Category: Firm News & Announcements
William B. Acker and Norman D. Orr Celebrate 50 Years with Kemp Klein
Congratulations to William B. Acker and Norman D. Orr who celebrated 50 years of their careers with Kemp Klein Law Firm.
- Graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree with high distinction (first in class) in 1972.
- Graduated from the University of Michigan School of Law in 1975.
- Began his career at Kemp Klein on 6/2/1975.
- Is an expert in business and taxation matters, Mr. Acker has authored numerous articles on tax and estate planning strategies for owners of real property; workouts and debt restructuring; tax deferred like-kind exchanges of property; partnership; state property tax and other tax matters for the Journal of Taxation, and the State Bar of Michigan Real Property Section’s professional journal, The Real Property Review.
- Mr. Acker was named Lawyer of the Year for his work in Tax Law by The Best Lawyers in America® in 2019. Mr. Acker has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® for his work in Tax Law, Trust & Estates and Real Estate Law since 2012.
- Graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science Degree, cum laude.
- Graduated from the University of Michigan School of Law in 1975, cum laude.
- Began his career at Kemp Klein on 6/1/1975.
- Mr. Orr’s career has centered around commercial and corporate legal work. This includes the purchase and sale of businesses, formation of businesses, financing transactions, shareholder/partner disputes, and negotiating and drafting various types of business agreements.
- Norman Orr maintains an “AV” peer review rating with Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, and was chosen as a 2025 Top Lawyer by DBusiness for his work in Creditor/Debtor Rights Law.
John B. Kemp gives a speech on William B. Acker, Norman D. Orr and the culture of Kemp Klein Law Firm:
Images from the event:
Kemp Klein is Hosting the Troy Chamber of Commerce Women's Business Forum's June Mixer
The Women’s Business Forum is focused on empowering women in business, the Women’s Business Forum meets to plan programs that are relevant to women in business.
Why Attend?
- Learn from top female leaders about the tools and strategies that helped them stay focused in their careers.
- Engage in meaningful conversations about the critical decisions women in leadership face on a daily basis.
- Network with like-minded professionals and gain inspiration from the stories of success and perseverance.
Event Information:
For more information about the Troy Chamber of Commerce Women’s Business Forum:
Kemp Klein Attorney Austin W. Probst Will Be Presenting at the National Business Institute’s Drafting Essential Estate Planning Documents Seminar
Austin W. Probst will be presenting at National Business Institute‘s Drafting Essential Estate Planning Documents Seminar on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
Mr. Probst’s portions of the event will focus on Creating Guardianships and Legal Ethics in Estate Planning Practice.
Per the event:
This comprehensive legal instruction offers essential knowledge and resources to draft key documents used to plan for clients’ trusts and estates. Establish heirs and plan distributions, choose and prepare fiduciaries, outline medical decisions, and more. With experienced attorney faculty sharing their top approaches and sample documents, you’ll save time drafting and advise clients on the wisest course of action for every unique situation. Register today!
Who Should Attend:
This estate planning guide is designed for attorneys. It will also benefit accountants and CPAs, trust officers, wealth managers, tax professionals, and paralegals.
Presenters:
- Chris Longwell – Barron Peck Bennie & Schlemmer, L.P.A.
- Michael G. Zapson – Certilman Balan Adler & Hyman LLP
- Austin W. Probst – Kemp Klein Law Firm
- Thomas J. Cleary – Cohen Cleary
- Ralph T. Collins III – Reese, Smalley, Wiseman & Schweitzer, LLP
Event:
For more information about the event and registration:
Kemp Klein Attorneys Amanda Afton Martin and Margaret Lindauer are Featured in OCBA Laches
Amanda Afton Martin and Margaret Lindauer are featured in the June/July edition of Oakland County Bar Association’s Laches. They volunteered for PALS Senior Law Day at the Active Adult Center in Madison Heights, MI. This was the first time that the event was held at the Madison Heights Active Adult Center.
The article can be viewed at this link: https://issuu.com/hour_media/docs/laches_june_july_2025/25
Kemp Klein Attorneys Amanda Afton Martin, Margaret Lindauer and Couzens Lansky Attorney Sara Zivian Zwickl gave the Keynote Address on Estate Planning. They presented their version of “Estate Planning Myth Busters.” Amanda Afton Martin also participated in the Ask a Lawyer portion of the event.
Senior Law Day is designed to help educate senior members of the community on different areas of law and to assist attendees in finding answers to their legal questions. Speakers are experts in areas important to senior citizens. This is intended to be a helpful and informative day which includes Ask a Lawyer Sessions for individual consultations.
Senior citizens and their family members are invited to attend this extremely popular event. Senior Law Day is an invaluable resource that helps to educate senior citizens and/or their adult children on the areas of law that impact seniors. Thanks to the generous support of the Oakland County Bar Foundation, there is no cost to attend and attendees can choose from several informational sessions presented by local attorneys.
The event is hosted by the Oakland County Bar Association’s Providing Access to Legal Services (PALS) Committee. The Pal Committee develops and hosts programs that provide legal assistance and an understanding of the legal system within the community. The activities of this committee help emphasize the positive presence of lawyers in society.
For more information about OCBA Senior Law Day: https://www.ocba.org/?pg=senior-law-day
OCBA PAL's Senior Law Day - Madison Heights, MI April 2025
Kemp Klein Attorney Brian R. Jenney Will be Speaking at the June 3rd Michigan Association of CPA's Eldercare Planning Symposium
Brian R. Jenney will be presenting at the MICPA‘s Eldercare Planning Symposium on Tuesday, June 3, 2025.
Mr. Jenney’s portion of the Symposium will focus on Family Meetings: Management and Mediation.
Per the event:
Eldercare planning is a family affair, requiring ongoing commitment and communication between a client’s family members. Learn how to conduct productive family meetings by understanding individual family dynamics and determine strategies for approaching sensitive topics that can cause or exacerbate
tensions. Use case studies to gain a deeper understanding of common eldercare concerns, including memory issues, elder abuse, post-death administration and more.
Presenters:
Brian R. Jenney, LL.M. in Taxation, J.D., B.S. – Shareholder, Kemp Klein Law Firm, Troy
Karen M. Keeler, LMSW, ACSW – Clinical Social Worker, Northwest Counseling & Psychotherapy Center, Farmington Hills
Stuart Sakwa, MST, CSEP – Principal, Schlaupitz Madhavan, P.C., Troy
Moderator:
Dawn Trotto, CPA – President, On the Horizon, PLLC, Troy
For more information about the event and registration: https://www.micpa.org/cpe/store/course-detail?ProductId=178014&return=1~1
Kemp Klein Attorneys Volunteer for Oakland County Bar Association's April 2025 PALS Senior Law Day
Amanda Afton Martin and Margaret Lindauer volunteered at PALS Senior Law Day on April 4th at the Active Adult Center in Madison Heights, MI.
Kemp Klein Attorneys Amanda Afton Martin, Margaret Lindauer and Couzens Lansky Attorney Sara Zivian Zwickl gave the Keynote Address on Estate Planning. They presented their version of “Estate Planning Myth Busters.” Amanda Afton Martin also participated in the Ask a Lawyer portion of the event.
Senior Law Day is designed to help educate senior members of the community on different areas of law and to assist attendees in finding answers to their legal questions. Speakers are experts in areas important to senior citizens. This is intended to be a helpful and informative day which includes Ask a Lawyer Sessions for individual consultations.
Senior citizens and their family members are invited to attend this extremely popular event. Senior Law Day is an invaluable resource that helps to educate senior citizens and/or their adult children on the areas of law that impact seniors. Thanks to the generous support of the Oakland County Bar Foundation, there is no cost to attend and attendees can choose from several informational sessions presented by local attorneys.
The event is hosted by the Oakland County Bar Association’s Providing Access to Legal Services (PALS) Committee. The Pal Committee develops and hosts programs that provide legal assistance and an understanding of the legal system within the community. The activities of this committee help emphasize the positive presence of lawyers in society.
For more information about OCBA Senior Law Day: https://www.ocba.org/?pg=senior-law-day
OCBA PAL's Senior Law Day - Madison Heights, MI April 2025
Kemp Klein Law Firm is Sponsoring Oakland County Bar Foundation's 2025 Signature Event
Oakland County Bar Foundation’s highly anticipated annual fundraising event is celebrating its 26th year. Kemp Klein Law Firm is a Silver Sponsor for the event.
The Signature Event is the primary fundraising initiative of the Oakland County Bar Foundation. The OCBF funds many worthy non-profit organizations in order to meet its mission of ensuring access to justice and an understanding of law in our community.
In 2024, OCBF raised over $193,000. These funds are vital for supporting local nonprofits dedicated to helping those in need. This achievement was made possible by the generous contributions of sponsors and donors.
The event takes place Wednesday, May 7th, 2025, from 6-9pm at the Orchard Lake Country Club.
For more information and registration: https://www.ocba.org/?pg=signature-event
Kemp Klein Attorneys who are OCBF Fellows:
Austin Probst – Fellow
Margaret Lindauer – Fellow
Tyler Knurek – Fellow
Amanda Afton Martin – Fellow
Amy Stawski – Life Fellow
Brian Rolfe – Philanthropist Fellow
Robert Zawideh – Life Fellow
C. Leslie Banas – Life Fellow
Ralph Castelli – Life Fellow
Brian Jenney – Life Fellow
For more information about the Oakland County Bar Foundation: https://www.ocba.org/?pg=ocbf
Kemp Klein Attorney Amy A. Stawski Named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly's 'Go To Lawyers' Family Law List
Kemp Klein is pleased to announce that Kemp Klein Shareholder Amy A. Stawski was named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s ‘Go To Lawyers’ Family Law List. The “Go To Lawyers” program identifies and recognizes the top lawyers for family law across Michigan.
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.
Kemp Klein Attorney Robert S. Zawideh Chosen as The State Bar of Michigan - Litigation Section’s Inagural Litigation Excellence Award Winner
Kemp Klein is pleased to announce that Kemp Klein Vice President and Shareholder Robert S. Zawideh was chosen as the Inaugural Recipient of the State Bar of Michigan – Litigation Section’s Litigation Excellence Award.
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.
Listen to Edward Nahhat’s story about first impressions, receiving an award together, being on opposite sides of a case, and why Robert Zawideh is deserving of this award.
Photos from the Event
Kemp Klein Attorneys and Staff Craft No-Sew Blankets for Common Ground
For the sixth consecutive year, the attorneys and staff of Kemp Klein Law Firm collaborated and crafted hand-tied fleece blankets for Common Ground’s clients. Common Ground distributes these blankets as comfort items for children, victims of trauma, homeless, and other families and individuals in need of assistance. We thank the Columbia Center for donating the space for our blanket making event free of charge.
The Kemp Klein Foundation is a proud Legacy Society Benefactor for Common Ground. Kemp Klein has provided more than $200,000 in pro bono work to Common Ground. In addition to the pro bono work and financial contributions, we have hosted joint events for staff and clients of Common Ground, partnered in their Resiliency Initives like the Ride 2 End Suicide, sponsored their Celebration of Hope Gala, held blanket making and other events to help those in need.
Since its inception, the Kemp Klein Foundation has contributed over $1,000,000 to hundreds of worthwhile causes. Everyone in the firm is encouraged to be involved from hands-on volunteer opportunities to paying to participate in casual Fridays. It is our belief that by working with and giving back to our local communities, everyone succeeds.
