T.L. Summerville

PARTNER / Detroit, MI
phone: 313-961-2550
fax: 313-961-1270
email:

Over 20 years ago, T.L. began his legal career working as an assistant district attorney for the District Attorney of New York. In 2003, he joined a major Detroit law firm where he successfully handled a wide array of complex matters, including defense of products and premises liability cases; defense of environmental contamination claims under the Michigan Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act; defense and prosecution of breach of contract, tortious interference, breach of shareholder/member fiduciary duty and other business tort claims; and defense and prosecution of commercial and residential construction matters.

In 2016, T.L. continued his career as a solo practitioner assisting entrepreneurial clients with their entity formation, lendingĀ and real estate acquisition advice, contract drafting, and commercial litigation needs, among other matters, making him a trusted advisor to those clients. A veteran of numerous contract and business tort cases, T.L. has represented major U.S. corporations and small businesses in state and federal court lawsuits. He has also represented municipalities and quasi-governmental agencies in construction-related disputes and advised clients on matters concerning litigation avoidance and alternative dispute resolution.

A native Detroiter, T.L. currently resides with his wife in Oakland County, Michigan and is the father of two college-aged daughters.

  • AREAS OF PRACTICEBusiness and Commercial Litigation, Premises Litigation, Real Estate Litigation, Construction Litigation
  • BAR ADMISSIONSMichigan, New York
  • EDUCATIONJD, Fordham University School of Law; BA, University of Michigan

COURT ADMISSIONS

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

  • American Bar Association, Business Law and Litigation Section Member
  • State Bar of Michigan, Commercial Litigation Committee Member
  • Michigan Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Contributing Editor, Michigan Basic Practice Handbook
  • Michigan Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Contributing Editor, Michigan Contract Law
  • Wolverine Bar Association, Past President (2011-2012), Past Chair Summer Clerkship Program (2007, 2009)

PUBLICATIONS

  • InsideCounsel.com, Getting Ahead of Contract Pitfalls: A Commercial Litigator’s Advice to In-House Counsel (November 2014)
  • InsideCounsel.com, Improving Your Contracts: A Commercial Litigator’s Advice to In-House Counsel (October 2014)
  • Michigan Business Law Journal, Agreements to Agree: Drafting Tips for Keeping the Deal Together and Avoiding Unwanted Consequences (May 2012)
Loading...