Thomas P. Bruetsch
Michigan
Schenk & Bruetsch PLC
211 West Fort Street
Suite 1410
Detroit, MI 48226
Tel: 313-774-1000 ext. 1001
Email:
thomas.bruetsch@sbdetroit.com
Web:
www.sbdetroit.com
Tom Bruetsch is one of Michigan’s top commercial litigators and appellate lawyers. His clients rely on him for insightful counsel, creative analysis, and an aggressive and pragmatic litigation approach. He joined Matt Schenk to create Schenk & Bruetsch PLC after 18 years at one of Detroit’s leading large firms, where he was a principal and hiring partner and served on the firm’s executive committee.
Bruetsch has argued before the Michigan Supreme Court and maintains a strong appellate practice. Most recently he won a case at the Supreme Court that recognized tax credits property interest. He is a member of the Supreme Courts Advocates Guild.
From Detroit’s mayor to its professional football team, clients come to Bruetsch to resolve difficult legal problems. He has represented banks, prominent political leaders, governments, auto manufacturers and suppliers, large corporations, and family businesses. Bruetsch is well versed in virtually all areas of commercial litigation but has a particular focus on finance, fraud, and fiduciary issues; municipal and election law and policy; public authorities and utilities; franchise, supplier, and distribution issues; appeals; and class action, contract and general commercial disputes. He aggressively pursues his clients’ interests and gets results. Bruetsch has significant trial experience and has taken matters to trial or arbitration in Michigan, Arizona, Texas, and the United Kingdom.
Leading publications have acknowledged Bruetsch as one of the absolute best litigators. These include Chambers USA and Benchmark Litigation, and DBusiness Magazine. He is featured in Super Lawyers and America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators. Bruetsch also was accepted as a fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation, an honor reserved to 5% of lawyers.
- Comerica Inc. v. Department Of Treasury (Mich 2022)
- Innovation Ventures LLC v. Liquid Manufacturing, Inc. (499 Mich 491 2016)
- Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Co. v Musselman (257 Mich App 477 2003)
- Comerica Bank v. Michigan Department of Treasury (332 Mich App 155, 2020).
- Fellow, Michigan State Bar Foundation
- “Litigation Star” – Benchmark Litigation: The Definitive Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys
- Recognized as Top Litigator by Chambers USA
- Named a “Top Lawyer” by DBusiness Magazine
- “SuperLawyer”
- America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators
- Order of the Coif
- United States District Court Pro Bono Awards
- Nominated for Three Local Emmy Awards for Work as a Television Producer
- Board of Directors, Detroit Bar Association
- Michigan Supreme Court Advocates Guild
- Member, Advisory Council, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
- Member, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
- State Bar of Michigan
- Detroit Progress Fund, Secretary
- Turnaround Detroit
- Major Michael E. Duggan Mayoral Transition Team (Legal and Economic Development) 2013-2014
- University of Michigan Alumni Association
- Grosse Pointe South Dugout Club Board Member
Schenk & Bruetsch was founded in April of 2020, when Matthew Schenk and Thomas Bruetsch, friends and colleagues for more than a decade, made the decision to start their own firm. Focusing on their individual strengths, unique skill sets, and strong backgrounds, they founded a boutique law practice providing big firm sophistication and expertise with the personal service and touch of a small firm. Schenk brings twenty years of local governmental and contractual expertise to the table to help businesses navigate the complex world of government. Thomas Bruetsch adds more than twenty years of business and governmental litigation experience focusing on complex, high-profile, and “must win” cases.
Since its founding, Schenk & Bruetsch added three additional partners, Brian Summerfield, Marc Deldin and David Jones. In addition to his twenty plus years of commercial, construction, and real estate litigation, Brian is the past president of the Detroit Bar Association and the former President of the Grosse Pointe School System. Marc successfully ran his own law firm for close to a decade after serving as in-house counsel for a conglomerate of family-owned companies. Marc’s practice areas include commercial and business litigation, and he has a transactional practice in the areas of real estate, corporate formation, and business buy/sell agreements. David is a former prosecutor who serves on numerous boards and specializes in municipal, criminal and sports law.
We view ourselves as problem solvers. Our approach is to understand our clients’ unique situations and their objectives. Then we work with our clients to develop a strategy to help them achieve their goals. At Schenk & Bruetsch, we are smart for your business, because we are solution based. This is why so many clients rely on us, from Fortune 500 companies and governmental organizations to family-owned businesses and entrepreneurs.