Lansing

313 South Washington Square

,

Lansing, MI 48933-2114

T: 517.371.8136

F: 517.371.8200

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Deanna Swisher

Deanna joined Foster Swift in 1988. Her practice focuses primarily in the areas of commercial litigation, employment litigation, alternative dispute resolution as well as collections and creditor rights matters. She is a member of the Commercial Litigation Practice Group and regularly participates in the Banking, Finance and Real Estate Practice Group as well as serving as chair of the firm’s Diversity Committee.

The range of commercial litigation matters Deanna handles for clients is broad and includes contract and statutory claims arising from the mortgagee/mortgagor relationship, real property and title disputes, breach of contract, secured transactions, breach of fiduciary duty, interference with contract and other business torts, and agricultural matters.  These are a few factors that show why Deanna is such a highly sought after commercial litigation and collections attorney in Lansing.

On employment-related litigation, she represents employers on breach of employment contract disputes, discrimination and retaliation claims, enforcement of non-compete provisions, and breach of sales commission agreements.

Recognizing that some matters are best resolved outside the courtroom, Deanna often represents clients in arbitration and mediation proceedings. Additionally, she is listed on the AAA Commercial Panel of neutrals and is well regarded for her abilities in this capacity.

Prior to joining Foster, Swift, she clerked for Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Carolyn Stell and worked for Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlet.

Admitted to practice in Michigan, she is a member of the Federal Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan and the Ingham County Bar Association. Deanna is a member of the Fellows of the Michigan State Bar Foundation and is a former member of the State Bar of Michigan’s Client Protection Fund Committee. Deanna is also a member of AAA’s Roster of Neutrals, Commercial Panel.

Locally, Deanna volunteers her time to Operation Santa, a program that collects and distributes Christmas gifts to children of low-income families. She is the prior President of the Board of Trustees of Michigan Montessori Internationale, Inc. and a founding member of the Lansing Chapter of Inforum. Deanna is also a former member of the Indiana University Law Alumni Board.

Born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, Deanna was a summa cum laude Honors College graduate of Ball State University and received her legal education and juris doctorate from Indiana University in 1985.

Representative Matters

• Successful defense of multi million dollar action alleging breach of warranty, brought by a first tier supplier/manufacturer of injection molded automotive parts against second tier supplier of thermoplastic. In addition to receiving a very favorable result, we protected proprietary client information from disclosure in federal district court by negotiating an agreement to arbitrate.
• Over the course of many years, have successfully and economically represented mortgagors by summarily disposing of unsupported claims and by negotiating favorable settlements.
• Enforced covenants not to compete by obtaining temporary restraining orders.

News

• 47 Foster Swift attorneys named as 2013 Best Lawyers, September 4, 2012
• Foster Swift selected as a Top Ranked Law Firm by Martindale-Hubbell, April 16, 2012
• Foster Swift's 2011 Best Lawyers, August 17, 2010
• Foster Swift Announces 2009 Best Lawyers, August 18, 2009
• Foster Swift Announces 2008 Best Lawyers In America, September 18, 2008

Speaking Engagements

• WEBINAR | Independent Contractor Or Employee? Misclassification Can Be Costly!, February 20, 2013
• Proper Use of Email, Walsh College, March 10, 2011
• IP, Social Media, Employment Insurance, Tax, Lobbying and Health Care, Sponsored by Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC, November 17, 2010
• A Contractors Guide to Michigan Construction Law, AGC Michigan Conference, October 30, 2009

Publications

• Mediation: A Viable Alternative to Litigation, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, 2008

Memberships & Affiliations

Legal Affiliations:

• American Bar Association
• State Bar of Michigan
• Michigan State Bar Foundation, Fellow
• Federal Bar Association

Community Involvement:

• Founding Member, ATHENA WIN
• Michigan Montessori Internationale, Inc., President of the Board of Trustees
• Inforum, Lansing Chapter
• Operation Santa