Maddin Milestones: Celebrating 100 Years With Brian Nettleingham
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 Brian Nettleingham, a shareholder and member of Maddin Hauser’s Financial Services and Real Property Litigation and Complex Litigation and Risk Advisory practice groups.
Q: How long have you been with Maddin Hauser, what attracted you to the firm, and what do you value or appreciate most about working at MH?
A: I’ve been at Maddin Hauser since 2002. At the time I joined, I was practicing at a firm in Grand Rapids. I was happy and had never even considered moving my practice and family to Detroit, but a recruiter contacted me with an opening at Maddin. I knew the firm had an impeccable reputation and was doing complex, engaging work, so I decided to meet with some of the attorneys here. I was sold pretty quickly, as they emphasized the opportunity to build and expand my practice in whatever direction I wanted to pursue with the full backing and support of the firm. We packed our bags and moved to suburban Detroit, and it remains one of the best and most impactful decisions I’ve ever made.
The other thing that stood out at the time, and has proven to be true over the ensuing two decades, is how much the leadership here focuses not only on the firm’s collective success, but also on the success and satisfaction of each individual who works here. The investment that the firm makes in its people, from those in the C-suite to those in the mailroom, and the careful and thoughtful stewardship of its leaders, is why so many folks, myself included, 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: I see growth – the same intentional, strategic, and sustainable growth trajectory that has propelled the firm’s success since I’ve been here and long before then. That doesn’t happen by accident. It takes vision, followed by the heavy lifting needed to create a space and a platform for that vision to be realized. The firm is consistently recommitting itself to its core values while finding innovative ways to make the firm attractive to like-minded and exceptional practitioners who want to come here to build and grow their practices, surrounded by the resources and support that will help them do so.
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: We take care of our people. When you feel like those you work with and for have your back, especially when things get rough, it creates a deep sense of loyalty and gratitude. In turn, that makes everyone want to give their absolute best every day for the firm and its clients.
I had some serious health issues a few years back, and the firm stepped up to help take care of me and my family as we worked through a difficult time. What makes that particularly meaningful is knowing that such care and support had nothing to do with my being a partner; the firm would do the exact same thing for any person here. Saying that we see ourselves as family sounds like a well-worn cliché, but it is demonstrably, palpably true.
Q: Technology and how we work and communicate have changed dramatically in the last 100 years. How has innovation influenced your practice?
A: Throughout my career, I’ve always been fascinated by how the law and technology intersect, and how one influences the other. Tech not only has made practicing law more efficient and improved our ability to serve clients, but it has also become a key aspect of almost every matter I work on. Every business, in some way, is in the technology business, even as just an end-user, so knowing your way around the various innovations that are so integrated into a client’s day-to-day operations can give you a competitive advantage in litigation.
I sit on the firm’s tech committee, so I know how critical it is to adapt and be strategic in how we adopt, implement, and use new technology. But I also know that while these tools can undoubtedly help us, technology alone – even AI – can’t accomplish much for clients without the talents, insights, and judgment of the attorneys who use it.
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: “Be a Lifelong Learner.” To me, that encapsulates one of the great things about the practice of law. The world is constantly evolving – technology, markets, political climate – which means laws, regulations, and policies are as well. Seismic events, like the 2008 financial crisis or the pandemic, create whole new issues, paradigms, and challenges that require the ability and willingness to learn and adapt. The firm recognizes this as well, encouraging and providing the resources for us to stay ahead of the curve.