Clinic Staff
Nicole S. Dandridge, Associate Clinical Professor of Law & Director of the Small Business and Nonprofit Clinic
Before her arrival at MSU College of Law, Professor Dandridge served as In-House Counsel for Tools For Change, a Small Business/Economic Development Organization in Miami, FL, where her practice focused on small business transactions, including negotiation, review, and preparation of contracts and leases; business entity formation; as well as copyright and trademark registration and compliance. She instructed a wide range of Legal Business Seminars, including Business Formation, Filing the Appropriate Legal Entity, and Internal Corporate Operational Document Review. She was a litigation associate at the Fort Lauderdale, FL law office of Walton, Lantaff, Schroeder & Carson, where she represented clients before the Circuit Court in Commercial, Liability Defense and Labor & Employment matters. Now, an instructor and practicing attorney for the Small Business & Nonprofit Law Clinic, she is responsible for teaching and supervising student clinicians who provide legal services for actual business and nonprofit clients.
Contact Professor Dandridge at 517-336-8088 ext. 1031 or by email at dandridn@law.msu.edu
Bar Admission: Michigan; Florida
Education: J.D., Public and Governmental Service Law Concentration, University of Baltimore School of Law, 2000; B.A., Economics, Michigan State University, 1996.
Professional Associations and Memberships: Michigan Bar Association, Florida Bar Association
Reid S. Felsing, Fellow Small Business Nonprofit Clinic
Prior to joining the Small Business Nonprofit Clinic, Professor Felsing started his own general law practice in Saginaw County, where he handled a variety of legal issues, including business formation and business litigation. Professor Felsing is also currently enrolled in the LL. M. program in the field of Corporate Law and Finance at Thomas M. Cooley Law School. As a Fellow for the Small Business and Nonprofit Clinic, he instructs and supervises student clinicians who are providing legal services to new and existing small business and nonprofit clients.
Contact Professor Felsing at 517-336-8088 ext. 1033 or by e-mail at felsingr@law.msu.edu
Bar Admissions: Michigan
Education: J.D., Corporate Law Concentration, Michigan State University College of Law, 2009; B.A., Criminal Justice and Political Science, Saginaw Valley State University, 2006.
Fall 2011 Clinic I Students
Homan Faghihi-Naraghi is a second-year law student from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Homan received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Simon Fraser University with a joint major in history and humanities. Prior to law school, Homan gained experience in Canadian immigration law by working as an Associate Immigration Consultant in Vancouver. He also has experience in accounting by working in an accounting firm for about six years. Due to his experience in accounting, he is familiar with the needs and interests of small businesses. Homan also has experience in management. He has been a manager for various small businesses. Homan is also fluent in Farsi. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with friends and family and also playing sports. Homan is looking forward to working closely with clients and helping them understand the intricacies of business law.
Benjamin Farneth is a third-year law student from Northville, Michigan. Prior to law school, Ben received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Michigan State University. During his first summer of law school, Ben worked as a judicial intern to the Honorable Kathleen Jansen at the Michigan Court of Appeals. This last summer, Ben worked as a legal intern for Title Source/Quicken Loans. During law school, Ben serves as an associate editor to the Michigan State Law Review and enjoys spending time with friends and family. Ben looks forward to aiding Lansing’s small business and nonprofit community with their transactional needs in order to support and promote Lansing’s economic growth.
Michael Fenech is a second-year law student from Middlebury, Indiana. Michael received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Northwestern University. He has worked for Legal Services of South Central Michigan, gaining clinical experience. He has also worked for the general counsel's office of Thor Industries, Inc., in Elkhart, Indiana where he was first exposed to working with attorneys in a business setting. He is a member of the Journal of Business and Securities Law at the law school. As a clinician at the Small Business and Nonprofit Clinic, Michael is looking forward to developing his business and clinical skills, and assisting clients on any legal question they may have. When he is not doing legal work or attending class, Michael enjoys spending time with his family and friends, as well as spending as much time as he can on the water.
Lisa Ferro is a second-year law student from Highland, Michigan. She received an information science-based degree in Informatics and a minor in Italian from the University of Michigan. She is a member of Law Review, President of the St. Thomas More Society, and Vice-President of the Intellectual Property Law Society. Since attending law school, Lisa has worked at the University of Michigan Health System Compliance Office on security-related compliance issues and at a small law firm that handles mainly bankruptcy, family, and criminal law matters. She is looking forward to working with clients on their business, nonprofit, and intellectual property needs.
Racheal Fox is a second year law student from St. Louis, Michigan. Racheal received her Bachelor’s of Arts in History and Political Science from the University of Michigan. This summer, Racheal worked as a summer associate with Miller Johnson, PLC, in Grand Rapids. Previously, Racheal interned with the Michigan House of Representatives. Racheal is very interested in business development and community outreach and looks forward to being able to assist local businesses and non-profits through her legal services. In her free time, Racheal enjoys reading, cooking, and traveling.
Sheila Terry is a third-year law student at MSU College of Law. She is originally from Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Prior to attending law school, Sheila worked at Rutledge Manion et al. PC, a civil litigation law firm in Detroit. She was later elected to Phi Beta Kappa and graduated with honor from Michigan State University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. For the past two years, she has worked as a law clerk with Traverse Legal, PLC, a niche intellectual property and Internet law firm based in Traverse City. Through her work at the Small Business & Nonprofit Clinic, Sheila hopes to gain practical legal knowledge and experience, as well as build relationships within the small business community. In her free time, Sheila enjoys snowboarding, boating, reading fiction, and watching movies.
Joshua Trexler is a second-year law student from Holt, Michigan. Before attending MSU College of Law, Josh graduated with a BS in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University. Since entering law school, Josh has interned for the Michigan State University Office of the General Counsel, as well as for the Honorable 30th Circuit Court Judge, Rosemarie Aquilina. Josh is currently working for JK. Winters P.C. in East Lansing. Through his work in the small business non-profit clinic, Josh hopes to gain hands-on legal experience so that he is ready to practice law when he graduates. In his free time, Josh enjoys playing sports and spending time with friends and family.
Rachel Tutak is a second-year law student at MSU College of Law and is originally from Norton Shores, MI. She graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities Pre-law. This past summer, Rachel worked in Houston, TX for Schlumberger, an Oilfield Services company where she specialized in contract drafting and negotiation for Schlumberger’s Supply Chain Services Group. Prior to joining the Small Business & Nonprofit Clinic, Rachel was a law clerk for Bodwin & Associates P.C. in East Lansing, MI. She also interned with the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office and L&S Associates, a social security advocacy firm, both in Lansing, MI, during undergrad. Rachel looks forward to pursuing her interest in business and transactional law while furthering the goals of Michigan small businesses and non-profit corporations. In her spare time, Rachel enjoys spending time with friends, sports, music, and reading for leisure, i.e. anything other than a law school textbook.
Vatika Vig is a third-year law student from Crystal Lake, Illinois. Before attending Michigan State University College of Law, Vatika graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus on Finance from the University of Notre Dame. Since entering law school, Vatika has interned with the Chicago Park District Legal Department, and clerked for solo practices in the Greater Lansing area, focusing primarily on civil litigation. Through her work at the Small Business & Nonprofit Clinic, Vatika hopes to gain practical legal experience and looks forward to helping small business and nonprofit owners with their legal needs. In her free time, Vatika enjoys traveling, reading, watching and playing sports, and spending time with her family and friends.
Kent Wood is a third year law student from Traverse City, Michigan. Kent graduated from Albion College (Albion, MI) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in French and Political Science. Prior to attending Michigan State University College of Law, Kent successfully managed a State House campaign and served over two years as a legislative aide in the Michigan House of Representatives, most recently as Legislative Director for a northern Michigan Representative. Currently, he is the Legislative Affairs Manager for Michigan United Conservation Clubs, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, where he is charged with directing and managing its legislative and policy agenda. Kent was also selected by the director of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to serve on the Natural Resources Rules Advisory Committee. When not at the Capitol or at the Clinic, Kent is a competitive golfer, and also enjoys hunting, the outdoors, and going to Disney World with his wife and two children.
Fall 2011 Clinic II Students
Tom Morse is in his third and final year of law school and is excited and ready to apply his newly-found knowledge by helping people with their legal needs. Tom is originally from Battle Creek, Michigan, and prior to law school, he gained extensive experience in the nonprofit sector by volunteering at the Battle Creek Community Foundation and working at Neighborhoods, Inc., the Battle Creek Cereal Museum, the Associated Students of Michigan State University, and Outward Bound. Tom dedicates any spare time he has to fly-fishing for brook trout in Northern Michigan.
Brian Stevens is a third-year law student from Perry, Ohio. Prior to attending the MSU College of Law, he attended the University of Cincinnati where he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Entrepreneurship. While in classes at UC, he was able to work with local businesses to help them create business plans and get their businesses started. Through his work at the Small Business & Nonprofit Clinic, he hopes to gain practical legal experience and client counseling skills. While not in class, Brian enjoys watching sports, spending time with friends, and relaxing.
Lin-Chi Wang is a third-year law student at MSU-COL. She was born in Taipei, Taiwan and grew up in Kalamazoo, MI. She is an alum of the University of Michigan, where she received a bachelor’s degree in piano performance, and the University of Florida, where she received her master’s degree in piano performance. She most recently spent the summer working in the general counsel’s department at the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). Needless to say, Lin-Chi is into all things music, but is not limited to serving musicians. She also feels strongly about using her legal knowledge to empower and educate members of the community. While at the clinic, she looks forward to learning about the desires and needs of small business, nonprofit owners and working with clients to achieve their interests.