The law firm of Warner Norcross & Judd LLP has named six attorneys as new practice and industry group chairs.
The new chairs include:
- Jared T. Belka, who was named co-chair of the firm’s Economic Incentives Practice Group. The group includes 10 attorneys with expertise in environmental, real estate, tax, finance and administrative law who find and secure local, state and federal tax credits and financial incentives. Belka concentrates his practice on economic development incentives with a primary focus on securing brownfield redevelopment incentives for his clients. He also negotiates redevelopment incentive packages with local and state governments.
- Steven C. Kohl, who was named chair of the firm’s Resources, Energy and Environment Group. The group is one of the largest practices of its kind in the Midwest, with 20 attorneys who provide legal representation and expert navigation of a complex regulatory landscape. The group’s comprehensive service and record of success have made Warner the firm of choice for policy makers as well as for large and small companies and municipalities. Kohl focuses his practice on permitting, compliance and defense of the federal Clean Air Act, state air pollution control laws, environmental law and litigation in multiple industries, including chemical manufacturing, automotive, utility and cement. Kohl practices in the firm’s Southfield office.
- Chad E. Kleinheksel, who was named chair of the Technology and Intellectual Property, or TIP, Practice Group. The 27-member group has decades of experience in negotiating and structuring technology deals and in protecting and managing patent, trademark and copyright assets. Warner’s TIP attorneys have drafted and prosecuted patent applications in just about every country in the world. Kleinheksel concentrates his practice in patent law, providing practical advice to businesses and individuals on securing and enforcing patent rights, managing intellectual property risks and commercializing inventions. He is registered to practice at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
- Susan Gell Meyers, who was named chair of the 25-member Trusts and Estates Law Group. The group provides sophisticated estate and tax planning for families and their businesses – from small businesses to closely held multibillion-dollar corporations – utilizing techniques such as family limited partnerships and limited liability companies, gift trusts and installment sales. Meyers focuses her practice on estate and tax planning, including business succession, estate and wealth transfer planning, shareholder agreements, vacation home planning, planning for same-sex couples and estate and trust administration.
- Pamela C. Enslen, who was named chair of the firm’s Higher Education Practice Group. The group is comprised of 14 attorneys with experience in representing community colleges, four-year colleges and universities with Title IX regulations and investigations, Title VII advice and investigations, the Clery Act, search and seizure laws, free speech policies and enforcement, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Open Meetings Act, the Freedom of Information Act and other federal and state statutes and regulations. Additionally, the Higher Education Practice Group can assist with issues related to accreditation and identify and secure economic incentives for expansion as well as advise with regard to contract negotiations, employee benefits packages, intellectual property and patent matters, litigation and privacy issues. Enslen is a litigator and mediator with extensive experience in employment and commercial litigation, software misappropriation claims, product liability actions and personal injury matters. Enslen practices in the firm’s Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids offices.
- Kurt M. Brauer, who was named chair of the eight-member Agribusiness and Food Industry Group. The group assists clients with financing, succession planning, patents, mergers and acquisitions and property leases. The group represents family farms, agribusinesses, corporate farms, orchards and vineyards as well as food distributors, agrichemical manufacturers, produce marketing companies, livestock breeders and producers of alternative fuels. Brauer counsels clients in economic development, environmental compliance and regulatory matters and complex real estate matters. Brauer practices in the firm’s Southfield office.
About Warner
By providing discerning and proactive legal advice, Warner Norcross + Judd LLP builds a better partnership with our clients. One of Michigan’s largest law firms, we’re focused on providing the best legal solutions and exceptional client service to organizations throughout the world. Connect with us on wnj.com, LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook.
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