Our Attorneys

Learn more about your local bankruptcy and business lawyers in Southfield. We provide assistance to clients who need legal advice in how to rebuild credit for their business, how to handle a bankruptcy, and so much more. Above everything else, we put our clients and their needs. We never treat two cases the same way and always work hard to provide you professional, personalized assistance. Feel free to reach out to anyone on our team today.

 

Ethan Dunn – Managing Partner

Ethan is the managing partner of MAXWELL DUNN LAW. He has successfully turned around several small businesses and assisted hundreds of individuals fix their personal financial challenges both in and out of bankruptcy. In addition to his bankruptcy and turnaround practice, Ethan guides entrepreneurs through the purchase, sale and merger of businesses and advises small business owners. He is known for finding creative solutions for his clients and helping them resolve internal and external roadblocks so they can achieve their best possible financial outcome.

Ethan currently is as a co-chair of the Federal Bar Association Bankruptcy Practice Group and as an advisor to the U.S. Small Business Administration Emerging Leaders program. He served on the Bankruptcy Rules committee commissioned to re-write the local bankruptcy rules for the Eastern District of Michigan. He also serves on several non-profit boards, including the board of Access to Bankruptcy Court founded by the Hon. Marci B. McIvor.

Ethan is the past-president of the Woodward Village Neighborhood Association and currently serves on the board of Architectural Salvage Warehouse Detroit. He spends his free time with his wife Meagan and their three sons. He stays active by cycling regularly and playing handball.

Education and Associations:

– University of Detroit Jesuit High School – 1998
– Wayne State University, B.S. Finance – 2003
– Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D. – 2006
– National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys – 2008-present
– American Bankruptcy Institute – 2012-present
– Turnaround Management Association – 2014-present
– Federal Bar Association, Bankruptcy Co-Chair – 2015-present
– Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. – 2001-present
– Wolverine Bar Association – 2010-present
– American Bankruptcy Institute – 2012-present

Recognition and Awards:

– SuperLawyers “Rising Star” – 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
– “30 In their Thirties”, Michigan Chronicle – 2015
– Ranked 10.0 out of 10.0 on AVVO.com
– Rated Top 1% in Bankruptcy Law Nationally
– Member, National Association of Distinguished Counsel – 2016
– Member, Global Who’s Who Law Directory
– Member, American Jurist Institute

Speaking and Publications:

– Speaker, ABI Central States Workshop, “Death and Taxes” – 2016
– Author, “Understanding How Bankruptcy Works: Creating a Plan for Dealing with Unique Financial Challenges” – Maxwell Dunn Law, 2016
– Author, “Detroit Filed For Bankruptcy. What does it mean for me?” – Michigan Chronicle, 2014
– Speaker, Small Business Legal Academy, Detroit Entrepreneur Week – 2015
– Committee Member, revised Local Bankruptcy Rules for the Eastern District of Michigan – 2015

 

Brenda J Maxwell – Emeritus

Brenda has practiced law for more than 30 years and is also licensed to practice in Washington D.C. She maintains an “AV” rating with the Martindale-Hubbell rating service, which is the highest possible attorney rating. Brenda completed her undergraduate degree at Michigan State University on a Math Scholarship. Brenda also completed a Master’s Degree at Michigan State University in Ed/Psych Research and afterward attended Wayne State University for law school. Brenda retired from full-time legal work in 2017 and now serves as an advisor to the firm.

Her practice areas include:

– Probate and Estate Planning
– Business and Corporate Law
– Mediation

Brenda’s legal career began as house counsel in the banking industry; then litigation at the Defender’s Office for several years before entering into private practice. After being in private practice for many years, Brenda re-entered the public sector and served as Chief Counsel in Wayne County’s Mental Health Division. Over the years, Ms. Maxwell has represented numerous businesses, including churches, non-profit organizations, and for profit companies in a wide variety of industries.

In addition to her law practice, Brenda has served on the board of several non-profit organizations and civic organizations. She is a past commissioner with the American Bar Association, and she served as a Supreme Court Appointee to the Legislative Assembly of the State Bar of Michigan. Her civic involvement is extensive and includes organizations such as the Detroit Bar Association, Wolverine Bar Association, and Michigan Trial Lawyers Association. Schedule an Appointment

 

 

Alexander Berry-Santoro – Managing Attorney

As an advocate, I zealously defend the rights of my clients. I am result-driven and extremely hard-working. Please let me put those qualities to work for you, and help you achieve your financial goals. Whether your issues are consumer, or corporate-based, Maxwell Dunn, PLC, and I can help you achieve those goals.

Most Recent Employment:

– Maxwell Dunn, PLC, Managing Attorney (10/2022-Present)

Bar Admissions:

– State Bar of Michigan (2017)
– US District Court, Eastern District of Michigan (2017)
– US District Court, Northern District of Ohio (2017)

Education and Associations:

– Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Auburn Hills, MI; 2016 graduate, Juris Doctor Degree
– Leadership Achievement Award Winner
– Moot Court: President (2016); Vice President (2015)
– Student Ambassador (Competitive Selection Process)
– Student Bar Association, Senator
– First Year Moot Court Inter-Campus Competition, 4th Overall Advocate for Cooley (2015)
– First Year Moot Court Intra-Campus Competition, Co-Champion (2014)
– Mock Trial Organization: First Year Competition Chair (2013)
– Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI; 2012 graduate, Bachelor of Science
Major: Criminal Justice, Focus in Legal Studies

Professional Associations:

– State Bar of Michigan (2017-Present)
– National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (2017-Present)
– American Bankruptcy Institute (2018-Present)
– Consumer Bar Association of Detroit (2018-Present)

Past Attorney Employment:

– William C. Babut, P.C., Managing Attorney/Staff Attorney (03/2019-09/2022)
– Osipov Bigelman, P.C., Associate Attorney (01/2019-03/2019)
– Frego & Associates, Associate Attorney (03/2018-01/2019)
– Fairmax Law, Senior Associate Attorney (02/2017-03/2018)
– Christopher Trainor and Associates, Associate Attorney (2016)

Past Document Review Employment:

– Kelly Services, Document Review (JD) (05/2016-01/2017)

Past Attorney Employment:

– ECF Training (Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan AND Northern District of Ohio) (2017-2019)
– Consumer Bankruptcy Association of Detroit, Evidentiary Issues in Bankruptcy Litigation (2018)
– CBA/ABI Rhode’s Veteran’s Day Seminar (2018-2022)
– ICLE Certificate Holder in Chapter 11, Subchapter V (2022)