Issue: Winter 2025
114 results
Class Note Winter 2025
William D. Ellis, a real estate partner at Akerman LLP in Los Angeles, was named one of the 2025 top 100 Lawyers in Southern California by the Los Angeles Business Journal. He also was shortlisted for the California Real Estate Lawyer of the Year award by American Lawyer Media, the parent company of Law.com and The Recorder. Ellis began his career at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP before becoming a senior partner at Sidley Austin LLP. He also has served as general counsel at NASDAQ-listed Reading International Inc.
Class Note Winter 2025
George Vincent joined The Kroger Co. as secretary and general counsel. He previously served as managing partner at Dinsmore & Shohl LLP from 2007 to 2022. Vincent also has served as board chair for various civic and business organizations, including the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, The Christ Hospital, the Cincinnati Museum Center, and the Cincinnati Art Museum.
Class Note Winter 2025
Jeffrey Haynes recently published a three-part article, “Abuse of Discretion: Principles from 180 Years of Michigan Caselaw,” in the Michigan Appellate Practice Journal. Using an empirical database of more than 2,000 cases, the article describes how the Michigan Supreme Court has applied the abuse-of-discretion standard of appellate review. Haynes is a fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers, the editor of the Michigan Environmental Law Deskbook, and he has taught environmental law at the University of Michigan-Dearborn for three decades.
Class Note Winter 2025
George Elworth has retired from the Michigan Department of Attorney General, where he served as assistant attorney general for five decades. He previously spent a year with the Atlanta Legal Aid Society and four years as an associate at Lord, Bissell, & Brook LLP in Chicago. Elworth also sat on the attorney general’s opinion review board.
Class Note Winter 2025
Richard J. Aronson retired five years ago after practicing civil defense law for 55 years. He was managing attorney for Fireman’s Fund Staff Counsel and served as defense counsel for multiple insurers in more than 150 jury trials and arbitrations. Aronson and his wife, Laurie, who are based in Chicago, have traveled the world, once taking six months off work to circle the globe. He has conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, led mock jury trials at a local high school, and volunteers for various events at Lambs Farm, a facility for adults with special needs. He plays the piano and works incessantly on his N-scale model train layout. He is proud to have graduated from the University of Michigan Law School.
Class Note Winter 2025
Samuel McKim joined Dickinson Wright PLLC as of counsel. His practice focuses on complex litigation and tax matters, particularly state and local taxation. He also advises clients on tax planning, opinion work, and trial and appellate appeals. McKim is a fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel. He has taught state and local tax law as an adjunct professor at Wayne State University Law School.
Class Note Winter 2025
Matthew Preston, ’21, Selected for ABA Young Lawyers Division Award
The Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association (ABA) recently honored Matthew Preston, ’21, as a 2025 On the Rise – Top 40 Young Lawyers awardee. Recipients are selected for their leadership, innovation, and example in upholding the law.
Class Note Winter 2025
Martha Umphrey, ’91: A New View as Provost at Amherst College
Martha Umphrey, ’91, thrived as a professor in Amherst College’s Department of Law, Jurisprudence, and Social Thought for 30 years. Since 2024, she has embraced the challenge of serving as the college’s provost and dean of faculty.
Impact Winter 2025
New Fellowship to Fund LLM Public Service Opportunities Honors Longtime Assistant Dean for International Affairs Virginia Gordan
A new fellowship at Michigan Law will help fund important postgraduate opportunities for masters of law students, while honoring a longtime champion of international students. The Virginia Gordan LLM Public Service Fellowship is named for the first assistant dean for international affairs at Michigan Law.
Impact Winter 2025
Celebrating Three Decades of the Nannes 3L Challenge
In 1995, John Nannes, ’73, had an idea. Today, that idea—the Nannes 3L Challenge—continues to provide annual support to student organizations while fostering connections between classmates and bolstering philanthropy at Michigan Law.