Mike Cox

Mike Cox is the leader of the Mike Cox Law Firm. Cox brings unparalleled experience and unique perspective to the practice of law as a former Michigan Attorney General and renowned trial attorney with an extraordinary record of success.

Cox's record as a very successful litigator led to appearances on Court TV and Dateline NBC, while his leadership of complex litigations as Michigan's Attorney General landed him on the pages of Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and in the national television media. Drawing on his experiences as trial attorney in over 125 jury trials and experiences as Attorney General, Cox helps clients to navigate an increasingly competitive business world and complex regulatory environment.

Cox was recently lead trial counsel for a defendant in the class action, multi-district, anti-trust matter, In Re Sulfuric Acid Litigation in the federal court for the Northern District (Chicago) of Illinois. The case was successfully resolved in December of 2011 with a judgment on behalf of Cox's client - and all other defendants - dismissing all claims. Cox focuses his practice on all manner of business and commercial litigation ranging from trade secrets to contractual disputes, while also representing clients in administrative hearings before regulatory bodies. Cox also has represented clients before Congress and in Department of Justice inquiries.

Mr. Cox brings an unique perspective to problem solving for his clients. For instance, Cox organized his fellow attorneys general in lawsuits as diverse as Massachusetts v EPA (Clean Air Act and administrative procedures) to Granholm v Heald (the scope of the 21st Amendment and the Interstate Commerce Clause). He has testified in front of the United States Senate on greenhouse gase emissions and in the US House of Representatives on invasive species, and participated in United State Chamber of Commerce panels on federalism and tort reform. His peers selected him to chair the non-partisan National Association of Attorneys General Homeland Security Committee – and he has also chaired the Republican Attorneys General Association in addition to co-chairing President Bush's and Senator McCain's presidential campaigns in Michigan. As a result of these varied experiences and leadership opportunities, Mr. Cox also provides counsel on high-stakes government and regulatory matters such as commercial litigation, financial regulation, anti-trust cases, energy and utility rate regulation, climate change, and gaming matters.

During his 8 years as Michigan attorney general, Cox also led on a wide range of health care initiatives. In addition to being a national voice on the Affordable Care Act of 2010, Mr. Cox led the successful certificate of need (CON) process that allowed two Detroit urban hospital systems to move hundreds of beds to maintain their financial viability in the face of increasing uninsured populations. During the last days of his administration Cox oversaw the largest conversion of a non-profit hospital system for sale to a for-profit company in the United States. Cox's tenure was also marked by national leadership on free market solutions to affordable and accessible health care insurance.

For over 20 years, Mike Cox has been relentless in achieving success for his clients in the public and private sector. His tenacity as a litigator and skills as a negotiator provide Cox's clients with the winning edge. Mike Cox is a graduate of the University of Michigan and University of Michigan Law School as well as a former Marine Corps rifleman.

Dan V. Artaev

Dan V. Artaev, a member of the Michigan Bar since 2010, is an associate at The Mike Cox Law Firm P.L.L.C. Mr. Artaev specializes in commercial litigation and appellate work. He has a proven track record of success in state and federal litigation, at both the trial and appellate levels. Mr. Artaev's diligence, meticulous attention to detail, and persuasive writing skills ensure clients get the highest level of legal counseling and representation.

Prior to joining The Mike Cox Law Firm P.L.L.C., Mr. Artaev served as Assistant Attorney General in the Labor Division of the Michigan Attorney General's Office. In that capacity, Mr. Artaev has been an integral part of high-level litigation teams, including one representing the Governor in a lawsuit challenging Michigan's law banning project labor agreements in public construction. Mr. Artaev has also successfully represented various state agencies, securing almost $1,000,000 in judgments against employers who failed to comply with their workers' compensation obligations, and also independently negotiating the largest settlement in the history of Michigan workers' compensation compliance prosecution. Additionally, Mr. Artaev has represented the State Fire Marshal, obtaining dismissal of a federal lawsuit challenging the retail insurance requirements of the new Michigan Fireworks Safety Act.

Mr. Artaev received his law degree in 2010 from the Michigan State University College of Law, graduating summa cum laude in the top 7 percent of his class, and earning Jurisprudence Awards for top grade in Research and Legal Writing, International Sales, and Criminal Procedure. Mr. Artaev honed his leadership and writing skills as the Senior Notes Editor of the Michigan State Law Review, and a member of the Law Review's Senior Executive Board. He earned his undergraduate degree at Kalamazoo College, graduating magna cum laude with majors in Economics and Business and German Language and Literature while actively participating as a member of the men's varsity tennis team. Mr. Artaev is fluent in Russian and has a working knowledge of German and basic Spanish.

Kevin S. Toll

Mr. Toll counsels and represents individuals and businesses of all sizes in all aspects of business and commercial litigation. He has focused his practice on providing strategic advice to, and representing, clients on both sides in banking and financial litigation, including collection, foreclosure, receivership, secured transactions, and lender liability issues. He has experience in bankruptcy matters, creditor's rights and asset protection planning. In addition, he has represented clients in a wide variety of complex commercial disputes, including matters involving fiduciary duties, shareholder rights, partnerships, contracts, employment, real estate (including title, ownership, and priority disputes), property tax appeals, intellectual property rights, unfair competition, insurance coverage (with a specific focus on life, health, and disability insurance), and corporate dissolution. He has successfully represented clients in both state and federal courts and has obtained favorable results in the Michigan Court of Appeals and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Mr. Toll earned his bachelor's degree in Telecommunications with a minor in Business at Indiana University before attending law school at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Mr. Toll was awarded Book Awards in many courses including Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Evidence in Criminal Trials, and Federal Income Tax. He graduated with honors in 2006, listed in Who's who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges for 2006, and was awarded membership to the Frank Murphy Honor Society.

While in law school, Mr. Toll interned with the Honorable Nancy G. Edmunds of the United States District of the Eastern District of Michigan and the Honorable Helene N. White of the Michigan Court of Appeals. He was also a member of the University of Detroit Mercy Law Review.

Areas of Practice:
Business & Commercial Law
Banking & Finance Law
Employment Law
Insurance Law
Litigation & Appeals
Real Estate Law
Real Estate Litigation/ Commercial Litigation

Litigation Percentage:
90% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions:
Michigan, 2006
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, 2006
U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2008
U.S. Supreme Court, 2010

Education:
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, Detroit, Michigan, May, 2006
J.D. Honors: Cum Laude
Honors: Member of Frank Murphy Honor Society
Honors: Book Awards
Law Review: University of Detroit Mercy Law Review, Senior Member of Law Review, 2005 - 2006

Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, May, 2003 B.A.
Honors: Dean's List (Fall 2000 - Spring 2003)
Major: Telecommunications
Minor: Business

Published Works:
The Ninth Amendment and America's Unconstitutional War on Drugs, 84 U. Det. Mercy L. Rev. 417, Three, 2007

Honors and Awards:
Who's Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges, 2006

Frank Murphy Honor Society

Professional Associations and Memberships:
State Bar of Michigan, 2006 - Present
Member

American Bar Association, 2003 - Present
Member

Oakland County Bar Association, 2006 - Present

Past Employment Positions:
Hon. Nancy G. Edmunds of the United States District of the Eastern District of Michigan, Intern

Hon. Helene N. White of the Michigan Court of Appeals Intern

Languages: English