Plunkett Cooney attorney, Hilary A. Ballentine, was recently named an “Up & Coming Lawyer” by Michigan Lawyers Weekly (MLW), a publication dedicated to covering the state’s legal community.

Ballentine, who concentrates her practice exclusively in the area of appellate law, was profiled with other legal standouts in a special “Up & Coming Lawyers” feature in the Nov. 21 edition of MLW. In addition, the 2011 honorees were saluted by the newspaper and by members of southeast Michigan’s legal community during a recognition luncheon on Dec. 8 at the Troy Marriott Hotel.

“Hilary is an outstanding appellate attorney and a tireless advocate for her clients,” said Mary Massaron Ross, who serves as Plunkett Cooney’s Appellate Law Practice Group Leader. “She has successfully handled over 20 state and federal appeals, and she has written some effective and innovative briefs on complex issues before the courts.”

Members of the MLW editorial staff reviewed numerous “Up & Coming Lawyer” nominations, placing specific emphasis on legal accomplishments. After the nomination review process was completed, only 20 honorees were selected and interviewed for an article in a special section of the publication.  

A member of the firm’s Detroit office, Ballentine focuses her practice on claims related to Constitutional law, as well as general, municipal, construction, and medical liability, among other areas. She is admitted to practice in both state and federal courts, including the Michigan Court of Appeals, the Michigan Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

A magna cum laude graduate from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 2006, Ballentine served as the managing editor of Law Review. While attending law school, she received numerous academic awards and was inducted into Alpha Sigma Nu and the Justice Frank Murphy Honor Society. Ballentine received her undergraduate degree, with high distinction, from the University of Michigan – Dearborn in 2003.

Plunkett Cooney is one of the few Midwest law firms with a dedicated team of appellate attorneys, who routinely handle cutting-edge appeals involving issues of first impression and seek to reverse adverse judgments. In addition to representation before state and federal appellate courts, the firm’s appellate attorneys provide a broad range of specialized services, including counsel during trial designed to optimally position cases for possible appeal.

Established in 1913, Plunkett Cooney employs over 160 attorneys in nine Michigan cities, Columbus, Ohio and Indianapolis, Indiana. The firm, which provides a range of transactional and litigation services, has achieved the highest rating (AV) awarded by Martindale-Hubbell, a leading, international directory of law firms, and the firm is listed among the U.S. News – Best Lawyers 2010 “Best Law Firms.”

For more information about Hilary A. Ballentine receiving the MLW “Up & Coming Lawyer” designation, contact the firm’s Practice Development Manager John Cornwell at (248) 901-4008; jcornwell@plunkettcooney.com..

– End –