Stephon B. Bagne

Deborah (“Deb”) Grace advises private companies, non-profits, colleges, universities, and governmental entities on the complex tax and labor laws that impact the benefits that these entities offer to their employees. She counsels private companies and equity funds on the benefit plan implications of business acquisitions and dispositions, including due diligence review and advising on the integration of benefit programs based on the structure of the business deal. Her experience i...

Mr. Cashen represents employers in all aspects of employment law and related litigation. He served as chairperson of Bodman's Workplace Law Practice Group for ten years. Mr. Cashen assists clients facing charges of discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful discharge, Whistleblowers’ Act violations and similar claims in federal and state courts, administrative proceedings and arbitration hearings. He has conducted numerous trials and arbitrations in Michigan, Ohio, Missouri and Wiscons...

Paul Thursam is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law and Corporate Law. Paul, 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 Paul is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jennifer Hetu’s practice focuses on trademark law and brand protection. She advises businesses of all sizes on a wide range of trademark matters in the U.S. and international markets, collaborates with foreign law firms on worldwide trademark protection, and provides counseling regarding U.S. use and registration. She also counsels businesses in the rapidly growing cannabis industry on how to navigate trademark protection strategies in the current landscape. She is a former trademark at...

Robert Labe ’s trusts and estates and business law practice is among the most highly regarded in the state. He possesses extensive experience in estate planning, estate and trust administration, contested estate and trust matters, business law, business succession planning and tax planning. Robert is a frequent lecturer and prolific author. He speaks at seminars before legal and professional groups, including as a lecturer at the Institute of Continuing Legal Education at the University...

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

Kerry Cahill has over 20 years of experience representing employers in a wide range of industries in employment and contract disputes. Her extensive experience in employment law includes wrongful and retaliatory termination, discrimination and harassment, internal workplace investigations, wage-and-hour claims, Whistleblowers’ Protection Act claims, severance agreement negotiations, Family Medical Leave Act and Americans with Disabilities Act claims, civil rights litigation, and Title I...

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 ...

Marc is the Co-Chair of Brooks Kushman's intellectual property litigation practice. He has been instrumental in building, developing, and growing the team. Throughout his career, Marc has successfully tried patent, trademark, trade secret and copyright cases in Federal Courts nationwide. Marc has successfully argued appeals before the Federal Circuit including a leading decision on 101 jurisprudence, Ancora Techs., Inc. v. HTC Americas, Inc. , 908 F.3d 1343 (Fed. Cir. 2018). Marc, as lead cou...

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...