Commission Members

The Commission consists of nine members, who serve without compensation.  The six lawyers and three non-lawyers are each appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court for a term of three-years.  A member may not serve more than two terms. 

 The Commission’s Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson are appointed to one-year terms by the Michigan Supreme Court.  The Commission’s Secretary is elected by its members.


 

Thomas G. Kienbaum

Chairperson

Mr. Kienbaum has represented employers nationally in significant labor and employment disputes for over 50 years. He served as President of the State Bar of Michigan, the Metropolitan Detroit Bar Association, and the Barrister's Association. Mr. Kienbaum was appointed by the Supreme Court to the Attorney Discipline Board in 2007, where he served for six years, including as Chair. In 2017 the Supreme Court appointed him, for a three-year term, to the Attorney Grievance Commission, where he currently serves as Vice Chair. Mr. Kienbaum graduated magna cum laude from Wayne State University Law School in 1968, having served on its Law Review, and was awarded the "Order of the Coif." He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1965. Mr. Kienbaum was born in Berlin, Germany, and immigrated to the United States in 1957. He maintains fluency in German.

J. Paul Janes

Vice-Chairperson

J. Paul Janes focuses his practice in the areas of commercial litigation, personal injury litigation, automobile no-fault law, and construction/work place injury claims. EDUCATION: Michigan State University (B.A. 1987); University of Detroit Law School (J.D. 1990; Senior Staff Member of the Law Review. PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS: • Grand Rapids Bar Association • Fellow, Justice Foundation of West Michigan • Grand Rapids Federal Bar Association • Michigan State Bar of Foundation • American Board of Trial Advocates • Attorney Grievance Commission, Board Member • Former State Bar of Michigan Lawyer and Judges Assistance Committee (Member) • The American Association for Justice • Michigan Association for Justice (Former Board Member) COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: • Active in a variety of nonprofit, community, and political organizations.

Latoya M. Willis

Secretary

Mrs. Willis is the Lead Attorney of the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Mortgage and Deed Fraud Unit where she specializes in the prosecution of criminal activity involving fraudulent real property transactions. She graduated from Western Michigan University in 1997, and earned her law degree from the University of Detroit-Mercy Law in 2002. She has worked with the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office since 2000, where she began as an intern in the Forfeiture Unit. Since that time, she has practiced throughout the Office including within the Felony Exam Unit; Felony Trial Unit, and Special Victims Unit where she prosecuted crimes committed against elder and vulnerable adults. She was appointed to the Attorney Grievance Commission in January of 2017.

James Webb

Member

Mr. Webb retired from the insurance business in July 2017 after a 46 year career. He was a Property Underwriter for USF&G, and a Risk Manager at Masco, the Budd Company, and Republic Steel Corporation. During the last 36 years, he was an Insurance Agent with Aon Risk Solutions where he concluded his career as Chairman of the Michigan Corporation. Mr. Webb holds an AA Degree in Business Administration from the College of the Sequoias, BBA and MBA Degrees from Eastern Michigan University. He is Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Eastern Michigan University .He also is a board member of the Michigan Property and Casualty Guaranty Association. Mr. Webb also sits on the board of F.D.I. Insurance Company in Dublin, Ireland.

Cheryl A. Bush

Attorney Member

Cheryl A. Bush, majority-owner and founding member of Bush Seyferth PLLC (BSP), handles high-stakes cases across the country. Cheryl is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Society of Barristers. She is a Senior Life Fellow of the American Board of Trial Advocates. She is actively involved in the Product Liability Advisory Council and the National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms. In addition, Cheryl is proud to represent her home state by serving as the only Michigan counsel on the Network of Trial Law Firms’ Board of Directors. Cheryl earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English, magna cum laude, Wayne State University.

Kathleen Hickey

Attorney Member

Ms. Hickey represents lenders in loan originations. Her practice encompasses secured transactions, loan workouts, and counseling lenders on lender liability and loan structure issues. Ms. Hickey’s practice also includes middle market lending, asset based loans, healthcare lending, educational institution and religious organization financing, international lending, captive insurance financing, private lending, real estate financing, multi-rate, multi-currency loans and facilities, agented and syndicated loan facilities, and letters of credit, direct bond purchases, and other liquidity facilities supporting tax exempt and industrial development bonds. Ms. Hickey has been selected by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as a member of the 2017 class of Women in the Law. She is listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2022 under Banking and Finance Law, in Chambers USA 2021 under Banking & Finance, in IFLR1000 2020 under Banking and Finance, in Michigan Super Lawyers 2021 under The Top 50 Women attorneys in Michigan, and in Michigan Super Lawyers 2007-2021 under Banking. She is listed as a 2021 "Top Lawyer" for Banking & Financial Services by DBusiness magazine. She is AV Preeminent® Peer Rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Ms. Hickey is a member of Bodman’s Executive Committee, which manages the Firm’s day to day business affairs, and is co-chair of the firm’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. She serves on the board of directors of the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion and is a board member for VIP Mentoring and the Walsh College Foundation. She is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Detroit and American Bar Associations, and the Association for Corporate Growth. She is admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Ms. Hickey began her legal career as a clerk for the Honorable Richard M. Maher of the Michigan Court of Appeals. She has lectured for the Michigan Institute of Continuing Legal Education on commercial loan documentation matters.

Dr. Samy Wassef

Lay Person

Samy Wassef, MD is currently the Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Medical Director of the Substance Abuse Programs at Henry Ford Health-Jackson. He previously served on the hospital’s Ethics Committee, Pain Committee and Graduate Medical Education. Dr. Wassef is board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He is also a provider for the Health Professionals Recovery Program, Lawyers & Judges Assistance Program and Federal Aviation Administration. Dr. Wassef grew up and currently resides in the Metro Detroit area. He graduated from Cairo University Faculty of Medicine and completed his residency in psychiatry at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit Michigan

Kendrah Robinson

Attorney Member

Kendrah Robinson has been a proud resident of Muskegon for over 13 years. She is a mother of three and married to a Proud Muskegon Big Red. She graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in Political Science and Criminal Justice and earned her Law Degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law. Kendrah has taught Criminal Justice and Political Science classes at Grand Rapids Community College, and now serves the community of Muskegon County as a Senior Assistant Public Defender at the Muskegon Public Defenders Office. She fights daily in the 14th Circuit Court to protect the rights of Muskegon’s most at risk children and criminal defendants. She is active in numerous community and non-profit organizations including the Mediation and Restorative Services, Fruitport Public Schools, Child Abuse Council of Muskegon, The Women’s Division of Chamber of Commerce, the Black Women’s Lawyers of Michigan, her church where she’s the Youth Ministry leader and staff to the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan. Kendrah also mentors high school ladies in a group called “Aspiring Ladies of Law” throughout Muskegon County who are interested in going into the career of law. In her spare time Kendrah enjoys running and traveling.