From his earliest days of legal practice, Steve Couch’s approach to advocacy has been marked by two consistent qualities: fearlessness and creativity. Within his first six months in private practice, he helped his clients hold a Massachusetts police department accountable in a wrongful death case before a jury that only needed ninety minutes to reach its verdict. While Steve’s litigation practice would evolve over time, this event set the tone for the rest of his career. Born and raised near Detroit, Steve grew up in a family of small business owners, giving him insights into the challenges that entrepreneurs face daily. He internalized these early lessons, which informed his approach to getting to know his clients as well as possible when working with them to address their legal needs. After graduating from the University of Michigan, he attended Boston University School of Law. While at Boston University, he devoted himself to honing his skills in trial and appellate advocacy through the school’s clinical litigation programs and its National First Amendment Moot Court team. Over the years, clients have entrusted Steve with significant matters in that required unconventional strategies and tenacious advocacy to achieve the necessary results. In one case, Steve successfully defended a national insurance carrier against a $45,000,000 claim, guiding the client to a zero-dollar settlement. Steve was also a pioneer of tapping into the wealth of third-party data collections as a litigation tactic for investigating opposing parties’ fraud, perjury and other misconduct. In recent years, Steve worked with a boutique law firm litigating on behalf of clients across the country. He has successfully represented individuals and companies in both trial and appellate courts from coast to coast. He is excited to bring that base of experience to Cronkhite Counsel.

Born into a family with ties to the intelligence community, Greg developed a strong sense of service early in life. This background also shaped Greg’s ability to identify patterns, uncover insights, and notice details that others overlook. Greg pursued his undergraduate studies at Virginia Tech, where he further sharpened his investigatory, analytical, and problem-solving skills through his role as an Associate in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s (ODNI’s) Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence (IC CAE). His work culminated in a formal written and oral briefing presented to a representative of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Greg is also a graduate of The Heritage Foundations Young Leaders Program, where he gained deep insights into the federal government’s inner workings and regulatory landscape, while also contributing to the collection and analysis of data assessing military capabilities of foreign nations. Greg later returned to his home state of Michigan to contribute to the startup phase of a company that leveraged artificial intelligence and autonomous systems initially designed for military and intelligence applications to the highly regulated field of autonomous passenger vehicles. It was during this time that he realized his skills in investigation, analysis, and problem-solving would be best utilized in service to his community through a career in law. While in law school, Greg received the CALI Award in his Business Organizations class, an honor given to the student with the highest grade in the course and was elected as Secretary of the Hellenic Bar Association of Michigan. He refined his investigatory and regulatory skills as a Compliance Extern at the University of Michigan Athletic Department amid a nationally notorious and closely scrutinized NCAA investigation, where he researched and enforced internal compliance with NCAA bylaws and HIPAA regulations, drafted legislative relief waivers, and conducted Title IX audits to ensure internal policies and procedures complied with federal legislation. After law school, Greg began his practice as an attorney serving corporate clients in matters of civil litigation including special investigations and fraud. Today, he channels his commitment to service into effective advocacy for clients in business and employment disputes. His background has shaped his approach as an aggressive, tenacious, and diligent trial attorney who leaves no stone unturned in pursuing his clients’ interests.

Patrick Leonard focuses on patent applications for vehicle systems and has over 30 years of experience in designing sensors and systems for medical imaging, including CT, digital radiography, ultrasound, and endoscopic surgery. Patrick Leonard is a registered patent agent focusing on the preparation and prosecution of patent applications relating to vehicle systems. Previously, Patrick worked for a Metro-Detroit law firm as a patent agent, where he prosecuted patents for internet software, vehicle systems and lasers. Patrick has over 30 years of experience in design and development of sensors and systems for medical imaging applications, including computed tomography, digital radiology, ultrasound, and endoscopic surgery. He also has experience with military systems, including sensors and processors for autonomous vehicle navigation and mutations terminal guidance. In addition, he has worked on industrial applications, such as machine vision systems for semiconductor manufacturing, robot guidance and laser micromachining. After he was given the responsibility of managing his former company’s intellectual property demands, he became a registered patent agent.

Reid is an experienced patent professional with a well-rounded background, serving in both in-house and outside counsel positions. He applies this experience to make strategic patent decisions on behalf of his clients. Reid is a registered patent attorney with over 20 years of patent experience in the electrical and mechanical arts. He is experienced in all phases of patent prosecution, from formulating an invention disclosure to appealing claims with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Reid has experience working with clients of various sizes, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small start-ups. Reid has extensive experience with a variety of technologies in many industries. Prior to entering the legal profession, Reid was a technical specialist at an automotive OEM. In that capacity, he was an inventor on over 25 patents in the areas of planetary, layshaft, and hybrid transmission arrangements, actuator mechanisms, and control algorithms. Reid also worked in the Aerospace industry performing conceptual design of launch vehicles and satellites. His formal education includes a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Michigan State University. Reid graduated summa cum laude from Michigan State University College of Law, where he was a King Scholar and a member of MSU Law Review. He represented MSU in the Giles Sutherland Rich patent law moot court competition and in the Saul Lefkowitz trademark law moot court competition.

Ashley Batzer’s commitment to immigration law is driven by her desire to make a difference in the lives of her clients. As she states, “I have always enjoyed helping others and immigration law is a great way to assist people with their dreams and goals.” In her practice, Ashley treats each client as unique and tailors her guidance to meet their specific objectives. “The more flexible an attorney can be in her or his methods,” she avers, “the more people you can help.” As an attorney at Fakhoury Global Immigration, Ashley works primarily with IT clients on H-1B and EB-1C visa petitioning. She enjoys helping her clients to navigate the complex landscape of immigration law in order to achieve their talent mobility objectives and to ensure that they remain in compliance. Ashley earned her J.D. at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School at Western Michigan University. She also earned her undergraduate degrees in Paralegal Studies and Legal Studies from Kaplan University. In her spare time, Ashley enjoys reading, kayaking, playing video games, fishing, and walking her dogs. She is also interested in homesteading and off-grid living.

As an attorney for FGI, Michael Morton specializes in employment immigration law including both nonimmigrant (H-1B, L-1A/B, TN, etc.) and immigrant filings (PERM, immigrant petitions, Adjustment of Status, etc.) He brings to his position a solid commitment to mastering the ever-changing complexities of immigration law and to working with clients to realize their global talent mobility objectives. “As attorneys,” he says, “we must be knowledgeable about our area of the law, strategic in our approach, and empathetic and attentive to the needs of our clients.” Michael incorporates the skills he developed in his former career as a high school teacher into his current practice, carefully explaining immigration law to his clients and showing how it applies to their specific situations. His teaching experience and family history have also given him a strong appreciation for the contributions that immigrants have made to American society. “I am very cognizant of my ancestry and the stories of my family who came over to the United States,” he says, “and I am inspired to help others who are seeking opportunity in the U.S.” He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Western Michigan University and his J.D. from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Michael is licensed in the State of Michigan and is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).

Michelle Burns sees immigration law as bringing together two of her abiding passions – innovation and all things international. Moreover, she enjoys working with her clients to provide the strategic guidance and advice needed for them to navigate the complexities of immigration law with ease and confidence. Practicing immigration law gives Michelle the satisfaction of knowing “that each individual I help is getting the opportunity to live and work in a new country and fulfill their long-term goals. At FGI, Michelle handles all aspects of nonimmigrant and immigrant case processing for her clients in the IT, engineering, automotive, medical, and banking domains. She is well versed in the requirements for employment-based nonimmigrant classifications including: H-1B, H-1B1, E-2, E-3, L-1, O-1, and TN. Michelle also routinely advises clients on the PERM Labor Certifications, immigrant petition filings for individuals under the EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 classifications as well as Adjustment of Status (AOS) and Consular Processing applications. Michelle is well versed in providing clients on strategies to manage risk while maximizing results, and works with clients to create solutions that allow for the “timely and efficient processing of each individual petition so that my clients can meet their business needs and remain in compliance with the laws.” She earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Grand Valley State University and her J.D. from the Wayne State University Law School. She has been admitted both to the Michigan State Bar and the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan. She has also developed her international experience through travel (China, UK, Germany) and through supplementary coursework in private international law at the Hague, Netherlands, and in international arbitration in Cologne, Germany. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), an Ambassador to the American Immigration Council, Wayne State University Law School Alumni Association, and the Wayne Lawyers Network. In addition, she loves art, photography, learning about new technologies, social media, and being with her friends and family.

formed her decision to focus on immigration law; they “still remind me how vital it is for every client to have not only skillful but compassionate help.” Michal focuses on multinational IT, automotive, and robotics clients and has developed her expertise in business-based nonimmigrant and immigrant cases. As an immigrant herself, she knows the important role that they have had in building America’s prosperity and enjoys aiding her clients in building new lives. “I love the human aspect,” she says, “and the rewards that come from being able to help others navigate this complex system and achieve their goals.” She sees her practice as “not only to have each case approved but to reduce clients’ stress and to educate and empower them.” Michal also serves as the firm’s Director of Technology and Legal Processes, developing strategic plans and execution strategies to drive improved operations throughout the organization. She is passionate about driving the use of technology to bring about optimization of outdated processes, streamlined operations, and increased efficiencies. She thrives on partnering with different stakeholders at all levels to help them continuously evolve. Michal earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from the University of Michigan, her J.D. from the Wayne State University Law School, and was admitted to the Michigan State Bar in 2008. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the Michigan Immigrant Rights Commission. She enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her husband and two kids.

Matthew Morse has been practicing employment-based immigration law for over 20 years. He has experience with many areas of Green Card processing including PERM labor applications, immigrant visa petitions, and Adjustment of Status applications. He has experience with naturalization issues and applications, family-based immigration matters and many nonimmigrant visa categories, including the B, E, F, H, K, L, O, R, and TN categories, as well as consular processing matters. He has strong knowledge of federal immigration statutes and regulations. “Keeping clients informed of changes in the law, and what those changes might mean for their immigration objectives is crucial,” he says. “Companies need to know that we are giving them the most current information, and guidance in a timely manner, so that adjustments to their talent mobility strategies may be made accordingly.” As a Partner at FGI, Matthew’s experience also includes case processing for PERM labor applications, Multi-National Managers and Executives, Extraordinary Ability Aliens, National Interest Waivers, and various nonimmigrant case processing for the H-1B, L-1, O-1, E-2, E-3, TN, and B-1 categories. In addition, he has extensive experience in advising clients on how mergers, acquisitions, and corporate reorganizations may impact both immigrant and nonimmigrant case processing. He makes recommendations to clients as to how to handle such corporation restructurings as they relate to various immigration matters and/or successor-in-interest petition filings. Matthew has published numerous articles in Immigration Daily (ILW.com) and International Law Office (internationallawoffice.com), as well as Lexology and Mondaq, and has been a speaker for immigration webinars offered by ILW and the Knowledge Group. He is also a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). Matthew has held internships with the Michigan Attorney General’s Office, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. He also practiced in the areas of gaming law, real property law, and contract law. His interest in immigration law developed out of these experiences and out of a desire to help businesses and individuals navigate federal immigration laws. “I see my role as making this process as clear and manageable as possible for our clients. It is important to listen to the client and interact with them in a meaningful way.”

Dustin is an experienced IP practitioner with a vast array of technical experience. Dustin Zak is a registered patent attorney who focuses his practice on patent litigation and prosecution. Dustin possesses a vast range of technical experience ranging from chemical and material arts to software applications and artificial intelligence. Dustin has technical knowledge related to cyber security and computer technologies. During his studies, he has immersed himself in many technical topics including C++, Java, and visual basic programming, networking, open source networking, end-user computing, ethical hacking and offensive security, cyber intelligence, Linux security administration, information security, risk-vulnerability analysis, and digital forensics. Prior to joining Brooks Kushman, Dustin spent more than 5 years gaining technical experience as a Research and Development Chemist at an automotive OEM supplier and in the automotive after-market refinish industry. In these roles he formulated, developed, and launched various products globally. He also participated in the creation and development of technology for measuring visual emissions for compliance with EPA method 9, and validated and generated performance criteria for raw materials including solvents, polymers, resins, pigments, additives, and final products. Dustin holds a Juris Doctor from Wayne State University graduating at the top of his class where he received the Governor’s Scholarship. He was also the Senior Articles Editor for the Wayne Law Review and a Mock Trial member. Dustin also participated in the patent procurement clinic preparing patent applications for Detroit entrepreneurs and inventors. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Polymers and Coatings Technology from Eastern Michigan University, where he received the Recognition of Excellence Scholarship, the College of technology Coating Scholarship, and the Charles Parker Scholarship.