Butzel Long elects Shareholders Joshua Chinsky and Michael Decker
Butzel Long attorneys Joshua J. Chinsky and Michael C. Decker have been elected Shareholders. Previously, Chinsky and Decker were associate attorneys.
“Josh and Mike have demonstrated through their work quality, diligence, client service ethic and dedication to their colleagues and community that they are well qualified to be shareholders in our Firm,” said Justin G. Klimko, President and Managing Shareholder, Butzel Long. “We congratulate them on their election.”
Joshua J. Chinsky
Based in Butzel Long’s Detroit office, Chinsky focuses his practice on white collar criminal defense and Aerospace and Defense industry matters.
Most recently, Chinsky was named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s 2017 Class of “Up & Coming Lawyers.”
Prior to joining Butzel Long, Chinsky served as Corporate Counsel and Deputy Director, Studies and Analyses, for a Washington, D.C. area consulting company. He also served in the United States Marine Corps as a judge advocate. While on active duty, Chinsky prosecuted contested jury trials and served as a legal advisor to commanders, servicemembers, and dependents. Chinsky continues to serve as a judge advocate in the Marine Corps Reserve.
Chinsky is a graduate of the Duke University School of Law, where he received the Bidlake Award for legal writing and was an editor of Law and Contemporary Problems. He received his BA from the University of Michigan, graduating with highest distinction and Phi Beta Kappa.
Chinsky is admitted to practice in the states of Michigan and Georgia, and before United States Courts-Martial.
Michael C. Decker
Decker practices in Butzel Long’s Detroit and Lansing offices. He concentrates his practice in the areas of construction and construction litigation and business and business litigation.
Decker represents and counsels construction companies and contractors on all aspects of both public and private projects, from inception to completion of those projects. Notably, Decker has substantial experience with drafting and negotiating contracts, subcontracts, and other agreements and prosecuting and defending performance, payment, and delay related claims on behalf of construction companies and contractors, as well as owners and sureties.
At the same time, Decker has substantial experience prosecuting and defending claims concerning the Miss Dig Act and violations of the Miss Dig Act on behalf of construction companies and contractors. He has prosecuted and defended such claims before state and federal courts, state and public agencies, and arbitration and mediation panels.
Moreover, he has substantial experience assisting owners and contractors with residential construction related matters. Specifically, Decker has assisted owners and contractors with drafting and negotiating residential construction contracts, subcontracts, and other agreements and resolving performance and payment related issues, as well as prosecuting and defending claims arising from such issues.
Decker also represents and counsels businesses and business professionals with day-to-day business related issues including: contract disputes and bankruptcy, corporate, collection, labor and employment, real estate, and trade secret related issues.
Decker has been recognized as a Rising Star in Business Litigation in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 by Super Lawyers. Rising Stars are attorneys who are 40 years old or younger or who have practiced for ten years or less. Only 2.5 percent of Michigan lawyers are named to the list of Super Lawyers each year. Decker also has been recognized as a Top Lawyer in Construction Litigation in 2017 and 2018 by DBusiness.
Decker earned his Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University Law School in 2011 and his Bachelor of Science from Central Michigan University in 2007. During law school, he served as an associate editor of The Journal of Law in Society. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the State Bar of Florida. Decker is admitted to practice in various courts in both Michigan and Florida.
