CMDA is proud to announce that Alexander R. Karana has been selected to the 2026 Illinois Rising Stars List by Super Lawyers in the Intellectual Property practice area category. This is the third consecutive year that he has been named to the list. Alexander is an accomplished Intellectual Property attorney and is admitted to practice law in Illinois and Michigan. As a registered patent attorney, he brings a deep technical […]

John Gwyn, an attorney in the Firm’s Livonia office, attended the 2026 Community Association Institute Law Seminar in San Diego, CA from January 14-16, hosted by the College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL). Seminar topics included discussions on recent trends in state legislation that restrict or prohibit associations from regulating solar energy and other energy-efficient and environmentally conscious innovations in their communities; a nationwide overview of law enforcement compliance risks […]

Cummings, McClorey, Davis & Acho is pleased to announce that Jim Acho has been named an Equity Partner/Shareholder of the Firm. Jim joined the Firm in 2000 as an associate attorney and was elected a partner of the Firm in 2015. He is a strong and effective leader who has continuously contributed to the growth of the Firm over the past 25 years and has won cases of significant import […]

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 […]