Steven P. Joppich has devoted his legal career to representing the interests of governmental entities. Since 1994, he has assisted local governments throughout Michigan with a variety of legal issues both in and out of the courtroom. As a result, Steve has gained substantial experience in a diverse and broad cross section of municipal law, with the following being a sampling of his municipal law practice:
- General and special counsel to cities, townships & villages
- Zoning, land use and planning law
- Development issues
- Public property purchases, sales, leases & development
- Medical and recreational marihuana
- Public works (water, sewer, storm, roads, rate challenges, etc.)
- Wetland and natural resource/ preservation techniques
- Signs and billboards
- Contracts
- Ordinance drafting
- Freedom of Information Act
- Open Meetings Act
- Intergovernmental agreements and authorities
- Libraries
| - Constitutional law (due process, takings, equal protection, free speech, etc.)
- Corridor improvement authorities (CIAs)
- Tax increment financing (TIFs)
- Special assessment districts (SADs)
- Tax abatements
- Historic districts
- Parks and recreation
- Lake boards
- Election law
- Adult business regulations
- Code enforcement
- Blighted properties anddangerous buildings
- Condemnation/eminent domain
- Riparian rights
- Oil, gas, and mineral rights & regulation
- Annexation, 425 Agreements, charters & incorporations
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Practice Areas
- Municipal Law
- Zoning and Land Use
- Constitutional Law and Civil Rights
- Insurance Defense
- Real Estate and Construction
- Prosecutions and Ordinance Enforcement
Education
- Detroit College of Law, J.D.
- University of Michigan, B.A.
Professional Activities / Memberships
- State Bar of Michigan - Government Law Section
Current Councilmember (2009-present), Past Chairperson (2018-2019) - State Bar of Michigan - Real Estate Law Section
Current Member - State Bar of Michigan – Marihuana Law Section
Current Member - Oakland County Bar Association - Municipal Law Committee
Current Member, Past-Chairperson (two terms) - Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys
Current Member - Michigan Municipal League
Current Member - Michigan Townships Association
Current Member - Michigan State Bar Foundation
Fellow - Oakland County Bar Foundation
FellowCatholic Society of Lawyers
Current Member - State of Michigan – Marihuana Regulatory Agency Licensing Stakeholder Workgroup
Appointee
Admitted to Practice
- All courts in the State of Michigan
- United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Awards
- Named “America’s Most Honored Lawyers Top 1%”, awarded by The American Registry to the top 1% of attorneys receiving the most professional recognitions of excellence by recognized trade groups, clients and peers, 2020
- Designated "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers, Municipal Law, 2014, 2015, 2019
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America, Litigation-Municipal, 2018-2022
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation-Real Estate and Municipal Law, 2012-2022
- Selected to Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2007-2021
- Named Top Lawyer by DBusiness and Hour Magazine, Municipal Law, 2011-2020
- Named in Leading Lawyers Michigan Edition--Land Use, Zoning & Condemnation Law and Real Estate Law: Commercial, 2019
- "AV Preeminent" ranking with Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest possible ranking by the most recognized, peer review rating for attorneys.
- Member of the inaugural class of inductees into the Academy of Michigan Municipal Attorneys by the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys under the Michigan Municipal League, September 2012 - present)
Publications / Presentations
- Co-Author of the Michigan Municipal Law book published by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 2012, updated 2018
- Speaker at multiple seminars of the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys Association (MAMA), Michigan Townships Association (MTA), Government Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, Michigan Association of Code Enforcement Officials (MACEO), Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE), Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority (MMRMA) and Oakland County Bar Association
- Co-Editor of the Public Corporation Law Quarterly, a publication of the Government Law Section of the Michigan Bar Association, 2007-2017
- Author of published article for The Review, a publication of the Michigan Municipal League (MML) (2020)
- Author of published articles for Public Corporation Law Quarterly, 2009-2011
- Author of published articles for Laches, a publication of the Oakland County Bar Association, 2007-2011
- Author of a published article for Smart Business Magazine, 2011
- Author of a published article for the Michigan Planning & Zoning News, 2011
- Regular contributing author of reports regarding recent cases in the Michigan Planning & Zoning News, 2007-2018
- Regularly provides training seminars for individual planning commissions, zoning boards of appeals, and other municipal boards, commissions and councils
Community Activities / Involvement
- Xemplar Club of Farmington/Farmington Hills (non-profit community service organization)
Active Member, Past President - Community Homes, a nonprofit charitable organization
Board of Directors - Coach, Manager and Volunteer in youth sporting programs
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