Karen Hockstad represents small to medium size businesses in Michigan, Ohio, and throughout the country. Her clients include restaurants; entertainment venues; condominium associations; real estate holding, internet and retail companies; and individual entrepreneurs. Karen represents her clients in state and federal courts and in cases involving complex commercial litigation matters, business and tax law, business succession planning, employment law and related litigation, including non-competition agreements, real estate litigation, and intellectual property litigation. She has many years of experience with all facets of corporate law, ranging from basic business set-up to multi-million dollar merger and acquisition transactions. Karen also represents multiple charter schools in contract negotiation and related litigation.

Born and raised in Michigan, and a graduate of the University of Michigan and Detroit College of Law, Karen found herself in Columbus, Ohio immediately following law school. A Wolverine at heart, Karen admits that she never felt "settled" in Columbus. Nonetheless, Columbus brought Karen 18 years of success as she built her legal practice. Karen places a high importance on community involvement. While in Columbus, she was actively involved with the Conway Family Business Center – a resource center for local family-owned businesses – and Nationwide Children’s Hospital – where she helped to raise money for oncology research and child abuse prevention. Karen also serves in leadership roles with both the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Kiwanis Club, among others.

She is a recipient of both the Columbus Bar Association’s Community Service Award and the Business First 40 Under 40 Award, and was named Woman of the Year by NAPW in 2010/2011.

After 18 years in Ohio, Karen and her husband have decided to return "home" to Michigan. They will make their home in Ann Arbor where Karen looks forward to reigniting her community involvement. In her spare time, Karen enjoys travel, wine-tasting, golf, and tennis.

Noteworthy

• AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
• Listed as a "Ohio Super Lawyer" (2004-2006, 2011) -- Business, Business Litigation, and Employment Law
• Recipient, Columbus Bar Association Community Service Award, Age 37 and Over Award
• Recipient, Business First 40 Under 40 Award

Education

• University of Michigan (B.A., Political Science, 1987)
• Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University (J.D., magna cum laude, 1992)
• Capital University Law School (LL.M. in taxation, 1994)

Admitted

• 1992, Michigan
• 1993, Ohio
• U.S. Tax Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio

Client Successes for Karen S. Hockstad

• 10/1/2011
  Karen obtained a groundbreaking decision in a charter school case, Hope Academy Broadway Campus, et al. vs. White Hat Management, LLC., et al in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas in Ohio. In October 2011, the court ruled that the management company are public officials who have to account to the plaintiff school boards and the State of Ohio for how they spend the public money. The Court also ruled that the terms of the management agreements that gave the company the power to unilaterally decide how to spend the money are void. If upheld on appeal, this will become a major decision that reforms charter school law.

Smith Haughey Publications

News for Karen S. Hockstad

12/16/2011
Smith Haughey Lawyers Names “Super Lawyers”

9/16/2011
Karen Hockstad Joins Smith Haughey's Ann Arbor Office

Professional Affiliations

• State Bar of Michigan
• Columbus Bar Association
• Ohio State Bar Association (Past Chair, Corporate Counsel Section Council)
• Executive Committee, Women Lawyers of Franklin County

Community Affiliations

• Board member, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Mid-Ohio Chapter Network
• Board member, Nationwide Children's Hospital
• Past Chair, Board of Trustees for Conway Family Business Center of Central Ohio
• Past Chair, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Mid-Ohio Chapter
• Past President, Children's Hospital Developmental Board
• Past member, Tim Horton's Children's Foundation, Fundraising Committee
• Past member, Kiwanis Club of Downtown Columbus
• Past Trustee, Safety Council of Central Ohio
• Member, University of Michigan Alumni Association of Central Ohio