Doug Curlew and Shane Nolan Named Partners of the Firm

We are pleased to announce that Douglas Curlew and Shane Nolan have been elected partners at CMDA. Both attorneys are recognized for their ability to lead, manage, and develop the Firm through their professional skills, client relations, and work effort.

“Doug has demonstrated excellence in the area of appellate law and has a very strong work ethic,” said Chris Schultz, managing partner. “With his academic approach, pragmatic writing style, and broad range of knowledge, he has assisted the Firm in achieving significantly better results than expected in some very difficult and complex cases. He is a valuable asset to the Firm and a favorite of our clients.”

“Shane is one of the youngest CMDA attorneys to be promoted to partner. We recognize not only his hard work and dedication to the Firm, but his enthusiastic approach and ability to develop multiple areas of the law. He maintains exceptional relations with Firm clients and displays excellent leadership qualities,” explained Mr. Schultz.

Douglas Curlew joined CMDA in 2012 and is the head of the Firm’s appellate department. He focuses his practice on appellate law, law enforcement defense, and insurance defense. He is intimately familiar with the peculiarities of the appellate process. He works closely with clients and litigators to ensure preservation of issues for appeals and to devise cost-effective strategies. His ability to perform advanced legal research enables him to tackle novel and complex issues. He has handled appeals in the Michigan Court of Appeals and United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Mr. Curlew graduated from Wayne State University Law School and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan- Dearborn. While practicing law, he also obtained a Ph.D. in history from the University of Michigan- Ann Arbor. He has been practicing law since 1986. He may be reached in our Livonia office at (734) 261-2400 or dcurlew@cmda-law.com.

Shane Nolan joined CMDA in 2018 and focuses his practice on the defense of liability lawsuits on behalf of insurance companies, self-insured corporations, businesses, and municipal entities in a wide variety of civil litigation, including Michigan No-Fault claims (PIP, automobile negligence, uninsured/ underinsured motorist), as well as premises liability, general liability, and insurance coverage disputes. He also focuses his practice on municipal law and utility law.

He is an experienced litigator at both the trial court and appellate levels and has successfully argued dispositive motions, tried multiple cases to verdict, and regularly represents clients in various alternative dispute forums, including case evaluation, facilitation, and arbitration.

Mr. Nolan graduated from Wayne State University Law School and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kalamazoo College. He has been practicing law since 2013. He may be reached in our Livonia office at (734) 261-2400 or snolan@cmda-law.com.