Press Release

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that its Executive Board elected 12 new members to the firm effective January 1, 2018. Dykema’s new partners, their resident office and practice descriptions are listed below.

Maria A. Diakoumakis – Bankruptcy, Chicago

Diakoumakis has represented secured creditors, landlords, equipment lessors, indenture trustees, Chapter 11 trustees, unsecured creditors, and liquidating trustees in all aspects of corporate restructuring matters, including chapter 7, 11 and 13 proceedings, out-of-court workouts, and assignments for the benefit of creditors. She regularly represents secured lenders and mortgage servicers in a wide range of bankruptcy litigation matters, and in cash-collateral, relief from stay, and plan confirmation proceedings.

Larissa Sanchez Fields – Commercial Litigation, San Antonio

Fields primarily represents insurance companies in coverage disputes and high-exposure bad faith cases arising from catastrophic weather events. She shares in the management of a broad docket of hurricane, hail, and windstorm litigation all over Texas. She serves as trial counsel in insurance bad faith cases, and also has extensive experience representing clients in the financial services and real estate industries.

Anthony J. Frasca – Taxation & Estates, Ann Arbor

Frasca focuses his practice on sophisticated estate and business succession planning for high net-worth individuals and families, with an emphasis on tax-efficient planning and philanthropic giving, and on assisting tax-exempt organizations, including with respect to nonprofit formation, governance, and various tax-related issues.

Melanie L. Fry – Commercial Litigation, San Antonio

Fry’s practice focuses on appellate law. She has briefed and won cases in the Texas Courts of Appeals, the Supreme Court of Texas, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States. In addition, Fry regularly handles case-dispositive motions and jury charges.

Noah S. Hurwitz – Labor & Employment, Ann Arbor

Hurwitz is a labor and employment attorney with experience managing complex disputes in an array of practice areas. In addition to defending employment cases and counseling clients regarding state and federal employment laws, Hurwitz advises clients on drafting employment agreements containing restrictive covenants and non-disclosure provisions regarding confidential and proprietary information.

Courtney F. Kissel – Government Policy, Bloomfield Hills

Kissel’s practice primarily focuses on state constitutional law, insurance law, Indian law, election law, and public utility law. Kissel has represented a number of universities in relation to a variety of constitutional issues, including issues related to university funding, constitutional autonomy, and academic freedom. She has also represented a variety of clients in analyzing issues under the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act, including applicability and compliance issues.

Van Lindberg – Intellectual Property, San Antonio

Lindberg focuses his practice on the intersection of technology and law, with particular experience in the area of open source, with extensive work addressing the legal, economic, and social aspects of engaging with open source communities. He is the author of the book “Intellectual Property and Open Source” and helps businesses with everything from open source compliance to business strategy. In 2012, he was named one of “America's Top 12 Techiest Attorneys” by the American Bar Association Journal.

Elisa J. Lintemuth – Labor & Employment, Grand Rapids

Lintemuth’s practice focuses on litigation, with an emphasis on employment litigation, commercial litigation, and ERISA litigation. She is experienced in successfully resolving disputes in both state and federal courts and in administrative proceedings before the EEOC and Michigan Department of Civil Rights. In ERISA litigation matters, Lintemuth has successfully defended challenges to ERISA plan administrators’ and claims fiduciaries’ decisions regarding life, health, and disability benefits.

Jeana R. Long – Financial Services Litigation, McAllen

Long primarily represents lenders in lawsuits against borrowers and guarantors in courts throughout Texas and in arbitration proceedings. She also represents lenders in defensive lawsuits. Long has extensive experience representing both secured and unsecured creditors in bankruptcy cases, including contested matters and adversary proceedings. Recognizing the importance of client education, she regularly hosts CLE and educational seminars for clients and potential clients covering a wide range of topics, including general collection litigation, collection in probate, bankruptcy for lenders and foreclosure.

Cody D. Rockey – Business Litigation, Ann Arbor

Rockey represents corporate and individual clients in antitrust and competition matters, including civil litigation and criminal investigations. He also advises clients on antitrust issues related to business combinations—mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures—including complying with pre-closing notification requirements and responding to government investigations.

Michael R. Vogt – Real Estate, Bloomfield Hills

Vogt’s practice involves all aspects of real estate litigation, including land use and zoning, eminent domain, landlord/tenant, commercial foreclosures, and a variety of contractual disputes related to the purchase, sale, leasing, and management of commercial real estate.

Jeanne M. Whalen – Corporate Finance, Bloomfield Hills

Whalen’s practice focuses on general corporate, contracting, and acquisition matters, with an emphasis on technology and health care-related transactions, particularly with respect to dental service organizations, health systems, and assisted living facilities.