WANDA ROBERTS

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Wanda is originally from Presque Isle County in northern lower Michigan. She attended Alpena Community College before graduating from Michigan State University, Central Michigan University, and Western Michigan University Cooley Law School.

Wanda worked for Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) before retiring to attend law school. During her last few years with MSUE, Wanda served as a financial educator with the Financial and Homeownership Education Team in Southeast Michigan.

Throughout her time at W.M.U. Cooley Law School, Wanda served as a student attorney with the Family Law Assistance Project, Pro Bono Bankruptcy Program, and Neighborhood Legal Services Michigan Elder Law & Advocacy Center.

Additionally, Wanda received certification from the Oakland Mediation Center. As a licensed attorney, Wanda worked at Lakeshore Legal Aid representing low-income individuals, seniors, and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault with legal issues related to family law, landlord/tenant matters, public benefits, unemployment, social security, and consumer issues.

Most recently Wanda’s practice has focused on Probate Administration and Estate Planning.

Wanda has a passion for diversity and a focus on improving the lives of families and communities.

In her free time, Wanda enjoys traveling and camping with her husband, Bruce, sewing, reading, expanding her houseplant collection, and training her two rescue dogs.

Richard Linnell

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Highlights

  • Undergrad: University of Michigan 93’
  • Law School: Wayne State University 98’
  • Practicing Since: 1998
  • Areas of Practice:

Bio

Rick is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Wayne State Law School. He has been an attorney in private practice since 1998. Involved in real estate since 1996, Rick focuses his experience in commercial and residential real estate, as well as corporate law. Rick has also been actively involved in commercial and residential real estate development including acquisitions, development, complex financing, syndications and work outs. Rick is the owner of Linnell & Associates. His law firm has become one of Michigan’s most trusted law firms specializing in real estate law, short sales, foreclosure, and other forms of loss mitigation. The law firm has a combined total of over 75 years of legal experience in real estate law.

Hunter Avis

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Highlights

  • Undergrad: U of M 2010
  • Law School: Cooley 2014
  • Practicing since: 2014
  • Areas of Practice:
    1. Riparian Rights

Bio

Any programs / publications / interest / history

Dakota M. Offman

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Highlights

  • Undergrad: Michigan State 17’
  • Law School: Michigan State 20’
  • Practicing Since:
  • Areas of Practice:

Bio

Dakota grew up in New Boston, Michigan and attended Michigan State University where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 2017. While attending Michigan State University, Dakota served as a Student Rights Advocate. In this role, Dakota helped shape student policy and helped students understand and act on their rights. In 2017, Dakota was selected as one of 20 students to participate in a new program which paired undergraduates with opportunities in the legal field. As part of this program Dakota clerked at MCV Law in East Lansing, Michigan, where he provided assistance with family law and criminal cases. Dakota then attended Michigan State University College of Law from 2017-2020. During his time in law school, Dakota was a law clerk at Oade, Stroud & Kleiman, PLLC, in East Lansing, Michigan. During law school, Dakota focused on property law, contract law, and construction law. As a clerk at Oade, Stroud & Kleiman, Dakota honed these skills even further and participated in large scale construction litigation, and real estate disputes as well as transactions involving real estate. Dakota was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 2020 and immediately began litigation work. As a licensed attorney, Dakota represented clients in complex cases such as auto no-fault cases, commercial litigation, construction litigation, and products liability. Additionally, Dakota has represented clients in commercial/construction arbitration proceedings. Currently, Dakota specializes in real estate transactions and litigation as well as construction law disputes.

James Randall Witham

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Highlights

  • Undergrad: University of Richmond 01’
  • Law School: Cooley Law School 05’
  • Practicing Since: 2005
  • Areas of Practice
    1. General Business and Commercial Real Estate Litigation
    2. Seller’s Disclosure Litigation
    3. Property and Boundary Line Litigation
    4. Landlord Tenant Litigation
    5. Civil Rights Real Property Litigation
    6. Broker/Realtor Agency Litigation
    7. Complex Business Litigation and Derivative Actions
    8. Construction Law Litigation
    9. Specific Performance Litigation
    10. Property Partition Litigation
    11. Deed Restriction and Takings Litigation
    12. General Litigation involving Torts and Breaches of Contract

Bio

Randall obtained his BA from the University of Richmond in 2001 and his JD from Cooley Law School in 2005. He has a wealth of diverse experience with eleven years of litigation experience. He has over three years of litigation experience in licensing and regulatory insurance. Randall has also litigated cases over a wide spectrum of subject matter including criminal law, personal injury, medical malpractice, financial fraud, labor and employment law, business law, defamation, trade secrets, breach of fiduciary duty, regulatory insurance law, and general litigation over the course of his career.

Randall was a Judge Advocate General for the U.S. Army in 2006. As a litigator for the U.S. Army, he successfully prosecuted several criminal cases involving financial fraud, theft, and sex offenses. He provided litigation support for, and liaison with, Assistant U.S. Attorneys and the U.S. Army Litigation Division for claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act. In addition, Randall also served as a Detention Operations Attorney in Afghanistan where he evaluated evidence and rendered legal advice on internment criteria and alternate dispositions for suspected terrorists that threatened the security of U.S. Forces and U.S. Coalition Forces.

Randall began his civilian law practice with King & Ballow in Tennessee where he litigated cases involving defamation, business law, trade secrets, breach of fiduciary duty, and labor and employment law issues under the FMLA, ADA, ADEA, and Title VII.

In February 2014, Randall joined the ranks of state government service and served as the Assistant General Counsel for the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. He litigated numerous administrative regulatory insurance matters for the State of Tennessee which involved insurance fraud and violations of Tennessee insurance laws.

From 2016 to June 2019, Randall litigated a wide array of complex cases ranging from healthcare related regulatory licensing actions, False Claims Act, Anti-Kickback, Stark Law, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, products liability, fraud, Michigan Auto-No-Fault, and other various general litigation matters.

Currently, Randall is specializing in real estate litigation which involves the specific issues property owners and entities experience in everyday life. He is currently licensed to practice in the Michigan, Tennessee, and New Jersey.