Legal leadership

Our lawyers have top positions in powerful legal organizations in Michigan and throughout the country

We are proud of the long-standing leadership positions our auto accident attorneys have held in the legal community – in Michigan and across the U.S. Take a look at our unique qualifications for helping people injured in car accidents and truck accidents, and teaching other personal injury lawyers.

State Bar of Michigan Negligence Law Section
President, 2010-11
David Christensen, a Michigan Auto Law partner, is president of the State Bar of Michigan Negligence Law Section. The section is the largest single section of the Bar, and composed of more than 4,300 negligence lawyers and litigators. Dave was elected by his peers to lead this organization, as it works to protect the rights of Michigan personal injury victims and advance the legal profession.

Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers Association
President, 2011-17
Michigan Auto Law partner Steven Gursten is president of the Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers Association. This group is a professional and trade association of trial attorneys throughout the country who represent injury victims and consumer plaintiffs in claims involving motor vehicle injuries.

Michigan Association for Justice
Officer, 2012-17
David Christensen has been elected an officer of the Michigan Association for Justice, which means he is on his way to being president of the organization after he fulfills roles in various officer positions. The Michigan Association for Justice is the state’s largest organization of trial lawyers and consumer advocates representing the needs of injured accident victims. Michigan Auto Law has been a long-standing member, contributor and lecturer to the organization, formerly called the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association.

Michigan Association for Justice
President, 2007-08
Robert Raitt, a partner of Michigan Auto Law, is past president of the Michigan Association for Justice. Bob helped nearly 2,000 personal injury attorneys in Michigan by teaching them to be better lawyers and helping shape public policy that aimed to protect all Michigan drivers and accident victims.

American Association for Justice Interstate Truck Accident Litigation Group
President, 2007-08
Steven Gursten served as president of the American Association for Justice Truck Accident Litigation Group. The group’s mission is to educate and assist truck accident attorneys throughout the country. The American Association for Justice is the nation’s largest association of advocates serving the needs of personal injury victims, with more than 50,000 lawyer members. Michigan Auto Law has been a long-standing member, contributor and lecturer to the organization, formerly called the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America
Board of Governors, Representing Michigan, 2007-11
Steven Gursten serves on the Board of Governors for the Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America, a national association of committed truck accident lawyers who have joined to help eliminate unsafe and illegal interstate trucking practices.  Michigan Auto Law partner Lawrence Gursten also sat on the board of governors for this organization.

American Association for Justice Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group
Executive Board, 2007-14
Steven Gursten serves on the executive board of the American Association for Justice Traumatic Brain Injury Group; a group of trial lawyers who dedicate major portions of their legal practices to helping victims of traumatic brain injury.

State of Michigan Model Civil Jury Instructions
Subcommittee, 2010-11
Steven Gursten is on the subcommittee for the State of Michigan Model Civil Jury Instructions. He advises on the most effective jury instructions regarding Michigan No-Fault PIP aggravation, causation instruction, analysis of McCormick v. Carrier and current auto negligence serious impairment of body function instruction.

Sarah Jane Brain Project
Legal Committee, 2008-11
Steven Gursten is on the legal committee for the Sarah Jane Brain Project, a group of  brain injury lawyers, doctors, professors and lawmakers dedicated to preventing and treating pediatric traumatic brain injury.

Michigan Association for Justice Auto No-Fault Committee
Co-Chair, 2005-10
Steven Gursten was co-chair of the Michigan Association for Justice Auto No-Fault Committee. The committee’s mission is to provide education, training and assistance to auto accident lawyers in Michigan. It is actively engaged in seeking political and legislative correction to issues facing car accident victims, including first- and third-party tort legislation. Lawrence Gursten was also a chair of this committee.

Michigan Association for Justice
Executive Board, 2009-10
David Christensen was a member of the Michigan Association for Justice Executive Board. He has been in a leadership position in this organization for many years. The other partners of Michigan Auto Law, Lawrence Gursten, Leonard Koltonow, Steven Gursten and Robert Raitt, have also held executive board member positions in the Michigan Association for Justice.

State Bar of Michigan
Representative Assembly, 1999-2004
Steven Gursten and David Christensen have served as legal representatives of the State Bar of Michigan’s Representative Assembly. Steve and Dave were both elected by their peers to represent the interests of all lawyers in the State Bar of Michigan, which is the organization that regulates the entire legal profession in Michigan.

We invite you to read real client testimonials or watch videos of accident victims whose lives we have changed. If you wish to speak to a personal injury lawyer directly about your circumstances, call us at (800) 777-0028.