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Commitment To Jewish Community
Drives Founders Of Law Firm
By Maureen McDonald
W
hen Michael Maddin
and Mark Hauser
reviewed the history and
development of their
35-year law practice they founded in
1982, Maddin Hauser Roth & Heller
PC, they were most proud of the work
they were doing to enrich the Jewish
community in Metro Detroit.
Eight of its attorneys have served
in key leadership positions in
organizations, including the Jewish
Federation and its agencies, the United
Jewish Foundation, the Jewish Sports
Hall of Fame and many others.
“We take a literal meaning of the
Hebrew principle tikkun olam, to repair
the world,” says Michael W. Maddin,
president emeritus and co-founder
of the Southfield-based law firm with
45 attorneys and a specialization in
corporate and business law. “Our firm is
based on a commitment among others
to building a vibrant Jewish future.”
Co-founders Maddin and Mark R.
Hauser, managing director, started
their practices when talented Jewish
law grads were discriminated against
when applying for jobs at Downtown
Detroit law firms and were restricted
from buying houses in some of the most
desirable suburban communities. Out of
these concerns came social action.
Both served as president of the
United Jewish Foundation with the
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit — the guiding organizations of
Jewish philanthropy and engagement.
Both have been recipients of the Fred
M. Butzel award for outstanding
community service. Both were involved
at the time of the sale of Sinai Hospital
to the Detroit Medical Center in 1999
and helped orchestrate the founding
of The Jewish Fund from that sale and
established the Jewish Community
Campus at 15 Mile and Drake.
According to Maddin, the advocacy
arm of their practice began when both
gentlemen were members of the Junior
Division of the Jewish Federation, where
they conducted business and found
many synergies in vision and ethics.
They became partners in a merged law
firm in 1982.
“We were four, they were 10 when we
merged and we’ve grown into a much
bigger firm.”
Mark Hauser and Michael Maddin
Among their real estate work for the
community was the sale of Borman
Hall, a Jewish nursing home. The funds
helped to establish the Marvin and
Betty Danto Family Health Care Center
in West Bloomfield. They were also
involved in the sale of the Beth Achim
synagogue to Akiva Hebrew Day School
and the development of the Jewish
Community Campus. Maddin is past-
chair of the Federated Endowment Fund
and serves on a number of foundation
boards.
“We’re not looking for direct
reciprocity; we’re doing work for the
community because we like it. Our
talents can help clients and do good
deeds,” Hauser says.
Their outreach also includes the
United Negro College Fund, Starfish
Family Services and Jewish Family
Service among many others.
Maddin agrees: “It is important for
us to serve the community as a whole.
We encourage all our employees to
participate in nonprofit organizations,
to help others. Our goal is to live good
lives, do excellent work and help clients
achieve their goals.”
Maddin’s proudest achievement was
the David and Goliath transaction
between his client Chuck Forbes and, it
seemed, “the world.” His work led to a
settlement including monies for paying
the cost of moving Forbes’ Gem Theatre
and Century Club five blocks in 1997 to
its current location on Madison Avenue.
The number of legal complications
were overwhelming, it took 1.5 years
to accomplish, yet it then became the
largest moving operation of a two-story
building in architectural history.
Hauser was involved early on helping
the clients of his national real estate
practice borrow funds for their projects
with some of the first CMBS loans
originating from Wall Street, which now
are common practice.
“Our firm has handled any number
of impossible cases. We love doing
something that someone said couldn’t
be done,” Maddin says.
Maddin and Hauser also celebrate
the work in the Jewish community of
their partners. John E. Jacobs is past
Jewish Family Service and Temple
Emanu-El president, Anti-Defamation
League’s regional chair and Davidson
Lifetime Achievement awardee. Ronald
A. Sollish is past-president of the Fresh
Air Society. Stewart C.W. Weiner is past
Jewish Family Service president and
current chair of the Jewish Federation’s
Planning and Allocation Steering
Committee (PACT).
Additionally, Richard F. Roth is past-
chair of the Sinai Hospital Health Care
Foundation and Jewish Sports Hall
of Fame; Richard J. Maddin, a retired
partner, is past president of the Jewish
Community Center; and Michael
Perlman, also retired, is past-president
of the Jewish Federation Apartments.
“We must stay involved,” Maddin
says. “I remind people that a millage
campaign in West Bloomfield lost by
one vote. Every contribution of time and
talent helps build a better world.” Y
Maddin Hauser Roth & Heller PC
Second Floor Essex Centre
28400 Northwestern Hwy.
Southfield, MI 48034
(248) 354-4030
www.maddinhauser.com
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July 18 • 2017
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