Commercial Litigator Thomas Walters Joins Dinsmore in Detroit as National Firm Continues Pursuit of Midwest Expansion

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP has welcomed its fifth new partner in Detroit in just two weeks, as commercial litigation attorney Thomas Walters brings his practice to the national firm. He is following the path of his colleagues, led by mergers and acquisitions partner Joseph DeVito, who joined Dinsmore in Southeast Michigan in late July.

Walters is a trusted adviser in all aspects of business litigation. Although he focuses on litigation avoidance and helps clients find alternative pathways to resolution, he has significant first-chair jury trial and arbitration experience. His practice includes manufacturing disputes, automotive supply chain controversies, construction-related conflicts, sales representative commission claims, real estate development and leasing, stakeholder separations and intellectual property matters. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, much of Walters’ work has revolved around helping clients experiencing supply-chain stress and disruptions.

In choosing to join Dinsmore, Walters was motivated to continue a partnership with DeVito that began three decades ago, when both were law clerks. DeVito was later Walters’ client when DeVito held an in-house position, and the two have worked hand in hand for the past 15 years, with Walters serving as the litigation counterpart to DeVito’s M&A work at the firm they departed. At Dinsmore, they see an opportunity to offer greater depth and breadth of service to their clients.

“Dinsmore’s national platform and collection of professionals allow us to offer even better service to our clients,” Walters said. “The firm is at once very large and profitable, but also comprised of nice, honest, hardworking people. I’m excited to be part of that and to expand our presence in Michigan.”

Mark Schneider, Dinsmore’s office managing partner in Michigan, is pleased with the firm’s continued growth in Detroit.

“We are happy to add Tom to our growing office,” Schneider said. “We plan to continue expanding in Michigan by leveraging Dinsmore’s culture of collegiality, compensation transparency, and commitment to diversity.”

With the addition of Walters, Dinsmore now has 31 attorneys in Detroit and Ann Arbor, including nine commercial litigators across the two offices. DeVito and Schneider‘s goal is to expand the offices to 50-70 attorneys in the coming years.