renever going to get a handle on it.”The solution lay in Legal Summation, the

software that the firm was using primarilyto store deposition transcripts. Nemeth Bur-well realized that, by altering its litigators’approach to it, the program could be used toorganize and categorize documents thatwere live and in-progress.As a result, a litigation scheme could be

more easily built because counsel could gettheir hands on documents quicker.“What we were able to do was plug in

some search terms, and we could immedi-ately go to documents and print them,”Schramm said. “What would take days andweeks would now take less than an hour,and with that, we could really dissect and beefficient in how we approach litigation.”Firm co-founder Patricia M. Nemeth said

that, while Legal Summation had been usedat other firms in the same litigation mannerthat Nemeth Burwell adapted, it usually

was for complex matters, such as product li-ability cases.But, she said, by implementing it for labor

and employment cases, “we were ahead ofthe curve. … We now know best how to useit for our complex cases, and we know whereto use it in other ways, too.”For example, in a smaller labor case, if six

different witnesses testified about a boardmeeting on a certain day, testimonies fromall of them can be pulled to determine whysomething did or didn’t result from it.And, Schramm said, the firm has config-

ured a way to build timelines in Legal Sum-mation, because “chronology is king in these

kinds of cases.”The most apparent residual benefits for

clients, Schramm said, is that fewer billablehours are spent combing through stacks pa-per. Yet, he noted, it’s also resulted in findingmore than just one needle in the haystack.“I can recall clients saying something

along the lines of, ‘I didn’t know that docu-ment was even out there,’” he said. “Not onlydoes [Legal Summation] save money, but italso allows you to be more thorough and notmiss the document. Sometimes, you can sur-prise your client by gathering that informa-tion and dissecting the core data that youneed to take that deposition.”

But the biggest success was felt within thefirm itself.“Sometimes challenges bring the best op-

portunities,” Nemeth said. “You hear that alot, but truly, this case we were presented withwas a tremendous challenge. … And it provid-ed us with the best opportunity for our firm.”

— DOUGLAS J. LEVY

NemethBurwell, P.C.Patricia M. Nemeth,Linda G. Burwell,managing partners

R E S T R A T E G I Z I N G

Thomas schramm (seated) and Peter N. camps of Nemeth Burwell, P.c. work together to engi-neer a litigation strategy using Legal summation. By expanding the document-managementsoftware’s capabilities, the firm’s labor and employment litigation can be more easily built.

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“What would take days and weekswould now take less than an hour,and with that, we could reallydissect and be efficient in how weapproach litigation.”

— Thomas schramm

Thank you to everyone who

made it possible for Nemeth Burwell, P.C.

to be honored as a

21st Century Innovator

Working with employers

to prevent, resolve

and litigate

employment disputes

Nemeth Burwell, P.C.200 Talon Centre Drive, Suite 200Detroit, MI 48207-5199Phone: 313-567-5921Fax: 313-567-5921Web: www.nemethburwell.comEmail: [email protected]

NEMETHBURWELL P.C.

Attorneys & Counselors


,

With the national economy al-most as bad as the Michiganeconomy, businesses of alltypes are looking for new ways

to cut costs.So, the partners as boutique business liti-

gation firm Neuman Anderson P.C. havecome up with a new and innovative way ofhelping businesses weather the storm.

Creative billing allows their clients tokeep legal costs under control — and it’sworking for the firm.

“We’re growing in a horrific market,” Ken-neth F. Neuman explained. “That’s a suc-cess in itself.”

The firm is helping its clients by offeringits services either on a full contingency basisor a hybrid basis — part hourly and partcontingency. Under the hybrid model, Neu-man explained, businesses can set a ceilingfor their hourly legal bill, and the firm takesa lower contingent fee.

“Commercial litigation is very documentintensive,” he said. “There’s more discussion,

more depositions, and more document pro-duction. It’s labor-intensive, so the costs aregreater.”

Neuman said that there isn’t a client inhis Rolodex right now that isn’t strugglingwith a cash flow problem. But with the firm’snovel approach to billing, those clients canmanage their litigation costs — win or lose— and keep their budgets in line.

By offering flexibility to its clients, he saidthat Neuman Anderson is able to offer itsservices in a way where their clients canbudget for legal services almost the sameway they budget for rent, utilities and officesupplies.

The need for legal representation, he said,is a fact of life.

“Our society is the most litigious in theworld; businesses find themselves in litiga-tion more often than they did 50 years ago,”Neuman said. “At any time, the Big 3 arehandling hundreds of suits — problems withsuppliers and injury claims — and that canbe extrapolated to any industry. More andmore, businesses have to factor litigation asan operating cost.”

Recently, he said, the firm defended aclient on a multimillion-dollar dispute anddid so for a flat fee. The trial went 21/2weeks, and the client was able to manage itsexpenses.

That kind of flexibility has allowed thefirm to grow its own business, proving aboon to the partners as well as their clients.

According to Neuman, there has been a 25percent growth in business from 2007 to2008, and there is an expectation of another20 percent growth this year.

Over the next two years, the firm alsoplans to double the number of attorneys onstaff.

— ALEX LUNDBERG

Neuman Anderson P.C.Kenneth F. Neuman, managing partner

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Kenneth F. Neuman and his firm offer flexible billing, which has helped the firm grow.

“Our society is the most litigious inthe world; businesses findthemselves in litigation more oftenthan they did 50 years ago. At anytime, the Big 3 are handlinghundreds of suits — problems withsuppliers and injury claims — andthat can be extrapolated to anyindustry. More and more, businesseshave to factor litigation as anoperating cost.”

— KENNETH F. NEUMAN


Plunkett Cooney operates underthe premise that “a happy em-ployee is a productive employee.”

And productive and happy em-ployees provide what clients want and need:service and value.

To that end, the firm has instituted meas-ures designed to keep their employees,lawyer or not, as stress-free as possible.

“The work environment allows them flex-ibility to do things other than work,” saidmanaging partner Henry B. Cooney. “Itmakes people more productive and givesthem some esprit de corps. It’s good for thefirm and it’s good for employees.”

Plunkett has 150 lawyers (300 employeesin all) in nine offices throughout Michigan,Indiana and Ohio, and offers such perks to itsstaff as a weekly visit by a masseuse to workout stress- and office chair-related knots.

The firm also offers flex-time to supportstaff, including an optional four-day workweek to allow the opportunity for engineer-ing a personalized three-day weekend.

Cooney said the company realizes thatsuch things as fully paid maternity leaveand social events for employees’ partners —initiatives birthed out of the firm’s AssociateDevelopment Committee — helps keep goodtalent from searching for greener pastures.

Employees also are able to take part in in-ternal enrichment programs, such as FirstAid and nutrition classes and seminars onhealthy lifestyles, as well as professional de-velopment courses designed to hone their 9-to-5 skills. The company also offers flu shots.

All of these programs add to PlunkettCooney being named as one of the bestplaces to work in the metro area by theDetroit Free Press.

Emily M. Ballenberger works in the firm’smedical liability group out of the Mount

Clemens office. She’s ready in case of emer-gency, literally: she took the AED defibrilla-tor classes offered at Cooney.

“If I find a colleague on the floor, I want tobe able to help,” Ballenberger said. “If some-one’s unconscious, I can hook [the machine]up and help before [emergency staff] comes.”

She recently took a refresher class in the op-eration of the lifesaving machines, and makesit a point to sign up for whatever general orworkplace safety classes are being offered.

Giving employees a way to call their ownshots in the workplace is similar to the waythe firm approaches its clients. Cooney saidthat in the end the customer is always right,and the firm strives to give people the legalcounsel they want as well as need.

“Our notion is that we partner with ourclients to understand their business,” hesaid. “We want to get the right result for ourclients, whether that means going to trial orsettling. They hire us for our expertise, forour assessments.We give them an overview,and then we determine what course is bestfor meeting their business objectives.”

And the firm is known for taking it to thestreets.

“We’re actively engaged in the community,”Cooney said. “Through the American HeartAssociation, we take part in the Heart Walk.Not only by raising money, but we also getpeople out there actually taking the walk.”

— ALEX LUNDBERG

Plunkett CooneyHenry B. Cooney, managing partner

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Henry B. Cooney says a good work environment helps keep employees happy and productive.

“The work environment allows themflexibility to do things other thanwork. … It’s good for the firm andit’s good for employees.”

— HENRy B. COONEy

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There are times when innovatinghas less to do with sudden changesin systems or the latest and great-est software, and much more to do

with a constant evolution.And if there were ever a time for the small

Royal Oak health care firm of Rogers, Man-tese & Associates P.C. and its five attorneysto evolve, and evolve quickly, now is it.

That’s because their clients are watchingwith great anticipation the quickly changingdevelopments in federal health care reform.Founders and shareholders David L. Rogersand Theresamarie Mantese say they believethey’re uniquely positioned to help theirclients adapt quickly once reform is defined.

“Where we think we’re unique is thatwe’re looking to the future and where thelaw interfaces with our economy,” Mantesesaid. “For example, home health care hasbeen taking off, and the industry is growingin recent years. And at the same time thatthe need for those services is increasing, it’sbecoming more regulated.

“People don’t want the only option to begoing to a nursing home.What they’d like todo is stay in their homes whenever possible.So what we try to do is help our clients —providers and health systems and durablegoods makers — make healthcare patientcare services available within that legalframework.”

For example, Rogers said, one of his clientsis a mobile dental services provider, which

last year merged with a competitor,making itthe largest provider of its kind in the country.

When that happened, the service providerquickly found itself in a much broader geo-graphical area, in states with differing lawsand regulations.

“What’s most important to them is to keepthem consistent with their model, and it’s ourjob to help them adapt that model to complywith the laws in various states,” Rogers said

With the firm’s help, the client was able tobring its product intact to every state itserves, he said.

Looking ahead, Rogers and Mantese areboth thinking about upcoming reform. Butthey’re not thinking too much.

Rogers learned his lesson during the Clinton

administration about overanticipating whatwill happen. He spent what he calls countlesshours thinking about every possibility, everypossible factor that could affect his clients.Andas it turned out, he didn’t have to.

“I’m looking at it like this now: There’s ahuge pile on the table,” he said. “And thingswill be picked through and thrown out.”

While he’s watching closely, he’s avoidingthe temptation to overanalyze until the planis approved by Congress.

As of now, Rogers and Mantese are willingto bet on very little.

“Mental health will be a serious part ofany health care package,” Mantese predict-ed. “And providers will also see much lessprofit. They’ll be paid, but there will be a clo-

sure of the profit margins.”There will most certainly be a change in

payer structure, Rogers predicts. And evenmore importantly, there will be a heavy focuson cost controls.

“Whatever it winds up being,” Rogers said,“We’ll help our clients work in that framework.”

— CAROL LUNDBERG

RogersMantese &Associates P.C.David L. Rogers,Theresamarie Mantese,founders and shareholders

f o r w a r D - t h I n k I n g

Rogers Mantese & Associates P.C. founders David L. Rogers and Theresamarie Mantese work tohelp clients adapt quickly to the many health care changes.

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“Where we think we’re unique is thatwe’re looking to the future andwhere the law interfaces with oureconomy. … at the same time thatthe need for [health care] services isincreasing, it’s becoming moreregulated.”

— THERESAMARIE MANTESE

Because they deal exclusively withintellectual property matters, theattorneys at Rader, Fishman &Grauer PLLC are exposed to high-

tech situations on a daily basis.But what happens when these lawyers

and the legal support staff don’t use theirown technology the way they’re supposed to?

Michael B. Stewart, co-managing partner,says an overhaul is in order to give them areason.

He speaks of the firm’s Intranet, which, inthe past, was used mostly by attorneys whowere either traveling or working offsite andneeded to prepare for trial. They’d be able tolocate depositions, manage key documents,and maintain work in progress.

Yet, Stewart said, the support staff andclerks would rarely touch it. Because of whatthey used on a daily basis, “Half the informa-tion was there, half the information wasn’t,and they’d get frustrated about what wouldbe there and if it wasn’t there when they[needed] it.

“Having to spend too much time trackingdown information is one of our greatest frus-trations.”

That changed over the past year, as the sitegot firmed up, so to speak, with everythingthat goes on at Rader, Fishman & Grauer.Thisincludes easy-to-find financial and human re-sources policies, 401(k) plan information, flex-time plan rules, and a holiday schedule.

“In term of our procedures and policies, wewere finding that we really needed to putthem in one place,” Stewart said. “This stuffhad been hard-copy before, and people justweren’t taking advantage of it. But now that

we moved it into our computer system, it’sjust made a big difference. People are nowusing it as a true resource.”

Stewart offered a personal example.Whenhe was in Italy on a recent vacation, and hisparents called to ask whether he would beavailable for Thanksgiving, he was able tolook up the company’s holiday schedule onthe Intranet and give them an answer.

Then there’s a section full of firm logosand attorney photos that can be copied anddownloaded. This way, he explained, if aclient wants a PowerPoint presentation or a

proposal drafted immediately, the materialsare right there, whether the attorney or sup-port staffer is in or out of the office.

“We’re trying to make everything as auto-mated and seamless as possible,” Stewart said.

Another section compiles news and how-to’s on information technology matters, suchas pointers on conserving memory, speedingup logging-in time, and directions for clientlogins.

But inter- and intraoffice activity surgedwhen someone suggested a Craigslist-likebulletin board. Now firm staff can do every-

thing from selling candy bars for a daugh-ter’s school group to blogging about a son’sinvention getting national attention.

Stewart said it’s been a surprise motivatorin strengthening firm culture.

“That’s not something we expected to usethe Intranet for,” he said, “[but] when one ofour staff people said, ‘I’d like to use it forthat,’ why not? It’s starting to develop inways we had not anticipated. … It’s just an-other way for our people to interact andshare information with each other.”

— DOUGLAS J. LEVY

r e s o u r C e f u l n e s s

Lisa M. Terry (left) and Alisa M. Haggemoreview some of the firm news that’s postedon Rader, Fishman & Grauer PLLC’s Intranet.The portal gathers everything related to theintellectual property firm, from humanresource information to marketingmaterials, so that attorneys and legalsupport have a one-stop resource.

“In terms of our procedures andpolicies, we were finding that wereally needed to put them in oneplace. … [Now] that we moved itinto our computer system, it’s justmade a big difference. People arenow using it as a true resource.”

— MICHAEL B. STEWART

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Rader, Fishman & Grauer PLLCMichael B. Stewart, Glenn E. Forbis, Michael D. Fishman,Ralph T. Rader, managing partners


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Visit us at swappc.com

Sullivan, Ward, Asher & Patton appreciates the recognition of this year’s prestigious award.

Sullivan, Ward, Asher & Patton is a midsize firm with Midwest core values that provide you with a large firm’s resources. Our goal is to provide excellent services for fair and reasonable compensation. We have over 40 lawyers with more than 50% of them having a SuperLawyers®, The Litigation Counsel Of America or The Best Lawyers in America designation. We have a national presence complete with secure 24-hour web access to all of your files and cases. Due to this structure, our fees are kept reasonable and highly competitive. Visit our Web site today to find out more.

Thank you for the honor of the 21st Century Innovators Award.

Banking & Commercial Transactions | Building Trades & Engineering | Health Care | Insurance Industry | Retail | Employee Benefits, Labor and Employment Law

Michigan Office 248.746.0700 | Illinois Office 312.214.3175

The attorneys at Sullivan, Ward,Asher & Patton, P.C. of Southfieldhave taken the lessons of the com-puter revolution to heart.

That’s because they incorporate technolo-gy into everything they do, and use high-tech tools to bring innovative solutions to allfacets of their practice.

Scott D. Feringa, an associate at SullivanWard, said the law firm — made up of 42 at-torneys and 72 support staffers — is workingwith the newest technology to make its pointsas clearly and as informatively as possible.

Lawyers in the firm use specialized comput-er programs to ramp up their delivery in andout of the courtroom, bringing their clients andthe rest of the legal community the most high-tech case presentations they can field.

“We use sophisticated litigation-supportsoftware,” Feringa said. “It provides us withinteractive graphics for trial presentations.”

Not just flash and spectacle, these computerprograms are used to present documents thatcan be modified in the course of discussion incourt. The software, which has been updatedseveral times in the last few years alone, alsois used to perform video depositions and othertelecommunication functions.

The software has been used actively inout-of-court venues, such as arbitrationmeetings, to enhance presentations. It alsohelps bring together those people separatedby vast distances via videoconferencing.

A lot of firms haven’t taken this step yet,Feringa said.

To make that work out, the company hasa computer specialist on staff that createsthese presentations for the firm’s attorneysto use within and away from the courtroom.

“It’s very expensive,” Feringa said. “It’sexpensive to have a specialist on hand to runthe software, and a lot of firms don’t want toincur that extra cost.”

The attorneys at SullivanWard have beenusing that kind of software, various differentbrand names and versions, for the past fouryears in trials all over the state, he said.

And the firm is using other technologicalinnovations to communicate with clients viaits Web site with Internet-based newslet-ters, as well as using it to streamline suchmundane everyday practices as billing.

While the litigation-support software hasmade its presentations in and out of courtmore expressive, the technology they’re us-ing inside the office is making the operationmore efficient and less expensive to run.

Members of the staff at Sullivan Wardalso strive to be well-represented in the oth-er peer-reviewed organization: the commu-nities in which they live and work.

“We’re a multiethnic,multifaith firm that’sbeen around for more than 45 years,” Feringasaid. “A lot of our employees are coaches forsports teams in their community and are ac-tive in their churches and synagogues.”

When the firm’s literature says the attor-neys are working hard and going the extramile, clients can take comfort that thosearen’t just boilerplate promotional language.Several attorneys at the firm as well as sup-port staff run marathons and triathlons.

— ALEX LUNDBERG

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Sullivan, Ward, Asher & Patton, P.C. associate Scott D. Feringa says the firm uses specializedprograms to present interactive graphics for trial presentations.

Sullivan,Ward, Asher& Patton, P.C.Anthony A. Asher,managing partner

a D a P t a b I l I t y

“We use sophisticated litigation-support software. … It’s expensiveto have a specialist on hand to runthe software, and a lot of firmsdon’t want to incur that extra cost.”

— SCOTT D. FERINGA


Kenneth L. Gross hesitates to callhimself an innovator. He thinks ofhimself more as a revolutionary,in the most literal sense, leading

those wounded in ruins of Michigan’s econo-my to stand up and revolt.“If I could get everyone to say, ‘I’m not pay-

ing for this,’ I would,” he said.So he’s doing what he can, spreading the

word as fast as he can, on his radio program,“Financial Crisis Talk Center,” which hasaired every Saturday morning on WDFN-AM (1130) since last November.Gross, managing shareholder at South-

field-based Thav, Gross, Steinway & Ben-nett, P.C., said the idea to take to the air-waves came to him last year.“Our firm had done some consumer bank-

ruptcy work for 10 years, but it wasn’t a ma-jor part of the business,” he said.But in 2007 and 2008, more clients started

coming in, needing help with bankruptcy, backtaxes, or foreclosure and loan modifications.And they were desperate.So Gross positioned the firm to be able to

help clients determine which tools they need—foreclosure, short sale, deed in lieu of fore-closure, loan modification, bankruptcy, debtresolution or tax relief — and then help putany combination of those tools in action.“Unfortunately, firms don’t do that. If they

specialize in bankruptcy, then that’s the onlything they can do for you. If they specializein credit card debt, that’s the only thing they

do,” Gross said. “What people need is forsomeone to take a look at the whole pictureand tell them what they really need, choos-ing from all the services available.”And he’s not afraid to tell people, even

anonymous listeners on the radio show, ex-actly what he thinks they need.

He often tells them that the financial cri-sis is not their fault, and shows them how tosave themselves. Sometimes, that meanstaking such drastic measures as letting onenow-overpriced mortgage default in order tobuy a home that’s priced right in the im-ploded housing market.The firm is representing middle-income

clients, as well as lawyers and doctors with$900,000 mortgages on houses that have losthalf their value, he said.“Take a look at what’s happening globally.

General Motors is taking its good assets for-ward, and getting rid of the bad,” Gross said.“That’s what people should do. The idea be-hind financial crisis management is to takethe premise to not allow future earnings paythe debts of the past.”

Advocating for the little guy, Gross is quickto point out who he thinks is at fault for thefinancial crisis. On the air, he calls the cred-it card industry, fast and loose mortgagelenders, Congress and Wall Street, the caus-es and perpetuators of the problem.So far, Gross can’t tell whether it’s the radio

show or the worsening economy that’s causingthe increase in his financial crisis practice. Butthe increase is helping balance out the shrink-ing demand in other areas of the practice,which has historically focused on the needs ofsmall- and mid-sized business owners.“I think we probably will have to hire ad-

ditional people,” Gross said. “There is defi-nitely a need, and, unfortunately, it’s not go-ing away.”

— CAROL LUNDBERG

Thav, Gross,Steinway &Bennett, P.C.Kenneth L. Gross,managing shareholder

C R I S I S M A N A G E M E N T

Kenneth L. Gross of thav, Gross, steinway & Bennett, P.C. started the “Financial Crisis talk Cen-ter” radio show in november to help listeners sort out the economic crisis.

“If [firms] specialize in bankruptcy,then that’s the only thing they cando for you. … What people need isfor someone to take a look at thewhole picture and tell them whatthey really need, choosing from allthe services available.”

— Kenneth L. Gross

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Everywhere you look in the officesof Willis &Willis, PLC are framedcopies of the company’s Core Val-ues, reflecting the firm’s commit-

ment to adhering to a set of values reflectingthe company’s philosophy.The Core Values espouse virtues such as

service to others, integrity/honesty/account-ability, excellence, dependability, profession-alism, empathy/kindness and commit-ment/dedication/loyalty.But these values aren’t just window dress-

ing: each employee will be evaluated by otheremployees as part of the compensation process.“We think it’s unique as it relates to tying

our employees’ compensation [to the CoreValues] and, frankly, remembrance and ad-herence to company values,” said Michael J.Willis, co-founder and managing partner ofthe Kalamazoo-based firm. “[T]he proposi-tion of establishing Core Values is notunique, nor is the step we’ve taken to postthose values in the hallways and in every of-fice. But the next step is caring about thoseso deeply, that we also take the step that wewant to pay you based on those values.”Scores are weighted and averaged, and a

multiple including the score, experience andplace in the company will be factoredagainst the bonus pool at the end of the year,he explained.“Whether you’re a receptionist or a part-

ner, it provides the firm with a unique toolfor the firm to measure the success of thefirm itself,” said paralegal Pam Goheen. “Itincreases everybody’s awareness — we’renot just pushing papers.“It provides our employees with a bigger

sense of ownership; we framed [the Core Val-ues] in really nice frames, and they are ineveryone’s office, so when people walk in, theysee it,” she added. “It’s there for us to look atand invest in and read and internalize.”The firm employs four full-time attorneys,

two of-counsel part time attorneys and eightsupport staff.Michael and Shaun P. Willis formed the

firm in 2004 largely as a result of theirbrother, Christopher Kelly Willis, who, afterserving with the Marines 1st ExpeditionaryForce in Operation Iraqi Freedom, died in acar accident while home.The brothers had talked about working to-

gether, and that accident really drove home

the message about things like core valuesand the importance of family.They even formed the Cpl. Christopher

Kelly Willis Foundation (www.cckwf.org) tofund college scholarships for the benefit ofMichigan children who have lost their par-ent (or whose parent has been permanentlydisabled) in combat.Another facet of the firm’s values is

demonstrated in the pro bono clinics thefirm established; the Kalamazoo Gospel Mis-sion andWillis &Willis PLC Pro Bono Clin-ic. The firm has worked on more than 150cases in the Gospel Mission service.“We think it’s part of being a lawyer and

having the opportunity and the resources we

have; we have a duty to those that don’t[have the resources],”Willis said. “We do runa broad gamut [of services], and if it’s out-side our area, we do get help with expertise[from other volunteers].”

— GARY GOSSELIN

Willis &Willis, PLCMichael J. Willis, Shaun P. Willis,founders

V A L U E S

shaun P. Willis (left) and Michael J. Willis, founders of Willis & Willis, Plc, place a heavy empha-sis on the firm’s “core Values,” which gives employees “a bigger sense of ownership.”

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“[T]he proposition of establishingcore Values is not unique, nor is thestep we’ve taken to post thosevalues in the hallways and in everyoffice. But the next step is caringabout those so deeply, that we alsotake the step that we want to payyou based on those values.”

— MIchAel J. WIllIs

Andrew B.Wachler said the innova-tive difference at his firm,Wachler& Associates, PC of Royal Oak, ishow young lawyers are trained in

the particular ups and downs of practicinglaw in the field of health care.The firm starts with people who have

strong academic credentials — and trainsthem further.“We offer a unique opportunity to be fully

engaged in health care,” Wachler said. “Insome cases, they can get a national reputa-tion [in the field].”The firm turns out articles for The Health

Lawyer, the health care law publication ofthe American Bar Association. Its lawyershave written on recovery audit contractors,Medicare and every version of the Stark reg-ulations to come out.The work hones their understanding

of these arcane and complex health careissues beyond what is needed to practice inthe field.It’s one thing to be conversant with a par-

ticular topic or field of study, Wachler said,

but it’s quite another to be able to explain itto people who have not studied that field.Beyond having the bylines in the ABA

publication, it gives the firm a good hook toattract the best and the brightest coming outof law schools.“We’re able to attract top-quality candi-

dates,” Wachler said. “It also makes us veryknowledgeable on the issue. That’s good forour clients, because they know they aren’tgoing to have to pay us to learn.”Sometimes, the attorneys are called on to

teach.Wachler himself has canvassed the coun-

try teaching others about Medicare appealsissues at 14 different conferences and an-other 10 via telecommunication in the lastyear and a half.Recently, members of the firm discussed

health care policy changes with representa-tives from Massachusetts, California andFlorida, as well as the American HospitalAssociation, the Greater New York HospitalAssociation and CMS in Baltimore.Wachlersaid it was interesting and important workthat will have an impact on many people.The firm was at the forefront of Centers

for Medicare and Medicaid Services Recov-ery Audit Contractor (RAC) program thatlaunched in California, Florida and NewYork in 2005, and expanded to include Ari-zona, South Carolina and Massachusetts in2007. Wachler’s firm defended providers inCalifornia, Massachusetts and New Yorkwith a 90 percent success rate.A good law firm, to some degree, is like

any other office. There are schedules tomanage, supplies to buy and any thousandpieces of general “business” to attend to thatdoesn’t necessarily involve the law itself. Tothat end, the firm has picked up a big gun torun their operations.“We hired a Stanford MBA to run the of-

fice,” Wachler said. “He will enhance the ef-ficiency of the office so we can continue tobuild for the future as a well-oiled machine.Our attorneys can grow and work here with-out administrative distractions.”

— ALEX LUNDBERG

Wachler & Associates, PCAndrew B. Wachler, principal

L E A D E R S H I P

clockwise from front: Andrew B. Wachler,Jessica lange, Jennifer colagiovanni, robertrogosich, Amy K. Fehn, Jeffrey r. campbell.

“We’re able to attract top-qualitycandidates. It also makes us veryknowledgeable on the issue. That’sgood for our clients, because theyknow they aren’t going to have topay us to learn.”

— AndreW B. WAchler

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Congratulations,21st Century Innovators!

Specializing in all aspects of healthcarelaw, including:

�Healthcare business transactionsincluding contracts, corporateformations, mergers and acquisitions

�Stark and fraud and abuse analysis

�RAC, Medicare and other third partypayor audit defense

�Proactive compliance programs forRAC and Medicare Audits

�Physician Hospital Organizations andPhysicians Organizations

�Regulatory compliance

�Billing and reimbursement issues

�Provider participation and deselectionmatters

�Licensure and staff privilege matters

�Defense of civil and criminalhealthcare fraud issues

WACHLER &ASSOCIATES, PC210 E. Third St., Suite 204

Royal Oak, MI 48067P: 248-544-0888F: 248-544-3111

www.wachler.com

2008 HONOREESBrooks Kushman P.C.

Collins Einhorn Farrell& Ulanoff, P.C.

DickinsonWright PLLC

Dilley Haney P.C.

Dykema Gossett PLLC

Foley & Mansfield PLLP

Honigman Miller Schwartzand Cohn LLP

Jaffe Raitt Heuer &Weiss, P.C.

Kienbaum Opperwall Hardy& Pelton, P.L.C.

Maddin, Hauser, Wartell,Roth & Heller, P.C.

Michael Morse, P.C.

Miller, Johnson, Snell& Cumminskey, P.L.C.

Nacht & Associates, PC

Nemeth Burwell, P.C.

Nichols, Sacks, Slank, Sendelbach& Buiteweg, PC

Pear Sperling Eggan & Daniels, P.C.

Plunkett Cooney

Rader, Fishman & Grauer PLLC

Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt& Howlett LLP

Vercruysse Murray & Calzone, P.C.

Warner Norcross & Judd LLP

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITYCOLLEGE OF LAW

The Michigan State University College of Lawcongratulates the following lawyers and firms

for being recognized as 21st Century Innovators.

MSU Law has a commitment to educate 21st Century lawyers. Visit us online at

www.law.msu.edu

Brinks Hofer Gilson & LioneButzel Long

Clark Hill P.L.C.Collins, Einhorn, Farrell & Ulanoff, P.C.

Fabian, Sklar & King P.C.Foley & Mansfield PLLP

Health Law PartnersMantese & Rossman, P.C.

McGarry Bair P.C.Michael J. Morse P.C.

Michigan Patient Advocacy Liaison, PLLC

Miller Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C.Nemeth Burwell P.C.

Neuman Anderson P.C.Plunkett Cooney

Rader Fishman & Grauer PLLCRogers Mantese & Associates P.C.

Sullivan, Ward, Asher & Patton, P.C.Thav, Gross, Steinway & Bennett, P.C.

Wachler & Associates, P.C.Willis & Willis P.L.C.

celebratinglawfirmsthatdemonstrate ... · representing plaintiffs in: n fire and property damage...

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