We are proud to announce that eighteen of the firm’s attorneys have been named to the 2026 Michigan Super Lawyers list, and four have been recognized as 2026 Michigan Rising Stars. The Super Lawyers designation is conferred through a rigorous, multi-phase process combining peer nomination, independent research, and professional achievement evaluations. No more than five percent of attorneys in any given state earn the distinction in any given year.

This year’s honorees represent the breadth of the firm’s practice, spanning Business Litigation, Business and Corporate Transactions, Real Estate, Employment and Labor, Environmental Law, Estate and Probate, Tax, Land Use and Zoning, Civil Litigation, and Franchise and Dealership Law.

Special Distinctions

Two Dawda PLC attorneys earned individual honors, placing them among the most distinguished practitioners in Michigan. John Mucha III has been named to the Top 100: Michigan Super Lawyers list, a designation reserved for the 100 highest-rated attorneys in the state across all practice areas and firms. Frances Belzer Wilson has been recognized on the Top 50: Women Michigan Super Lawyers list, honoring the 50 highest-rated women attorneys practicing in Michigan.

Milestone Recognition

Wayne S. Segal marks his 20th consecutive year of selection to the Michigan Super Lawyers list, an extraordinary measure of sustained professional excellence and peer esteem within Michigan’s Real Estate law community. John F. Youngblood earns his 19th year of recognition in the firm’s Franchise and Dealership practice.

2026 Michigan Super Lawyers

• Donald R. Bachand III — Business Litigation (1 year)
• Kristen L. Baiardi — Business Litigation (2 years)
• Alfredo Casab — Business & Corporate (8 years)
• Randal R. Cole — Employment & Labor (13 years)
• Brian J. Considine — Environmental (10 years)
• Edward C. Dawda — Business & Corporate (21 years)
• Daniel M. Halprin — Real Estate (7 years)
• Christopher R. Martella — Real Estate (3 years)
• Jeffrey D. Moss — Tax (10 years)
• John Mucha III — Civil Litigation: Defense (17 years) | Top 100: Michigan Super Lawyers
• Glenn G. Ross — Estate & Probate (10 years)
• Susan J. Sadler — Environmental (21 years)
• Marc K. Salach — Business & Corporate (7 years)
• Todd A. Schafer — Real Estate (2 years)
• Wayne S. Segal — Real Estate (20 years)
• Tyler D. Tennent — Land Use & Zoning (13 years)
• Frances Belzer Wilson — Business Litigation (6 years) | Top 50: Women Michigan Super Lawyers
• John F. Youngblood — Franchise & Dealership (19 years)

2026 Michigan Rising Stars

The Rising Stars designation recognizes attorneys who are either under the age of 40 or have been in practice for ten years or fewer, and who have demonstrated exceptional early-career achievement. Fewer than two and one-half percent of Michigan attorneys earn this distinction annually.

• Kylie E. Bergmann — Real Estate (10 years)
• Elle Madsen Ritsema — Business & Corporate (2 years)
• Aidan D. Schurig — Construction Litigation (1 year)
• Erin Bowen Welch — Real Estate (10 years)

Notably, both Kylie E. Bergmann and Erin Bowen Welch have earned the Rising Stars designation for ten consecutive years, reflecting the sustained excellence developing within the firm’s Real Estate practice, a group that also counts four Super Lawyers among its ranks in 2026.

The firm congratulates all honorees on this well-deserved recognition.

Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process includes a statewide survey of lawyers, independent research, and peer reviews by practice area.

Dawda PLC is pleased to announce that Edward C. Dawda and Marc K. Salach have been recognized in Legal 500’s inaugural US Elite rankings for Corporate and M&A in Detroit.

The Legal 500 US Elite rankings represent the publication’s first dedicated recognition of standout practitioners at firms outside the global elite, identifying attorneys who demonstrate exceptional capability in their respective practice areas. Inclusion in this inaugural edition underscores a practitioner’s sustained excellence and market leadership.

“This recognition reflects the depth of experience and commitment our Corporate and M&A team brings to every engagement. At Dawda, we take pride in delivering sophisticated transactional counsel while maintaining the responsiveness and personal attention our clients expect. We are honored that Legal 500 has acknowledged this work.”

Edward C. Dawda, a founding Member of the firm, brings decades of experience advising clients on complex mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, and sophisticated financing transactions. He serves as counsel to public and private entities nationwide. Mr. Dawda is consistently recognized as a leader in Michigan’s corporate and real estate markets.

Marc K. Salach, a Member of the firm, concentrates his practice on corporate structuring, mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, and tax planning. He provides comprehensive counsel to clients ranging from closely held businesses to automotive dealerships, guiding them through complex ownership transitions, financing arrangements, and regulatory compliance matters.

Dawda PLC’s Corporate and M&A practice comprises 25+ attorneys dedicated to serving the transactional needs of businesses across Michigan and beyond, from Fortune 500 enterprises to emerging companies and family-owned businesses.

Dawda PLC is pleased to announce the continued recognition of our Founding Member, Edward Dawda, who maintains his distinguished Band 1 ranking in Chambers and Partners’ 2025 legal directory. This sustained recognition underscores Mr. Dawda’s exceptional standing within the legal profession and reinforces our firm’s longstanding commitment to delivering superior legal counsel to clients across Michigan and beyond.

Chambers and Partners represents the world’s preeminent legal rankings and intelligence organization, maintaining an unparalleled reputation for accuracy and impartiality in the legal profession. For over three decades, Chambers has served as the definitive authority in identifying and ranking the most distinguished legal talent across more than 200 jurisdictions worldwide. The organization’s comprehensive research methodology incorporates extensive client feedback, peer review assessments, and rigorous evaluation of legal expertise to deliver rankings that authentically reflect professional competence and market standing.

The Chambers research process is distinguished by its depth and methodological rigor, employing specialized research teams that conduct thousands of interviews with clients, legal practitioners, and industry professionals annually. This exhaustive approach ensures that Chambers rankings constitute the most reliable and authoritative measure of legal excellence in the global marketplace.

Mr. Dawda’s continued Band 1 recognition reflects his sustained excellence and market-leading expertise in legal practice. This ranking places him among the most elite practitioners in the field, recognizing attorneys who demonstrate exceptional technical proficiency, strategic acumen, and consistent delivery of outstanding client outcomes.

Band 1 recognition is reserved for legal practitioners who exhibit exceptional depth of knowledge and technical expertise in their practice area, demonstrated ability to handle the most complex and significant matters, outstanding client service and relationship management, strong market reputation and peer recognition, and consistent track record of favorable case outcomes and strategic counseling.

Mr. Dawda’s comprehensive approach to legal practice combines technical precision with strategic thinking, ensuring that clients receive counsel that addresses both immediate legal challenges and long-term business objectives.

The recognition of Mr. Dawda’s Band 1 status reflects not only his individual accomplishments but also Dawda PLC’s institutional commitment to maintaining the highest standards of legal practice. Our firm has earned recognition from Chambers and Partners for years, demonstrating consistent excellence and market leadership in serving our clients’ diverse legal needs.

This comprehensive approach enables our clients to navigate complex legal challenges with confidence and clarity, supported by decades of experience and proven expertise. This continued Chambers recognition reinforces Dawda PLC’s position as a leading legal authority. Our firm’s commitment to excellence is reflected not only in individual recognition but in our comprehensive approach to client service.

As we continue to serve clients across diverse industries and legal matters, this recognition from Chambers and Partners validates our approach and reinforces our commitment to delivering legal services that meet the evolving needs of our client base. The legal profession’s most respected ranking authority has once again confirmed what our clients have long known: Dawda PLC provides legal expertise of the highest caliber, backed by decades of experience and an unwavering commitment to client success.