Butzel President and CEO Paul M. Mersino Named to Crain’s Detroit Business’ ‘Who’s Who – The Most Influential People in Southeast Michigan’
DETROIT, Mich. – Butzel President and CEO Paul M. Mersino, has been named to Crain’s Detroit Business’ new “Who’s Who – The Most Influential People in Southeast Michigan.” According to Crain’s, the list highlights nearly 300 leaders who are setting agendas, shaping policy, building businesses and driving change across the region.
Notably, Mersino was named to Crain’s Detroit Business magazine’s 2021 Class of “40 Under 40” list.
Mersino is a recognized business leader in metro Detroit. He was recently named to DBusiness magazine’s Detroit 500 – 2025 list of the Most Powerful Business Leaders in Metro Detroit, for the third straight year.
Moreover, he has been recognized as a Top Lawyer by DBusiness magazine, as a Michigan Super Lawyer, as one of Oakland County’s Elite 40 under 40, and as an “Up and Coming Lawyer” by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
Mersino was appointed Butzel President and CEO in March 2023. He is responsible for the operations and management of the 150+ attorney firm, including budgeting, setting strategic goals, and more. Mersino was elected to the firm’s Board of Directors in 2020.
He represents public and private companies, in a number of areas including complex commercial litigation, contract disputes, non-compete and trade secret disputes, automotive supplier disputes, construction litigation, and First Amendment litigation. He has seen a number of successes in trials and cases across the country, having obtained jury verdicts, summary judgment rulings, dismissal of cases against his clients, and settlements favorable to his clients in state and federal courts throughout the nation.
Mersino also represents and advises a number of startup companies, assisting them with their legal needs and matching them with potential venture capital funding. He handles appeals in the Michigan Court of Appeals, the Michigan Supreme Court, and in federal courts across the country.
Mersino formerly served as Butzel’s Litigation Practice Department Chair. He was responsible for the management and oversight of the firm’s Commercial Litigation attorneys who reported to him as well as their strategic goals, budgeting, forecasting, and direction of the practice group. Mersino also has served as Trustee of the Butzel Charitable Trust.
He has served on the Board of Directors of the Detroit Bar Association and as an advisor to the Michigan Institute of Continuing Legal Education's Litigation Advisory Board.
Mersino is a 2008 graduate of Ave Maria School of Law, where he graduated magna cum laude and was a member of Law Review and the State Championship Moot Court team. He earned an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Northwood University (B.A., 2005).
