To be considered for this award one must be the following:

• A lawyer who is well respected in his or her field, well-versed in the nuances of the case law, statutes and regulations clients will encounter.
• A lawyer who is experienced and enjoys a record of success, with many cases and/or transactions that give testimony to the quality advice he or she can provide.
• A lawyer to whom other lawyers make referrals because of his or her expertise and accomplishments.
• A lawyer who can think creatively and identify all options for a client.
• A lawyer you would name when a friend from another state calls and says she has a client who needs some legal help in a given part of our state.
• A lawyer you might call yourself if you needed legal help in his or her field.

Amy Stawski has more than 30 years of experience in Family Law and Appellate Litigation. Her substantial expertise includes litigating and settling complex, high profile family law cases as well as advising individuals on a full range of domestic relations issues arising from marriage, divorce and custody. These issues include divorce, annulment, separate maintenance, paternity, custody, change of domicile, child and spousal support (alimony), parenting time, division of marital estates, grandparenting time, and appeals, among others. Additionally, she has experience with cases involving international issues concerning the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of Child Abduction. Ms. Stawski remains dedicated to protecting her clients and working with them to achieve the best possible outcome.

Ms. Stawski maintains an “AV” peer review rating with Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, the highest peer review rating for attorneys. She has also been recognized for inclusion in other top peer-reviewed directories, including The Best Lawyers in America© 2018 – 2025 in the field of Family Law, DBusiness magazine’s list of Top Lawyers in 2013, 2014 and 2025 in the practice area of Family Law, and the 2014 – 2024 issues of Michigan Super Lawyers magazine, (which features the top 5% of attorneys in Michigan in the practice area of Family Law). Additionally, she has been designated a “Leading Lawyer” in Family Law for the years 2013 to the present (a distinction granted to the top 1% of attorneys in Michigan).

Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s “Michigan’s Go to Lawyers Family Law” issue released on March 24, 2025.

The Litigation Excellence Award recognizes litigators that embody the following qualities:

• Involvement in significant legal matters
• Depth of legal knowledge
• Superior written and oral advocacy skills
• Commitment to civility and professionalism
• Outstanding reputation among peers and commitment to improvement of the legal profession.

Recipients of this award effectively represent their clients, achieve favorable outcomes, and uphold the principles of justice that sets them apart as leaders in the legal community. This award celebrates their commitment to excellence and their significant contributions to the practice of law. 

Mr. Zawideh primarily represents interested persons in high net worth trust and estate disputes. For more than 34-years Robert has successfully resolved complex litigation and business matters on behalf of individuals, businesses and municipalities. Robert has appeared in Michigan’s trial and appellate courts, including the Michigan Supreme Court, as well as before federal courts, state courts and arbitration panels across the United States. He has appeared in state and federal, trial or appellate courts in Michigan, Ohio, California, Illinois, Louisiana, and Washington, D.C., and has successfully argued before the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.

The reception to honor the State Bar of Michigan – Litigation Section’s 2025 award winners took place on April 9th, 2025, at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. 

Congratulations to all of those honored by the State Bar of Michigan Litigation Section.

To be considered for this award one must be the following:

• A lawyer who is well respected in his or her field, well-versed in the nuances of the case law, statutes and regulations clients will encounter.
• A lawyer who is experienced and enjoys a record of success, with many cases and/or transactions that give testimony to the quality advice he or she can provide.
• A lawyer to whom other lawyers make referrals because of his or her expertise and accomplishments.
• A lawyer who can think creatively and identify all options for a client.
• A lawyer you would name when a friend from another state calls and says she has a client who needs some legal help in a given part of our state.
• A lawyer you might call yourself if you needed legal help in his or her field.

Ralph Castelli is a sought-after attorney for business and real estate transactions as well as estate planning and general corporate law. He is a skilled negotiator who analyzes and problem solves complicated issues and uses his decades of experience to prevail on behalf of his clients.

Mr. Castelli maintains an “AV” peer review rating with Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, the highest peer review rating for attorneys. He has also been listed as one of the top 5% of attorneys in Michigan by Super Lawyers Magazine. In 2025 The Best Lawyers in America® recognized Ralph Castelli as a Best Lawyer for his work in Corporate Law, Real Estate Law and Trusts and Estates. Mr. Castelli has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® since 2013. Mr. Castelli was named Lawyer of the Year by The Best Lawyers in America® in 2019. Mr. Castelli was recognized by DBusiness Magazine as a 2025 DBusiness Top Lawyer for his work in Corporate Law. In Addition, Ralph Castelli was named to the “Leaders in Law” Class of 2018 by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. 

Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s “Michigan’s Go to Lawyers Commercial Real Estate Law” issue released on January 27, 2025.