Legal 500 U.S. 2023 Ranks Dykema Among Nation’s Best in Two Automotive Categories, as Well as Cannabis and Native American Law

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that the firm’s Automotive Product Liability Litigation; Automotive Litigation; Cannabis; and Gaming and Native American Law practices are listed by the Legal 500 United States 2023 (The Legal 500). In three of those categories, the respective Dykema practice ranks in the top 10 nationally—including a top three ranking.

In addition to the practice rankings, 29 Dykema attorneys received individual recognition, including:

• Dommond Lonnie, who was recognized as one of only four “Hall of Fame,” lawyers in Automotive Litigation, 
• Lisa Brown, who was recognized as one of only 10 “Leading Lawyers” in Automotive Litigation,
• Derek Whitefield, who was recognized as one of only eight "Leading Lawyers" in Automotive Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action,
• Mike Carey, who was recognized as the only “Next Generation Partners” Automotive Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action, and
• John Black, who was named as one of only nine "Next Generation Partners" in Automotive Litigation.

For more than 30 years, The Legal 500 has analyzed the capabilities of law firms across the world, with a comprehensive research program revised and updated on an annual basis. According to its website, The Legal 500 assesses the strengths of law firms in more than 100 jurisdictions. Rankings highlight the practice area teams who are providing the most cutting-edge and innovative advice to corporate counsel. The Legal 500's research is based on feedback from 300,000 clients worldwide, submissions from law firms, and interviews with leading private practice lawyers, and a team of researchers.

As identified by The Legal 500 categories, the following Dykema attorneys and practices were recognized:

Automotive Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action

Leading Lawyer (Top 8 Lawyer Nationally)

• Derek Whitefield

Next Generation Partner (Only Lawyer Named Nationally)

• Mike Carey

Tier 1 – Top 3 Firm Nationally

Drawing upon outstanding overarching litigation credentials, as well as a deep and broad knowledge of issues affecting clients in the automotive space, Dykema Gossett PLLC regularly acts as national and regional counsel for leading Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) across a range of product liability matters, including as it pertains to economic loss, economic loss and product recall claims. Spearheaded from Los Angeles by Tamara Bush, the firm is particularly accomplished at handling class action matters, where it is adept at safeguarding clients’ interests from initial challenges to the pleadings, through to class certification, dispositive motions trial, and appeal. Although it is accomplished at handling work throughout the litigation life cycle, the firm is particularly skilled at handling class action discovery, so much so that clients frequently turn to the firm to manage discovery even where another firm is retained as lead counsel. Formerly in-house counsel at Ford Motor Company, Michigan-based practitioner John Thomas has superb credentials representing major automotive manufacturers in major class actions throughout the country; regularly securing notable victories for clients at class certification stage, at summary judgment, as well as at a final trial stage. The firm also makes strategic use of appellate lawyers, including Michigan-based Jill Wheaton, in relation to product liability mandates, bringing them in at an early stage to ensure that important issues are properly raised and preserved for appeal, if necessary. Los Angeles-based practitioner Derek Whitefield has developed a market-leading reputation in the context of automotive crash safety cases, regularly serving as trial, support, and discovery counsel to several automotive manufacturers in airbag cases. The firm is also abreast of continual technological developments in the automotive space and the subsequent potential for litigation, with Minneapolis-based practitioner Michael Carey continuing to gain plaudits for his work on behalf of clients, both at a pre-litigation as well as in litigation, in relation to Automated Driving Systems (ADS) and other advanced automotive safety technologies.

Key Lawyers

• Tamara Bush
• Michael Carey
• Michael Cooney
• Clay Cossé
• James Feeney
• Kelly Houk
• Rebekah Hudgins
• Krista Lenart
• Dommond Lonnie
• Christine Nitoff
• Bryce Rucker
• Brian Smith
• John Thomas
• Connor Walby
• Jill Wheaton
• Boyd White III
• Derek Whitefield

Automotive Litigation

Hall of Fame (Only 4 Lawyers Nationally) 

• Dommond Lonnie 

Leading Lawyer (Top 10 Lawyers Nationally) 

• Lisa Brown

Next Generation Partner (Top 9 Lawyer Nationally) 

• John Black

Tier 2 – Top 9 Firm Nationally

Dykema Gossett PLLC‘s enviable client list comprises a broad range of original equipment manufacturers, along with electric and automotive companies and suppliers. The team’s litigators routinely defend claims involving automotive product liability, wrongful death, defects, property damage and recall matters. The workload of automotive industry group director Laura Baucus includes supply chain, contract and consumer financial services litigation, while Dallas’ Deron Wade acts in product defect lawsuits. In Detroit, Lisa Brown regularly represents global automotive companies in disputes, while Michael Cooney is litigation department director. Over in Los Angeles, Dommond Lonnie is well known for automotive liability cases and defending original equipment manufacturers, and Derek Whitefield is an automotive crash safety expert. Further key partners includes product liability litigators Daniela Gonzales Aldape in San Antonio, and John Black and Brian Smith; Minneapolis-based Michael Carey, who co-leads the firm’s electric and autonomous vehicles and advanced mobility practice; and compliance specialist Robert Hugh Ellis. Nina Gavrilovic, Samantha Hughes and Dmitriy Kopelevich are key associates. All attorneys named are based in the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, unless otherwise mentioned.

Key Lawyers

• Daniela Gonzales Aldape
• Laura Baucus
• John Black
• Lisa Brown
• Michael Carey
• Janet Conigliaro
• Michael Cooney
• Robert Hugh Ellis
• Nina Gavrilovic
• Rebekah Hudgins
• Samantha Hughes
• Dmitriy Kopelevich
• Dommond Lonnie
• Brian Smith
• Deron Wade
• Derek Whitefield

Native American Law

Tier 2 – Top 9 Firm Nationally

Based in Michigan, the team at Dykema Gossett PLLC has a particular focus on tribal gaming representing Indian tribes and businesses seeking to establish and develop gaming facilities. The team represents clients in land-to-trust and gaming eligibility applications as well as in related litigations, petitions for federal acknowledgement, and approval of tribal-state gaming compacts. Practice co-head Lance Boldrey has experience handling state-tribal relations and routinely represents tribes, developers, banks and government entities. Co-head Jason Hanselman recently represented the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians in federal applications to have land taken into trust for gaming purposes. The team is also frequently involved in drafting legislation and negotiating agreements. On the litigation front, Erin Sedmak is a key name for federal disputes involving tribes.

Testimonial

“Longevity in the field, willing to consider both sides of the issue and render a fair opinion on anticipated outcomes.”

Key Lawyers

• Lance Boldrey
• Jason Hanselman
• Erin Sedmak

Cannabis

Tier 4 – Top 19 Firm Nationally

Dykema Gossett PLLC is well-equipped to assist clients across the full spectrum of cannabis mandates, closely collaborating with, among others, the firm’s real estate, tax, intellectual property, political and policy departments. The practice’s client roster includes cannabis growers, processors, testers as well as transport and sellers. Located in Lansing, Lance Boldrey oversees the department and represents a plethora of clients ranging from significant market entities such as lenders and investors to smaller retail clients, and is particularly proficient in legislative, regulatory as well as licensing mandates.

Key Lawyers

• Lance Boldrey