Gene J. Esshaki, Esq.

Abbott Nicholson, P.C., Detroit, USA

GENE J. ESSHAKI, ESQ.

I am proud to say that for my entire legal career of 28 years, I have practiced in the same firm. The reason that I have stayed in one place for so long is that Abbott Nicholson has created an environment where talented people are permitted to grow and reach their full potential. Additionally, the firm is dedicated to providing its clients with unique and innovative solutions to their legal requirements. As a professional service firm, Abbott Nicholson knows that service in the hallmark of a strong client relationship and is committed to responding to all client needs and requirements in a timely manner.

I started my career devoted solely to commercial litigation. I have handled all forms of complex litigation, including product defect claims, simple open account indebtedness, shareholder and partnership disputes, and the representation of agents and principals in sales commission claims. I have represented every form of product claim from concrete sewer pipes to automotive mirrors and plastic and metal parts of every nature used in the automotive industry. I have also had extensive experience in the management of white-collar criminal investigations at the federal level. Many times, it is necessary to retain several different lawyers to represent different individuals in a corporate setting in response to a federal criminal investigation. In the position of outside counsel to such corporations, I have managed that team of lawyers and have brought all of the matters to successful conclusions, in each instance, having achieved a result requiring only a monetary sanction.

I serve as general counsel to a number of closely held corporations and manage all of their legal affairs including labor and employment relations, mergers and acquisitions, contracts, intellectual property, tax planning, real estate and land use planning, and all other aspects of business law. As general counsel, I am called upon repeatedly by the executive officers of the corporation and consulted with concerning the legal implications of various transactions. Through the extensive legal talents at Abbott Nicholson, I am able to provide clients with responses to all of their varied legal needs.

Approximately 25% of my workload is now devoted to the process of alternative dispute resolution. I have engaged in rigorous formal training through the American Arbitration Association, which qualifies me to act as an arbitrator on a national basis. I am currently a panel member on the Mass Claims Panel, the Complex Claims Panel and the Commercial Panel of the American Arbitration Association. I am also trained and participate in the mass claims resolution program involving Prudential Insurance Company policyholder claims. As a result of my ADR work, I am regularly appointed by numerous judges, at both the state and federal level, to act as a mediator and facilitator in the private resolution of civil actions. I am convinced that it is quicker, economical and more equitable to use private facilitation, mediation or alternative dispute resolution in dealing with the most simple to the most complex commercial disputes. In the end, the client receives a just and speedy award at substantially lower legal expense than it would incur in full-scale adversarial litigation.

I have been an active member in Meritas and have insignificant contacts throughout the organization that have repeatedly assisted in the resolution of client issues, both nationally and internationally.