Lisa J. Hamameh
Lisa J. Hamameh practices primarily municipal law, land use and zoning, Condominium and Homeowners’ Association law.
She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Wayne State University in 1995 and is a 2000 graduate of Wayne State University Law School.
Lisa has been recognized by Michigan Super Lawyers for eleven consecutive years – in 2011 and 2012 she was recognized as a “Rising Star” and from 2013-2022 she was included as a “Super Lawyer” for Government, Cities and Municipalities. She was also selected for Best Lawyers in America ® 2016-2022 in municipal law and as a Top Lawyer for dbusiness in 2014, 2017-2023. In 2014, Lisa was selected for the 2014 class of “Women in the Law” by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. Additionally, in 2011, she was awarded the Frances R. Avadenka Memorial Award by the Oakland County Bar Association, for her contributions to the community outside of the legal profession.
She is a frequent presenter at the Michigan Townships Association’s Annual Conference & Expo. She is a guest speaker at the White Lake Citizen’s Academy – Judicial Night. Lisa presents training sessions for municipal clients relative to parliamentary procedure, zoning and land use, ordinance enforcement, municipal civil infractions and criminal law updates.
Lisa is the co-author of a chapter on Liquor Licensing in the Michigan Institute of Continuing Legal Education’s publication Michigan Municipal Law, 2012; and a chapter on Plea Bargaining in Michigan Criminal Procedure, 2010. Hamameh authored the cover story for the Michigan Townships Association’s March 2016 publication Michigan Township Focus titled “What’s Brewing with Liquor License Regulation.” She authored an article for the Michigan Municipal League’s publication The Review, titled “Municipal Expenditures – Avoid Problems by Knowing the Law.” Lisa also authored an article in the Oakland County Bar Association’s publication Laches, titled “Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign” and co-authored an article for the same publication titled “Municipal Prosecutions 101.”
In 2018, Lisa was elected to serve on the State Bar of Michigan’s (SBM) Board of Commissioners. She currently serves as its Vice President. The SBM Board of Commissioners provide oversight to the State Bar on finance, public policy, professional standards and member services and communications. SBM is the governing body for the 42,000-plus lawyers in the State of Michigan.
Lisa serves on the Planning Commission in the City of Berkley.
Practice Areas
- General Municipal Law
- Prosecutions and Ordinance Enforcement
- Zoning and Land Use
Education
- Wayne State University Law School, JD
- Wayne State University, B.S., Criminal Justice
Professional Activities/Memberships
- State Bar of Michigan
Vice President (2024-present)
Secretary (2022-2024)
Treasurer (2021-2022)
Commissioner District I (2018-2021)
Young Lawyers Section, Executive Council Member (2008-2010)
Criminal Law Section, Member
Real Estate Section, Member
Government Law Section, Member
Character & Fitness Committee – District I (2014-2018) Member (2014-2016) Chair (2016-2018) - Michigan State Bar Foundation
Fellow - Oakland County Bar Foundation (2016-present)
Board of Trustees, Member
Fellow - Oakland County Bar Association
American Inns of Court (2003-2007)
Municipal Law Committee, Chair (2005-2006); Member (2003-present)
New Lawyers Committee, Director (2009-2011); Member (2006-2011)
Membership Committee, Chair (2015-2017)'; Vice Chair (2013-2015); Member (2010-2019) - Macomb County Bar Association (2000-2023)
- American Bar Association (2024-present)
- Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys
Member
Admitted to Practice
- Michigan
Awards
- Listed in the Best Lawyers in America, Municipal Law, 2016-2024
- Named Top Lawyer by DBusiness and Hour Magazine, Land Use and Zoning, 2014, 2017-2025
- Selected to Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers for Government, Cities and Municipalities, 2013-2024
- Selected to Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers Rising Stars in Government, Cities and Municipalities, 2011-2012
- Listed in Lawyers Weekly “Women in the Law”, 2014
- Awarded the Frances R. Avadenka Memorial Award by the Oakland County Bar Association for contributions to the community outside of the legal profession, 2011
Publications/Presentations
- Publication: Municipal Expenditures – Avoid Problems by Knowing the Law, Michigan Municipal League’s publication The Review, November/December 2020
- Publication: What’s Brewing with Liquor License Regulation, Michigan Townships Association’s publication, Michigan Township Focus, March 2016
- Publication: Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign, Laches, October 1, 2013
- Publication: Municipal Prosecutions 101, Laches, 2013
- Publication: Chapter on Liquor Licensing, Michigan ICLE: Michigan Municipal Law, 2012
- Publication: Chapter on Plea Bargaining, Michigan ICLE: Michigan Criminal Procedure, 2010
- Presentation: Land Use Update 2022, Panel participant for Institute of Continuing Legal Education On-Demand Seminar, April 4, 2022
- Presentation: Hot Topic Policies Your Township Needs to Succeed, Michigan Township’s Association Annual Conference & Expo, April 2021 (Co-Presenter)
- Presentation: New FOIA Flexibility During Covid-19, Michigan Municipal League Webinar, April 2020
- Presentation: Parliamentary Procedures, County Road Association Highway Conference & Road Show 2020
- Presentation: What the Heck is an SAD?, Michigan Townships Association Annual Conference & Expo, April 2019
- Presentation: Parliamentary Procedures at its Worst, Michigan Townships Association Annual Conference & Expo, April 2019
- Presentation: Regulating Liquor Licensing in your Community, Michigan Townships Association Annual Conference & Expo, April 2018
- Presentation: It Shouldn’t Be This Hard to Clean Up That Property, Michigan Townships Association Annual Conference & Expo, April 2017
- Presentation: Liquor Control Updates, Macomb Michigan Townships Association Chapter, February 2015
- Presentation: Municipal Civil Infractions and Liquor License Updates, Macomb Michigan Townships Association Chapter, November 2015
Community Service
- City of Berkley, Planning Commission (2022 – Present)
- Children's Hospital of Michigan (1999-2014)
- Judge for the Michigan Center of Civil Education High School Mock Trial Tournaments (2007 and 2011)
- Coach for Youth in Government Team at Stoney Creek High School (2009)