November 20, 2007 — Bodman LLP is pleased to welcome the following new associates to the Firm:
Evelyn “Cayce” Butler focuses her practice on commercial litigation. She is a graduate of Wake Forest University (B.S., summa cum laude, 1996), Cornell University (M.S., Experimental Physics, 2000) and Wayne State University Law School (J.D., summa cum laude, 2007). In law school, Ms. Butler was the survey editor of the Wayne Law Review. Before joining Bodman, she worked as a materials scientist at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico.
Alesia Watson Dobbins concentrates her practice in representing lenders in commercial loan originations. She is a graduate of Emory University (B.A., 2004) and Michigan State University College of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2007). In law school, Ms. Dobbins served as associate editor of the Michigan State Law Review. She interned for Justice Marilyn Kelly of the Michigan Supreme Court.
Jessica D. Gorga concentrates her practice in representing lenders in commercial loan originations. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan (B.A., With High Distinction, 2004) and the Indiana University School of Law (J.D., 2007). In law school, Ms. Gorga served as managing editor of the Indiana Law Journal. She was a member of the Sherman Minton Moot Court Board.
Celeste E. Pelzer represents clients in corporate organizations, mergers and acquisitions and other commercial transactions. She also advises on tax matters and assists nonprofit and tax exempt organizations in obtaining and maintaining exempt status, corporate governance and general operational issues. She is a graduate of Bowling Green State University (B.A., magna cum laude, 2004) and Wayne State University Law School (J.D., magna cum laude, 2007; Order of the Coif). In law school, Ms. Pelzer served as assistant editor of the Wayne Law Review. She interned for Judge Nancy G. Edmunds of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Candice B. Rusie represents clients involved in commercial litigation and construction matters. She is a graduate of Wayne State University (B.A., summa cum laude, 2004) and Michigan State University College of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2007). In law school, Ms. Rusie was managing editor of the Michigan State Law Review. She was a judicial extern at the Wayne County Circuit Court’s Office of Judicial Assistance.
Michelle T. Thomas represents clients involved in commercial litigation matters. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan (B.S.E., 1996), Eastern Michigan University (M.B.A, 2003) and Wayne State University Law School (J.D., cum laude, 2007). Before joining Bodman, Ms. Thomas worked as an engineer for Woodbridge Foam Corporation. In law school, Ms. Thomas served as assistant editor for the Wayne Law Review.
Jonathan P. Burleigh represents clients in corporate organizations, mergers and acquisitions and other commercial transactions. He is a graduate of The American University (B.A., 1992) and the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2007). In law school, Mr. Burleigh served as an associate editor of the University of Detroit Mercy Law Review. Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Burleigh was involved in international trade in Russia and the former Soviet republics.
Kenneth C. White concentrates his practice in intellectual property matters. He is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton (B.A., 2004) and Michigan State University College of Law (J.D., 2007). While in law school, Mr. White was a member of the Michigan State University College of Law Moot Court & Advocacy Board. In 2007, he was a regional finalist in the Texas Young Lawyers Association Mock Trial Competition held in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Bodman is one of Michigan’s leading business law firms with 140 lawyers and five offices. Bodman has a diverse client base that includes individuals and businesses in a variety of industries, with emphasis on financial services, automotive, real estate and construction, high tech, manufacturing, and other sectors.