Bodman Year in Review - 2019 Edition

By: Bodman PLC

01/24/20

We celebrated our 90th year in business in 2019 and could not have done it without you – our valued clients, friends and professionals whom we have the honor of working with every day.

Thank you!

We received many accolades for quality and service

• Chambers USA again ranked Bodman as Michigan’s top Banking and Finance law firm (for more than 15 consecutive years) and as a leader for Commercial Litigation, Corporate/M&A, Labor & Employment, and Real Estate.
• IFLR1000 ranked Bodman as Michigan’s top Banking and Finance law firm and as one of only four “Recommended” law firms for Corporate and M&A.
• Benchmark Litigation named Bodman its Michigan Law Firm of the Year (for the 6th consecutive Year).
• Chambers HNW ranked Bodman as one of only three Michigan law firms in the highest possible “Band One” level for Private Wealth Law.
• Managing IP listed Bodman as one of only three Michigan firms to be “Highly Recommended” for Trademark Law.
• US News ranked Bodman at the national level in four areas of practice and at the highest possible “Tier 1” level locally in 27 practices across three markets.
• The Best Lawyers in America recognized 48 Bodman attorneys as leaders in their areas of specialty.
• Michigan Super Lawyers and Rising Stars recognized 49 Bodman attorneys as leaders in their areas of specialty.
• DBusiness and the Grand Rapids Business Journal selected 72 Bodman attorneys as leaders in their areas of specialty. 

A new generation of leadership stepped forward

Carrie Leahy was named Chair Elect of the Firm in June. She succeeded Larry Shulman as Chair in January 2020. Leahy joined Bodman in 2004 and, as a member of the firm’s Business Practice Group, concentrates her practice in corporate and business law.

In 2019, Crain’s Detroit Business honored Carrie as a “Notable Woman in Law,” noting her track record of leadership within the firm and the legal profession. DBusiness honored Carrie as one of the “Detroit 500” most influential business leaders.

Diversity took center stage

In addition to naming its first-ever woman Chair, Bodman took additional steps to renew its commitment to diversity and inclusion, welcoming the Firm’s first Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Felicia Thomas, in October. Bodman placed higher than any other Michigan-based firm on the National Law Journal 2019 “Women’s Score Card,” an annual analysis of gender diversity at large law firms. Bodman placed within the top 10% of all firms nationally that were eligible for this honor. 

Also, Lawyers of Color named Damali Sahu to its 2019 “Nation’s Best” list based on her history of noteworthy accomplishments and a commitment to diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.

Our Pro Bono commitment continued

Bodman continues to be one of the few Michigan law firms to employ a full time Pro Bono Counsel. We were pleased to welcome Anne Yantus to that role in November.

Bodman was named to the State Bar of Michigan’s 2019 “A Lawyer Helps Pro Bono Honor Roll” which recognized firms that support access to justice efforts by providing pro bono legal services to low-income individuals and the organizations that serve them throughout Michigan.

Several of our attorneys garnered individual awards for their commitment to pro bono service, including Katelyn Young who received the Detroit Bar Association Pro Bono Award in November and Glen Zatz who received the “Brick” Award from Michigan Community Resources in December

Grand Rapids growth accelerated

We were pleased to welcome four new attorneys to our rapidly growing Grand Rapids Office in 2019, and look forward to adding more when we move into spacious new offices within our current building at 99 Monroe Avenue NW in April 2020. 

Our rising stature in the West Michigan business community was recognized in February when Floyd Gates was named “Newsmaker of the Year” in the Law category by the Grand Rapids Business Journal. 

We welcomed 20 talented attorneys