James Swaim

Edward Hood is a trial and arbitration attorney with decades of experience guiding clients through complex business disputes nationwide. Ed’s practice focuses on construction disputes, commercial litigation, and corporate governance matters. In addition to his litigation practice, Ed serves as an advisor on legal ethics and risk management issues. He counsels lawyers and law firms on professional liability matters and internal governance issues, drawing on his 20 years of experience as ...

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...

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...

Gary C. Ankers is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Gary C., who practices law in Detroit, Michigan, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Gary C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Melissa K. Bridges represents banks and other financial institutions in a broad range of operational, regulatory compliance, and lending matters. She represents depository institutions and other financial companies in matters before regulatory and licensing agencies. She also assists financial services clients in connection with the development of new products and the implementation of new technologies. Her clients include national, regional, and community banks, credit unions, and mortgage c...

Ms. Quasarano is a member of the Firm’s Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice Group. She has extensive experience in commercial litigation matters. Ms. Quasarano served as an adjunct professor at the University of Detroit-Mercy Law School from 1992 to 1995 and at Wayne State University Law School from 1995 to 1996. In law school, Ms. Quasarano was editor in chief of the Wayne Law Review and an oralist on the first place team at the 1990 National Administrative Moot Cour...

Gillian P. Yee is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Gillian P., who practices law in Southfield, Michigan, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Gillian P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael Peterman has more than 30 years of experience as a finance and real estate attorney. He focuses his practice on real estate and commercial loan originations, real estate sales and acquisitions, and commercial leasing. He represents national and regional financial institutions in all areas of commercial lending with an emphasis on bi-lateral and syndicated real estate and construction originations and workouts, commercial and industrial asset-based loans, and international financing. I...

Acts as outside general counsel for employment matters, both with respect to counseling and litigation, for multiple employers with operations in Michigan and throughout the United States and in varied fields, including but not limited to, automotive, health care, public and private education, professional and consulting services, Information Technology services, and advertising. Work includes acting as general counsel for employment and litigation matters for foreign companies operating in t...

Mr. Shulman represents lenders in loan originations. His practice also encompasses loan workouts, contract and other general business matters, as well as counseling lenders on lender liability issues. In addition, he represents lenders acting in non-lending capacities such as trustee or escrow agent. Mr. Shulman has extensive experience representing lenders providing credit enhancements for commercial paper back-up facilities and municipal bonds and representing lenders purchasing tax exempt ...