Brian T. Smith

Mr. Stearns is a Member in Dickinson Wright’s Troy and Saginaw offices and Chair of the Patent Prosecution Practice Group. He has over 25 years of experience in the legal industry, particularly in the area of patents. Mr. Stearns maintains a very active patent practice with clients in the automotive industry as well as medical device, pharmaceutical and light rail. He handles all aspects of patent law, including preparing and filing original applications, responses, appeals, reexaminati...

Elise Levasseur focuses her practice on Immigration and has extensive experience with related issues including, e.g., Visa processing at U.S. Consulates, nonimmigrant visas for business professionals, permanent employment-based immigrant visas for multinational executives and managers, visas for physicians and medical professionals, employment verification and employer sanctions, applications for citizenship, intracompany transferees, investors, aliens of extraordinary ability, trainees, and ...

Frank’s practice focuses on intellectual property litigation. Frank has successfully tried patent, trademark, trade secret and copyright cases in Federal Courts nationwide, the Courts of Appeals for the Sixth and Federal Circuits, and the International Trade Commission. As a registered patent attorney, Frank is authorized to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Frank has been lead counsel for a wide variety of clients, from individuals to major corporations, in intellec...

Mr. Cole represents a broad array of corporate and individual clients, serving all facets of their diverse business and personal legal needs.He focuses his practice on the acquisition and development of real estate, leasing, like-kind exchanges, mortgage financing, entity formations, conversions and dissolutions, partnership, LLC and joint venture structuring, purchase and sale of businesses, buy/sell and business succession planning, sophisticated trusts and estate planning, and charitable g...

Daniel G. Cohen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Daniel G., who practices law in Birmingham, Michigan, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Daniel G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Geoffrey S. Wagner is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Geoffrey S., who practices law in Troy, Michigan, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Geoffrey S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Leslie Banas counsels companies and individuals in business and real estate matters. She assists clients in organizing business entities, acquiring assets, negotiating contracts, and satisfying regulatory requirements. Her clients include entrepreneurial and established companies in the real estate, housing, service, health care, manufacturing, hospitality and other industries. Ms. Banas represents real estate owners and investors in dealing with office, retail, hospitality, industrial and co...

Julius H. Giarmarco, J.D., LL.M., is chair of the firm's Trusts and Estates Practice Group. Julius received his law degree from Wayne State University, and his master of laws from New York University. He is licensed to practice law in both Michigan and New York. Julius' primary practice areas include estate planning, business succession planning, wealth transfer planning, and life insurance applications. He is a former instructor in both the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Certified Fina...

William L. Thompson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. William L., who practices law in Birmingham, Michigan, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which William L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Meg Alli has focused her practice on the representation and counseling of management concerning the umbrella of employment laws and regulations affecting corporate clients, not-for-profit organizations and educational institutions. She has defended employers, schools and colleges in state and federal courts, administrative agencies and arbitration proceedings. Meg has also served as select counsel for employment practices liability insurance carriers and represented employers in wage/hour lit...