Thomas James

Michael Jacobson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Real Estate. Michael, who practices law in Southfield, Michigan, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mr. Raphelson focuses his practice on commercial litigation particularly related to the automotive industry, and intellectual property litigation. He also dedicates a substantial amount of time to general commercial cases such as contract disputes, finance and banking litigation, corporate governance and dissolution, dealer and franchise termination, and other corporate law disputes. He is a former member of the State Bar of Michigan’s Ad Hoc Committee on Legislation, ex-officio chairma...

Lee B. Kellert is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Lee B., who practices law in Southfield, Michigan, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lee B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

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...

Ms. Machnik represents financial institutions in Canada and the United States in cross-border transactions, acting on behalf of agents and lenders in multi-jurisdictional asset-based, acquisition, commercial, and equipment finance transactions involving public and private debtors. She also advises financial institutions seeking to expand their operations across the border on applicable laws, regulations, and market dynamics. Ms. Machnik holds law degrees from the United States and Canada and ...

Adam Norlander represents national and regional financial institutions in the structuring, negotiation, and documentation of commercial, agented and syndicated lending transactions. His experience encompasses leveraged buyout and leveraged recapitalization loans, asset-based loans, real estate financing, letters of credit and bankers acceptance facilities, and multi-rate, multi-currency loans and facilities. He has particular experience in transactions involving borrowers in the environmental...

Jaimee L. Witten specializes in representing clients in workouts, commercial bankruptcies, handling troubled suppliers, and other creditor’s rights situations. Her experience, ability to think quickly, and innate efficiency enable her to deliver the time-sensitive work product often required by clients dealing with these crisis situations. Jaimee began her career in Washington D.C. at Arnold & Porter LLP (now Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer), in its bankruptcy practice group, repre...

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

Mr. Hempstead concentrates his practice primarily in the areas of income, estate and gift tax planning for high net worth individuals, estate and trust administration, trust litigation, and charitable trusts and foundations. He is a member of the Probate and Estate Planning and Taxation sections of the State Bar of Michigan. He is also a member of the Financial and Estate Planning Council of Detroit. Mr. Hempstead was admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court in 1979. Crain&rsqu...