 | AttorneysJoni M. Fixel
After 25 years experience in the Energy Industry, Joni Fixel opened her practice in East Lansing focusing in Employment, Employee Rights and Civil Litigation. Ms. Fixel is a member of the Federal Bar Association, Michigan Bar Association and the Grand Rapids Bar Association. Ms. Fixel is experienced in employment law, wrongful discharge, civil rights violations, discrimination, sexual harassment, FMLA and ADA claims. She also has experience in adoptions, foreign adoption litigation, civil RICO and civil litigation. Ms. Fixel is a certified Probate and Estate Planner by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education. She remains current in the changes in the laws affecting estate planing and asset planning. Ms. Fixel is sworn to practice in all Michigan Courts, U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, District Court Western District of Michigan, the United States Supreme Court, and some of the Tribal Courts of Michigan. Ms. Fixel is currently the President of the National LeioMyoSarcoma Foundation. Contact Attorney Joni Fixel |
 | Robert L. Hood - Of Counsel
Mr. Hood was again, for 2010 included in the Michigan Listing of Business Law of Super Lawyers. Robert was admitted to the Michigan Bar Association in 1967 and has practiced law providing services to business clients operating as corporations, partnerships, limited partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies, professional corporations and professional limited liability companies. Mr. Hood also deals extensively with trade associations and tax-exempt entities and matters pertaining to various forms of taxation, security issues, insurance entities forms and alternatives. His experience in international business and tax matters includes advising on taxation of international transactions, advising US citizens working in foreign countries on taxation issues, assisting investors immigrants on US Visa investments issues. Mr. Hood was a member of the adjunct faculty at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School from 1978 to 1985, teaching courses in accounting for lawyers and business planning. He regularly prepares materials for and lectures in various continuing education programs in his area of practice. Mr. Hood is a regular contributing columnist for a number of trade associations and business-oriented periodicals and has a number of speaking credits pertaining to business, taxation, tax-exempt organizations and succession planning issues. His is a Director of Conveivex, Inc. (Chair, Audit Committee). Mr. Hood is a seven time winner of the People's Choice Award as "Best Attorney" voted by the readers of the Towne Courier and Ingham County News. Mr. Hood is currently Legal Counsel to the Lansing Symphony Orchestra and provides legal service for other community groups. Contact Attorney Robert Hood |
 | Collin H. Nyeholt - Associate Attorney
Collin graduated with honors (Cum Lauded) from Michigan State University College of Law in May of 2010. He holds the degree of Juris Doctor Cum Laude. While at MSU Law, Collin won a seat in the Moot Court Seminar, was included in the Dean's List, and was, at one point, ranked in the Top Ten of his class. Collin was admitted to the Bar upon motion of Robert L Hood on October 21, 2010. Collin also holds a Bachelor's Degree in Finance and an Associate's Degree in Music. A native Lansing resident, Collin grew up in Mid-Michigan and has chosen this place to make his home and establish his career. Experience: Collin has worked for Fixel Law Offices since the second semester of his 1L year, January of 2008, and already possesses extensive experience in the area of litigation of claims. Rather than engaging in clubs or social activities, Collin spent the bulk of his free time in law school involved in real cases and working in real litigation. He has worked extensively on civil Rico cases, civil rights cases, employment discrimination, business claims including tortius interference and minority shareholder oppression, and environmental contamination matters. He is also quite familiar with government immunity issues as a result of his experiences. He has done everything from single-plaintiff litigation to complex multi-plaintiff cases. Collin continues to devote the bulk of his time to the firm's litigation activities but is also branching out into some of the business law areas so as to expand his base and round out his experience and knowledge base. Contact Attorney Collin Nyeholt |
 | Julie A McDonald - Of Counsel Julie A. McDonald is a 2002 graduate of Thomas M. Cooley Law School. She holds the degree of Juris Doctor Cum Laude, with a concentration in litigation. Her natural ability as a litigator led to her being named an inaugural recipient of the Outstanding Senior Litigator Award while at Cooley. A native of the Alpena area, Ms. McDonald previously practiced law in Northern Michigan from 2002 to 2009, building expertise in the areas of family law, criminal law, estate planning, contracts, and more. Upon her relocation to the Lansing area in 2009, she worked as a Friend of the Court supervising attorney/investigator in Clinton County until joining Fixel Law Offices in 2011. Ms. McDonald is a skilled domestic relations mediator, and serves on the board of the Michigan Association of Court Mediators. She also serves on the SCAO Mediator Training Review Committee. In addition, Ms. McDonald provides volunteer legal services at the Women’s Center of Greater Lansing. Ms. McDonald is currently engaged in the general practice of law, with emphasis in the following areas: divorce, custody, child support, juvenile adjudications, child abuse and neglect, personal protection orders, criminal law, expungements, driver’s license restoration, wills and trusts, medicaid planning, guardianships and conservatorships, landlord/tenant, and contracts Contact Attorney Julie McDonald |
AssitantsElizabeth Nault- Executive Legal Assistant Elizabeth Nault is Fixel Law Offices Executive Legal Assistant. Ms. Nault's legal experience includes over eighteen (18) years in various areas of law including: criminal, civil, corporate, employment, medical malpractice, workers compensation, and divorce. Ms. Nault is currently assisting Attorney Robert L. Hood in the areas of corporate and business law and working with Attorney Joni M. Fixel in the areas of employment, wrongful discharge, civil rights and discrimination. Contact Liz Nault |
