Miller Canfield is pleased to announce that Brian Gallagher has joined its Employment and Labor Group. Gallagher’s legal practice focuses on advising employers on matters involving ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) and the Tax Code. He currently serves as the Treasurer of the Taxation Section of the State Bar of Michigan and previously chaired its Employee Benefits Committee. He comes to Miller Canfield from Fraser Trebilcock, where he co-chaired the firm’s Employee Benefits Department and served on the Board of Directors.

Miller Canfield is a global law firm with 18 locations worldwide. The firm’s Employment and Labor Group is nationally recognized for management-side litigation and has earned a highly coveted ranking in Chambers USA as one of the top employment and labor law firms in Michigan.

Miller Canfield stands in solidarity with the brave people of Ukraine and the Ukrainian legal community against Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion.

We and the world have watched in horror as Russia's forces intentionally destroy hospitals, schools, and apartments buildings and kill innocent men, women and children trying to flee the carnage unleashed by the Russian aggression. We are also deeply troubled by the Kremlin’s decision to shut down all of Russia's remaining independent broadcasters to hide the truth about its atrocities, staggering casualties and devastation brought upon peaceful Ukraine. The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has announced an investigation into Putin over possible war crimes in Ukraine, which we fully support. Russia's barbaric actions must be brought to justice.

Miller Canfield is pleased to announce that Refinitiv's 2021 Bond Counsel Rankings rate our acclaimed Public Finance Group:

• 1^st among Michigan bond counsel firms
• 14^th among Illinois law firms
• 6^th among Midwestern firms, and
• 42^nd nationwide

Congratulations to Miller Canfield principal Larry Dudek, who has been admitted to the Midwest Real Estate Journal Hall of Fame!

Larry's practice focuses on commercial real estate litigation, including foreclosure, receiverships and construction claims, and his impact on commercial real estate is especially evident throughout the City of Detroit. He played a crucial role in advising and representing project participants in the construction of some of Detroit's showcase projects including Comerica Park, which is the home of the Detroit Tigers, and Ford Field, which is the home of the Detroit Lions. He also represented project participants with regard to major construction renovation for the Renaissance Center GM World Headquarters, the Dime Building and 1001 Woodward Building.

Miller Canfield Immigration practice group leader Julianne Cassin Sharp has been selected to be part of Class XLII of Leadership Detroit.

Leadership Detroit is an initiative of the Detroit Regional Chamber and focuses on regional community leadership. It is a nationally recognized program for existing and emerging leaders, providing the foundation for a lifelong commitment to leadership. Approximately 70 professionals are selected in a highly competitive process to participate in the annual program.

Congratulations to A. Michael Palizzi, who has achieved senior fellow status in the Litigation Counsel of America.

Palizzi is one of Miller Canfield's five managing directors. He is a principal attorney and the co-leader of the firm's nationally recognized Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group. For nearly 30 years, he has focused his practice on complex commercial and intellectual property litigation, arbitration and counseling.

Congratulations to Miller Canfield attorney Stanley Stek, who has been unanimously elected to serve as the Chair of the Kent County Board of Commissioners. He has served as an elected member of the Commission since 2014.

Stek is a commercial litigator in Miller Canfield's office in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has served on numerous boards and committees including: Network 180 (CMH); Lakeshore Regional Entity (PIHP), which Stek chairs; Millennium Park Advisory Board; Senior Millage Allocation Board; Kent County Home Repair Services, which he helped establish in 1981; Walker Citizens Advisory Committee; Kent County Dedicated Millage Committee, which Stek chairs; Substance Use Disorder Oversight Policy Board; Workforce Development Board; Crisis Center Task Force, which Stek chairs; and Kent County Community Action Board.

We are pleased to welcome Kiffi Ford has joined our Employment and Labor Group in the Lansing office.

Ford's practice focuses on representing employers in litigation, arbitration and the alternative dispute resolution process. She advises employers in pre-litigation investigations, strategy and negotiation, and reduction-in-force issues.

She also served as the executive director of legal services for Sparrow Health System, where she was responsible for managing the legal department's operations and personnel, and providing counsel and strategic guidance to the health system's leadership, with particular focus on labor relations, collective bargaining and compliance matters.

We are pleased to welcome Lawrence García to Miller Canfield's Employment and Labor Group! García comes to Miller Canfield from the City of Detroit, where he served as Corporation Counsel from January 2018 to November 2021. As he said while announcing the move to Miller Canfield on LinkedIn, "I knew the experience (with the City of Detroit) would allow me to expand the breadth of my knowledge of the law, improve my leadership skills, and deepen relationships with city and regional stakeholders."

Andrew Blum, Robert DeJong, Joseph Infante, Michael Moore, Amanda Rauh-Bieri and Trent Taylor have been recognized on the Grand Rapids Business Journal's Top Lawyers 2022 list.

Published annually, the list is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the Grand Rapids area.