Our Team

Denise A. Pollicella, Founder & Managing Partner

Business Transactions / Regulatory Licensing / Labor & Employment / Advocacy

A graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and Wayne State Law, Denise Pollicella’s 21 years of private and corporate practice have focused on business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, labor and employment, regulatory and licensing, and corporate law. Managing partner of Pollicella, PLLC, she founded Cannabis Attorneys of Michigan in 2009 to advance marihuana law in Michigan.

Ms. Pollicella was involved in crafting the legislation that is now PA 281 of 2016, the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act, and has been a strong advocate for patients, caregivers, and emerging canna-businesses for nearly a decade. In addition to regularly writing, speaking, and educating on Michigan’s rapidly developing marihuana laws, she continues to be at the forefront of developing cannabis policy and regulation at both the state and municipal levels.

Ms. Pollicella is an inaugural member of the Michigan State Bar Marihuana Law Section and is a member of the Business Law and Labor and Employment Law Sections. She serves on the Small Business Administration’s Marihuana Task Force, as well as the on the Legal Advisory Board of MiCompassion, a charitable organization focused on medical cannabis education and research. She has been a Legal Corner contributor to Culture Magazine since January 2013 and currently serves as legal counsel to the Michigan Cannabis Development Association, which she helped found in 2014.

Ms. Pollicella was honored to be named one of Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s 2017 Women in the Law and has been named one of American’s Top Lawyers by the American Law Society.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degrees in political science and French and worked in the U.S. Senate prior to attending law school. She then served as vice president, secretary, and general counsel for Childtime Learning Centers before departing for her most important job, mom to two beautiful children. She started her own Livingston County practice in 2003, where she resides with her family.

LOCATION: Livingston County Office

Jackie Langwith, Partner

Regulatory Licensing / Litigation / Intellectual Property / Criminal Defense

Jacqueline Langwith joined the firm in mid-2017 and was elevated to partner in 2018.  She heads the firm’s State Cannabis Licensing and Litigation divisions and has established herself as a prolific and talented attorney in the cannabis licensing and regulatory field.

Ms. Langwith brings a diverse legal background to the firm. A former commissioned U.S. Army Reserve officer, she was a research analyst for the Michigan Legislative Service Bureau for 14 years before becoming an attorney. She received her Juris Doctorate in 2015 from Cooley Law School, Magna Cum Laude, and has practiced in the areas of criminal defense, family law, general civil law, and intellectual property.

Ms. Langwith is a court-appointed appellate attorney and trademark attorney. She holds a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from Northern Michigan University and a Master of Science from Michigan Technological University. Ms. Langwith resides in Howell with her human and dog families.

LOCATION: Livingston County Office

Eric Mandija, Partner

Mergers & Acquisitions / Real Property Transactions / Complex Commercial Litigation / Equitable Remedies / Administrative & Transactional Law

Ermal “Eric” Mandija joined the Firm as a Partner in August 2020.

Mr. Mandija is an attorney and financial professional with a background in Mergers and Acquisitions, Real Property Transactions, Complex Commercial Litigation, Equitable Remedies, and Administrative and Transactional Law.

Mr. Mandija holds a Master of Science in Finance, a Juris Doctorate, and a Master of Laws.  Mr. Mandija graduated with distinction from the Georgetown University Law Center with a concentration in Securities and Financial Regulations, and International Commercial Arbitration and Dispute Resolution.  He also holds certificates from the Delaware Institute of Corporate and Business Law in Business Advising and Business Organizations Law.  Mr. Mandija has worked with many municipalities on tax analysis, budget planning, code enforcement, and code drafting.

Mr. Mandija has been working with the Medical Marihuana industry as a business development advisor and attorney since 2017.  He has a keen understanding of project development, asset valuation, and structured investment offerings.

He lives in Rochester Hills, Michigan with his family.

LOCATION: Troy Office

Nicholas Castro, Associate Attorney

Hemp Licensing / Business Transactions / Regulatory Licensing

Nick Castro joined the firm in August 2018 as a legal intern and became an associate attorney in November 2018.  Mr. Castro serves as a municipal ordinance and state MMFLA liaison at the firm, and he oversees the monitoring of state and federal marihuana legislation. Additionally, he focuses on business creation and transactions. He has previously worked on matters related to business law, municipal law, environmental law, and estate planning.

Mr. Castro earned his Juris Doctor from Michigan State University College of Law and was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in November 2018. He received his Bachelor of Science in sociology from Illinois State University in 2015.  Originally from the Southside of Chicago, Mr. Castro relocated to Michigan to attend law school. He currently lives in Northville and enjoys hiking, kayaking, reading, and going on adventures with his German Shepherd.

LOCATION: Troy Office

Megan Callahan, Associate Attorney

Business Transactions / Regulatory Law / Administrative Law

Megan Callahan received her Juris Doctorate from the Pennsylvania State University School of Law, where she served as an editor of the Penn State Law Review. She was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in November 2019.

In addition to working as a legal intern with the firm during the summer of 2018, Ms. Callahan has worked as a judicial intern to Judge Rosemarie Aquilina of the 30^th Circuit Court and Justice Brian K. Zahra of the Michigan Supreme Court. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in finance from Michigan State University in 2016, where she was a member of the Honors College and Tower Guard. She resides in Brighton.

LOCATION: Grand Rapids Office

Johanna Stevens, Associate Attorney

Ms. Stevens joined the Firm as an Associate Attorney in its Business and Transactions Division in January 2021. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from WMU Thomas M. Cooley Law School in December 2019, where she earned eight certificates of merit and served as the Law Review Resource Editor. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Management from Michigan Technological University, and has clerked for the Michigan Tax Tribunal. Ms. Stevens has a long history of charitable works, and currently lives in Hastings, Michigan.

Laurie Stiers, Paralegal

Laurie Stiers joined the firm in June 2018 and specializes in medical marihuana facilities license applications, as well as litigation support and legal research.

Ms. Stiers received her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Michigan-Flint and went on to obtain her paralegal certificate from Oakland Community College, where she graduated with honors.

In 2012, Ms. Stiers worked as a court appointed special advocate (CASA) through the Livingston County Juvenile Court. During that time, she assisted in neglect/abuse cases, interviewing and meeting with the child involved, attending court meetings, and documenting her findings to the juvenile court judge.

She enjoys spending her free time with her husband and children at their cottage on Lake Huron, singing at open mic nights, gardening, and raising cage-free chickens.

LOCATION: Livingston County Office

Heather Cosme, Paralegal

Heather Cosme joined the Firm’s Troy office as a Paralegal in May 2021, coming from a seven-year long position as a Judicial Assistant for the Michigan Court of Appeals. An Honors graduate in Paralegal Studies from Madonna University, Mrs. Cosme also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Siena Heights University, and is a former parole officer. She is a lifelong Michigander and longtime resident of Dearborn, where she resides with her family.

Michael P. DiLaura, Of Counsel, Chief Legal Officer-House of Dank

Municipal Licensing and Advocacy/ Real Estate / Business & Commercial Transactions

Michael P. DiLaura brings his 18 years of transactional, litigation, and insolvency experience to Pollicella, PLLC, and focuses his practice on real estate acquisition and leasing transactions, corporate litigation, as well as a host of other general corporate and media affairs. Mr. DiLaura is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame’s Law School and has practiced with international law firms in both Chicago and Detroit. Additionally, over the course of his career, Mr. DiLaura’s peers have continually recognized him as a “Super Lawyer Rising Star,” and he is also a published author and educator, having taught multiple legal classes at Oakland University.

Mr. DiLaura is an avid golfer as well as a real estate broker. He was born in Detroit and now lives in Oakland County with his lovely wife and dog.

Nathan Shevick, Of Counsel

Municipal Licensing and Advocacy / Criminal Defense / Compliance

Nathan Shevick joined the firm in August 2018 as an associate attorney. He is responsible for MMFLA Compliance, municipal applications, and client field operations, as well as serving as the firm’s MMFLA state and municipal liaison. Mr. Shevick’s experience includes criminal defense and marihuana law in Lansing. He also served the Granholm Administration in the Office of the First Gentleman. Mr. Shevick’s diverse credentials bring valuable talent to the firm and its clientele.

Mr. Shevick received his Juris Doctor from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School, where he consistently made the dean’s list. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Michigan State University. He is a Sigma Alpha Epsilon and a diehard football fan. Mr. Shevick enjoys tailgating, going to Michigan State football and basketball games, caring for his pitbull Maddux, talking politics, and spending time with family and friends.

LOCATION: Livingston County Office