Butzel appoints Paul M. Mersino as its next President and CEO effective in March 2023
DETROIT, Mich. – Butzel Attorney, Shareholder, and Board of Directors member Paul M. Mersino has been appointed to serve as Butzel’s next President and CEO effective in March 2023, when he will begin his term at the Firm’s Annual Meeting.
“This is an exciting time for Butzel,” said Mersino. “We have an excellent foundation based on a rich legacy of nearly 170 years of service as a law firm. We have also added several attorneys this year and we continue to grow and plan for the future. I am honored to have the opportunity to continue to work with so many great attorneys and great people.”
Just 39 years old, Mersino is a recognized business leader in metro Detroit.
He was named to Crain’s Detroit Business magazine’s 2021 Class of “40 Under 40” list. In 2020, Mersino was named to DBusiness magazine’s “30 in Their Thirties.” He has been recognized as a Top Lawyer by DBusiness magazine, as a Michigan Super Lawyer, as one of Oakland County’s Elite 40 under 40, and as an “Up and Coming Lawyer” by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
“We are excited to transition Firm leadership to the next generation of leaders,” said Justin Klimko, the firm’s current President and CEO. “Paul will be an enthusiastic and effective President. Working with the rest of our Board, he will strive to continue our culture of collegiality and excellence. He has leadership experience as a former Practice Department Chair and current Board member and will continue our unrelenting focus on the future.”
Mersino was elected to Butzel’s Board of Directors in March, 2020. Prior to serving on the firm’s Board of Directors, he was the Chair of the firm’s Litigation Practice Department. As Litigation Practice Department Chair, he was responsible for the management and oversight of the firm’s Commercial Litigation attorneys who reported to him for the strategic goals, budgeting, forecasting, and direction of the practice group.
Mersino represents public and private companies, in a number of areas including complex commercial litigation, contract disputes, non-compete and trade secret disputes, automotive supplier disputes, construction litigation, and First Amendment litigation. Mersino has seen a number of successes in trials and cases across the country, having obtained jury verdicts, summary judgment rulings, dismissal of cases against his clients, and settlements favorable to his clients in state and federal courts throughout the nation.
He also represents and advises a number of startup companies, assisting them with their legal needs and matching them with potential venture capital funding. He also handles appeals in the Michigan Court of Appeals, the Michigan Supreme Court, and in federal courts across the country.
He has served on the Board of Directors of the Detroit Bar Association and as an advisor to the Michigan Institute of Continuing Legal Education's Litigation Advisory Board.
Mersino is a 2008 graduate of Ave Maria School of Law, where he graduated magna cum laude and was a member of Law Review and the State Championship Moot Court team. He earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Northwood University (B.A., 2005).
