Brian Schwartz

Bob has been a defense litigator for over 35 years. He has successfully tried to jury verdict numerous cases before the state and federal courts in Michigan. He focuses his practice representing employers and management in the areas of labor law and employment litigation. He also counsels companies and insurance carriers on employment rights and obligations as well as strategies that avoid lawsuits.

Shirley A. Kaigler is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Trusts and Estates. Shirley A. practices law in Southfield, Michigan Best Lawyers has recognized Shirley A. Kaigler since 2007. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Shirley A. Kaigler is held by other lawyers.

John Lawrence has extensive experience in banking, financial services, and corporate finance, with particular emphases on government regulation of financial institutions, and on domestic and international commercial lending. He counsels depository institutions and holding companies on governmental regulation of their structure, activities and transactions, including mergers and acquisitions of financial institutions, and formation of U.S. and foreign subsidiaries. He also advises financial in...

Emily Palacios is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation - Construction and Litigation - Real Estate. Emily practices law in Detroit, Michigan Best Lawyers has recognized Emily Palacios since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Emily Palacios is held by other lawyers.

Aimee Guthat is a principal in the Detroit, Michigan, office Jackson Lewis P.C. Her practice is focused on partnering with clients to develop strategic and operational planning for matters related to employment-based immigration and corporate compliance. Aimee has built her practice representing a wide range of corporate clients, from small and mid-size companies to large multinational organizations in a variety of industries, including original equipment manufacturers in the automotive indus...

Randall M. Blau is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Randall M. practices law in Southfield, Michigan Best Lawyers has recognized Randall M. Blau since 2023. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition re...

Ms. Aref represents financial institutions in commercial lending transactions, including the structuring, negotiating and documenting of loan transactions, including syndicated loans, bilateral loans, subordinated loans and participations. She also has experience assisting corporate clients, including private equity firms, with borrowing and re-financing transactions, including secured and unsecured credit facilities, asset-based lending facilities, leveraged lending facilities, mezzanine fin...

Jaimee L. Witten specializes in representing clients in workouts, commercial bankruptcies, handling troubled suppliers, and other creditor’s rights situations. Her experience, ability to think quickly, and innate efficiency enable her to deliver the time-sensitive work product often required by clients dealing with these crisis situations. Jaimee began her career in Washington D.C. at Arnold & Porter LLP (now Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer), in its bankruptcy practice group, repre...

Mr. Larsen is vice chair of Bodman's Executive Committee and a member of the firm's High Net Worth Practice Group. He represents individual clients and financial institutions in the areas of estate planning, estate and trust administration, trust litigation, estate and gift tax, real estate transactions, the purchase, sale and lease of aircraft and watercraft, and closely-held business transactions and succession. Mr. Larsen has been named 2016 "Lawyer of the Year" for Litigation- Trusts and ...

Ted Sylwestrzak has more than thirty-five years’ experience representing lenders. As a member of both Dickinson Wright’s Banking and Finance Group and Bankruptcy Group, he advises lenders in all areas of lending and in all aspects of their lending relationships. He is well-known by clients for his proactive approach, practical business judgment, and getting the deal closed with creative solutions. His representation includes structuring and documenting secured loans (with an empha...