- DivorceJames P. Cunningham maintains one of the most highly regarded family law and divorce litigation practices in the state. In his over 30 years in practice, he has represented numerous men and women well-known in the Detroit metropolitan community. His career includes ten published appellate cases concerning important family law issues, three of these before the Michigan Supreme Court.
- Child SupportOn this edition of Due Process, Henry Baskin, Donna Virkus, and James Cunningham discuss enforcing divorce decrees and ways to make sure child support is paid.
- Child Custody and VisitationRepresenting both men and women in divorce and complex family disputes, Donna helps them resolve matters involving child custody, parenting time, child support, alimony and spousal support, property settlement, division of assets, change of domicile, change of school district, and related issues. Understanding how divorce changes lives forever, she guides her clients, especially those with children, through the separation and divorce process with the least amount of animosity and acrimony possible, involving psychologists and social workers, accountants, financial advisors, and mediators when appropriate.
- Adoption
- GuardianshipDonna also counsels clients on family planning, private adoptions, and guardianships, appearing in court on behalf of parents and children when conflicts arise. She is one of few Michigan attorneys with extensive experience in contested direct placement adoptions and has represented many adoptive families and birth mothers in their efforts to terminate the parental rights of putative fathers under the adoption code.
- Spousal Support
- Criminal DefenseIn law school, Will served under several employers, including governmental entities – state and local – and nonprofit organizations. Such experience included a clerkship under the State of Michigan Tax Tribunal and an externship with the Prima Civitas Foundation (a 501(c)(3) economic and community development organization). Will also participated in multiple internships that allowed him to review legislation impacting Michigan’s retirement systems, prosecute criminal matters, and conduct extensive research on a broad range of civil and criminal legal issues.
- Wrongful Death
- Sex CrimesDonna’s dedication to her clients is matched only by her commitment to the important causes she supports. She has volunteered as an attorney at Turning Point, an organization committed to improving the lives of domestic violence and sexual assault victims, and she has also served on the Board of Directors of both Community Treatment Centers in Detroit, an organization that assists recently released prisoners transition back to society, and Project Rehab, which helps persons afflicted by alcoholism and substance abuse issues in the Grand Rapids area. Donna also volunteers her services with the Wayne County Child Support Help Program sponsored by the Booth Legal Aid Clinic.
- Assault
- Corporate LawRobert S. Bick possesses extensive corporate law experience, having completed hundreds of merger, acquisition, divestiture, going private, financing, and related transactions. For more than thirty years, he has represented clients of all sizes across a range of industries in corporate and business law matters.
- Mergers and AcquisitionsWWRP Managing Partner and corporate and mergers and acquisitions attorney Richard J. Williams was recognized by Crains Detroit Business for his critical role in re-establishing the fiscal health of the Michigan Opera Theatre
- Business FormationWill has represented national, regional, and local title insurance companies (both underwriters and agents) in complex litigation involving title and escrow matters, regulatory compliance, business formation and administration, and creation of joint ventures and related affiliations. He has successfully represented developers, homeowner’s associations, real estate salespersons and brokers, and individuals in all manner of real property disputes including construction litigation, condemnation and eminent domain actions, breach of contract, trespass, boundary line encroachment, elimination and creation of easements, and valuation claims. His real estate experience extends to zoning and general municipal law matters, including serving as the township attorney for a local community.
- Business DisputesWilliam E. Hosler has more than 30 years of experience in general civil litigation and business law. His practice focuses on real property, title insurance, and municipal law.
- Business TransactionsErnest J. Essad is an accomplished attorney with a diverse civil litigation and corporate law practice that spans over 35 years. In his litigation practice, he focuses on cases involving municipal and real estate concerns, as well as handles a wide range of commercial transactions.
- Limited Liability Companies
- Workers CompensationIn this position, Mr. Law played a primary role in passing legislation to reform Workers Compensation and Unemployment Compensation statues. Mr. Law worked tirelessly to enact laws that would be the basis for Michigan’s economic development and development technology.
- Non-compete AgreementIn another impressive victory, Alex persuaded the court to enforce non-compete agreements against key employees who disingenuously claimed his client never presented them with the restrictive covenants. On behalf of a bank, he secured the appointment of a receiver to run a struggling business customer, ultimately leading to payment of all damages to the bank, including attorney’s fees. And in a noteworthy case against a wind turbine company, Alex negotiated a favorable settlement for his Chinese manufacturer client after uncovering an underlying email fraud scheme.
- Real Estate LitigationParalegal Julie Harding is an integral part of the firm’s litigation practice, assisting with the prosecution and defense of business, commercial, and real estate matters.
- Construction LitigationSidney L. Frank is a nationally recognized litigation attorney whose distinguished legal career spans more than four decades. He possesses extensive litigation and mediation experience, and has developed an outstanding reputation for his work in litigating and mediating cases involving the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and legal issues involving construction law and surety defense matters. Based on his proficiency in surety law matters, Sidney served as a Board Member and Claims Committee Chair of the Washington, D.C.-based American Surety Association for fifteen years.
- Real Estate TransactionsAs a certified Paralegal and licensed Real Estate Broker, Ms. Lombera manages the Firm’s complex commercial and residential real estate transactions involving leasing, acquisition, sale, financing and quiet title matters. With a broad legal background and a plethora of experience, Ms. Lombera also handles the Firm’s corporate matters including corporate formation, mergers, due diligence and corporate governance. Ms. Lombera supports virtually all of the Firm’s attorneys assisting with document preparation, investigative work, legal research, writing and estate planning.
- Eminent DomainJason Long advises clients in all phases of eminent domain, property taxation, real estate, and land use disputes and has successfully represented clients in Michigan’s trial courts, the Michigan Tax Tribunal, the Michigan Court of Appeals, and the Michigan Supreme Court.
- Easement
- Land Use and ZoningIn his more than 30 years of practice, Rob has negotiated and drafted thousands of leases, subleases, purchase and development agreements, easement agreements and loan documents. He developed the master forms for leasing, subleasing and asset disposition that are still used in the real estate departments of some of the nation’s largest retailers and developers. He has appeared before over a hundred different community planning and zoning boards throughout Michigan and worked with the Michigan Department of National Resources, Department of Environmental Quality, and many County Drain Commissioners and Road Commissions.
- Personal InjuryAnn McGowan has been with WWRP nearly 30 years and in the legal environment her entire adult life. She currently focuses on administering probate estates and trusts from start to finish. Her experience has earned her an extensive background in a wide variety of fields, including estate planning, general civil litigation, personal injury litigation, medical malpractice, tax tribunal litigation, bankruptcy, patents, real estate, corporate, domestic relations, and adoption.
- Medical Malpractice
- Estate PlanningLeading association of estate planning and trust and estate attorneys adds Williams, Williams, Rattner & Plunkett partner to its membership
- TrustsRobert Labe’s trusts and estates and business law practice is among the most highly regarded in the state. Robert possesses extensive experience in estate planning, estate and trust administration, contested estate and trust matters, business law, business succession planning and tax planning.
- Probate
- BankruptcyBET THE COMPANY LITIGATION: When the largest single creditor in the City of Detroit bankruptcy had a $1.4 Billion claim, it selected WWRP and its bankruptcy litigation team led by Ernest J. Essad to successfully protect its interests.
- ForeclosureJohn’s clients include commercial and residential real estate developers, shopping center owners, retailers, senior housing and student housing operators, multi-national corporations, closely-held entities and municipalities. He handles all aspects of real estate development, including the acquisition, entitlement, financing, construction and leasing of retail, industrial, office and mixed-use projects. He appears before municipalities, governmental agencies and various courts in land use and zoning matters. John also assists clients in commercial financing, foreclosures and loan modifications.
- Tax LawBrian also prosecutes commercial and residential property tax appeals, with an emphasis on appeals involving commercial properties, real estate development, and private and public golf courses. He has tried cases before the Michigan Tax Tribunal and has argued tax appeal issues in Michigan appellate courts.