Mahesh K. Nayak

Member and International Practice Group Co-Chair

Mahesh K. Nayak concentrates his practice in litigation and business law. He regularly engages in international and cross-border matters.

Prior to joining private practice in 1999, Mahesh served both as Assistant Attorney General with the Michigan Attorney General's Office and as a criminal prosecutor with the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office in Detroit, Michigan. Mahesh had the advantage of trying many cases at a young age.

Mahesh's successful practice has gained the attention of his peers, and he has been consistently ranked by independent reviewing publications as one of the best in his practice specialty.

Litigation

Mahesh has successfully represented Fortune 500 corporations, government bodies, small businesses and individuals alike in matters ranging from corporate and shareholder disputes, patent infringement, environmental class actions, real estate disputes, non-compete disputes, and commercial litigation under the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC). Mahesh also has substantial experience in cross-border disputes representing the interests of the firm's clients in courts in the United States and abroad.

Corporate Counsel

Mahesh serves as a trusted advisor to business owners and executives, who rely closely on his plain spoken and practical advice. He regularly counsels businesses ranging from physicians practices, automotive manufacturers and suppliers, retail and services clients, and IT services providers in wide ranging day-to-day operational issues spanning from employment and immigration matters, contract drafting and negotiation, corporate formation, maintenance of trade secrets and intellectual property, liability deterrence, and tax and estate planning.

India Practice

Mahesh was born in India, and has been a life-long resident of Michigan. As founder and co-leader of Dickinson Wright's International Practice, Mahesh has represented both foreign businesses expanding into the United States and overseen the firm's North American clients' interests abroad.

Education & Credentials

Education

Albion College

B.A., 1992

With distinction, Gerald R. Ford Institute for Public Service.

University of Detroit Mercy Law School

J.D., 1995

London

International Law Studies, 1994, England

Spoken Languages

English
Konkani (Indian dialect)

Acknowledgements

Michigan Super Lawyers®
- Business Litigation, 2016-2021
DBusiness Magazine
- "Top Lawyers," 2019, 2021
"Best Lawyers in America"
- Commercial Litigation, 2021, 2023-2025

Representative Clients

Mahindra Automotive North America
Dunkin’ Brands
TI Automotive

Prominent Assignments

Represented the internationally renowned rock band KISS®, shutting down bootlegging activities violative of federal trademark and copyright laws.

Secured an order on behalf of a world famous athlete on the Detroit Red Wings® hockey team, stopping infringers from trading on his right of celebrity.

Represented the production company producing design components for the car on the popular Knight Rider® television series, resulting in dismissal of claims against client.

Thwarted cyber-squatters seeking to hijack a corporate client's web domain.

Successfully defended a coalition of automotive suppliers in one of the industry's largest bankruptcy preference actions in United States history.

Served as co-counsel in a complex shareholder matters spanning two continents leading a team of seven lawyers in securing the highest judgment in Michigan in 2017 for client.

Successfully pursued a financial planner who embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from a couple, seizing property and assets in satisfaction of every dollar stolen.

Defended a physician wrongfully accused of defrauding a foreign non-profit of millions of dollars, proving to an arbitrator and forensic accountant, that the claims were meritless, and securing a judgment vindicating the client and an award of all attorneys’ fees incurred in defending the meritless claim.

Consistently prevailed in appellate litigation in State and Federal courts.

Obtained summary judgment in various commercial cases, including:

Daimler Chrysler Services v The Provident Bank, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16596 (N.D. Ohio).
Crown Enterprises v EIPC, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42423 (E.D. Mich).
Skillnet Solutions, Inc. Entertainment Publications, LLC2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 172367 (E.D. Mich).

Professional Involvement

Council Member, State Bar of Michigan International Law Section
Appointed, State Bar Judicial Qualifications Committee, 2023-2024
2018 Judicial Candidate Evaluator, Detroit Bar Association
Oakland County Bar Association – Co-Chair, Business Court Committee
Oakland County Circuit Court, Case Evaluator
State Bar of Michigan, Intellectual Property and Litigation Sections
Federal Bar Association (Co-Chair- Law School Initiative, 2008-2009)
Michigan South Asian Bar Association, President (2010-2011)
State Bar of Michigan, Special Taskforce for Practice of Law in the 21st Century
Service on Firm's Diversity and Inclusion Committee (2106-present)

Community Involvement

Detroit Chamber of Commerce (Graduate Leadership Detroit,1999)
President, Troy Foundation for Educational Excellence (2009-2010)
Legal Counsel and Advisor, Bharatiya Temple
Legal Counsel and Advisor, Michigan Association of Physicians India
Vice President, India League of America, 1997

Publications/Presentations

Speaker, Kappa Alpha Pi's Speaker Series, Ford School of Public Policy, University of Michigan, March 2024
"Red Wings' Datsyuk Sues Oak Park Souvenir Seller Over Use of Name, Likeness," The Detroit Free Press, February 4, 2013
“Expanding to India”, Detroiter, April 2009