Our attorneys have the unique skill sets of also being licensed and trained insurance agents and brokers. This adds to our ability to understand the marketplace for insurance buying and to know what endorsements and coverages are available. We are adept at non-insurance related risk management, and provide legal advice in such areas as:

• The review of lease agreements for indemnification clause protections and waivers or subrogation.
• Review and drafting of construction agreements for insurance requirements issues and protections of owners, general contractors and sub-contractors.
• Analysis of supplier and vendor agreements for risk exposures.
• Drafting of service agreements including disclaimers and limitations on right to sue.
• Employment risk management advice and recommendations including review of handbooks.

We have also served as an expert witness in over 150 cases since 2000 involving coverage interpretation, standards of care of insurance agents and other insurance issues.

Michael Hale, J.D., CPCU, AAI is a principal with the insurance and risk management firms 360 Risk Management Inc. and Clairmont Advisors LLC, both based in Northville, Michigan. He is also the founder of the law firm of Hale & Hirn PLLC, which specializes in insurance and risk management matters. A 1994 graduate cum laude of Michigan State University School of Law, he has been retained as an expert witness in over two hundred cases involving insurance coverages and agent errors and omissions issues since 2000. He started his career in 1994 with the firm of Plunkett & Cooney, P.C. where his practice concentration was on insurance coverage matters. Hale has earned the nationally recognized certifications of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Accredited Advisor in Insurance (AAI). As an attorney, he has represented both insurance companies and policyholders in coverage matters. He was named Leader in the Law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly in 2017 and 2008. Hale has been published in many legal and other publications, including The Michigan Bar Journal, Michigan Lawyers Weekly, and The CPCU Journal.
He can be reached at 248-321-8941.

Melissa L. Hirn, J.D., AAI is a partner with Hale & Hirn, PLLC, an insurance and risk management focused law firm, and is of counsel to Clairmont Advisors LLC, an insurance agency and consulting firm, both based in Northville, Michigan.  She is a 1996 graduate of the University of Dayton School of Law where she served on the prestigious Dayton Law Review. She is a graduate, magna cum laude from Western Michigan University.  Ms. Hirn was previously employed as a judicial attorney for a circuit court judge in Wayne County, Michigan.   She advises many businesses on corporate law and employment law compliance and on insurance related issues.  Ms. Hirn has earned the nationally recognized certification of Accredited Advisor in Insurance (AAI) which involved the passing of three comprehensive examinations on insurance and risk management topics. She has been published in many legal and other publications, including The Michigan Bar Journal, and Michigan Lawyers Weekly. In addition to a long history as an accomplished attorney, she is a professional violinist.
 
She can be reached at 269-420-6652.

Call us at 248-321-8941 or email us today for additional information on how we can help you!