DAWN L. CIOLINO began her career with us in 1984 as a high school co-op student. In 1988, she became a paralegal through on the job training. She practices in the firm’s Litigation, Labor, and Auto Dealer sections. Working closely with our attorneys, Dawn assists in the preparation, filing, and service of pleadings, discovery requests and responses, orders, motions, and briefs. She frequently prepares for and assists at trials and arbitrations. Dawn is a member of the State Bar of Michigan-Legal Assistant Section. She resides with her husband, Rob, and two children in Clinton Township.

ELIZABETH A. LAUER joined our firm in 1991. She practices in our Estate Planning, Tax, and Corporate Sections. Elizabeth is experienced in assisting in the preparation of trusts, wills, and powers of attorney and in the funding of trusts. She participates in the preparation of Estate Tax, Gift, and Fiduciary income tax returns, formation documents for corporations and limited liability companies, and minutes and resolutions. She assists with stock transfers and debenture transactions. She has extensive experience working with HotDocs software. Elizabeth has Paralegal and Accounting Assistant Certificates from Oakland University and an Associates Degree from Oakland Community College. She is a member of the State Bar of Michigan – Legal Assistant Section and the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA).

KAREN ANN HART joined our firm in 1992 and practices in our Corporate, Real Estate, Probate, and Tax sections. Karen received her undergraduate degree from Wayne State University (B.A. 1989, summa cum laude) and her paralegal Certificate from Oakland University in 1999. Karen assists our attorneys in the formation of corporations, limited partnerships, and limited liability companies, as well as maintenance and dissolution of entities. She assists in the preparation of documents for stock transfers, updating of corporate record books, and preparation of corporate minutes and corporate resolutions. Karen has extensive experience in acquisitions and mergers, refinances, and commercial loan transactions. Karen is experienced in due diligence for large asset purchase and stock transactions, and the preparation of closing documents for loan transactions and real estate transactions. Karen is a member of the State Bar of Michigan-Legal Assistant Section.

ARTHUR P. THORP joined us in November 2006 after acquiring over ten years of paralegal litigation experience in Chicago, Illinois. Art is skilled in the management of large-scale document-involved litigation and is highly proficient in the design and implementation of complex record-intensive databases. He serves as lead paralegal in state and federal trials and multi-party arbitrations. Art practices in our firm’s Litigation, Labor, Real Estate, School Law, and Auto Dealer sections. Art received an A.S. degree in Paralegal Studies from Mt. San Antonio College (Walnut, CA - 1993) and a B.G.S. degree in Psychology from Roosevelt University (Chicago, IL – 1997). Outside of the office he is an avid water and snow skier and enjoys travel.