H. Joel Newman

• Finding the best lawyer for your case can be the difference between winning and losing. In this article H. Joel Newman gives the top eleven things you should consider to find the right lawyer for business litigation., How to Select the Best Lawyer for Business Litigation, Business Owners, Shareholders
• Informal interactions among owners of small businesses often make it difficult for those with little or no control -- such as minority owners -- to protect themselves and their interests. In this article Joel explains actions that can be taken by minority shareholders to protect their interests., Protecting the rights of minority shareholders, Business Owners, Shareholders
• H. Joel Newman describes how to avoid situations that might result in shareholder disputes., How to Avoid or Litigate Michigan Shareholder Lawsuits In Closely Held Companies, Business Owners, Shareholders

• Please see my profile and my web page: www.hjoelnewman.com for numerous verdicts and settlements.
• Life Charter Fellow, Oakland County Bar Foundation
• Shareholder LawsuitsJoel successfully defended the 51% owner of what was once the largest private road builder in the world when he was sued for shareholder oppression, breaches of fiduciary duties and fraud. After numerous depositions and motions, our client bought the Plaintiff’s stock at a large discount and the case was dismissed.
• Business Litigation A plant manager and former vice-president of a “big three” automobile manufacturer was terminated after a management shake-up. We started suit for breach of employment contract and after completion of discovery successfully negotiated a $1,000,000 settlement in his behalf.
• SHAREHOLDER LITIGATION CASE:Shareholder Lawsuits In this contingency fee LLC member oppression litigation, Joel represented a Plaintiff minority member who had invested his life savings and mortgaged his home to invest in an automotive business. The case was referred to Joel by another attorney, who had spent a year trying to settle the matter, only a week before the statutes of limitation would have run. We filed a multi-count lawsuit alleging minority member oppression, breaches of fiduciary duties, conversion, breach of contract and other counts. We pursued discovery and quickly discovered numerous discrepancies in the LLC’s books and records, including a second set of books. The case settled several months after we became involved for 15 times the amount offered to the prior attorney. The client says we saved his economic future, including his family home.  
• Business Litigation/Shareholder LitigationIn the first reported lawsuit under Michigan's Shareholder Oppression Statue, MCL 450.1889, the President and 50 percent shareholder of a multi-million dollar national enterprise retained Joel and one of his former partners Norman Lippitt, to defend a shareholder oppression lawsuit brought by his siblings seeking over $200 million in damages and other relief for alleged usurpation of corporate opportunities, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty. After several years of pre-trial maneuvering and interlocutory appeals to the Michigan Court of Appeals and Michigan Supreme Court, the case went to trial. Shortly before trial plaintiffs hired a nationally known trial firm with billions of dollars of verdicts in its portfolio. After a jury trial lasting 11 weeks, the case was settled. While the results are confidential, our client believed we achieved a very favorable result.
• BREACH OF CONTRACT CASE:Business Litigation Joel was lead trial counsel representing several related corporations in this shareholder oppression litigation. Plaintiffs’ Complaint alleged shareholder oppression, fraud, breaches of fiduciary duties, usurpation of corporate opportunities and self-dealing. Plaintiffs sought almost $100 million in damages. The Plaintiffs’ case was eviscerated in their cross examinations. At the close of Plaintiffs’ proofs, the case settled. Plaintiffs gave up all damage claims, Joel’s clients waived their right to attorneys’ fees from the Plaintiffs, and the case was dismissed with prejudice. 
• Shareholder LitigationA very successful Bloomfield Hills dentist brought in a young man to eventually buy his practice. The young dentist's mother, a former large firm trial lawyer, allegedly serving as the company attorney, drew up documents which in the fine print, gave her son 100% ownership before any payment was due. When our client asked the young dentist to leave he was told it was him that should leave. Our client's original counsel was overwhelmed when the attorney/mother filed ten separate administrative and civil actions claiming shareholder oppression, breaches of fiduciary duties, conversion and fraud against our client. We tried two of the lawsuits successfully. The others were dismissed.

• Pro Bono work is considered on a case by case basis

• Martindale Hubbel AV, DBusiness Top Attorney 2010, 2013
• Life Charter Fellow, Oakland County Bar Foundation
• Phi Beta Kappa, 1981

• Michigan, 1985
• U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan, 1988
• Member, American Association for Justice
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, 1987
• Member, Oakland County Bar Association
• Member, State Bar of Michigan
• U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1989
• Member, State Bar of Michigan, Business Law and Real Property Sections
• American Constitution Society, Litigation Section

• Wayne State University, Labor Studies, With Highest Distinction, Phi Beta Kappa

• Joel has represented numerous corporate clients in litigation, including Ford Motor Co., CenTra Inc., Holloway Sand and Gravel, Eaton Steel, Dart Energy Corp., Dart Properties, Black Beauty Sticks, Atlas Trucking, PSA Essentials, Becker Ventures, Gardner White Furniture, JM Olson Construction, Nichols and Vann Media Group, The Word Network and many more.

• Advise for those considering business litigation from one of Detroit's to commercial litigation lawyers., Considering Business Litigation, 2014

• Automotive
• Manufacturing
• Medical
• Real Estate
• Service Industries

“Joel Newman is an extremely smart and tenacious lawyer. He is a master at taking an extremely effective deposition and he truly cares for each of his clients.”

“Joel is clearly one of the best complex litigation and trial lawyers I know. He almost always wins.”

“Exceptional knowledge of the Business Corporations Act and Limited Liability Company Act. Great trial lawyer.”

“Joel was a mentor to me when I first started my career. He is an excellent lawyer with incredible writing and trial skills.”

“Joel gets outstanding results, is dedicated and hard working, and is very personable.”