courtesy of Sabo Public Relations – March 1, 2012

For the 10^th consecutive year, Warner Norcross & Judd LLP has been recognized as one of the leading law firms in Michigan by Chambers USA 2012.

Warner Norcross was ranked as one of Michigan’s leading law firms in the areas of banking and finance, corporate, mergers and acquisitions, employee benefits and executive compensation, and commercial litigation. Additionally, 10 attorneys were recognized individually for their work in the above areas, as well as bankruptcy.

The 10 attorneys are:

• James H. Breay, chair of the Firm’s Commercial Finance Practice Group, who was recognized for his knowledge of banking regulatory matters.
• Douglas A. Dozeman, who was recognized for his work in commercial litigation.
• Richard A. Kay, who was acknowledged for his experience in commercial litigation.
• Anthony J. Kolenic, Jr., chair of the Firm’s Employee Benefits Group, who was acknowledged for his experience in employee benefits and executive compensation law.
• Mary Jo Larson, who was recognized for her experience in employee benefits and executive compensation law.
• John H. McKendry, Jr., who was acknowledged for his work in employee benefits law and his expertise with pension plans.
• Robert H. Skilton III, who was acknowledged for his work in the area of bankruptcy law.
• George L. Whitfield, who was recognized for his employee benefits and executive compensation expertise.
• Lisa B. Zimmer, who was recognized for her experience in employee benefits and executive compensation law.
• Stephen C. Waterbury, who was acknowledged for his expertise in corporate law and mergers and acquisitions.

Chambers USA is published annually by London-based Chambers and Partners and highlights top firms and attorneys in each state.

The law firm of Warner Norcross & Judd LLP has welcomed Brian P. Lennon as a new attorney.  

Lennon brings more than 17 years of experience with the federal and U.S. Marine Corps courts to his new role as senior counsel in the firm’s Criminal Defense Practice.  Warner’s compliance and criminal defense practice team provides a wide array of pre-charge, preventative services, such as internal investigations and compliance audits, and also defends individuals and companies in state and federal court criminal prosecutions and on appeal.  He will practice in the firm’s Grand Rapids office.

Prior to joining Warner Norcross, Lennon served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan.  During his 13-year tenure, he served as lead prosecutor for the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, holding the district record for the most convictions in a single year.   In this role, he successfully prosecuted hundreds of defendants for various felony violations, including murder, bank robbery, firearms, racketeering and money laundering. Lennon also served as deputy criminal chief for four years.

He has also served as trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. and as a special assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia.

Lennon began his legal career after training as a Marine.  He spent four years in the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate in at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Va., serving first as a civil law officer and later as trial counsel.

Lennon received his undergraduate degree in government from Harvard College and his doctor of jurisprudence from the University of Notre Dame Law School.

A native of South Bend, Ind., Lennon currently resides in Grand Rapids with his wife, Susan, and their four children.