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Attorneys |
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Frank R. Simon
fsimon@simonattys.com |
Position: Managing Member;
Financial Institution/Litigation Team
Leader.
Admitted to bar: 1996, Michigan
and U.S. District Court, Eastern
District of Michigan, and U.S. District
Court Western District of Michigan:
2006, The U.S. District Court for the
District of Columbia, District of
Columbia Court of Appeals; 2007, New
York; 2007, Illinois.
Education: Graduate Degree in
Banking, Graduate School of Banking,
University of Wisconsin (8/2003);
University of Detroit School of Law
(J.D., 1995). Managing Editor, Michigan
Business Law Journal, 1994-1995.
University of Michigan (B.A., with
distinction, 1991).
Member: State Bar of Michigan,
District of Columbia Bar, New York Bar,
State of Illinois Bar, American
Bankruptcy Institute, Michigan Banker's
Association.
Other: Author of: "The Unique
Approach to Bank Litigation,
Foreclosures, Collections, and
Insolvencies Gets Results", the Michigan
Bankers Magazine. Speaker for the 2010
Indiana Bankers Association Mega
Conference. Adjunct Professor at the
Graduate School of Banking (2009
session).
Selected For: Michigan Super
Lawyers, 2010 and 2009; Michigan Rising
Stars, 2008.
Practice Areas: Commercial
Litigation; Bank Foreclosure and
Collection; Creditors Rights; Banking
Litigation; Uniform Commercial Code (UCC);
Insolvency Proceedings; Workouts; Loan
Documentation, and Negotiable Instrument
Law (check cases).
Mr. Simon has practiced before nearly
all of the district and circuit courts
in Southeastern Michigan. He is a member
of the State Bar of Michigan. He is also
a member of the Michigan Bankers
Association, the Michigan Association of
Community Bankers, and Commercial Law
League of America. |
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Kenneth G. Frantz
kfrantz@simonattys.com |
Position: Founding Member of the
firm; Head of the Corporate
Transactional Team.
Born: Detroit, Michigan, May 17,
1953;
Admitted to Bar: Michigan 1978;
Texas 2000 (Inactive)
Education: University of Michigan
(BGS 1975, with distinction); University
of Michigan Law School (JD 1978), member
of Journal of Law Reform; editor of Res
Gestae student newspaper; University of
Michigan Graduate School of Business
Administration (MBA 1983).
Member: Michigan State Bar
Committee on Character and Fitness from
1998 to 2004; Michigan State Bar Section
on Business Law; Michigan State Bar
Section on Taxation, Employee Benefits
Committee; Michigan State Bar Section on
Real Estate.
Author: The "New" Choice -
Choosing Between Profit and Tax-Exempt
Nonprofit Organization Status, Michigan
Health & Hospitals, March/April 1996,
pp. 8-11 (co-author); The Role of
Goodwill in Practice Acquisitions, Ohio
State Medical Association Newsletter,
May 1995, pp.6-8 (co-author); Estate
Planning for Large Balance IRAs, Tax
Management Compensation Planning
Journal, Vol. 20, pp. 55-61 (March,
1992); Ignoring the Estate Tax on Excess
Accumulations, The Michigan Tax Lawyer,
pp. 30-32, First Quarter, 1992;
Religious Discrimination in Employment:
An Examination of the Employer's Duty to
Accommodate, Vol. 1979, Detroit College
of Law Review 205 (1979).
Practice Areas: Corporate, real
estate, mergers and acquisitions,
employee benefits and healthcare
transactional law.
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F. Brett Baccari
bbaccari@simonattys.com |
Position: Associate.
Admitted to Bar: 2004, The
Florida Bar; 2006, State Bar of Texas;
2011, State Bar of Michigan, U.S.
District Court, Eastern District of
Michigan; U.S. District Court, Southern
District of Florida; U.S. District
Court, Southern and Western Districts of
Texas.
Education: University of Michigan
(B.A. Political Science, 2000);
University of Miami School of Law
(J.D.,2004).
Member: State Bar of Michigan;
The Florida Bar; State Bar of Texas;
State Bar of Michigan Litigation
Section; State Bar of Michigan Consumer
Law Section; Austin Bar Association;
Austin Young Lawyers Association; Austin
Criminal Defense Lawyers Association;
Williamson County Bar Association.
Practice Areas: Commercial
Litigation, Creditors' Rights and
Banking Litigation, Collections,
Bankruptcy.
Pro Bono Activities Volunteer
Legal Services of Central Texas (VLS);
Asylum Project of Austin (PAPA); Austin
LegalLine; Habitat for Humanity.
Other: Northwestern Univerity
School of Law Mock Trial Institute.
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Robert S. Berg
rberg@simonattys.com
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Position: Senior Attorney.
Admitted to Bar: 1976, State Bar
of Michigan, U.S. District Court,
Eastern District of Michigan.
Education: University of Michigan
(B.A., 1971); Detroit College of Law
(J.D., 1976)
Member: State Bar of Michigan.
Practice Areas: Commercial Loan
Documentation, Participation Agreements,
Workouts, Foreclosures.
Academic Credentials: Tenured
Associate Professor in the undergraduate
legal studies program at the University
of Detroit-Mercy since 1985. Recipient
of the University of Detroit-Mercy's
President's Award for Faculty
Excellence. Adjunct Professor at the
University of Detroit School of Law
teaching Commercial Real Estate Law.
Other Experience: Served as an
expert witness in numerous real estate
litigation matters; appointed Arbitrator
by the Wayne County Circuit Court and
Federal District Court on several real
estate matters; served as Special
Fiduciary for Macomb County Probate
Court in various probate matters
involving disputes as to real estate
valuations for various estates that were
being handled by Court appointed
Conservators. Made finding of fact and
conclusions of law for the Probate Court
to use in settling disputes. |
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Daniel J. Feko
dfeko@simonattys.com
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Position: Senior Attorney.
Admitted to Bar: 1998, Michigan;
2000, Ohio; U.S. District Court, Eastern
and Western Districts of Michigan; 1999,
United States Court of Appeals for the
Sixth Circuit.
Education: Northern Michigan
University (BS, 1994); University of
Detroit Mercy . School of Law (J.D.
1998).
Member: State Bar of Michigan.
Practice Areas: Commercial
Litigation; Collections; Bankruptcy.
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Timothy W. Ferrel
tferrel@simonattys.com
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Position: Senior Attorney
Admitted to Bar: 1991 Michigan,
U. S. District Court Eastern District of
Michigan and U. S. District Court
Western District of Michigan
Education: University of Detroit
School of Law (J.D. cum laude 1991);
Michigan State University (B.S. 1979).
Member: State Bar of Michigan,
Oakland County Bar Association, State
Bar of Michigan Environmental Law
Section and Real Property Law Section.
Practice Areas: Environmental Law
Compliance and Litigation; OSHA
Compliance; Commercial Transactions;
Construction Lien Law; Collections;
Civil Litigation. |
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Kathleen L. Ford
kford@simonattys.com
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Position: Of Counsel, Chicago
Office
Admitted to Bar: 2002, Illinois;
2005, U.S. District Court, Northern
District of Illinois.
Education: Valparaiso University
School of Law (J.D. 2002); Miami
University (B.S. 1999).
Practice Areas: Commercial
Litigation, Creditors' Rights,
Collections.
Other: Ms. Ford has first-chaired
numerous jury trials to verdict in the
area of insurance defense law and is a
former Assistant Attorney General for
the State of illinois. She is also a
Certified Arbitrator for the Circuit
Court of Cook County, Illinois. |
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John D. Gwyn
jwyn@simonattys.com |
Position: Senior Attorney.
Admitted to Bar: 1990, State Bar
of Michigan and U.S. District Court,
Eastern District of Michigan.
Education: University of Michigan
(B.A., 1986; Detroit College of Law
(J.D., 1990).
Member: State Bar of Michigan
(Member, Consumer and Bankruptcy
sections); Macomb Bar Association;
Commercial Law League. American
Bankruptcy Institute.
Practice Areas: Bankruptcy;
Collections; Creditors Rights and
Banking Litigation; Commercial
Litigation; Negotiable Instruments;
Uniform Commercial Code (UCC);
Construction Lien Foreclosures; Bank
Foreclosure and Litigation; Fair Housing
Litigation; Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
Compliance; Fair Debt Collections
Practice Act (FDCPA) Compliance.
Affiliations: Mr. Gwyn is a
former Chairperson of the Young Lawyers
Section (YLS) of the Macomb County Bar
Association (MCBA) and was a recipient
of the 1997-1998 MCBA Special Service
Award. Former Vice-Chairperson of the
Continuing Legal Education Section of
MCBA and a member of the Pro Bono
division of the Macomb County Legal Aid
Bureau. |
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Gary A. Hansz
ghansz@simonattys.com
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Position: Senior Attorney.
Admitted to bar: 1993, State Bar
of Michigan and U.S. District Court,
Eastern and Western District of
Michigan, United States Bankruptcy Court
Eastern and Western District of
Michigan.
Education: University of Detroit
School of Law (J.D. cum laude, 1992),
Wayne State University (B.A. with
distinction, 1979)
Member: State Bar of Michigan,
Oakland County Bar Association, American
Bankruptcy Institute.
Practice Areas: Commercial
litigation, foreclosure, creditors'
rights, collections, business and
consumer bankruptcy and bankruptcy
avoidance actions and litigation,
insolvency and workouts.
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Rick Kalisher
rkalisher@simonattys.com
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Position: Senior Attorney.
Admitted to bar: 1978, State Bar
of Michigan.
Education: Wayne State University
Law School (J.D.1978), Wayne State
University (B.A. with distinction,
1975).
Member: State Bar of Michigan;
Past Chair, Section on Antitrust and
Franchising.
Practice Areas: Commercial
Lending, Real Estate and Franchising. |
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Robert M. McCartin
rmccartin@simonattys.com
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Position: Of Counsel.
Admitted to Bar: New York, and
U.S. Southern and Eastern Districts of
New York, 1992.
Education: College of the Holy
Cross, Worcester, MA (B.A. 1988); George
Washington University School of Law,
Washington, D.C. (J.D., 1991).
Member: State Bar of New York.
Practice Areas: Commercial
Litigation and Arbitration with emphasis
on complex litigation; Creditor's
Rights; Debt Recovery; Bankruptcy.
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Craig T. Mierwza
cmierzwa@simonattys.com
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Position: Senior Attorney.
Admitted to bar: 1997, New York;
1998, Southern and Eastern Districts of
New York; 2009, State Bar of Michigan.
Education: University of Michigan
(B.A. Japanese and Asian Studies, 1993;
Michigan State University College of Law
(J.D., 1997).
Member: Association of the Bar of
the City of New York.
Languages: Japanese.
Practice Areas: Commercial
Litigation and Arbitration with emphasis
on complex litigation; Creditor's
Rights; Debt Recovery; Bankruptcy.
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Steven
A. Morris
smorris@simonattys.com
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Position: Senior Attorney
Admitted to Bar: 1999, Michigan,
U.S. District Court.
Education: Kalamazoo College
(B.A., in Political Science, 1995);
Detroit College of Law at Michigan State
University (J.D., 1998). Member: State
Bar of Michigan.
Languages: Spanish.
Practice Areas: Commercial
Litigation; Collections; Creditors
Rights and Banking Litigation. |
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Marjan Neceski
mneceski@simonattys.com |
Position: Senior Attorney
Admitted to Bar: 1996, New York;
1998, Ontario, Canada; 2006, Michigan;
2007, Ohio, U.S. District Court Western
District of New York; 2002, U.S.
District Court Northern District of New
York; 2005, U.S. District Court of
Northern District of Ohio; 2006, U.S.
District Court of Eastern District of
Michigan; 2006, Sixth Circuit Court of
Appeals.
Education: University of Toledo
College of Law (1995, J.D.); University
of Windsor, Faculty of Science (1992,
M.A. Economics); Wilfrid Laurier
University, School of Business and
Economics (1992, Honors B.A.,
Economics).
Member: State Bar of Michigan;
State Bar of Ohio; Toledo Bar
Association; American Bar Association;
National Association of Railroad Trial
Counsel.
Practice Areas: Corporate
Litigation, Commercial Litigation,
Banking Litigation, Transportation Law
and Litigation, Workouts, Collections
(Michigan, New York and Ohio).
Community Service and Awards:
Wood County Economic Development
Commission (2009, Associate Member);
Canada-U.S. Business Association (2007
to present); University of Toledo
Medical Center Stroke Program
Fundraising Committee (2009 to present);
University of Toledo College of Medicine
Minority Scholarship Committee (2009 to
present); National Association of
Railroad Trial Counsel Diversity
Committee (2007 to present).
Recent Highlights, Successes and
Other Experience:
*Co-Counsel in successful enforcement of
corporate client/importer's rights under
Federal Lanham Act and Ohio Deceptive
Trade Practices Act, for failure of
client's competitor to label imported
products with country of origin,
resulting in Judgment of $1,150,000,
plus associated attorneys' fees and
costs (apx $500,000). Client further
protected by placement of a Permanent
Injunction against the violating
importer.
*Successful repeated defense of
multi-million class action flood cases
against Fortune 500 client. Acted as
lead counsel, organized and maintained
cooperation between six co-defendants
with conflicting interests to avoid
potential infighting and secure united
defense front.
*Successful defense of a multi-million
dollar personal injury and property
damage case, and prosecution of a
cross-collection action for property
damage, involving a grade crossing
accident between a train and a
semi-truck hauling a multi-ton portable
rock crushing plant. The railroad
client's cross-claims were settled in
the amount of $510,000.
*Appeared as expert witness and
presented position papers before a
Canadian parliamentary subcommittee
studying the effect of NAFTA on sports
and culture in Canada.
*Numerous summary judgment and other
dispositive motion successes on behalf
of corporate clients. |
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Melgene C. Shoemake
mshoemake@simonattys.com |
Position: Senior Attorney
Admitted to Bar: 2001, Michigan;
Eastern District of Michigan and Sixth
Circuit; 1994, New York; Western,
Northern, Southern and Eastern Districts
of New York.
Education: University of
Michigan-Ann Arbor (B.A. Economics and
Political Science, 1990); Albany Law
School (J.D. 1993).
Member: State Bar of Michigan.
Speaker: New York State Bar
Association Program on Collections and
the Enforcement of Money Judgments
(1998); Lorman Education Services
Program on Collections and Enforcement
of Money Judgments in Michigan (2001).
Practice Areas: Commercial
Litigation, Creditor's Rights,
Collections, Debt Recovery, Real Estate,
Title Resolutions, Appeals. |
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Henry Stancato
hstancato@simonattys.com |
Position: Senior Attorney and
Litigation Practice Group Leader.
Admitted to bar: Michigan State
Courts and United States District Court
(E D Mich)--1978; United States Court of
Appeals for the Sixth Circuit--1986.
Education: Brandeis University
(B.A. cum laude in Philosophy and
History of Ideas 1974); Wayne State
University Law School (J.D., 1978).
Member: State Bar of Michigan;
Michigan Trial Lawyers Association;
Wayne County Probate Association;
Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association;
Wayne State University Alumni
Association.
Practice Areas: Commercial
litigation with a focus on representing
financial institutions in loan workouts,
debt collection and bankruptcy
proceedings; Fair Housing litigation.
Awards: 1998 Distinguished
Services Award, Fair Housing Center of
Metropolitan Detroit.
Lecturer: Fair Housing law;
litigation skills; legal issues for
non-profit organizations. |
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David
A. Stephan
dstephan@simonattys.com |
Position: Senior Attorney.
Admitted to Bar: Colorado, 1988;
Texas, 1990; District of Columbia, 1990.
Education: University of Denver
College of Law (J.D. 1988); Trinity
University (B.A. 1985).
Member: State Bar of Texas,
Dallas Bar Association, State Bar of
Colorado, District of Columbia Bar, U.S.
Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit,
U.S. District Courts for the Eastern,
Northern, Southern and Western Districts
of Texas, U.S. District Court for the
District of Arizona.
Practice Areas: Commercial
litigation, bank litigation, creditors'
rights, collections, workouts,
foreclosures, real estate litigation,
employment law, construction law.
Other: Law Clerk to Honorable
Robert B. Maloney, United States
District Judge, Northern District of
Texas, 1988-1990. |
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John P. Tragge
jtragge@simonatttys.com |
Position: Senior Attorney.
Admitted to Bar: 1992, State Bar
of Michigan; U.S. District Court,
Eastern District of Michigan; U.S. Court
of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Education: Michigan State
University (B.A., James Madison College,
1989); University of Detroit School of
Law (J.D., 1992).
Member: State Bar of Michigan;
Detroit-Metropolitan Bar Association;
American Bankruptcy Institute.
Practice Areas: Litigation, with
an emphasis on complex commercial
litigation, bankruptcy, loan workouts,
creditors rights and commercial fraud;
fair housing and civil rights
litigation. |
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David F. Wells
dwells@simonattys.com
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Position: Senior Attorney.
Admitted to Bar: 1992, State Bar
of Michigan; U.S. District Court,
Eastern District of Michigan; U.S. Court
of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Education: Wayne State University
(B.A., 1989); University of Detroit
School of Law (J.D., 1992). Published
Member of the University of Detroit Law
Review, 1991-1992.
Member: State Bar of Michigan.
Practice Areas: Complex
litigation, commercial loan workouts;
creditor rights; bank litigation,
collections. |
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