Daniel Hilker is a seasoned attorney specializing in trusts, estates, guardianships, and conservatorships, with extensive experience in estate planning and litigation. He has represented clients in numerous probate courts across Michigan, as well as the Michigan Court of Appeals. Actively involved in the legal community, Dan serves on several committees for the State Bar’s Probate and Estate Planning Section and is a member of the Ingham County Bar and Greater Lansing Estate Planning Council. Recognized for his expertise, he has been named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers Magazine from 2019 to 2024.

Mike Cicero, now in his 35th year of private practice, continues to learn and add to his diverse array of intellectual property law experience. Although Mike primarily focuses on the preparation and prosecution of patent applications, as well as opinions, his practice also encompasses trademark prosecution, copyright matters, and intellectual property litigation. Examples of patent applications that Mike drafted over the past decade include a system for remotely monitoring feed environment; a friction reduction pile jacket; a wearable interactive notification device and interactive monitoring system; broadcast messaging and methods of communicating hail messages in utility networks; and an elevator monitoring system, protected by a utility patent for the system and two design patents for graphical user interfaces. Mike’s patent litigation experience includes Markman (patent claim interpretation) proceedings, trials, motion practice, and expert-related discovery. A significant portion of his experience further extends to trademark and copyright infringement litigation, which enabled him to author the trademark and copyright infringement portions of a chapter titled “IP Litigation,” appearing in the 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2024, and 2026 Editions of the book Georgia Business Litigation.

Kurt Heise has more than 30 years’ experience as a municipal, labor, and environmental attorney. He previously served as Assistant City Attorney in Dearborn Heights, Garden City, and Woodhaven, and as the Mayor’s Deputy in Dearborn Heights. Heise also served as Director of the Wayne County Department of Environment and County Drain Commissioner for six years, where he managed Michigan’s second-largest environmental protection agency with 145 employes and a $150 million annual budget. From 2010 to 2016, Heise served as State Representative for the 20th House District, covering Plymouth, Northville, and eastern Canton. As State Rep, Heise chaired the House Criminal Justice Committee where he sponsored 39 public acts, including the creation of the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission. From 2016 to 2024, Kurt served as Plymouth Township Supervisor, a full-time municipal CEO position responsible for a $24 million annual general fund budget and roughly 100 employees including full-time police, fire, public works, and clerical staff. During his tenure, Heise rebuilt the township’s first responder services and negotiated 12 public sector labor union contracts. Heise’s relentless economic development efforts generated more than half a billion dollars in private-sector investment in the township. From 2017 to 2021, Heise was appointed by Governor Rick Snyder to serve as Commissioner to the Huron-Clinton Metropark Authority, representing Michigan residents.

Richard Hoeg graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 2005, finishing in the top five of his class. He began his career at some of Michigan’s largest law firms, becoming an equity partner at Honigman in 2014. While at Honigman, he co-authored updates to Michigan Corporation Law and Practice, one of the leading treatises on corporate law in Michigan, with his colleague Cyril Moscow. In 2016, Richard founded his own practice with the goal of delivering high-quality legal services to small businesses. Beyond his legal practice, he has developed a strong presence in digital media. Since 2018, he has contributed to outlets such as MGoBlog and various streaming platforms, including his YouTube channel and the show “Virtual Legality,” which explores business and legal issues in popular culture. He also co-hosts the weekly talk show Bitcast for Seasoned Gaming and serves as a legal contributor to Last Stand Media. Richard is regularly quoted in both the gaming industry and mainstream outlets on legal and business topics.

Data & Privacy Strategist | Legal & Tech Advisor | AI & Digital Innovation

Emily Wisniewski is an intellectual property and business lawyer. Emily focuses her practice on helping businesses and individuals protect and build value with their brands. Emily’s practice encompasses a wide range of intellectual property services, including trademarks, copyrights, trade dress, and trade secrets. She advises clients on brand development, handles trademark and copyright registration applications, intellectual property licensing, and the sale and transfer of intellectual property. In addition, Emily advises clients on business formation, startup matters, contracts, regulatory matters, and everyday operations. Emily has extensive experience forming and advising tax-exempt and 501(c)(3) organizations. Emily works with clients to buy and sell businesses, including transaction structuring, negotiating, due diligence, and document drafting.

Neela Paykel is a seasoned legal and strategic executive with more than 30 years of experience operating at the intersection of complex regulation and breakthrough innovation. She has built her career advising high-growth organizations across highly regulated industries, helping translate evolving legal frameworks into practical strategies that enable responsible innovation and scale. She is trusted for her ability to navigate ambiguity in regulated markets, anticipate legal and policy challenges, and design approaches that allow transformative technologies to move forward with confidence. Neela is widely recognized for bridging entrenched regulatory environments with the companies redefining them, serving as a steady strategic advisor in spaces where law, technology, and innovation rapidly converge.

Benjamin is a seasoned attorney and subject matter expert in EC/VC, M&A, Enterprise SaaS, and Web3, serving as fractional general counsel to startups and growth-stage technology companies. With a track record leading high-value acquisitions, negotiating complex commercial agreements, and structuring tokenization and digital asset initiatives, he provides sophisticated, cross-functional legal guidance across corporate governance, securities offerings, software licensing, cybersecurity, generative AI, and digital accessibility. Benjamin also mentors startups in accelerators, including MACH37 and Michigan Founders Fund, blending legal strategy with operational and go-to-market insights to scale MRR, ARR, and enterprise value. Benjamin is licensed to practice law in Michigan and holds a Bachelor of Arts, Economics, from Michigan State University, a Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, and an Executive Education Certificate, Financial Technology, from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Joshua Williams concentrates his practice on commercial real estate projects, tax planning, and corporate transactions. He advises developers, investors, and business owners on all phases of real estate acquisition, development, financing, and disposition. His work often includes negotiating and closing complex deals, structuring joint ventures, and guiding clients through land use, zoning, and permitting processes at the local level. In addition to real estate, Joshua provides strategic counsel on business structuring, contract negotiation, and tax-efficient planning for closely held companies, partnerships, and nonprofits. He regularly assists clients with entity formation, capital planning, and corporate governance matters. His ability to bridge legal and financial considerations makes him a trusted advisor for clients seeking both technical precision and practical insight.

Stephen Landau is a practicing lawyer in the state of Michigan.