Thomas P. Bruetsch

Founding Partner Tom Bruetsch is one of Michigan’s top commercial litigators and leads the firm's commercial and governmental litigation practice. His clients rely on him for insightful counsel, creative analysis, and an aggressive and pragmatic litigation approach. He joined Matt Schenk to create Schenk & Bruetsch PLC after 18 years at one of Detroit’s leading large firms, where he was a principal and hiring partner and served on the firm's executive committee.

From Detroit’s mayor to its professional football team, clients come to Bruetsch to resolve difficult legal problems. He has represented banks, prominent political leaders, governments, auto manufacturers and suppliers, large corporations, and family businesses. Bruetsch is well versed in virtually all areas of commercial litigation but has a particular focus on finance, fraud, and fiduciary issues; municipal and election law and policy; public authorities and utilities; franchise, supplier, and distribution issues; appeals; and class action, contract and general commercial disputes. He aggressively pursues his clients’ interests and gets results. Bruetsch has significant trial experience and has taken matters to trial or arbitration in Michigan, Arizona, Texas, and the United Kingdom. Bruetsch argued before the Michigan Supreme Court and maintains a strong appellate practice. He also serves as a commercial arbitrator.

Bruetsch is pragmatic and believes in partnering with his clients to define and achieve their goals. Although he has tried many cases to verdict and won dozens more on summary judgment, Bruetsch has resolved many large matters in the early stages of litigation through active case development and the utilization of alternative dispute resolution tools, saving his clients’ money and time.

Leading publications have acknowledged Bruetsch as one of the absolute best litigators. These include Chambers USA and Benchmark Litigation, both of which incorporate client feedback into their rating processes, and DBusiness Magazine. He is featured in Super Lawyers and America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators. Bruetsch also was accepted as a fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation, an honor reserved to 5% of lawyers.