March 2006

Lipson, Neilson, Cole, Seltzer & Garin Names New Partner & Welcomes New Associate

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan – The noted firm of Lipson, Neilson, Cole, Seltzer & Garin, P.C. has named new partner, Karen A. Smyth. “This is a very exciting step for Ms. Smyth, as well as for the firm,” stated firm partner Joseph P. Garin. “We are pleased to acknowledge the high caliber of her work, and we look forward to her input on a partnership level.”

Karen A. Smyth has been a member of the firm for more than nine years, and has considerable experience representing clients in a broad range of matters, including the defense of medical malpractice claims, legal malpractice claims, mass tort litigation and real estate litigation. She is a licensed attorney in both Michigan and New York. Ms. Smyth earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Canisius College in Buffalo, New York. She then attended law school, earning her Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit School of Law.

Lipson, Neilson, Cole, Seltzer & Garin also welcomes new associate attorney Shawn Y. Grinnen. “Shawn Grinnen is a solid addition to our team. His experience and abilities will elevate our level of client service,” according to Joseph P. Garin. Mr. Grinnen will specialize in the practice of land use, real estate development, zoning, construction, condominium law and related litigation. His clients consist of real estate developers, residential builders, and construction trades. Mr. Grinnen received his Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice, cum laude, from Pennsylvania State University in 1996, and received his juris doctor, cum laude, from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2000. While at Thomas M. Cooley, Mr. Grinnen was the managing editor of the Thomas M. Cooley Law Review, participated in the school’s in-house legal clinic, and was an active research and teaching assistant. Immediately after law school, Mr. Grinnen joined the Michigan Court of Appeals, where he was employed as a pre-hearing research attorney. Prior to joining Lipson, Neilson, Cole, Seltzer & Garin, Mr. Grinnen was employed as an associate attorney with the Macomb County-based law firm of D'Agostini, Sable and Ruggeri, P.L.L.C. Shawn Y. Grinnen is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the American Bar Association.