Maddin Milestones: Celebrating 100 Years with Ron Sollish
In 2025, Maddin Hauser proudly celebrates its 100th anniversary. Since 1925, Maddin Hauser has flourished and been inspired by Detroit’s impressive staying power as an influential American city. In honor of a century of service to clients and our greater Michigan communities, we sat down with some of our attorneys to discuss Maddin Hauser’s history, their professional journeys, and what the future holds for the firm and its clients.
Today, we chatted with Ronald Sollish. Ron serves as vice president, an executive committee member, and chair of the Corporate and Employment practice group.
Q: Tell me about your practice and how long you’ve been with Maddin Hauser. What attracted you to the firm, and what do you value or appreciate most about working at MH?
A: I joined Maddin Hauser over 36 years ago, straight out of law school. Many, if not all, of the things that attracted me to the firm initially are the same reasons I am so proud of this place today, three decades on.
There has always been an absolute commitment to professionalism and integrity here, not only in terms of who we ask to join the firm but also in the way we teach, train, and mentor our younger attorneys once they’re on board. The other thing that struck me when I started, and remains the case today, is that everyone at the firm, from the most senior partner to a mailroom clerk, treats each other as equals. The recognition that every person here contributes to and is essential to the success of the firm and its clients, that lack of autocracy or elitism, goes a long way towards explaining why people make Maddin Hauser their professional home for the better part of their careers.
Q: As Maddin Hauser celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2025, what would you see in the firm’s future if you had a crystal ball?
A: In many ways, it feels like Maddin Hauser is regularly looking into a crystal ball in the sense that the firm is constantly peering into the future. We’ve always understood that longevity, continuity, and growth as a firm involve both generational changes as well as the ability to anticipate and adapt to changes in technology, the legal industry, and client expectations.
The firm’s founders have, of course, moved on, but they thoroughly prepared the next generation to take the reins, and that generation did the same, as did the one after that. I have no doubt that succeeding generations will follow in these footsteps – bringing on top legal talent and helping them assume leadership roles in the firm.
Our investment in the future goes beyond our people. We have always developed and followed thoughtful and strategic growth plans rather than taking an ad hoc approach. Our recent office move to an innovative and tech-forward but very people-centric space is an example of our commitment to the future.
Q. One hundred years is a tremendous milestone for the firm to achieve. What do you feel has been the most significant influence on its longevity, and what sets the firm apart?
A: Our organizational culture, for sure. The same timeless values that formed the firm’s foundation in 1925 – unimpeachable integrity, professional excellence, and an unwavering focus on our clients above all – remain the cornerstones of the firm in 2025. And that continuity over a century doesn’t happen by accident. It is the product of an intentional undertaking to hire outstanding lawyers who share and maintain those values.
Q: Technology and how we work and communicate have changed dramatically in the last 100 years. How has innovation influenced your practice?
A: Well, I don’t use carbon paper anymore, for one. That was where legal tech was when I started, and the innovations and advancements of the past four decades — of the past five years, even — have completely transformed both how lawyers practice and what clients expect.
As with all new technology, there are significant advantages, and there are things to be a bit wary of. Speed and efficiency are undoubtedly positive developments in terms of serving clients, as are our connectivity and accessibility. We are essentially available 24/7, and every client has the ability to reach their attorney at any time to answer a question or put out a fire.
But, we are very cognizant of ensuring that leveraging the benefits of new technologies does not come at the expense of thoughtful analysis and considered judgment. We are all aboard the technology train, but we drive the tech; we don’t let it drive us.
Q: In 2023, the firm launched an important initiative, The Maddin Hauser Way, which clearly defines everyone’s shared values and practices, which are the foundation of the firm’s culture. Recognizing that all of them are vital, is there one that has more greatly influenced or impacted your practice?
A: The ones that really speak to me are the first two: “Act with integrity” and “Treat each other like family.”
I have always believed that the law is an honorable profession, or at least it should be. Being honorable means always doing the right thing. It means when things go wrong, you own it, and you make it right. A lawyer may be the most skilled and accomplished practitioner in their field, but if they lack integrity, you won’t find them at Maddin Hauser.
You also won’t find lawyers at our firm who don’t respect, value, and appreciate every other person here, attorneys and staff alike. Like family, we all have each other’s backs; we are always there with generous praise for accomplishments and heartfelt support when someone is having a rough time, whether personally or professionally. When I say I am proud that Maddin Hauser is my “professional home,” that second word means as much as the first.