Real Property Law Academy

Our Faculty:

Michelle R. E. Donovan, Clark Hill, advises cannabis companies regarding medical and adult-use marijuana licensing, regulatory, compliance, business entity formation, and litigation. As one of the fastest-growing industries, Michelle’s experience and connections allow her to strategize and advise cannabis companies on how to navigate the constantly changing legal landscape that surrounds this emerging market.

Along with national experience, Michelle has an extensive background with Michigan's Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing and Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act and has successfully assisted clients with the process of applying for pre-qualification and license qualification status. Michelle obtained the first licensed provisioning center in Oakland County. Michelle filed the litigation successfully challenging the State of Michigan’s cannabis supply regulations and case of first impression on behalf of a medical marijuana patient for access. She is frequently in the media for her expertise and knowledge and recently featured on Michigan’s Cannabis Industry Association cover for “Women Power and Industry” and feature article.

Rachel Foster of Warner Norcross provides skilled representation for clients across numerous industries in a wide array of real estate transactions – including construction contracts, foreclosures, real estate acquisitions, sales and beyond. A real estate and title insurance litigator by training, Rachel brings a tactical approach to all transactional matters and is holistically involved in every aspect of client projects. Whether in the courtroom or within the four corners of a contract, she displays her sought-after talent for finding the most advantageous pathways around figurative roadblocks.

John D. Gaber is a shareholder of Williams, Williams, Rattner & Plunkett, P.C., in Birmingham, Michigan.  Mr. Gaber practices real estate, land use and zoning law, corporate and general business law, specializing in commercial real estate acquisitions, dispositions, land use, development, construction, financing and leasing.  He represents developers, national retailers, landlords, tenants, operators, franchisees and municipalities.  He has represented clients in the development and redevelopment of numerous commercial, industrial, residential and mixed use projects.  Previously, Mr. Gaber was a senior real estate attorney for Kmart Corporation.  Mr. Gaber actively participates in the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan (RPLS), where he serves on the RPLS governing Council and the Continuing Legal Education Committee.  He is also a member of the American Bar Association, International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and the Oakland County Bar Association.  Mr. Gaber serves on the Rochester Hills Planning Commission and the Board of Directors for the Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce, where he chairs its Foundation Board.  He has served on the Rochester DDA, is an active member in the Rochester Rotary Club, and was formerly a Rochester Hills City Councilman.  Mr. Gaber often lectures to various real estate groups, including the Commercial Board of Realtors, ICSC and RPLS.  He graduated summa cum laude from Wayne State University Law School and earned his BBA degree with high distinction in finance from the University of Michigan.  Mr. Gaber has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America, being named “Lawyer of the Year” for 2021 for Real Estate – Litigation, Dbusiness Magazine’s Top Lawyers, and The Fellows of the American Bar Foundation.

Thomas Kabel is a Vice President and Director at Butzel and serves as Office Managing Shareholder in the Firm’s Troy, Michigan office. Tom concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial real estate and real estate-related finance. For more than two decades, Tom has counseled clients in all facets of acquisition, disposition, leasing, financing, and development of real property. Tom is a longstanding member of the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, most recently serving as Chair of the Section for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

Nicholas G. Maloof is President and General Counsel of Associated Environmental Services, LLC (AES), an environmental services, land development and real estate consulting firm based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Mr. Maloof is an active member of the State Bar of Michigan and has over 26 years of experience as a transactional attorney and over 35 years of experience in the field of environmental and real estate consulting. A majority of his work is conducted with or on behalf of attorneys, financial institutions, developers, investors, property owners and real estate brokers. Mr. Maloof received his Juris Doctor (JD) from Michigan State University College of Law, his Master of Science Degree (MS) in Earth Science from Western Michigan University and his Bachelor of Science Degree (BS) in Business Administration from Aquinas College. He is also a Registered Professional Geologist in the State of Tennessee and a licensed Associate Real Estate Broker and Title Insurance Resident Producer in the State of Michigan.  Over the past 35 plus years, Mr. Maloof has been involved in thousands of real estate transactions and land development projects from site selection, due diligence, financing and development entitlement standpoint, as well as numerous Workout, Foreclosure and Bankruptcy related matters. Mr. Maloof has advocated and been involved in what would become known as Brownfield Redevelopment since 1989 when Site Reclamation Fund Grants first became available and has obtained tens of millions of dollars of Tax Increment Financing (TIF), Brownfield Tax Credits (SBT/MBT), Grants and Loans, Tax Abatements, Site Assessment Funds (SAF), Job Creation Grants and other economic incentives throughout Michigan for Brownfield Redevelopment projects. His tenure includes: being a Past President (2007) of the Commercial Board of Realtors (CBOR) in Michigan, the statewide commercial board which owns the Commercial Property Information Exchange (CPIX); a Member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) East Michigan Alliance Program Steering Committee; founding member of the Real Property Law Section (RPLS)-International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Annual Continuing Education (Con Ed) Program Committee; has previously sat on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) – Detroit Chapter; and a Member of the University of Michigan/Urban Land Institute (UM/ULI) Real Estate Forum Steering Committee which had celebrated over 25 years of events. Mr. Maloof is also past Chair of the Oakland County Bar Association (OCBA) Energy, Sustainability and Environmental Law (ESEL) Committee for 2017-2018 and continues to serve as its’ Legislative Liaison and is currently an elected member of the SBM Environmental Law Section (ELS) Governing Council. As an active member and frequent speaker for the State Bar of Michigan Real Property Law Section, Mr. Maloof is also an approved Continuing Education Instructor with the State of Michigan and has presented numerous accredited educational programs for the State Bar of Michigan, ICSC, ICLE, Lorman Education and CBOR. He is a founding faculty Member of the State Bar of Michigan (SBM) Real Property Law Academy.

Phillip J. Neuman is a shareholder of Couzens, Lansky, Fealk, Ellis, Roeder & Lazar, P.C. in Farmington Hills.  He is a 1983 graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School.  Mr. Neuman focuses his practice on real estate and business litigation, including title issues, construction lien matters, contract disputes and commercial and residential landlord tenant matters.  Examples of the types of matters he has handled include real estate litigation in Michigan and federal courts, including quiet title actions, title insurance coverage, mortgage priority disputes, adverse possession claims, forged deeds, construction lien foreclosure and condominium and homeowners association lien foreclosure, resolution of title disputes, including reformation of recorded documents, boundary disputes and landlord tenant evictions and lease negotiation, drafting, interpretation, enforcement and litigation.  Mr. Neuman has been named a SuperLawyer every year since 2011.  He recently completed a two year term as president of the Jewish Community Relations Council/American Jewish Committee in Detroit and serves on the Board of Trustees of the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue.

Richard D. Rattner, William, Williams, Rattner and Plunkett - Throughout his career, Richard Rattner has used his expertise in property acquisitions, land use development, sale and loan transactions, and zoning to help construct some of the most highly visible commercial and retail developments in Southeastern Michigan. Rick is the co-founder of the State Bar of Michigan’s Real Property Law Academy, which educates up-and-coming attorneys on the fundamentals of real estate transactions. He is also an adjunct professor of law at Wayne State University Law School teaching courses in Real Estate Development and Real Estate Finance. A proud Wolverine, Rick is a past chairman of the University of Michigan’s Alumni Association and a former member of the school’s Advisory Board for Intercollegiate Athletics.

As generous to the legal profession and the community as he is devoted to his clients, Rick has been repeatedly recognized by his peers for his accomplishments and achievements. Besides his perennial selection to the lists of Michigan Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America^®, he regularly appears among DBusiness’s “Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit.” Among the highest honors he has received, the American College of Real Estate Lawyers inducted Rick as a fellow in 2017.  

Nicholas P. Scavone, Jr., is a member of Bodman PLC and Chair of Bodman’s Real Estate Practice Group. He has represented banks and other financial institutions in a wide variety of complex, multi-million-dollar, secured loans and other financial arrangements involving real estate. He also represents lenders in direct and syndicated mortgage warehousing lines of credit. Mr. Scavone has extensive experience with commercial real estate loan workouts, foreclosures, receiverships, deeds in lieu of foreclosure, and sales of REO. In addition to banking and finance matters, Mr. Scavone represents clients in a wide variety of real estate transactions, including purchases and sales, development work and commercial leasing. Mr. Scavone is a member of the State Bar of Michigan (Real Property Law and Business Law Sections). He is former Chair of the Council of the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, a member of the Michigan Land Title Standards Committee, a Fellow of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys, and a Fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2024 under Real Estate Law and Banking and Finance Law, Chambers USA 2023 under Real Estate, and Michigan Super Lawyers 2023 under Real Estate.  He is listed as a 2024 “Top Lawyer” by DBusiness magazine and is AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

Jeffrey L. Vollmer is a member of Makower Abbate Guerra Wegner Vollmer PLLC in St. Clair Shores.  Jeff is in his 21^st year of practicing law, all of which have been dedicated to the representation of community associations.  His Firm represents over 2,000 community associations throughout Michigan.  Jeff has presented on community association law and authored articles for the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, Michigan’s Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Michigan’s Chapter of Community Associations Institute (CAI) and United Condominium Owners of Michigan (UCOM).  He served as the Chairperson of Conference/Education Committee for Michigan’s CAI Chapter for many years and was recently elected to the Chapter’s Board of Directors.  Jeff was previously identified as a “Leading Lawyer” by Leading Lawyer’s Magazine and is recognized as a Best Lawyer by Best Lawyers in America© in real estate law.