Clark Hill Elects Seven Attorneys to Membership

Detroit, MI

–Clark Hill PLC is pleased to announce seven attorneys have been elected to membership in the firm, effective January 1, 2014. The attorneys admitted to membership include:

Stephon Bagne

in the Litigation Practice Group

Maria Dwyer

in the Labor and Employment Practice Group

Joshua Farber

in the Real Estate Practice Group

Cynthia Filipovich

in the Litigation Practice Group

Jennifer Green

in the Litigation Practice Group

Charley Lawler

in the Litigation Practice Group

Stu Schwartz

in the Construction Practice Group.

Stephon B. Bagne

is part of Clark Hill’s Litigation and Real Estate Practice Groups. He has handled a wide variety of commercial and real estate litigation matters. He focuses primarily upon eminent domain, real estate and commercial litigation. He recently negotiated a Planned Urban Development agreement that was executed within forty days of the City’s initial Planning Commission meeting and obtained a published appellate decision upholding his substantial jury verdict in an eminent domain matter. Bagne obtained his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Michigan.

Maria Fracassa Dwyer

is a Member in the firm’s Labor and Employment Group in its Detroit office. Dwyer is a trusted advisor and counselor to senior management across a wide range of industries including public and private employers. She represents clients across the entire spectrum of employment and labor law. Her clients include the staffing, education, nonprofit and food industries. In 2013, Dwyer was named by DBusiness as one of the Top Lawyers in the food and beverage industry and as a Michigan Super Lawyer in Labor and Employment.

Joshua Farber

is a Member in the firm’s Pittsburgh office. His practice focuses primarily in the areas of real estate and corporate law. Farber assists clients in the acquisition, sale, leasing and development of real estate, including office and retail buildings, shopping centers, manufacturing facilities, apartment complexes, mixed-use developments and planned community projects. Farber represents real estate companies in tax assessment appeals, realty transfer tax planning and land use and zoning matters. He also works extensively with private real estate funds in their organization, capital raises and ongoing operations. Farber has significant experience in corporate law including mergers and acquisitions, formation and structuring of business entities, private equity and venture capital transactions, securities offerings and general business transactions. Farber is a graduate of Swarthmore College (B.A. 2002) and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law (J.D. 2005).

Cynthia M. Filipovich

is chair of Appellate Practice at Clark Hill. She specializes in appellate practice with an emphasis on federal courts of appeals nationwide. Her practice also includes trial litigation, including complex commercial litigation and products liability disputes. Her numerous appellate successes include cases in the Federal Courts of Appeal for the Sixth, Seventh, and Ninth Circuits, as well as the Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. Filipovich was selected by her peers as one of the 2013 DBusiness magazine Top Lawyers. She was also named one of Michigan’s Super Lawyers in appellate practice for 2013.

Jennifer K. Green

is a member with the Litigation Practice Group in Clark Hill’s Detroit office. She focuses her practice primarily in the area of commercial litigation, including contract disputes, business torts, employment-related disputes, lender liability, and a broad array of banking and financial institution disputes. Jennifer has considerable litigation experience in both state and federal courts, including discovery, dispositive motions, trials and appellate work.

Charles A. Lawler,

(Charley) is a member based in Clark Hill’s Lansing, Michigan office. Prior to joining Clark Hill, he was involved in private business as both an owner and manager where he gained personal experience in identifying and resolving legal issues facing business owners. Lawler’s prior business ownership provides his client’s the opportunity to engage an attorney who has real first hand business experience he can bring to their issues. Along with being an attorney and advisor, he is a business problem solver. Lawler is fully experienced in civil and commercial litigation proceedings including bankruptcy, real estate, creditor’s rights, property tax and construction matters.

Stuart M. Schwartz

is a member in the Construction Practice Group and is adjunct to the Litigation Practice Group. He concentrates his practice in construction law and commercial litigation, including contract disputes, employment issues, business torts, collection matters, post-judgment proceedings, lien and bond claims, landlord/tenant actions and other real property matters. Schwartz was selected for appointment to the State Bar of Michigan’s Character and Fitness Committee and has been recognized multiple times by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine as a Rising Star in the practice area of commercial litigation