Attorney Profiles
Richard H. May
Richard H. May was born in Detroit, Michigan on December 8, 1933 and admitted to the Michigan bar in 1961. He holds an undergraduate degree from Princeton University (A.B. cum laude, 1955) and obtained his law degree from the University of Michigan (J.D., 1960). He was admitted to the Michigan bar in 1961 and is a member of the Oakland County Michigan and American Bar Associations. Mr. May is part chairperson of the Michigan Franchise Law Advisory Committee; and pas chairperson of the Antitrust Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. Mr. May was an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1955-1957. Mr. May’s law practice has focused on franchise, anti-trust and corporate law.
Tom Simpson
Thomas C. Simpson was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on December 10, 1945. He holds an undergraduate degree from Michigan State University (B.S., 1968) and obtained his law degree from the Detroit College of Law (J.D., 1973). He was admitted to the Michigan bar in 1973 and practices in the state courts of Michigan and the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan. Mr. Simpson is a member of the Oakland County, Michigan and American Bar Associations. He is an ex-officio council member and past chairperson of the Real Property Section of the State Bar of Michigan. He is also part chairperson of the Land Title Standard Committee. Mr. Simpson was elected to the American College of Real Estate Lawyers in 1989, and is a member of the American College Committee on Title Insurance Law. He has been designated as a “Michigan Super Lawyer” in Real Estate for each year the designation has been available to Michigan attorneys. Mr. Simpson was an officer in the U.S. Army, JAGC (1972-1976). His area of practice includes Real Estate, Title Insurance Law, Civil Litigation and Corporate Law.
Ronald Strote
Ronald P. Strote was born in New York, NY on June 24, 1947. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan (A.B., 1969) and obtained his law degree from Northwestern University (J.D., cum laude, 1972). Mr. Strote was admitted to the Michigan bar in 1973 and practices in the state courts of Michigan and the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western District of Michigan. He has also been a member of the Illinois bar since 1972 and admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. He is a member of the Oakland County, Michigan, Illinois and American Bar Associations. He is past chairperson of the Construction Committee of the Real Property Section of the State Bar of Michigan. Mr. Strote has been designated as a “Michigan Super Lawyer” in Real Estate for each year the designation has been available to Michigan attorneys and, in 2008, was designed as one of the top 100 lawyers in the state. He is an American Arbitration mediator and a member of the Construction Arbitration Master Panel. His area of practice includes Civil Litigation, Construction Law and Real Estate.
Steve Raymond
Steven M. Raymond was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on February 6, 1949. He holds an undergraduate degree from Western Michigan University (B.S., cum laude 1973) and obtained his law degree from University of Detroit (J.D., cum laude, 1980). He was admitted to the Michigan bar in 1980 and practices in the state courts of Michigan and the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan. Mr. Raymond is also admitted to practice before the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida and is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association. He was an Associate Editor for the University of Detroit Journal of Urban Law (1979-1980). His area of practice includes Franchise, Title Insurance, Real Estate and Business Civil Litigation and Business and Corporate law.
John Forrest
John A. Forrest was born in Flint, Michigan on July 1, 1954. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan (A.B., with high distinction, 1977) and obtained his law degree from the University of Detroit (J.D., magna cum laude, 1981). He was the Article and Book Review Editor for the University of Detroit Journal of Urban Law (1980-1981). Mr. Forrest also received a master’s degree in taxation from Wayne State University (LL.M. in Taxation, 1987). Mr. Forrest was admitted to the Michigan bar in 1981 and is a member of the Oakland County, Michigan and American Bar Associations. He is the past chair of the Antitrust, Franchising and Trade Regulation Section of the State Bar of Michigan. His area of practice includes Franchise and Distribution Law, Commericial Contracts, Business Planning and Corporate Law.
Marilynn K. Smyth
Marilynn K. Smyth was born in Dearborn, Michigan on September 14, 1959. She holds an undergraduate degree in business administration from Michigan State University (B.A. with honors, 1982) and obtained her law degree from Wayne State University (J.D., 1991). Ms. Smyth was admitted to the Michigan bar in 1991 and practices in the state courts of Michigan and the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan; and the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. He practice includes substantial appellate work in Michigan state courts. Ms. Smyth is a member of the Oakland County and Michigan Bar ASsocations. She is a past chairperson of the Construction Law Committee of the State Bar of Michigan, Real Property Law Section, and has authored or co-authoried articles published in the Michigan Real Property Review and Michigan Bar Journal pertaining to construction litigation law. Her area of practice includes General Civil, Construction and Title Insurance Litigation and Real Estate and Construction Law.
Beth I. deBaptiste
Beth I. deBaptiste was born in Royal Oak, Michigan on April 16, 1971. She holds an undergraduate degree from Albion College (B.A., magna cum laude, 1993) and obtained her law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy (J.D., 1996). Ms. deBaptiste was admitted to the Michigan bar in 1996 and practices in the state courts of Michigan, the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western District of Michigan and the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Her practice includes substantial appellate work in Michigan state courts. She is a member of the Oakland County and Michigan Bar Associations. Her areas of practice include General Civil, Construction and Title Insurance litigation and Real Estate and Construction law.