Board of Directors
Phillip Shane
President
Phillip Shane, Esq. is a Principal at Miller Canfield and a member of the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group. Phil's practice focuses primarily on automotive product liability matters, as well as regulatory investigations and compliance procedures. He represents vehicle manufacturers and major automotive suppliers and coordinates nationwide discovery efforts in cases involving design and manufacturing defect allegations, as well as other tort claims. Phil is also a respected authority in the area of eDiscovery and a leader of the firm's eDiscovery and Legal Tech Services team. He provides clients with legal and practical advice and support on wide range of issues associated with the identification, preservation, collection, review and analysis, and production of electronically-stored information (ESI). In this capacity, Phil has a wealth of diverse experience on a variety of matters including complex commercial litigation, antitrust litigation and pre-merger investigations, white collar criminal defense, intellectual property disputes, labor and employment actions, and internal investigations. Phil was named a Michigan Super Lawyers "Rising Star" in 2018.
Jay Yelton
Immediate Past President
Jay practices civil litigation and mediates litigation and eDiscovery disputes. As a mediator, he assists parties to design proportional discovery plans and assists parties and courts to resolve discovery disputes. For 30+ years, Jay has been helping Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and other organizations to develop eDiscovery strategies, manage electronically stored information (ESI) and prepare for litigation. He regularly conducts training seminars, and he speaks to several classes each year at Michigan State University College of Law on eDiscovery topics. Jay is recognized by Best Lawyers in America for both eDiscovery and Litigation, serves as President for the Detroit Chapter of ACEDS, and is a member of Sedona Conference Working Group 6 and the Global Advisory Council for E.D.R.M.
Abby Melling
Vice President
Abby is a Director at Conduent Legal, Analytics and Compliance (formerly Xerox Legal) supporting the eDiscovery needs of law firms and corporations focused in managed review and eDiscovery technology. She previously served on the board of the ALSP and the SCSGP as well as actively supporting ACEDS and the SBM. Abby has 16 years of experience supporting corporate legal departments and law firms. She worked for 10 years at the legal services subsidiary of Wolters Kluwer, CT Corporation, managing the largest fortune accounts in the US and supporting their corporate transactional, compliance, governance and litigation needs. Following that, she ran her own corporate legal consulting company, Consulting by M&A, LLC, specializing in entity life cycle management, corporate compliance, service of process and litigation services.
Angela Shapiro
Secretary
Angela Emmerling Shapiro is a litigation shareholder at Butzel Long in Detroit. She guides clients through complex lawsuits, governmental investigations, and other legal challenges. A significant portion of Angela’s practice is focused on electronic discovery, working with large volumes of electronically stored information and navigating privacy laws that impact collection, processing, review and production of data around the globe. She also frequently negotiates technology, SAAS, and vendor contracts.
Angela is CIPP/US and CEDS certified and has been repeatedly recognized as an eDiscovery and Information Technology Law “Top Lawyer" by DBusiness Magazine. Crain's Detroit Business named Angela to its inaugural class of Notable Women in Technology.
Thomas Issacs
Treasurer
Tom Isaacs, Esq. has extensive experience representing a diverse lineup of businesses in litigation, including in product liability, personal injury, contractual, antitrust, regulatory, corporate governance and business tort matters. Tom has been responsible for all phases of such cases, including pre-litigation claim assessment, development and execution of case strategy, written discovery, depositions, motion practice, expert witness retention and preparation, settlement negotiations and overall case management. Tom currently serves as National Discovery Counsel for a major automotive manufacturer in state and federal courts throughout the United States. His eDiscovery experience is very well-rounded, covering everything from document production, collection and review, as well as litigation holds and clawback agreements.
Megan McKnight
Public Relations & Marketing Director
Megan P. McKnight, JD, CEDS, is the founder of Tealstone Law, PLC in Royal Oak, Michigan where she concentrates her practice in the areas of eDiscovery, information governance, and commercial litigation. She started her own firm after spending 15 years in private practice working at large law firms. Ms. McKnight advises businesses and other lawyers on e-discovery issues, from developing early discovery plans and advising on implementing defensible litigation holds to triaging unexpected e-discovery issues mid-litigation. She works collaboratively with other lawyers, business agents, and technologists to develop strategies for the efficient and effective management of electronically stored information – for litigation and beyond.
Suzanne Alfastsen
Membership Director
One day I accepted a position that changed the trajectory of my professional career. My, Business Development, IT background/computer science & adjunct faculty professor at Macomb Community College provided the aptitude that Lexis-Nexis was seeking. My role with Lexis Nexis supporting law firms was my intro to the Legal Industry. My position with Lexis-Nexis lasted 7 years as a Regional Director of 5 state territory. Kelly Services hired me as Managing Director in Michigan to develop the Michigan/Ohio markets with the flexible/staffing of attorneys and paralegals business model for law firms and corporate legal departments. I moved into an Operations Manager role for the eDiscovery project center that provided our clients nationwide with reduced cost for document review & due diligence projects. My last role with Kelly was working with the Outsourcing Consulting Group providing Legal Solutions to Global Clients. After 17 years with Kelly Law Registry, Kelly Services, Inc. divested our Legal Talent business unit and we were acquired by Trustpoint.One. Today, I represent Trustpoint.One an integrator of various legal solutions i.e. eDiscovery, AI & analytics, Managed Review, Managed Services, Post Breach Response, Translation, Court Reporting, Information Governance Solutions and Legal Talent. In addition, I also represent Entrusted Advisors, a WBENC/WOSB that specializes in the provision of specialized Flexible Legal Talent to corporate clients and assist corporations in meeting their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion goals.
Denise Bach
Director of Education
Denise B. Bach, CEDS is a Director of Sales with Exterro. She has over 25 years of experience in the Digital Forensics, eDiscovery and Cybersecurity industries. Denise consults with law firms and corporations to bridge the gap between the legal process and technology. She also consults with Information Security professionals in all aspects of Data Privacy and Security and holds a certification in Risk Management. Denise’s experience spans many industries including manufacturing, automotive, finance, retail, marketing, government, energy, healthcare and insurance. Denise has been on the ACEDS Detroit Chapter as a board member since its inception and is currently the Education Chair of the Detroit Chapter.
Cindy MacBean
Director at Large
Cindy MacBean is Litigation Support Manager at Honigman LLP. Cindy is a highly experienced Litigation Support professional who has recommended technology solutions to support discovery workflow to provide innovative, appropriate and cost-effective solutions. Her experience spans law firms, corporate legal departments and the Department of Justice, Civil Division. In addition to her MBA in Technology Management, she maintains certifications in eDiscovery (CEDS), Information Governance (IGP) and US/Europe Privacy (CIPP/US, CIPP/E).
Scott Petz
Director at Large
Scott A. Petz, Esq. is a Member in Dickinson Wright’s Troy office. Mr. Petz focuses his practice in the areas of commercial and business litigation, class and collective actions, labor litigation, consumer protection, and condemnation and land use. Mr. Petz has received a number of acknowledgements: (1) Selected for America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators® for Michigan, 2018; (2) Selected for Benchmark Litigation “40 & Under Hotlist,” 2018; (3) Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America©, Commercial Litigation, 2018 and 2019; (4) Selected to the Michigan Super Lawyers Rising Stars list in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018; and (5) Received the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association Barristers Section’s 2013 “One to Watch” award. Mr. Petz has presented and published in the eDiscovery area. Mr. Petz received his B.A. from Kalamazoo College, cum laude, and his J.D. from The John Marshall Law School, magna cum laude.
Richard Ford
Director at Large
Sunny Rehsi
Director at Large
Graeme Turner
Director at Large