Clinic Faculty and Staff

Nicole S. Dandridge, Associate Clinical Professor of Law & Director of the Small Business and Nonprofit Clinic

Nicole S. Dandridge is the Founding Director of the Small Business & Nonprofit Law Clinic. Her primary interest is entrepreneurial and nonprofit entity impact on community economic development (CED). Professor Dandridge engages in CED-based law and policy research with a focus on business, nonprofit, and social entrepreneurship. She also studies clinical pedagogical approaches and has authored a legal planning guide for entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations.

Before her arrival at MSU College of Law, Professor Dandridge served as In-House Counsel at Tools For Change, a community economic development coalition in Miami, FL, where her practice focused on small business transactions, nonprofit taxation, trademark, and copyright. She was also a litigation associate at the Fort Lauderdale, FL law office of Walton, Lantaff, Schroeder & Carson, where she represented clients in business and insurance matters.

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

Recent Publications:
Community Economic Development Conspectus Valuable Tool for Advocates, Lawyers and Policymakers, 21 A.B.A. J. Affordable Housing & Commun. Dev. L. 167 (2012)
Choking Out Local Community Service Organizations: Rising Federal Tax Regulation and Its Impact on Small Nonprofit Entities, 99 Ky. L.J. 695 (2011)
Pre-publication book commentator of the textbook, Understanding Social Entrepreneurship: The Relentless Pursuit of Mission in an Ever Changing World, Routledge Publishing (2011).
Racial Equity and Social Capital: Challenges Facing Black Entrepreneurs, 32 W. New Eng. L. Rev. 471 (2010).
Small Business & Nonprofit Business Planning Guide (Mich. State Univ. College of Law Small Bus. & Nonprofit Clinic 2009) available in Spanish and Mandarin at http://www.law.msu.edu/clinics/sbnp/.

Works In Progress:
Regulatory Impact on Entrepreneurship in the Renaissance City (forthcoming, 2012).
Inclusive Excellence and Economic Development: Designing an Interdisciplinary Cultural Intelligence Curriculum to Inform Entrepreneurial Law Clinic Praxes (forthcoming, 2013).
An Annotated Bibliography of Affordable Housing and Community Economic Development Law, co-author (forthcoming, 2013 Journal of Affordable Housing & Community Development Law).

Recent Presentations:
“Uncovering Legal Barriers to Entrepreneurship: Onerous Regulation and Bureaucracy Maze Squelch Detroit Small Businesses,” presented poster at the AALS 2012 Annual Conference on Clinical Legal Education, Los Angeles, CA, April 2012.
“Innovative Community Economic Development Projects,” co-hosted presentation at the American Bar Association Business Law Section Spring Meeting, Las Vegas, NV, March 2012.
“Legal Issues in Social Entrepreneurship” and “Cross-Campus Teaching Regarding Legal Issues in Student Entrepreneurship,” co-presented at the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, January 2012.
“Pedagogical Modules for Community Economic Development Law Clinic Engagement: An innovative teaching approach for community economic development high-impact legal initiatives,” presented poster at the Great Lakes International Trade and Transportation Hub Summit, East Lansing, MI, October 2011, and co-presented at the AALS Annual Meeting, Washington DC, January 2012.
“Careers in Affordable Housing & Community Development Law,” moderated a panel presentation by the American Bar Association Forum on Affordable Housing & Community Development Law and the MSU College of Law Small Business & Nonprofit Clinic, East Lansing, MI, November 2011.
“Inclusive Excellence and Economic Development: Designing an Interdisciplinary Cultural Intelligence Curriculum to Inform Entrepreneurial Law Clinic Praxes,” presented at the LatCrit XVI Annual Conference, San Diego, CA, October 2011.

Andre' Dandridge, Project Coordinator, Small Business and Nonprofit Clinic

Andre’ B. Dandridge is the Project Coordinator of the Small Business & Nonprofit Law Clinic. His primary interest is Community Economic Development (CED) advocacy with a focus on Intellectual Property. Mr. Dandridge engages in CED-based law and policy research. He also studies the impact of fathers’ participation in the lives of their children and is the founder and chief executive officer of New Young Fathers, a nonprofit corporation that provides young fathers with parenting and life skills training.

Before joining MSU College of Law, Mr. Dandridge served as the director of law firm development at the Dandridge Firm, and prior to that, he was a medical technologist for over 15 years. Mr. Dandridge received a JD from MSU College of Law with a concentration in Intellectual Property and a BS in Medical Technology from Michigan State University.

Recent Publications:
Community Economic Development Conspectus Valuable Tool for Advocates, Lawyers and Policymakers, 21 A.B.A. J. Affordable Housing & Commun. Dev. L. 167 (2012).

Caroline Kinsey, Public Interest Fellow, Small Business & Nonprofit Clinic

Professor Kinsey is joining the Small Business & Nonprofit Law Clinic after practicing law in New York City and Long Island, New York, where she obtained extensive experience in civil litigation, intellectual property, labor and employment, and criminal law. She has successfully led and handled a wide variety of legal matters for clients ranging from employment discrimination lawsuits to settlement negotiations and corporate mergers, and has argued before the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Additionally, Professor Kinsey most recently served as Legal Counsel for a professional arena football team, where she conducted research on copyright, grant, licensing, and entertainment law issues and reviewed entertainment law and film tax exemption matters. Professor Kinsey is published both nationally and internationally in the fields of family and entertainment law. In December, 2012, she most recently earned her LL.M./M.J. in Intellectual Property from Michigan State University College of Law, where she drafted her latest article, “CSI: From the Television to the Courtroom,” which will be published by the University of Virginia School of Law Sports & Entertainment Law Journal in its upcoming fall 2012 edition.

As a Fellow for the Small Business & Nonprofit Clinic, Professor Kinsey instructs and supervises student clinicians as they provide legal formation, intellectual property and transactional law services to new and existing small businesses and nonprofit clients.

Contact Professor Kinsey at 517-336-8088 ext. 1033 or via e-mail at ckinsey@law.msu.edu

Bar Admissions:New York State, Third Department; U.S. District Court, E.D.N.Y; U.S. District Court, S.D.N.Y.; Michigan, Special Certificate to Practice Law; Michigan; District of Columbia (application pending)

Education:B.S; J.D.; LL.M./M.J.

Recent Publications:
CSI: From the Television to the Courtroom (11 VA. SPORTS & ENT. L.J. 313)
Revisiting the Role of the Psychological Parent…, 19 BUFF. J. GENDER L. & SOC. POL’Y. 75, 75-106 (2010)
Smashing the Copyright Act to Make Room for the Mashup Artist, 35.2 HASTINGS COMM. & ENT. L.J. (forthcoming, Jan. 2013)
The Role of the Psychological Parent…,INT’L. J. OF DISCRIMINATION & L., Vol. 10(3), 133-48 (2009)

Works In Progress:
NFL Fines for on-field Discipline: Evaluating alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and remodeling current on-field disciplinary and appeals procedures for helmet-to-helmet hits (forthcoming, 2013)
Problem Solving Approaches to Conflict Resolution, Vol. 2 (Research Assistant to Michigan State University College of Law Professor George T. Roumell, Jr.)(Textbook forthcoming, 2013).

Recent Presentations:
Michigan Business Network Radio Show, “Legal Impact Hour, ” interviewed by Kimberly P. Hafley, Director of Marketing & Recruitment at Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC for three radio segments regarding the services provided by the Michigan State University Small Business & Nonprofit Law Clinic. Original Air Date: September 7, 2012.

Spring 2013 Clinic I Students

Nicholas Foss Barbantonis is a master of laws (LL.M.) student at MSU College of Law, specializing in Intellectual Property & Communication Law. Nicholas was born in Oslo, Norway. He got his initial legal education as a Master Laws student at the University of Oslo, which he developed a particular interest in the legal field of contract, predominantly in petroleum contracts and corporate tax. He speaks English, Norwegian, Greek and also understands Swedish and Danish. Prior to attending law school, Nicholas served in the Royal Norwegian Air Force before entering the private Security Services industry. While attending law school, Nicholas spent several terms on the student Board as both a general member and financial officer. He also spent a number of terms as Chairman and Board member of a number of Norwegian corporations. Nicholas had an internship in the tax division of Ernst & Young just prior to coming to the U.S. He hopes to gain more practical experience in practicing law, especially through an American setting to enrich his abilities in handling more complex real life legal issues in an ever demanding market. He hopes to be able to use his legal knowledge to help small businesses and nonprofits to prosper.

Elisabeth Bellinger is a second-year law student who plans to practice in Tennessee after graduation. Elisabeth earned an International Business degree from Illinois State University. Last summer, Elisabeth served as a research intern for the Michigan Court of Appeals Research Division. During the school year she serves as an assistant editor on the Journal of Business and Securities Law.

Jacob J. Chen is a second-year student at Michigan State University College of Law. Jacob’s primary interest is business strategic intellectual property planning and foreign business investment and related visa issues. With the bi-language capacity in both English and Chinese, Jacob understands well the legal needs and concerns of a diverse range of entrepreneurs and communicates well with these clients. Jacob received his Master of Law from Indiana University Maurer School of Law – Bloomington and has been a student associate with law firms in the U.S. and China.

Demaurey Drummond is a third-year law student, originally from Rosedale, New York. Demaurey received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Comparative Literature from Stony Brook University. During his time at Michigan State University College of Law, Demaurey has taken courses related to business organizations, including business enterprises and accounting for lawyers. Demaurey completed the First Amendment Clinic in Spring 2012. He hopes to continually gain practical experience in business law and to facilitate the development of small businesses and nonprofit organizations. Demaurey enjoys playing basketball and the art of musical production.

Robert Fischer is a second year law student from Bellaire, Michigan. Robert received his Bachelor of Arts degree in General Business Administration from the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University. Prior to attending law school, Robert spent a year working for the Michigan State Legislature as a Constituent Manager for his home district, Michigan's 105th House District. During his time at Michigan State University College of Law, Robert has taken courses related to business enterprises, property, the United States Constitution and has a strong interest in business litigation and protecting the interests of small businesses. Robert hopes to use his time at the clinic to gain practical experience in the development and protection of small businesses and nonprofit organizations. Robert enjoys participating in sporting activities on his free time such as golfing, playing basketball, hunting, fishing, and enjoying the attributes of northern Michigan.

Joshua Houston is a third-year law student from Nashville, Tennessee. Joshua received his Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Music Business and a minor in Small Business Management at Middle Tennessee State University. He has clerked for the Honorable Gale Robinson in the General Sessions Court of Nashville/Davidson County, and spent two semesters as a clinician in the Alvin L. Storrs Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic. He has a passion for small businesses and hopes that this clinic experience will help him achieve his goal of having a career in business law. In his free time, Joshua enjoys the outdoors and playing guitar.

Emmanuel Johnson is a third-year law student from Detroit, Michigan. Before attending law school, he received his Bachelor of Arts in Advertising from Michigan State University. During undergrad, Emmanuel was a member of the MSU football team. Emmanuel’s legal interests include contract drafting, negotiation, and intellectual property. During his time in law school, Emmanuel served as the Director of Sports for the Sports & Entertainment Law Society (SELS). Emmanuel was also exposed to the business side of sports while interning for All Pro Sports & Entertainment in Denver, Colorado during the summer after his 1L year. After law school, Emmanuel plans to enter the world of sports as a sports agent, while also helping clients start up their own small businesses and nonprofits.

Silvia Mansoor is a second year law student. She’s from Metro-Detroit and received her Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from Wayne State University. She has previously interned with the Honorable Judge Matthew P. Sabaugh in Michigan’s 37th District Court and with the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. Currently, Silvia is part of the Trial Practice Institute at MSU’s College of Law, is part of the Journal of Business and Securities Law, and is on the executive board of the Christian Legal Society. Furthermore, Silvia is fluent in Chaldean. She is highly excited about the opportunity of working with clients while learning more about the field of nonprofit and business law. In her spare time, she likes to read, play with her dog Yoda, and spend time with friends.

Mark McFate is a third-year law student from Phoenix, Arizona. In addition to pursuing his Juris Doctor, Mark is a Masters of Business Administration student at the Eli Broad Graduate School of Management. Mark received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas where he majored in Economics with Financial Applications, Political Science, and Public Policy. As an undergraduate student, Mark gained experience working for a nonprofit organization, Human Rights Initiative of North Texas, Inc., which promotes international human rights by providing local service and legal representation to refugees and immigrants who have suffered human rights abuses. More recently, over the last summer, Mark worked as a Summer Associate at Weiss Brown, PLLC in Scottsdale, Arizona. At Weiss Brown, Mark gained valuable experience in the areas of corporate, securities, and intellectual property law, working mainly with technology-focused businesses. Mark is looking forward to apply both his law degree and his MBA to a corporate-focused practice. In his spare time, Mark enjoys spending time with his friends and family, reading, hiking, and playing golf.

Andrew Miller is a third year law student who was raised in Bridgewater, Virginia. In 2009, Andrew earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Randolph-Macon College, studying political science and history. Prior to attending law school, Andrew worked for the Senate of Virginia as a committee clerk for the Senate Courts of Justice Committee, Senate Civil Subcommittee, and Senate Criminal Subcommittee. In addition, Andrew worked for a Virginia based mortgage broker and has experience with loan processing and mortgage law. While attending Michigan State University College of Law, Andrew has concentrated his legal education on business law and has completed courses on business enterprise, sales and leases, secured transactions, and tax. Andrew looks forward to working for the Clinic because it will offer exposure to a variety of different business law issues.

Kristen Mitchell is a second-year law student from Solon, Ohio. Kristen received her Bachelor of Science in Finance and obtained a minor in Mandarin Chinese from Miami University of Ohio. Since attending law school, Kristen interned with the non-litigation department of Qiancheng Law firm located in Beijing, China. At Michigan State University College of Law, Kristen has taken courses related to business enterprises, corporate finance, and corporate law and policy. Kristen strives to couple her undergraduate degree with her legal knowledge to better assist clients with their legal needs. Kristen enjoys playing basketball, soccer, tennis, and almost every other competitive sport

Andy Ninh is a second year law student from Lake Mary, Florida. Prior to matriculation at Michigan State University College of Law, Andy received his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at The University of Florida in 2010. While in law school, Andy has found a passion for Appellate Moot Court competitions and oral arguments, intellectual property law, and entrepreneurial law practice and business. Currently, Andy also works as a legal clerk at Oade, Stroud & Kleiman, P.C. in East Lansing, Michigan, and is a member of the Trademark Moot Court Team at MSU Law. Andy is inspired to help people start up small businesses and nonprofit organizations, and protect their intellectual property. He hopes to start up his own business in the future and considers working at the Small Business and Nonprofit Clinic an invaluable learning experience. In his spare time, Andy enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, improving his knowledge of new technology, health, and fitness, and exercising. Andy is also a third-degree black belt in karate with over twenty years of martial arts training, teaching, and competition experience.

Lauren Oberzan is a second-year law student from Lawrence, Kansas. Lauren received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Kansas in 2010 with honors, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Business. Prior to attending law school, Lauren worked for a local bank in Kansas where she counseled several small business clients about their financial needs and enjoyed working closely with the community members. During law school, Lauren has pursued her interests in both business and intellectual property law by completing several relevant courses, including Licensing Intellectual Property, and by actively participating in a variety of student organizations. Lauren also currently serves as a staff member for the Michigan State Law Review. This semester, Lauren is looking forward to assisting nonprofit and small business owners in the local community with all of their legal business needs, but is especially excited to gain more experience in providing intellectual property services to these entities.

David Roth is a third year law student, originally from Northville, Michigan. David received his Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Michigan State University. During his time at Michigan State University College of Law, David has taken courses related to business organizations, mortgages, securities regulation, and consumer bankruptcy. He has a strong interest in understanding the difficulties that small businesses face, as well as developing methods to effectively help businesses succeed. He hopes to gain practical experience drafting transactional documents and managing law practices. David enjoys strength training and conditioning, and traveling with his wife.

Lindsey Schuler is a third-year law student, originally from Treynor, Iowa. Lindsey received her Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Kansas, where she enjoyed being a part of the University of Kansas Drumline and will forever remain a Jayhawk. After graduating from KU, Lindsey decided to make the adventurous move to Michigan to attend the Michigan State University College of Law. During her time at MSU, Lindsey has taken several focused courses in Indigenous Law and Intellectual Property Law and has worked two summers as a law clerk for Lamson, Dugan, and Murray in Omaha, Nebraska. In the future, Lindsey hopes to combine her personal interest in art with her legal interests in intellectual property to promote the creative rights of others. In her free time, Lindsey enjoys going to movies and sporting events, visiting museums, and participating in anything involving puppies.

R. Amani Smathers is a third-year law student interested in intellectual property law and the future of legal service delivery. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Tufts University with a double major in economics and political science. This past summer (2012), she worked with Legal Force Trademarkia, where she assisted with opening the company's first tablet and legal services hybrid store on University Avenue in Palo Alto, California. She's excited to assist Michigan entrepreneurs at the Clinic. Outside the Clinic, Amani is also an Articles Editor of the Michigan State Law Review, is involved with MSU Law's ReInvent Law Lab, and fences competitively with the MSU Fencing Club.

Kacie Smith is a second-year law student from Grand Rapids, Michigan. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Philosophy at Grand Valley State University. In law school, Kacie has worked for the Ingham County 30th Judicial Circuit Court, and serves as an associate on the Journal of Medicine and Law. More recently, Kacie was accepted to the Appellate Moot Court Board and currently serves of-counsel to senior members. She hopes to gain practical experience and practice-ready skills while serving an important sector of the community in small businesses and nonprofits. In her free time, Kacie enjoys reading, traveling, and baseball.

Tamara Titre is a second-year student at Michigan State University College of Law. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from Fairfield University, in Fairfield, Connecticut. Prior to attending law school Tamara worked in communications for two Fortune 500 companies, earned a paralegal certificate, and enrolled in the Masters in Public Administration program at Penn State University. She is now a candidate in the dual degree JD/Masters in Public Policy program at MSU. Last summer she interned for the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities managing employment discrimination complaints. She also worked as a legislative intern for the State of Connecticut African American Affairs Commission. Tamara has an interest in practicing corporate law, specializing in intellectual property (trademark and copyright), labor and employment, and regulatory law.

Spring 2013 Clinic II Students

Manprit Brar is a third-year law student from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Manprit received her Bachelor of Sciences degree from McMaster University with a joint major in biology and psychology. For the past two summers, Manprit worked as a summer associate at Varnum LLP in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she worked with several small business clients. During law school, Manprit serves as the note and comment editor to the Michigan State Journal of Medicine and Law. Manprit is also fluent in Punjabi. In her free time, Manprit enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, and traveling. Manprit is excited to work in the non-profit and small business sector to help these entities form and develop into successful businesses.

Amanda Downsis a third-year law student from Fruitport, Michigan. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Hope College with a major in political science. Prior to law school, Amanda lived in Washington, D.C. and gained experience in the nonprofit world by working at the Center for Immigration Studies, an independent, non-partisan, non-profit research organization. She also gained experience with small businesses by working with her father, a small business owner in Ferrysburg, Michigan. Due to her experiences, Amanda is familiar with the needs and interest in small business and non-profit organizations. At MSU College of Law Amanda was accepted into the Geoffrey Feiger Trial Practice Institute, a highly competitive program where she hopes to gain practical litigation experience. As a Clinic II student, she is looking forward to working closely with her clients and learning more about the intricacies of business law. In her spare time Amanda enjoys reading and spending time with her family and friends.

Kathleen Hennessy is a 3L at MSU College of Law, student director of MSU College of Law’s Women in Law Leadership Council, and active member of the New York City Bar Association’s Information Technology Committee. She has a passion for advertising, consumer protection, privacy, and information technology issues and how they intersect with the law in various ways. This summer (2012), she worked at the National Advertising Division (NAD) in New York City, where she assisted in reviewing national advertising for truth and accuracy by applying FTC consumer protection guidelines and NAD precedent to assess the validity of advertising claims. Additionally, this summer (2012), Kathleen gained experience at McClanahan Powers, a small business, intellectual property, and estate planning firm in Vienna, Virginia. Currently, Kathleen is working on projects for publication centering on trademarked keywords on Google AdWords and researching the use of “natural” claims (e.g. 100% natural ingredients) on a plethora of consumer products.

Ryan Middleton is a third year law student from Bowie, Maryland. Prior to his matriculation to MSU College of Law, he received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Cornell University in 2010. In his tenure at the Law College, Ryan has studied international business transactions in Japan, worked as a policy analysis extern with the Michigan House of Representatives, and interned this past summer with the Government Accountability Project in Washington, D.C. Ryan is also a senior associate and team leader for MSU Law’s International Law Review, and has served on the executive board of the Black Law Students Association and as liaison with the Diversity Services Office’s African Heritage Alliance. Ryan looks forward to helping clients achieve their goals while developing his own skills in delivering business and nonprofit legal services.

Michael Mychailyshyn is a third-year law student from Hamilton, Ontario. Prior to law school at Michigan State University College of Law, Michael completed his undergraduate studies at McMaster University (B.A. Hons., 2008) (Economics). Michael’s legal interests include regulatory affairs, negotiation, and contract drafting. Michael has experience working with joint management-labor committees as well as community-based organizations. He is fluent in Ukrainian. Following graduation, Michael endeavors to accredit his JD in Ontario and practice in a general in-house counsel capacity.

Kevin Ortiz is a third year law student from Rocklin, California. Before attending MSU College of Law, Kevin earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management Economics at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Since attending law school, Kevin has worked at the Placer County Public Defender’s Office and the Charitable Trust Section within the State of Michigan’s Department of Attorney General. Kevin has always been interested in small business dynamics and nonprofit organizations. Through the clinical experience, he hopes to serve the business and nonprofit organization community using his knowledge and dedication. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, reading, learning new technologies, soccer and exercise.