Oakland Leadership

Channelle Kizy-White is the owner and managing partner of Kizy Law, a small Family Law Firm that is located in Farmington Hills, Michigan. She graduated from the University of Michigan with honors earning a Bachelors of Science degree in Economics and then went on to graduate from law school at Loyola University of Chicago School of Law.

Channelle’s dedication and hard work have helped her to achieve several awards and honors over the years. In 2011, she was recognized as an Up and Coming Lawyer by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. She has been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star each year from 2010-2017 as well as a dbusiness Top Family Law Lawyer in 2012 and 2013. Channelle was also recognized as one of Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson’s Elite 40 Under 40 Class of 2015. Most recently, Channelle was honored by Crain’s magazine as a Most Notable Woman Attorney.

She is currently the Treasurer for Patriot Week, Inc., a nonprofit organization that focuses on reinvigorating the Spirit of America. She is also a past president of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan Oakland Region.

Ryan Kelly is a partner at Kelly & Kelly, P.C., in Northville, Michigan. Her practice focuses on all aspects of family law, including divorce, child custody and support issues. Her focus is on high conflict family situations. Ryan is active in several organizations including serving as a Past President for the Women’s Bar Association of Oakland County and the current Secretary of the Women’s Lawyers Association of Michigan. She is also a member of the Wayne County Family Law Bar Association and Northville’s Main Street League. Ryan received her undergraduate degree from Michigan State University and attended the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, graduating cum laude. She serves on the Family Law Advisory Board and is a past member of the Young Lawyers Advisory Board for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE). She has been a speaker at ICLE’s Family Law Institute on four occasions and in 2012 she received a Certificate of Completion from the Family Law Certificate Program. Her achievements have been noted by Super Lawyers Magazine in naming Ryan as a “Michigan Rising Star” seven times (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017) and in 2014 she was named as one of the Top Lawyers in Michigan for the area of family law by Detroit Business Magazine. Ms. Kelly has also been named a Michigan Top Lawyer in family law for 2015, and a Top 10 Under 40 in the area of Family Law by the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys. Ryan is a lifelong resident of Northville where she currently resides with her husband and their two young children.

Melissa is a partner at Collins Einhorn Farrell PC in Southfield, Michigan. She focuses her practice on the defense of professional liability claims and has represented a wide array of professionals, including attorneys, real estate agents, insurance agents, and health care professionals. Melissa is also involved in the defense of judicial disciplinary and general liability matters, including claims arising out of auto and trucking accidents.

Melissa is a past president of the WLAM’s Oakland Region (2013-2014), where she had the pleasure of working with and getting to know many wonderful women attorneys who she is now proud to also call her friends. During Melissa’s tenure as president, the Oakland Region was presented with WLAM’s Regional Leadership Award. Melissa’s honors include listing in Best Lawyers of America and selection as a Michigan Super Lawyer (2013-2017), Top 100 Michigan Super Lawyer (2017), and Top 50 Women Michigan Super Lawyer (2017). She was also honored by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as part of its 2016 “Women in the Law” class.

Melissa is a lifelong Michigander and proud graduate of Wayne State University (B.S., magna cum laude, 1999) and Wayne State University Law School (J.D., cum laude, 2002), where she met her husband, Tim, who is also an attorney. They live in Grosse Pointe Farms with their two daughters, Evelyn and Abby, and two cats, Jake and Elwood.

Kristin Murphy`s experience spans across all aspects of intellectual property. With respect to patent matters, her practice includes domestic and foreign patent prosecution, including as part of strategic patent portfolio development and management. She has extensive experience in patent opinions, intellectual property valuations/due diligence and drafting and negotiation agreements relating to technology and intellectual property.

Kristin`s intellectual property experience extends beyond patent prosecution. With respect to enforcement matters, she has extensive experience with trademark, unfair competition, and patent litigation through trial and appeal. She also has developed an expertise in administrative contested matters, such as oppositions and cancellation practice before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, and Inter Partes Review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Further, Kristin's practice routinely involves drafting and negotiating agreements involving both patent and trademark assets.

Kristin also counsels companies, venture capitalists, angel investors, and individual investors by helping them evaluate the viability of patent portfolio assets and properly understand the strengths and weaknesses of the intellectual property assets which enables them to make critical investment decisions.

Prior to her legal career, Kristin was a project engineer for a manufacturing company. She is also a former editor of IDEA, The Journal of Law and Technology, and interned with the Honorable Judge Devine at the United States District Court of New Hampshire. Kristin co-authored the Intellectual Property Today article: “Protection of Intellectual Property from The International Trade Commission” and is the author of an eBook chapter titled: “Tips for Building and Maintaining an Effective Patent Portfolio.” She is also a frequent presenter on various topics relating to intellectual property.

Kristin is a past president of the Women`s Bar Association – Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, Oakland Region and a past president of the Michigan Intellectual Property Law Association. She is a member of the Board of Trustees for Western New England University, a member of the inGage Advisory Council, Inforum Center for Leadership`s strategy to position Michigan as a hub for high-growth women entrepreneurs, and is a past member of the board of directors for The Pink Fund, a Michigan-based charity that provides short-term financial aid to women and men who are in active treatment for and recovery from breast cancer.

In addition, Kristin has previously taught Advanced Patent Prosecution at Franklin Pierce Law, Patent Litigation at Thomas M. Cooley Law School and is currently teaching Patent Litigation at Michigan State University School of Law.

Ms. Lucy Snyder is currently working, since 2014, at the City of Detroit and part of the team that worked on restructuring efforts once bankruptcy documents were filed with the court. Ms. Snyder was also the financial lead on the Mayor's Capital Agenda for the City of Detroit for FY17-22 with the primary goal of developing a plan with the Mayor and City Council that focused on developing City infrastructure and putting resources towards improving the quality of life of the citizens of Detroit. This includes development of the neighborhoods, community services delivery and development using best practices to meet national standards of services to best serve the citizens. This includes police, fire, and community health to name a few. Additionally, she works with internal stakeholders and external parties to discuss options to secure the necessary funding for capital projects.
Ms. Snyder has worked in the past in the private sector, in publically traded companies, and in the public sector including her current position at the City of Detroit as the Director of Financial Planning & Analysis – Evaluation and Review in the Office of the CFO, and for the State of Massachusetts in the Governor’s Budget Office (Executive Offices of A&F). She is a graduate of Boston College School of Management (B.S. Economics), University of Massachusetts Amherst (M.B.A.), and Suffolk University Law School (J.D). Ms. Snyder has been a member of the State Bar of Michigan since 2004, and the U.S. Supreme Court since 2009.

WBA (Oakland County Region of WLAM) Past President Rebecca M. Turner is General Counsel at TSG-Staffing, LLC and its affiliated companies, a franchisee in the quick serve restaurant sector. Mrs. Turner received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Western Michigan University Haworth College of Business in 1998 and her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Syracuse University College of Law in 2001. Mrs. Turner is a member of the International Franchise Association (earning the Certified Franchise Executive designation), American Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, Oakland County Bar Association, Oakland County Bar Foundation (Fellow), and Western Michigan University Alumni Association. Mrs. Turner served on the Holy Family Regional School Board of Directors in Rochester, Michigan, serving two years as President. Mrs. Turner has been named a DBusiness Top Lawyer (Franchise Law) and a Michigan Rising Star, as published by Michigan Super Lawyers. She has also been showcased as 1 of 10 women in an article entitled ‘Raising the Bar’ published by Crain's Detroit and recognized by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as one of Michigan’s “Up and Coming Lawyers”.

Kirsten E. Lirell (formerly Kirsten E. Gramzow) served as President of the Women’s Bar Association – Oakland County Region of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan from 2004 to 2005.
Following law school, Kirsten served the public for seven years as a Judicial Staff Attorney at the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court for the Hon. Jessica R. Cooper (1998–2001), the Hon. Patrick J. Brennan (2001–2004), and the Hon. Mark A. Goldsmith (2004–2005). At the Sixth Circuit, she became certified as a court-appointed mediator resolving civil and family law cases pending before the Court.
In 2005, Kirsten entered private practice as an insurance defense trial litigator and appellate attorney practicing in state and federal courts, specializing in the defense of claims related to labor and employment law, employment practices liability, legal professional liability, directors and officers liability, and fiduciary liability (ERISA). She counseled businesses with regard to workplace violence, sexual harassment investigations, hiring, firing and disciplining of employees, unemployment claims, EEOC/MDCR Charges, the FLSA and Title IX compliance, and provided assistance to employers in developing customized employee handbooks, employment applications and agreements, non-compete covenants, as well as anti-discrimination and sexual harassment, social networking and electronic privacy policies. The publication Law & Politics selected Kirsten, in 2012, as a Super Lawyer™ Rising Star, and in 2013, as a Super Lawyer™. DBusiness®, a bi-monthly Detroit area business publication, included Kirsten in their 2012 list of Top Lawyers in the State of Michigan.
In 2014, Kirsten returned to public service, accepting a position as the Judicial Staff Attorney to Circuit Court Chief Judge Pro Tempore Martha D. Anderson, where she currently utilizes her litigation skills and experience to provide advice and counsel to the court, draft opinions and orders, conduct settlement, status, and pre-trial conferences, and manage the court's civil and appellate dockets.
Kirsten earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Wayne State University in August 1994 and Juris Doctorate from Michigan State University – Detroit College of Law in January 1998, gaining admission to the Michigan State Bar in May 1998. She has served and continues to serve the state and local legal communities on various committees and boards. Some of her professional affiliations include: State Bar of Michigan (past elected-member of the Representative Assembly); Michigan State Bar Foundation (Fellow); Oakland County Bar Foundation (past Member of Board of Trustees, and Fellow); Women’s Bar Association (Past President and President-Elect); Oakland County Bar Association; American Bar Association and Professional Liability Underwriting Society. She currently sits as a Hearing Panelist and Chairperson for the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board and as an Appointed Member of the State Bar of Michigan District I Character & Fitness Committee.
Kirsten and her spouse, Magnus Lirell, live in Pleasant Ridge, Michigan. She is fluent in Swedish.

Jennifer’s experience encompasses a broad range of commercial disputes with an emphasis on business tort claims including professional malpractice, contract claims, construction litigation and coverage claims. Jennifer possesses more than 20 years of trial experience and has been awarded multiple high-profile verdicts and arbitration awards.

Routinely recognized for her accomplishments and contributions to the legal profession, Jennifer was named one of only five Up & Coming Lawyers for 2004 by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. She has been recognized by Super Lawyers in 2007, 2010-2018, including recognition in 2011-2018 as one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers; as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in 2013-2018; one of the Top 50 Business Lawyers in 2013-2018; and one of the Top 25 Women Business Lawyers in Michigan 2013-2018. She was included in The Best Lawyers in America© for 2015-2018 and recognized as a dbusiness Top Lawyer for 2012-2018 and in 2017 in the list of Top 10 Women in Michigan and Top 10 Women in Business in Michigan in Leading Lawyers magazine. In 2018, she was recognized by Crain’s Detroit as Notable Women’s Lawyer and in 2010, Jennifer was also named to Crain’s Detroit Business “40 Under 40″ list, based on business achievements and community impact. In 2011, she recognized by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as a “Woman in the Law.”

In 2011, the Legal Aid and Defender Association Inc., presented Jennifer with the Pro Bono Service Award of the Oakland County Bar Association (OCBA) for her work in establishing the OCBA Pro Bono Mentor Match Program. The OCBA Pro Bono Mentor Match Program won both the LexisNexis Community Education Outreach Award at the American Bar Association’s annual meeting in August, 2011 and the State Bar of Michigan’s Kimberly M. Cahill Award for bar leadership in September, 2012. She received the Michael K. Lee Memorial Award recognizing diversity from the OCBA in October, 2017.

A frequent speaker and published author, Jennifer is a past President of the Oakland
County Bar Association (2010-2011), after serving as a member of the Board of Directors from 2004-2010. In 2011, she won a contested seat on the State Bar of Michigan Board of Commissioners (“BOC”) in District I, representing Oakland County.  She was reelected to the BOC in 2014 and was elected to serve as Treasurer for the 2014-2015 bar year, Secretary for the 2015-2016 bar year, Vice-President for the 2016-2017 bar year and President-Elect for the 2017-2018 bar year. She was sworn in as SBM President on September 27, 2018 in Grand Rapids.

Jennifer also served as Secretary, Treasurer and Membership Chair of the State Bar of Michigan Negligence Council. She previously served as President of the Oakland County Region of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan from 2003-2004 and Chair of the New Lawyers Committee of the OCBA. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Lakeshore Legal Aid.

In February 2016, after nearly 20 years of practice, and more than 10 years at Oakland County Circuit Court, Ann took a leap of faith and hung out her shingle as an attorney and legal writer at her firm Ann Erickson Gault PLC. Ann’s specialties are appeals, contract writing for other attorneys and law firms, and limited scope representation.

In May 2017, Ann became of counsel to the firm Cohen, Lerner, and Rabinovitz, PC in Royal Oak, where she primarily practices business litigation.

Ann recently launched her campaign for Oakland County Board of Commissioners, 11th District. If elected in November 2018, Ann will represent people of Troy, Rochester Hills, and Auburn Hills.

For the past 14 years, Ann has lived in Troy with her husband Thomas Gault, a project manager with General Motors Corporation, and her daughter Eleanor, a student at Larson Middle School.

In the free time she doesn’t really have, Ann is an avid reader and gardener.

Leigh Moss is proud to be the founding member of Moss Law, PLC, a business law firm located in Bloomfield Hills. Following law school, Ms. Moss worked in private practice as a commercial litigator, and also specialized in business law, probate and bankruptcy law, representing both creditors and debtors. She was a principal of Resnick & Moss, PC for 14 years, and also served as an instructor of Legal Research & Writing in the paralegal program of Oakland University. In 2016, she formed her own law practice of Moss Law, PLC, specializing in business law, buying/selling businesses, creditor side bankruptcy work, and debt settlement/workouts for individuals and businesses who seek to avoid filing for bankruptcy. Moss Law, PLC provides clients with tailored personal and business solutions.
Ms. Moss is proud to be a Past-President of the Women’s Bar Association (Oakland Region of WLAM), serving as President from 2000-01. While President, she was awarded the WLAM 2001 Significant Contributor of the Year Award. She was also a Director at Large of WLAM from 2001-2003.
Her accomplishments include receiving a Bachelor of Arts with Distinction from the University of Michigan in 1991, and the Order of Omega Greek Honor Society Scholarship, Leadership and Service Award. She also received the Bronze Key Award for Academic Excellence and her Juris Doctorate from the Wayne State University Law School in 1994.
Ms. Moss is on the Board of Trustees of Congregation Shaarey Zedek, and has chaired several education and advisory committees for the synagogue since 2009. She also chaired Rock the Vote: A Candidate Forum, allowing teens and parents to meet judicial candidates from Oakland County in 2012. She has also served on a variety of committees for the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit since 1999.
Ms. Moss is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association, where she previously served on the Public Advisory Committee on Judicial Candidates, and has been a member of the Debtor/Creditor Committee for many years.
On the creative side, she previously served as a Board Member and the Publicity Chair of the Bloomfield Players’ Community Theater, and performed in Annie, Oliver, The Music Man, and in the role of Velma VonTussel in Hairspray at the Berman Center for Performing Arts in 2017.

Sharon received her bachelor’s degree from DePauw University and her J.D. from the University of Detroit School of Law. She studied International Law at Downing College of Cambridge University and at the University of Exeter in Devon, U.K. She is a past member of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan and a Past President of the Oakland County Women’s Bar. Sharon served two terms of both the State Bar’s Representative Assembly and the Ethics Committee. Sharon was an original member of the Attorneys for Animals and founding member of the Animal Law Section of the State Bar. Sharon’s practice has concentrated on animal law, divorce, juvenile and family law. She and Bob are pet parents of many wonderful rescue kitties over the years.

Ruthmarie Shea practices primarily in the area of corporate health care law. She is one of the original signatories to the State Bar of Michigan requesting the formation of the Health Care Law Section. Shea, a former Hospital Director of Nursing Services came to the practice of law as a Registered Nurse with an extensive background in clinical and administrative nursing. In fact, it was the necessity for increasing reliance upon legal advice in the practice of medicine in health care facilities that led her to the practice of law, after 20 years in nursing. As a Nurse-Attorney, she has been of counsel to individuals and physician groups on the myriad legal aspects of medical practice management for over 25 years.

Shea has a Bachelor of Science degree (B.S.), a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSN), and a Master of Art degree in Nursing Education. Since graduating from the University of Detroit, with a Juris Doctor Degree with a concentration in Health Law, Shea went on to earn a graduate certificate in Health Care Ethics from the National Catholic Bioethics Center, and a graduate certificate in Bioethics and Health Care Policy from Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University, Chicago. In 2015 she completed a Master of Art degree in Moral Theology with a concentration in health care ethics, magna cum laude.

Shea has served on the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics for Nurses Revision Panel, Advisory Committee for its most recent update. She is chair of the Ethics Committee at Rochester Medical Center, P.C. in Rochester, Michigan, and is chair of its Institutional Review Board.

Shea actively participates in medical research, and with others, has been published nationally and internationally. She has published articles related to law, health care, and ethics regionally and nationally. An article that combines all three disciplines is “A Defense of Defensive Medicine” published by Ethics & Medics (2014). Shea is a member of the American Nurses’ Association, the Michigan Nurses ‘Association, the Catholic Nurses’ Association, the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association, and the American College of Cardiology.

In addition to serving as a three term member of the Board of Directors of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan (WLAM), Shea was president of the Women’s Bar Association of Oakland County, WLAM-Oakland Region. She was, among other things, liaison from WLAM to the State Bar of Michigan on Women and Underrepresented Groups in the Law and WLAM’s delegate to the Governor’s First Domestic Violence Summit. She was twice a selected artist in juried competitions held by WLAM with proceeds going to the WLAM Foundation scholarship for female law students.

As member of the Oakland County Bar Association, she served on the Diversity Committee, Solo Practitioners’ Committee, and the Medical-Legal Committee. Shea served on the State Bar of Michigan Character and Fitness Committee for 6 years, and on the Unlawful Practice of Law Committee.

Recently Shea concluded three terms on the Board of Directors of the Master Lawyers’ Council, serving on the Service to Masters Committee, Protection of the Public Committee, Seminar Planning Sub-Committee, and the Communications and Publications subcommittee. During this time she was a presenter for the Master Lawyers Section, on “Transitioning Toward a Graceful Retirement, Your Third Career: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Healthiness.” (2014) “Planning Health Care in Advance” (2015) and “Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care: Know Before You Go.” (2016)

In 2016 Shea was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Service, from the State Bar of Michigan. That same year, the Master Lawyers Council awarded her a Commendation for Dedicated Service as a Member of the Master Lawyers Council. Shea has spent her entire legal career as a solo practitioner, engaging in litigation in courts and administrative agencies. In 2017 she was admitted to the Lawyers of Distinction in Litigation.

After a long and rewarding career as a solo practitioner, Shea is herself considering how to effectively transition to a less demanding, more rewarding career. She would welcome working with other attorneys in some capacity, preferably those engaged in litigation. She looks forward to someday being appointed to the State Bar’s Ethics Committee.

Debbi graduated from Michigan State University in 1978, and from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 1981. Her niche practice involved first party property insurance claims. For approximately 10 years Debbi represented homeowners and commercial business owners in claims against their insurance carriers, primarily in arson and theft loss matters. For approximately another 10 years Debbi defended insurance carriers in similar loss situations. In 2000 Debbi accepted an in house counsel position with State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company in its home office in Bloomington, IL. After supervising extra-contractual litigation matters primarily on the East Coast, Debbi began supervising the civil prosecution of RICO litigation throughout the country.

Debbi was actively involved in both the Women’s Bar Association and the WLAM through 2000, holding many positions on both Board over the years. She was President of the WBA from 1995-1996 and unfortunately had to resign her position as WLAM President-Elect for 2000-2001 when she relocated to Illinois.

Judge Colleen O'Brien was appointed to the Court of Appeals October 2015, and was elected to a six year term in 2016. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and from the Detroit College of Law with a Juris Doctor degree in 1981. Judge O’Brien practiced law for 17 years prior to being elected to the Oakland County Circuit Court in 1998. As a Circuit Judge, she served as the Presiding Judge of the Female Adult Treatment Court for twelve years and as the Presiding Judge of the Civil/Criminal Division for several years.

Judge O’Brien is a long time member of the Michigan Judges Association and served as President in 2015. She has also served as President of the Oakland County Women’s Bar Association and served on the Board of Directors of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan. An active member of the Oakland County Bar Association, Judge O’Brien received the Distinguished Public Servant Award in 2011.

In addition, Judge O'Brien has served as an adjunct professor at Thomas Cooley Law School, currently Western Michigan University, where she received the Frederick J. Griffith III Faculty Award, which is awarded to the faculty members who display excellence in teaching, passion for advocacy and compassion for law students. She has also received the Oakland County Mediation Center Leadership Award, The Oakland County Women's Bar Association Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Legal Community and the Oakland County Coordinating Councils' Domestic Violence Recognition Award. In 2015 she was recognized by Michigan Lawyer's Weekly as a Leader in the Law.

Judge O’Brien’s civic activities have included serving on the Advisory Board to Crossroads for Youth, serving as a member of the Indigent Defense Advisory Commission, and serving as a member of the Interagency Council on Homelessness.

WHAT A WONDER,
DID YOU HEAR?
I'VE BEEN PRACTICING LAW
FOR FORTY-ONE YEARS.

AND MOST OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW IT,
BUT I AM ALSO A PROUD, PUBLISHED POET.
THOUGH I MAY WRITE OF BUTTERFLIES AND ROSES,
I WANT TO BE KNOWN AS THE POETIC “GRANDMA MOSES.”

BEING A LAWYER IS GREAT
WRITING POETRY SUBLIME,
DOING BOTH IS HOW I WISH
TO SPEND MY TIME.

Anne H. Hiemstra graduated from the University of Michigan (BA ’67, JD ’76) and practiced law in the Detroit area until retiring in 2006. She specialized in commercial real estate law, first with Schlussel, Lifton in Southfield (where she was the firm’s first woman attorney and first woman partner) and then with Miller Canfield in Detroit. After leaving Miller Canfield in 1998, she joined the commercial title division of Lawyers Title Insurance Company, and then became of the manager of the Detroit office of the National Commercial Title division for Fidelity National Title Insurance Company. She was for many years a member of the Land Title Standards Committee of the State Bar of Michigan and was chair of the Committee in 1992-93. Anne joined WLAM soon after graduating from law school and served as program chair and newsletter editor as well as president. She was also a member of the National Association of Women Lawyers, where she was treasurer for three years. She currently lives in Farmington Hills, Michigan.

Chrysanthe A. Kotsis graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and French from Michigan State University in 1972. She graduated cum laude from the Detroit College of Law and received her Juris Doctrate in December of 1975 and was admitted to the Bar in May of 1976.

Upon graduation, Chrys joined the Southfield law firm of Bushnell, Gage, Doctoroff & Reizen P.C. as an associate practicing as a general practitioner. In 1979, she started her own law firm in Birmingham, Michigan, as a sole practitioner in the general practice of law with extensive focus in estates, trusts, family law litigation, including but not limited to divorce, custody, support, parenting time and alimony. In 1989, she moved her practice to Novi and subsequently to Northville where she remains practicing today.

From 2000 – 2004 Chrys also worked as Of Counsel to James R. Kohl, P.C. and handled all areas of prosecution for the City of Northville as the regular substitute for James R. Kohl when he was unable to prosecute.

Chrys has had extensive professional involvement over the years and served on the State Bar Representative Assembly for 2 terms; Co-Chair of the State Bar Arbitration and Alternate Means of Dispute Resolution Committee; Guardian Ad Litem appointed by Judges in Juvenile, Probate and Circuit Court Cases; Mediator in Wayne, Oakland Circuit Courts and many District Courts. She was also a grader of the Michigan Bar Exam for 15 years.

Professional leadership has followed Chrys throughout her career. Chrys joined WLAM soon after being admitted to practice law and served as its President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Director, Board Member, Newsletter Editor, and Chair of the Women and Law Conference. Chrys also served as President, Vice-President and Board Member of the Women’s Bar Association of Oakland County and as Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer and Board Member of the Michigan Women’s Campaign Fund.

Chrys is married with 3 adult children and 7 grandchildren. She lives in Novi where she has served as the President of her Homeowner’s Association for the past 25 years. Chrys’s youngest daughter, Rachael Kohl, is now also a practicing attorney and is a clinical teaching fellow at the University of Michigan Law School and is a proud member of WLAM.

Being a part of WLAM was an integral part of the development of Chrys’s career and the connections and friendships she made during her tenure in WLAM has lasted a lifetime.