While our lawyers are skilled at trying cases for clients, we know how much our clients dislike the time, expense and uncertainty of that type of work. At Foster Swift, we pride ourselves on finding creative approaches to exceed our clients' expectations in ways that do not disrupt their lives and businesses.
Clients include individuals to Fortune 500 corporations. All benefit from our:
- Client Support: Foster Swift's No. 1 priority is listening to our client and establishing regular and open communication regarding their matter.
- Breadth of experience and knowledge of the law: With more than 30 attorneys on our litigation team and offices throughout the state, we have extensive experience handling all types of cases as well as familiarity with the courts, judges and lawyers throughout Michigan. Litigation matters do not always end up in the courtroom. Firm attorneys are well versed in taking cases to trial as well as representing our clients in mediation and arbitration proceedings.
- Case evaluation and management: Foster Swift makes efficient use of technology to research law, evaluate cases and manage documents for litigation. These tools along with our attorneys' bank of experience and client's goals assist in the selection of the appropriate strategy for each case.
- Perspective: We look at all sides of the matter - plaintiff, defendant, judge and jury. This 360 degree perspective is facilitated by our lawyers who are former judges, prosecuting attorneys, as well as credentialed arbitrators, mediators and neutrals.
- Resources: Incorporating the specialized knowledge of subject-matter experts is often key to a case. Clients benefit from the extensive professional relationships our litigators have developed with qualified experts throughout the United States and internationally. We often use these experts to evaluate, report, and testify on behalf of our clients.
- Professionalism: Foster Swift’s litigation group is highly regarded by clients, peers and the bench. As one member of the group said, “Integrity is our calling card…as much as our experience, as our abilities and our commitment to the communities we serve. We are known and respected for our integrity to our clients, our adversaries and our system of justice."
Consistent with the above, multiple members of this group are recognized by Best Lawyers in America®, Michigan Super Lawyers and have earned AV® Preeminent™ ratings from Martindale Hubbell.
Our litigation and dispute-resolution clients call on us to represent them in a variety of areas, including:
- Administrative and Agency proceedings — insurance regulatory issues, professional and occupational licensing
- Administrative and Municipal — municipal, zoning and land use litigation, governmental immunity issues, Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act claims
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Antitrust
- Appellate Practice
- Asbestos/Toxic Tort Defense
- Business Disputes
- Collections
- Construction Law
- Criminal Defense
- Employment Litigation — civil rights, disability (ADA), Whistleblower Protection Act etc.
- Energy
- Environmental
- First Amendment-Media Law
- Family Law and Domestic Relations — divorce, child custody, adoption and related matters
- Food Hospitality Services
- Government Relations
- Health Care
- Medical and professional malpractice
- No-Fault
- Personal Injury
- Probate disputes
- Real Estate
- Transportation law
We are committed to achieving the best results for our clients and approach each case creatively, efficiently, economically and with integrity.
Representative Matters:
- Foster Swift attorney Alexander Rusek successfully obtained the dismissal of felony and misdemeanor charges against his client arising from a late-night car accident in which 13 people were injured.
- Foster Swift attorney Alexander S. Rusek represented a corporate client and its employee in a criminal prosecution and secured the dismissal of two misdemeanor charges. Rusek successfully negotiated a dismissal of the criminal charges resulting in a de minimis fine for the client.
- Represented national corporation charged criminally for violating building codes and ordinances. Attorneys Alexander S. Rusek and Toi Thomas successfully negotiated a dismissal of the criminal charges resulting in a de minimis fine for the client.
- Represented car dealership in a federal lawsuit and associated arbitration matter wherein the Plaintiff claimed numerous violations of consumer protection laws and other causes of action. Case was successfully settled within one week of the client retaining Foster Swift, which included a resolution of the arbitration matter and dismissal of the federal lawsuit without any admissions of guilt or liability.
- On March 20, 2023, our client, a former government official involved in the events commonly known as the Flint Water Crisis, had nearly 600 individual and proposed class action cases against him in the Genesee County Circuit Court dismissed with prejudice as part of a $626,000,000.00 global settlement agreement. Previously, our client had numerous mass action and class action cases against him in federal court dismissed with prejudice.
Recent Blog Posts
- Turning Lead into Gold: The Legal Chemistry of Converting a Separate Business into a Marital Asset
- Striving for Fairness – How do Courts Deal with a Couple's Ongoing Financial Obligations During Divorce Proceedings?
- Attorney Lawrence Presents at Second Saturday Divorce Workshop
- Going Back to School: A Guide to Balancing Careers, Schedules & Divorce
- Avoiding Disputes: Fershtman Presents Equine Liability Webinar for USHJA
- Whose Bonus Is It? – When May a Bonus Received After the Marriage Form Part of the Marital Estate?
- Michigan Senate Passes Significant Amendments to Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act
- Federal Trade Commission Issues Sweeping Proposed Rule to Prohibit Noncompete Agreements
- Review Your Liability Insurance on Insurance Awareness Day
- Common Characteristics of Equine Sale Disputes—And Ways to Avoid Them
Publications & Alerts
- Extreme Risk Protection Orders: Q&A on Michigan’s Red Flag Gun Laws, Foster Swift Municipal Law News, July 23, 2024
- Federal Trade Commission Prohibits Noncompete Agreements for Almost All U.S. Workers, Legal Challenges Expected, Foster Swift Labor & Employment Law News E-blast, April 24, 2024
- Federal Judge Rules NCAA Can’t Bar Student-Athletes from Negotiating NIL Money with Collectives & Sponsors, Foster Swift Business & Tax Law News, April 23, 2024
- Q&A: New DOJ Rule Requires State & Local Government Websites, Apps to be ADA Accessible, Foster Swift Municipal Law News E-blast, April 22, 2024
- Lindke v. Freed: When Public Officials Can Be Held Liable for Blocking Individuals on Social Media, Foster Swift Municipal Law News, March 25, 2024
- Are There Any Liability Defenses to Premises Liability Claims, OR Should Possessors of Land Simply Prepare to Write Settlement Checks?, State Bar of Michigan (SBM) Negligence Law Section Journal, March 7, 2024
Events
- Risk Management Strategies for Equine Related Activities - We Aren't Horsing Around!, 2025 IRMI AgriCon, September 3, 2025
- Setting Up Your Own Law Practice, Federal Bar Association and the State Bar of Michigan's Young Lawyer’s Section, March 12, 2025
- Holiday Spirit Savers for Year-End Parenting Time, Second Wednesday Sessions, December 11, 2024
- Equine Law Essentials: Liability, Risk Management, and Tax Strategies, MyLaw CLE, November 7, 2024
- When Should Your Business Consider Mediation?, Legal Strategies for Women Leaders, October 16, 2024
- An Overview Guide to Michigan's Gun Laws, Second Wednesday Sessions, September 11, 2024
- When Your Insureds Host Events On or Off Their Property - Specialized Risk Management, IRMI AgriCon Central Conference, September 11, 2024
News
- Four Newly Sworn-In Associates Join Foster Swift, Legal News, November 27, 2024
- Fershtman Named to the 2025 DBusiness Magazine “Top Lawyer”, Dbusiness, November 8, 2024
- Foster Swift Listed in "Best Law Firms" 2025, Best Lawyers in America, November 7, 2024
- Dilley and Hogan Listed as 2024 Top Lawyers, Grand Rapids Magazine, November 5, 2024
- Littleton Named to 2024 Class of “Leaders in the Law”, Michigan Lawyers Weekly, November 5, 2024
- Litigator Taormina Joins Southfield Firm, Detroit Regional Chamber, October 14, 2024
- Assad Elected to SBM Governing Council, Grand Rapids Legal News, October 2, 2024
Media
- Legal Services Overview
- View All Services by Alpha
- Cybersecurity Hotline
- Corporate Transparency Act (CTA)
Practice Contacts
- 248.539.9904
- 248.539.9908