Dickinson Wright PLLC

History and Founding

Dickinson Wright traces its origins to 1878 when Henry Munroe Campbell and Henry Russel established a two-person firm in Detroit to serve the city's growing banking and railroad industries. The firm quickly became involved in public affairs, with members contributing to the drafting of Michigan's 1908 and 1963 state constitutions. During the 1933 national banking crisis, the firm helped organize the federally funded National Bank of Detroit (now part of JPMorgan Chase & Co.), playing a central role in restoring stability to Michigan's financial system. Throughout the 20th century, Dickinson Wright attorneys were active in legislative drafting, shaping the Michigan Financial Institutions Act of 1937, the Intangibles Tax Act, the Community Property Tax Act of 1948, and the Industrial Facilities Tax Act of 1974. Firm lawyers also held judicial and governmental appointments, including multiple justices on the Michigan Supreme Court.

Expansion and Growth

The firm's first office outside Detroit opened in Lansing in 1970, followed by Washington, D.C. in 1978, and Grand Rapids in 1989. Further expansion added Ann Arbor in 2000, and by the end of the decade, the firm had established a presence in Nashville, Phoenix, and Toronto. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the firm adapted to Japanese investment in the Detroit area by hiring Japanese-speaking attorneys and staff, launching a Japanese-language newsletter, and hosting seminars for Japanese companies operating in Michigan. The cross-border presence expanded significantly in 2011 when its Ontario affiliate combined with Toronto-based Aylesworth LLP, a firm with roots dating back to 1861. Two years later, the Phoenix office combined with Mariscal, Weeks, McIntyre & Friedlander, P.A., adding more than 60 attorneys and becoming Dickinson Wright's largest office outside Detroit. Subsequent U.S. expansion included new offices in Columbus and Saginaw (2012), Las Vegas, Lexington, and Reno (2015), Fort Lauderdale and Austin (2016), El Paso (2017), Silicon Valley (2018), Chicago (2021 via combination with Stahl Cowen Crowley Addis LLC), Denver (2023), San Diego and Windsor (2024), and Seattle (2025). In addition to its North American offices, Dickinson Wright maintains affiliations with firms in China, Japan, South Korea, India, and Europe.

Practice Areas and Market Position

Dickinson Wright is a full-service firm with 40 practice areas delivered across multiple industry groups, including automotive, insurance, financial services, technology, energy, and healthcare. Key practice areas include corporate law, commercial litigation, intellectual property, banking and finance, real estate, employment and labor, immigration, tax, product liability, IT and digital transformation, bankruptcy and restructuring, health care, gaming law, and government relations. The firm has represented many major clients for decades, including Metropolitan Life Insurance Company since the late 1800s and Chrysler Corporation since its founding. Dickinson Wright has worked with clients on six continents. The firm's lawyers are consistently recognized by peer-review publications: in the 2026 Best Law Firms report by Best Lawyers, the firm received 26 national rankings and 188 state/metropolitan rankings, including 109 first-tier rankings. The firm is also ranked by Chambers USA in multiple practice areas.

Leadership and Structure

As a Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC) in the U.S. and a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) in Canada, Dickinson Wright structures itself to provide seamless cross-border service. The firm is led by Chief Executive Officer Michael C. Hammer, Chairman William T. Burgess, Chief Operating Officer Michael P. Kolb, and Chief Financial Officer Lance S. Brownsworth. With more than 550 lawyers across 23 offices, the firm continues to grow through strategic combinations and organic expansion, maintaining a strong focus on client service, innovation, and community involvement.