Dykema Elects 12 New Members

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that its Executive Board elected 12 new members to the firm effective January 1, 2018. Dykema’s new partners, their resident office and practice descriptions are listed below.

Maria A. Diakoumakis – Bankruptcy, Chicago

Diakoumakis has represented secured creditors, landlords, equipment lessors, indenture trustees, Chapter 11 trustees, unsecured creditors, and liquidating trustees in all aspects of corporate restructuring matters, including chapter 7, 11 and 13 proceedings, out-of-court workouts, and assignments for the benefit of creditors. She regularly represents secured lenders and mortgage servicers in a wide range of bankruptcy litigation matters, and in cash-collateral, relief from stay, and plan confirmation proceedings. Diakoumakis has successfully defended multimillion dollar preference and fraudulent transfer lawsuits on behalf of creditors in various industries in multiple jurisdictions throughout the nation.   

She earned a J.D., cum laude, from the John Marshall Law School, and a B.S., with highest honors, from DePaul University.

Larissa Sanchez Fields – Commercial Litigation, San Antonio

Fields primarily represents insurance companies in coverage disputes and high-exposure bad faith cases arising from catastrophic weather events. She shares in the management of a broad docket of hurricane, hail, and windstorm litigation all over Texas. She serves as trial counsel in insurance bad faith cases, and also has extensive experience representing clients in the financial services and real estate industries. She regularly advises financial institution clients on a wide variety of litigation matters including those involving trusts, accounts, and probate matters. Fields is also a military spouse and spends much of her time advocating for licensing accommodations for military spouse attorneys throughout the United States. 

She earned a J.D. from the Tulane University Law School, and a B.B.A. from The University of Texas at Austin.

Anthony J. Frasca – Taxation & Estates, Ann Arbor

Frasca focuses his practice on sophisticated estate and business succession planning for high net-worth individuals and families, with an emphasis on tax-efficient planning and philanthropic giving, and on assisting tax-exempt organizations, including with respect to nonprofit formation, governance, and various tax-related issues. He also assists individuals with the creation and implementation of complex estate plans for the purpose of achieving both tax and non-tax objectives.

Frasca earned a J.D., cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School, and a B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Dayton.

Melanie L. Fry – Commercial Litigation, San Antonio

Fry’s practice focuses on appellate law. She has briefed and won cases in the Texas Courts of Appeals, the Supreme Court of Texas, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States. In addition, Fry regularly handles case-dispositive motions and jury charges. Her experience includes high-stakes matters such as personal injury and product defects, contract and business tort claims, consumer financial services disputes, and oil and gas law.

Fry earned a J.D., cum laude, from Baylor University School of Law, and a B.A., summa cum laude, from Abilene Christian University.

Noah S. Hurwitz – Labor & Employment, Ann Arbor

Hurwitz is a labor and employment attorney with experience managing complex disputes in an array of practice areas. In addition to defending employment cases and counseling clients regarding state and federal employment laws, Hurwitz advises clients on drafting employment agreements containing restrictive covenants and non-disclosure provisions regarding confidential and proprietary information. He also litigates disputes involving trade secrets and breaches of contract, with additional expertise in eDiscovery and data protection. Hurwitz has successfully argued appeals before the Michigan Court of Appeals and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Hurwitz earned a J.D., cum laude, from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law, and a B.A. from the James Madison College at Michigan State University.

Courtney F. Kissel – Government Policy, Bloomfield Hills

Kissel’s practice primarily focuses on state constitutional law, insurance law, Indian law, election law, and public utility law. Kissel has represented a number of universities in relation to a variety of constitutional issues, including issues related to university funding, constitutional autonomy, and academic freedom. She has also represented a variety of clients in analyzing issues under the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act, including applicability and compliance issues. In addition, Kissel has acted as a special attorney general to the State of Michigan on several projects as well as advised the Governors of the State of Wisconsin and the State of Indiana on different issues related to State-Tribal relations and federal Indian law.

She earned a J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin Law School, and an A.B., with highest distinction, from the University of Michigan.

Van Lindberg – Intellectual Property, San Antonio

Lindberg focuses his practice on the intersection of technology and law, with particular experience in the area of open source, with extensive work addressing the legal, economic, and social aspects of engaging with open source communities. He is the author of the book “Intellectual Property and Open Source” and helps businesses with everything from open source compliance to business strategy. In 2012, he was named one of “America's Top 12 Techiest Attorneys” by the American Bar Association Journal. Outside of open source, Lindberg represents companies in high-stakes IP litigation and inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.

He earned a J.D. and a B.S. from Brigham Young University.

Elisa J. Lintemuth – Labor & Employment, Grand Rapids

Lintemuth’s practice focuses on litigation, with an emphasis on employment litigation, commercial litigation, and ERISA litigation. She is experienced in successfully resolving disputes in both state and federal courts and in administrative proceedings before the EEOC and Michigan Department of Civil Rights. In ERISA litigation matters, Lintemuth has successfully defended challenges to ERISA plan administrators’ and claims fiduciaries’ decisions regarding life, health, and disability benefits. In addition, she regularly counsels and trains employers regarding their obligations under state and federal employment laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the Michigan Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act.

Lintemuth is a member of the Board of Directors of the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. She received her J.D., summa cum laude, from Michigan State University College of Law and her B.A., summa cum laude, from Denison University.

Jeana R. Long – Financial Services Litigation, McAllen

Long primarily represents lenders in lawsuits against borrowers and guarantors in courts throughout Texas and in arbitration proceedings. She also represents lenders in defensive lawsuits. Long has extensive experience representing both secured and unsecured creditors in bankruptcy cases, including contested matters and adversary proceedings. Recognizing the importance of client education, she regularly hosts CLE and educational seminars for clients and potential clients covering a wide range of topics, including general collection litigation, collection in probate, bankruptcy for lenders and foreclosure.

Long earned a J.D., summa cum laude, from the Texas Tech University School of Law, and a B.A., summa cum laude, from The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Cody D. Rockey – Business Litigation, Ann Arbor

Rockey represents corporate and individual clients in antitrust and competition matters, including civil litigation and criminal investigations. He also advises clients on antitrust issues related to business combinations—mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures—including complying with pre-closing notification requirements and responding to government investigations. And he counsels clients on antitrust compliance. In addition, Rockey maintains a commercial and business litigation practice, assisting clients in resolving their disputes in both federal and state court, as well as through arbitration.  

Rockey earned a J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School, and a B.A., with high honors and highest distinction, from the University of Michigan.

Michael R. Vogt – Real Estate, Bloomfield Hills

Vogt’s practice involves all aspects of real estate litigation, including land use and zoning, eminent domain, landlord/tenant, commercial foreclosures, and a variety of contractual disputes related to the purchase, sale, leasing, and management of commercial real estate. In addition to his real estate practice, he also has significant experience representing lenders in contractual claims against borrowers and guarantors in courts throughout Michigan, as well as representing judgment creditors in post-judgment collection actions.

Vogt earned a J.D. from the John Marshall Law School, and a B.A. from Michigan State University.

Jeanne M. Whalen – Corporate Finance, Bloomfield Hills

Whalen’s practice focuses on general corporate, contracting, and acquisition matters, with an emphasis on technology and health care-related transactions, particularly with respect to dental service organizations, health systems, and assisted living facilities. Her experience includes public and private company mergers and acquisitions and joint venture transactions; representing technology companies and other companies engaging in technology-related transactions; and general corporate representation including counsel to Boards of Directors, entity formation and capitalization, shareholder agreements, and customer and supplier relationships.

Whalen earned a J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Toledo, and a B.S.E., magna cum laude, from the University of Michigan.