Press Release

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that Jill Wheaton was selected as an inductee to the Michigan Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame. As a member of the Hall of Fame, Wheaton will be recognized at a luncheon on April 21, 2023. In addition, a special Hall of Fame supplement will be published in Michigan Lawyers Weekly on the same day.

According to the publication, the Hall of Fame program recognizes Michigan’s legal leaders for their successful careers and valuable contributions to the community. “These legendary lawyers have made their mark, either in the courtroom or the boardroom, in their law firms or legal departments, with community organizations, and with local, state, and national bar associations.”

Throughout her career, Wheaton has made a lasting impression on the legal industry, whether it be through victories in the courtroom (many of which have set regional and national legal trends), providing mentorship to future leaders and advocates, business successes for clients, pro bono representation, and as a leader for an AmLaw200 firm.

In her practice, Wheaton has earned a national reputation for her skilled advocacy and has obtained review by, and favorable decisions from, the Michigan Supreme Court in numerous cases including Covenant v. State Farm; Deacon v Pandora Media, Sauerman v. Residential Funding; Kim v. JP Morgan Chase; LaFontaine v. Chrysler Group; and State of Michigan v. CVS Caremark, et al. Wheaton has represented Fortune 500 clients in appeals in Michigan, California, Georgia, South Caroline, Minnesota, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Missouri and Pennsylvania; and in numerous federal circuit Courts of Appeals. She was part of the team that was victorious in the United States Supreme Court in the pro bono case of Frye v. Napoleon Community Schools.

Outside of her practice, Wheaton is currently Chair-elect of the American Bar Association Counsel of Appellate Lawyers, a nationwide group representing appellate lawyers in all areas of the practice. Wheaton is also a past chair of the Appellate Practice Section of the State Bar of Michigan, a member of the Appellate Practice Committee of the Defense Research Institute, a member of the Michigan Appellate Bench-Bar Conference Planning Committee, and a former member of the Board of Directors for the Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society. She is a frequent speaker, panelist, and author regarding various issues involving appellate practice.

A leader in the appellate community, Wheaton is one of the authors of the ICLE of Michigan Appellate Law Practice handbook and often presents to clients through the firm’s Litigation Institute webinars on subjects such as Supreme Court appeals and considerations for whether to appeal cases.

Also a leader in the firm, Wheaton has been a partner in the litigation group since 1999 and became leader of the appellate team in 2007, a role she still holds today. She also held other leadership roles, including leader of the firm’s product liability and class action litigation practice group and leader of the pharma and medical device group.

Wheaton earned a J.D., cum laude, and a B.G.S. from the University of Michigan.