Oakland County Bar Association

09/06/2026

The OCBA office will be closed tomorrow, Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day, and will reopen on Tuesday, September 8.

It’s also a busy week for our committees, with several meetings taking place throughout the week.

Visit ocba.org/events to see what’s coming up.

09/04/2026

We’re pleased to welcome the newest members who joined the OCBA in August:

Jessica Blanch, Brooks, Wilkins, Sharkey and Turco
Camerin Elkin, Segal McCambridge
Pamela Fordham, The Charter County of Wayne
Lee Johnson
Anthony Kochis, Wolfson Bolton Kochis PLLC
Erin Siefert, Buckles & Buckles PLC
Terri Weishaus, Butler Rowse-Oberle, PLLC
Torenda Wilson-Thompson, 6th Circuit Court
Sarina Zomay, University of Detroit Mercy School of Law

Thank you for becoming part of the OCBA. We look forward to your involvement in our programs, events, and professional community.

09/04/2026

Please note that the OCBA office will be closed on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day. We will reopen on Tuesday, September 8.

We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend.

09/03/2026

Last chance to submit nominations for the 2026 Taste of Diversity awards. Nominations for the Michael K. Lee Memorial Award and Leon Hubbard Community Service Award are due tomorrow, Friday, September 4, at 5 p.m.

Please consider nominating a deserving individual whose work and service reflect the criteria for one of these annual awards, which will be presented at this year’s Taste of Diversity event.

Nomination letters should include the nominee’s activities and how they meet the award criteria and be emailed to Katie Tillinger at [email protected].

Learn more about the awards and nomination criteria at ocba.org/taste.

09/02/2026

The OCBA is partnering with the League of Women Voters-Oakland Area, the Oakland County Legal News, and the Oakland County Times to host the 51st District Court Judicial Candidate Forum on Wednesday, September 30, from 7 to 8:15 p.m. at the Waterford Township Hall Auditorium.

Candidates Carmen J. DeFranco and Pamela J. Monville will participate in the nonpartisan forum, which is designed to help voters make informed decisions in the 51st District Court judicial race.

Local citizens are invited to attend and submit questions for the candidates. The forum will also be recorded and made available online following the event.

Learn more about the candidates and forum at ocba.org/51stforum.

09/01/2026

Stay current on the latest developments in juvenile law with the OCBA’s Update on the State of Juvenile Law seminar on Thursday, October 8, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. via Zoom.

H. Elliot Parnes, Esq., of H. Elliot Parnes PLLC will review developments from the past year, including new legislation, court rules, and case law.

Learn more and register at ocba.org/juvenileupdate.

08/31/2026

Join us for an evening celebrating the diversity of our legal community at the OCBA’s Taste of Diversity on Thursday, October 15, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Great Lakes Culinary Center.

Connect with colleagues and members of local affinity bar associations during this strolling reception featuring hors d’oeuvres, conversation, and opportunities to build connections across the legal community.

The evening will also recognize outstanding service through the presentation of the Leon Hubbard Community Service Award and Michael K. Lee Memorial Award.

Established in 2015, Taste of Diversity celebrates multiculturalism within the profession and encourages collaboration in advancing diversity throughout the legal community.

Registration is now open. Learn more and register at ocba.org/taste.

08/30/2026

A busy week is ahead at the OCBA as we head into September. Several committees are meeting this week, offering plenty of opportunities to connect and get involved with fellow OCBA members.

See what’s happening this week and learn more at ocba.org/events.

08/28/2026

We are also pleased to congratulate the 25 OCBA members who were named to Super Lawyers 50 Women Michigan Lawyers list:

Margaret C. Alli, Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart PC
Reesa N. Benkoff, Benkoff Health Law, PLLC
Kathleen L. Bogas, Bogas & Koncius PC
Michelle T. Czapski, Bodman PLC
Laura E. Eisenberg, Eisenberg & Spilman, PLLC
Sue Ellen Eisenberg, Sue Ellen Eisenberg & Associates, P.C.
Julie I. Fershtman, Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC
Deborah L. Gordon, Deborah L. Gordon PLC
Jennifer M. Grieco, Altior Law, P.C.
Elizabeth P. Hardy, Kienbaum Hardy Viviano Pelton & Forrest, P.L.C.
Linda D. Kennedy, Panagos Kennedy PLLC
Kathleen H. Klaus, Maddin Hauser Roth & Heller P.C.
Julie L. Kosovec, Brooks Wilkins Sharkey & Turco, PLLC
Monica J. Labe, Dickinson Wright
Elizabeth L. Luckenbach, Dickinson Wright PLLC
Deborah A. Lujan (posthumously)
Donna M. MacKenzie, Olsman MacKenzie Peacock
Sara K. MacWilliams, Doerr MacWilliams Howard PLLC
Kari L. Melkonian, Fieger Law
Martha J. Olijnyk, The Miller Law Firm, P.C.
Emily M. Peacock, Olsman MacKenzie Peacock
Jorin G. Rubin, Rubin Frampton
Kimberly W. Stout, Kimberly W. Stout, P.C.
Judith A. Susskind, Sommers Schwartz, PC
Frances Belzer Wilson, Dawda PLC

Learn more:

Top 100: 2026 Michigan Super Lawyers Top List

08/28/2026

Congratulations to the 57 OCBA members who were named to Super Lawyers Top 100 Michigan Lawyers list:

Matthew P. Allen, Miller Canfield Paddock and Stone
Margaret Carroll Alli, Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart PC
Joseph Aviv, Honigman
Mark Bank, Bank | Rifkin
Dirk A. Beamer, Wright Beamer
Reesa N. Benkoff, Benkoff Health Law
Kathleen L. Bogas, Bogas & Koncius
Jordan S. Bolton, Taft Law
Thomas P. Branigan, Bowman and Brooke
Keefe A. Brooks, Brooks Wilkins Sharkey & Turco
Howard H. Collens, Collens Estate Law
Thomas W. Cranmer, Miller Canfield Paddock and Stone
Michelle Thurber Czapski, Bodman PLC
Ronald A. Deneweth, Deneweth Vittiglio & Sassak
Joseph Doerr, Doerr MacWilliams Howard PLLC
Laura E. Eisenberg, Eisenberg & Spilman
Julie I. Fershtman, Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC
Gerald J. Gleeson II, Miller Canfield Paddock and Stone
Seth D. Gould, The Miller Law Firm
Jennifer M. Grieco, Altior Law, P.C.
Patrick F. Hickey, Hickey Hauck Bishoff Jeffers & Seabolt
Michael P. Hindelang, Honigman
Thomas H. Howlett, The Googasian Firm
Brian R. Jenney, Kemp Klein Law Firm
Ven Johnson, Ven Johnson Law
Julie Lyons Kosovec, Brooks Wilkins Sharkey & Turco
Mark L. Kowalsky, Taft Stettinius & Hollister
Joseph A. Lavigne, Law Offices of Joseph A. Lavigne
Elizabeth L. Luckenbach, Dickinson Wright
Donna M. MacKenzie, Olsman MacKenzie Peacock
Sara K. MacWilliams, Doerr MacWilliams Howard
Gerard V. Mantese, Mantese Honigman
Brian J. McKeen, McKeen & Associates, P.C.
Thomas G. McNeill, Tom McNeill ADR
E. Powell Miller, The Miller Law Firm
John Mucha III, Dawda PLC
Lawrence J. Murphy, Warner Norcross + Judd
Moheeb H. Murray, Bush Seyferth PLLC
Kenneth F. Neuman, Altior Law, P.C.w
Marc Newman, The Miller Law Firm
Martha J. Olijnyk, The Miller Law Firm
Emily M. Peacock, Olsman MacKenzie Peacock
Eric J. Pelton, Kienbaum Hardy Viviano Pelton Forrest
Daniel D. Quick, Dickinson Wright
Steven M. Ribiat, Brooks Wilkins Sharkey & Turco
B. Andrew Rifkin, Bank | Rifkin
Neil S. Rockind, Rockind Law
Mark Rossman, Rossman, P.C.
Patrick G. Seyferth, Bush Seyferth
Dan Sharkey, Brooks Wilkins Sharkey & Turco
Judith A. Susskind, Sommers Schwartz, PC
James E. Tamm, Kerr Russell and Weber
Douglas L. Toering, Mantese Honigman
Michael R. Turco, Brooks Wilkins Sharkey & Turco
Ronald K. Weiner, Lipton Law
I.W. Winsten, Honigman
Scott A. Wolfson, Wolfson Bolton Kochis

Learn more:

Top 100: 2026 Michigan Super Lawyers Top List