We effectively and efficiently represent people harmed by the misconduct of others.
Tom Howlett vigorously pursues cases for people and families harmed by others' misconduct, undertaking both individual lawsuits and class actions. His primary areas of focus are professional negligence (medical malpractice and legal malpractice), catastrophic injury, civil rights (wrongful convictions), and consumer class actions.
Tom also works hard to serve the profession and public. Currently, he serves as immediate past president of the Oakland County Bar Association, Michigan's largest voluntary bar association. in 2016, he was recognized by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as one of 30 Leaders in the Law in the State of Michigan.
Tom has practiced law in Washington, D.C., Michigan and in state and federal courts across the country since 1990. He joined The Googasian Firm, P.C., in 1998, and he serves as our firm's chief operating officer. Tom graduated from Harvard College (A.B. cum laude, 1984) and University of Michigan Law School (J.D., 1990). Prior to law school, he was a reporter for The Dallas Morning News.
From 1990 to 1991, Tom served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Douglas W. Hillman, then-Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan. From 1995 to 1997, Tom and his family lived in the Republic of Palau in the western Pacific, where Tom served as Assistant Attorney General and Counsel to the President for that new island nation. From 2000 to 2005, Tom served as chair of the State Bar of Michigan’s Law and the Media Committee. Since 2005, he has served as a board member of the Oakland County Bar Association, where he currently serves as president and previously chaired the membership committee. In 2007 and again in 2013, he received the OCBA’s Distinguished Service Award.
In every year since 2006, Tom has been recognized as one of Michigan’s Super Lawyers. He also has received the highest, “AV” peer review rating from LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell. Tom was recently profiled in Motion magazine.
He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the District of Columbia Bar (inactive) and the State Bar of Texas (inactive), as well as the American Bar Association, the American Association of Justice and the Michigan Association of Justice.
Practice areas
25 years
25 years
25 years
25 years
Languages spoken
English
The Googasian Firm, P.C.
6895 Telegraph Rd
Bloomfield Hills, MI, 48301
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
MI | Active And In Good Standing | 1997 | 12/27/2020 |
DC | Inactive | 1992 | 10/14/2017 |
TX | Inactive | 1990 | 12/05/2020 |
Legal answers | 41 |
Legal guides | 0 |
Award name | Grantor | Date granted |
---|---|---|
Distinguished Service Award | Oakland County Bar Association | 2013 |
Distinguished Service Award | Oakland County Bar Association | 2009 |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Partner | The Googasian Firm | 1998 - Present |
Associate | Levine Sullivan & Koch | 1997 - 1997 |
Assistant Attorney General & Counselor to President | Republic Of Palau | 1995 - 1997 |
Associate | Ross, Dixon & Masback | 1991 - 1995 |
Judicial Law Clerk | The Hon. Douglas W. Hillman, chief judge, U.S. District Court for Western District of Michigan | 1990 - 1991 |
Post-Graduate Intern | Los Angeles Times | 1984 - 1984 |
---|---|---|
Reporter | The Dallas Morning News | 1984 - 1987 |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
American Bar Association, Law Practice Division | Committee Member | 2014 - Present |
Litigation Counsel of America | Fellow | 2013 - Present |
Oakland County Bar Association | Director | 2005 - Present |
Michigan Association for Justice | Member | 1998 - Present |
American Association for Justice | Member | 1998 - Present |
State Bar of Michigan | Member | 1997 - Present |
---|---|---|
Oakland County Bar Association | President | 2014 - 2015 |
Oakland County Bar Association | President-Elect | 2013 - 2014 |
Oakland County Bar Association | Vice President | 2012 - 2013 |
Oakland County Bar Association | Treasurer | 2011 - 2012 |
State Bar of Michigan, Law and the Media Committee | Chair | 2011 - 2014 |
Oakland County Bar Association | Secretary | 2010 - 2011 |
Publication name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Laches (OCBA) | The Future is Now | 2015 |
Laches (OCBA) | Promoting the Interests of the Legal Profession | 2014 |
American Association for Justice (AAJ) | Use of "Branding" and Other Marketing Efforts in Personal Injury Litigation: Two Case Studies | 2001 |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
University of Michigan Law School | JD - Juris Doctor | 1990 |
Harvard College | A.B. | 1984 |
Conference name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Oakland County Bar Association | Agenda Ahead | 2014 |
University of Michigan School of Public Policy | For-Profit Colleges | 2011 |
Case name | Outcome |
---|---|
Bobbitt v. Academy of Court Reporting | Settlement |
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Joseph Lavigne, Personal injury Attorney on Mar 13, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Tom is truly among the best attorneys in any field anywhere in the country. He is hard working, exceptionally well prepared, and dedicated to outstanding results for his clients. I have had the pleasure of working with him on a number of cases involving clients in common and have seen first hand how hard he works to achieve the best possible results for his clients. His considerable skills are only exceeded by the fact that he is a true gentleman and a complete professional to deal with. He is the kind of attorney other lawyers emulate and is the one you want by your side when the chips are down.
Anthony Patti, Litigation Attorney on Jan 13, 2012
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
I endorse this lawyer wholeheartedly. Tom Howlett is a truly outstanding attorney; in fact, one of the best in the state. He is intellectually brilliant, well-spoken, personable and professional. He aggressively represents his client's interests and is well respected by the courts.