Dykema Gossett, PLLC issued the following announcement on April 23.
Chambers USA recognized the following Dykema practices:
USA - Nationwide
Product Liability & Mass Torts
Product Liability: Consumer Class Actions
District of Columbia
Insurance: Insurer
Illinois
Real Estate
Michigan
Corporate/M&A
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
Labor & Employment
Litigation: General Commercial
Real Estate
Texas
Bankruptcy/Restructuring
Texas: San Antonio & Surrounds
Litigation: General Commercial
Chambers USA recognized the following Dykema attorneys, as identified by jurisdiction and practice area:
USA - Nationwide
R. Lance Boldrey—Native American Law
Derek S. Whitefield—Product Liability: Automobile
Derek S. Whitefield—Product Liability: Consumer Class Actions
District of Columbia
Lewis K. Loss—Insurance: Insurer
Thomas J. Judge— Insurance: Insurer
Illinois
Michael S. Kurtzon—Real Estate
Andrew P. Scott—Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use
Michigan
J. Michael Bernard—Corporate/M&A
Robert A. Boonin—Labor & Employment
Amy M. Christen—Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
Adam M. Fishkind—Real Estate
James P. Feeney—Litigation: General Commercial
Dennis M. Haffey—Litigation: General Commercial
Kyle R. Hauberg—Real Estate
James F. Hermon—Labor & Employment
Margaret Adams Hunter—Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
Jin-Kyu Koh—Corporate/M&A
Cameron H. Piggott—Real Estate
Thomas S. Vaughn—Corporate/M&A
Texas
Mark E. Andrews—Bankruptcy/Restructuring
Deborah D. Williamson—Bankruptcy/Restructuring
Texas: Austin & Surrounds
Phillip M. Slinkard—Corporate/M&A
Texas: San Antonio & Surrounds
Wilhelm L. Liebmann—Corporate/M&A
Marty Truss—Litigation: General Commercial
Chambers USA also noted client and market perception for the following Dykema practices:
Bankruptcy/Restructuring
What the team is known for
Debtor-side representation focused on midmarket companies across a wide range of industry sectors, with significant energy, real estate and healthcare experience. Adept at advising on distressed asset acquisition and bankruptcy-related litigation. Works with debtors, creditors and committees. Also represents financial institutions, including Texas-based and community-based banks.
Notable practitioners
San Antonio-based Deborah Williamson is a go-to practitioner in the insolvency and restructuring space. She has broad sector expertise and often works with clients from the healthcare and energy sectors on the full spectrum of bankruptcy matters.
Mark Andrews is "skilled in his area of expertise and very capable," according to clients. He acts for debtors and lenders in a range of bankruptcy matters, including Chapter 11 cases.
Corporate/M&A
What the team is known for
Provides sophisticated counsel on a wide range of corporate and financing matters, including commercial loan structuring, business governance and securities issuances. Attracts a diverse client base encompassing lenders, banks, investors and high-profile businesses. Maintains a strong private equity offering, acting on portfolio acquisitions and sales.
Strengths
One client reveals: "The team is very good at handling sophisticated transactional matters. I'm impressed with its capabilities."
Clients also praise the firm for being "a talented group with the ability to adapt to nearly any transaction. In every area, it is super strong."
Notable practitioners
Michael Bernard is a highly regarded practitioner who is esteemed for his strengths in M&A, corporate governance and capital raising transactions. He is frequently mandated on acquisitions and disposals in the automotive industry.
Jin-Kyu Koh is widely considered to be a leader in M&A. He is equally skilled in the public and private sectors and is also well versed in venture capital financing. One client says that he is "very easy to work with and very accommodating."
Thomas Vaughn is experienced handling matters related to real estate investment funds, including in regard to formation issues. One client remarks: "He has an excellent reputation, he's a straight shooter and can provide a lot of depth."
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
What the team is known for
Significant expertise in a wide range of employee benefits and executive compensation matters, supported by comprehensive resources in corporate finance, labor and employment and tax. Demonstrates particular strength in the formation of qualified employee benefit plans, welfare benefit schemes and issues relating to ERISA. Experience also covers health plans. Client base includes public and church-affiliated employers.
Strengths
One source says: "The team provided well-rounded expertise with respect to all US benefits issues. It's a strength that we had one source of counsel for most of our needs."
Notable practitioners
Amy Christen heads up the health and welfare team, overseeing an array of matters relating to the ACA and COBRA. In the words of one source: "She is available, timely and practical with respect to the guidance she provides, and understands the general considerations that come with the issues we bring to her attention."
Meg Hunter has a wealth of knowledge in employee benefits and associated tax matters. Her wide-ranging practice encompasses the entire life-cycle of benefit programs, from their design through to operation and termination. Clients value her strategic input, while peers view her as "very talented."
Insurance: Insurer
What the team is known for
Strong team offers dedicated representation of insurers in complex coverage disputes and other litigation. Strong record in both professional liability and general liability claims, including particular expertise in cases involving bank failure. Frequently acts on bad faith claims.
Strengths
One client enthuses: "The team is responsive, smart, and gets results - they are trusted counsel."
A second client reports: "They're very easy to work with and responsive to requests."
Notable practitioners
Lewis Loss focuses his practice in the representation of prominent insurance carriers in complex disputes. A source comments: "He's an insurance guru who does superb work."
Thomas Judge is "intelligent, polished and hard-working," according to interviewees. He brings particular expertise in professional liability disputes, including D&O and E&O work.
Labor & Employment
What the team is known for
Robust labor and employment practice popular with a diverse range of banking, higher education and technology clients. Expertise spans noncompete and trade secret claims. Notable strength in representing clients in administrative proceedings before the NLRB and Michigan Employment Relations Commission. Has recently been highly active advising on traditional labor matters, including union issues and wage and hour cases.
Strengths
Dykema's attorneys are judged to be "good analytically and extremely strong writers and advocates who are able to make cogent, advanced legal arguments on what can potentially be confusing issues."
Clients praise the team's "collaborative approach" and add: "It understands our needs."
Notable practitioners
Jim Hermon is well versed in defending corporate employers against allegations of harassment and discrimination, as well as representing them in cases arising from breaches of noncompete agreements. He has further experience assisting clients with initiating proceedings against former employees following instances of corruption and breaches of fiduciary duties.
Robert Boonin represents a range of educational institutions and municipal bodies. His recent work also includes representing a client in a dispute with a major city over the city's differing treatment of union and non-union employees in regard to contract proposals for construction of a new water facility.
Litigation
What the team is known for
Thriving commercial litigation team acting for both sides in a range of high-stakes civil disputes. Possesses an excellent track record representing clients in arbitrations and mediations, as well as state and federal court cases across the USA. Handles a wide range of antitrust, product liability and real estate-related issues. Well known for its work advising major pharmaceutical and medical device businesses, as well as automotive companies. Also represents clients in the healthcare industry in product liability matters.
Handles a diverse array of contentious proceedings, including high-value contract disputes, dealer and franchise issues and government investigations. Maintains a strong client roster of both international and regional companies, as well as individuals and boards of directors. Active in sectors ranging from banking and consumer finance to the healthcare, energy and technology industries.
Strengths
A client highlights the "great court skills" within the team, describing it as "a wonderful partner to work with in litigation."
Another source praises the team's responsiveness, going on to add: "It is up to date with the ever-changing landscape of US case law. Its breadth of experience is extensive and quite invaluable."
Notable practitioners
Senior counsel Dennis Haffey continues to provide the litigation team with the benefit of his more than four decades' experience. He is experienced in handling matters in the automotive and insurance sectors. He is based in Bloomfield Hills.
James Feeney is acknowledged by peers as "a well known and outstanding product liability lawyer." His expertise covers the full gamut of pharmaceutical and medical device claims, in addition to toxic tort cases. His wider litigation practice encompasses financial services and antitrust litigation.
James Truss is well regarded in the market for his experience in litigation relating to the energy sector. His client base includes pipeline operators, mineral producers and oilfield service companies, among others.
Product Liability
What the team is known for
Well-regarded automotive product liability firm with particular strength in Detroit. Excels across both mass torts and consumer class actions. Frequently represents major automobile clients in MDLs and large-scale economic loss cases. Further strengths in personal injury lawsuits and product defect litigation. Expertise includes acting as local, regional and national counsel.
Strengths
One client states: "The team is great. They're responsive, they have deep subject matter knowledge and great judgment. It's high-quality advice and work product."
Another client comments: "They are a good collaborator with discovery and witness preparation. They have a lot of background for managing that process."
Notable practitioners
Derek Whitefield is widely experienced in automobile product liability, having represented leading companies in consumer class actions, personal injury lawsuits and federal MDLs. Clients depict him as "a wonderful trial lawyer and a very effective communicator with juries - he is really good at personal connections."
Real Estate
What the team is known for
Full-service real estate practice, representing a range of clients such as developers, investors and owners. Draws on its impressive construction knowledge to advise on transactional real estate matters, covering property acquisition, leasing, restructurings and financings.
Undertakes the full spectrum of real estate work including commercial loan origination, foreclosures and infrastructure development. Acts for a host of transactional stakeholders, from real estate owners and investors to architects. Experienced in working with clients from the retail and utilities sectors. Known for its bench of highly experienced practitioners, and regularly acts with members of other groups within the firm to provide an integrated service.
Strengths
One client comments: "Its strengths are understanding the issues, turnaround time and communication ability."
Another interviewee says: "The communication was great. The team was always responsive and proactive."
Notable practitioners
Andrew Scott has built a noteworthy practice representing developers in land use and zoning matters.He also assists corporate clients with negotiating government entitlements and tax incentives for the development of corporate headquarters and manufacturing facilities. Sources say: "He's a very knowledgeable and high-quality lawyer."
Michael Kurtzon advises banks on real estate financing, including recent work on loan structuring and collateralization. Sources comment that he is an "excellent lawyer."
Adam Fishkind is a well-regarded figure within the department. He has a variety of experience spanning the acquisition, leasing and financing of retail, residential, industrial and hotel properties. He is partner in charge of the firm's Bloomfield Hills office.
Cameron Piggott has several decades' experience in property law and has handled an extensive range of matters in the course of his career. He is well versed in issues of eminent domain as well as the development of master planned communities.
Kyle Hauberg leads the real estate and environmental department, advising on all aspects of commercial property matters. Clients enthuse that he "brings business acumen" to the transactions he works on, and that he "understands the broader picture."
Original source can be found here.