West Branch Lawyers

Derek Howard was a longtime Judicial Staff Attorney in Oakland County’s Business Court. In 2019, Derek launched his own business law firm and has quickly enjoyed a string of business litigation success, including multiple cases featured in legal publications. Derek has also published articles on various topics including, software disputes, fraud, and mediation. In 2023, Derek teamed up with Joseph Doerr and Sara MacWilliams to form a firm that offers clients a deeper bench of expertise and legal support, while maintaining the individualized, attentive service the partners are known for. Doerr MacWilliams Howard PLLC offers highly skilled, personalized legal services...

Nicolas Guibert de Bruet consults as an attorney and engineering leader dedicated to helping businesses strategize and successfully navigate the technology maze. His practice revolves around advising technology-intensive businesses on how to start-up, operate, innovate and protect intellectual property assets to keep the business viable. He also concentrates on privacy law compliance, cybersecurity risk management, aviation regulations and transnational agreements.

Mr. Guibert de Bruet has worked as a technical expert and manager in the electronics and software industry for two decades. He has accepted assignments for a wide array of applications in the areas of defense, utilities, court systems, consumer electronics,...

Michael Jaafar is an accomplished and highly sought-after attorney who has made a name for himself as a tenacious litigator and skilled advocate. With an unwavering commitment to excellence and an unrelenting drive to win, Michael has earned a reputation as one of the most formidable attorneys in the field. Michael's impressive track record of success includes settling a personal injury case for $2 million when the initial offer was only $25,000, as well as securing one of the largest class action settlements in history against McDonald's Corporation. He has also been recognized for his outstanding legal skills and accomplishments, having...

Wedad Ibrahim is an attorney in our correctional practice group where she focuses on defending correctional medicine physicians and mid-level practitioners in civil rights and medical malpractice cases, practicing both in federal and state court. Wedad also has experience in litigating consumer protection cases and advocating in employment discrimination cases.

Wedad was a graduate of Michigan State University College of Law in May of 2017. While in law school, Wedad was the recipient of multiple oral advocacy awards and competed on the law school’s Trial, Negotiation, and Mediation competition teams. She served as the President of the Middle Eastern Law Student...

Ron has achieved received a significant number of notable high-profile acquittals and dismissals for physicians and health care entities facing allegations of improper prescribing and health care fraud.

Ron is the managing shareholder of Chapman Law Group’s Michigan Office and represents clients nationally in the areas of health care fraud and abuse, federal investigations, DEA registration matters, and physician licensing defense. As a former prosecutor, Ron also has a significant amount of experience dealing with state and federal agencies during high-level criminal investigations, criminal trials, and administrative proceedings.

In his most recent trial, United States v. Dr. A, two physicians were...

I have been practicing for over thirty-five years. My practice is limited to specializing in issues concerning disability, estate, probate, long term care, nursing home, Veterans, Medicaid and special needs planning. I am the immediate past President/Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Alzheimer’s Association - Greater Michigan Chapter (after having served for the last 6 years) and member of the Association's executive committee and an Assembly Delegate to Alzheimer’s Association – National Chapter, Chicago, Illinois. I am also a Member of National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and have been listed since 1991 in...

Education: 1974 graduate of Bloomfield Hills Andover, the University of Michigan, B.A. 1979, and the Detroit College of Law, J.D, 1986. Experience: Prior to beginning my practice I was an intern to the late former Congressmen James G. O’Hara and James J. Blanchard, who later became governor. I was also a judicial clerk to the late Hon. Richard D. Kuhn, Oakland County Circuit Court Judge and Research Intern for the Hon. Gene Schnelz, Oakland County Circuit Court Judge, retired. I was a hearing panelist chairman for the Attorney Discipline Board, a former Special Assistant Attorney General, and I have taught business law at...

Phil was admitted to practice law in 1991 and he is now in his 28th year as an attorney. Phil is one of the founding partners of Serafini, Michalowski, Derkacz and Associates, P.C. and he focuses his practice in the areas of personal injury, automobile accident claims, no-fault claims also known as personal injury protection benefits, third party automobile negligence claims, slip and fall injuries, motorcycle injuries, trucking accidents and general civil litigation. Phil grew up in St. Clair Shores and Royal Oak and he has been fortunate to return to Macomb County to practice law.

From 1995 to present, Phil...

Admitted to the practice of law in 1971 and formed the Law Firm of Colman and Goodman, P.C. in 1974 in the Sterling Heights/Utica communities of Macomb County, Michigan. In August 2015 Colman Law Center, PLLC was established. It is a law office dedicated to the general practice of law with an emphasis in the area of family law encompassing, but not limited to, divorce, custody, parenting time, It child/spousal support and change of residence. Neil M. Colman has rendered skillful and conscientious representation for clients throughout Southeastern Michigan for more than 45 years. Other areas of practice include, but...

Devin is a partner at Paesano Akkashian, PC. He has successfully litigated complex business and securities matters in state and federal courts across Michigan and the United States. Devin’s securities practice spans both litigation and transactional work. On the litigation side, he represents investors and corporations in shareholder disputes and regulatory investigations conducted by the SEC and state securities agencies. His experience also includes handling FINRA arbitration cases, where he represents customers and brokers in investment disputes, employment claims, and other industry matters. On the transactional side, Devin advises companies on compliance with the Securities Act of 1933 and the...

Mark's practice is primarily focused on aviation law and complex personal injury law. Aviation law is a very general term and can encompass a broad swath of practice areas, Generally, Mark's aviation law practice includes the representation of persons injured or killed in aviation in air carrier (airline) passenger accidents, passenger board bridge (sometimes called jetbridge or jetway) injuries or airport injuries. Other types of personal injury cases Mark regularly handles include other travel/tourism-related common carriage or travel-related locales such as, shuttle bus, cruise ship, recreational and hotel & resort settings. As an FAA certificated commercial pilot and...

Car accidents are extremely serious and can occur with little to no warning. If you are dealing with damages or injuries from a car accident, you may be wondering where you can even begin to turn to find the help and representation your case requires. You can breathe more easily now, because you have come to the right place! At Abrahams Law firm, you can receive the help you need from Attorney Abrahams. He is a car accident attorney in Detroit who has dealt with all kinds of car accidents and car accident injuries and is well equipped to take...

Patrick Derkacz grew up in Warren, Michigan where he attended public school. He graduated from Warren Mott High school in 1984 where he played football. He then went to Eastern Michigan University where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry in 1988. After graduation he worked as an analytical chemist for the Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research Division in Ann Arbor, Michigan for several years.

Mr. Derkacz went back to law school at the Detroit College of Law (now Michigan State University Law School) in 1990. He graduated from DCL with Honors in 1993. While in Law School he participated in the...

Tracy M. Clark is a bankruptcy attorney with the Michigan law firm of Steinberg Shapiro & Clark. Ms. Clark has been practicing bankruptcy law since 1999 in the areas of debtor and creditor rights. Ms. Clark enjoys developing solutions to the legal problems faced by financially distressed individuals and businesses and, when necessary, litigating those issues at the trial and appellate levels. Ms. Clark believes that every client deserves her full attention and takes pride in personally meeting with all of her clients and handling her cases from beginning to end. Using this approach, Ms. Clark has successfully guided numerous...

Dan Hohf graduated from Western Michigan University in 2009 with a Bachelor’s Degree in History. While at WMU, he served as a Museum Technician at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Pennsylvania as well as at the Kingman Museum in Battle Creek, Michigan. He joined the Mike Morse Law Firm team in 2011 as a paralegal and eventually went on to earn his law degree from Wayne State University Law School in 2019. While attending law school, he remained employed at the Mike Morse Law Firm as well as served as a Judicial Extern for the Honorable Edward...

Sunjay Sterling practices in all areas of tax and corporate law.

Tax Law

Sunjay has represented corporations, partnerships, LLCs, nonprofit organizations and individuals as a tax attorney in a wide variety of tax law matters including audit defense and resolution of tax controversies, tax compliance, tax planning, and structuring business transactions to minimize taxable impact. Sunjay Sterling is a tax attorney adept at identifying and resolving tax issues and audit risks in addition to formulating and implementing tax strategies and practical tax planning to further personal and business objectives.

Corporate/Business Law

Sunjay has represented and counseled C corporations, S corporations, general and limited partnerships,...

Attorney Symantha Heath has practiced law for over 23 years. She earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit Law School in 1993 and is licensed to practice in Michigan and U.S. Federal Court. She is a member of the Michigan State Bar Association, Oakland County Bar Association, Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, and Wayne County Family Law Bar Association.

Symantha is a past president of the Wayne County Family Bar Association and was an executive board member for six years. She is also a past County Chairwoman of the WCRC and the Northville Township Trustee. She currently serves on...

Susan Elkouri is a trial lawyer, certified Collaborative Divorce Law practitioner, and certified mediator. Ms. Elkouri has practiced divorce law for over 23 years. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Detroit Law School in 1994 and is licensed to practice in Michigan and Federal Courts.

Susan is a member of the Michigan State Bar Association, Oakland County Bar Association, Wayne County Family Law Bar Association, and the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan. She is an active participant in the Michigan Family Law Certification program and a past University of Detroit Law School Moot Court Judge.

Susan Elkouri is...

Jay Yasso, a senior shareholder with Sommers Schwartz, focuses his practice on medical malpractice, automobile negligence, and personal injury. He has litigated, mediated and facilitated numerous multi-million dollar settlements on behalf of injured victims for over twenty years, and his experience and expertise allows him to sit on mediation panels in Oakland, Wayne and Macomb County Circuit Courts.

In addition, for the last 23 years, Jay’s professional practice has also focused on representing individuals and businesses in the entertainment industry, including representing record companies, recording artists, music and film producers, production companies, artist managers, agents, songwriters, music publishers, models and modeling...

For the past 30 years, Mike Cunningham has been enormously successful in representing injured plaintiffs in medical malpractice, auto accident, and premises liability matters, obtaining many verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million. He has also pursued cases with similar outcomes in other states including California, Ohio, and Illinois.

Outside of the office, Mike’s hobbies include playing guitar and golf.

Lance Young is a senior shareholder at Sommers Schwartz, P.C., and co-chairs the firm’s Complex Litigation Department. For almost twenty years, Lance has successfully represented investors, employees, consumers, and other injured parties in high-profile class actions and multidistrict proceedings involving violations of federal and state securities, antitrust, wage and hour, and consumer protection laws. His current cases include the nationally publicized In Re Auto Parts Antitrust Litigation and multi-state Real Estate Transfer Tax litigation, along with several vehicle defect cases pending against major auto manufacturers. He also co-manages and supports the firm’s busy Fair Labor Standards Act practice

Ben Wilensky is a member of Sommers Schwartz’s Personal Injury Litigation Group and focuses his practice on representing railroad workers who seek compensation for on-the-job injuries under the Federal Employers' Liability Act.

After graduating from Michigan State University, Ben served as an aide to U.S. Senators Jon Corzine and Frank Lautenberg in Washington, D.C. He then pursued his law degree at Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he was an Executive Articles Editor and a member of the Executive Board of the Law Review, and a professorial research assistant, before earning his Juris Doctor.

In addition to his active FELA practice, Ben has...

Thomas N. Economy received his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan-Dearborn in 1996, and his law degree from Michigan State University College of Law in 1999. His practice is devoted to representing seriously injured persons in cases involving no-fault insurance, automobile negligence and premises liability. He has successfully handled numerous important cases before the Michigan Court of Appeals and the Michigan Supreme Court. He is an active member of both the American Association for Justice and Michigan Association for Justice. Email: tom@buckfirelaw.com

Arvin Pearlman is nationally known for the successful outcomes he has obtained on behalf of railroad workers who are injured or killed in the course of their employment. Since concentrating his practice on Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) litigation in 1979, Arvin has tried numerous personal injury cases before judges and juries across the United States, many with multi-million dollar awards. FELA cases arise from many types of railroad workplace negligence including unsafe work environments, exposure to harmful substances and occupational illness, faulty equipment, and off-site injuries. He is designated legal counsel for the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen in...

Lisa Screen practiced criminal law for over ten years before transitioning into the auto insurance arena in 2012. Screen has aggressively tried over 250 cases to a jury, and while as an assistant prosecuting attorney, she litigated several high-profile cases and was specially assigned to the Homicide Division for most of her tenure at the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office in Detroit, MI. She successfully convicted two individuals of murder despite the victim’s body never being located. Prior to working at the Prosecutor’s Office, she was an associate at a medical malpractice insurance defense firm. Up until she joined...

Bjornrae Kemp is an associate attorney at the Mike Morse Law Firm. He graduated from the University of Houston in 2009. He went on to earn his law degree from Thurgood Marshall School of Law where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. Since 2020, he has been a member of the State Bar of Michigan and is also admitted to practice law in Texas. Bjornrae has represented accident victims for his entire legal career, recovering millions for his clients. In his free time, Bjornrae enjoys spending time with family, cooking, and reading.

Gary Safir is a personal injury trial lawyer who specializes in fighting for victims of car accidents and motorcycle accidents, including “low speed” or “low-impact” accidents with minimal vehicle body damage. Gary believes that, no matter the speed of the crash, if a client’s injury has affected their life, their case is worth the fight. He is currently the senior trial attorney at Scott Goodwin Law, P.C., in Birmingham, MI. Gary has recovered millions of dollars for his clients and has been recognized as a top-rated personal injury attorney by nationally recognized legal rating services. Gary considers it a privilege to...

Canon J. Thomas graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts degree in General Studies. During Canon’s undergraduate studies, he was very involved in his community. He co-founded the organization ReliveTheBAR, which is dedicated to strengthening the community between Black students and alumni of U of M through book drives and apparel. Canon was also a recipient of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Spirit Award. Canon received his Juris Doctor degree from Western State College of Law, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. During law school, Canon was a Dean’s Fellow, the inaugural Thurgood Marshall...

As an experienced attorney, my career is defined by relentless pursuit of justice for my clients, demonstrating unwavering professionalism, integrity, and an ironclad dedication. My expertise spans various legal realms, including criminal defense, immigration, personal injury, family law, and debt relief. The track record of success I've established isn't simply a testament to my legal acumen, but a reflection of my commitment to stand for what's right. What truly sets me apart in the legal landscape is my profound commitment to the Hispanic community in Detroit. I've become an essential bridge for Spanish-speaking clients, ensuring they receive the top-tier legal representation...

I am a former prosecutor who began my legal journey as a partner at Kassab Arabo, PLLC, before transitioning to work for the government. My time at the prosecutor's office was invaluable, allowing me to hone my skills in handling criminal cases. I am committed to providing my clients, who I treat as if they were family, with the highest quality legal counsel. Fighting vigorously on their behalf is my top priority.

I have been practicing law in Metro Detroit since 1993. My expertise is in civil litigation. I am in courts all over the tri-county area a few times each week. I am well versed in law and procedure and we can make a comprehensive strategy that will get you the best resolution possible for your difficult situation.

Evan has always shown tremendous dedication and empathy for his clients and the catastrophic issues they face. His rapid trajectory to partner is due to his hard work, excellent handling of cases and high praise from his clients. His leadership at the firm and his quick and enthusiastic handling of responsibilities have led him to be named a Partner in 2021. He handles complex cases including those heading to trial. He has experience in a wide range of personal injury cases including medical malpractice, sex abuse and harassment, auto and trucking cases. Evan is a committed attorney who fights and succeeds...

I am driven to assist my client's in any possible way. Dealing with legal issues is stressful and time consuming. Let me help obtain a positive outcome so you can move on with your life. I try to connect with my clients and show the highest level of persistence and dedication.

Daniel L. Buckfire earned his undergraduate degree in accounting from the University of Michigan Business School in 1989, where he was Phi Beta Kappa and graduated in the top 10% of his class. In 1991, he graduated cum laude from the prestigious University of Michigan Law School. Daniel specializes in Michigan car accident cases, no-fault insurance claims, dram shop liability, and general negligence cases. He is rated as a "Superb" lawyer by the top internet lawyer rating service and "Best Personal Injury Lawyer" by a Detroit business magazine. Daniel's adept knowledge of these areas of law has resulted in...

Don is an experienced attorney that specializes in family law and has concentrated his practice in this area for over three decades. He has represented clients in various facets of family law, which include divorce, child custody, child support, parenting time, paternity, spousal support, mediation and other post-judgment issues. Don has been acknowledged by multiple professional associations and is also the recipient of numerous awards for his outstanding accomplishments in the legal community.

Kevin has been a truck accident lawyer for close to 25 years. He litigates cases involving large commercial vehicles and semi-trucks, Michigan No-Fault laws and insurance coverage disputes. Kevin has argued complex legal issues before the Michigan Court of Appeals and achieved victories for his clients every time. Kevin has obtained millions of dollars for his injured clients and is a tenacious fighter both inside and out of the courtroom.

I began my legal career working for the Workers Compensation Appellate Commission, a body of judges appointed by the governor to hear workers compensation appeals. While working at the commission I gained valuable insight into what proofs are required to win all types of litigated workers compensation cases. This valuable knowledge gives me the edge when representing my clients. From the Appellate Commission I went to work for a prominent insurance defense firm in Grand Rapids, MI., defending big business from claims submitted by everyday hardworking Michigan employees. Not happy with what I saw, I left...