- Location: Birmingham, Michigan
- Phone: 248-971-1717
- Fax: 248-971-1801
- Email: Kosovec@BWST-Law.com
Julie Lyons Kosovec
Julie Kosovec is a seasoned attorney who concentrates her practice in complex commercial litigation. Her areas of litigation expertise include: shareholder, employment, construction and real estate disputes. Prior to joining Brooks Wilkins Sharkey & Turco, Ms. Kosovec was a shareholder at Hyman Lippitt, P.C.
Recent Accomplishments Include
- Participated on trial team in an unfair competition and business tort case which obtained a $300M judgment – the largest state court verdict in history
- Successfully defended top-ranked public university in COVID-related class action lawsuit and secured a dismissal of all claims
- Participated in a multi-million dollar antitrust litigation which resulted in client obtaining a $500M settlement
- Successfully defended against multi-million dollar veil piercing claim
- Obtained dismissal of multi-million dollar legal malpractice/breach of fiduciary duty claim
- Successfully defended CEO of a major automotive supplier in an injunction hearing related to non-compete agreement
- Successfully defended emergency motion for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction proceedings for Tier 1 automotive supplier which resulted in extremely favorable settlement
- Obtained dismissal of $10M adversary proceedings in bankruptcy court
- Successfully litigated an adversary proceeding in bankruptcy court which prevented a debtor from discharging client’s judgment
- Obtained a dismissal of multi-million dollar claim against a major public university on governmental immunity grounds
- Performed as lead counsel in commercial arbitration resulting in $1.2M arbitration award for automobile parts supplier
- Won summary judgment on behalf of a national provider of security defense services in a case seeking $10M in contract and tortious interference damages
- Successfully defended numerous employment law claims on behalf of various corporations
- Successfully defended licensed professionals in multiple administrative hearings before the Michigan Dept. of Labor and Growth which resulted in dismissals of all claims
- Obtained emergency injunctive relief against competing business enterprise which resulted in successful settlement in corporate client’s favor
- Successfully counselled employees and employers regarding a wide variety of employment and human resource matters, as well as regulatory matters.
- Successfully defended employers in multiple administrative hearings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, and the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency
Professional Associations and Awards
- Named as one of the “2024 Influential Women of Law” by Michigan Lawyer’s Weekly
- Listed in “Top 10” Leading Women Business Lawyers, Leading Lawyers Magazine (2020)
- Listed in “2023 Women Leaders in the Law” in the American Lawyer
- Named 2023 Top Rated Litigator, ALM Media
- Honoree, 2021 Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s Class of “Women in the Law”
- Named a 2023 and 2022 “Top Rated Lawyer in Labor and Employment” in the National Law Journal
- Listed in “Top Women Attorneys in Michigan,” Hour Detroit (2014-2023)
- Listed as a “Best Lawyer” in Commercial Litigation, Best Lawyers in America (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023)
- Listed in “Best Attorneys in Michigan” (2013, 2015)
- Listed as a “Top Lawyer in Michigan,” New York Times (2013, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023)
- Listed as a “Top Attorney in Michigan” in Business Litigation, Crain’s Detroit Business (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
- Listed in Top Lawyers of the Midwest (2021)
- Listed as a “Top Lawyer,” dBusiness and Hour Magazine (2010, 2013-2023)
- Listed as a “Super Lawyer” in Commercial Litigation, Michigan Super Lawyers (2011-2023)
- Listed in America’s Most Honored Lawyers Top 1% (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
- “AV” Peer-Review Rated, identifying the highest rating available for legal abilities and ethics, Martindale Hubbell (2010-2023)
- Member, Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers (2012, 2013)
- Co-chair, Oakland County Circuit Court – Probate Bench/Bar Conference (2021)
- Captain, Oakland County Bench-Bar Conference, Civil Section (2015)
- Invitee, Oakland County Bench-Bar Conference (2013)
- Member, Oakland County Bar Association
- Member, Women’s Lawyers Association of Michigan, Oakland County Chapter
- Member, Oakland County Chapter of American Inns of Court
- Member, Master, Oakland County Chapter of American Inns of Court
- Member, Barrister Emeritus, Oakland County Chapter of American Inns of Court
- Member, Commercial Litigation Committee, State Bar of Michigan
- Member, Oakland County Circuit Court Case Evaluation Committee
- Past Member, State Bar of Michigan Character and Fitness Committee, District I
- Member, Employment and Litigation Section of the State Bar of Michigan
- Director, Oakland County Bar Association Board of Directors, 2018 to present
- Legal First Responder, The Joseph Project
- Chair, Membership Committee, Oakland County Bar Association
- Member, Automotive Women’s Alliance Foundation
- Recipient, Distinguished Service Award, Oakland County Bar Association, 2022
- Recipient, Committee of the Year Award, Oakland County Bar Association, 2023
Education
- Wayne State University Law School, Detroit, Michigan (J.D. cum laude 1995)
- Michigan State University (B.A. With Honors 1992) Major: Employment Relations
- Recipient, Silver Key Academic Excellence Award, 1994
Representative Cases
- Adell Broadcasting v Apex Media Sales, 269 Mich App 6; 708 NW2d 778 (2005)
- Bazinau v Mackinac Island Carriage Tours, 233 Mich App 743; 593 NW2d 219 (1999)
Past Employment Positions
- Shareholder, Hyman Lippitt, P.C.
Bar Admissions
- Michigan
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Specialists in High-Stakes Litigation, Bankruptcy and Supply Chain Counseling.
