MICHELLE C. HARRELL is an experienced litigator, shareholder, Executive Committee member and Chair of the Maddin Hauser Roth & Heller, PC's Complex Litigation and Risk Advisory Practice Group. Ms. Harrell concentrates her practice in the areas of complex commercial litigation, real estate matters (land use/zoning, easements, landlord/tenant), shareholder disputes, receiverships, franchise and distribution law, hospitality law, family law (divorce and probate), trust disputes (trustees and beneficiaries), class actions defense and Alternative Dispute Resolutions (ADR). She was also named a DBusiness Top Lawyer for 2010 in the areas of Real Estate and Litigation.
Ms. Harrell received her Bachelor of Science degree in accounting, summa cum laude, from the University of Detroit in 1990 and her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Wayne State University Law School in 1993. While at Wayne State, she participated in moot court competitions and received three American Jurisprudence Awards. Ms. Harrell is a Barrister Emeritus in the American Inn of Court, Oakland County Chapter, a Mentor in the Oakland County Bar Association Mentor Program and an Oakland County Circuit Court Case Evaluator (Complex Commercial Neutral). She is an approved ADR provider for Macomb County (Family Matters, Probate) and Oakland County (Civil/Commercial, Probate, District Court) and has also been approved as a Commercial Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association.. Ms. Harrell authored the article "Caveat Receiver: Practical Tips for Appointing or Serving as a Receiver" for the Michigan Bar Journal. Her receivership expertise was the focus of the Michigan Lawyer's Weekly article, "Putting the Stress in Distressed" while several of her litigation matters were featured in the Crain's Detroit Business story "A&P Stops Paying Rent on Farmer Jack's Spaces: 24 Lawsuits Filed." As of January 1, 2014, Ms. Harrell was appointed by the Mayor of Grosse Pointe Woods to the city's Planning Commission for a three-year term. On October 3, 2014, she was appointed to the Board of Directors of Living Arts. She is also an active member of the Hydrocephalus Association, Michigan Chapter. Ms. Harrell has been recognized as a Michigan Leading Lawyer in the areas of Commercial Litigation, Land Use, Zoning & Condemnation Law and Real Estate Law: Commercial. She has also been named as one of the 2017 Most Notable Women Lawyers in Michigan by Crain Content Studio, the custom publishing division of Crain’s Detroit Business. Education WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL, Detroit, Michigan, Juris Doctor, cum laude, 1993 UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT, Detroit, Michigan, B. S., Accounting, summa cum laude, 1990 Professional Memberships STATE BAR OF MICHIGAN - Member in Good Standing since 1993 UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT - Admitted January 2000 OAKLAND COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT - Case Evaluator (Complex Commercial Neutral Member) U.S. COURTS COMMITTEE, STATE BAR OF MICHIGAN - Committee Chairperson (2008-2014) OAKLAND COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION & FEDERAL BAR ASSOCIATION - Member AMERICAN INN OF COURT, OAKLAND COUNTY CHAPTER - Barrister Emeritus Member GROSSE POINTE WOODS PLANNING COMMISSION - Member LIVING ARTS - Member of the Board of Directors ALPHA SIGMA NU JESUIT HONOR SOCIETY AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION - Commercial Arbitrator Articles, Presentations and Cases "Revised Court Rule Clarifies Receivership Issues," State Bar of Michigan Real Property Law Section Wright v. Detroit Diesel Corporation (successfully defended class action regarding marine engines Sandstone Associates, L.P. v. City of Novi (appellate decision affirming $21 million award for fees and costs upon $39,960,000 land use verdict) Southwest Michigan First v. Pharmacia ($2,750,000 settlement from Pharmacia) Vestevich v. West Bloomfield Township (published appellate decision establishing the standard for zoning intervention) Lakeview Commons, L.P. v. Empower Yourself, L.L.C. (published appellate decision extending successor liability to the commercial context) "Caveat Receiver: Practical Tips for Appointing or Serving as a Receiver," Michigan Bar Journal "Putting the Stress in Distressed," Michigan Lawyers Weekly "A&P Stops Paying Rent on Farmer Jack's Spaces: 24 Lawsuits Filed," Crain's Detroit Business "Non-Competition and Confidentiality Agreements," Firm Employment Law Symposium, 2014 "Accountant-Client Privilege in Michigan," Firm Tax Symposium, 2010 Non-Compete and Non-Disclosure Agreements, Twenty-Third Annual Tax Symposium The Revolving Door of Employment Leave: The Inter-play Among the Employment Laws with Leave Requirements, 2015 Employment Law Symposium |