Couzens Lansky is pleased to announce that Stephen M. Feldman, Matthew A. Ferrara, Mark E. Merlanti and Geoffrey L. Silverman have joined the firm.
Mr. Feldman works primarily in the areas of business planning, estate planning and taxation. He assists clients with business organization, buy-sell planning, sales of businesses and mergers and acquisitions. His estate planning practice includes estate administration and probate litigation. Mr. Feldman also works with clients on Internal Revenue Service and Michigan tax liability disputes and tax controversies.
Mr. Feldman obtained his B.S. from Michigan State University, his J.D. cum laude, from the University of Detroit Law School and his LLM in taxation from New York University.
Mr. Ferrara concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning, business planning and trust & estate administration for clients of all ages and needs. His estate planning practice includes planning for clients with a variety of needs, including protecting minor children, planned charitable giving and domestic asset protection trusts. His business planning practice includes organization, buy-sell planning and sales of businesses.
Mr. Ferrara received his B.A. from Western Michigan University and his J.D. from Wayne State University Law School.
Mr. Merlanti is a member of the firm’s litigation and real estate practice groups. He specializes in real estate and business transactions and disputes. He has extensive experience in trial, arbitration and mediation in these areas. Mr. Merlanti handles a variety of real estate matters, including quiet title litigation, boundary disputes, riparian rights disputes, residential and commercial leases and landlord/tenant matters. In his business practice, he handles shareholder disputes, contract and commercial disputes and drafting business agreements.
Mr. Merlanti received his B.A. from Michigan State University, with honors and his J.D. from Wayne State University Law School.
Mr. Silverman’s practice areas include creditors’ rights and bankruptcy, asset protection, sale and financing of real estate and businesses, shareholder and member disputes and transactional work. He works with clients to resolve complex business and commercial issues and litigation and he represents clients in Chapter 7 and 11 bankruptcy cases.
Mr. Silverman graduated with honors from the University of Michigan Law School and received his B.A. from Indiana University.