Gaylord Lawyers

Phil was admitted to practice law in 1991 and he is now in his 28th year as an attorney. Phil is one of the founding partners of Serafini, Michalowski, Derkacz and Associates, P.C. and he focuses his practice in the areas of personal injury, automobile accident claims, no-fault claims also known as personal injury protection benefits, third party automobile negligence claims, slip and fall injuries, motorcycle injuries, trucking accidents and general civil litigation. Phil grew up in St. Clair Shores and Royal Oak and he has been fortunate to return to Macomb County to practice law.

From 1995 to present, Phil...

Education: 1974 graduate of Bloomfield Hills Andover, the University of Michigan, B.A. 1979, and the Detroit College of Law, J.D, 1986. Experience: Prior to beginning my practice I was an intern to the late former Congressmen James G. O’Hara and James J. Blanchard, who later became governor. I was also a judicial clerk to the late Hon. Richard D. Kuhn, Oakland County Circuit Court Judge and Research Intern for the Hon. Gene Schnelz, Oakland County Circuit Court Judge, retired. I was a hearing panelist chairman for the Attorney Discipline Board, a former Special Assistant Attorney General, and I have taught business law at...

Dan Hohf graduated from Western Michigan University in 2009 with a Bachelor’s Degree in History. While at WMU, he served as a Museum Technician at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Pennsylvania as well as at the Kingman Museum in Battle Creek, Michigan. He joined the Mike Morse Law Firm team in 2011 as a paralegal and eventually went on to earn his law degree from Wayne State University Law School in 2019. While attending law school, he remained employed at the Mike Morse Law Firm as well as served as a Judicial Extern for the Honorable Edward...

As an experienced attorney, my career is defined by relentless pursuit of justice for my clients, demonstrating unwavering professionalism, integrity, and an ironclad dedication. My expertise spans various legal realms, including criminal defense, immigration, personal injury, family law, and debt relief. The track record of success I've established isn't simply a testament to my legal acumen, but a reflection of my commitment to stand for what's right. What truly sets me apart in the legal landscape is my profound commitment to the Hispanic community in Detroit. I've become an essential bridge for Spanish-speaking clients, ensuring they receive the top-tier legal representation...

Canon J. Thomas graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts degree in General Studies. During Canon’s undergraduate studies, he was very involved in his community. He co-founded the organization ReliveTheBAR, which is dedicated to strengthening the community between Black students and alumni of U of M through book drives and apparel. Canon was also a recipient of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Spirit Award. Canon received his Juris Doctor degree from Western State College of Law, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. During law school, Canon was a Dean’s Fellow, the inaugural Thurgood Marshall...

Lisa Screen practiced criminal law for over ten years before transitioning into the auto insurance arena in 2012. Screen has aggressively tried over 250 cases to a jury, and while as an assistant prosecuting attorney, she litigated several high-profile cases and was specially assigned to the Homicide Division for most of her tenure at the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office in Detroit, MI. She successfully convicted two individuals of murder despite the victim’s body never being located. Prior to working at the Prosecutor’s Office, she was an associate at a medical malpractice insurance defense firm. Up until she joined...

Bjornrae Kemp is an associate attorney at the Mike Morse Law Firm. He graduated from the University of Houston in 2009. He went on to earn his law degree from Thurgood Marshall School of Law where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. Since 2020, he has been a member of the State Bar of Michigan and is also admitted to practice law in Texas. Bjornrae has represented accident victims for his entire legal career, recovering millions for his clients. In his free time, Bjornrae enjoys spending time with family, cooking, and reading.

Jay Yasso, a senior shareholder with Sommers Schwartz, focuses his practice on medical malpractice, automobile negligence, and personal injury. He has litigated, mediated and facilitated numerous multi-million dollar settlements on behalf of injured victims for over twenty years, and his experience and expertise allows him to sit on mediation panels in Oakland, Wayne and Macomb County Circuit Courts.

In addition, for the last 23 years, Jay’s professional practice has also focused on representing individuals and businesses in the entertainment industry, including representing record companies, recording artists, music and film producers, production companies, artist managers, agents, songwriters, music publishers, models and modeling...

Tracy M. Clark is a bankruptcy attorney with the Michigan law firm of Steinberg Shapiro & Clark. Ms. Clark has been practicing bankruptcy law since 1999 in the areas of debtor and creditor rights. Ms. Clark enjoys developing solutions to the legal problems faced by financially distressed individuals and businesses and, when necessary, litigating those issues at the trial and appellate levels. Ms. Clark believes that every client deserves her full attention and takes pride in personally meeting with all of her clients and handling her cases from beginning to end. Using this approach, Ms. Clark has successfully guided numerous...

Sunjay Sterling practices in all areas of tax and corporate law.

Tax Law

Sunjay has represented corporations, partnerships, LLCs, nonprofit organizations and individuals as a tax attorney in a wide variety of tax law matters including audit defense and resolution of tax controversies, tax compliance, tax planning, and structuring business transactions to minimize taxable impact. Sunjay Sterling is a tax attorney adept at identifying and resolving tax issues and audit risks in addition to formulating and implementing tax strategies and practical tax planning to further personal and business objectives.

Corporate/Business Law

Sunjay has represented and counseled C corporations, S corporations, general and limited partnerships,...

Attorney Symantha Heath has practiced law for over 23 years. She earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit Law School in 1993 and is licensed to practice in Michigan and U.S. Federal Court. She is a member of the Michigan State Bar Association, Oakland County Bar Association, Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, and Wayne County Family Law Bar Association.

Symantha is a past president of the Wayne County Family Bar Association and was an executive board member for six years. She is also a past County Chairwoman of the WCRC and the Northville Township Trustee. She currently serves on...

Susan Elkouri is a trial lawyer, certified Collaborative Divorce Law practitioner, and certified mediator. Ms. Elkouri has practiced divorce law for over 23 years. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Detroit Law School in 1994 and is licensed to practice in Michigan and Federal Courts.

Susan is a member of the Michigan State Bar Association, Oakland County Bar Association, Wayne County Family Law Bar Association, and the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan. She is an active participant in the Michigan Family Law Certification program and a past University of Detroit Law School Moot Court Judge.

Susan Elkouri is...

For the past 30 years, Mike Cunningham has been enormously successful in representing injured plaintiffs in medical malpractice, auto accident, and premises liability matters, obtaining many verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million. He has also pursued cases with similar outcomes in other states including California, Ohio, and Illinois.

Outside of the office, Mike’s hobbies include playing guitar and golf.

Lance Young is a senior shareholder at Sommers Schwartz, P.C., and co-chairs the firm’s Complex Litigation Department. For almost twenty years, Lance has successfully represented investors, employees, consumers, and other injured parties in high-profile class actions and multidistrict proceedings involving violations of federal and state securities, antitrust, wage and hour, and consumer protection laws. His current cases include the nationally publicized In Re Auto Parts Antitrust Litigation and multi-state Real Estate Transfer Tax litigation, along with several vehicle defect cases pending against major auto manufacturers. He also co-manages and supports the firm’s busy Fair Labor Standards Act practice

I have been practicing law in Metro Detroit since 1993. My expertise is in civil litigation. I am in courts all over the tri-county area a few times each week. I am well versed in law and procedure and we can make a comprehensive strategy that will get you the best resolution possible for your difficult situation.

I am driven to assist my client's in any possible way. Dealing with legal issues is stressful and time consuming. Let me help obtain a positive outcome so you can move on with your life. I try to connect with my clients and show the highest level of persistence and dedication.

Alex Lebedinski is an Equity Partner at Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C. and concentrates his practice in the areas of Health Care Law and Business Transactions. He represents health care providers, including physicians, large and small primary and specialty physician group practices, physician organizations, outpatient ambulatory surgery centers, diagnostic centers, laboratories and a specialty hospital in the areas of Federal and State regulatory compliance, as well as in a wide variety of business, corporate and employment law matters.

Evan has always shown tremendous dedication and empathy for his clients and the catastrophic issues they face. His rapid trajectory to partner is due to his hard work, excellent handling of cases and high praise from his clients. His leadership at the firm and his quick and enthusiastic handling of responsibilities have led him to be named a Partner in 2021. He handles complex cases including those heading to trial. He has experience in a wide range of personal injury cases including medical malpractice, sex abuse and harassment, auto and trucking cases. Evan is a committed attorney who fights and succeeds...

Ilana S. Wilenkin is a Michigan native who grew up in a family of attorneys. She always possessed a strong motivation to assist others, so she cultivated that motivation by becoming an attorney herself. She graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, with honors, in 2000.

Ms. Wilenkin joined attorney Stuart M. Feldheim at Feldheim & Wilenkin, P.C. in 2004. She became a partner at the firm in 2008. Her practice is exclusively devoted to ERISA and non-ERISA short and long-term disability claims and life insurance denials. Ms. Wilenkin is admitted to practice before the Michigan state...

Arvin Pearlman is nationally known for the successful outcomes he has obtained on behalf of railroad workers who are injured or killed in the course of their employment. Since concentrating his practice on Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) litigation in 1979, Arvin has tried numerous personal injury cases before judges and juries across the United States, many with multi-million dollar awards. FELA cases arise from many types of railroad workplace negligence including unsafe work environments, exposure to harmful substances and occupational illness, faulty equipment, and off-site injuries. He is designated legal counsel for the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen in...

Jonathan Roffe is business attorney with significant trial experience in various state and federal courts across the United States, regularly representing businesses of all sizes in the consumer goods, branding, retail and apparel industries with commercial matters involving contractual disputes, corporate governance, regulatory concerns, labor and employment issues, and intellectual property rights. In addition to representing clients in courtroom settings, Jonathan handles all matters necessary for clients, from drafting and negotiating customized business agreements, to overseeing the management and development of clients’ intellectual property portfolio. Jonathan has been recognized as a Rising Star in Business Litigation by Super Lawyers each...

Lee Steinberg graduated from Wayne State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1967. After graduating Wayne State University, he taught in the Detroit School System while going to night school at the Detroit College of Law. After graduating from the Detroit College of Law, he worked for personal injury firms before opening his law practice 1976. Lee has obtained substantial jury verdicts and awards against defendants, both local and national including British Petroleum, the City of Detroit and numerous insurance companies. He also tried cases in the State of Texas and obtained the first medical malpractice verdict in San...

Jessica Coulter earned her Bachelors in Social Policy from the James Madison College at Michigan State University. She then earned her J.D. from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where she was awarded the Trial Advocacy Award from the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association. She was actively involved in numerous trial advocacy competitions, and at the National Pretrial Competition, received the Best Brief Award. Other activities included volunteering with groups including Concerned Women for America, the Negotiations Board, the Moot Court Board and the Public Interest Law Advocates of Regent. Ms. Coulter is admitted in Michigan and the U.S. District...

Top 40 under 40 Lawyers in Illinois and Michigan. Experienced Personal Injury Trial Lawyer Specialized in Uber and Lyft car accidents and assaults, and federal matters of Maritime/Admiralty Law. Sean represents injured parties in Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Boston, New York, and many more states. In terms of federal courts, he is a member of the Northern District of Illinois and Eastern District of Michigan. He holds a certification in the law of taxation.

Mr. O'Bryan is a member of the Ride-Sharing Committee in the American Association for Justice, discussing the legal matters involving UBER and LYFT, and is a member...

Steven L. Schwartz is one of the most respected criminal defense attorneys. His comprehensive knowledge of the criminal justice system stems from nearly 30 years in practice. Criminal defense is a family tradition – Steven Schwartz’s father and grandfather were both lawyers and he grew up learning about the law, which grew into a passion for helping people through criminal defense litigation.

The firm has successfully helped clients in metro Detroit and throughout Michigan with aggressive defense and expert due-diligence. They represent clients throughout Michigan in many areas of criminal defense like DUI/OWI, Assault, Sex Crimes, Felony Crimes, Misdemeanor...

Christopher Coyle joined Blank Law, PC in March of 2022. Chris has been practicing law for 30 years and has developed specific and particular skills that set him apart from other criminal defense attorneys. Chris spent 28 years as a Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor. He has reviewed, examined, built, investigated and tried thousands of criminal cases from inception to conclusion. Chris was most recently the Deputy Chief of the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office (WCPO), Special Victims Unit (SVU). Chris handled and oversaw hundreds of Sexual Assault, Child Abuse, Domestic Violence and Elder/Vulnerable Adult Abuse cases. Having worked...

Steven A. Harms is a partner in Muller, Muller, Richmond, Harms & Myers, with offices in Birmingham, Grand Rapids and Traverse City, Michigan.Steve is a frequent lecturer and an author in addition to being a full time collection attorney. He also teaches in the MBA program at Walsh College, Troy, Michigan, live and online (winning an outstanding instructor award for online).Publications include many articles and seminar materials plus chapters of books including Michigan Basic Practice Handbook and Michigan Business Formbook. He co-authored International Commercial Secured Transactions with David Franklin, published 2010 by Thomson Reuters Publishing, a look at...

Gary Safir is a personal injury trial lawyer who specializes in fighting for victims of car accidents and motorcycle accidents, including “low speed” or “low-impact” accidents with minimal vehicle body damage. Gary believes that, no matter the speed of the crash, if a client’s injury has affected their life, their case is worth the fight. He is currently the senior trial attorney at Scott Goodwin Law, P.C., in Birmingham, MI. Gary has recovered millions of dollars for his clients and has been recognized as a top-rated personal injury attorney by nationally recognized legal rating services. Gary considers it a privilege to...

Kevin has been a truck accident lawyer for close to 25 years. He litigates cases involving large commercial vehicles and semi-trucks, Michigan No-Fault laws and insurance coverage disputes. Kevin has argued complex legal issues before the Michigan Court of Appeals and achieved victories for his clients every time. Kevin has obtained millions of dollars for his injured clients and is a tenacious fighter both inside and out of the courtroom.

Nadeem Noah Harfouch is the founder of The Harfouch Law Firm, PLLC located in Troy, Michigan. The firm provides businesses and individuals with legal representation in various business and personal matters. Having completed his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Western Michigan University, and his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from Michigan State University, Mr. Harfouch is licensed to practice in the State of Michigan, and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Before starting The Harfouch Law Firm, Mr. Harfouch handled complex business and commercial litigation with a prominent Michigan law firm. Mr. Harfouch is a member...

Don is an experienced attorney that specializes in family law and has concentrated his practice in this area for over three decades. He has represented clients in various facets of family law, which include divorce, child custody, child support, parenting time, paternity, spousal support, mediation and other post-judgment issues. Don has been acknowledged by multiple professional associations and is also the recipient of numerous awards for his outstanding accomplishments in the legal community.

Daniel L. Buckfire earned his undergraduate degree in accounting from the University of Michigan Business School in 1989, where he was Phi Beta Kappa and graduated in the top 10% of his class. In 1991, he graduated cum laude from the prestigious University of Michigan Law School. Daniel specializes in Michigan car accident cases, no-fault insurance claims, dram shop liability, and general negligence cases. He is rated as a "Superb" lawyer by the top internet lawyer rating service and "Best Personal Injury Lawyer" by a Detroit business magazine. Daniel's adept knowledge of these areas of law has resulted in...

Ben Wilensky is a member of Sommers Schwartz’s Personal Injury Litigation Group and focuses his practice on representing railroad workers who seek compensation for on-the-job injuries under the Federal Employers' Liability Act.

After graduating from Michigan State University, Ben served as an aide to U.S. Senators Jon Corzine and Frank Lautenberg in Washington, D.C. He then pursued his law degree at Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he was an Executive Articles Editor and a member of the Executive Board of the Law Review, and a professorial research assistant, before earning his Juris Doctor.

In addition to his active FELA practice, Ben has...

Thomas N. Economy received his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan-Dearborn in 1996, and his law degree from Michigan State University College of Law in 1999. His practice is devoted to representing seriously injured persons in cases involving no-fault insurance, automobile negligence and premises liability. He has successfully handled numerous important cases before the Michigan Court of Appeals and the Michigan Supreme Court. He is an active member of both the American Association for Justice and Michigan Association for Justice. Email: tom@buckfirelaw.com

Ms. Galguera joined NachtLaw in 2020. She was born and raised in Miami, Florida. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan, receiving a Bachelor of Arts with High Distinction in Political Science. While completing her undergraduate degree, she was involved with the Undergraduate Political Science Association and worked for legal counsel to the Hialeah Police Department and the City of Hialeah in South Florida. In this time, she learned about employment and criminal law and took an interest in both. She also took an interest in conflict resolution while working as a Student Facilitator at the University...

Matthew C. McManus is the founder and principal member of Ann Arbor Legal PLLC. McManus brings a wealth of knowledge derived from diverse life experiences, participation in business entrepreneurship and over 13 years of exposure within the legal community. McManus is guided under the strong belief that serving every client is our number one prerogative.