Michigan Lawyers Joshua Traeger to Judy A.

Firm: True North Legal Group

733 E. Eighth Street , Traverse City , Michigan 49686

Practice Areas: Business

True North Legal Group is led by its Founding Attorney, Josh Traeger. Service, helping others, and delivering world-class legal advocacy are at the core of Josh’s identity. Growing up, Josh volunteered at local homeless shelters, served as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and was honored as a United Way Volunteer of the Year. When he graduated law school, that same calling to serve led Josh into the United States Air Force. For ten years, Josh served on active duty, traveling the world and handling some of the military’s most serious legal cases. During that time, Josh was awarded multiple Meritorious Service Medals for his commitment to helping others and his dedication to justice.. But Josh knew that in order to serve others well, he needed to have a clear competitive edge. So, he focused relentlessly on improving and refining his trial advocacy skills. In law school, he was awarded a Trial Advocacy Fellowship. This competitive program required Josh to train for hundreds of hours to develop his verbal and written advocacy skills. After graduating law school, and in the first few months of his legal career, Josh received the American Association for Justice’s “Excellence in Trial Advocacy Award,” reserved for the single military officer who demonstrated the highest level of skill in criminal trials. Then, for more than six years, Josh served as an Air Force Senior Trial Counsel, traveling the world and prosecuting the military’s most difficult cases. All told, Josh has prosecuted or defended more than 200 criminal trials, including more than 150 jury trials. He leverages his refined advocacy skills and mountain of trial experience to deliver fantastic results for his clients.. As the Founding Attorney of True North Legal Group, Josh believes in a simple mantra – “always choose the hard right over the easy wrong.” Whether fighting for a client’s rights, presenting a case to a jury, or helping out in his community, Josh is continually focused on providing value and expertise to his clients.. When he’s not busy leading True North Legal Group, Josh enjoys all the outdoor activities that Northern Michigan has to offer – mountain biking, skiing, and camping.. Education. Bachelor of Arts, Wake Forest UniversityJuris Doctor, Loyola University Chicago School of Law- Philp H. Corboy Fellow in Trial Advocacy. Recognition. Excellence in Trial Advocacy Award, American Association of JusticeTwo-Time Recipient of Meritorious Service Medal

Firm: Van Laan Law, P.L.L.C.

51615 Hale Lane , New Baltimore , Michigan 48051

After graduating from South Christian High School in Grand Rapids in 2000, Joshua enlisted in the United States Air Force and Michigan Air National Guard, where he spent the next 10 years serving our country and fighting in the war on terrorism. While doing so, he was able to obtain his undergraduate degrees in Sociology and Public Law from both Western Michigan University and Michigan State University. Thereafter, Joshua went on to obtain his law degree from Western Michigan University's Thomas M. Cooley Law School. During that time, he won several trial, counseling, and advocacy competitions, he was a three-time national trial team member and captain, he received the top litigation award at the largest law school in the country, and he graduated with honors in the top 12% of his class.. Attorney Joshua Van Laan has the kind of well-rounded experience that makes him uniquely suited to represent his clients in nearly every type of legal matter. Before even becoming a lawyer, he was a decorated military veteran, a Deputy Sheriff for Kalamazoo County, and an Insurance Fraud Investigator for State Farm. Then, after becoming a lawyer, Joshua spent his first year in private practice representing clients in a variety of legal matters, including criminal cases, child custody battles, property disputes, landlord-tenant issues, and more. Ultimately though, Joshua left his private practice to continue serving the public as a Principal Trial Lawyer for Macomb County. Now, as a seasoned trial prosecutor with over 12 years of real courtroom experience, Joshua is armed with a wealth of knowledge and a unique skill set that make him well-suited to confidently and successfully represent his clients in almost any legal matter.. Real experience matters, especially when your freedom, your money, your family, or your business are at risk. Attorney Joshua Van Laan has prosecuted thousands of criminal matters, many of which have included "high-profile" cases and defendants, and most of which have involved charges like murder, manslaughter, criminal sexual conduct, child abuse, armed robbery, home invasion, and other violent felony offenses. As a result, Joshua has had to appear before a variety of district and circuit court judges and has conducted dozens of bench and jury trials. He has successfully handled countless motions and hearings, has questioned and cross-examined hundreds of lay and expert witnesses, and has delivered numerous opening statements and closing arguments. Joshua has also had the distinct privilege of arguing before both the Michigan Court of Appeals and the Michigan Supreme Court on several occasions, and his advocacy in those cases has an actual impact and has positively changed our judicial system.

Firm: Sommers Schwartz, PC

1 Towne Square, #1700 , Southfield , Michigan 48076

Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice

Judy Susskind is one of Michigan’s foremost medical malpractice and personal injury trial attorneys who has, for over 30-years, successfully handled medical malpractice cases, obtaining favorable outcomes for her clients and their families.. For more than 30 years, Judy has successfully handled a variety of medical malpractice cases. In 2002, she won a record-breaking three medical malpractice trials in less than 11 weeks. In 2004, Michigan Lawyers Weekly named Judy “Lawyer of the Year,” an honor based on peer recognition. In 2019, she was one of the recipients of the “Women in the Law” honor from Lawyer’s Weekly. In 2019, she was featured in “Leading Lawyers” magazine for her accomplishments and unique talents.. Judy has been included on the list of Michigan Super Lawyers each year since its inception. She has also been listed, for many consecutive years, in Best Lawyers of America. She was named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers for plaintiffs’ medical malpractice law in 2015, 2017, and 2021; and for Personal Injury law in 2022. She has been inducted as a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the American College of Trial Lawyers, two prestigious national organizations whose membership is reserved for lawyers with extensive trial experience, extraordinary skill, and the highest civility and integrity. In 2021, she received the Earl Cline & Sherwin Schreier Award for Excellence by the State Bar of Michigan’s Negligence Law Section.. Judy gives back to the legal profession and the community in many ways. She sits on the Executive Board of the Michigan Association for Justice (previously known as the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association) and served as the organization’s president in 2008 and 2009. She also served as the Chair of the Negligence Section of the State Bar in 2003-2004. She is a member of the Macomb County Bar Association, the Oakland County Bar Association, and the Oakland County Bar Foundation, of which she is a fellow. She serves as a plaintiff specialty panel member for case evaluations in medical malpractice matters in Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne County Circuit Courts. She has served on the Michigan Civil Jury Instruction Committee for several years and previously served on the Judicial Qualifications Committee for the State Bar. She is the Vice President of the Michigan ABOTA Chapter, and the Vice Chair of the Michigan Chapter of the American College of Trial Lawyers.. For more than 15 years, Judy has co-moderated MAJ’s annual medical malpractice seminar. She continues to passionately represent her clients while enjoying the challenges and camaraderie of her practice.

Firm: Garan Lucow & Miller PC

101 North Main Street , Ann Arbor , Michigan 48104

Practice Areas: Construction , General Practice, Insurance , Personal Injury

Firm: Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss PC

27777 Franklin Road   2500  48034 , Southfield , Michigan 48034

Practice Areas: Banking & Finance,Bankruptcy,Business & Commercial

Firm: Dickinson Wright PLLC

38525 Woodward Avenue   2000  483 , Bloomfield Hills , Michigan 48304

Practice Areas: Corporate ,Estate Planning,Taxation - State & Federal

Firm: Judith A. Baxter PLC

312 Fulton St E , Grand Rapids , Michigan 49503

Practice Areas: Criminal Defense

2929 Plymouth Road   250 , Ann Arbor , Michigan 48105

Practice Areas: Appellate ,Medical Malpractice,Premises Liability

21626 Downing St , Saint Clair Shores , Michigan 48080

Firm: Varnum LLP

Po Box 352 , Grand Rapids , Michigan 49501

Practice Areas: Corporate , Family , General Practice, Family

Firm: Perez Legal PLLC

455 E Eisenhower Pkwy Ste 360 , Ann Arbor , Michigan 48108

Practice Areas: Estate Planning

Perez Legal is an innovative, client-centered law firm with a demonstrated passion for serving families.. We help families prepare for periods of disability, navigate end of life issues, protect and provide for children, preserve the value of their estate, and reduce the likelihood of in-family disputes.. We are committed to providing clients with a simple, consistent, low-stress legal experience with a transparent, project-based fee structure and no billable hours.. We focus on estate planning and business formation, but Perez Legal ultimately desires to become your family's trusted, personal legal counselor. No matter the situation, we would be honored to be the first attorney that your family contacts when in need.

33364 Jefferson Ave , Saint Clair Shores , Michigan 48082

Practice Areas: Corporate , General Practice, Real Estate , Business

Firm: Conlin McKenney & Philbrick PC

350 S Main St Ste 400 , Ann Arbor , Michigan 48104

Practice Areas: Business & Commercial, Corporate , Estate Planning, Probate , Real Estate , Litigation

1000 Town Ctr Ste 550 , Southfield , Michigan 48075

Practice Areas: Personal Injury

Attorney Joumana Kayrouz. Joumana Kayrouz is the owner of the Michigan Center for Personal Injury and the Law Offices of Joumana Kayrouz PLLC.. Kayrouz is one of the most recognized attorneys in Michigan, and the only woman attorney to own a major personal-injury law firm in the state. She built her career on a combination of legal savvy, hard work and a sincere empathy for the financial, physical and psychological needs of accident victims.. Ms. Kayrouz is as a pioneer in her field, effectively breaking down barriers to reach out to those in need of her services and growing an immensely successful enterprise.. Since earning her Doctorate in Juris Doctor degree in 1997, she has recovered tens of millions of dollars for clients. Her law firm is growing constantly, adding highly qualified attorneys and legal staff who treat each client with skill and compassion.. After earning her law degree, Kayrouz worked at Philo, Atkinson, et al. Known as the “father of personal injury law,” Harry Philo was a valuable and much-loved mentor. After four months, she was offered a partnership in the firm. After Philo’s retirement, she left the firm. Since then, the Kayrouz Law Firm has grown by leaps and bounds. Currently located on the fifth floor of the Southfield Town Center, the firm will soon occupy much of the building’s seventh floor.. Kayrouz was born in Lebanon where she experienced the ravages of war from an early age. This awakened her acute sense of justice. She began college at the American University of Beirut (AUB) as a pre-medical student. Emigrating from Lebanon at the age of 22, she finished her undergraduate studies Master’s degree from Yale in Ethics, with a concentration in Medical Ethics.. Kayrouz, who is fluent in four languages — several dialects of Arabic, French, Italian, and English — feels her job involves more than helping people recoup money owed to them by insurance companies.. “When you graduate, they call you ‘lawyer and counselor.’ I never understood the ‘counselor’ part until I became a practitioner,” she says.. “Then I understood that when people come to you they are, quite often, very wounded, not just physically, but also emotionally. And you have to really become a healer.. “You’re dealing not just with the economic loss and the physical limitations that people might have from their accidents, but also with their depression, their personal relationships, and their daily struggles. Suddenly you find yourself offering advice, both legal and psychological; guiding them and being a role model to them; reminding them of faith and the power of the mind.”. In addition to managing her successful law practice, Kayrouz also maintains an energetic role in community and social activism.. Kayrouz served as the national president of Auxilia, the premier Lebanese charitable organization, providing millions of dollars of aid to families in her native country. She currently serves as secretary of the D-MAN Foundation, which assists those injured in automobile accidents with private duty nurses, medical transportation, music therapy, and other services.. SOCIAL ACTIVISM. Active in the Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) and an honorary adviser to the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), she is an Executive Board Member of the Michigan Association for Justice (MAJ) and the Minority Delegate from the State of Michigan to the American Association for Justice (AAJ).. In March of 2012, Kayrouz was appointed President of the Board of Directors for the Miss Lebanon Emigrants USA – 2012 by the Lebanese Ministry of Tourism. As President of the organization in the United States, Kayrouz will be the official representative of the Lebanese Ministry of Tourism in the United States and in everything related to Lebanese events.. Kayrouz helped direct the Miss Lebanon Emigrants – USA 2012 pageant which was held in Michigan on May 24. The event attracted celebrities from around the world including hosting the Lebanese Minister of Tourism as well as the Lebanese Ambassador to the United States and other high ranking officials.. The winner of the prestigious Michigan pageant competes with other contestants selected from pageants in 35 countries each August at Castle Assouf in Dhour Shweir, Lebanon.. Kayrouz hosts her own Arabic language program every Friday on WNKZ 690 AM radio from 12:30 to 1 PM where she offers legal advice to her Middle-Eastern community and takes live calls from listeners. She is frequently told that listeners take their lunch break at 12:30 for the specific purpose of tuning in and taping her show. She also appears as a guest every Wednesday from 8:30 to 8:45 a.m. on “Good Morning, Michigan,” hosted by Laila Al Husini, also on WNZK.. In March 2013, Kayrouz launched the Joumana Kayrouz & Daughters with a $50,000 starting endowment that will provide health and medical assistance to individuals in need in Lebanon, and disseminate information on the challenges facing the families and children in need.. In December 2013, Kayrouz was invited by Governor Rick Snyder to the ceremonial signing of the two Public acts, 218 and 219, for supporting two new laws that protect accident victims from unscrupulous attorneys known as “ambulance chasers.”. Garden City Hospital opened the doors to the new birthing center in March 2014; after months of renovations to their oldest wing. Hospital president and CEO Gary Ley acknowledged the “substantial” support of Kayrouz and her donation for future families at Garden City.. HONORS & RECOGNITIONS. Joumana Kayrouz was named a “Top Lawyer of the Year” for 2012 by DBusiness Magazine, the premier business publication of Detroit, in a survey of more than 18,000 Michigan lawyers.. Ms. Kayrouz received the Humanitarian of the Year Award from Life for Relief and Development at their 20th Anniversary dinner on April 19, 2013. And. Ms. Kayrouz also received the prestigious 2012 American Arab Chamber of Commerce (AACC) “Economic Bridge Builder of the Year Award” at their 20th Annual Banquet celebration.. She was named a “Presenting Sponsor” honored during the 50th Anniversary gala of the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.. In April 2014, Joumana Kayrouz was featured on the cover of Metro Times accompanied with an article written by Drew Philp.  Philp wrote this article after shadowing Kayrouz on more than five occasions in her office, home, and other public events so he can provide a glimpse “behind the billboard.”  Full article is available here.. Just recently, in June 2014, Kayrouz was named by Crain’s Detroit Business as one of the featured “American Dreamers.”  This recognition cites successful local men and women of Metro Detroit and their road to accomplishments.  The article feature can be found here.. In 2010 Ms. Kayrouz received the Trailblazer Award from the Lebanese American Club of Michigan (LACOM) during their 15th Annual dinner for her achievements in the legal field and for being an outstanding member of the Lebanese-American community.. PERSONAL LIFE. Kayrouz is a devoted mother to her two daughters, Stephanie and Nathalie. She is somewhat of a fanatic about her pet dogs, Bella a Chihuahua and Pierre a French Bulldog. She loves to travel, but, except for occasionally longer trips to Lebanon, a typical vacation usually runs from Friday through Sunday.

One Center   500 Woodward Avenue 2700 Mic , Detroit , Michigan 48226

Practice Areas: Business Organizations,Civil ,Transportation

Firm: Kotz Sangster Wysocki P.C.

36700 Woodward Avenue , Bloomfield Hills , Michigan 48304

Practice Areas: Certificate of Need, Compliance with Federal and State Laws and Regulations, Fraud and Abuse/Physician Self-Referral Stark Law and Anti-Kickback, HIPPA/HITECH, Licensing Issues, Litigation involving Physicians/Ancillary Health Care Providers/Suppliers, Physician/Ancillary Health Care Provider/Supplier Entity formation, Physician Group Practice Structuring, Third Party Payor Audit Defense, Environmental Law, Insurance Coverage/Risk Management

Firm: Judith H. Blumeno

32400 Telegraph Road   104 , Birmingham , Michigan 48025

Practice Areas: Child Custody & Visitation,Child Support,Divorce,Domestic Violence,Estate Planning,Family ,Juvenile ,Probate ,Real Estate ,Trusts,Wills

Firm: Judith L. Hansen PC

24055 Jefferson Ave Ste 2000 , Saint Clair Shores , Michigan 48080

Practice Areas: Family

Firm: Kitch Drutchas Wagner Valitutti & Sherbrook

One Woodward Avenue , Detroit , Michigan 48226

Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice, Premises Liability Defense

Firm: Miller Johnson

45 Ottawa Ave SW Ste 1100 , Grand Rapids , Michigan 49503

Practice Areas: Litigation