Archived News & Events

August 2006

• Alan C. Roeder will be a presenter at a Lorman Seminar entitled "Real Estate Development From Beginning To End in Michigan" on August 29, 2006 in Troy, Michigan. He will be speaking about minimizing taxes, maximizing flexibility and avoiding partner problems. To register for this seminar, phone 866.352.9539.

June 2006

• Couzens Lansky is pleased to announce that Danielle Haberstroh recently joined the firm as an associate attorney.

  Mrs. Haberstroh's practice areas are Insurance Defense Litigation in the areas of Premises Liability, Automobile First and Third Party, Coverage Issues, Declaratory Actions, and Subrogation.

April 2006

• Gregg A. Nathanson will present "Movin' On Up: Handling Higher End Residential Transactions" as part of the Homeward Bound Series of the State Bar of Michigan Real Property Law Section, on April 6, 2006. Mr. Nathanson will serve as moderator and one of the panelists at this seminar. The seminar will explore the issues and nuances of representing parties in high-end residential real estate transactions. For information on attending this seminar, contact Arlene Rubinstein at (248) 644-7378.

April 2006

• Gregg A. Nathanson will be a speaker at the April 26, 2006 Synergy Michigan Commercial Real Estate Conference. Mr. Nathanson will be one of the panelists discussing "Things that kill a deal." This break-out session will discuss "war stories" of deals gone bad, and how to help people solve problems and close an otherwise failing transaction. To RSVP for this event contact Nancy McKellar at nmckellar@cbor.net. See their website for updated information: www.synergymichigan.com.

March 2006

• Joseph H. Wener is going to be a presenter at a Lorman seminar: "Fundamentals of Real Estate Closings in Michigan" on March 16, 2006, in Troy, Michigan. He will be speaking about the many facets of Due Diligence and the critical role they may play in the decision to complete the sale. To register for this seminar phone (866) 352-9539.

February 2006

• Couzens Lansky is pleased to announce that Eric J. Gould and David A. Lawrence are now shareholders of the firm.

  Mr. Gould's practice areas are Tax Planning, Health Care Law, Business Transactions, Real Estate Transactions, General Corporate Matters, Business Succession Planning, and Asset Protection Planning.

  Mr. Lawrence concentrates in the areas of Civil Litigation and Labor and Employment Law.

February 2006

• Couzens Lansky is pleased to announce that Kelly Hough recently joined the firm as an associate attorney.

  Ms. Hough practices insurance defense litigation, primarily in the area of Workers' Compensation.

February 2006

• Gregg A. Nathanson will be a featured speaker at the regional Synergy meeting, "How Title Companies Can Save Your Transaction - and Commission," sponsored by the Commercial Board of Realtors (CBOR). Mr. Nathanson will be discussing title insurance matters, and how to spot and solve title problems. The meeting will be held on February 14, 2006. To RSVP for this event contact Nancy McKellar at nmckellar@cbor.net.

February 2006

• Lisa J. Walters is the current President of the Detroit Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals.

  For more than 70 years, the Society of Financial Service Professionals has been helping individuals, families, and businesses achieve financial security. With a strong commitment to provide financial advice that is in the clients' best interest, the Society's 30,000 members nationwide are uniquely qualified to assist the public in reaching their financial goals both today and tomorrow. Society members can provide the public with expert advice in both wealth accumulation and wealth preservation. Society members have earned, or are working towards, a recognized professional credential in the financial services industry and agree to be bound to a code of conduct that places the interests of their clients above personal interests.

February 2006

• Monica Moons will be a featured speaker at the Institute of Continuing Legal Education seminar: "Fundamentals of Estate Administration" on February 17, 2006, in Troy, Michigan. She will be discussing real estate issues relating to determining the status of title, real property and transfer taxes and documents of conveyance.

October 2005

• Gregg Nathanson will present "The Ten Steps to Success in Closing a Real Estate Transaction" on October 20, 2005, during The Institute of Continuing Legal Education's 2nd Annual Solo & Small Firm Institute Seminar, Cosponsored by the General Practice and Law Practice Management Sections of the State Bar of Michigan.

Archived News & Events

April 2005

• Renard J. Kolasa will be the featured speaker at the April 20, 2005 meeting of the Planned Giving Roundtable of Southeast Michigan, at the Fairlane Club in Dearborn, Michigan. His topic is entitled "Your Planned Giving Toolbox: The Top Ten Things Advisors & Fundraisers Need to Know." For information on attending this seminar or joining the Planned Giving Roundtable, please email T. Joseph McCay, Vice President of Planned Giving, St. John Health Foundation, at joseph.mckay@stjohn.org.

February 2005

• Couzens Lansky will present its annual tax and business planning seminar for CPAs and other advisors on February 2, 2005 at Schoolcraft College in Livonia, Michigan. The seminar is entitled "2005 Update on Tax and Business Law" and will include coverage of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 and the Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004. Several of the Firm's attorneys will be presenters. For information on attending this seminar please email Sharon L. Newman at sharon.newman@couzens.com with your request.

February 2005

• Couzens Lansky will present its annual tax and business planning seminar for CLUs, Financial Planners and other advisors on February 23, 2005 at Schoolcraft College in Livonia, Michigan. The seminar is divided into three one hour sessions entitled "Update on Deferred Compensation and Employee Benefits", "Update on Current Tax Legislation", and "Update on Estate Planning - the Latest and Greatest Ideas". This material will include an explanation of the impact on these topics of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 and the Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004. The seminar is expected to qualify for continuing education credit. Several of the Firm's attorneys will be presenters. For information on attending this seminar please email Sharon L. Newman at sharon.newman@couzens.com with your request.

January 2005

• Renard J. Kolasa will be a presenter for two days at the January 24-28, 2005, Planned Giving School in Phoenix, AZ. He will discuss the income, gift and estate tax rules regarding charitable giving and explain the related planning techniques. For information on this seminar please email Donald W. Joiner, General Board of Discipleship, United Methodist Church at djoiner@gbod.org.

November 2004

• Donald A. Wagner will be chairing and speaking at the Commercial and Real Estate Lending Requirements and Loan Documentation in Michigan seminar. This seminar is sponsored by Lorman Education Services and will be held in Detroit, Michigan on November 17, 2004. Mr. Wagner will discuss the following topics: Structuring the Loan Transaction, Loan Commitments and Other Forms of Pre-Documentation Letters and Third Party Documentation: Types/Wording/Defenses.

October 2004

• Couzens Lansky announced that Joseph H. Wener recently joined the firm as associate attorney. Monica D. Moons, Kenneth F. Posner and Lawrence F. Schiller also joined Couzens Lansky as Of Counsel to the firm.

  Joseph H. Wener specializes in the area of commercial real estate, financing and contracts, corporate law and Canadian law.

  Monica D. Moons practices in the area of estate planning, estate and trust administration, tax planning, probate and tax litigation and real estate.

  Kenneth F. Posner specializes in the area of real estate, real estate litigation and commercial litigation.

  Lawrence F. Schiller concentrates in the area of tax-qualified retirement plans, executive compensation and employee benefits law.

October 2004

• Couzens Lansky was featured in the Business Section of The Gazette, an area newspaper publication. The firm was recognized for its expertise in the areas of business and corporate transactions; taxation; bankruptcy and creditors' rights; employee benefits; estate and gift tax planning; litigation; and real estate. Jerry M. Ellis, one of the founders of the firm and a Farmington Hills City Council Member, was quoted in the article as saying "We take pride in anticipating and responding to our clients' needs. We handle both routine and complex matters immediately and expeditiously."

July 2004

• Gregg A. Nathanson developed the materials for and taught a continuing education class entitled "The Residential Purchase Agreement: Key to a Successful Transaction". The class was for a group of licensed real estate professionals at a seminar sponsored by the Metropolitan Consolidated Association of Realtors (MCAR). Topics included agency relationships, disclosure requirements, basic terms, contingencies, and why you may want to involve an attorney.

July 2004

• Gregg A. Nathanson was appointed to serve as Chairperson of the Membership Committee at the Michigan Land Title Association 2004 Summer Convention in Glen Arbor, Michigan. Mr. Nathanson's term chairing this committee expires in July 2005.

May 2004

• Gregg A. Nathanson was a featured speaker at a seminar sponsored by the Michigan Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE). Mr. Nathanson lectured on the subject of deeds, affidavits and title insurance for ICLE's May 2004 seminar titled "Handling Residential Real Estate Transactions." Mr. Nathanson used a slide presentation to supplement his talk. Further information about this seminar is available on the ICLE Website: www.icle.org

May 2003 through December 2003

• Gregg A. Nathanson was a featured speaker at a number of Real Estate One University Senior Housing Specialist (SHS) Seminars which took place during 2003. Mr. Nathanson spoke about estate planning matters and Internal Revenue Code Section 1031 Like Kind Exchanges.

May 2003

• Gregg A. Nathanson was a featured speaker at the seminar "Everything You Never Wanted to Know About Real Estate Closings But Were Afraid to Ask." The seminar was sponsored by Lorman Education Services and took place in Troy, Michigan on Tuesday, May 20, 2003. This seminar was geared toward licensed real estate brokers and salespersons, title company officers, bank and mortgage loan officers, attorneys, accountants and others interested in learning more about real estate transactions and real estate closings. Mr. Nathanson spoke on Purchase and Sale Issues and participated in a lively skit titled "Closing from Hell."

April 2003

• Renard J. Kolasa was a presenter at the 2003 Legal Forum for United Methodist Jurisdictional Chancellors in Fort Worth, Texas. Renard's topic was entitled "Local Church Planned Giving - Issues, Solutions, Suggestions". For information regarding this seminar, contact the Legal Department of the General Counsel on Finance and Administration of the United Methodist Church at (847) 425-6537.

March 2003

• Renard J. Kolasa spoke on Estate Planning and Charitable Giving at Trinity Lutheran Church, Utica, Michigan.

February 2003

• Renard J. Kolasa spoke on "Business and Estate Planning for the Family Business" at the February 5, 2003 seminar sponsored by the Detroit Chapter Society of Financial Service Professionals, NAIFA Southeast Michigan and the Financial Planning Association of Michigan.

February 2003

• Lisa J. Walters spoke on Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts/ Second-To-Die at the February 5, 2003 seminar sponsored by the Detroit Chapter Society of Financial Service Professionals, NAIFA Southeast Michigan and the Financial Planning Association of Michigan.

January 2003

• Renard J. Kolasa was a presenter for two days at the Planned Giving School in Nashville, Tennessee. Renard's material included a Planned Giving, Estate Planning, Charitable Giving Techniques, Establishing Endowments, Planned Giving Marketing and Local Church Gift Acceptance Policies. For information on future sessions, contact Don Joiner at djoiner@gbod.org.

January 2003

• Couzens Lansky presented its annual seminars for CPAs, CLUs, Financial Planners, and other advisors entitled, "State of the Law 2003 - Estate Planning and Business Transfers Update." More than 300 individuals attended the two sessions. These annual seminars are typically pre-approved for continuing education credit. To be added to our mailing list, please e-mail Sharon L. Newman at sharon.newman@couzens.com with your request.