Butzel attorney and shareholder named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s Hall of Fame
DETROIT, Mich. – Butzel attorney and shareholder James C. Bruno has been named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s Hall of Fame Class of 2023. He is one of 29 attorneys who will be honored during a luncheon on April 21, 2023 at the Detroit Marriott Troy and profiled in an upcoming edition of Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
Notably, the Hall of Fame program recognizes Michigan’s legal leaders who have been in practice for 30 years for their successful careers and valuable contributions to the community.
Bruno’s primary practice includes corporations and limited liability companies; the Uniform Commercial Code; sales representatives and distributorships; automotive and other industry supplier relations; international business law and foreign employment; closely held business; mergers and acquisitions; and joint ventures. This includes counseling, negotiations, drafting, and dispute resolution.
Bruno has served on Butzel’s Board of Directors. He has been active in the firm's foreign practice. He advises clients in their entry and operations in Mexico and elsewhere outside the United States. His practice also includes mediation of commercial disputes.
He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the American Bar Association. He has served as Chair of the State Bar of Michigan's Business Law Section, Co-Chair of the Corporate Laws Committee, Council Member of the International Law Section, Co-Chair of the International Business Law Committee, and Member of the Advisory Committee for the Michigan Bar Journal.
Bruno was an initial recipient of the Michigan State Bar's prestigious Stephen H. Schulman Outstanding Business Lawyer Award. He was named Lawyer of the Year in International Trade in Detroit and has been listed in the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Attorneys, The Best Lawyers in America, The Best Lawyers in America Consumer Guide for his work with closely held business entities, DBusiness Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit, and Michigan Super Lawyers.
He has written numerous articles and been a speaker and moderator at a variety of programs on international, corporate, immigration and business topics in automotive and other industries. He was the editor of the Business Problems and Planning column of The Michigan Bar Journal for many years. His articles have been cited in legal briefs and court decisions and he is asked to serve as an expert witness on business law matters.
Bruno’s legislative work has included assisting in the drafting of the Michigan Business Corporation Act, Michigan Professional Corporation Act, and Michigan Limited Liability Company Act.
He has been the firm's representative to the automotive trade association, the Original Equipment Manufacturers Association. He was Counsel General in Detroit for El Salvador from 1973 to 1997.
Bruno is a graduate of Georgetown University, The University of Michigan Law School, and The University of Michigan Graduate School of Business.
