Dickinson Wright PLLC > Lexington, United States > Firm Profile

Dickinson Wright PLLC > The Legal 500 Rankings

Industry focus > Cannabis Tier 3

The team at Dickinson Wright PLLC works closely with the firm’s corporate and M&A practice, and includes practitioners with expertise in IP, as well as government mandates in the cannabis industry. The team assists clients on state, local and federal regulatory compliance, private equity investments and the licensing of processing equipment. Scot Crow oversees the team and has expertise on business planning, advising public as well as private companies; he also has been active in divestures, mezzanine debt offerings, private offerings as well as venture capital financings. Benton Bodamer routinely advises public and private companies on divestitures, joint ventures, leveraged buyouts, minority investments, and restructurings. All names mentioned are based in Columbus.

Intellectual property > Patents: licensing Tier 3

Dickinson Wright PLLC handles traditional patent licensing, software licensing, cross-licensing to resolve disputes, and technology licensing for universities. The team’s work includes the full spectrum of patent licensing matters, including product development, protection and licensing-out, complemented by substantial industry and business experience in this practice area. Richard Jones, who has considerable experience in negotiating patent license agreements and resolving intellectual property disputes, leads the team from the firm’s Troy office, often working for high-profile clients on issues such as customer and competitor patent portfolios and worldwide licensing strategies. Strengthening the team is Austin’s Lance Anderson, whose expertise includes technology M&A, patent prosecution and due diligence for licensing and acquisitions, among others. Steven Daniels, who is also based in Austin, focuses on disputes, addressing patent infringements as well as strategic counseling on patent portfolio evaluation.

M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m) Tier 3

The corporate team at Dickinson Wright PLLC brings together vast experience in M&A, private equity investments, divestitures, and internal reorganizations. With offices located throughout the country, the team is often engaged in both cross-border and domestic matters involving the healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, consumer goods and automotive sectors. Scot Crow possesses far-reaching expertise in private equity deals, venture capital financings and corporate transactions. He is based in Columbus, where Benton Bodamer is especially active advising privately held businesses on transactions and general corporate matters. Amy Kwiatkowski in Detroit is noted for her in-depth knowledge of corporate law, including complex M&A and corporate governance.

Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes Tier 4

With strong regional capabilities and market standing, Dickinson Wright PLLC caters to clients in the energy, financial services, and healthcare sectors. Their comprehensive team of lawyers handles a wide range of commercial disputes and is headed by Scott Knapp in Lansing and John Desmond in Reno. Scot Claus, based in Phoenix, brings expertise in civil, commercial, and real estate law, while Thomas McNeill in Detroit specializes in securities, antitrust, and banking disputes, among others. Other noteworthy litigators include Bennett Evan Cooper in Phoenix, Phillip DeRosier  in Detroit, and Austin-based John Nelson .

Labor and employment > Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions) Tier 4

The team at Dickinson Wright PLLC is jointly headed by trade secret and non-compete expert Joshua Burgener in Nashville, and Brian Johnson in Lexington. The firm provides assistance to clients on the whole spectrum of employment issues, including whistleblower claims, wage and hour cases, discrimination issues, and traditional labor work. Recent advice includes assisting First Class Valet Inc on COVID-19 related employment issues and representing Standex International Corporation in non-competition litigation. Key contacts include Timothy Howlett and Kathryn Wood in the Detroit office, Reid Estes in Nashville, and William Thacker in Ann Arbor.

Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (full coverage) Tier 5

The intellectual property team at Dickinson Wright PLLC handles patent infringement claims and post grant review proceedings in state and federal courts state-wide. Particular expertise of the team lies in relation to the import and domestic sales of foreign manufactured infringing products, but the group is active across a wide range of industry sectors, from trucking to manufacturing to gaming. Based in Ann Arbor, Philip Rettig and John Artz lead the team, alongside Frank Long in Phoenix.  

Real estate > Construction (including construction litigation) Tier 5

Dickinson Wright PLLC‘s client roster features prominent names within the domestic construction industry, with the team regularly advising on both contentious as well as non-contentious matters. The team is also seasoned in overseeing an array of disputes, frequently appearing before industry arbitration panels, judges and juries, and advises clients throughout the full cycle of significant construction projects. The team is led by Todd Baxter who often negotiates and prepares contracts for contractors and both public and private owners. He is also adept in representing homebuilders in residential construction disputes, while John Cameron in Grand Rapids focuses on real estate and construction, as well as business law. Stephen Richman frequently acts as an arbitrator in construction disputes and represents contractors and owners in contractual negotiations. All individuals mentioned are located in Phoenix, unless stated otherwise.

Real estate > Real estate finance Tier 5

Concentrating on the property market across the Midwest, Texas and Florida and with several offices across the US, Dickinson Wright PLLC remains sought after for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac multifamily and manufactured housing mortgage loans, and frequently assists Canada-based lenders. Real estate finance partner Katheryne Zelenock co-heads the practice alongside fellow partners, Michael Lusardi who takes charge of the real estate offering. Both are based in Troy.  

Real estate Tier 5

Dickinson Wright PLLC works on behalf of commercial and residential developers, lenders, investors, municipal bodies, blue-chip clients and SMEs on their industrial, retail, office, hospitality, residential and mixed-use real estate transactions and projects. From its Troy office, ‘attentive with a consistently positive approach‘ Michael Lusardi and Katheryne Zelenock co-lead the department, specializing in acquisition, disposition and leasing, and real estate finance, respectively. Monica Labe is another noted senior partner in Troy, and John Cameron is the key figure in Grand Rapids.

Intellectual property > Trademarks: litigation