In the modern economy, innovation doesn’t stop at national borders — and neither should your protection. Whether your product is manufactured overseas, sold globally, or marketed online, securing a U.S. patent is only the beginning. This article explains how a U.S. provisional or non-provisional application can become the foundation for worldwide patent protection under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), how timing works, and why startups and growing businesses should plan […]

Introduction If you’ve ever tried to name a business, product, or creative project, you’ve probably run into this familiar frustration: every idea you love already seems to exist. You search the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database, find a conflict, and suddenly the naming process feels less creative and more demoralizing. But here’s the truth: you’re not alone, and you’re not doing anything wrong. Even the most iconic […]

Several CMDA attorneys and staff were honored to attend the 17th Annual Friends of Snage Holiday Luncheon this week at St. Mary’s Cultural Center in Livonia. Pictured are Equity Partner Bob Blamer, Leo Snage, Jr., and Associates Jordan Barkey and Daniel El-Sibai. The event is sponsored in memory of the late Leo Snage, who was a great friend to the Firm and the longtime director of Redford Township’s Department of […]

Congratulations to CMDA attorneys Teneil Russell and Daniel El-Sibai on their admission to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Today, Federal Judge Gershwin A. Drain swore them in to practice before the Eastern District. Attorney Ethan Vinson was honored to participate in their swearing-in ceremony.

We are proud to announce that partners Greg Grant and Kristen Rewa obtained a complete victory for a municipality and its city manager when the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan granted Defendants’ motion for summary judgment in a discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). The case involved a City electrical lineman who tested positive for methamphetamine on […]

It’s official! Congratulations to CMDA’s newest attorneys Teneil Russell and Daniel El-Sibai who were sworn into office today by the Honorable Kevin J. Cox. Thank you to Judge Cox, who serves on the Third Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan, for making their swearing-in ceremonies special and memorable. Best of luck to Teneil and Daniel as they begin their fulfilling careers in the legal profession.

Please join us in welcoming Attorney Rachel L. Gardner to the Firm. She recently passed the Missouri bar exam, and we are pleased that she has accepted the Firm’s offer to continue her legal career at CMDA after clerking in our Kansas City office for nearly two years. She focuses her practice on municipal law, business law, and insurance defense. She writes briefs for submission to all levels of state […]

We are proud to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the City of Lansing and its residents on the successful approval of the new City Charter, which had not been revised since 1978. This milestone marks a significant step forward in modernizing Lansing’s governance framework and ensuring that its municipal operations reflect the evolving needs of the community. Cummings, McClorey, Davis & Acho was honored to have played a role in […]

Cummings, McClorey, Davis & Acho, PLC is pleased to announce that our law clerks have passed their bar exams! A huge congratulations to Teneil Russell and Daniel El-Sibai. They will be sworn in later this year, and we are delighted that they have both accepted the Firm’s offer to continue their legal careers at CMDA. Partners Joel Ashton, Shane Nolan, and Carol Smith first had the opportunity to meet Teneil […]

Joel Ashton and Shane Nolan, partners in the Firm’s Livonia office, enjoyed meeting with an intelligent and motivated group of law students during the Fall On-Campus Interviews (OCI) held on October 17, 2025, at Wayne State University Law School. Joel explains, “We all remember how OCIs can be a stressful experience for law students, especially those who are going through the process for the first time. All the students that […]