Kathleen A. Cieslik

Practice Areas

Education

Wayne State University Law School
Detroit, Michigan
J.D., 2015

Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
B.A., 2012

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

Estate Planning Attorney

Kathleen is a trusts and estates attorney focused on creating customized estate plans for a wide range of individuals and multi-generational families which achieve goals such as tax avoidance, business succession planning and charitable giving. She also provides counsel to individual and corporate fiduciaries regarding the timely and efficient management of trusts and estates, including probate administration when necessary. An experienced litigator, Kathleen also handles controversies and frequently appears in Probate Court to handle both routine and contested matters throughout Southeast Michigan. 

Experience

Routinely represent high net worth clients including leading planning for the second generation of a ultra-high net worth family which utilized various wealth transfer techniques collectively removing over $30M in assets from taxable estates through grantor trusts.

Implemented plan which transferred situs of a $25M trust to a favorable jurisdiction which allowed for decanting resulting in the expansion of special power of appointment to allow a client to update her planning to provide for her desired beneficiary.

Management of taxable estates, including advice with regard to funding marital trust or family trust, obtaining business valuations and assist accountants with Form 706.

Effectively implemented post-mortem trust modification by seeking probate court approval to effectuate a high value specific bequest made orally in close proximity to death.

Lead litigation and negotiate resolution on behalf of an irrevocable trust regarding decades of unprepared marital trust accountings following the surviving spouse’s death.

Honors and Recognitions

Best Lawyers in America®, One to Watch, Trusts and Estates, since 2021

Professional Affiliations

State Bar of Michigan, Probate and Estate Planning Section

Oakland County Bar Association

Presentations

Behind the Curtain: What Goes On in Charitable Estate Planning, Planned Giving Roundtable of Southeast Michigan, June 2022

Drafting an Estate Plan for Estates Under $5 Million, ICLE, Spring 2022

Taxes and Estate Planning: Where Do We Go From Here?, ICLE, Fall 2022

Robert E. Kass

Practice Areas

Education

New York University Law School
New York City, New York
LL.M., Taxation, 1979

University of Michigan Law School
Ann Arbor, Michigan
J.D., cum laude, 1972

Graduate Institute of International Studies
Geneva, Switzerland
Post graduate studies, 1973, recipient of Fulbright-Swiss University Fellowship

Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan
B.A., cum laude, 1969

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

Languages

French

Estate Planning Attorney

Bob is an estate planning attorney with significant experience in all aspects of estate planning, wealth preservation and planned giving for estates of all sizes. In addition to the design and implementation of sophisticated estate plans, he specializes in sophisticated wealth preservation techniques, succession planning, probate and trust administration, gift and estate tax audits and appeals, and estate-related claims and litigation. 

Bob has unique expertise in charitable and planned giving techniques, helping clients meet their objectives with maximum tax benefit.

Experience

Ultra-high net worth client’s estate plan left vast sums to trusts for children, with little likelihood they would ever need much of the money.  Client was receptive to the idea of creating charitable gift annuities for the children, to provide a lifetime stream of distributions, with relatively small discretionary trusts as a backstop.  The resulting plan saved the client substantial estate taxes and provided amply for the children.

Converted private, perpetual foundation to spend-down, allowing the client more control over governance and avoiding mission shift. 

Successfully implemented sophisticated wealth transfer techniques including self-cancelling installment note (SCIN), initially removing over $5 million n value from the client’s estate. Over time, the amount removed from the taxable estate has increased many times, due to appreciation.

Effectively employed post-mortem planning techniques and obtained favorable IRS Private Letter Ruling, to reverse effects of poor planning by decedent’s attorney, saving over the client $300,000 in estate taxes.

Recommended and implemented reallocation of personal injury award between decedent’s estate and family members, saving family members over $250,000 in estate taxes.

Implemented charitable trust for client owning a large concentration of highly appreciated publicly-traded stock, permitting him to diversify his holding into mutual funds without triggering capital gains, significantly increase his lifetime income, and receive charitable income tax deduction. 

Honors and Recognitions

Fellow, American College of Trust & Estate Counsel (ACTEC)

Best Lawyers in America®, Trusts and Estates, since 2009

Best Lawyers in America®Lawyer of the Year, Trusts and Estates (Detroit), 2015, 2022

Michigan Super Lawyers, since 2006

Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated

Professional Affiliations

State Bar of Michigan

Planned Giving Roundtable of Southeast Michigan, past chairman of LEAVE A LEGACY® Southeast Michigan’s Speaker’s Bureau

Community Involvement

Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Professional Advisory Committee

Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Foundation, Professional Advisory Committee

Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Professional Advisory Committee

Detroit Institute of Arts, Professional Advisory Committee

Aaron C. Roberson Jr.

Practice Areas

Education

University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
Detroit, Michigan 
J.D., 2022
Detroit Mercy Law Review, Associate Editor

College of Wooster
Wooster, Ohio 
B.A. Political Science, 2018

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

Attorney

Aaron is a member of the real estate practice team. He assists clients with real estate sales and acquisitions, commercial leasing matters on behalf of both landlords and tenants, and real estate financing transactions. Aaron has experience with Business Improvement Zones through his work as an intern with the Detroit City Council, where he also worked on initiatives to support small businesses.

Aaron was the recipient of Detroit Mercy Law Dean’s Fellows Scholarship, a full tuition scholarship for students who demonstrate excellence through academics, leadership, professionalism and service. During law school, Aaron served as a legal extern to the Hon. Victoria A. Roberts of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association

State Bar of Michigan

Detroit Bar Association

Wolverine Bar Association

 

M. Alexander Monahan

Practice Areas

Education

Wayne State University Law School
Detroit, Michigan
J.D., 2017

Michigan State University – James Madison College
East Lansing, Michigan
B.A., International Relations, 2012

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Corporate Attorney

Alex is a member of the Corporate Practice Team. His transactional experience includes mergers and acquisitions, real estate purchases and sales, and financing deals including private equity investment. He has significant experience in the formation and development of companies and corporations. He also has a background in bankruptcy reorganization and commercial litigation.

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association, Business Law Section

State Bar of Michigan, Business Law Section, Young Lawyers Section

 

 

L. Jeffrey Zauberman

Practice Areas

Education

University of Detroit School of Law
Detroit, Michigan
J.D., 1986

Law Society of Upper Canada
Bar Admission Course
1983, 1984

Osgoode Hall Law School
Toronto, Canada
LL.B., 1982

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Banking and Finance Attorney

Jeff is a senior transactional attorney representing borrowers and lenders in acquisition financing, construction lending, bridge lending and refinancing matters. He also advises clients in connection with multifamily projects, hotels, shopping centers and self-storage facilities in Michigan and other states.

Honors and Recognitions

Best Lawyers in America® since 2013

Professional Affiliations

State Bar of Michigan

Law Society of Upper Canada (Ontario)

Timothy D. Kroninger

Practice Areas

Industries

Education

Michigan State University College of Law
East Lansing, Michigan
J.D., summa cum laude, 2019 
Michigan State Law Review, Managing Editor

Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
B.S., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, with high honors, 2014

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

United States Patent and Trademark Office

Intellectual Property, Franchise and Business Law Attorney

Tim is a registered patent attorney and member of Varnum’s Intellectual Property Team. His practice focuses on patent and trademark prosecution, trade secret law, copyright law, licensing, franchising, and other transactional and due diligence work. He is experienced with drafting patent applications, patentability and clearance opinions, and legal memoranda for USPTO trademark opposition proceedings, as well as federal and state trademark registration applications.

In addition to his practice, Tim serves as the supervising attorney for the University of Detroit Mercy College of Law Trademark and Entrepreneur Clinic, which counsels small businesses and startups on how to best develop and protect their business and intellectual property rights.

Honors and Recognitions

Detroit Bar Association Pro Bono Awardee, 2021

State Bar of Michigan Pro Bono Honor Roll, since 2020

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association

Detroit Bar Association

Michigan Intellectual Property Law Association

State Bar of Michigan, Intellectual Property Law Section

Community Involvement

University of Detroit Mercy School of Law: Trademark and Entrepreneur Clinic, Volunteer

Presentations

Judge, MSU College of Law 1L Advocacy Competition, 2020

Osborn Business Association, “Intellectual Property for Small Business and Startups,” Summer 2021, Fall 2021

Jeffrey M. Stefan

Practice Areas

Industries

Clerkships

United States District Court for
the Eastern District of Michigan,
Honorable Paul D. Borman

Education

Wayne State University Law School
Detroit, Michigan
J.D., magna cum laude, 2003
Order of the Coif
Editor, The Wayne Law Review,
2001 – 2003

Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan
B.A., magna cum laude, 1999

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Privacy and Mobility Attorney

Jeff is a technology-focused attorney with broad legal authority in data privacy and advanced mobility. He regularly assists some of the world’s leading technology companies with regulatory and data privacy issues. Jeff is credentialed as an IAPP certified information privacy professional and he routinely handles an array of data privacy matters. Jeff also helps his clients navigate the evolving legal and public policy landscape for new and emerging mobility technologies.

Prior to joining Varnum, Jeff served as the Privacy Associate General Counsel for a leading electric vehicle manufacturer, where he led a wide range of privacy-related matters in connection with the company’s development and production of the world’s first fully electric truck. Additionally, Jeff previously served as autonomous vehicle counsel for a major global automaker and also supported automaker’s emerging technology portfolio focusing on data privacy and cybersecurity on a worldwide basis. He also clerked for U.S. District Judge Paul D. Borman.

Honors and Recognitions

Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Up and Coming Lawyer, 2010

Michigan Super Lawyers®, Rising Star, 2011

Professional Affiliations

Detroit Bar Association, Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee, 2008

State Bar of Michigan 

Community Involvement

Faith United Methodist Church, Pastoral Relations Committee, 2010 – 2019

Grosse Ile High School, robotics team mentor, 2019 – 2020

Grosse Ile Youth Recreation Association, basketball coach, 2014 – 2018 

Certifications

CIPP/US, certified information privacy professional 2014 – present

Matthew M. Shina

Practice Areas

Education

University of Michigan Law School
Ann Arbor, Michigan
J.D., cum laude, 2021

Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan
B.A., summa cum laude, Economics, 2016

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Languages

Aramaic

Spanish

Attorney

Matt has a variety of experience in several areas of law. He has provided research and memoranda on immigration, civil procedure, finance, real estate and commercial litigation matters. With respect to corporate matters, he has experience advising clients in shareholder disputes and reviewing and drafting several types of transaction documents including license agreements, organizational documents and other commercial contracts. Matt also has experience in banking and financing matters, such as reviewing and drafting commercial loan documents.

Matt was a Dean’s Scholarship recipient while attending the University of Michigan Law School. He served as a student attorney for the Law School’s Low Income Taxpayer Clinic, where he represented clients on a variety of tax issues before the IRS. He also received a Best Drafting Skills award in the Law School’s annual transactional law competition.

Jacob R. Whately

Practice Areas

Education

New York University School of Law
New York, New York
LL.M., Taxation, 2017

University of Toledo College of Law
Toledo, Ohio
J.D., magna cum laude, 2016

University of Toledo
Toledo, Ohio
B.A., magna cum laude, 2013

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Ohio

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

Corporate and Tax Attorney

Jake is a member of Varnum’s Business and Corporate Services Team with a focus on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and general corporate governance. He represents buyers and sellers in a variety of mergers, acquisitions and other strategic investment transactions.  He also assists clients with nondisclosure agreements, contract review, business formations and dissolutions and other matters.

In addition to his law degree, Jake holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree in taxation and has experience in the areas of U.S. federal corporate taxation and assisting in advising clients on the tax aspects of complex transactions including tax structuring, tax modeling, and other transaction-related tax services.

Professional Affiliations

State Bar of Michigan: Taxation Section

Ohio State Bar Association

Timothy K. Kroninger

Timothy K. Kroninger

Practice Areas

Industries

Education

University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
Detroit, Michigan
J.D., cum laude, 1985
Law Review, Article and Book Editor
Moot Court, National Tax Law Team
Justice Frank Murphy Honor Society
Alpha Sigma Nu National Jesuit Honor Society

Michigan State University
College of Business
East Lansing, Michigan
B.A., with honors, 1982
MSU Mortar Board National Honor Society

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

Intellectual Property, Franchise and Business Law Attorney

Tim serves as co-chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Team and is also a member of the Business and Corporate Services Practice Team. He has extensive experience in many legal business areas including intellectual property and contract law; corporate and general business law; franchise law; commercial transactions; warranty, marketing, and disclosure law; and trademark, copyright, and technology licensing as well as litigation.

Tim has served as both in-house and outside legal counsel, as well as having personally owned and operated many different types of small businesses, which provides him with a unique understanding and perspective in helping clients with their legal and business needs, issues, challenges and opportunities.

Tim’s experience includes working with Fortune 500 companies around the world. He uses his significant experience in law and business to apply a unique perspective, philosophy, and attitude to assist all types and sizes of companies in analyzing, protecting, and enforcing their intellectual property from an overall strategic perspective, which is unique to the legal industry. Tim manages clients’ comprehensive trademark and copyright portfolios globally, having prosecuted and handled thousands of trademark registrations both domestically and internationally over his legal career.

Tim has extensive experience in negotiating, drafting, and analyzing complex license and franchise agreements, as well as handling and managing business transactions of all types and sizes, that involve the diverse areas of intellectual property, trade secrets, manufacturing, distribution, sales, marketing, insurance and indemnification, financials, and warranty and quality control.

Tim conducts intellectual property due diligence in M&A deals and commercial transactions, providing analysis, advice, and execution on the strategies and tasks necessary to secure and protect the valuable intellectual property rights. Through his work in franchising and licensing, Tim helps clients strategically grow their businesses, providing counsel, advice, and guidance to both franchisors and franchisees in protecting, enforcing and commercializing their rights and interests.

Additionally, Tim represents several companies as outside general counsel, regularly providing guidance and counsel on matters affecting their businesses and assisting in their day-to-day needs.

Honors and Recognitions

Auburn Hills Optimist Club: Distinguished Volunteer Service Award, 2017; Optimist of the Year, 2007 – 2008

C.O.T.H.A. (Troy Homeowners Associations), Volunteer of the Year, 2000

Oxford High School (Michigan), Distinguished Alumnus, 1990

Troy Soccer Club, Distinguished Volunteer Service Award, 2012

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association

American Intellectual Property Law Association

International Collegiate Licensing Association (ICLA)

International Licensing Industry Merchandisers Association (LIMA)

International Trademark Association (INTA)

Michigan Intellectual Property Law Association

MSU Alumni Association

Oakland County Bar Association

State Bar of Michigan: Business Law Section; Franchising Section; and Intellectual Property Law Section

University of Detroit Mercy School of Law: Trademark and Entrepreneur Clinic, Director and Adjunct Professor

Community Involvement

Crescent Ridge/Park Subdivision Association: Board of Directors; past president and treasurer

Kickstart Toddler Soccer: trainer/coach

Optimist Club of Auburn Hills, member; past Vice President and Board of Directors member

Sacred Heart Catholic Church (Auburn Hill, Michigan), guest choir member/soloist/cantor

Presentations

Michigan State University, judge, Broad Business Model Competition, March/April 2018

Entrepreneurial Detroit Open City Event, panelist, Build Institute, January 15, 2018

GreenLight Michigan Business Model Competition, judge, March 28, 2018; March 29, 2017

Michigan State University, College of Business, speaker, Business Entrepreneurship classes on Business Entity Creation, and Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement, 2014 – 2019

The C12 Group, Fall Conference, guest speaker, “Trade Secrets, Confidentiality, and Non-Compete Agreements,” 2010

University of Detroit School of Law, guest speaker, Lunch with a Lawyer Program: “Intellectual Property and Licensing in the ‘Real World’,” 2013

MICPA Forensic Accounting and Valuation Services Conference, speaker, “Franchise It! Valuations and Contract/Marketing Agreements,” May 20, 2021

20 Fathoms Executive Forum, speaker, “Assessing Risk – Legal, IT Security, and Business Liabilities,” March 9, 2020