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Committees

2012 - 2013
PRACTICE & SERVICE COMMITTEES

If you are interested in joining a committee, please read the following committee descriptions and then fill out a Practice & Service Committee Form.

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OCBA Practice and Service Committees Form

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) encourages the use of ADR by the legal profession, judiciary, government and public through education, training and strategic alliance.  The ADR Committee meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 a.m. at the OCBA office.

David Baumhart (Chair)
(248) 338-8848
dave@adradvantages.com

Marty Burnstein (Vice Chair)
(248) 723-0803
mburnstein@martyburnsteinlaw.com

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) oversees CLE seminars offered by the OCBA.  The CLE Committee meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 5:15 p.m. at the OCBA office.

Mission Statement:
To promote the educational and professional needs of the OCBA members through information and training to help them practice proficiently, competently, professionally and ethically throughout their careers.

Kaveh Kashef (Chair)
(248) 642-9692
kkashef@clarkhill.com 

Marc Jerabek (Vice Chair)
(248) 901-4016
mjerabek@plunkettcooney.com 


Criminal Law is charged with the advancement of the criminal law system in both district and circuit courts.  The Criminal Law Committee meets on the third Wednesday of each month at noon at an offsite location.

Kari Melkonian (Chair)
(248) 858-7958
melkonian7878@yahoo.com

Tim Flynn (Vice Chair)
(248) 625-0600
tflynn@karlstromcooney.com

Diversity in the Legal Profession creates networking, referral, employment and other opportunities for minority attorneys; works to ensure equal opportunity and promote collegiality among diverse groups of attorneys.  The Diversity committee meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 8:15 a.m. at the OCBA office.

Mission Statement:
The mission of the Diversity Committee is to increase awareness in the Oakland County legal community of the need to provide equal opportunity for all lawyers and support personnel through education and programs sponsored by the Oakland County Bar Association and in collaboration with other legal organizations, and to promote participation in the activities and governance of the Oakland County Bar Association of lawyers with all varieties of diverse backgrounds.

Hon. Cynthia Walker (Chair)
(248) 758-3882
Cwalker@pontiac.mi.us

Lori Frank (Vice Chair)
(248) 424-9777
ljfrank@collectionlaw.com

Employee Benefits Law is concerned with all facets of employee benefits including substantive presentations each month.  The Employee Benefits Committee meets on the second Monday of each month at noon at the OCBA office.

Kal Goren (Chair)
(248) 267-3267
goren@millercanfield.com

Gabe Marinaro (Vice Chair)
(313) 568-6874
gmarinaro@dykema.com

Employment & Labor Law is concerned with all facets of labor & employment law. The Labor and Employment Law Committee meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 8:30 a.m. at the OCBA Office.

Robert Sosin (Chair)
(248) 642-3200
robert@asnlaw.com

Catherine Derthick (Vice Chair)
(248) 594-6335
cderthick@gmail.com

Family Court is concerned with the education of attorneys and the public with regard to operation and legislation in the field of family law. Studies existing statutes and proposed legislation in this area. Charged with improving the practice of domestic relations.  The Family Court Committee meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 5:00 p.m. at the OCBA office. 

Mark Crane (Chair)
(248) 656-9600
mec@markcranelaw.com 

Keela Gracey (Vice Chair)
(248) 651-8668
keela.gracey@yahoo.com

Forum for In-House Counsel is designed for in-house counsel, corporation counsel, and transactional attorneys to provide educational programs and a forum to discuss relevant topics. The committee meets on a quarterly basis at 7:30 a.m. at the OCBA office. Please refer to Calendar of Events for meeting dates.

Keith Lerminiaux (Chair)
(248) 858-0557
lerminiauxk@oakgov.com

Maria Doria  (Vice Chair)
(248) 689-0665
mdoria@hmsmfg.com


Juvenile Law is concerned with all facets of the juvenile and family justice system including legislation, court proceedings and treatment. Coordinates Juvenile GAL training seminar and Brown Bag seminar series.  The Juvenile Law Committee meets on the fourth Thursday of each month at 12:00p.m. at the Court House.

Michael Dean (Chair)
(248) 914-0699
michael@michaeldeanlaw.com

Doug Oliver (Vice Chair)
(248) 879-8339
dkolaw@sbcglobal.net

Law Related Education Committee is a committee that organizes a one-day conference for high school seniors that features a variety of legal issues as they pertain to the students, as well as educates them about the legal process and provides them with tools for better decision making. The Law Related Education Committee meets the fourth Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the OCBA office.

Tammy Asher (Chair)
(248) 751-7800
ashert@cooley.edu

Kathy Fox (Vice Chair)
(313) 751-7800
foxk@wayne.edu

Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) works to increase the efficiency and service of the LRS program. They improve and provide the best possible way for the public to be connected with competent and appropriate legal counsel, in addition to providing OCBA attorneys with increased business, while maximizing their available pool of cases and clients. The Lawyer Referral Service Committee meets quarterly on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 12:00 p.m. at the OCBA.

Justin Smith (Chair)
(248) 389-9903
justinsmithlaw@aol.com

Lynda Krupp (Vice Chair)
(313) 967-5690
lkrupp@ladadetroit.org

Membership is responsible for maximizing the membership, reviewing and recommending various types of services available to the OCBA that benefit current membership and encouraging new membership. The Membership Committee meets the third Wednesday of each month at 5:15 p.m. at the OCBA office.

Kirsten Gramzow (Chair)
(248) 864-4933
kgramzow@starrbutler.com

Daniel Quick (Vice Chair)
(248) 433-7200
dquick@dickinson-wright.com

Municipal Law consists of lawyers with specialized interest in municipal law and who represent clients who have dealings with municipalities. The Municipal Law Committee meets the fourth Wednesday of each month at 12:00 p.m. at the OCBA office.

G. Hans Rentrop (Chair)
(248) 540-7400
hrentrop@anafirm.com

Bradley Benn (Vice Chair)
(248) 858-0558
bennb@oakgov.com

New Lawyers Committee plans networking events and socials for members with less than ten years’ experience. They also organize fundraising and volunteer events for civic groups and charities. The New Lawyers Committee meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the OCBA office.

Marc Jerabek (Chair)
(248) 901-4016
mjerabek@plunkettcooney.com

Geoff Brown (Vice Chair)
(248)355-4141
geoffrey.Brown@ceflawyers.com

PALS (Providing Access to Legal Services) is charged with implementing programs that provide an understanding of the legal system within the community and with effectuating the positive presence of lawyers in society. The Public Service Committee meets the third Monday of each month at 4:30 p.m. at the OCBA office.

Mark Harper (Chair)
(248) 647-6000
mharper@patlaw.com

Mona Jabr (Vice Chair)
(248) 766-5164
jabrmona@yahoo.com

Paralegal is responsible for improving legal assistants’ position in the legal profession through networking and public service. The Paralegal Committee meets on a quarterly basis, watch the website for meeting details.

Laurie Hagen (Chair)
(248) 355-4141
laurie.hagen@ceflawyers.com

Leisanne Smeadala (Vice Chair)
(248) 881-7987
leisannesmeadala@gmail.com

Probate, Estate and Trust works with the Probate Court to advance programs and services in all aspects including mental health and elder law. The committee coordinates the biennial adult GAL Seminar. The Probate Committee meets the fourth Monday of each month at 5:00 p.m. at the OCBA office.

Rebecca Schnelz (Chair)
(248) 858-5603
schnelzr@oakgov.com

Barb Andruccioli (Vice Chair)
(248) 740-5683
b.andruccioli@kkue.com

Real Estate provides members and guest speakers an opportunity to discuss current decisions and laws affecting the practice of real estate. The Real Estate Committee meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at 8:00 a.m. at the OCBA office.

Jody Hall (Chair)
(248) 858-0550
halljs@oakgov.com

Steven Samona (Vice Chair)
(248) 565-8582
stevensamona@thebizattorney.com

Solo/Small Firm Listserv was established in 2011 as a resource to our solo members. The listserv provides participants a means of circulating questions, suggestions and ideas pertaining to their law practices with other members via e-mail.  To join the OCBA listserv, simply click the link, http://listserv.ocba.org/SCRIPTS/WA-OCBA.EXE?A0=OCBA-SOLO_SMALL_FIRM and follow the directions to subscribe.  If you have any problems, contact Katie Tillinger at membership@ocba.org or 248-334-3400. 

Student provides students with opportunities for professional growth and development through association with the Oakland County legal community in programs and events focusing on law. The Student Committee meets every other month, watch the website for details.

Jaclyn Mansoor (Chair)
(248) 673-7000
jmansoor7@yahoo.com

Aaron Kochenderfer (Vice Chair)
(586) 697-6106
aaron.kochenderfer@gmail.com

Tax is concerned with the substantive and procedural law of federal, state and local taxations. The Tax Committee meets the third Tuesday of each month at an offsite location.

Marla Carew (Chair)
(248) 270-8536
mscarew@carewlegal.com

Bill Sigler (Vice Chair)
(248) 355-5200
wsigler@maddinhauser.com 

Veterans Committee focuses on veterans issues including recruitment of OCBA members to take pro bono cases related to veterans' matters; heightened awareness and increased observation of Veterans Day in Oakland County; support to deployed military men and women through provision of care packages; sponsorship of a Veterans' Speakers Bureau; and support of Veterans Courts.

          Elias J. Escobedo Jr. (Chair)
        (248) 682-8400
        eescobedo@ameritech.net

        Robert L. Farnette (Vice Chair)
        (248) 884-8402
        ltcrlf@gmail.com

Limited Committees

Circuit Court is a liaison between the OCBA and the Circuit Court and its judges in matters of mutual concern relating to the operation of court. The Circuit Court Committee meets the second Monday of the month at 5:00 p.m. at the OCBA Office.

Gary Krochmal (Chair)
(248) 865-4700
gkrochmal@krochmalLAW.com

Marcia Ross (Vice Chair)
(248) 538-9711
mcross@goldlitt.com

Circuit Court Case Evaluation oversees the selection of Circuit Court Case Evaluators. The Circuit Court Case Evaluation Committee meets the third Tuesday of each month at 7:30 a.m. at the OCBA Office.

Tom Charboneau (Chair)
(248) 644-3600
tcharblaw@gmail.com

Paul Knight (Vice Chair)
(248) 244-8931
paul.knight@farmersinsurance.com

District Court examines various areas of concerns and works to resolve problem areas that might arise involving the District Court operation and the OCBA. The committee oversees the selection of District Court mediators and the operation of the case evaluation systems. The District Court Committee meets the third Monday of the month at 12:00 p.m. at the OCBA office.

Edward Cibor (Chair)
(248) 650-9273
edwardjcibor@yahoo.com

Michael Cavanagh (Vice Chair)
(313) 792-6846
michael_cavanagh@mascohq.com

Legislative works with the Board of Directors and lobbyists to promote the OCBA’s position on current and pending legislation that affects the practice of law and the administration of justice. The Legislative Committee meets the fourth Monday of the month at 4:00 p.m. at the OCBA office.

Richard Poling, Jr. (Co-Chair)
(248) 641-0500
rpolingjr@aol.com

Sheldon Larky (Co-Chair)
(248) 644-4843
sheldonlarky@aol.com

Medical/Legal is composed of physicians and attorneys who deal with inter-professional relationships and matters of concern to both professional groups.  The Medical/ Legal Committee meets the first Thursday of each month at 7:45 a.m. at the OCBA Office.

Irene Hathaway (Chair)
(313) 496-8442
hathawayi@millercanfield.com

Craig Hillborn (Vice Chair)
(248) 642-8350
craig@hilbornlaw.com

Special Event Committees

Golf Outing

Robert Morad (Chair)
(248) 267- 3219
morad@millercanfield.com

Race Judicata        

 Meredith Taunt (Chair)
 (248) 542-2300
 mtaunt@stroblpc.com

 Wayne Kauffman (Vice Chair)
 (248) 591-0977
 waynek3@yahoo.com