Michigan Attorneys
The attorneys at Detroit's Kickham Hanley, PLLC represent clients in litigation, real estate dealings, and business transactions. The firm's litigators are—
Gregory D. Hanley, Managing Partner
As Managing Partner and the leader of the firm's litigation practice, Greg Hanley brings over 19 years of complex commercial litigation experience to Kickham Hanley's clients. He is actively involved in the firm's real estate tax appeals practice.
Areas of practice
Greg has tried and handled many cases in a wide range of complex commercial areas, including—
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Education
- J.D., magna cum laude, Wayne Law School, Wayne State University, 1989
- Wayne Law Review
- Elected as member of the Order of the Coif
- B.A., magna cum laude, Economics, Wayne State University, 1986
- Phi Beta Kappa
Professional experience
Greg is no stranger to either side of the courtroom, having defended large corporations in many matters and represented many business client plaintiffs, often on a contingency fee basis. He cut his teeth and matured as an attorney in two large corporate law firms. Prior to the establishment of Kickham Hanley in 1999, Greg was a partner at Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn, in Detroit, Michigan. Before his tenure at the Honigman firm, Mr. Hanley was an attorney in the Chicago office of Mayer Brown LLP, one of the world's largest law firms.
Greg's current cases include a constitutional challenge to tourist taxes being used by the state of Arizona to finance a new stadium for the Arizona Cardinals, a constitutional challenge to the City of Detroit's imposition of a $4+ million annual "solid waste inspection fee" upon commercial property owners in the city, and zoning case on behalf of a prominent real estate developer against a Michigan township seeking over $40 million in damages. Greg also represents the bankruptcy trustee of Venture Holdings Company in an accounting malpractice action seeking in excess of $300 million against a major accounting firm arising out of that firm's audits of Venture's financial statements.
Greg has had much recent success representing commercial plaintiffs. In September 2006, after a two-week trial in federal court in Oregon, Greg obtained a judgment on a jury verdict (including interest and attorney fees) in excess of $1.6 million in a product warranty case, and settled a hotly-contested partnership dispute (after a successful trip to the Michigan Supreme Court), resulting in our client receiving $1 million. In early 2007, Greg procured an order of specific performance on behalf of Kmart compelling an Illinois landlord to sell a certain store location to Kmart pursuant to an option provision in Kmart's lease. His recent successes on the defense side include obtaining dismissal of a federal securities class action against a public software company and obtaining dismissal of a federal antitrust suit brought by the National Hockey League Players Association against the Ontario Hockey League and its member teams. In 2007 and 2008, Greg acted as Michigan counsel to CompUSA, Inc., handling various real estate litigation matters arising out of its liquidation process.
Greg also has an active appeals practice, and, among other successes, recently obtained from the Michigan Supreme Court two peremptory reversals of decisions of the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Bar admissions and memberships
- Illinois, 1989
- Michigan, 1994
Timothy O. McMahon, Member
Mr. McMahon is a partner in Kickham Hanley's Litigation Group. Tim is an experienced litigator with jury and bench trial experience on behalf of both individuals and Fortune 500 companies. He also has significant experience before the Michigan and federal appellate courts.
Areas of practice
Tim's practice areas include—
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Education
- J.D., cum laude, Wayne State University Law School, 1996
- Elected as member of the Order of the Coif
- Wayne Law Review, editor
- Moot Court Program, chancellor
- B.A., Business Administration, Pre-Law, Michigan State University, 1993
- Debate team, member
Professional experience
Prior to joining Kickham Hanley, Tim secured a one-year judicial clerkship with the Honorable Paul D. Borman of the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Upon the completion of the clerkship, he joined the labor and employment department at Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn as an associate.
In 1999, Tim joined Kickham Hanley as an associate shortly after it was formed by several partners from Honigman Miller. In 2003, Tim became a member of the firm with Ed Kickham and Greg Hanley.
Tim's practice has primarily focused upon assisting small and large businesses solve and prevent legal problems that their operations and activities tend to create. Tim has represented Pulte Home and other developers in disputes ranging from construction defects to worker injuries to homeowner disputes (including mold cases) to subcontractor breaches to bank disputes. This representation has also been proactive in preventing problems through the drafting of contracts, best policies, procedures, and practices for handling employees, subcontractors, and homebuyers.
Tim has worked intimately with various in-house legal departments to assist in implementing best practices and cutting costs. In addition to Pulte Homes, Tim worked extensively with Kmart Corporation's (now Sears) in-house legal staff, which included litigating a multi-million dollar construction defect case and other matters relating to Kmart's enforcement of lease rights. One of the most rewarding projects Tim performed for Kmart was the creation of a system by which Kmart managed and monitored all aspects of landlord disputes relating to repairs and maintenance at its thousands of locations. Tim designed this program which was then implemented with great skill by Kmart's in-house legal and property management staff. This process involved weekly meetings and demonstrable savings to Kmart in excess of a million dollars in just the first year.
Because the business world is so diverse, Tim's business litigation practice is not narrow. He has litigated—
- Trademark and copyright disputes
- Accounting malpractice
- ERISA claims
- Employment claims
- Securities issues
- All manner of contractual disputes, including UCC claims
Tim has tried numerous jury and bench cases as a "first chair" attorney. Most recently, Tim obtained an award of over $800,000 from a federal jury on behalf of a client involved in a partnership dispute. In addition, the Michigan Court of Appeals recently affirmed a $3.1 million judgment Tim obtained in a case involving breach of contract and RICO (racketeering) claims.
One niche Tim has carved is investigating and prosecuting embezzlement cases. These cases often start when a client discovers a trusted employee has been stealing (often for years and in amounts that are shocking). Tim consults with the client to—
- Implement immediate accounting controls
- Facilitate the use of proper accounting experts
- Begin immediate action against the wrongdoer
Embezzlement matters can lead to claims against accounting professionals, financial institutions or others that may have breached obligations to the client. The goal is always to maximize recovery.
Because of the nature and sophistication of the claims Tim generally litigates, he is frequently called upon to defend and prosecute appeals before the Michigan Supreme Court, Michigan Court of Appeals, and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Tim has been very successful in obtaining favorable results for the firm's clients in the appellate courts.
Bar admissions and memberships
- Michigan, 1996
Contact us today
For experienced litigators to argue your case in state or federal trial or appellate court, contact Kickham Hanley, PLLC today.
Edward F. Kickham, Member
Edward Kickham heads Kickham Hanley's real estate and business transaction group. An AV® Peer Review RatedSM by Martindale-Hubbell®, Mr. Kickham is listed in the "Best Lawyers in America."
After graduating from law school in 1973, Mr. Kickham joined the Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn law firm in Detroit, Michigan as an associate and then partner until 1999. He began his career with six years as a commercial litigator generally involved with real estate disputes and mortgage loan workouts. Since then he has devoted his practice to business transactions, primarily representing real estate developers, operators, and professional investors. Mr. Kickham has counseled clients in the development or acquisition and financing of—
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He has extensive experience in all types of equity and debt financing structures, including—
- Tax shelter and cash flow syndications
- Shared appreciation commercial mortgages
- Government-supported low- and moderate-income housing
- Rehabilitations of historic structures
Mr. Kickham has closed acquisitions, sales and financings in 20 different states and Canada. He also counsels clients in connection with zoning, land use and eminent domain matters.
Practice areas
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Bar admissions and memberships
- Michigan, 1973
- Florida, 1984
- Texas, 1989
Education
- J.D. with honors, University of Michigan Law School, 1973
- Michigan Law Review, editorial staff
- B.A., History, University of Notre Dame, 1968
Other experience
Prior to attending law school, Mr. Kickham served in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia from 1968 to 1970.
John J. Premo, Associate
Since beginning his legal career, John Premo has focused his practice on real estate and general business transactions. Mr. Premo has extensive experience in—
- Commercial and residential leasing
- Institutional and bridge financing
- The acquisition, disposition, operation and management of commercial properties
He has counseled clients in the sale and acquisition of—
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He also specializes in commercial and residential real property tax appeals, an area of practice that requires analysis of operations, market values, valuation practices and appraisals.
Practice areas
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Education
- J.D., Thomas M. Cooley Law School, 1996
- B.S., Michigan State University, 1990
Bar associations and memberships
- State Bar of Michigan
- General Business section
- Real Property Law section
Other experience
Mr. Premo is a licensed real estate broker in the state of Michigan.
Contact us today
For experienced legal counsel in all of your business transactions, contact the Michigan business law firm of Kickham Hanley, PLLC today.
