Saulius K. Mikalonis has joined Giarmarco, Mullins and Horton and focuses his practice in all aspects of environmental and energy law issues.  He is experienced in environmental litigation including environmental consultation, cost recovery, toxic torts, siting of solid and hazardous waste facilities, and wetland issues. 

Mr. Mikalonis is recognized for his expertise in the cutting edge of environmental, natural resources, and energy law, greenhouse gases, renewable energy and "green" building requirements. 

His experience includes commercial and real estate transactional issues ranging from the development of environmentally sensitive and Brownfield sites to due diligence in complex transactions, including the identification, allocation and reduction of environmental risks.

Mikalonis is a graduate of the University of Michigan (1986) and University of Oregon Law School, JD. with a Statement of Completion of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Program. 

He is a member of the Michigan Bar Environmental Law Section, the ABA Section on Environment, Energy and Resources, and the US Green Building Council-Detroit Area Chapter.  He is licensed to practice law in Michigan and the District of Columbia  and has written and presented extensively as an expert in environmental law.

Saulius K. Mikalonis

Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C. is pleased to introduce our 2007 summer Law Clerks.  Shown from left to right are:

Ryan J. Dew and John L. Miller have completed their second year at Michigan State University College of Law; Ryan Mae Kelly has completed her second year at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law; and Paul A. Thursam has completed his second year at Wayne State University School of Law.

Our law clerks have the opportunity to work on challenging assignments for various attorneys in the different areas of the Firm to gain a well-rounded experience.  They are each assigned two mentors in different practice areas who meet with them regularly, and they are invited to attend various Firm meetings and events to expose them to all of our practice groups.

Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C. is pleased to offer a Law Clerk Program which gives law students the opportunity to develop the skills they will need to become successful attorneys.

Pictured above: Ryan J. Dew, John L. Miller, Ryan Mae Kelly and  Paul Thursam

Deborah A. Strain has joined Giarmarco, Mullins and Horton and focuses her practice primarily in the area of workers' compensation law, family law and general litigation. 

Strain is a graduate of Thomas M. Cooley Law School, with honors, deans list and Certificate of Merit Award.  She is a member of the Macomb County Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, Council Member, Workers' Compensation Section.  Michigan Self Insurer's Association and Women Lawyers Association. 

Her publications include Michigan Law & Practice Encyclopedia, Second Edition, Revision, Volume #35, Michigan, 2004.

Deborah A. Strain

Timothy E. Harden  has joined the firm as an associate.   He concentrates his practice in business planning, probate and estate planning and real estate law.

Tim counsels businesses in a variety of areas, including formation and dissolution of business entities, writing and negotiating business contracts, sales of businesses, and mergers and acquisitions of businesses.  He often represents European and Asian companies that conduct business in the U.S. automotive industry.  In addition, Tim counsels executives and management-level employees in the drafting and negotiating of employment contracts.  He also advises clients on tax and estate planning issues. 

Timothy E. Harden

GMH Attorneys Participate in 2007 Real Property Law Section Winter Conference
Two Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C. attorneys participated in the State Bar of Michigan Real Property Law Section's 4^th Annual Winter Conference in Orlando, Florida, March 8-10, 2007.  Mr. Greg Gamalski was Chairman of the Conference, as well as moderator for the program.  Mr. Bill Horton spoke on the rights of waterfront property owners on Michigan's inland lakes and streams and his experience litigating riparian rights matters in Michigan's trial and appeals courts.

Greg J. Gamalski

Firm Elects New Board and Officers
Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C. (formerly Cox, Hodgman & Giarmarco) elected three new members to its Board of Directors at its annual shareholders meeting. The new Board unanimously elected the following officers:

• William H. Horton, Chairman

• Joseph F. Page, President

• Timothy J. Mullins, Vice President

• Andrew T. Baran, Secretary/Treasurer

Also serving on the Board is: Peter J. Bill, David A. Binkley, John C. Clark, Julius H. Giarmarco, Gilbert Gugni and George D. Mercer.

With 68 attorneys, Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C., is one of the 12 largest firms in Michigan, and has served clients throughout the State of Michigan for over 30 years. Twelve of the firm's attorneys were named 2006 Michigan Super Lawyers. The firm's major practice areas include: Business Litigation, Business Planning, Health Care, Employment Law, Estate Planning and Wealth Preservation, Public Sector practice and Family Law.
 

Patrick McCauley  has joined the firm as a shareholder in our litigation department.

Mr. McCauley specializes in governmental law, having represented counties, cities, townships and various municipal authorities and alliances for over 30 years.   He also has represented business clients and individuals in complex commercial litigation and arbitrations, obtaining several multi-million dollar settlements, verdicts and judgments.

Patrick McCauley

Cox, Hodgman & Giarmarco Identified as a Leader in
Oakland County's Wireless Internet Project

Cox, Hodgman & Giarmarco, P.C., one of the premier, full-service law firms in the State of Michigan, is among the pioneers in the field of wireless technology.  During his recent State of the County Address, Oakland County, Michigan Executive L. Brooks Patterson identified the mid-sized law firm as playing a "critical and supporting role" in helping the County achieve its aspiration to roll out the first county-wide wireless internet service in the United States. 

The ambitious plan, titled "Wireless Oakland," will bring free wireless internet to Oakland County's 910 square miles.  Installation in seven Phase One communities began in January; completion of the entire project will enable 1.2 million residents to access free wireless internet.  MichTel Communications, LLC, leads the industry by being the creative force and operating partner of the wireless initiative.

The Cox, Hodgman & Giarmarco Wireless Oakland team is led by attorney Mark S. Papazian.  For more information, call (248) 457-7000. 

Cox, Hodgman & Giarmarco, through lead counsel Mark S. Papazian, is pleased to partner with Mich-Tel Communications in rolling out the country's first county-wide free wireless internet service ("Wireless Oakland").

Mark S. Papazian  has joined the firm as a shareholder in our litigation department.

He has tried hundreds of cases in the District and Circuit Courts throughout the state.  His concentration is in family law and custody disputes and business and commercial litigation.

Mark has also owned eight restaurants over the past 29 years; currently owns two and is the co-owner of Detroit's three-year old Hilton Garden Inn, the city's first hotel development in over 14 years.  Mark is uniquely qualified to represent individuals in the restaurant industry and in liquor licensing.  He is typically the first source for information by the local media in the hospitality and restaurant industry, having been featured in many publications.

Mark S. Papazian

Elizabeth A. Favaro has joined the firm as an associate in our litigation department.

She concentrates her practice in the areas of Contract Disputes, Commercial Transactions, Real Property Disputes, and Employment Law.

During law school, Liza served as an Assistant Editor of the Thomas M. Cooley Law Review.  She was named Winner & Best Advocate in Cooley's First-Year and Intra-School Moot Court Competitions and she participated in the 2005 National Appellate Advocacy Competition in New Orleans, LA.  She was awarded the Raymond Burr Award for receiving top honors in criminal law.  She also served as a judicial intern to the Honorable Maura D. Corrigan for the Michigan Supreme Court.

Before attending law school, Liza was an Emmy Award-winning television journalist, covering crime, politics, and the legal system.

Liza is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the Oakland County Bar Association (OCBA).

Elizabeth A. Favaro

Celeste M. Wolfe has joined the firm as an associate in our litigation department.

She concentrates her practice in family law and litigation.  Celeste has handled a myriad of general civil litigation cases including general negligence, premises liability, negligent hiring/supervision, insurance coverage disputes, nuisance claims, false imprisonment, assault and battery, respondeat superior and declaratory actions.  Celeste's experience includes representing clients from a suit's inception through appeal including facilitation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.  Celeste has tried numerous cases as lead counsel, resulting in favorable jury verdicts for her clients.

Prior to joining Cox, Hodgman & Giarmarco, Celeste had her own family law practice and represented business entities and individuals in litigation.  Celeste also is a mediator for Wayne County which places her in the position to evaluate the monetary value of cases presented.

Celeste is extremely active in the Oakland County Bar Association and a member of the State Bar of Michigan, Women's Lawyer's Association of Michigan, and Macomb County Bar Association.

Celeste M. Wolfe

We extend our congratulations to the dozen Cox, Hodgman & Giarmarco attorneys who were chosen as 2006 Michigan Super Lawyers® through the independent research of Law & Politics based on statewide peer nominations and evaluations of individual professional achievements, including verdicts and settlements, transactions, representative clients, lectures, writings, education and employment background.

Super Lawyers® identifies the top 5 percent of attorneys in each state utilizing a multi-step process that produces a diverse and comprehensive listing of outstanding lawyers.  For more information on Michigan Super Lawyers® visit
 www.superlawyers.com.

 CH&G 2006 Michigan Super Lawyers:

David A. Binkley
Joseph F. Dillon
Julius H. Giarmarco
Bruce  W. Haffey
Stephen J. Hitchcock
William H. Horton
Daniel J. Kelly
George D. Mercer
Timothy J. Mullins
Robert B. Webster

Gregory J. Gamalski, a shareholder in Cox, Hodgman & Giarmarco's Business Practice Group, authored an article  published in the Summer 2006 issue of the Michigan Real Property Review titled "Rights and Privileges of Builder Licensees Under Article 24 of the Occupational Code".

The article discusses the benefits accorded to licensed builders under the Occupational Code and details some of the problems which occur if a builder fails to obtain a residential builder license.

Click Below To Read Greg's Article:
Rights and Privileges of Builder Licensees Under Article 24 of the Occupational Code

Gary H. Cunningham is a shareholder in our business litigation group, concentrating his practice in the areas of bankruptcy, debtor-creditor relations and commercial litigation.

From 1980 - 1982, Mr. Cunningham was the Law Clerk to Bankruptcy Judge Harold H. Bobier, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Michigan.  He was then appointed the Estate Administrator, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Michigan from 1982 - 1983.  Since that time, he has been involved in many of the largest bankruptcy proceedings in Michigan or involving Michigan based companies. 

Mr. Cunningham was a Senior Staff Member of the Detroit College of Law Review from 1978-1980 and is the author of numerous bankruptcy-related articles.

Mr. Cunningham is a graduate of the University of Michigan (B.G.S. and M.A.), and the Detroit College of Law (J.D.).  He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, American Bankruptcy Institute, Federal Bar Association (Chairman, bankruptcy Section, 1989-1991), Turnaround Management Association (Director, 1999-2005) and the Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity.

Gary H. Cunningham

Scott J. Pugliese is an associate in Cox, Hodgman & Giarmarco, P.C.'s business litigation group.  He will concentrate his practice in the areas of commercial and civil litigation.

Before joining the Firm, Mr. Pugliese was an associate at the regional firm Parker McCay in New Jersey, appearing in state and federal court.  Prior to that, he served as judicial law clerk to the Honorable John J. Hughes, United States Magistrate Judge for the District of New Jersey, and judicial law clerk to the Honorable Cynthia Covie-Leese, presiding civil judge for the Superior Court of New Jersey in Burlington County.  He also interned for the New Jersey Attorney General, employment litigation section, and was an undergraduate intern for the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, Child and Family Abuse Bureau in Michigan.

Mr. Pugliese received his undergraduate degree from the University of Detroit-Mercy (B.A. 1999), and graduated from the Rutgers University School of Law (J.D. 2002) in New Jersey.  He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, New Jersey State Bar Association and American Bar Association.

Cox, Hodgman & Giarmarco's Risk Management Program provides consistent support to health care professionals by speaking to doctors and nurses on recent developments in health care law relating to their professional practices. David A. Binkley spoke to a group of Straith Hospital anesthesiologists on March 8, 2006 concerning recent developments in health care law. Among the topics discussed by Mr. Binkley were changes in the law of informed consent and the impact on the practice of anesthesiology. David specializes in litigation and family law and represents physicians in managing risk and defending against allegations of negligence.

Several Cox, Hodgman & Giarmarco attorneys will take part in a continuing education program titled "Condominium and Planned Community Practice In Michigan" on April 21, 2006, at the Troy Hilton, 5500 Crooks Road, Troy, Michigan. 

Gregory J. Gamalski of the CH&G Real Estate Practice Group will be making presentations on condominium and cooperative housing matters.  Other topics covered will be providing information on homeowner and condominium association turnover and the transition from developer control to owner control. 

The program is sponsored by Lorman Educational Systems.  Registration information is available by contacting Gregory J. Gamalski at ggamalski@chglaw.com or Lorman Education Systems at www.lorman.com/online.

William H. Horton spoke at the annual conference of the Michigan Society of Professional Surveyors, in Grand Rapids, on February 16th.   Bill's speech was entitled  "2006 Riparian Rights Law Update".
 

Gregory J. Gamalski and Kevin M. Nalu close over $3.1 million in cooperative housing loans

Gregory J. Gamalski closed over $3.1 million in cooperative share loans during 2005 on behalf of NCB, FSB, a subsidiary of National Cooperative Bank, the leading national lender to cooperative enterprises.  Cox, Hodgman & Giarmarco is one of only two firms in the metropolitan Detroit area authorized to act as closing agent for NCB, FSB. This service is one of the many specialized legal services provided by Cox, Hodgman & Giarmarco to national and local clients.
 

James P. Zavell has been promoted to shareholder. He concentrates his practice in the area of estate and wealth transfer planning, probate and estate/trust administration, charitable planning and tax law.

Mr. Zavell is a graduate of John Hopkins University and earned his degree from University of Notre Dame.

Bryan B. Bolling has joined the firm as one of our newest Associates in the Litigation Group.

Bryan is a graduate of Michigan State University.  He concentrates his practice in the areas of civil litigation and criminal defense.
 

Bryan B. Bolling

On November 4, 2005, Gregory J. Gamalski was a featured speaker at the Michigan Society of Professional Surveyors special program in Clare, Michigan titled "Remonumentation . Property Lines, Where Are They Today and How Do We Describe Them?"  Mr. Gamalski's portion of the presentation titled "The Effect of Remonumentation Programs on Existing Descriptions" focused on legal concepts which assure property ownership is not affected by remonumentation and monument recovery under the State of Michigan Remonumentation Program.
 

Gregory J. Gamalski was a guest presenter at the Building Industry Association of Southeastern Michigan on Tuesday, September 19th. 
 

Gregory J. Gamalski is featured writers in the August 2005 issue of Building Business and Apartment Management, the official publication of the building multifamily housing industry.  The article is entitled "When Does A Builder Need A Broker's License?"

GREGORY J. GAMALSKI SPEAKS AT BUILDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN

Gregory J. Gamalski, a partner of the Cox, Hodgman, and Giarmarco Real Estate Practice Group, was one of the featured speakers on December 8, 2004, at the Building Industry Association of Southeastern Michigan's continuing series of programs titled "Nuts and Bolts of Condominium Development". Mr. Gamalski and Cox, Hodgman and Giarmarco, P.C. are members of the Association and Mr. Gamalski is one of the coordinators for the program series.
 

Cox, Hodgman & Giarmarco announces two new partners: Tim Noonan and Sean Walsh

April 2004

We are pleased to announce that on December 1, 2004 Sean M. Walsh has become a Shareholder of the firm.

Mr. Walsh focuses his practice on commercial, securities and employment litigation defense matters. His expertise includes defending broker-dealers, corporations and their officers and directors accused of violating securities laws. He is a graduate of Southern Methodist University (B.A., 1989) and the University of Toledo College of Law (J.D., 1993)

Gil Gugni will be a guest speaker at ICLE's 3rd Annual Family Law Institute Seminar

Our "Estate Planning Day" Adds Value To Your Employees Without Cost To Your Company

GAMALSKI JOINS CH&G REAL ESTATE PRACTICE AREA

CH&G FILES $2.8M ACTION ON BEHALF OF SAULT STE. MARIE CHIPPEWA INDIAN TRIBE

CH&G TO SEEK CERTIFICATION OF CLASS IN ACTION AGAINST BLUE CROSS

COX, HODGMAN & GIARMARCO selected as outside counsel to the Secretary of the Army

COX, HODGMAN & GIARMARCO
WELCOMES NEW ATTORNEYS TO THE FIRM