When you are injured or lose a loved one because of someone else’s mistake, the lawyer you choose matters. That is why our Southfield team in Oakland County is proud to announce the Lipton Law attorneys named 2026 Michigan Super Lawyers and Rising Stars. This year brings five Super Lawyers, one Rising Star, and one Top 100 honoree, all earned through peer recognition.
Lipton Law has served injured Michigan families since 1964, and we remain a family-run law firm today.
If you need help with an injury or medical malpractice claim, call (248) 557-1688 or request a free consultation.
Lipton Law’s 2026 Michigan Super Lawyers and Rising Stars at a Glance
Six Lipton Law attorneys earned 2026 recognition from Super Lawyers, and several have been chosen year after year.
| Attorney | 2026 Recognition | Practice Area | Years Selected |
| Marc E. Lipton | Michigan Super Lawyer | Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice | 2008 to 2026 |
| Jody B. Lipton | Michigan Super Lawyer | Personal Injury | 2009 to 2021, 2024 to 2026 |
| Joel A. Sanfield | Michigan Super Lawyer | Medical Malpractice | 2019 to 2026 |
| Ronald K. Weiner | Michigan Super Lawyer, Top 100 | Alternative Dispute Resolution | 2014 to 2026 |
| Kyle Kelly | Michigan Super Lawyer | Personal Injury | 2026 |
| Farah Israel | Michigan Rising Star | Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice | 2026 |
What It Means to Be Named a Michigan Super Lawyer
Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters rating service, names no more than 5 percent of the lawyers in each state to its annual list. Attorneys cannot nominate themselves, and selection rests on peer recognition and professional achievement.
The Super Lawyers selection process moves through three main stages:
- Peers nominate attorneys they have watched in action, which places those attorneys in the candidate pool.
- The Super Lawyers research staff independently evaluates each candidate on factors such as verdicts, settlements, and honors.
- A blue ribbon panel of top-scoring attorneys in each practice area reviews the candidates before the list is final.
Michigan attorneys with the highest point totals also make the Top 100 list, one of the state’s most selective honors.
Meet Our 2026 Michigan Super Lawyers in Southfield
These outstanding attorneys are part of a Southfield law firm with more than 250 years of combined legal experience. Each honoree brings a different strength to our clients, from trial work to mediation.
Marc E. Lipton: Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice
Marc E. Lipton has been named a Michigan Super Lawyer every year from 2008 through 2026, a run of 19 straight selections. He also made the Top 100 Michigan Super Lawyers list in 2017. Marc is a past president of the Michigan Association for Justice (MAJ), the statewide association of trial lawyers who represent injured people.
Marc recently secured a $650,000 settlement for the family of a 67-year-old woman who suffered a stroke at a rural hospital. Hospital staff and a neurologist failed to recognize her symptoms and transfer her in time for treatment.
Jody B. Lipton: Personal Injury
Jody B. Lipton earned her 2026 selection in Personal Injury, adding to Super Lawyers honors from 2009 through 2021 and 2024 through 2025. A partner since 1996, Jody manages the firm alongside Marc, handles referral partnerships, and has tried more than 50 jury trials. Jody is a former Oakland County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney who now focuses on Michigan no-fault insurance claims, auto negligence, and motorcycle cases.
Joel A. Sanfield: Medical Malpractice
Joel A. Sanfield has been named a Super Lawyer in Medical Malpractice every year since 2019. He recently secured a $2.3 million settlement for a client sent home from the emergency department with a leaking brain aneurysm. A CT scan should have revealed the problem, and the missed diagnosis led to a catastrophic stroke. Emergency room errors like this can change a life in hours. Joel also secured an $800,000 settlement after a hospital failed to properly treat an infected kidney stone.
Ronald K. Weiner: Alternative Dispute Resolution and Top 100 Michigan Super Lawyers
Ronald K. Weiner was named to the 2026 Top 100 Michigan Super Lawyers list and selected in Alternative Dispute Resolution. He has been a Super Lawyer every year since 2014. Ron served as MAJ president from 2021 to 2022. He also received the Respected Advocate Award from Michigan Defense Trial Counsel at the State Bar of Michigan Negligence Law Section’s annual meeting. Defense lawyers present that award, which reflects respect earned on both sides. In May 2026, Ron moderated a Negligence Law Section panel on successful facilitation, and he helps parties resolve cases through our alternative dispute resolution services.
Kyle Kelly: Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, & Appellate Law
Kyle Kelly is a stalwart of the plaintiff’s bar, known among attorneys throughout Michigan and across the nation. Since joining Lipton Law in 2011 after graduating from Wayne State University Law School, Kyle has built a practice around complex medical malpractice claims and off-the-beaten-path injury cases that call for creative legal thinking and thorough preparation. He also handles motor vehicle cases, including no-fault and third-party claims; appellate matters for clients whose cases turn on difficult legal questions; and serves on the Michigan Association for Justice (MAJ) Amicus Committee, where he helps shape the law that affects injured people statewide.
Farah Israel: Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, and a 2026 Michigan Rising Star
Farah Israel was named a 2026 Michigan Rising Star in Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice. The Rising Stars list names no more than 2.5 percent of attorneys in the state. Candidates must be 40 or younger or in practice 10 years or less.
Farah came to the United States in 2001, and her journey shapes how she serves clients. She is fluent in Arabic and understands Aramaic, so many families can speak with her in the language they know best. She focuses on medical malpractice and nursing home negligence cases.
Leadership That Extends Beyond the Super Lawyers List
Many of our attorneys hold leadership roles in the Michigan Association for Justice, the statewide trial lawyer group founded in 1945.
Lipton Law attorneys currently hold or have held these MAJ positions:
- Marc Lipton, past president.
- Ron Weiner, past president.
- Steffani Chocron, current Secretary and on track to become president.
- Sean McNally, member of the Executive Board.
- Kyle Kelly, member of the Amicus Committee.
- Darnell Smith, selected for the MAJ Leadership Academy, an honor extended to a select group of lawyers.
Recognition Backed by Results for Michigan Families
Awards mean the most when they reflect real results, including fair compensation for families harmed by negligence.
Sean McNally secured a $4.85 million settlement after a commercial box truck driver struck and killed a 67-year-old woman in a parking lot. The driver had a known history of traffic violations. Steffani Chocron secured $700,000 for the family of a 92-year-old woman who fell in her senior apartment and waited more than 12 hours for help. She died three days later.
Results like these add to a long record of verdicts and settlements for Michigan families. They also sit alongside the honors and community work recognized in the Lipton Law highlights. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a future outcome.
Why Peer Recognition Matters When You Choose a Southfield Personal Injury Lawyer
Peer recognition gives you an outside measure of a lawyer’s skill before you ever call. Other lawyers watch how an attorney prepares and tries cases, so their opinion carries weight when you compare top lawyers. Super Lawyers repeats its review every year, so a past selection does not guarantee future recognition. Every selected attorney appears on SuperLawyers.com, where you can confirm an honor yourself. Keep in mind that no award guarantees a particular result in your case. Our medical malpractice lawyers and personal injury attorneys serve clients from Southfield to Detroit, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions About Michigan Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
How Are Michigan Super Lawyers Selected?
Super Lawyers selects attorneys through peer nominations, independent research, and peer evaluation by practice area. Candidates earn points for professional achievement and peer recognition. No more than 5 percent of Michigan attorneys make the final list, and attorneys cannot nominate themselves or campaign for votes.
What Is the Difference Between Super Lawyers and Rising Stars?
Both lists use the same selection process. Rising Stars is limited to attorneys who are 40 or younger or have practiced 10 years or less. Rising Stars names no more than 2.5 percent of attorneys in the state, while Super Lawyers names up to 5 percent.
Can a Lawyer Pay to Be Named a Super Lawyer?
No. A lawyer cannot pay to be selected as a Super Lawyer. The State Bar of Michigan addressed this in ethics opinion RI-341, noting that advertising in the publication has no connection to who receives the designation. Selection rests on peer input and research.
Which Lipton Law Attorneys Were Named 2026 Michigan Super Lawyers?
Marc E. Lipton, Jody B. Lipton, Joel A. Sanfield, Ronald K. Weiner, and Kyle Kelly were named 2026 Michigan Super Lawyers. Ron Weiner also made the 2026 Top 100 list. Farah Israel was named a 2026 Michigan Rising Star in Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice.
Does Lipton Law Handle Cases Outside Southfield?
Yes. Lipton Law is based in Southfield, but our Michigan injury lawyers represent injured people and families statewide. We regularly help clients in Detroit, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, and South Central Michigan. Call (248) 557-1688 to find out whether we can help with your claim.
Talk With an Award-Winning Lipton Law Attorney Today
Insurance companies and hospitals often start building their defense right away, and Michigan sets strict deadlines for injury and malpractice claims. The sooner you act, the more evidence we can protect for you.
Whether you live in Southfield, Detroit, or anywhere else in Michigan, call (248) 557-1688 today to schedule a free consultation with the team our peers just recognized. You can also visit our Southfield personal injury office at 18930 W. 10 Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48075.