Liza R. Brooks

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...

Richard E. Rassel, III focuses his practice primarily on the areas of business, real estate, and land use litigation as well as business and real estate transactions. Richard’s clients include public and private companies across a wide spectrum of industries such as real estate, engineering, telecom, manufacturing, automotive, insurance, health care , retail, technology, staffing, investment funds and trusts. In 2016, Richard assisted in closing three significant M&A deals and recov...

Ms. Bowman has had a significant amount of experience acting both as bond counsel and underwriter’s counsel in a number of bond transactions, both at the state and local levels. She has acted as bond counsel for regional wastewater treatment and other systems, and represented the owners of a $230 million racetrack in Kansas City, Missouri in connection with bond financing for the facility. Ms. Bowman represents clients in securities law matters. She has also counseled clients on complia...

Elizabeth Favaro is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Elizabeth, 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 Elizabeth is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Andrea DeFrain has moved to of-counsel status after practicing since 1981 and as a member of the Bodman High Net Worth Practice Group since 2005. Ms. DeFrain concentrated her practice in the areas of estate planning, estate and gift taxation, and probate administration. During her career, she was an adviser to individuals and families on a variety of personal and related tax matters. She continues to participate in the firm’s representation of certain clients. In addition, Ms. DeFrain h...

Wayne Roberts is the co-chair of Bodman’s Business Tax Group. His practice is focused on corporate, business and individual tax planning and federal, state and local tax controversies. He has been a recognized state and local tax (SALT) lawyer for more than 20 years. He has been involved in a majority of the significant legislative, administrative and case law developments that have taken place in Michigan taxation.His broad tax practice includes all aspects of federal and state tax pla...

Keela Johnson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Keela, 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 Keela is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ken Sachs is the Chair of Bodman’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice Group and is based in the firm’s Troy and Detroit offices. He has over 20 years of experience advising clients regarding their employee benefit plans, executive benefit programs and business planning. He also represents public and private entities concerning their corporate, fiduciary, and governance responsibilities. He designs, drafts, and establishes retirement plans, welfare plans, medical...

Scott A. Petz is a Member in Dickinson Wright's Troy office. Mr. Petz focuses his practice in the areas of commercial and business litigation, class and collective actions, labor litigation, consumer protection, and condemnation and land use. Mr. Petz regularly litigates high stakes and complex matters, and consults on non-litigation matters. During his career, Mr. Petz has received a number of acknowledgements such as: (1) Selected for America’s Top 100 Bet-the-Company Litigators® ...

Michelle Thurber Czapski serves as Chair of Bodman's Insurance Practice Group and Co-Chair of the Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice Group. She has over three decades of experience representing major corporate clients in litigation and alternative dispute resolution proceedings. She has successfully represented insurance and financial service companies, automotive and other product manufacturers, Tier-1 automotive suppliers, telecommunications companies, and pharmaceutical...