Fifty-Nine Clark Hill Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the 2015 Edition of Best Lawyers in America

DETROIT, MICH. – Fifty-Nine Clark Hill attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2015 edition of Best Lawyers in America, with seven attorneys recognized with the “Lawyer of the Year” distinction. Best Lawyers® began designating “Lawyer of the Year” in the U.S. in high-profile legal practice areas in conjunction with the 15th edition (2009). 

Daniel J. Bretz has been named the 2015 Detroit Labor Law – Management "Lawyer of the Year." 

D. Kerry Crenshaw has been named the 2015 Detroit International Trade and Finance Law "Lawyer of the Year." 

Scott E. Henderson has been named the 2015 Pittsburgh Media Law "Lawyer of the Year." 

John J. Hern, Jr. has been named the 2015 Detroit Mergers and Acquisitions Law "Lawyer of the Year." 

Andrew C. Richner has been named the 2015 Detroit Government Relations Practice "Lawyer of the Year." 

Daniel J. Scully, Jr. has been named the 2015 Detroit Product Liability Litigation – Defendants "Lawyer of the Year." 

James L. Wernstrom has been named the 2015 Grand Rapids Litigation – Municipal "Lawyer of the Year." 

Best Lawyers is the oldest peer-review publication in the legal profession. A listing in Best Lawyers is widely regarded by both clients and legal professionals as a significant honor, conferred on a lawyer by his or her peers. For more than three decades, Best Lawyers® lists have earned the respect of the profession, the media, and the public, as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals anywhere. The following attorneys have been selected for inclusion: 

Birmingham, Mich. 

• Joel Applebaum, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Nancy L. Farnam, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
• John Gierak, Education Law; Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management
• Robert D. Gordon, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Litigation – Bankruptcy
• Edward C. Hammond, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
• Douglas R. Kelly, Commercial Litigation
• J. Thomas MacFarlane, Litigation – Trusts and Estates; Trusts and Estates
• Paul S. Magy, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Real Estate Law
• Daniel H. Minkus, Corporate Law
• Robert L. Schwartz, Public Finance Law
• Robert A. Strong, Administrative/Regulatory Law; Energy Law
• Thomas F. Sweeney, Litigation – Trusts and Estates; Trusts and Estates

Detroit, Mich. 

• Fred W. Batten, Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management
• Thomas P. Brady, Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management; Litigation – Labor and Employment
• James E. Brenner, Appellate Practice
• Daniel J. Bretz, Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management
• Connie M. Cessante, Employment Law – Management; Litigation – Labor and Employment
• David M. Cessante, Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management; Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Paul W. Coughenour, Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Martin E. Crandall, Litigation – Labor and Employment
• D. Kerry Crenshaw, International Trade and Finance Law
• Thomas M. Dixon, Litigation – Trusts and Estates; Trusts and Estates
• Thomas M.J. Hathaway, Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management
• David M. Hayes, Construction Law; Litigation – Construction
• Kevin S. Hendrick, Arbitration; Construction Law; Litigation – Construction, Mediation
• John J. Hern, Jr., Banking and Finance Law; Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Timothy M. Koltun, Real Estate Law
• Peter B. Kupelian, Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Labor and Employment
• William A. Moore, Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management
• Michael P. Nowlan, Immigration Law
• Andrew C. Richner, Government Relations Practice
• Daniel J. Scully, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Jeffrey A. Steele, Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management; Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Duane L. Tarnacki, Corporate Law; Nonprofit/Charities Law
• Reginald M. Turner, Jr., Commercial Litigation; Employment Law – Management; Government Relations Practice; Labor Law – Management; Litigation – ERISA; Litigation – Labor and Employment; Litigation – Municipal
• Timothy D. Wittlinger, Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Construction

Grand Rapids, Mich. 

• Joseph A. Bonventre, Trusts and Estates
• William B. Dunn, Real Estate Law
• Ingrid A. Jensen, Real Estate Law
• Douglas J. Rasmussen, Litigation – Trusts and Estates; Trusts and Estates
• Barbara A. Ruga, Education Law
• Stephen J. Tjapkes, Litigation – Trusts and Estates; Trusts and Estates
• Stephen D. Turner, Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Environmental; Litigation – Intellectual Property; Litigation – Labor and Employment
• James L. Wernstrom, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Municipal

Lansing, Mich. 

• Roderick S. Coy, Administrative/Regulatory Law; Communications Law; Energy Law

Chicago, Ill.

• Mark J. Steger, Environmental Law

Pittsburgh, Penn. 

• Jeffrey A. Conn, Banking and Finance Law; Securitization and Structured Finance Law
• Scott E. Henderson, First Amendment Law; Litigation – First Amendment; Media Law
• Sara A. Mercer, Trusts and Estates
• Kurt A. Miller, Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management
• Mark F. Nowak, Commercial Litigation
• John C. Rodney, Tax Law
• Kimberly Luff Wakim, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Keith H. West, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates

Phoenix, Ariz. 

• P. Douglas Folk, Construction Law
• Mark S. Sifferman, Commercial Litigation

Washington, D.C. 

• Roberta Freedman, Immigration Law
• Jane C. Luxton, Environmental Law
• Sotiris "Ted" Planzos, Litigation – Securities

Firm Profile

Clark Hill PLC is an entrepreneurial, full service law firm that provides business legal services, government & public affairs, and personal legal services to our clients throughout the country. With offices in Arizona, Delaware, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington, DC, and West Virginia, Clark Hill has more than 300 attorneys and professionals.