Clark Hill Attorneys Douglas R. Kelly and Matthew T. Smith Presented at Michigan Association of County Drain Commissioners’ 110th Annual Winter Conference

ACME, MI – Clark Hill attorneys Douglas R. Kelly and Matthew T. Smith Presented at Michigan Association of County Drain Commissioners’ 110 ^th Annual Winter Conference at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa held February 18-20 2009. Mr. Kelly and Mr. Smith co-presented on the topic of Resolving Problems and Disputes on Construction Projects.

Douglas R. Kelly is a member in Clark Hill’s Litigation, Municipal, Real Estate and Personal Services Practice Groups in the firm’s Birmingham office.  Mr. Kelly has substantial experience representing businesses and governmental entities with contract claims, trademark infringement, claims arising under the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), construction litigation, franchise claims and appellate work.  He also has substantial experience representing clients in a variety of real estate matters, including easement, zoning and land use, eminent domain, construction, mortgage foreclosures, environmental, drain law, landlord-tenant and title disputes.

While attending law school, Mr. Kelly was Executive Editor of the Law Review.  He also interned under the Honorable George E. Woods in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.  After law school, Mr. Kelly clerked for the Honorable Conrad L. Mallett, Jr. of the Michigan Supreme Court and was an Adjunct Professor at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.  Mr. Kelly serves as Vice Chair of the Novi Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Michigan Association of County Drain Commissioners and the International Right of Way Association.

Matthew T. Smith is a member of Clark Hill’s Litigation Practice Group, and specializes in commercial and construction related matters.  Mr. Smith is experienced in bankruptcy, creditor’s rights, real estate and civil litigation.

Mr. Smith received a B.A. degree in Financial Administration from Michigan State University in 1991, where he was an athlete and received several scholarships and awards.

Mr. Smith joined the United States Marine Corps in 1993 and has achieved the rank of Major.  After receiving his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 1994, he practiced bankruptcy, real estate and corporations’ law.  In 1995, he returned to active duty for the Marines and attended Naval Justice School in 1996, receiving certification as a Judge Advocate of the United States Marine Corps.  Mr. Smith served as government counsel, defense counsel, and as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Marine Corps’ Office of the Staff Judge Advocate in San Diego , California .  He returned to Michigan in 1999 to practice creditors’ rights law, construction litigation, real estate and corporations’ law, while also working for the U.S. Marine Reserves.

Since 1890, Clark Hill PLC has been serving the business, government, non-profit and personal needs of clients throughout the country. With offices in Detroit , Birmingham , Grand Rapids , and Lansing , Michigan , Chicago , Phoenix , and Washington , DC , Clark Hill is a full service law firm with more than 190 attorneys. For more information, visit www.clarkhill.com .