Current Affiliation
Co-Chairman and Client Service Director, Dickinson Wright PLLC
Professional Experience
Approximately 40 years of experience as trial lawyer, arbitrator and mediator in complex commercial litigation.
Primary Areas of Practice
Business torts (including contract claims, tortious interference, misappropriation of trade secrets, non competition agreements, business defamation, shareholder and partnership disputes, unfair competition, breach of fiduciary duties, fraud and related technology claims), products liability, contracts, intellectual property, insurance, construction and other business and civil litigation.
Bar Admissions
State and Federal Courts, Michigan, 1973; United States Supreme Court and United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 1983; United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 1994; United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, 2002; United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Court, 2007.
Dispute Resolution Experience
Served as an arbitrator and mediator in hundreds of complex commercial cases. Member of the American Arbitration Association's Large Complex Case Panel. Appointed as a Michigan trial court mediator by the Michigan Supreme Court Administrator's Office.
Selected Honors, Awards, and Professional and Civic Associations
Recognized as a Fellow, American College of Civil Trial Mediators, International Society of Barristers and Litigation Counsel of America. Recognized as 2012 Arbitration Lawyer of the Year, Detroit Area, and 2013 Mediator of the Year, Detroit Area, by Best Lawyers of America. Former President of the State Bar of Michigan and the Oakland County Bar Association. Received Champion of Justice Award, State Bar of Michigan, 2011, and Professionalism Award, Oakland County Bar Association, 2009. Listed in: Best Lawyers in America (Commercial and Bet-the-Company Litigation, Arbitration and Mediation); America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Chambers USA; Super Lawyers (Top 10, 2008, 2009, 2011), (Number 1, 2012); and Benchmark Litigation Stars. Selected in 2009 as one of the Top 25 Leaders in the Law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
Publications and Speaking Engagements
Co-author, "Michigan Business Torts," INSTITUTE OF CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION, 2nd. ed., August 2003, paperback edition, 2009; co-author, "Trade Secrets Protection and Remedies," BNA, 2007 and 2009; co-editor and author, "Michigan Causes of Action Formbook," INSTITUTE OF CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION, September 1996; frequent speaker on litigation, arbitration and mediation issues.
Education
University of Michigan (BBA, Business Administration - 1969); University of Michigan (JD, cum laude - 1973)