Upper Michigan Legal Institute 2019
 

Faculty & Moderators
Upper Michigan Legal Institute

June 14–15
Grand Hotel | Mackinac Island

Loren Andrulis
Warner Norcross + Judd, Grand Rapids
Practicing in the areas of business law, real estate law, and securities law, Loren Andrulis assists young as well as seasoned business entities in their capital raising and business and deal opportunities. His work includes complex limited liability company and corporate matters, acquisitions, formation of private funds, and representation of companies that are the recipients of investments from private funds. Mr. Andrulis chairs his firm's Legal Practice Committee and often serves on the firm's Management Committee (most recently as the vice chairperson). He is a member of the Business Law and Real Property Law Sections of the State Bar of Michigan; the Business Law and Real Property, Trust, and Estate Law Sections of the American Bar Association; and the Grand Rapids Bar Association. Mr. Andrulis is listed in "The Best Lawyers in America" and Michigan Super Lawyers. He has been a guest lecturer at Michigan State University College of Law and Grand Valley State University; a presenter at various seminars concerning business formation, choice of entity, limited liability companies, securities, and real estate matters; and a speaker at the Upper Michigan Legal Institute and many ICLE programs.
 
John G. Cameron Jr.
Dickinson Wright PLLC, Grand Rapids
John G. Cameron, Jr., practices in the areas of real estate and construction law. Mr. Cameron is admitted to practice in Michigan, Illinois, Colorado, and North Carolina. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy, received his BA in economics and business administration from Albion College in 1971, and graduated cum laude from Wayne State University Law School in 1974. He has written numerous chapters and articles and is the author of the five-volume treatise "Michigan Real Estate Forms and Practice" (Aspen Publishers) and "A Practitioner's Guide to Construction Law" (ALI-ABA). He is also author of ICLE's "Michigan Real Property Law." Mr. Cameron is listed in "Who's Who in American Law" and "The Best Lawyers in America" and has been named a Michigan Super Lawyer annually since 2006. He is an elected member of both the American Law Institute and the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, served as the public director on the board, is a member of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards Task Force on Professional Ethics, and for six years served on the National Board of Editors of "The Practical Real Estate Lawyer." A former instructor on real estate law at Grand Valley State University's Seidman School of Business and at Grand Rapids Community College, Mr. Cameron lectures frequently on real estate law throughout the United States and teaches real estate transactions as an adjunct professor of law at the University of Michigan. He served as law clerk to the Honorable William H. Webster, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, in 1974-1975. With experience in real estate transactions and construction law matters, Mr. Cameron represents a wide variety of clients in a variety of real estate and construction law matters. He was recently awarded an LLM from the University of Michigan.
 
Mary Chartier
Chartier & Nyamfukudza PLC, East Lansing
Mary Chartier is a criminal defense litigator and partner at the firm, which has offices in East Lansing and Grand Rapids. She has extensive experience litigating serious and complex criminal defense cases and has successfully defended clients in numerous federal and state trials. Ms. Chartier has served as lead counsel in many cases and has represented clients accused of white-collar crimes, such as health care fraud, mortgage fraud, and money laundering, as well as clients accused of drug dealing, crimes against the United States, bank robbery, criminal sexual conduct, and homicide. She is a member of the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan (CDAM), the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the National College for DUI Defense. She is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation, Michigan State Bar Foundation, and the Ingham County Bar Foundation. Ms. Chartier is president of the Ingham County Bar Association (ICBA) and chairperson of the ICBA's Criminal Defense Section. She taught law school students for over 10 years, including teaching the state's first medical marijuana class. Ms. Chartier has presented at many nationwide and state conferences on topics related to criminal defense, including conferences organized by CDAM, the Michigan Judges Association, and the National College for DUI Defense. She has also taught at the Hillman Advocacy Program, which provides federal courtroom training to trial lawyers and is sponsored by the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan. Ms. Chartier has argued and won numerous cases at the Michigan Supreme Court, including "People v Koon," which related to impairment and medical marijuana use. She has received many recognitions for her criminal defense work, including being named one of the 2018 Leaders in the Law by "Michigan Lawyers Weekly" and receiving the Distinguished Barrister's Award by the Davis-Dunnings Bar Association.
 
Kim A. Coggins
Moderator
Coggins Law, Marinette, WI
Kim A. Coggins practices in the areas of municipal law, civil litigation, commercial law, real estate law, and domestic relations. He practices in both Michigan and Wisconsin. He is a 1977 graduate of Michigan State University and a 1981 graduate of Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Mr. Coggins is a member of the Michigan and Wisconsin State Bar Associations and the Menominee and Marinette County Bar Associations and has served as a member on several committees for the State Bar of Michigan.
 
Hon. James N. Erhart
90th District Court, Petoskey
Hon. James N. Erhart is a judge for the 90th District Court in Emmet and Charlevoix Counties. He was appointed in October 2012 by Governor Rick Snyder. Judge Erhart is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and serves as a commissioner of the state bar for District A. He has also been an adjunct professor at North Central Michigan College, teaching tort law for the paralegal program.
 
Hon. Joseph J. Farah
7th Circuit Court, Flint
Hon. Joseph J. Farah practiced law for 18 years before being appointed to the Genesee County Circuit Court in 1998. He was originally assigned to the Family Division, handling domestic and juvenile cases until 2005, and is currently assigned to the Civil/Criminal Division. Along with being a member of the judiciary, Judge Farah has taught a dozen law school classes concerning the law of evidence and has been a regular presenter to lawyers and judges concerning evidence and many other topics. He is currently a board member of the Michigan Judges Association, Michigan Board of Law Examiners, as well as other groups.
 
James J. Harrington III
Harrington Law PLC, Novi
James J. Harrington III, the managing member of his firm, concentrates his practice solely upon complex family law cases, with approximately 1/3 of his practice involving mediation and arbitration. He has been a member of the State Bar of Michigan for 44 years and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Mr. Harrington was the first Michigan lawyer to receive family law certification from the National Board of Trial Attorneys. He is former chair of the State Bar’s Family Law Section, has held every officer position, and has testified on behalf of the section on multiple occasions before the Supreme Court of Michigan and Michigan Legislature. He has been published in “Michigan Bar Journal” and the section’s journal many times. In addition, Mr. Harrington is co-editor of the national LexisNexis publication “Michigan Family Law Practice” and author of the Alternate Dispute Resolution, Attorney Fees, Marital Property, Pretrial Discovery, Motion Practice, and Spousal Support chapters. Mr. Harrington is a frequent contributor for ICLE and the State Bar and is the recipient of the Blaine Johnson Award for outstanding contributions to continuing legal education.
 
Steve Hughes
Hit Your Stride LLC, St. Louis, MO

Steve Hughes is the President of Hit Your Stride, LLC, a consultancy that helps people look and sound smart when they talk. He is the author of the book Captivate and his seminars have been featured on NPR, CBS, and BBC Radio, as well as The Wall Street Journal and Businessweek. Steve is also the proud creator of “International Be Kind to Lawyers Day” (celebrated annually on the second Tuesday in April).
 
Steve’s top clients include the law firms of Kirkland & Ellis, Skadden Arps, Ropes & Gray, and Baker Botts. He’s worked with the Association of Corporate Counsel, Legal Marketing Association, National Association of College and University Attorneys, as well as the law schools of the University of Virginia, Boston College, Georgetown, and the JAG Corps.
 
Prior to consulting full-time, Steve was the co-owner of an award-winning 40-person ad agency in St. Louis where he delivered hundreds of presentations with millions of dollars on the line for clients like Enterprise Rent-a-car, Rawlings Sporting Goods, and Minute Maid Orange Juice. He holds a BA in French literature and European history from the University of Kansas and an MBA in marketing from Washington University where he won the prestigious Olin Cup.
 
Hit Your Stride, LLC
St. Louis, MO
 
Gregory R. Kish
John A. Scott PC, Traverse City
Gregory R. Kish helps families and individuals address the legal, financial, and emotional aspects of aging and assists clients with issues relating to elder law, estate and long-term care planning, probate and trust administration, and real estate law. He has earned the designation of Certified Elder Law Attorney from the National Elder Law Foundation and serves as past president of the Michigan Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Mr. Kish is a member of the Bay Area Senior Advocates, the Elder Law and Disability Rights section of the State Bar of Michigan, and the Grand Traverse-Leelanau-Antrim Bar Association. He also serves on the board of directors for PACE North.
 
Thomas M.J. Lavigne
Cannabis Counsel PLC, Detroit
Thomas M.J. Lavigne is a partner at the firm, where he represents businesses applying for commercial licenses for medical cannabis, and now soon adult use and hemp licensing. He took his first cannabis cases 30 years ago and has been a hemp proponent ever since. Mr. Lavigne served as secretary of the board of MILegalize, the grassroots partner of the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, legalizing industrial hemp and adult use, and cultivation of 12 plants per household. He is on the council of the Marijuana Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan and is a member of the National Law Committee of NORML; International Cannabis Bar Association; and the Michigan Industrial Hemp Think Tank.
 
Hon. Bridget M. McCormack
Chief Justice, Michigan Supreme Court
Justice Bridget M. McCormack was elected to the Michigan Supreme Court on January 1, 2013. Before her election, she was associate dean for clinical affairs and a clinical professor with the Michigan Clinical Law Program teaching both a criminal defense clinic and a domestic violence clinic. During that time, she cofounded the Michigan Innocence Clinic where students represented wrongfully convicted Michiganders. Before joining the faculty, she was a faculty fellow at Yale Law School. Justice McCormack has worked as a staff attorney with the Office of the Appellate Defender and as a senior trial attorney with the Criminal Defense Division of the Legal Aid Society, both in New York City. In 2012, the Justice Caucus presented her with the Millie Jeffrey Award and the Washtenaw County Women Lawyers recognized her with the Mary Foster Award. In 2013, Justice McCormack was honored with the Hon. Kaye Tertzag Purple Sport Coat Award. The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee recognized her with its Guardian of Justice Award in 2014. She participates with a number of professional organizations, including the American Bar Association Access to Justice Committee, the American Bar Association Litigation Journal's Board of Editors, the American Bar Association Working Group on Pro Bono and Public Service, the advisory board of the National Consortium on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Courts, the judicial elections committee of the National Association of Women Judges, and the advisory board of the Michigan Civil Rights Academy. Justice McCormack serves as a board member of the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification, and in 2013, was elected to the American Law Institute. She has been published in the University of Pennsylvania Law Review and wrote, with Andrea Lyon, the "Criminal Defense Motions Book" for the State Appellate Defender's Office.
 
Takura Nyamfukudza
Chartier & Nyamfukudza PLC, East Lansing
Takura Nyamfukudza focuses his practice on criminal defense. He practices in state and federal courts throughout Michigan, including handling appellate cases in the Michigan Supreme Court and the Michigan Court of Appeals. Mr. Nyamfukudza is the president and an executive board member of the Davis-Dunnings Bar Association (DDBA) and serves as cochairperson of the DDBA's Mentorship Committee. He is also a member of the State Bar of Michigan (SBM), the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan, and the Michigan Association of OWI Attorneys. Mr. Nyamfukudza has presented on issues related to the criminal justice system and criminal defense, including at a statewide conference offered by the Michigan Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and the People's Law School, where he educated those in attendance on issues related to the Fourth Amendment. He received the SBM's Regeana Myrick Outstanding Young Lawyer Award for 2015.
 
Sarah Ostahowski
Sarah's Law Firm PLC, Clare
Sarah L. Ostahowski opened her own practice in 2011, directly out of law school, in the small village of Shepherd. She has now expanded to Alma and Clare, with a focus entirely on estate planning and elder law. Ms. Ostahowski is a frequent speaker for ICLE and WealthCounsel (a nationwide network of estate planning lawyers) as well as Western Michigan University Cooley Law School. She is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the American Bar Association, and WealthCounsel. She is on the board of trustees for Gratiot and Isabella County United Way, Catholic Community Foundation of Mid-Michigan, and 60+ Elder Law Clinic at Cooley Law School. Ms. Ostahowski was nominated to the "Michigan Lawyers Weekly" Women in the Law Class of 2017, Top 40 Under 40 by National Advocates, and 2017 Rising Star by Super Lawyers.
 
David R. Peterson
Moderator
Law Offices of David R. Peterson PC, Cadillac
David R. Peterson practices in the areas of estate planning, real estate, and advising small businesses. After graduating from the University of Michigan Law School in 1975, he served as chief assistant in the Marquette County Prosecutor's Office from 1976 to 1982. Mr. Peterson serves on the Upper Michigan Lawyers Committee and has been a moderator at the Upper Michigan Legal Institute annually since 1998. He has served on the board of directors for Legal Services of Northern Michigan since 1977 and served as the president of the Grand Traverse-Leelanau-Antrim Bar Association in 1990-1991. Mr. Peterson is a hearing panelist on the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board and served as a referee for the 28th Judicial Circuit Court from 1996 to 2001.
 
Hon. Thomas J. Phillips
86th District Court, Traverse City
Hon. Thomas J. Phillips was elected in 2000 and re-elected in 2006 to serve Antrim, Leelanau, and Grand Traverse counties. Prior to election, Judge Phillips was the managing partner for Running Wise Ford and Phillips. He joined the firm in 1975 and became a partner in 1977. After graduating cum laude from the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, he went on to complete his law degree at the University of Michigan Law School. After law school, Judge Phillips served in the Naval Judge Advocates General Corps as a lieutenant during the Vietnam War. While a Navy Jag, he was awarded the Freedom Award from the NAACP for his work with black sailors. His current term expires January, 2019.
 
Terrence G. Quinn
TGQ Law Firm, Ann Arbor
Terrence G. Quinn is president of the firm, focusing on estate planning, probate, and elder law. A 2002 graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, Mr. Quinn began his career as a general practitioner in a large mid-Michigan firm. Shortly afterward, he undertook an effort to develop a niche in the areas of estate planning and elder law, including his successful completion of ICLE’s Probate and Estate Planning Certificate Program. Mr. Quinn frequently conducts seminars and workshops across the state. He is an ICLE contributor and has served as faculty for ICLE’s Probate and Estate Planning Institute, among other events. In 2015, Mr. Quinn was honored by the National Black Lawyers as a Top 100 attorney in Michigan. He was also appointed in 2015 to the State Bar of Michigan Character and Fitness Committee. Mr. Quinn is also an associate pastor at his church in Ypsilanti. He has been recognized by his hometown city of Flint with "Terrence Quinn Day" and has received the Key to the City, among other honors.
 
F. Martin Tieber
Materials Contributer
Tieber Law Office, Lansing
F. Martin Tieber practices in the area of criminal law. He is in private practice, representing criminal defendants on direct appeal and in state postconviction and federal habeas litigation. He retired from the State Appellate Defender Office after nearly 29 years of service. For 24 years, Mr. Tieber directed the Lansing office of the State Appellate Defender, concentrating on complex state and federal appellate litigation and legislative advocacy. For nearly two decades he taught several courses at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing. Mr. Tieber is a life member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and is a past president of the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan. He has written articles for the "Michigan Bar Journal" in his practice area, federal habeas practice, and has conducted statewide training in this area for nearly a decade. For six years Mr. Tieber sat on the state's Criminal Justice Training Commission. He also founded Michigan's Innocence Project and served as the first chair of the Innocence Project Commission in 2000-2001.
 
Kristoffer W. Tieber
Materials Contributor
Tieber Law Office, Lansing
Kristoffer W. Tieber joined the firm in 2004 and is the managing partner. He devotes most of his practice to criminal appeals, postconviction proceedings, and federal habeas litigation. Mr. Tieber is a member of several organizations, including Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan and the Ingham County Bar Association. He has assisted with and handled cases in the Michigan Circuit Courts, Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court, and the U.S. District Courts and Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
 
Hon. Karl A. Weber
96th District Court, Marquette
Judge Karl Weber serves the 96th District Court for the County of Marquette where he splits his time between the criminal and civil dockets. Judge Weber is also cross-assigned to the 25th Judicial Circuit Court where he oversees the civil litigation docket and a portion of the felony criminal trial docket. Prior to joining the bench, Judge Weber practiced law with Plunkett Cooney for 20 years, where he served as the managing partner of the firm’s Northern Michigan office. Judge Weber is actively involved in his community where he continues to serve as a board member for the Community Foundation of Marquette County and is a past member of the NMU Board of Trustees, having been twice elected as the Board’s chair. Judge Weber is a graduate of the University of Michigan where he obtained both his undergraduate and law degrees. He and his wife, Peggy, have three sons.