Category: Firm News & Announcements
Kemp Klein Has Been Nominated for the Community Impact Award in the 2025 Troy Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards
Kemp Klein is honored to be nominated for the second straight year in the Troy Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards presented by Horizon Bank for the Amour Women Community Impact Award. The Troy Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards celebrates and give recognition to the achievements of organizations and working professionals in the Troy business community.
The Amour Women Community Impact Award recognizes organizations and companies that are positively impacting their communities in ways that inspire integrity and respond creatively to needs in underserved communities.
The nomination reads, “Over the past year, Kemp Klein Law Firm has made a significant impact in the community through active support and participation in local initiatives like the Troy Stage Nature Center’s Nature Uncorked Fundraiser, Troy Historic Village’s Scarecrow Row, and the Mighty Gobbler 5K. Their commitment extends beyond participation, as shown by the Kemp Klein Foundation’s third annual golf outing, which raised $33,000 for Forgotten Harvest—providing meals for approximately 129,000 people.”
Many of the activities for which Kemp Klein has been recognized have been made possible by the Kemp Klein Foundation. The Kemp Klein Foundation was started in 1994. Everyone at Kemp Klein is encouraged to be involved from hands-on volunteer opportunities to paying to participate in casual Fridays. The Kemp Klein Foundation is funded via proceeds from casual Friday donations and contributions from the firm. Since its inception, the Foundation has contributed over $1,000,000 to hundreds of worthwhile causes which reflect the shared values of the individuals at Kemp Klein.
Read more about Kemp Klein’s dedication to Community Involvement: https://kkue.com/community_involvement
Kemp Klein Attorneys Austin W. Probst, Margaret Lindauer and Tyler Knurek join the Oakland County Bar Foundation as Fellows
Austin W. Probst, Margaret Lindauer and Tyler Knurek join several other Kemp Klein attorneys by joining the Oakland County Bar Foundation. The Oakland County Bar Foundation promotes and funds programs designed to increase access, affordability, and understanding of the law and legal system. The Fellows program provides critical support for OCBF programs. It also provides a setting for dedicated individuals to come together in professional camaraderie to support the cause. Membership in the Oakland County Bar Foundation Fellows program is evidence of professional distinction and constitutes a professional honor.
On Monday January, 27th, 2025 The Oakland County Bar Foundation held their Annual Fellows Reception. The event took place at The Iroquois Club in Bloomfield Hills, MI. This event was exclusively open to members of the OCBF.
The Fellows Reception honors those who support the charitable works of the OCBF. Membership in the Fellows program is evidence of professional distinction and constitutes a professional honor. The number of Fellows is limited to less than 10 percent of the total active membership of the State Bar of Michigan who practice in Oakland County. In order to become a Fellow, you must be nominated by a current OCBF Fellow.
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 Ralph A. Castelli Named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly's 'Go To Lawyers' Commercial Real Estate List
Kemp Klein is pleased to announce that Kemp Klein Shareholder and Chairman Emeritus Ralph A. Castelli was named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s ‘Go To Lawyers’ Commercial Real Estate List. The “Go To Lawyers” program identifies and recognizes the top lawyers across the state in a given practice area.
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.
Read More About Why Mr. Castelli Was Chosen As A Michigan Lawyer's Weekly "Go To Lawyer"
Robert S. Zawideh Recognized As One Of The Michigan Lawyers Weekly Leaders In The Law
Congratulations to Kemp Klein Vice President and Shareholder Robert S. Zawideh on being recognized by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as a 2024 Leader in the Law!
The Leaders in the Law honorees are setting the standard for other lawyers through their outstanding contributions to the practice of law and the justice system in Michigan. They have demonstrated tremendous leadership and offer a wealth of expertise in diverse areas of the law. The Leaders in the Law Award is Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s annual salute to leaders in the state’s legal community.
Mr. Zawideh was recognized for his contributions to the practice of law. Robert S. Zawideh represents interested persons in high-net worth trust and estate disputes. He serves as the head of Kemp Klein’s Litigation Practice Group. His litigation practice has taken him before Michigan’s trial and appellate courts, including the Supreme Court, as well as federal courts, state courts and arbitration panels across the country.
Michigan Lawyers Weekly will hold an award ceremony to honor the 2024 Leaders in the Law. The event takes place Tuesday, December 3rd, in Troy, MI. Kemp Klein is a Bronze Sponsor of the event.
For more information on this honor: https://milawyersweekly.com/event/leaders-in-the-law
24 Kemp Klein Attorneys Have Been Recognized As 2025 DBusiness Top Lawyers
Kemp Klein is pleased to announce that twenty four of our attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the DBusiness Magazine 2025 list of Top Lawyers.
Amanda Afton Martin was recognized for Tax Law
Robert S. Zawideh was recognized for his work in Trust and Estates
Richard C. Bruder was recognized for his work in Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Raymond L. Morrow was recognized for his work in Litigation – Construction
Ralph A. Castelli was recognized for his work in Corporate Law
Norman D. Orr was recognized for his work in Bankruptcy and Creditor / Debtor Rights Law
Neal Nusholtz was recognized for Tax Law
Michael D. Umphrey was recognized for Tax Law
Matthew W. Frank was recognized for Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Mark R. Filipp was recognized for Labor and Employment Law
Joseph P. Buttiglieri was recognized for Mediation and Trust & Estates
James P. Davey was recognized for Litigation – Construction
Faith M. Gaudaen was recognized for Litigation – Construction
Edward M. Nahhat was recognized for Appellate Law
David D. Marsh was recognized for Real Estate Law
Cynthia L. Umphrey was recognized for Trust & Estates and Corporate Law
Casey W. Callahan was recognized for Trusts and Estates
C. Leslie Banas was recognized for Real Estate Law
Brian H. Rolfe was recognized for Litigation – Commercial
Brian R. Jenney was recognized for Trusts and Estates
Austin W. Probst was recognized for Trusts and Estates
Amy W. Stawski was recognized for Family Law
William B. Acker was recognized for his work in Tax Law
Alan A. May was recognized for Trusts and Estates
The DBusiness Top Lawyers selection is based on an online peer-review survey sent out to the certified lawyers within the metro Detroit area. Inclusion in DBusiness Magazine’s Top Lawyers list is based solely upon one’s standing within their peer group.
Kemp Klein Has Been Recognized in Best Lawyers® – 2025 Edition of Best Law Firms®
Kemp Klein has been recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms® , a testament to its unwavering commitment to legal excellence. Ranked by Best Law Firms regionally in 18 practice areas, Kemp Klein has distinguished itself in the legal industry, earning this prestigious accolade.
Firms included in the 2025 Best Law Firms® list are recognized for professional excellence with impressive ratings from clients and peers. To be considered for this milestone achievement, at least one lawyer in the law firm must be recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.
“At Best Lawyers, we are proud to recognize law firms that show an unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and client satisfaction,” said Philip Greer, Chief Executive Officer of Best Lawyers. “In the legal arena, credibility is earned through consistent quality, which has propelled these firms to the forefront of the legal industry.” For more information about Kemp Klein’s recognitions, please visit: https://kkue.com/recognition.
Achieving a ranking in Best Law Firms signifies high-quality legal practice and a depth of legal proficiency. Recognized firms, categorized into three tiers, receive acclaim on both national and metropolitan levels, reflecting the extent of their practice and geographic reach. Receiving a tier designation represents an elite status, reflecting the integrity and reputation earned by law firms.
The 2025 edition of Best Law Firms® includes rankings in 75 national practice areas and 127 metropolitan-based practice areas. The highest-rated firm in each national practice area attains the prestigious “Law Firm of the Year” honor. The transparent, collaborative research process employs qualitative and quantitative data from peer and client reviews, supported by proprietary algorithmic technology, to produce a tiered system of industry-led rankings of the top 4% of the industry.
Kemp Klein received the following rankings in the 2025 Best Law Firms®:
- Regional Tier 1
- Regional Tier 2
- Regional Tier 3
About Kemp Klein
About Kemp Klein: Kemp Klein is a full-service law firm dedicated to providing a comprehensive range of legal services, for both individuals and businesses, with the highest professional standards of excellence, integrity and efficiency. Spanning more than 50 years in business, its Midwest based practice has grown to serve clients locally, nationally, and internationally in areas such as estate planning, business/corporate law and litigation, probate and trust law and litigation, family law, bankruptcy and collections, employment, real estate, landlord/tenant, and tax law. For more information about Kemp Klein, please visit https://kkue.com/. .
About Best Law Firms®
Best Law Firms®, ranked by Best Lawyers® and respected for over 14 years, is the most credible ranking of exceptional law firms globally. It is rooted in a rigorous, peer-to-peer, industry-driven evaluation. A ranking from Best Law Firms signifies a high-quality practice and a breadth of legal expertise. Ranked firms, presented in three tiers, are recognized on a national and metropolitan scale, providing legal professionals with an elevated stature from the Best Law Firms recognition. For more information, visit www.bestlawfirms.com.
About Best Lawyers®
Best Lawyers® is the oldest and most respected peer-review research and marketing company in the legal profession. Best Lawyers compiles extensive recognitions by conducting exhaustive peer-review surveys in which tens of thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate the work of their fellow legal professionals within their local market and specialty. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore, recognition by Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. For more information, visit www.bestlawyers.com.
Kemp Klein Has Been Recognized as One of the 2024 Best Places to Work: Law Firms by Bridgetower Media® and Best Companies Group®
Kemp Klein Law Firm has been named by Best Companies Group (BCG) as one of its 2024 Best Places to Work: Law Firms!
BCG, a sister company of Michigan Lawyers Weekly, publishes its annual list to recognize top performing law firms nationally based on such factors as employee satisfaction, employee benefits, company policies and more. In addition to being named one of the nation’s top firms in 2024, Kemp Klein Law Firm was the only Michigan law firm selected for the honor this year.
The Best Places to Work: Law Firms program honors firms that prioritize their employees’ well-being and create a positive work environment. This prestigious program includes a two-part process consisting of employee surveys and an independent evaluative step in which firms are compared against hundreds of industry benchmarks. The combined scores determine the top firms and final rankings. Best Companies Group, a research firm for more than 70 Best Places to Work programs worldwide, also manages the annual Cool Places to Work review for Crain’s Detroit Business.
Kemp Klein was featured by Michigan Lawyers Weekly for winning the 2024 Best Places to Work Law Firms Award in the article Kemp Klein aims higher:
Kemp Klein continues to aim higher
BridgeTower Media, which is the parent company of Michigan Lawyers Weekly and numerous other legal publications, will run print and digital announcements honoring the “Best Law Firms to Work For” in their publications across the country.
Kemp Klein is a full-service law firm dedicated to providing a comprehensive range of legal services, for both individuals and businesses, with the highest professional standards of excellence, integrity and efficiency. Spanning more than 50 years in business, its Midwest based practice has grown to serve clients locally, nationally, and internationally in areas such as estate planning, business/corporate law and litigation, probate and trust law and litigation, family law, bankruptcy and collections, employment, real estate, landlord/tenant, and tax law. For more information, please visit https://kkue.com/.
Kemp Klein is Supporting Oakland Literacy Council’s Annual Ex Libris Event
The 35th annual Ex Libris fundraising dinner will celebrate literacy and the accomplishments of students and Oakland Literacy Council volunteers. This event will also commemorate the 40th anniversary of Oakland Literacy Council and their work in the community.
We believe literacy is vital, and in alignment with that belief, the Kemp Klein Foundation has supported Oakland Literacy Council for 30 years. To learn more about the Kemp Klein Foundation: https://kkue.com/kemp-klein-foundation
The event takes place November 14th, 2024 at the Village Club in Bloomfield Hills, MI. Cocktails are at 5:30 and Dinner is at 6:30.
To purchase tickets and for more information about the event: https://www.oaklandliteracy.com/exlibris2024sponsor
Kemp Klein is Sponsoring Common Ground's 2024 Celebration of Hope Gala
As part of Kemp Klein’s Resiliency Partnership we are supporting Common Ground’s 2024 Celebration of Hope Gala. The Celebration of Hope Gala is the largest annual fundraising event for Common Ground, a crisis response agency located in Oakland County and serving the state of Michigan. This event is filled with warmth, camaraderie and elegance and celebrates effective crisis care with supporters, sponsors, leadership and volunteers!
Common Ground’s Celebration of Hope Gala takes place Friday, October 18th, 2024 from 6:30pm – 10:00pm at the Birmingham Community House.
For more information on the event: https://commongroundhelps.org/event/celebration-of-hope-gala
Kemp Klein is a proud Legacy Society Benefactor for Common Ground. We have provided in excess of $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, participated in Common Ground’s Adopt-A-Family initiative, Ride 2 End Suicide and we have held blanket making and other events to help those in need.
Brian Jenney Sponsors The 2024 Mighty Gobbler 5k and 1 Mile Run / Walk
On behalf of Kemp Klein, Brian Jenney is supporting The Mighty Gobbler 5k and 1 Mile Run / Walk. The Mighty Gobbler 5K and 1 Mile Run/Walk is going into it’s 10th year. Kemp Klein is a Silver Sponsor of the event. Last year this event raised $16,000 for charity and had over 1,300 participants. We have been a proud supporter of this event for many years.
The Mighty Gobbler 5K and 1 Mile Run / Walk takes place on November 28, starting at 8:30 am for the 1 Mile fun run/walk and 9:00 am for the 5K. The race will begin at 3290 W. Big Beaver Road, in Troy, MI. The course flows through neighborhoods and commercial areas, and is a mixture of roads and sidewalks.
The event benefits three local charities Micah 6 Community, Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers and Troy People Concerned. Micah 6 Community serves Pontiac residents through programs that increase their access to fresh food; promote economic development; stabilize neighborhoods; and provide spiritual and emotional support. Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers makes it possible for older and disabled adults to enjoy independence and quality of life through a network of supported, prepared and fulfilled volunteers. Troy People Concerned is a service organization supporting Troy residents in time of need with assistance, information and referrals.
For more information about the event: https://www.mightygobbler.com/
