Damien DuMouchel

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...

I am an intellectual property (IP) and business attorney with over 25 years of experience. I am an advisor, a strategist, a litigator, a deal maker, and a problem solver. But most of all, I am an invested team member. Together, we plan pathways forward, take measured business risks, and develop mitigation plans for foreseeable bumps in the road. We are in it together. My IP experience does not fit neatly in a box. I have managed issues involving one or more of patents, trade secrets, trademar...

James B. Cunningham is a resident in our Nashville, Tennessee and Troy, Michigan offices and focuses his national practice in four primary areas: 1. Commercial real estate acquisition, divestiture and development matters, 2. Real estate finance and capital markets transactions, 3. Commercial loan workouts, resolutions and enforcement actions, specifically in the CMBS industry and 4. Corporate matters, with an emphasis on corporate mergers and acquisitions. James' commercial real estate practi...

Marc E. Thomas is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Marc E., who practices law in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Marc E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

C. Kim Shierk possesses more than thirty years of experience and maintains one of the most highly regarded real estate law practices in Michigan. Ms. Shierk’s practice focuses on residential and commercial real estate development, with an emphasis on condominium law and a wide range of community property development. She also has extensive experience in telecommunications law. Ms. Shierk is a frequent lecturer on a variety of real estate-related topics for the Institute of Continuing Le...

Rachel Smith has a wide range of knowledge stemming from her extensive experience over the past two decades. With a degree in Electrical Engineering, she focuses on software, supplier, and medical device businesses, aiming to ensure that their IP protection aligns with their business needs and goals. Rachel is a registered patent attorney and focuses primarily on domestic and foreign patent prosecution in the electrical arts. Rachel consults clients from Fortune 500 companies to start-ups. Sh...

Jeffrey Bussell is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Jeffrey, who practices law in Farmington Hills, Michigan, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jeffrey is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kara Ferrara is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Kara, who practices law in Troy, Michigan, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kara is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Erin Bowles is an experienced patent attorney with a well-rounded background in counseling domestic and international clients. She applies her industry experience and expansive understanding of mechanical, material and electrical technologies to her practice. Erin's practice involves counseling domestic and international clients from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies on their intellectual property portfolios, with a focus on obtaining domestic and foreign patents and handling patent prosecut...

Ms. Zelenock represents national and regional lenders, mortgage bankers and loan servicers, with emphasis on capital markets, conduit and bank financing, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac multifamily and manufactured housing lending. Ms. Zelenock has served as closing or supervising counsel for several billion dollars in commercial mortgage loans destined for securitization, including a variety of loan sizes and property types (multifamily, office, manufactured housing communities, nursing...