Cambridge University, Emmanuel College, United Kingdom: Course work included International Law, Law of the European Economic Community, and Comparative Constitutional Law, 1987
Lake Superior State College, B.S. Criminal Justice, 1984
Bar Admissions
Supreme Court of the United States
United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan
Supreme Court of the State of Michigan
Recognition
Best Lawyers, “Best Lawyers in America,” 2016-2025
Super Lawyers, “Super Lawyer,” 2009-2024
DBusiness Magazine Top Lawyer 2021
Martindale-Hubbell AV-Rated
ACTIVITIES
Dean’s Advisory Board: University of Detroit Mercy School of Law (2010-present)
Volunteer legal counsel for CESS – Children’s Education and Spectator Sports (2010)
Commissioner: State Bar of Michigan (1997-2000)
Commissioner Liaison: United States Courts Committee
Commissioner Liaison: Aviation Law Section
Commissioner Liaison: Litigation Section
Commissioner Liaison: Arts, Sports and Entertainment Law Section
Board of Directors/Past President: Association of Defense Trial Counsel (elected; 1997-2003)
Vice Chairperson Governmental Liability Committee: American Bar Association (appointed; 2000-Present)
Past Chairperson: State Bar of Michigan Young Lawyers Section (elected; 1998-1999)
American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Executive Council (elected; 1997-1999)
Co-Founder of Foundations of Michigan Law Practice: A six day series of eleven courses covering all major practice areas for new attorneys; co-sponsored by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education
Fellow Michigan State Bar Foundation: Recognition for outstanding legal ability and devotion to the public (September 1998)
Fellow American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division: Recognition for outstanding legal ability and devotion to the public (September 1998)
President: Model United Nations Club, 1982-1984 Lake Superior State College
President: Grosse Pointe South High School Student Association (1980)
Licensed Private Pilot: Federal Aviation Administration
Board of Directors : Grosse Pointe Red Barons Football (2006-present)
Volunteer Counsel: Mariner’s Inn- a Detroit based in-patient substance abuse treatment facility
PUBLICATIONS
Author Municipal Legal Briefs – bi-monthly. A publication of the Michigan Municipal League printed in partnership with the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys
Author “Help Prevent Child Abuse/Neglect”: An informational publication designed, written and distributed in Spanish and English to more than 100,000 recipients
Editor of GovLaw: A monthly informational publication sent to municipalities across the State of Michigan regarding recent developments and trends in Municipal Law
PRESENTATIONS
Michigan Municipal League: Council 101 Topics; Hamtramck, Michigan (April 1, 2014)
Michigan Association of Township Supervisors: Winning Tax Appeal Battles; Gaylord, Michigan (October 23, 2013)
Effective Leadership Skills For City Officials; City of Norton Shores, Michigan (May 2, 2013)
Garan Lucow Miller Spring Breakfast Seminar: Trial Technology-Using the CSI Factor to Your Advantage; Grand Rapids, Michigan (April 18, 2013)
Michigan Municipal League Public Employment Law Seminar: Employment Issues-FLSA and More; Lansing, Michigan (January 23, 2013)
Deans Advisory Board for University Detroit School of Law (2011-present)
Village of Lexington, Michigan Effective Leadership Skills For City Officials (December 10, 2012)
City of Lowell, Michigan Effective Leadership Skills For City Officials (January 9, 2012)
Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, 2011 MACP Mid-Winter Conference: Tasers – Winning the Battles in the Courtroom and in the Court of Public Opinion; Grand Rapids, Michigan (February 10, 2011)
2010 MATS Fall Education Conference: Winning Tax Appeal Battles and Legislative Update; Crystal Mountain Resort, Thompsonville, Michigan (November 4, 2010)
MATS Annual Meeting & Spring Education Conference: Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act; Chelsea, Michigan (April 15, 2010)
Michigan Municipal League Public Employment Law Seminar: Discrimination; Lansing, Michigan (January 20, 2010)
Michigan Association of Township Supervisors: The Open Meetings Act, Litigating in Michigan and Parliamentary Procedure; Frankenmuth, Michigan (October 22, 2009)
2009 Michigan Municipal League On-Site Seminar: Open Meetings Act; Ferndale, Michigan (May 19, 2009)
2009 Michigan Municipal League On-Site Seminar: Freedom of Information Act; Ferndale, Michigan (May 8, 2009)
2009 Michigan Municipal League On-Site Workshop: Ethics in Government, Freedom of Information Act, Public Purchasing Policies and Open Meetings Act; Benton Harbor, Michigan (March 9, 2009)
2008 Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys Annual Meeting – Annual Update of Governmental Immunity (June 27, 2008)
2008 Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police Mid-Winter Conference, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Open Meetings Act (February 6, 2008)
2007 Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners – Issues in Michigan Municipal Litigation and Open Meetings Act (November 29, 2007)
2007 Michigan Municipal League Labor and Employment Seminar Traverse City, Michigan (September 18, 2007)
2007 Michigan Municipal League Labor and Employment Seminar Kalamazoo, Michigan, (May 9, 2007)
2007 Michigan Municipal League, Legislative Conference; Open Meetings Act, (March 20, 2007)
Issues in Record Retention, Electronic Transmittal of Documents and Tips and Tricks of Litigating in Michigan: Mott Community College (April, 2006)
Economic Development Agreements and Public Act 425 (March, 2006)
Michigan Municipal League Regional Training Program: Tips and Tricks of Litigating in Michigan and The Freedom of Information Act, A Comprehensive Overview (February, 2006)
Michigan Municipal League 107th Annual Convention; Legal Notes in Public Purchasing Issues (September 2005)
Michigan Municipal League 107th Annual Convention; The Freedom of Information Act, A Comprehensive Overview (September 2005)
Weekly Lectures to City of Warren Police Department re Current Legal Issues (2005 Training Program)
Legal Issues Involving Michigan Local Governments; National Business Institute (May 2004)
Michigan Municipal League 49th Annual Regional Meeting; The Old and New Face of Trespass Nuisance (February 2002)
Joint Investiture for Honorable Pat M. Donofrio (Michigan Court of Appeals) and the Honorable Richard Caretti (Macomb County Circuit Court) (December 2002)
Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys; The Old and New Face of Trespass Nuisance (June 2001)
Michigan Public Risk Management Association: Pollution Liability, The Impact of Environmental Law on Municipalities (March 2001)
Municipal Liability Seminar: “State of the Law 2000″ (May 2000)
Michigan Public Employer Labor Relations Association: “Sexual Harassment in the Workplace” (May 2000)
Michigan Municipal League Annual Convention, Traverse City, Michigan: Basement Flooding and Class Action Litigation (September 1999)
Montgomery Ward & Company, Inc., Regional Loss Prevention Meeting: “Litigation in Michigan: An Overview” (July 1995)
Montgomery Ward & Company, Inc., Regional Loss Prevention Meeting: “Litigation in Michigan: An Overview” (July 1994)
Professional Career
Garan Lucow Miller, P.C.
Member of the Executive Committee: Responsibilities include the management of all day-to-day operations of the law firm with eight offices across the State of Michigan and our Merrillville, Indiana office
Chairperson, Municipal Practice Group: Responsibilities include all phases of defending the interests of public officials, municipalities and clients involved in catastrophic claims, (1991 to Present)
Special Prosecutor, In Re Howard Alan Katz: Appointed to prosecute over 300 alleged instances of criminal contempt of court by Attorney Howard Alan Katz, (2005)
Court Appointed Arbitrator–American Arbitration Association
Law Clerk to the Honorable Maureen Pulte Reilly, Michigan Court of Appeals
Responsibilities included writing 14 proposed opinions for case call each month, including extensive legal research on a wide variety of civil and criminal issues, (January 1989 – February 1991)
Research Attorney, Michigan Court of Appeals
Responsibilities included preparation of pre-hearing reports
Research Attorney to the Honorable Louis F. Simmons, Jr., Wayne County Circuit Court
Responsibilities included writing judicial opinions and motion recommendations
Law Clerk, Gandelot, Stoepker & Dickson, P.C.
Responsibilities included legal research and memorandum writing
