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.
