Brian R. Watkins

Richard A. Hooker is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Richard A., who practices law in Novi, Michigan, has been recognized since 2005. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Richard A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Shawn Strand is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Shawn, who practices law in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Shawn is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Lawrence (Larry) J. Buckfire is the managing partner and lead trial attorney at Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. The Michigan personal injury law firm has six attorneys who specialize in serious injury, accident, and medical malpractice cases. The firm represents clients throughout the State of Michigan, and has offices in both Southfield and Ann Arbor. Lawrence earned his undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Michigan in 1986 and his juris doctor degree from Wayne State Unive...

Mr. Berman concentrates his practice in construction, contracts, real estate and business matters including claims and alternative dispute resolution. He also focuses on "green" building and "lean" construction matters. Mr. Berman is active in several major construction industry associations. He a member of the Forum on the Construction Industry of the American Bar Association, the Washtenaw Contractors Association, and the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Ann Arbor. Mr. Berman ...

Ms. Leahy concentrates her practice in corporate and business law. She counsels both established and emerging businesses on general corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, compliance with securities regulations, and issues involving venture capital funding. Ms. Leahy is chair of Bodman’s executive management committee. Ms. Leahy has drafted and negotiated transactional documents for both publicly and privately held entities involved in mergers and acquisitions ranging in size ...

William Thacker’s practice concentrates on traditional labor matters, employment litigation and day-to-day counseling of clients on the various employee and labor relations issues that arise within their organizations. He advises clients during union representation campaigns and elections as well as non-Board recognition processes, including the negotiation and administration of card-check recognition agreements. Mr. Thacker negotiates collective bargaining agreements; advises clients r...

Mr. Manley is a member of the Banking, Business, and Emerging Companies and Venture Capital practice groups. He represents clients in a variety of general business transactions and in matters involving corporate governance, commercial contractual issues, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and debt and equity financing. Most recently, Mr. Manley practiced in the New York office of a global law firm where he focused on complex financial transactions. In that role, he worked with comme...

Doron provides a broad range of business advisory, bankruptcy, litigation, and collection services to automotive suppliers, banks and other secured lenders, mortgage servicers, and a variety of other businesses, big and small. In the automotive arena, Doron’s experience covers day-to-day legal counseling, contract review, contract disputes, troubled suppliers, workouts, stop-ship threats, tooling recovery, and supply-chain litigation and bankruptcies. He works with other attorneys at th...

Joanne advises clients on a wide range of state and local tax matters, with a focus on tax controversy, litigation, and planning. She represents businesses of all sizes—from closely held companies to Fortune 500 corporations—in disputes involving Michigan’s corporate income tax, sales and use tax, withholding, and individual income tax. Her practice also includes handling multistate tax issues and helping clients understand and respond to audits, assessments, and refund clai...

John Shea is an attorney in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he has been in private practice since 1988. He was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1983 and to Michigan's bar in 1985, and is also admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and United States District Courts in the Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan, Northern District of Illinois, and Southern District of Indiana. He has a trial practice in...