Attorney Intel is pleased to announce The Top 25 Attorneys of Michigan for 2024. The birthplace of many of the first automobiles and the state where Motown Records was founded, Michigan has been a place of innovation and industry from early on. Michigan’s business climate is described as stronger than ever, and the state is recognized as a Top 10 Pro-Business State and a Top 10 state for major new and expanded corporate facilities. With corporate growth, the need for quality corporate representation has driven the legal industry in Michigan as well. Top-tier law firms have also set down roots in the Wolverine State and have attracted some high-level legal talent.
Among this year’s awardees is Cyrus Vance, who was previously a prolific district attorney in Manhattan and handled landmark criminal prosecutions that are still talked about today. Also recognized this year is Shane Spradlin, Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Penske Automotive Group, a diversified international transportation services company. Rory Wellever is another awardee, and in the perfect state, as he focuses his practice on transactions involving music assets, including the purchase and sale of artist catalogs, as well as other matters involving publishing, sound recordings, and royalty administration.
The competition among our finalists in Michigan this year was stacked. The incredible legal minds and talent that have chosen to build their practices in this state made narrowing the list very challenging. Please join us in recognizing the accomplishments of The Top 25 Attorneys of Michigan for 2024.
1. Cyrus Vance
Partner, Baker McKenzie
Cyrus Vance Jr. is a Partner at Baker McKenzie and is an international trial attorney with a proven track record in high-stakes litigation and global investigations. As the Co-Chair of Baker McKenzie's North America Litigation and Government Enforcement Practice, Vance is well-known for his expertise in white-collar criminal investigations, complex civil and criminal litigation, sanctions enforcement, compliance, and cybersecurity. With over three decades of experience in both the public and private sectors, Vance provides invaluable guidance to clients navigating cross-border investigations, enforcement matters, and cybersecurity incidents.
Before joining Baker McKenzie, Vance served three consecutive four-year terms as Manhattan District Attorney, overseeing a team of over 600 prosecutors. He handled landmark criminal prosecutions, including the successful litigation before the U.S. Supreme Court in Trump v. Vance and the conviction of Harvey Weinstein on two felony sex crimes. He also managed more than 100,000 cases annually, including complex white-collar and business crimes both domestically and internationally.
Vance is an American College of Trial Lawyers Fellow and a sought-after speaker and author. He has testified numerous times before the US Senate and House Intelligence and Judiciary Committees, among others, as well as state and city agencies, on issues ranging from global terrorism, white-collar crime, cybercrime, sex trafficking, corporate transparency, and gun violence. Vance earned an undergraduate degree in history from Yale University and his JD from Georgetown University Law Center.
2. Laura Lewis
Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel, StockX
As General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer for Detroit-based technology company StockX, Laura Lewis oversees legal, compliance, and people experience matters for StockX’s global operations. Lewis has served in the General Counsel role since 2019 and also serves as the company's corporate secretary. StockX is proud to be a Detroit-based technology leader focused on the large and growing online market for sneakers, apparel and accessories, electronics, collectibles, and trading cards. StockX’s powerful platform connects buyers and sellers of high-demand consumer goods from around the world using dynamic pricing mechanics. This approach affords access and market visibility powered by real-time data that empowers buyers and sellers to determine and transact based on market value.
Before joining StockX, she was a corporate attorney at Rock Ventures in Detroit and worked in private practice in the New York offices of Wilson Sonsini and Gibson Dunn. Lewis holds a JD from New York University School of Law and a BA degree in Politics and Comparative Literature from New York University. She is an adjunct professor at Wayne State University Law School.
3. Ethan Gilan
General Counsel, Pioneer Automotive
Ethan Gilan is General Counsel for Pioneer Automotive Technologies, Inc. (“Pioneer”). Twenty years ago, Gilan was hired as the first in-house counsel for the automotive subsidiary of global electronics and entertainment company, Pioneer Corporation, based in Tokyo, Japan. Since joining Pioneer, Gilan has added a variety of areas to the legal function for which he is responsible; these areas include human resources, safety, environmental, and compliance.
Gilan received his JD from Vanderbilt Law School in Nashville, Tennessee, and his undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Gilan also completed studies at the Tulane Institute for European Legal Studies in Paris, France.
4. Natasha Fernandez-Silber
Partner, Edelson
Natasha Fernandez-Silber is a Partner at Edelson PC, and she is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Her work focuses on antitrust class actions and other forms of complex litigation, with a focus on healthcare and pharmaceutical matters. Edelson PC is a law firm concentrating on high-stakes plaintiff’s work ranging from class and mass actions to public client investigations and prosecutions.
Before joining Edelson PC, Natasha was a partner at a boutique antitrust class action firm where she specialized in generic drug suppression cases involving “pay-for-delay” deals and other anti-competitive schemes. She has also represented purchasers of e-cigarettes, textbooks, pesticides, and other consumer products. Previously, Natasha clerked for the Honorable Ann Claire Williams on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. She was also an associate at the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz where she focused on restructuring and finance matters.
5. Shane Spradlin
Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Penske Automotive Group
Spradlin has served as the Executive Vice President for Penske Automotive Group since February 2010, as the General Counsel since December 2007, and as the Corporate Secretary since March 2004. Spradlin joined the company in March 2003. Penske Automotive Group, Inc. (“PAG”), headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, is a diversified international transportation services company and one of the world's premier automotive and commercial truck retailers. PAG operates dealerships in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, and Japan and is one of the largest retailers of commercial trucks in North America for Freightliner.
From 1999 to 2003, Spradlin served as Corporate Counsel to Nextel Communications in Reston, Virginia. From 1995 through 1999, Mr. Spradlin was an associate with the New York and Washington, D.C. offices of Latham & Watkins, specializing in corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions. He is pleased to lead Penske Automotive’s legal department, focused on providing proactive and strategic legal counseling, along with agile and accelerated transaction execution, fitting in with the Penske culture.
6. Elizabeth Rogers
Partner, Taft Stettinius & Hollister
Liz Rogers is a Partner at Taft Stettinius & Hollister, LLP, where she advises international, national, and closely held entities regarding all aspects of complex real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, construction, capitalization, and corporate governance. Rogers serves as entitlements counsel for multi-billion-dollar developments and has handled state and federal disputes concerning real property matters. In addition to practicing law in the private sector, Rogers has advised municipalities and other governmental and quasi-governmental entities regarding legal strategy and risk mitigation.
She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Michigan Law School and is admitted to practice in Michigan and New York.
7. Andy Smith
Vice President and General Counsel, EJ
Andy Smith is the Vice President and General Counsel of EJ, a global leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of access solutions for the world’s growing infrastructure. From water and sewer to drainage, telecommunication, and utility projects, EJ has the solution to fit most project’s needs.
Before joining EJ, Smith was a vice president & general counsel, in North & South America at Valeo and before that an associate at Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP. Earlier in his career, he worked with GMAC as an analyst at the Latin American treasury center. His impressive career has spanned over 23 years so far. Smith graduated from Columbia Law School with a JD in law, from EU Business School with an MBA in international management, and from the University of Michigan with an undergraduate degree in history.
Andy Smith's Insight
“I have been honored to work with great teams of clients, executives, and board members for whom collegiality, transparency and ethical business conduct have always been paramount. Much of my practice has really been about translating – translating legal concepts and risk potential to businesspeople; translating my company’s business needs to our external partners so that they can give us the best practical, real-world counsel; and translating cultural and language differences to bridge understanding gaps on international negotiations. This has made my practice of law very interesting and I have been blessed by the relationships I have been able to form because of it.”
8. Alan May
Attorney, Kemp Klein Law Firm
Alan May is an attorney for Kemp Klein Law Firm, who is sought after for his experience in guardianships and conservatorships. Kemp Klein is a full-service law firm dedicated to providing a comprehensive range of legal services, for both individuals and businesses, with the highest professional standards of excellence, integrity, and efficiency. May has written and lectured extensively and has taught classes at Wayne State University and Oakland University on many of these topics.
May was acting public administrator in Wayne County from 1979 to 1980 and has been a Wayne County public administrator since 1980. He has been a mediator in Oakland County Circuit Court since 1981, a court-appointed referee in Wayne and Oakland County Probate Courts since 1969, and a Special Assistant Attorney General in Michigan since 1971. In addition, he was a commissioner of the Michigan Civil Services Commission from 1985 to 1990 and chairperson of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission in 1984.
May has been a member and president of the board of directors and executive board of the Detroit Regional National Conference for Community and Justice since 1979 and is a life member of the N.A.A.C.P. May graduated from the University of Michigan Law School with a JD and from the University of Michigan with an undergraduate degree.
Alan May's Insight
“In my 57 years of the practice of the law of trusts and estates I have been fortunate to guide families thru the difficult times of death and sucession.”
9. Katherine Markel
Partner, Holland & Knight
Katherine Markel is a Partner at Holland & Knight's Tysons office. Holland & Knight is a global law firm that provides representation in litigation, business, real estate, and governmental law. Markel focuses her practice on mergers and acquisitions and represents acquirers and targets from a wide range of industries, including software services, information technology, government contracts, and professional trades. In addition to her M&A practice, she counsels clients on commercial transactions and general corporate and securities matters, including private placements and venture capital investments.
Markel brings a broad perspective to the firm and its representation of corporate clients. She previously served as an associate general counsel at the University of Michigan, one of the world's leading research universities, where she negotiated information technology and procurement contracts and managed governance and conflict of interest matters, among other practice areas. In addition, she has served as an associate general counsel for a rapidly growing venture-backed technology company in Seattle, Washington. Through this experience, Markel gained a first-hand understanding of the concerns faced by growing companies, which has allowed her to offer practical advice to the firm's clients. She also practiced in the corporate group at a law firm in Seattle, where she focused on representing clients in highly regulated industries. Markel earned a JD from the University of Michigan Law School and an undergraduate degree in politics and philosophy from Whitman College.
Katherine Markel's Insight
“I work hand-in-hand with founders of growing businesses and private equity funds in mergers and acquisitions. I and the rest of the team at Holland & Knight partner with our clients to take a practical, business-oriented approach to strategic decisions to get the deal done while achieving our clients’ business and personal goals.”
10. Rory Wellever
Partner, Kirkland & Ellis
Rory Wellever is a Partner in the Technology & IP Transactions Practice Group of Kirkland & Ellis. As one of the world’s leading law firms, Kirkland & Ellis serves a broad range of clients with market-leading practices in private equity, M&A, and other complex corporate transactions; investment fund formation and alternative asset management; restructurings; high-stakes commercial and intellectual property litigation; and government, regulatory and internal investigations.
With a background in the entertainment industry, Rory focuses his practice on transactions involving music assets, including the purchase and sale of artist catalogs, as well as other matters involving publishing, sound recordings, and royalty administration. He also counsels clients in the areas of television, film, literature, and on issues involving other new and emerging media, social media, advertising, data security, and privacy. Wellever holds a J.D. from Michigan Law and an undergraduate degree in social relations from Michigan State University.
11. Lynn Gandhi
Partner, Foley & Lardner
Lynn Gandhi is a Partner and business lawyer at Foley & Lardner LLP. Lynn is based in the firm’s Detroit office where she is a member of the Tax, Benefits & Estate Planning Practice. Practicing for more than three decades, including 14 years as corporate in-house counsel, Gandhi has acquired extensive knowledge of the challenges facing businesses in their tax reporting obligations, risk management, and planning. Gandhi advises her clients on sophisticated and multistate tax planning opportunities, manages complex audits, and provides transactional support on the multistate tax implications of merger and acquisition transactions, including the defense of post-closing indemnity and escrow claims related to pre-closing liabilities and the use of voluntary disclosure programs to mitigate such claims.
She is also a successful litigation attorney in tax matters at the administrative, trial, and appellate levels and has handled matters across the U.S. Gandhi is also a registered lobbyist and represents clients in legislative and policy initiatives across multiple industry platforms. Her clients include foreign-based companies with U.S. operations, national Fortune 500 companies, as well as several trade associations. She is sought out for her practical approach to resolving controversial matters outside of the courtroom, and when settlement is not possible, her strategic approach in litigation.
Gandhi is well-known for her enthusiasm and engagement with tax policy initiatives affecting taxpayers. She has led legislative and administrative changes large and small to benefit business entities and their owners. Gandhi is particularly well-versed in Michigan taxes, including unemployment taxes, gaming excise taxes, captive insurance company taxes, officer liability exposure, offers-in-compromise, and unclaimed property laws. Gandhi graduated from New York University School of Law with an LL.M. in taxation, from Wayne State University Law School with a J.D. in law, and from Kalamazoo College with an undergraduate degree in economics and history.
Lynn Gandhi's Insight
“Personally and professionally practicing law is a commitment to excellence, professional volunteerism and dedication to a fair and efficient tax system. My career path has allowed me to approach my work understanding both the private and public facets of a complex tax practice with a goal of mutual assistance to my clients and others in the profession, while being cognizant of serving the population at large. I love my area of practice and there is more than one way to reach your personal pinnacle.”
12. Michael Qaqish
Chief Compliance Officer and Deputy General Counsel, IAC Group
Michael Qaqish began his professional career 19 years ago. Today, he is the Chief Compliance Officer and Deputy General Counsel of IAC Group. International Automotive Components (IAC) is a leading global supplier that creates environments that move people with elegant design, bold ideas, and precise execution. Headquartered in Luxembourg, IAC Group operates 50 manufacturing facilities in 15 countries.
Qaqish started his career in 2005 as a law clerk at Thomas M. Keranen & Associates, P.C. He also spent some years as corporate counsel at SYNCREON, his most recent position before joining IAC Group. Qaqish graduated from The George Washington University Law School with an LL.M. in international and comparative law, Wayne State University Law School with a JD in law, and from Michigan State University with an undergraduate degree in finance.
13. Victor Balta
Partner, Vandeveer Garzia
Victor Balta is a Partner at Vandeveer Garzia. The firm’s clients include individuals, major public corporations, new and emerging firms, insurance companies, municipal corporations, governmental agencies, and private or closely held corporations. According to the firm’s website, Balta handles complex civil litigation matters, including negligence, business commercial law and litigation, professional and healthcare liability, and auto and PIP litigation/premises liability. He has successfully briefed and argued cases involving recreational waivers; the Michigan Governmental Tort Liability Act; the Michigan Ski Area Safety Act; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1963; the Elliot Larsen Civil Rights Act; and 42 U.S.C. 1983.
Previously, Balta was an appellate attorney at McKeen & Associates, PC, and before that, a senior appellate attorney at Moss & Colella, P.C. Balta earned a JD from Michigan State University College of Law and an undergraduate degree in finance from Georgia State University.
Victor Balta's Insight
“As an attorney, I seek to unwind complex areas of the law for clients and deliver solutions driven by detailed research. I enjoy obtaining results on a personalized level during litigation, as well as shaping state legal doctrines at the appellate level. It is my sincere belief that attorneys who are dedicated to the craft can make meaningful changes on an individual and state-wide basis for their clients.”
14. Jesse Roth
Attorney, Maddin Hauser Wartell Roth & Heller
Jesse Roth is an attorney at Maddin Hauser Wartell Roth & Heller, and he brings a unique and diverse range of legal, business, and government experiences to his zealous representation of individuals and businesses across several legal disciplines. At Maddin Hauser, clients anticipate a high level of performance, a standard upheld by both attorneys and support staff. Each individual contributes ample energy, skill, and enthusiasm to their tasks, fostering an environment of excellence.
A member of their defense and insurance coverage and appellate practice groups, Roth represents clients in professional liability, insurance, labor and employment, class actions, attorney grievance proceedings, consumer litigation, and complex tort matters. Roth has advanced and defended his clients’ interests at the trial, appellate, and administrative levels in multiple jurisdictions, including recent wins in the Michigan Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. A graduate of Emory University, Roth earned his law degree, cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School. Roth has worked in the publishing industry and for a professional baseball team, in addition to internships with the federal judiciary and on Capitol Hill. Actively involved in his community, Roth and his wife founded and currently operate a non-profit organization that provides baby necessities to families in need.
15. Tim Lundgren
Partner, Potomac Law Group
Tim Lundgren began his professional career 28 years ago. Today, he is a Partner for Potomac Law Group. Potomac Law is a full-service, national law firm that advises clients on complex legal matters at a fraction of typical industry rates. They use a modern business model that eliminates much of the costly overhead and over-staffing generally associated with large, traditional law firms.
Tim Lundgren’s practice focuses on energy and environmental law, where he represents developers and lenders as Michigan counsel on the development of energy generation projects and also represents clients before the Michigan Public Service Commission, including energy suppliers and marketers, independent power producers, manufacturers, agricultural processors, public entities and institutions, and trade associations representing competitive power supply
and business interests.
Lundgren started his career in 1996 as a technical editor at Battelle. From there, he went on to Varnum LLP. Lundgren graduated from the University of Michigan Law School with a JD, from The Ohio State University with a Ph.D. in English literature and folklore, from the University of Colorado Boulder with an M.A. in English literature, and from Hope College with an undergraduate degree in psychology and English.
16. Kevin Kelly
Partner, Locke Lord
Kevin Kelly is a Partner at Locke Lord. Locke Lord is a premier full-service Am Law 100 law firm that has earned a solid reputation for complex litigation, regulatory, and transactional work on behalf of clients in important and growing industry sectors around the world. Kelly is an experienced litigator who has defended clients in actions covering labor and employment law, including discrimination, retaliation, and harassment claims under state and federal law.
Previously, Kelly was a lieutenant at the United States Navy and before that a lieutenant at USS Ticonderoga. Earlier in his career, he worked with CG-47 as a lieutenant. Kelly earned a JD from the University of Chicago Law School and an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Chicago.
17. Anna Inch
Vice President and General Counsel, Carhartt
Anna Inch is the Vice President and General Counsel of Carhartt. Carhartt was founded by Hamilton Carhartt in 1889 and has been proudly owned and operated by the same bloodline ever since. The team at Carhartt honors the shared values of hard work: dependability, honesty, and trust, and they are committed to supporting organizations that ensure this generation partners with the next to build an even better future.
Before joining Carhartt, Inch was the VP of legal at Entertainment Publications, LLC, and a senior contract negotiator and manager at Electronic Data Systems. Inch graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law with a JD and from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with an undergraduate degree in advertising.
18. Tammy Helminski
Partner, Barnes & Thornburg
Tammy Helminski is a Partner at Barnes & Thornburg, a national, full-service law firm representing clients ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to entrepreneurial growth companies. She is experienced with environmental compliance and permitting, including evaluating stormwater, wastewater, hazardous waste, TSCA and FIFRA issues, and environmental management systems such as ISO 14001. She is active in evaluating and drafting comments on proposed regulations and is skilled in addressing administrative regulatory challenges. Helminski helps clients address the unique challenges of emerging contaminants, such as PFAS, including helping lead the national PFAS Regulatory Coalition. She has also worked with clients on Department of Energy product energy efficiency compliance and enforcement and similar state programs.
Helminski, who is co-chair of the firm’s PFAS and emerging contaminants team, manages complex remediation sites involving numerous parties under both state and federal oversight. As a litigator, she has represented clients in cases involving CERCLA, NEPA, RCRA, and NREPA, as well as product liability, mold, and asbestos matters. In addition, Helminski’s abilities include emergency response advice.
An engineer, Helminski has spent her entire professional career working on environmental matters. Before her legal career, Helminski served as a pollution prevention coordinator at the NASA Ames Research Center and was an environmental engineer at Ford Motor Company. Helminski’s first-hand experience results in a detailed understanding of the complex issues that encompass client environmental legal concerns. Helminski graduated from the University of Michigan Law School with a JD, from Michigan Technological University with an M.S. in environmental policy, and with an undergraduate degree in environmental engineering.
19. Omar Sawaf
General Counsel, Toyoda Gosei Americas
Omar Sawaf is the General Counsel of Toyoda Gosei Americas. He first joined the company in 2022. Toyoda Gosei is a leading global manufacturer of rubber and plastic automotive components, safety systems, and LEDs. With a network of 64 group companies in 17 countries and regions, the Group brings its extensive range of products to customers all over the world. In the Americas, they have more than 30 years of proven excellence in automotive manufacturing. Their 25 locations throughout Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Brazil aim to deliver the highest levels of quality, innovation, and satisfaction to the industry.
Previously, Sawaf was an attorney at law at Berry Moorman P.C. and before that a member of Sawaf Law Firm. Earlier in his career, he worked with Howrey LLP as an associate. Sawaf earned a JD in law from The George Washington University Law School and a master's degree in tax law from the University of Denver - Sturm College of Law.
20. Allyn Sinicropi
Senior Attorney, Ellis Porter
Allyn Sinicropi is a senior attorney at Ellis Porter. Ellis Porter is a law firm focused on managing the immigration experience for employers and individuals. They help companies navigate their immigration experience by providing clear guidance, peace of mind, and a personal touch.
Allyn is a senior attorney and director of the firm’s Green Card Services practice team, which manages PERM-based EB-2/EB-3 I-140 Immigrant Petitions, Adjustment of Status (AOS) Applications, and Immigrant Visa Applications for employment-based clients of Ellis Porter’s Automotive/Engineering, Healthcare, Technology and High-Skilled Immigration practice teams.
Before joining Ellis Porter, Sinicropi was an associate attorney at Hudson Legal and before that, a staff attorney at Katz Law Office, Ltd. Sinicropi graduated from The George Washington University Law School with a J.D. in law.
21. Anthony Cho
Partner, Carlson Gaskey & Olds
Anthony Cho began his professional career 33 years ago. Today, he is a Partner at Carlson Gaskey & Olds. Carlson Gaskey & Olds’ commitment to achieving client goals with the same care and tenacity that they give to their own is the driving force behind everything they do. They build long-term relationships through trust, superior work product, and clear communication because they want you to be a client today and for many tomorrows.
Cho has successfully argued cases before federal circuit courts and the Supreme Court. He’s also led a trial team in obtaining an almost 18 million dollar judgment for the firm’s client along with a no cause of action judgment for the opposing side.
Cho began his career in 1991 as an associate at Young & Susser, P.C. From there, he went on to Howard & Howard. Cho graduated from the University of Michigan Law School with a JD and from Dartmouth College with an undergraduate degree in physics.
22. Gretchen Townshend
Partner, McGuireWoods
Gretchen Townshend is a Partner in the healthcare department of McGuireWoods LLP. McGuireWoods is a full-service firm providing legal and public affairs solutions to corporate, individual, and nonprofit clients worldwide for more than 200 years collectively. Their commitment to excellence in everything they do gives their clients a competitive edge.
Townshend’s practice focuses on corporate healthcare transactional work and regulatory matters. Her experience includes representation of various types of healthcare providers including hospitals, health systems, dialysis facilities, multi and single-specialty medical practices, specialty hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and a variety of healthcare industry entrepreneurs, in regulatory matters, sales and acquisitions, joint ventures, general corporate matters and contracting. Townshend earned a JD from the University of Notre Dame and an undergraduate degree in politics and government from Ohio Wesleyan University.
23. Marcia Hatch
Partner, Gunderson Dettmer
Marcia Hatch is a Partner at Gunderson Dettmer. Gunderson Dettmer is the preeminent international law firm with an exclusive focus on the innovation economy. They serve market-leading venture capital and growth equity investors and pioneering private companies through inception, growth, and maturity, as well as groundbreaking public companies that result from the global venture capital ecosystem. After spending 15 years practicing in Silicon Valley, Hatch led the firm’s effort to establish a presence in the middle of the country as the founding partner of the firm’s Ann Arbor office. Hatch continues to have an active corporate and securities practice on the coast as well as in supporting their clients in the Midwest.
Hatch serves as a key member of the firm’s Management Committee while leading the Ann Arbor office and participating as a member of the firm’s Investment Committee. She combines a dynamic emerging company practice with a top-tier venture capital investment representation practice, giving her insights, experience, and connections relevant to entrepreneurs, companies, and investors. Whether it is entrepreneurs needing support for strategic decisions and coaching before incorporation, early-stage companies looking to raise capital and scale their business, or mature companies preparing for public offerings and sale transactions, Hatch's work with companies spans the entire corporate life cycle. She also routinely represents venture capital firms in their investment activities, related business matters, and counseling.
Hatch believes in investing time and energy with entrepreneurs and investors from the incorporation stage onward. She truly enjoys working with companies at the very beginning of their life cycle, thinking through strategic decisions with the founders and investors to keep the company on the path to success. Hatch received her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and her B.A. in history from the University of California, Berkeley, where she played on the women’s basketball team. Before joining Gunderson Dettmer, Hatch was a partner at Heller Ehrman and a senior attorney at Venture Law Group. Early in her career as an attorney, Hatch practiced in New York with Sullivan & Cromwell.
24. Jonathan Nikkila
Attorney, Dickinson Wright
Jonathan Nikkila began his professional career 13 years ago. Today, he is an attorney at Dickinson Wright, a growing, full-service firm of experienced, creative, diverse, and dedicated legal professionals. Their attorneys are respected by their peers, honored by industry endorsements, and recognized through significant appointments to bar associations and the judiciary system.
Jonathan Nikkila, a litigator located in Dickinson Wright’s Ann Arbor office, focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation including patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret law. He has represented clients before both federal district courts throughout the country and in investigations before the International Trade Commission and has extensive experience handling all aspects of pretrial discovery, motion practice, and trial preparation.
Nikkila started his career in 2011 as an associate at Brooks Kushman P.C. Nikkila graduated from the University of Michigan Law School with a JD and from the University of Michigan with an undergraduate degree in chemistry.
25. Armin Halilovic
Attorney, Dinsmore & Shohl
Armin Halilovic is an attorney at Dinsmore & Shohl. He first joined the company in 2021. Dinsmore & Shohl LLP has a nationwide team of more than 750 attorneys who are trusted advisers to some of the world's leading businesses, including many in the Fortune 500.
Halilovic focuses his practice on litigation and has represented clients in all stages of the litigation process in state, federal, and appellate courts. He has defended diverse clients including insurance companies, construction companies, transportation companies, trucking companies, manufacturers, and retailers. His areas of practice include litigating insurance coverage disputes, commercial disputes, product liability actions, construction accidents/defects, premises liability claims, and trucking/auto claims. Previously, Halilovic was a partner at Vandeveer Garzia, PC. Halilovic earned a JD in law from the University of Iowa College of Law.
