Nickolas Guttman’s practice focuses on business and real estate transactions. He has represented various clients in real property matters, including complex mergers and acquisitions, energy siting and land use issues, as well as the negotiation of purchase agreements, leases, development agreements, and other commercial agreements. He also contributed to the American Arbitration Association’s Handbook on Arbitration Practice. Mr. Guttman earned his undergraduate degrees from Michigan State University’s James Madison College and Broad College of Business before attending Wayne State University Law School.

Steve M. Kelley was admitted to practice in Michigan in 1981. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and its Environmental, Insurance and Indemnity, and Appellate Law sections, and he is a past member of the Surface Water/Groundwater Committee of the Environmental Law Section. Mr. Kelley also is a member of the American Bar Association and its Environment, Energy & Resources, Litigation, and Tort Trial & Insurance Practice sections. He served as chair of the Environmental & Energy Policy Committee of the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce (now Detroit Regional Chamber) for three years. Mr. Kelley has been named a Michigan Super Lawyer each year since 2008 and was elected a Life Fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation. Admitted to all Michigan courts, he practices statewide from his office in St. Clair Shores. Mr. Kelley also served 16 years as a trustee of and four years as president of the Michigan Nature Association.

Mr. Kent is in his 39th year with Schneider Geomatics in Indianapolis – having transitioned to part-time status in 2020. He also provides training, consulting and expert witness services as manager and owner of Meridian Land Consulting, LLC. Mr. Kent has served as chair of the Joint ALTA/NSPS Committee responsible for the ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey standards since 1995. He has also served on the Indiana State Board of Registration for Professional Surveyors since 2004 and is a past president of both ACSM and the Indiana Society of Professional Land Surveyors. Mr. Kent has presented programs on boundary law, easements and rights of way, surveying standards and practice, and leadership in all 50 states.

Ms. Patton is a member of the firm’s Real Estate, Energy Infrastructure, Business, and Eminent Domain practices. She counsels commercial and energy clients through complex contracts and business disputes; and on development matters including zoning, planning and land use; and real estate and permitting due diligence in mergers and acquisitions. Ms. Patton also assists energy, utility, communications, and state and municipal clients in acquiring rights through eminent domain for infrastructure projects throughout Michigan. When projects or companies are at stake, her attention to detail and ability to understand her clients’ highly technical needs and diverse experts help her craft solutions and win where it counts: the finish line. Ms. Patton began her career at a large Midwestern law firm, handling construction, employment, and other litigation matters before a foray into the consulting world, where she managed a team of attorneys while providing advice to banking institutions regarding securities and regulatory compliance. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in Economics & Management and Philosophy, magna cum laude, from Albion College and was a merit scholarship recipient prior to receiving her law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School. Ms. Patton is also a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US). In her free time, she enjoys traveling, art, music, collecting vintage and custom fountain pens and writing instruments, and spending time with her two Samoyeds, Iggy and Bowie. Recent adventures took her to the Royal Opera in London, exploring in Montreal, and the Black Pen Society’s annual meeting at the Washington D.C. Pen Show.

Alex R. Reuter Senior Counsel – Myers & Myers, PLLC
Alex R. Reuter has been litigating real estate, land use, and zoning cases across the state of Michigan for his entire career. He has successfully represented individuals and developers appearing before federal courts, state tribunals, municipalities, and agency boards. Mr. Reuter specializes in representing property owners in all facets of real estate matters, from constitutional and other federal claims to boundary disputes and enforcing easements and associated water rights (riparian rights). Mr. Reuter has helped countless landowners protect their rights under Michigan law and is an expert in both litigation and pre-suit resolution of property disputes. He has been selected as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers magazine from 2019-2020 in the area of litigation. In his spare time, he enjoys boating on Lake Michigan with his family.