Getting Personal

• Dennis has been practicing law for more than 30 years after graduating from The University of Michigan Law School, cum laude, in 1978. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and of various bar sections, and is admitted to practice in the following courts:

  • The United States Supreme Court
  • The United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
  • The United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, and
  • All Michigan Trial and Appellate Courts

  Since 1985, Dennis has continuously enjoyed the highest professional and competency rating that was bestowed on him by Martindale Hubbell. His "AV" rating through that prestigious lawyers’ rating organization was based on independent evaluations obtained from other peer lawyers by Martindale Hubbell.

  Dennis has represented hundreds of individuals and businesses in the course of his practice with large and small law firms - and in operating his own professional partnership and professional corporation - with a primary focus on fraud cases, breach of fiduciary duty cases, conversion and theft of trust funds and opportunities cases; risk evaluation, risk avoidance planning, entity formation, consulting, and commercial litigation.

  Dennis’ character, motivation, purpose and dedication were reflected in his recent Holiday Insert:

  Dear clients, colleagues and friends:
  
  2008 marked the 30th year that I have had the privilege and pleasure of practicing law.Thank you for so richly contributing to these decades of professional and personal growth – growth that has been immeasurably fueled by my experiences in knowing and working with you.My purpose in being a lawyer was and is to make a difference by speaking for others, especially those who might otherwise not be heard, those whom we may have talked about as having cases "for the soul." I still have that purpose. I still welcome new challenges and opportunitiesto advocate for you and for those you know. I look forward to finding out how I may be of help to you and yours. Please feel free to contact me at any time.

  Dennis’ tenacity and no nonsense approach to problem solving and litigation were developed and tempered, in part, during his ten year association with the Detroit Police Department, as a patrol officer and as patrol supervisor/sergeant with the Department. Dennis attributes his skill at ferreting out and proving fraud, fraudulent schemes and breaches of fiduciary duties in a variety of litigation contexts to his experiences on the force, and to his meticulous examination of records and other evidence through which liars and schemers prey on their victims.

  Dennis knows that accomplishments, successes and good results can only be achieved through perseverance and hard work - and that shortcuts are unacceptable substitutes. At age 23, Dennis became the then youngest sergeant/patrol supervisor in the history of the Detroit Police Department, where he finished first in his academy class. He completed his first year of law school at Wayne State University, where he finished 2nd in a class of more than 230 highly competitive students. Dennis completed his legal training at The University of Michigan Law School in 1978, where he graduated cum laude, in the top 1/4 of his class.

  After law school Dennis acquired invaluable business and litigation experience: with a large premier Detroit area law firm: with a highly skilled and tough complex commercial and business lawyer; with a prestigious Bloomfield Hills firm: and in operating his own partnership and professional corporation.

  Dennis is an avid long distance runner - and has completed numerous half-marathons - ten milers - 10ks - and Mackinaw Bridge runs. He has climbed “fourteeners” in Colorado with his wife, Patricia, and is now reading books about the challenges of 8000ers (as in meters not feet) - including Annapurna, Everest, and the most deadly of mountains - K2. Dennis and Patricia enjoy traveling and hiking adventures, including their expedition sail to Antarctica where they crossed the Antarctic Circle and walked further south on the frozen ocean.

  While Dennis primarily runs in the evening, he appreciates the time restraints on early morning runners, athletes and other early risers - and makes himself available for early morning post-run meetings to accommodate the needs of those clients.