University of Michigan Archives - Dawda PLC

John Mucha III

Editor — Wed, 18 Aug 2021 08:20:49 +0000

John Mucha III is a Member of Dawda PLC. He concentrates his practice in the areas of general civil litigation, automotive supply chain matters, real estate matters, land use planning, and business disputes, including commercial, construction, real property, tort, and business confidential information matters.

John has considerable experience representing businesses and property owners in a broad range of matters, including general business litigation, including breach of contract disputes, automotive supply chain matters and contract negotiation, and claims involving the sale and leasing of real property. He has also litigated and successfully resolved land contamination matters as well as cases involving personal injury, property damage, and other torts. John has assisted both employers and executives with confidentiality and noncompete issues, including the drafting of various types of employment-related agreements. His litigation expertise encompasses all phases of the litigation process, from initial pleading and discovery stages to trials, appeals, and the negotiation of settlements. John also serves as a Discovery Mediator for the Oakland County (Michigan) Circuit Court.

With respect to land use, zoning, and planning matters, John has successfully guided owners, developers, and retailers through the applicable governmental approval processes. He has also successfully litigated land use disputes in both administrative hearings and in court.

John has also successfully argued cases before the Michigan Court of Appeals and the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and he is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Michigan. He has served as the Chair of the State Bar of Michigan Litigation Section, the President of the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (MDTC), and as an elected representative to the State Bar of Michigan Representative Assembly.

John earned his J.D. from the University of Michigan in 1987, where he also received a special award for writing and advocacy, and where he served as Contributing Editor of the Michigan Journal of Law Reform. He also earned a Master of Public Policy degree in 1979 and a B.A., with distinction, in 1977, from the University of Michigan. John is a frequent contributor to legal journals and publications and is also an active member of Rotary International, having served as the President of the Birmingham (Michigan) Rotary Club and having been awarded a District Governor’s citation for leading special projects.

PRACTICE AREAS

INDUSTRIES

John Mucha III

Member

Associations

State Bar of Michigan Litigation Section Past Chair
Oakland County Bar Association Member
Construction Association of Michigan, Member
State Bar of Michigan, Member of Labor & Employment Law, Real Property, Negligence Law and ADR Sections
American Bar Association Litigation, Member of Labor & Employment Law, Construction, Tort & Insurance Practice Sections
Michigan Defense Trial Counsel Secretary – Board of Directors
Defense Research Institute, Member
International Council of Shopping Centers, Member
Birmingham (Michigan) Rotary Club, Member President, 2004; Secretary and Past President, Endowment Fund
State Bar of Michigan Representative Assembly (6th Circuit), 2010-2014
Henry Ford Hospice Council of Advisors, Member

Classes/Seminars

ICSC, Roundtable Speaker 2025, “The ABCs of Appealing a Land Use Decision”
Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2014, “Deposition Techniques and Skills” Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2000, “The Name of the Game is Damages” National Business Institute, 2013, “Business Contracts A to Z”
National Business Institute, 2009, “Update on New Developments in Application of Rules of Evidence”
National Business Institute, 2008, “Practical Guide to Zoning and Land Use Law” University of Michigan Law School, 2014, Professional Responsibility Trainer
University of Michigan Law School, Moot Court Judge

Education

ICLE General Civil Mediation Training, 2025
The University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, 1987 J.D. Law Review: University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform Contributing Editor
The University of Michigan Ford School of Public Policy, Ann Arbor, 1979 Master of Public Policy Studies
The University of Michigan College of Literature, Ann Arbor, Science and Arts, 1977 B.A. Honors: With Distinction

Bar Admissions

Michigan, 1987
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, 1987

Honors And Awards

Recipient, State Bar of Michigan, Litigation Section “Litigation Excellence Award”, 2025
Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America© – Commercial Litigation, Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Real Estate, 2020–2026
One of 30 attorneys selected to the “Leaders in the Law” Class of 2018 – Michigan Lawyers Weekly
Top Lawyer: Commercial Law – DBusiness, 2020
Top Lawyer: Litigation – Construction – DBusiness, 2020
Top Lawyer: Construction Law, Land Use & Zoning, Litigation – Commercial – DBusiness, 2010, 2014, 2016-2019, 2026
Named to Michigan Super Lawyers Top 100 list – 2015–2021, 2024 Selected to Michigan Super Lawyers list – 2010-2021, 2024, 2025
Named to Michigan Business Super Lawyers Top 50 list – 2016-2018
Listed in Leading Lawyers: Commercial Litigation, Employment Law: Management, Land Use, Zoning & Condemnation Law, and Real Estate Law: Commercial – Since 2017
AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated – LexisNexis/Martindale-Hubbell® – Since 1999
AVVO Rated Top Lawyer – since 2017

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Paul A. Bringer

Editor — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 08:54:28 +0000

Paul A. Bringer is Of Counsel at Dawda PLC. He has spent the past 25 years at the firm concentrating his practice on transactional real estate and estate planning. Paul also has prior experience as a land developer.

Paul serves as an advisor to developers and lenders involved in transactional real estate matters as well as entity structure and estate planning matters.

Paul’s responsibilities include development of strategies to achieve client goals and the implementation of those strategies, including all aspects of the negotiation and documentation of those transactions.

He has received numerous awards throughout his career, including being recognized by The Best Lawyers in America as one of the best lawyers in real estate law three years in a row, and has been honored by DBusiness Magazine as a top real estate lawyer in Metro Detroit in 2010. In addition, Paul has taught numerous classes and seminars on real estate law complexities.

Paul earned his B.B.A. from the University of Michigan in 1972, then went on to earn his J.D. at Michigan State University.

PRACTICE AREAS

Paul A. Bringer

Of Counsel

248.642.7175

pbringer@dawdalaw.com

linked.in/paulbringer

Download Vcard

Education

Michigan State University Detroit College of Law East Lansing, 1977, J.D.
University of Michigan Ann Arbor, 1973, B.B.A.

Associations

American Bar Association
State Bar of Michigan

Bar Admissions

Michigan, 1977

Classes/Seminars

Taught Lecturer, “The Use of the Land Contract in Commercial Transactions”, State Bar of Michigan, Real Property Law Section

Honors and Awards

Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America© – Real Estate Law, 2020-2026
Listed in Leading Lawyer: Real Estate Law: Commercial & Finance – Since 2017
AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated – LexisNexis/Martindale-Hubbell®
Top Lawyer: Real Estate – DBusiness, 2010

Fraternities

Beta Gamma Sigma

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SUSAN KOWAL

Editor — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 07:59:47 +0000

Susan Kowal is a Senior Attorney with Dawda PLC. She focuses her practice in commercial real estate, business transactions, and corporate and banking law. Susan has assisted clients in transactional real estate matters involving the analysis, financing, documentation, and negotiation of agreements for the purchase and sale of commercial real estate, the acquisition and disposition of property, as well as for the development of commercial, residential and industrial properties, and leasing of commercial retail and office space.

Susan’s practice also includes advising clients about corporate matters involving corporate formation issues, acquisitions and divestitures, dissolutions, shareholder agreements, and other general corporate matters.

She is also certified as a designated counsel for the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 Loan Program.

In 1997, Susan earned her J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law and earned her B.G.S in Accounting in 1993 from The University of Michigan. While attending The University of Michigan, Susan was a member of the women’s swim team.

She is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, State Bar of New Jersey, and is admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

PRACTICE AREAS

INDUSTRIES

SUSAN KOWAL

Senior Attorney

Education

Seton Hall University School of Law, South Orange, New Jersey, J.D. 1997
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, B.G.S. 1993

Bar Admissions

Michigan, 1997
New Jersey, 1997
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1998

Associations

State Bar of Michigan (Arts Communication Entertainment and Sports Law and Probate Law sections)

Honors and Awards

Eugene W. Gressman Appellate Moot Court Competition, Finalist
Book Award: Constitutional Law

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Joseph M. Judge

Editor — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 07:00:35 +0000

Joseph M. Judge is a Member of Dawda PLC. He concentrates his practice on representing commercial property purchasers, sellers, and developers in all aspects of negotiating and closing complex real estate and financing transactions.

Joseph has extensive experience negotiating and drafting commitment letters, purchase and sale agreements, lease agreements, development agreements, reciprocal easement agreements, incentive-related agreements and construction and permanent financing loan documents.

Joseph also regularly represents buyers, sellers, and developers of absolute NNN lease properties and other single and multiple net investment properties.

His experience extends to counseling clients on issues related to the formation of the appropriate ownership entity, 1031-exchanges, insurance requirements, land division and platting, condominium law, and pre- and post-development litigation issues. Joseph regularly works with surveyors, engineers, and environmental consultants to anticipate and resolve legal issues related to title, land use and the environment.

Joseph has represented clients in appellate matters before the Michigan Court of Appeals, the New York Supreme Court First Appellate Division, and the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Joseph is a 1996 cum laude graduate of Wayne State University Law School and a 1993 graduate of Eastern Michigan University. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and is admitted to practice in the United States District for the Eastern District of Michigan, as well as the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. He is also a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers.

PRACTICE AREAS

Real Estate

INDUSTRIES

Joseph M. Judge

Member

Bar Admissions

Michigan, 1996 U.S. District Court
Eastern District of Michigan, 1996
U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1998

Associations

State Bar of Michigan Real Property Section, Member
Oakland County Bar Association
International Council of Shopping Centers, Member

Publications

What You Need to Know About Women Business Enterprise Certification White Paper, May 2014

Honors and Awards

Top Lawyer: Real Estate Law – DBusiness, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2026
Top Lawyer: Commercial Real Estate, Corporate Law – DBusiness, 2010
AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated – LexisNexis/Martindale-Hubbell®
Selected to Michigan Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” list – 2008

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Robert A. Wright III

Editor — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 08:39:10 +0000

Robert A. Wright, III is a Member of Dawda PLC. He concentrates his practice in the areas of corporate, lending, and real estate law.

Robert has substantial experience representing financial institutions in the structuring, negotiation, and documentation of commercial and real estate loans, including construction and end mortgage loans, middle market working capital arrangements, buyout financings and participation transactions. He also represents financial institutions in commercial and real estate loan workouts and restructurings.

In addition, Robert has extensive experience advising corporate clients on commercial business issues, including transactional, financial, real estate, taxation, operational and planning matters. Business work includes advising on matters regarding business transactions, and merger, acquisition, and joint venture work from pre-letter of intent negotiations to final closing as well as business formation (corporation, limited liability company and partnership), corporate and shareholder governance.

Robert earned his J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law in 1995. While there, he served as the Managing Editor of Business and Production of the Law Review. He earned a B.A. in Economics from the University of Michigan in 1985, an M.B.A. from the University of Detroit in 1988 and an LL.M. in taxation from New York University School of Law in 1996.

Prior to attending law school, Robert worked at Comerica Bank (formerly Manufacturers Bank) from 1985-1992 and was a corporate trust officer.

He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and is admitted to practice in the states of Michigan and Illinois.

PRACTICE AREAS

INDUSTRIES

Robert A. Wright III

Member

Education

New York University School of Law, New York, New York, 1996 LL.M. Taxation
Michigan State University College of Law, East Lansing, 1995 J.D. Honors: Magna Cum Laude Law Review: Managing Editor, Business & Production
University of Detroit, Detroit, 1988 M.B.A
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1985 B.A.

Associations

Illinois State Bar Association
Oakland County Bar Association
State Bar of Michigan
Turnaround Management Association

Published Works

Co-Author – Michigan Section, Commercial Lending Law, A State-by-State Guide, American Bar Association
Author – Michigan Section, The Law of Guaranties, a Jurisdiction-by-Jurisdiction Guide to U.S. and Canadian Law, American Bar Association

Honors and Awards

Top Lawyer: Banking and Financial Service Law – DBusiness, 2017-2020, 2026
Listed in Leading Lawyer: Creditor’s Rights/Commercial Collections Law, Real Estate Law: Commercial & Finance – Since 2017

Bar Admissions

Michigan, 1995
Illinois, 1996

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