James P. Ziety Counsel Email: jziety@borda-lorenz.com Practice Areas: Contracts; Corporate Transactions; Aviation Law; Energy Law;  Trade Regulation. Admitted: 1980, Michigan and U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan. Law School: University of Detroit School of Law, J.D., 1979. College: St. Mary's College, B.A.; University of Wisconsin, Madison, M.B.A.Marketing, 1972; University of Detroit, M.B.A. Finance and Accounting, 1975. Member: Michigan Bar Association (Member, Section on Business Law).

Biography: Various Marketing and Finance Positions, Ford Motor Company, 1972-1980.  Attorney, Ford Motor Company, Trade Regulation and Distribution Practice Group, 1980-1985; Senior Attorney and Counsel, Global Business Transactions Practice Group, 1985-2002.

Mr. Ziety is a specialist in the practice of corporate and transactional law, specifically contracts related to purchasing matters, including energy procurement, research and development contracts, trademarks, copyrights, and software licensing as well as other general corporate matters for both automotive and non-automotive clients.  In addition, Mr. Ziety has extensive experience in aviation law, particularly with respect to the purchase and sale of corporate aircraft.  Most of his practice involves counseling automotive OEM’s and suppliers on contracting matters, and assisting with negotiations and contract interpretation.  

Prior to joining Borda, Lorenz, & Geggie, Mr. Ziety was Counsel, Global Business Transactions in the Office of the General Counsel at Ford Motor Company serving as the senior purchasing attorney for the company.  While at Ford, Mr. Ziety held a number of positions in Ford’s legal staff involving automotive distribution and trade regulation, corporate acquisitions and divestitures, energy procurement, minority supplier development, and was appointed to serve as Ford’s representative on the committee of automotive companies involved in reviewing and developing corporate positions on proposed revisions to Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code.  Prior to joining Ford’s Office of the General Counsel, Mr. Ziety held a number of positions in Ford’s marketing and finance operations. 

Mr. Ziety’s unique hands-on business experience in marketing and finance as well as his broad range of expertise in various areas of corporate and commercial law give him a unique, client-centered perspective that can help the client develop practical business and legal strategies to achieve their commercial objectives.