The tangled web of Dennis J. Whittlesey and Ilitch agent Tom Shields

Dennis J. Whittlesey joins Dickinson Wright from the Washington, D.C. office Jackson Kelly PLLC. His areas of practice emphasis are Indian law, Indian gaming law, civil litigation and environmental law. Mr. Whittlesey has more than 25 years of experience in developing economic projects, including casinos, for Indian tribes in the United States and Canada. He has served as Special Counsel for Gaming to the cities of Detroit, Michigan; Buffalo, New York; Battle Creek, Michigan; Lima, Ohio and Barstow, California, as well as a number of counties in California, Illinois and Michigan.

Note: ironically Tom Shields (Marketing Resource Group; Lansing, Michigan), longtime PR/Political strategists for Marian Ilitch, the Ilitch Family and Michael J. Malik, Sr. has represented casino proponents in a number of the cases where Mr. Whittlesey has been recommended or brought in to represent the local government's interests in negotiations with casino proponents.

Shields' clients end up covering costs of Whittlesey's services via reimbursement to the local governmental agency intended to cover fees billed under Whittlesey's retainer arrangments.

Mr. Whittlesey received J.D. and LL.M. degrees from Georgetown University Law Center, and a B.A. degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and Oklahoma, as well as the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Tax Court and U.S. Claims Court. He is a member of the International Association of Gaming Attorneys and a past Chairman of the Young Lawyers Association of The Federal Bar Association. He has been named one of the "Best Lawyers in America" from 2005 to the present for his work in Indian law and Indian gaming law.

Dickson Wright attorneys have represented casino syndcation partners Marian Ilitch and Michael J. Malik, Sr. on various matters prior to Whittlesey joining the firm.