First, Michigan Lawyers Weekly set the stage by picking a very impressive crop of of thirty lawyers for its 2013 class of Leaders in the Law. The criteria for selection included success in the legal profession, a passion for the law, client and community service, and a record of achievement demonstrating the strength of character and ability to be a leader in the
Michigan legal community. The 2013 class included lawyers from throughout the state, from a wide range of practice areas, and diverse demographics, and ideologies:
- Nicholas Andrews - Liss, Seder & Andrews PC, Bloomfield Hills
- Joseph Aviv - Honigman Miller Schwartz & Cohn LLP, Bloomfield Hills
- Robert Brower - Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey PLC, Grand Rapids
- Cheri Chandler - Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge, Ann Arbor
- Bruce Courtade - Rhoades McKee PC, Grand Rapids
- Eric Dobrusin - The Dobrusin Law Firm PC, Pontiac
- Daljit Doogal - Foley & Lardner LLP, Detroit
- Alan Gocha - Oakland Law Group PLLC, Farmington Hills
- Sean Fitzgerald - Kreis, Enderle, Hudgins, & Borsos PC, Grand Rapids
- William Hampton - Secrest Wardle, Troy
- Ronald Hodess - Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone PLC, Tro
- Tracy Larsen - Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Grand Rapids
- Michael Lee - Law Offices of Lee & Correll, Southfield
- Aileen Leipprandt - Hilger Hammond PC, Grand Rapids
- Rodney Martin - Warner Norcross & Judd LLP, Grand Rapids
- Paul McKenney - Varnum LLP, Novi
- Kristin Murphy - Rader, Fishman & Grauer PLLC, Bloomfield Hills
- Lawrence Nolan - Nolan, Thomsen & Villas PC, Eaton Rapids
- Richard Paige - Bush Seyferth & Paige PLLC, Troy
- Michael Pitt - Pitt, McGehee, Palmer, Rivers & Golden PC, Royal Oak
- Stephen Postema - Office of the City Attorney, Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor
- Brian Potestivo - Potestivo & Associates PC, Rochester Hills
- Matthew Schneider - Michigan Supreme Court, Lansing
- Harold Schuitmaker - Schuitmaker, Cooper, Schuitmaker, Cypher & Knotek PC, Paw Paw
- Hon. Angela Kay Sherigan - Wojnecka & Sherigan PC, Shelby Township
- George Sinas - Sinas, Dramis, Brake, Boughton & McIntyre PC, Lansing
- Stuart Sklar - Fabian Sklar & King PC, Farmington Hills
- Kester So - Dickinson Wright PLLC, Lansing
- Michael Sullivan - Collins Einhorn Farrell PC, Southfield
- Sen. Gretchen Whitmer - Michigan Senate, Lansing
Next, they asked membes of the class to vote on the 2013 Lawyer of the Year. And their choice, announced Thursday at the Leaders in the Law luncheon in Troy, was greeted with hearty applause and smiles -- George Sinas, past chair of the State Bar's Negligence Section. Congratulations to all.
