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Miller Canfield Welcomes Five Attorneys in Chicago, Detroit Offices
Miller Canfield is pleased to announce that five attorneys have joined the international law firm’s offices in Detroit and Chicago.
Michael Janes has joined the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group in Detroit. His practice concentrates on medical malpractice and product liability defense. Janes has been active in many professional associations, including the American Board of Trial Advocates, where he is the treasurer and has served as a board member since 2020 and as membership chair in 2021. He is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Janes previously served as president and longtime board member of the Association of Defense Trial Counsel and has chaired the State Bar of Michigan Negligence Law Section Council. He is a fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation and is the recipient of the 2016 Michigan Association of Justice Respected Advocate Award. Janes earned his J.D. at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology.
Lisa Muhleck joined Miller Canfield’s Intellectual Property Group in Detroit. She is a registered patent attorney and aerospace engineer who has held diverse technical roles at General Motors and Chrysler, where she was one of only a few women in her specialty. Her practice focuses on anti-counterfeiting measures, and the development and management of broad IP portfolios through the preparation and prosecution of design patent, utility patent and trademark applications. Muhleck is a member of the International Trademark Association. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan, where she earned her BSE in aerospace engineering, and Wayne State University Law School.
Rafael Ruiz-Ayala has joined the Corporate and Transactions Group in the Chicago office. His practice focuses on serving small and medium-sized businesses, with an emphasis on transactions and regulatory matters in the healthcare industry. He is a member of the Illinois Association of Healthcare Attorneys, the Chicago Bar Association and the Puerto Rico Bar Association. Ruiz-Ayala is a graduate of Yale Law School and earned a Master of Laws in health law from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Puerto Rico.
Paula Schneider joined the firm’s Intellectual Property Group in Detroit. She comes to the firm from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, where she was a primary patent examiner, managing a docket of patent applications relating to vehicle controls and navigation systems. She was awarded the Bronze Award in 2020 in recognition of five consecutive years of the highest possible performance review ratings. In private practice, Schneider authored more than 100 patent applications that were issued to patents in transportation (seating, emissions systems, compartment safety latches), aerospace, medical devices, home appliances, sporting equipment and navigation systems. She is a graduate of Michigan State University College of Law and earned her Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan, Dearborn.
Laura Selzer joined Miller Canfield’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group in Detroit. Her practice focuses on litigation for Michigan hospitals, physicians and other healthcare providers in medical malpractice, premises liability and general negligence claims. She has significant experience managing high-exposure claims and proven success with pre-suit resolution and alternative dispute resolution. She is engaged in several civic and charitable organizations and currently serves as Co-Director of Career Dress, a non-profit in Pontiac, Michigan. Selzer has received the Michigan Super Lawyers honor in Medical Malpractice Defense annually since 2019. She is a graduate of the University of Toledo College of Law and earned her Bachelor of Arts in political science from Michigan State University.
