Legal 500 U.S. 2024 Ranks Dykema Among Nation’s Best in Automotive, Cannabis, and Native American Law

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that the firm’s Automotive Product Liability and Class Action Litigation; Automotive and Transportation; Cannabis; Gaming and Native American Law, and Appellate and Critical Motions groups are recognized by the Legal 500 United States 2024 (The Legal 500). Dykema was ranked in the top 10 nationally in three categories. In addition to the practice rankings, 33 Dykema attorneys received individual recognition. 

For 33 years, The Legal 500 has analyzed the capabilities of law firms across the world, with a comprehensive research program revised and updated every year to bring the most up-to-date vision of the global legal market. The Legal 500 assesses the strengths of law firms in more than 150 jurisdictions. The rankings are based on a series of criteria and highlight the practice area teams who are providing the most cutting-edge and innovative advice to corporate counsel. The research is based on feedback from 300,000 clients worldwide.

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

Product Liability, Mass Tort And Class Action - Defense: Automotive/Transport

Leading Lawyer (Top 10 Lawyers Nationally)

• Michael Carey
• Michael Cooney

Band 1 – Top 5 Firm Nationally

With a very strong presence in the Midwest, including in automotive hot-spot Detroit, as well as on the West Coast and to the south of the country, the ‘world-class’ team at Dykema Gossett PLLC provides comprehensive coverage to large automotive manufacturers, including Ford, General Motors, Toyota and Kia, across a myriad of product liability work, including handling wrongful death, defect, property damage, and recall claims. The firm excels in handling class action litigation, from initial challenges to the pleadings, class certification and summary judgment through to trial, and appeal. Michigan-based head of the class action practice John Thomas is highly visible in handling automotive product liability matters involving defects; he recently secured summary judgment for Ford Motor in a class action alleging that the Extended Corrosion Warranty on 2013-2016 Ford Mustangs, Explorers, and Expeditions was deceptive because it covered aluminum hood corrosion only if the corrosion perforated the hood. Minneapolis-based Michael Carey is noted for his knowledge of advanced automotive technologies, acting in high-stakes litigation and frequently advising clients on proactive risk mitigation strategies. In high-profile litigation for Tesla, Carey recently secured a notable win in what was the first autopilot wrongful death case brought against the electric car giant. Dallas-based Clay Cossé is also very well-versed across the latest technologies impacting the automotive industry and, alongside Carey, co-heads the firm’s electric and autonomous vehicles and advanced mobility team. As ‘one of the best automotive product liability trial attorneys in the country’, Detroit-based head of litigation Michael Cooney has excellent credibility before the courts and has achieved many successes for automotive clients in high-stakes jury trials. Los Angeles-based Tamara Bush leads the firm’s national product liability and class action defense practice and has substantial expertise handling occupant protection and crashworthiness product claims. Michigan-based Brian Smith is an ‘excellent trial attorney’ who has handled numerous automotive product liability cases involving catastrophic injury and death as well as product class action claims. Derek Whitefield recently retired.

Key Lawyers

• Tamara Bush
• Michael Carey
• Michael Cooney
• Clay Cossé
• John Black
• James Feeney
• Kelly Houk
• Rebekah Hudgins
• Dmitriy Kopelevich
• Krista Lenart
• Dommond Lonnie
• Brian Smith
• Rochelle Smith
• Mickey Stevens
• John Thomas
• Connor Walby
• Boyd White III
• Derek Whitefield (retired)

Testimonial

“The firm has a world-class automotive product liability group and a deep team of trial lawyers and discovery and appellate specialists. We count on them to defend our client’s interests in the highest exposure and most challenging product cases around the country.”

“Michael Cooney is one of the best automotive product liability trial attorneys in the country. He shows great attention to detail, has the highest level of integrity and is very determined.”

“Brian Smith is an excellent trial attorney.”

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Rail And Road - Litigation And Regulation

Hall of Fame (Only 4 Lawyers Nationally) 

• Dommond Lonnie 

Leading Lawyers (Top 12 Lawyers Nationally) 

• Lisa Brown

Next Generation Partner (Only 9 Lawyers Nationally) 

• Daniela Gonzales Aldape
• John Black

Rising Stars (Only 4 Lawyers Nationally) 

• Samantha Hughes

Band 2 – Top 9 Firm Nationally

Dykema Gossett PLLC has longstanding experience in representing traditional original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The team also advises electric and autonomous vehicle companies and suppliers, and its litigators frequently defend automotive product liability, wrongful death, defect, property damage, and recall claims. The litigation practice of automotive industry group director Laura Baucus covers contract terminations, procurement and supply chain issues, and warranty and cost recovery matters. In Detroit, Lisa Brown represents global automotive companies in litigation, while Michael Cooney is litigation department director. Further key lawyers include Los Angeles-based Dommond Lonnie, an expert in automotive liability cases and defending OEMs, and Minneapolis-based Michael Carey, who co-leads the electric and autonomous vehicles and advanced mobility practice. The next line of practitioners includes San Antonio-based Daniela Gonzales Aldape, whose experience includes catastrophic injury and death claims, John Black, an expert in product liability, wrongful death and commercial litigation, and automotive dealer statute-related compliance specialist Robert Hugh Ellis. Nina Gavrilovic, along with Los Angeles-based Samantha Hughes and Dmitriy Kopelevich are other active advisers. All attorneys named are based in Bloomfield Hills unless otherwise stated.

Key Lawyers

• Daniela Gonzales Aldape
• Laura Baucus
• John Black
• Lisa Brown
• Michael Carey
• Janet Conigliaro
• Michael Cooney
• Robert Hugh Ellis
• Nina Gavrilovic
• Samantha Hughes
• Dmitriy Kopelevich
• Dommond Lonnie

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Native American Law

Leading Lawyers (Top 4 Lawyers Nationally) 

• Lance Boldrey

Band 2 – Top 8 Firm Nationally

The Michigan-based practice at Dykema Gossett PLLC specializes in assisting Native American tribes and businesses with all predevelopment and development aspects of establishing tribal gaming facilities. Typical activities for the group include advising on land-to-trust and gaming eligibility applications, the negotiation of development and financing agreements, as well as handling related litigation. Its expertise also extends to other matters affecting tribes and tribal land, including education, cannabis, and commerce with non-Indian businesses. The team is jointly directed by Lance Boldrey, who regularly handles transactional mandates including business agreements between developers, management companies, and tribes, as well as assisting state and local governments in navigating complex tribal gaming matters. Alongside him, Jason Hanselman routinely assists clients in highly-regulated industries with obtaining licenses. Courtney Kissel is a key contact for regulatory and legislative issues, and on the contentious side, Erin Sedmak is noted for her work on federal disputes involving tribes.

Key Lawyers

• Lance Boldrey
• Jason Hanselman
• Courtney Kissel
• Erin Sedmak

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Cannabis

Band 4 – Top 19 Firm Nationally

The group at Dykema Gossett PLLC draws on the firm’s network and works closely with its licensing and regulatory, M&A, litigation, and tax departments. The firm is a regular advisor to licensees that grow, process, test, transport, and sell cannabis products, as well as foreign corporations and financial institutions. Michigan-based Lance Boldrey steers the group and specializes in licensing, regulatory, and legislative matters, with additional expertise in real estate matters, M&A, and lobbying activities.

Key Lawyers

• Lance Boldrey
• Andrew Scott

Testimonial

“Andrew Scott is a great executor, he’s able to get whatever is needed done in a timely manner.”

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Appellate: Courts Of Appeals / Appellate: Supreme Courts (States And Federal)

Firm To Watch

Dykema Gossett PLLC reinforced its national appellate practice in 2023 with a trio of high-profile hires: former appellate justice and Deputy Attorney General for Texas, David Schenck, joined in Dallas; former federal prosecutor Chantel Febus arrived in Washington, D.C.; and seasoned senior counsel Susan Feibus joined in Chicago.