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Soni Mithani Named in Crain’s 2019 Notable Women Lawyers in Michigan
Miller Canfield is pleased to announce that Sonal Hope Mithani has been named in Crain's Detroit Business' 2019 Notable Women Lawyers in Michigan, published on Oct. 28, in recognition for her leadership in the firm and in the community.
Mithani is a principal attorney in the firm's Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group and serves as the resident director of Miller Canfield's Ann Arbor office and the firm's deputy general counsel.
"Soni was selected for these leadership roles in the firm because she has a reputation among her peers for having the absolute highest ethical standards and impeccable ethical judgment, and for demonstrating the leadership and mentoring skills required to lead a diverse group of attorneys," said Miller Canfield CEO Michael McGee. "She is known for exercising civility in all of her legal matters and for exhibiting consummate professionalism with both opposing counsel and the Court."
Her recent high-profile work includes a case involving the City of Detroit and the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, which had issued water shutoff notices to customers who were long in arrears on their water bills. The success ensured that the City's bankruptcy could move forward, a move that has enabled Detroit to experience a healthy post-recession comeback.
All over the state, Mithani has defended municipal bodies against constitutional challenges that contend certain municipal fees are taxes in disguise. Many of these claims, which have sought to impose judgments that must be paid by individual taxpayers, were in excess of $20 million and have included class-action lawsuits against the City of Detroit, the City of Royal Oak and Washtenaw County—actions that she has been able to successfully dismiss. Her work on behalf of these local governmental entities has helped them preserve their ability to provide services that citizens use every day, and ensure that they can continue to care for the public health and welfare by providing clean water, managing wastewater and flooding, improving infrastructure, and performing other essential day-to-day services.
Mithani serves on the State Bar of Michigan Character and Fitness Standing Committee. She is a fellow in the prestigious American Bar Foundation, Litigation Counsel of America and the Michigan State Bar Foundation. Mithani is also a member of the governing council of the Government Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan.
She also contributes significant time to Ozone House, a Southeastern Michigan nonprofit that provides crisis intervention services, temporary shelter and a 24-hour phone hotline, for homeless youth ages 10-24, and most recently completed a two-year term as Board President, where she oversaw the funding and construction of a new 190,000-square-foot facility. Mithani has served on a number of boards of directors and advisory boards, including: the Washtenaw Community College Foundation, Neighborhood Senior Services (where she served as Board President), the Washtenaw County Bar Association, the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, and the Ann Arbor City Housing and Human Services Advisory Board.
She was named in Michigan Lawyers Weekly's Women in the Law, Class of 2017, and has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America and "Michigan Super Lawyers."
Mithani is a graduate of Harvard Law School. She is licensed to practice in Michigan and the District of Columbia.