Legal team
Contact our attorneys using the information below to learn more about them.
Our attorneys offer our clients experience, integrity, and commitment. We provide legal representation in the areas of workers’ compensation, appellate advocacy, and civil litigation. In addition, our Of Counsel attorneys specialize in areas including wills, estates and trusts, probate, business matters, bankruptcy, social security, Medicare/elder law, and family law.
Admitted to the Bar in 1989
Admitted to U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan 1991
Education
Kalamazoo College (B.A., 1986)
University of Detroit School of Law (J.D., 1989)
Recipient: Moffat Scholarship, 1989;
Public Corporation Law Section Scholarship, 1987;
Best Oral Advocate Moot Court Award, 1987.
Activities: Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity International, Business Law Journal.
Memberships
State Bar of Michigan (Workers’ Compensation Section)
Michigan Self-Insurers’ Association
Kids’ Chance of Michigan (Fundraising Committee)
Practice Areas
Workers’ Compensation Law
Admitted to the Bar in 1990, Michigan and U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
Education
Tulane University School of Law (J.D.,1990)
University of Michigan (B.A., Cum Laude, 1987)
Recipient: American Jurisprudence Awards in Interschool Junior and Senior Trial Competitions;
Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association Moot Court Award.
Memberships
American Bar Association
Michigan Self-Insurer’s Association, Executive Secretary
Michigan Council of Self-Insured Group Administrators
Moot Court Board, 1989-1990
National Trial Team, 1989-1990
National Council of Self Insurers Association (Board of Managers)
Order of the Barristers
Oakland County Bar Association
Public Risk Management Association
Polish Advocates Bar Association
State Bar of Michigan
Women Lawyers Association of Michigan
Practice Areas
Worker’s Compensation Law Section
James has practiced in the area of Worker’s Compensation for over 49 years and has represented various self-insured employers and insurance companies. He is of counsel to the firm and continues to defend claims before the Workers’ Compensation Agency in the State of Michigan. He is also admitted to practice in the tribal court before the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. He has been listed consistently in “Best Lawyers in America” for Workers’ Compensation Law since 2008.
Education
Michigan State University College of Law, J.D., 1970
University of Detroit, B.S., 1964
Memberships
State Bar of Michigan, Workers’ Compensation Section
Michigan Self-Insurers’ Association
Macomb County Bar Association
American Bar Association, Workers’ Compensation Section
American Law Firm Association, Workers’ Compensation Practice Group
Defense Research Institute
National Council of Self-Insureds
International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Admitted to practice in tribal court
Delta Sigma Pi Fraternity, University of Detroit
Practice Areas
Workers’ Compensation Law
Gerald is semi-retired and currently acts as of counsel to the firm. He was the head of the firm’s appellate division and argued many of the most prominent workers’ compensation cases in the Michigan Supreme Court over the past decades. He is a fellow in the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers. He drafted most of the 2011 changes to Michigan’s Workers’ Compensation Act. He has served as a member and president of the Michigan Board of Law Examiners. He has also served as executive secretary of the Michigan Self Insurers’ Association, a special assistant attorney general, a council member of the workers compensation section of the state bar, and case law editor of the state bar’s workers’ compensation newsletter. He was editor of the monthly periodical “Michigan Workers’ Comp Reporter,” and co-authored the book “Michigan Workers’ Comp Fundamentals.” He has won a Distinguished Brief award for a Supreme Court brief. He has been listed consistently in “Best Lawyers in America” since 2001.
Education
University of Detroit School of Law, J.D.
1980 Wayne State University, B.A. 1974
Memberships
State Bar of Michigan
United States Supreme Court
Sixth Circuit court of Appeals
Admitted to the Bar in 1977, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
Admitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1990
Education
Western Michigan University (B.S., 1973)
University of Detroit School of Law (J.D., 1977)
Memberships
Attorney Discipline Board Panel Member
Employment Discrimination and Labor Law
Michigan Defense Trial Counsel
State Bar of Michigan
Practice Areas
Negligence Law
Trial Practice and Workers’ Compensation Law.
Admitted to the Bar in 1987, Michigan and US. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
Admitted to Florida Bar, 1990
Education
Wayne State University (B.S., 1980)
Detroit College of Law (J.D., 1987)
Memberships
State Bar of Michigan (Workers’ Compensation Section)
Michigan Self Insurers’ Association
State Bar of Florida
Practice Areas
Workers’ Compensation, Patent Intellectual Property, Social Security Disability Law.
Admitted to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, 2014
Admitted to the Bar in 1990, State of Michigan and U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
Education
University of Michigan (B.A., 1987)
Wayne State University (J.D., 1990)
American Jurisprudence Award (Trusts and Decedents’ Estates).
Memberships
State Bar of Michigan (Workers’ Disability Compensation Section)
Michigan Self-Insurers’ Association
Workers’ Disability Compensation Section and Federal Bar Association
Practice Areas
Workers’ Compensation Law
Admitted to the Bar in 1989, State of Michigan and U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
Education
University of Michigan (B.A., 1986)
Wayne State University (J.D., 1989)
Recipient: American Jurisprudence Award. Litigator: Moot Court. Elected Officer: The Federalist Society for Law & Public Policy Studies.
Memberships
State Bar of Michigan (Workers’ Compensation Section)
Michigan Self-Insurers’ Association
Practice Areas
Workers’ Compensation Law.
Admitted to the Bar in 1981, Michigan and U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan; U.S. Supreme Court in 1986
Education
University of Michigan (B.A. 1978, With Distinction)
University of Detroit School of Law (J.D., 1981)
Wayne State University (L.L.M. Labor Law, Pending Completion of Thesis)
Memberships
State Bar of Michigan (Workers’ Compensation & Labor Law Sections)
Michigan Self-Insurers’ Association
ALFA International (Workers’ Compensation Section)
Practice Areas
Workers’ Compensation
Appellate Law
Admitted to the Bar in 1977, Michigan and U.S. District Court,
Admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1988 and U.S. Court of
Appeals Sixth Circuit in 1990
Admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1993
Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan
Education
University of Michigan (B.B.A., 1973)
Michigan State University College of Law (J.D., Cum Laude, 1976)
Memberships
Association of Defense Trial Counsel
Michigan State Bar Association
Michigan Defense Trial Counsel
Mediation Tribunal Association
Michigan Super Lawyers 2009-12
Ohio State Bar Association
Practice Areas
Insurance Law
Negligence
Trial Practice