The State Bar of Michigan's Labor and Employment Law Council has selected Megan Norris, Miller Canfield Managing Directors Chairwoman, as the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award.

Norris is nationally recognized as a leading labor and employment litigator who has served as lead counsel in many high-profile lawsuits. She has particular expertise in legal issues related to the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family Medical Leave Act, speaking on these topics for national organizations, including the National Association of College and University Attorneys, National Employment Law Institute, and the Michigan Institute of Continuing Legal Education.

Nancy Valentine, who leads our Cleveland office, has been named by Super Lawyers Magazine among the Top 100: 2019 Ohio Super Lawyers, the Top 50: 2019 Women Ohio Super Lawyers, and the Top 25: 2019 Women Cleveland Super Lawyers.

Nancy is a nationally recognized attorney with extensive litigation and transactional experience representing financial institutions, privately held companies, receivers and individuals. She has focused her practice on representing middle-market buyers and sellers in complex transactions and has particular experience in distressed real estate matters.

We are proud to report that Miller Canfield has been named to the Client Service A-Team 2019 list by law firm research and ranking firm BTI Consulting. The designation is given only to those firms that are considered by clients to deliver the highest levels of service.

We were honored to serve as bond counsel to Wayne County in connection with its deal to fund a $533 million criminal justice complex in partnership with the Michigan Finance Authority. The deal has now been named the Midwest Region Deal of the Year in The Bond Buyer, and is a finalist in the national 17^th Annual Deal of the Year awards.

Congratulations to Tom Turner, who has been named on Michigan Lawyers Weekly's list of Up & Coming Lawyers. The annual recognition celebrates the accomplishments and potential of attorneys who have been licensed fewer than 10 years.

Tom is a banking and finance lawyer, focusing on transactional lending and review, and has developed niche skills in counseling foreign and domestic banks.

Miller Canfield has announced that it will be the first Detroit law firm to sponsor the Detroit Regional LGBT Chamber of Commerce, which partners with allied corporate and nonprofit members to promote workplace and corporate diversity and inclusion of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender business community.

Miller Canfield has announced that Matthew Steele has rejoined the firm to open an office in Cincinnati. The new office will complement the Firm's presence in Cleveland and continue its strategy of expansion in Ohio and the broader Great Lakes region.

Steele had previously worked in Miller Canfield's Real Estate Group from 2012 to 2015. His work focused on commercial finance matters for national and regional banks, as well as complex real estate transactions and commercial workouts and foreclosures.

64 Miller Canfield lawyers have been recognized for exceptional performance in the Michigan, Illinois and Ohio editions of Super Lawyers for 2018, and an additional 16 have been named as "Rising Stars" in the magazine's annual listing of the state's top up-and-coming lawyers.

Four Miller Canfield lawyers also received special recognition as Top 100 Lawyers in Michigan. They are:

• Amy M. Johnston, Business Litigation
• Megan P. Norris, Employment and Labor
• Thomas W. Cranmer, Criminal Defense: White Collar Defense
• Gerald J. Gleeson, II, General Litigation

Super Lawyers magazine annually names lawyers in each state who received the highest point totals, as chosen by their peers and through independent research. Rising Stars combines peer nominations and evaluations with third-party research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement.

View the full list of Miller Canfield attorneys recognized in 2018 Super Lawyers here!

Miller Canfield is the only firm in Michigan to be named among 41 major law firms nationwide that have earned Mansfield Certification from Diversity Lab, the national incubator for innovative ideas and solutions to boost diversity and inclusion in law, and is one of just 27 to earn the Mansfield Certified Plus designation for 2018.

U.S. News & World Report has named 111 Miller Canfield attorneys in Michigan, Illinois and Florida in "Best Lawyers 2019." Recognized for excellence in 58 practice specialties across the firm, lawyers earning Best Lawyers distinction are rated by their peers as the best in their profession.