Couzens, Lansky, Fealk, Ellis, Roeder & Lazar, P.C. was formed February 1, 1988, as a result of the merger of Couzens, Lansky & Roeder with Fealk, Ellis & Lazar to provide high quality legal services in all areas of commercial law.

Prior to the merger, Sheldon Fealk, Jerry Ellis and Bruce Lazar had been practicing law together since the early 1970s. At the same time, Jack Couzens, Alan Roeder, Renard Kolasa, Kathy Sussman and Donald Lansky had also been practicing together since the 1970s, and I joined the firm upon my graduation at the beginning of the following decade.

While each group was content with their respective practices, we realized that a combination of the firms would better provide the services requested by our clients. Consequently, the two groups merged and, at that time, we thought a firm of 12 lawyers was just about the right size.

In 1998, Lawyer's Weekly included Couzens Lansky among the 50 largest law firms in Michigan.

This growth has not been haphazard. Our Strategic Plan mandates that we provide high quality legal services in a cost effective manner. We have held steadfast to that goal as we have added attorneys and staff, and that goal was an integral part of the planning for our new state-of-the-art office.

As I consider my contemporaries and the younger lawyers and staff members in this Firm, I am excited that Couzens Lansky enjoys its existing relationships and that the Firm is poised to become the law firm for the next generation - the next generation of parents, the next generation of business people and the next generation of professionals. Of course, we are also available to assist in the transition from the older to the younger generation.

Happily, our commitment to our clients has resulted in a high demand for our services, but this means the demands on all of us remain high. Those of us who call Couzens Lansky home for the better part of the week champion hard work and an enjoyable environment which is conducive to our commitment of enthusiasm and dedication to each project we undertake.

— Jeffrey A. Levine