icon on “My team employs a sense of ownership in each deal, for every client, and treats it as our most important transaction.”
Joseph is the chairman of our Business and Corporate Group. He concentrates his practice in business financial transactions and real estate matters, including mergers, acquisitions, and reorganizations of business entities; complex commercial and real estate lending and restructuring transactions; international business transactions; real estate sale and leasing transactions; securities law and private placements; and healthcare-related corporate matters.
Joseph formerly served as assistant general counsel responsible for mergers and acquisitions for ThyssenKrupp in North America, and has also served as interim general counsel for corporate clients in the automotive, technology, and service industries, and in such capacity has advised members of management on all aspects of corporate, financial, and real estate transactions (both domestic and international), as well as securities issues.
His extensive experience includes negotiation and consummation of mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, combinations, and joint ventures, including certified Minority Business Enterprises, negotiation and drafting licensing, e-commerce and other intellectual property agreements, negotiation and drafting of real estate purchase and leasing agreements, and various aspects of securities transactions and regulatory compliance. Joseph's former firms include Dinsmore & Shohl (Cincinnati) and Butzel Long (Bloomfield Hills).
Joseph is the former assistant editor of the Michigan International Lawyer, and has authored various articles for the Michigan Business Law Journal. He is a frequent lecturer at ICLE and industry group seminars on various topics, such as mergers and acquisitions, corporate, and real estate financing related matters.
Services
Business & Corporate
Our business is business–your business. We offer vast experience in a full array of corporate legal services.
Credentials
Education
- Wayne State University Law School
- LL.M., 2005
- J.D., cum laude, 1995
- Michigan State University, James Madison College, 1992
- B.A.
Memberships
- Association for Corporate Growth
- Financial Executives International
- State Bar of Michigan
- Business Law Section
- American Bar Association
- Negotiated Transactions and Health Law Committees
Admissions
- Michigan, 1996
- Illinois, 1996
- Ohio, 1995 (Inactive)
- U.S. Court of International Trade, 1995
Professional Achievements
- The Best Lawyers in America©, 2013-2021
- M&A Advisor's International M&A Awards, "Professional Services (B-to-B) Deal of the Year Advisors Award," 2018
- Michigan Leading Lawyers, 2014-2021
- dbusiness, "Top Lawyers," 2011-2014; 2016-2020
- Michigan Super Lawyers, 2011-2020
- Top 100 Michigan Lawyers, 2013
- Top 50 Michigan Business Lawyers, 2013
- Crain's Detroit Business, "Deal Maker of the Year (Advisor Category)," 2014
- Finance Monthly, "Deal Maker of the Year," 2013
- Michigan Super Lawyers, "Rising Stars," 2008-2010
Experience
Representative Matters
- Represented Gnutti Carlo, a U.S. subsidiary of Gnutti Carlo S.p.a. of Milan, Italy in its acquisition of MS Industries USA subsidiaries’ heavy truck and bus engine component business in the U.S. Edit
- Represented Aon Risk Services in multiple strategic acquisitions and divestitures. Edit
- Represented Cambridge Consulting Group, LLC in its sale to NFP, a leading insurance broker and consultant based in New York City. Edit
- Represented Esys Automation, a full-service automation solutions provider to the automotive industry in its sale to JR Automation, a portfolio company of Crestmark Partners, a private equity firm. Edit
- Represented CEC Controls Company in its sale to a publicly traded multinational corporation based in the United Kingdom. Edit
Represented a large regional equipment sales and leasing company in its $300MM+ recapitalization and refinancing transaction.
Edit- Represented Blue Wing Capital Partners in its acquisition of Southern Soil Turf Management Company. Edit
Represented Continental Cafe, LLC, a Troy, Michigan based food services supplier, in its recapitalization and investment transaction with New Heritage Capital Partners.
Edit- Represented General Hydroponics in its sale to Scotts Miracle-Gro Company. Edit
- Represented Paslin Company in the sale of its controlling interest to Tower Three Partners. Edit
- Represented ThyssenKrupp in the sale of its ownership interest in TWB Company, LLC to Wuhan Iron and Steel (WISCO). Edit
- Represented Mag Americas in the sale of its aerospace business to fives, a French private equity firm. Edit
- Represented Plasan Carbon Composites in a direct investment by Toray Corporation. Edit
- Strategic Alliance between software/firmware provider from Europe and Continental (former VDO Siemens) for telematics control devices for heavy truck and bus OEMs. Edit
- Strategic Alliance between Delphi Automotive and technology company for on board diagnostic communication system via bluetooth for automotive OEM and aftermarket. Edit
- Strategic Alliance between TRW Vehicle Safety Systems and Tier I interiors supplier for airbag modules in instrument panels. Edit
Presentations
- Sun Acquisitions, LLC, M&A Unplugged, Episode 91; "Joseph DeVito: Creative Deal Structures to Bridge the Gap," March 2, 2021, podcast. https://bit.ly/3beXcuK
- Business Owners Breakfast Series, Panel Discussion, "Business Transaction Update," May 13, 2014, Birmingham, MI.
- Association of Corporate Counsel, Chicago Chapter, "Managing the Relationship with Your International Corporate Parent," January 23, 2014, Chicago, IL.
Media
Media3
March
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September
Press Release
Sixteen Howard & Howard Attorneys Named to Michigan Super Lawyers and Michigan Rising StarsJoseph J. DeVito, Andrew (Jake) Grove, Miles T. Macik, Patrick M. McCarthy, Gerald E. McGlynn, III ... , Mark W. Peyser, Thomas H. Walters, Aaron Beresh, Brandon J. Booth, Paul T. Engel, Sam Fares, Michael O. Fawaz, Evonne Xu
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August
Press Release
Howard & Howard Congratulates Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers® and Best Lawyers®: Ones to Watch 2021W. West Allen, Daniel H. Bliss, Stephanie S. Buntin, Jennifer L. Carleton, Seaton J. Curran ... , Thomas W. Davis, II, Joseph J. DeVito, Trent K. English, Mark J. Gardberg, Andrew (Jake) Grove, Robert Hernquist, Sam Haidle, Amanda Hill, Kristopher K. Hulliberger, Michael V. Kell, Rodger Kershner, Jon D. Kreucher, Matthew J. Kreutzer, Miles T. Macik, Patrick M. McCarthy, Gerald E. McGlynn, III, R. Saleha Mohamedulla, Gwen Rutar Mullins, Brian J. Pezzillo, Robert L. Rosenthal, Leonard W. Sachs, Aaron Beresh, Paul S. Mazzola, Noah A. Menold, Adrianna Agosta Nichol, Marcus Smetka
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April
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March
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March
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February
In The News
B. Riley Principal Merger Corp. and Alta Equipment Holdings, Inc. Complete Business CombinationJoseph J. DeVito, Robert E. Graziani, Jane S. Hahn, Jeffrey A. Hoover, Robert B. Johnston ... , Ian W. Larkin, Richard M. Miettinen, Kayla R. Mullen, Mary V. Pickard, Lee A. Sartori, Jude Sullivan, Evonne Xu, Nolan A. Yaldo
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December
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September
Press Release
Twenty-two Howard & Howard Attorneys Named to Michigan Super Lawyers and Michigan Rising StarsMark A. Davis, Joseph J. DeVito, Andrew (Jake) Grove, Sam Haidle, David M. LaPrairie ... , Miles T. Macik, Patrick M. McCarthy, Gerald E. McGlynn, III, Richard M. Miettinen, Mark W. Peyser, Thomas H. Walters, Timothy M. Wittebort, Aaron Beresh, Brandon J. Booth, Michael O. Fawaz, Jeffrey A. Hoover, Mark C. Vanneste, Jake Woolbright
10
September
Press Release
Howard & Howard Congratulates Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers® 2020Andrew (Jake) Grove, Amanda Hill, Brad A. Rayle, Brian J. Pezzillo, Daniel H. Bliss ... , Gerald E. McGlynn, III, Henry P. Lee, Gwen Rutar Mullins, Jon D. Kreucher, Joseph J. DeVito, Kristopher K. Hulliberger, Leonard W. Sachs, Mark J. Gardberg, Matthew J. Kreutzer, Michael V. Kell, Jennifer L. Carleton, Miles T. Macik, Patrick M. McCarthy, Robert Hernquist, Rodger Kershner, R. Saleha Mohamedulla, Robert L. Rosenthal, Stephanie S. Buntin, Seaton J. Curran, Thomas W. Davis, II, Trent K. English, W. West Allen
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September
Press Release
Thirty Howard & Howard Attorneys Named to Michigan Super Lawyers and Rising Stars 2018Andrew (Jake) Grove, Brad A. Rayle, Brandon J. Booth, David M. LaPrairie, Evonne Xu ... , Gerald E. McGlynn, III, Jake Woolbright, Jeffrey A. Hoover, Joseph J. DeVito, Mark A. Davis, Mark C. Vanneste, Mark W. Peyser, Mary C. Dirkes, Michael O. Fawaz, Miles T. Macik, Nicholas T. Chapie, Patrick M. McCarthy, Paul T. Engel, Richard M. Miettinen, Sam Fares, Sam Haidle, Thomas H. Walters, Timothy M. Wittebort
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August
Press Release
Howard & Howard Congratulates Our Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers 2019Andrew (Jake) Grove, Brad A. Rayle, Brian J. Pezzillo, Daniel H. Bliss, Gerald E. McGlynn, III ... , Gwen Rutar Mullins, Henry P. Lee, Jennifer L. Carleton, Jon D. Kreucher, Joseph J. DeVito, Kristopher K. Hulliberger, Leonard W. Sachs, Mark J. Gardberg, Matthew J. Kreutzer, Michael V. Kell, Miles T. Macik, Patrick M. McCarthy, R. Saleha Mohamedulla, Robert Hernquist, Robert L. Rosenthal, Rodger Kershner, Seaton J. Curran, Stephanie S. Buntin, Thomas W. Davis, II, Trent K. English, W. West Allen
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June
Press Release
Thirty Howard & Howard Attorneys Named to Michigan 'Leading Lawyers' 2018Andrew (Jake) Grove, Brad A. Rayle, Brad Knickerbocker, Brandon J. Booth, Daniel H. Bliss ... , Gary A. Peters, Gerald E. McGlynn, III, Gustaf R. Andreasen, Henry J. Brennan, Henry P. Lee, Jeffrey A. Hoover, John A. Wise, Joseph J. DeVito, Mark A. Davis, Mark W. Peyser, Michael J. Beals, Michael V. Kell, Michael Wais, Patrick M. McCarthy, Richard M. Miettinen, Robert E. Graziani, Rodger Kershner, Sam Haidle, Thomas H. Walters, Timothy M. Wittebort, Wayne C. Inman
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September
Press Release
Howard & Howard Congratulates Our Attorneys Named to Michigan 'Super Lawyers' and Michigan 'Rising Stars' 2017Andrew (Jake) Grove, Brad A. Rayle, Brandon J. Booth, David M. LaPrairie, Evonne Xu ... , Gerald E. McGlynn, III, Jake Woolbright, Jeffrey A. Hoover, Joseph J. DeVito, Kristopher K. Hulliberger, Mark A. Davis, Mark W. Peyser, Mary C. Dirkes, Michael O. Fawaz, Miles T. Macik, Patrick M. McCarthy, Paul T. Engel, Richard M. Miettinen, Robert E. Graziani, Sam Fares, Sam Haidle, Timothy M. Wittebort
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August
Press Release
Howard & Howard Congratulates Our 'Best Lawyers' 2018Andrew (Jake) Grove, Brad A. Rayle, Brian J. Pezzillo, Daniel H. Bliss, Gerald E. McGlynn, III ... , Gwen Rutar Mullins, Henry P. Lee, Jon D. Kreucher, Joseph J. DeVito, Kristopher K. Hulliberger, Mark J. Gardberg, Matthew J. Kreutzer, Michael V. Kell, Miles T. Macik, Patrick M. McCarthy, Robert L. Rosenthal, Rodger Kershner, Seaton J. Curran, Thomas W. Davis, II, Trent K. English, W. West Allen
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August
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September
Press Release
Howard & Howard Congratulates Our Attorneys Named to Michigan 'Super Lawyers' and Michigan 'Rising Stars' 2016Andrew (Jake) Grove, Brad A. Rayle, Brandon J. Booth, David M. LaPrairie, Evonne Xu ... , Gerald E. McGlynn, III, Jeffrey A. Hoover, Joseph J. DeVito, Kristopher K. Hulliberger, Mark A. Davis, Mark W. Peyser, Mary C. Dirkes, Michael O. Fawaz, Michael V. Kell, Michael Wais, Patrick M. McCarthy, Paul T. Engel, Richard M. Miettinen, Robert E. Graziani, Sam Haidle, Timothy M. Wittebort
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August
Press Release
Howard & Howard Congratulates Our 'Best Lawyers' 2017Andrew (Jake) Grove, Brad A. Rayle, Daniel H. Bliss, Gerald E. McGlynn, III, Gwen Rutar Mullins ... , Henry P. Lee, Jon D. Kreucher, Joseph J. DeVito, Kristopher K. Hulliberger, Matthew J. Kreutzer, Michael V. Kell, Miles T. Macik, Patrick M. McCarthy, Robert L. Rosenthal, Rodger Kershner, Thomas W. Davis, II, Trent K. English, W. West Allen
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September
Press Release
Howard & Howard Congratulates Our Attorneys Named to Michigan 'Super Lawyers' and Michigan 'Rising Stars' 2015Brad A. Rayle, Brandon J. Booth, David M. LaPrairie, Evonne Xu, Gerald E. McGlynn, III ... , Jeffrey A. Hoover, Joseph J. DeVito, Kristopher K. Hulliberger, Mark A. Davis, Mark W. Peyser, Mary C. Dirkes, Michael O. Fawaz, Michael V. Kell, Michael Wais, Patrick M. McCarthy, Paul T. Engel, R. Saleha Mohamedulla, Richard M. Miettinen, Robert E. Graziani, Sam Haidle, Timothy M. Wittebort
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August
Press Release
Howard & Howard Congratulates Our 'Best Lawyers' 2016Brad A. Rayle, Daniel H. Bliss, Gerald E. McGlynn, III, Gwen Rutar Mullins, Joseph J. DeVito ... , Kristopher K. Hulliberger, Michael V. Kell, Miles T. Macik, Patrick M. McCarthy, Robert L. Rosenthal, Rodger Kershner, Thomas W. Davis, II, Trent K. English
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Press Release
Howard & Howard Congratulates Our Attorneys Named to Michigan 'Super Lawyers' and Michigan 'Rising Stars' 2014Brad A. Rayle, Brandon J. Booth, David M. LaPrairie, Gerald E. McGlynn, III, Jeffrey A. Hoover ... , John A. Wise, Joseph J. DeVito, Kristopher K. Hulliberger, Mark A. Davis, Mark W. Peyser, Mary C. Dirkes, Michael O. Fawaz, Michael V. Kell, Michael Wais, Patrick M. McCarthy, R. Saleha Mohamedulla, Richard M. Miettinen, Robert E. Graziani, Sam Haidle, Timothy M. Wittebort, Trent K. English
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Community
CommunityJoseph supports several charities, including Angels of Hope, Parade Company, St. Baldrick's Foundation, and UHY Cares.
Joseph also supports Yatooma's Foundation For The Kids.
