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John B. Carlin, Jr. concentrates his practice in the areas of business law and administrative and regulatory law, with significant emphasis on the representation of members of the food service and hospitality industry. Mr. Carlin has represented nearly all of the major multi unit food service operators doing business in Michigan for over 35 years and continues to also represent many independent on premise and off premise licensees in the State as well as many resorts, golf courses, both public and private, and hotel and motel operators throughout the State. Mr. Carlin graduated from St. Joseph’s College in Indiana in 1962 and obtained his JD degree from the University of Detroit School of Law in 1965. He was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 1966 and to the Florida Bar in 1972.

 PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• Michigan Restaurant Association (Member Board of Directors, 2002-present)
• Michigan Hotel, Motel & Resort Association
• State Bar of Michigan (Member, Alcoholic Beverage & Hospitality Law Practice Committee of the Business Law Section)
• The Florida Bar
• Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys (Charter Member)
• American Bar Association (Member, Beverage Alcohol Practice Committee of the Administrative Law & Regulatory Practice Section)
• Network of Alcohol Licensing Professionals (Charter Member)
• Oakland County Bar Association

OTHER MEMBERSHIPS (Past and Present)

• City of Orchard Lake Village
     ° Charter Revision Commission, 1979-1981
     ° Council Member, 1981-1987 and 1988-1994
     ° Mayor, 1983-1984, 1986-1987 and 1993-1994
     ° Mayor Pro-Tem, 1990-1993

• Orchard Lake Country Club - Orchard Lake, Michigan
     ° Board of Governors, 1998 to 2002
     ° Secretary, Board of Governors 1999
     ° Treasurer, Board of Governors 2000
     ° Vice President 2001
     ° President 2002

• Otsego Ski Club/Hidden Valley, Inc., Gaylord, Michigan
     ° Member, Executive Committee 1994-Present
     ° Member, Liaison Committee, 1990-Present
     ° Chairman, Liaison Committee, 1993-94

• Oakhurst Golf and Country Club - Clarkston, Michigan
     ° Board of Governors, 1998-2000, President, 1999

• The Beaumont Foundation of William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan
     ° Board of Directors, 2002-Present

PUBLICATIONS AND LECTURE

Author of numerous articles for Michigan Restaurateur, Michigan Beverage News and The Beverage Journal, publications serving the Michigan Restaurant Industry, and Tee Off Times, a newsletter serving the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association

• Lecturer – “Liquor License Issues”, Public Corporation Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, 2007 Mid-Winter Seminar, Dearborn, Michigan

• Lecturer - Michigan Restaurant Association Trade Show, 2003, 2004 and 2006

• Lecturer - “Local Government and the Law in Michigan - Understanding the Legal Issues that Affect Local Government Decision Making”, Seminar, Dearborn, Michigan, March 2003 (Lorman Education Services)

• Lecturer - "Eliminating Liability for Restaurant and Bar Owners/Operators", Seminar, Detroit, Michigan, July 2000 (Lorman Education Services)

• Moderator - "Protecting the Assets - Management and Franchise Agreements", American Law Firm Association/American Hotel and Motel Association Seminar, Washington, D.C., November, 1991

• Lecturer - "Acquisition of a Small Business - The Purchase Agreement", Oakland County Bar Association, Business Law Section, June, 1991

• Lecturer - Michigan Golf Course Owners Association - Regional and Annual Meetings - Licensing and Operations Issues

Scott D. Edwards had represented clients in general business and real estate matters for over 20 years. He has represented clients in connection with liquor licensing matters for over 10 years.  His clients include restaurant chains, independent restaurant operators, landlords, golf courses and hotels. He also serves his clients in general business transactions including the representation of buyers and sellers of businesses, real estate transactions and general business matters.

Mr. Edwards is a 1978 graduate of Oakland University, and he received his law degree from Wayne State University Law School and was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 1981.

Michael J. Brown ("Mike") received his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1989 and his B.A. from the James Madison College and Honors College at Michigan State University in 1986.  He was admitted to the Michigan Bar in 1989, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan in 1990 and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in 1991.

Mr. Brown's practice focuses on state regulatory and administrative law, with strong emphasis on Michigan liquor licensing and violation issues.  He represents bars, restaurants, hotels, sports venues, and other liquor-license holders before the Michigan Liquor Control Commission.  He conducts liquor violation hearings throughout the State of Michigan.  Mr. Brown serves as general counsel to the Michigan Licensed Beverage Association, while also providing counsel to several other Michigan-based trade associations on a variety of legal and regulatory matters. 

Mr. Brown has also served for many years as Michigan regulatory counsel for Miller Brewing Company and Rite Aid Corporation.Mr. Brown has written numerous articles for the Michigan edition of the Beverage Journal on liquor licensing and violation issues.  He has conducted numerous seminars, workshops and in-house presentations regarding liquor liability and related restaurant and alcohol management issues.  Mr. Brown has also authored legislation and administrative rules on various liquor law matters.  Mr. Brown's regulatory practice includes the areas of telecommunications and public utility law before the Michigan Public Service Commission, representing pharmacists before the Michigan Board of Pharmacy, lottery and gaming licensing, and representation before several other state agencies near his office in Lansing.

Mr. Brown and his partners, John Carlin, Scott Edwards and Patrick Howe, are members of the Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys, the Alcohol Beverage and Hospitality Law Practice Committee of the State Bar of Michigan, the Alliance of Alcohol Industry Attorneys and Consultants, and the National Association of Alcohol Beverage Licensing Attorneys.  The Firm is also an Associate Member of the Michigan Licensed Beverage Association, the Michigan Restaurant Association, the Michigan Hotel, Motel and Resort Association, and the National Restaurant Association.  

J. Patrick Howe focuses his practice on liquor licensing and real estate development law. He assists restaurants, hotels, resorts and bars with liquor licensing matters, violation hearings and related zoning and permitting matters. He also works with real estate developers advocating on their behalf for various zoning, site plan and land use approvals.

Mr. Howe is currently enrolled in the Masters of Urban Planning Program at Wayne State University, where he is focusing his studies on Urban Economic Development. His anticipated date of graduation is May 2008.

Mr. Howe earned his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. While attending law school, he received numerous academic awards, and served as Executive Outside Articles Editor for The University of Detroit Mercy Law Review.

He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan, with a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Studies from the College of Literature, Science and The Arts.

 ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

• Preparatory Education: University of Michigan (B.A., 2002)
• Legal Education: University of Detroit Mercy School of Law (J.D., 2005)
• Graduate Education: Wayne State University, Masters of Urban Planning (Anticipated Graduation August 2008)

HONORS & AWARDS

• The University of Michigan Patricia C. Gurin Certificate of Merit in Intergroup Relations (2006)
• The University of Detroit Mercy Law Review (2003-2005)
     ° Executive Outside Articles Editor (Volume 82)
     ° Junior Member (Volume 81)
• The University of Detroit Mercy Moot Court Board of Advocates (2003-2005)
     ° American College of Trial Lawyers National Trial Competition (2005)
     ° Pace University Environmental Law Moot Court Competition (2004)
• American Inns of Court Program, Pupil (2005)
• Order of Barristers, Member (2005)
• Incorporated Society of Irish-American Lawyers Thomas P. Thornton Scholarship (2005)
• Who’s Who Among American Colleges & Universities (2005)
• CALI Awards: Constitutional Law (2004); Trial Practice (2004)
• Book Award: Applied Legal Theory & Analysis (2003)

 PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• Michigan Restaurant Association
• Michigan Association of Planning
• American Planning Association
• Michigan Land Use Institute
• Urban Land Institute
• American Bar Association
• State Bar of Michigan
• Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association
• Oakland County Bar Association
NON-PROFIT BOARDS
• The World Heritage Foundation - Prechter Family Fund, Director
• The Detroit Athletic Club Intermediate Council, Treasurer
• The Theta Chi Building Association of Ann Arbor, Director & Secretary

 FRATERNITIES
• Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit Honor Society (Inducted 2005)
• Theta Chi Fraternity, Alpha Gamma Chapter (Initiated 1999)
     ° Chapter President (2000)

ADMISSION TO THE BAR
• 2005, Michigan
• 2005, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan