Attorney Enrico Schaefer

Founding Attorney Enrico Schaefer

Mr. Schaefer is a seasoned trial attorney located in Michigan with several million dollar verdicts and settlements for his clients. Originally from Detroit, he graduated from Albion College with a degree in Political Science in 1986 and then from the Michigan State University College of Law, earning the degree of Juris Doctor, summa cum laude, in 1989. Mr. Schaefer has first chair trial experience in a wide variety of litigation matters, including class action litigation, personal injury, wrongful death, intellectual property, commercial and fiduciary litigation. Mr. Schaefer handles all sorts of cases, big and small, and enjoys helping real people solve real legal problems. Mr. Schaefer also encourages innovative billing strategies, client service, value-based billing and focuses his energy on changing the way law is practiced.

Enrico Schaefer's Professional Resume

EMPLOYMENT

Founder, Traverse Legal, PLC, Traverse City, MI, January 2005 - present. Firm dedicated to changing the way law is practiced. Focused on delivering value-based solutions to clients.

Partner, Smith & Johnson, PC, Traverse City, MI, January 2000 - December 2004. General Practice firm. Handled complex litigation in areas of personal injury, wrongful death, employment law, first-amendment and defamation, commercial transactions, non-compete contracts, trade secret theft and other litigation and commercial matters.

Founder, EPLF, PC, Bingham Farms & Leland, MI, May 1995- present. Business, commercial and intellectual property representation and litigation. Firm was founded specifically to pursue the case Overlooked Opinions, Inc. v. TransNational Communications, Inc. in the Federal District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Case involved breach of contract, unfair trade practices, intellectual property rights violations, FCC regulatory issues, insurance coverage disputes and UCC Article 9 security and collection issues. Also handled a variety of commercial and transactional work for telecommunications clients, including loans, financing and vendor-supplier contracts. The jury returned a $2.4 million dollar verdict in favor of Mr. Schaefer's client.

Of Counsel, Hilborn & Hilborn, PC, Birmingham, MI, January 1999 - 2000. Litigation firm specializing in national product liability and commercial litigation. Handled complex litigation on a project basis in cases pending throughout the United States.

President and General Counsel, All-One Intranet, Inc., Boulder, CO, October 1996 - June 1998. Internet technology company located in Boulder, CO. Provided representation and managed outside counsel in a variety of corporate, finance and commercial contract issues, including: corporate structure; venture capital financing; reseller and strategic partner contracts; merger strategies and vendor relations.

Litigation Attorney, Jaques Admiralty Law Firm, Detroit, MI, September 1993 - January 1995. Admiralty & maritime law firm focusing on complex toxic tort litigation and mass tort class action on behalf of merchant mariners. Toxins included asbestos and benzene. Front-line involvement with mass tort class action proceedings, federal MDL litigation, bankruptcy proceeding against insolvent ship owners and insurance (P & I) coverage disputes.

Litigation Attorney, Bowman and Brooke, Detroit, MI, July 1991- September 1993. Automotive product liability and toxic tort defense litigation. Represented automotive manufacturers and large insurance carriers in complex product liability litigation on a national basis. Handled all aspects of litigation, from case strategy and pre-suit investigation through discovery and trial.

Law Clerk, The Honorable Richard F. Suhrheinrich, July 1990- July 1991. U. S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, Detroit, MI & Cincinnati, OH

EDUCATION

Michigan State University College of Law, January 1990, Summa Cum Laude (Rank 1 / 96). Numerous academic awards and scholarships. Recipient, American Jurisprudence Awards: Contracts, Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Corporations, Evidence, Estates and Trusts and Research Writing and Advocacy. Managing Editor, Detroit College of Law Review, 1989. Author: Case Note Publication, "Barring the Tort Claims of Fire Fighters and Police Officers," Detroit College of Law Review, Issue 3, Summer 1988.

Albion College, Albion, MI, January 1986. B.A. Political Science

MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS

Michigan State Bar, admitted January 1990
Detroit Bar Association, since 1991
Defense Research Institute (DRI), 1990-93
American Trial Lawyers Association
Michigan Trial Lawyers Association
Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Antrim Bar Association

PERSONAL

Extensive experience in internet-based technologies, including client / server software, data security and data transmission.
Enrico enjoys backcountry camping, hiking, jogging and reading.