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2026
8th Annual State Bar of Michigan Business Law Symposium

 

The Business of the Lawsuit

Produced by the Privately Held Businesses Forum, a committee of the Business Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan

Thursday, February 12, 2026
at 4:30pm – 8:30pm

 

The Gem Theatre

333 Madison St, Detroit

In Person Tickets: $135

Program Description

The 8th Annual State Bar of Michigan Business Law Symposium, “The Business of the Lawsuit,” will be held on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at The Gem Theatre in Downtown Detroit, from 4:30 – 8:30 PM. The program will feature an incredibly strong slate of attorneys and entirely new formats to facilitate debate, conversation and interaction with the audience.

Presenters include Ret. Judge Victoria Roberts, Ret. Judge Gerald Rosen, Michael Molitor, E. Powell Miller, T. Maxwell Carey, Daniel Quick, I.W. Winsten, Ian Williamson, Pat Lannen, Mike Weaver, Paul Mersino, James Allen, Sara MacWilliams, Ben Aloia, Joe Duffy, Ryan Plecha, H. Joel Newman, Noah Mathews, Linda Oszust, and Mark Rossman.

The cost of the program is $135 for in person ticket, and $50 for a virtual ticket.

Doors open at 4:00pm

Note that the program will feature a 30 minute networking session from 4:30-5:00pm

READ WHY YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS SYMPOSIUM

(click here for article)

“The business dispute and the lawyers who handle them are very different from what you find in other areas of law, the intellectual rigor combined with the intense trial work makes for a special kind of lawyer and a unique manner of lawsuit. That’s what we’re going to be exploring at this year’s Symposium.”  ~ Mark Rossman

Detroit Legal News (read article)

2026 Program Agenda

 Doors open at 4:00pm

Time Topic Speakers
4:30pm

Opening Statement

Remarks from BLS Chair

Mark Rossman

Michael Molitor

5:00pm

Discussion Group Topic:

What makes the Business Lawyer unique among lawyers

I.W. Winsten, Ian Williamson

Moderator: Ret. Judge Victoria Roberts

5:35pm

Discussion Group Topic:

The Anatomy of a Business Trial

Pat Lannen, Mike Weaver

Moderator: Linda Oszust

6:10pm A conversation about promoting and marketing the business law practice Paul Mersino
Chuck Bullock
6:35pm Break
7:00pm

3-on-3 Competing Panel Discussions:

Breaking Up The Professional Corporation; It’s Hard to Do

James Allen
Sara MacWilliams
Ben Aloia

Moderator:
Noah Mathews
_

Joe Duffy
H. Joel Newman
Ryan Plecha

Moderator:
T. Maxwell Carey

7:50pm

Debate

Topic: to be revealed.

E. Powell Miller
Daniel Quick

 

Moderator:
Ret. Judge Gerald Rosen

 

In Association With

Symposia Archives

First Annual SBM Symposium – 2018

Second Annual SBM Symposium – 2019

Third Annual SBM Symposium – 2020

Fourth Annual SBM Symposium – 2022

Fifth Annual SBM Symposium – 2023

Sixth Annual SBM Symposium – 2024