Boris K. Yakima, Attorney

Boris K. Yakima is a 1970 graduate of Wayne State University Law School. He has specialized in eminent domain, or condemnation law, for the majority of his legal career. Mr. Yakima's concentration on eminent domain law began when he joined the legal staff of the Office of the Corporation Counsel of the City of Detroit in 1972. During his tenure with the City, he was both trial and appellate counsel in charge of an on-going series of large public projects. These projects involved the acquisition of thousands of parcels of property. In addition to urban renewal and single purpose acquisitions, Mr. Yakima represented the City of Detroit Water Department in its right-of-way acquisitions.

Since joining the Monaghan law firm in 1978, Mr. Yakima's practice has evolved into one which almost exclusively represents owners of property being acquired for public projects. While he still represents public agencies as special condemnation counsel, his primary area of concentration is representing private property owners in condemnation proceedings.

Mr. Yakima is a past Chairman of the State Bar Real Property Section, Eminent Domain Committee and was a member of the subcommittee that drafted proposed legislation that eventually was enacted as the Uniform Condemnation Procedures Act in 1980. Since enactment of the Condemnation Act, Mr. Yakima has authored several articles and lectured extensively on the Act itself and on condemnation law in general. He is a frequent lecturer on condemnation law for both legal and real estate professional organizations and has served as a special mediator, arbitrator and expert witness in condemnation litigation.

In addition to the State Bar of Michigan, Mr. Yakima is a member of the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys and the Michigan Chapter of the International Right-of-Way Association (IRWA) and has served as Co-Chair of the Law and Legislation Committee of the IRWA.

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