Sandra J. Lake

Sandra focuses her practice on appellate law. She obtained her Juris Doctorate degree in 1998 and has been admitted to practice law in the State of Michigan since that time. She is also admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. She also writes bar exam appeals. In addition, she has a Bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting.

Sandra has handled civil matters in a variety of areas, including: professional malpractice (medical, legal, accounting), automobile and Michigan No-Fault law, commercial general liability, homeowners liability, premises liability, insurance coverage, defamation, governmental immunity, contract, construction law, bar exam appeals, and family law. She has represented her clients at both the trial court and appellate court levels. She has also prepared amicus curiae briefs in support of her clients’ various interests in both the Michigan Court of Appeals and the Michigan Supreme Court.

Sandra currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Ingham County Bar Association. She has also served on the Board of Directors of the Women Lawyer’s Association, Mid-Michigan Chapter and has been published in the Journal of Insurance and Indemnity Law and the Michigan Association for Justice Law Journal.

BAR AND COURT ADMISSIONS

• State Bar of Michigan (1998)
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan (2003)
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan (2007)
• United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (2016)

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

• State Bar of Michigan
• Ingham County Bar Association
• Ingham County Bar Association, Board of Directors (2015 to present)
• Ingham County Bar Association, Secretary (2017 to present)
• Michigan Defense Trial Counsel
• Women Lawyers Association of Michigan
• Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, Board of Directors for State and local chapter (2001 – 2002)

PREVIOUS PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Speaker Law Firm, PLC (2016 to 2017)
• Hall Matson, PLC (2015 to 2016)
• Hackney, Grover, Hoover & Bean, PLC (2001 to 2015)
• Murphy, Brenton & Spagnuolo, PC (2000 to 2001)
• Law Clerk; Hon. Peter D. Houk, Chief Judge (1998 to 2000)

HONORS AND DISTINCTIONS

• Senior Associate Editor, Thomas M. Cooley Law Review
• Thomas M. Cooley Dean’s List, 1995-1998
• Thomas M. Cooley Moot Court Board
• Thomas M. Cooley Intra School Moot Court Champion and Best Advocate, Winter Term 1997
• Thomas M. Cooley 1997 Nova Southeastern National Moot Court competitor
• Thomas M. Cooley First Year Moot Court Semi-Finalist, Summer Term 1996
• Thomas M. Cooley Certificate of Merit – Trial Advocacy

PUBLICATIONS

• “Opening Pandora’s Box: Legal Malpractice and the Suit Within a Suit Doctrine.” The Journal of Insurance & Indemnity Law, 2017
• “Medicare Reimbursement and Private Causes of Action for Double Damages Under 42 USC 1395y(b)(3)(A).” Michigan Association for Justice Law Journal, 2016
• Co author, “Ambiguity in the Insurance Contract: The Doctrine of Contra Proferentem and the Use of Extrinsic Evidence to Resolve Ambiguity.” The Journal of Insurance and Indemnity Law, July 2014
• Staff Writer for the “Michigan Opinion Notes”, Michigan Bar Journal, March 1997–April 1998