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Steven P. Joppich

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Main Office: 248.489.4100
Fax: 248.489.1726

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 and counties
  • Zoning, land use and planning law
  • Development issues
  • Public property purchases, sales, leases & development
  • Medical and recreational cannabis
  • Public works (water, sewer, stormwater, roads, rate challenges, etc.)
  • 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 and dangerous buildings
  • Condemnation/eminent domain
  • Riparian rights
  • Annexation, 425 Agreements, charters & incorporations

Practice Areas

  • Municipal Law
  • Zoning and Land Use
  • Constitutional Law and Civil Rights
  • Insurance Defense
  • Real Estate and Construction
  • Ordinance Enforcement
  • Water, Sewer and Stormwater Utilities and Litigation

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 – Cannabis 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 State Bar Foundation
    Fellow
  • Oakland County Bar Foundation
    Fellow
  • Catholic Society of Lawyers
    Current Member

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

  • Inducted into the Academy of Michigan Municipal Attorneys by the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys, September 2012 - present)
  • Received the Distinguished Municipal Attorney Award from the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys, 2022
  • 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" in the area of Municipal Law by Best Lawyers, 2014, 2015, 2019
  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America, Litigation-Municipal, 2018-2022
  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America, Litigation-Real Estate and Municipal Law, 2012-2022
  • Selected to Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2007-2022
  • Named Top Lawyer by DBusiness and Hour Magazine, Municipal Law, 2011-2020 and 2022
  • 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.
  • Received the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethics in the 2023 Judicial Edition of Martindale-Hubbel, which reflects the confidential ratings provided by both members of the judiciary and state bar.
  • Listed in "Michigan Super Lawyers list" awarded by SuperLawyers to the top 5% of attorneys in Michigan, an honor reserved for those lawyers who exhibit excellence in practice, 2023

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 (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 in The Review, a publication of the Michigan Municipal League (MML) (2020)
  • Author of multiple published articles in the Township Focus, a publication of the Michigan Townships Association
  • 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
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