Our Legacy
We have a long, successful history when it comes to developing new capabilities and deepening our experience for the benefit of our clients. Butzel Long's tradition as counsel to the visionaries leading revolutionary developments in the automotive industry—any many other areas of commerce—remains as strong today as it has been since the 1920s when we represented the auto pioneers, publishing icons, and leaders of prominent financial institutions, railroads, and other innovators of that time.
For decades, we’ve been proud to serve our clients in technology, manufacturing, e-commerce, biotechnology, intellectual property, and cross-border operations and transactions sectors, and many others. We represent several American, European, and Asian manufacturers and suppliers.
Butzel Long’s roots in Detroit are deep. We’ve been a part of the business and legal community since 1854, when the city’s economy was based on the Great Lakes shipping trade. Admiralty law was the specialty of founding senior partner William Austin Moore. He was called to Buffalo, Cleveland, Milwaukee, and Chicago to handle some of the most important cases of his time.
Moore played a prominent role in politics and served as president of the Detroit Board of Education. His political activism attracted Don M. Dickinson to the firm in 1867. Dickinson developed a national reputation as a lawyer and gained prominence in national politics as an adviser to Grover Cleveland. He managed Cleveland’s successful campaign for president in 1884 and went on to serve as postmaster general. Another member of the firm, Henry Thurber, served as Cleveland’s personal secretary at the start of his second term as president in 1893.
The firm’s political leanings attracted another top lawyer and Democratic activist, Elliot G. Stevenson, in 1887. He served as Chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee in the 1890s. He represented all five Detroit newspapers in libel matters and established a national reputation as a libel lawyer. The Chicago Tribune called on him when Henry Ford filed his famous libel suit in 1918. Ford won the suit, but Stevenson won the day when the jury awarded damages of just six cents.
Stevenson tangled with Ford again when he represented brothers John and Horace Dodge in their successful suit over withheld dividends. The Dodge brothers went on to create their own automotive empire, while Ford took his company private to prevent further meddling in his affairs.
In 1910, Will Durant turned to Stevenson to untangle the legal complexities involved in consolidating many companies into what became General Motors. The firm provided a sound legal, financial, and corporate platform for the newly recast venture.
Butzel Long is named for Leo Butzel, who joined in 1896, and Thomas Long, who joined in 1909. Long worked on the General Motors restructuring and in 1920 tried the only matter of litigation that arose out of the entire reorganization. Butzel’s list of clients included Durant, the Dodge Brothers, Chrysler, Ford, Kelsey, and the Fishers in the auto industry, and the Scripps and the Booths in the publishing field. The firm also represented many iconic financial institutions, railroads, and other significant businesses during the height of Detroit’s industrial growth.
Another prominent Democrat joined the firm in the 1920s. Frank Eaman served as Chairman of the state Democratic Central Committee and held several high-profile public posts, including Detroit civil service commissioner and state prison commissioner. When he served as Detroit’s police commissioner, Eaman fired the superintendent and abolished the jobs of 10 other ranking officers in an attempt to eliminate corruption in the department. He was one of the founders of the Legal Aid Society in Detroit.
Now, we take a neutral stance on party politics, working with Republican and Democratic officials on behalf of clients. Community involvement, economic development, and pro bono work are important priorities for many firm members.
The firm has maintained its close ties to the automotive industry and has been involved in major transactions in other industries. We helped to create the Michigan Bell Telephone Company (formerly known as Ameritech and now part of AT&T). A former senior partner went on to become President of the Burrough’s Corporation (now part of Unisys). The firm served as counsel for the acquisition of the Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company by the Stroh Brewing Company in 1982, and later the Heileman Brewing Company.
Butzel Long continues to provide legal counsel to newspapers and other media concerns. The Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) between The Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press was worked out with the help of Butzel Long attorneys. The firm represented Reader’s Digest and members of the “60 Minutes” team in landmark libel and invasion of privacy suits. The firm’s media attorneys also continue to play a leading role in issues involving cyberspace, privacy, and other related issues.
By serving clients with global interests, we bring forward a tradition of practical insight and trusted experience in international law. From our origins in the mid-1800s representing international shipping concerns, the firm went on to provide legal counsel in some of the country’s most important international trade disputes at the turn of the 20th century. More recently, a Butzel Long attorney has served as US Ambassador to Japan. In 1991, to assist clients with business and legal concerns throughout the world, we became a founding member of Lex Mundi, one of the first and largest associations of independent law firms from around the world. We’re proud we remain the sole Michigan member firm of the organization to this day.
