Mark A. Bank

E: Bank@BankRifkin.com
P: (248) 480-8333
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No two divorce cases are the same, as each matter presents its own extraordinary facts,  circumstances, and personalities. For more than 30 years, Mark Bank has been acutely aware  that each client’s matter requires its own individualized analysis and unique approach. Through  close connections with his clients, Mark prides himself in listening to his client’s concerns,  developing personalized strategies to meet his client’s needs, and crafting tailored solutions to  provide his clients with unrivaled results.

Mark’s pragmatic approach aims to achieve his clients’ goals outside of the courtroom, while at  the same time being prepared to litigate in the courtroom when necessary. In representing  business leaders, professionals, athletes, entertainers, and their spouses, Mark is highly  experienced in the complexity of high-net worth and high-profile cases, which often require  experience in multiple legal disciplines and exceptional discretion. Singular situations demand  singular solutions, and Mark has built a national reputation around providing personalized  advice leading to unmatched outcomes for each client.

As a respected lecturer and author in matrimonial law, Mark served as an Adjunct Professor at  the Michigan State University College of Law where he taught family law for more than 20  years.

Mark has been regularly honored as one of the “Top 10 Lawyers in Michigan” by Michigan  Super Lawyers. He has been elected as a Diplomate of the American College of Family Trial  Lawyers whose membership is limited to the top 100 matrimonial lawyers in the nation. He is a  Fellow in the nationally distinguished American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the  internationally recognized International Academy of Family Lawyers. Annually, he has been  listed by his peers in Best Lawyers in America as one of the top family law attorneys in the  country, and in Michigan Super Lawyers as one of the premier family law attorneys in Michigan.

He is admitted to practice in Michigan, Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. He has  also been engaged to handle divorce cases around the country, having been admitted pro hac  vice in Florida, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, and Illinois.

Mark is a graduate of the University of Michigan, with distinction, and the George Washington  University Law School.

He currently serves on an advisory board to the University of Michigan Department of Urology  through which he raises funds for prostate cancer research. For ten years, he served as an  elected Trustee of the Bloomfield Hills Schools Board of Education. He has also served on the  Board of Governors of the University of Michigan Alumni Association of Greater Detroit and the  Donor Advisory Board of Children’s Hospital of Michigan.

Mark has been married since 1993 and resides with his wife in Bloomfield Hills. Both of his sons  are graduates of Michigan’s Ross School of Business: one of whom is now a graduate of  Michigan Law and an attorney with a prestigious Chicago law firm, and the other of whom is  now a medical student at Michigan State.

PUBLISHED ARTICLES: 

“Matters of the Heart. . . Cohabitation”

Family Advocate (Journal of the ABA Family Law Section), Volume 18, No. 3, 1996

“The Uncertain State of Michigan Equitable Distribution Law Post Reeves” Michigan Bar Journal, February 2000

“Beyond Rinvelt: Where Do Prenuptial Agreements Go From Here”

Laches (Journal of the Oakland County Bar Association), January 2001

“The Initial Consultation with Your Divorce Attorney: What to Expect When You Don’t Know  What to Expect,”

Michigan Family Law Journal, February 2007

“Property Division Law and Analysis” 

Michigan Family Law Journal, January 2014

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS: 

Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 16th Annual Family Law Institute “Personal and Corporate Tax Returns: Identifying the Difference Between Income and Cash  Flow” Plymouth, Michigan, November 2017

Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Handling Property Division and Spousal Support Issues “Distinguishing Marital and Separate Property in Michigan” Plymouth, Michigan, January 2015

Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 13th Annual Family Law Institute “Five Things Every Family Law Lawyer Should Know About Business Valuations” Plymouth,  Michigan, November 2014

Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 12th Annual Family Law Institute “2013 Separate Property Update: When Does it End?” Plymouth, Michigan, November 2013

Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 11th Annual Family Law Institute “2012 Separate Property Update: Reconciling Hanaway and Henderson” Plymouth, Michigan,  November 2012

Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 8th Annual Family Law Institute “Dividing Retirement Benefits: Dueling Checklists that Every Negotiation Must Include” Plymouth, Michigan, November 2009

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers – Michigan Chapter

“Thinking Outside of the Borders: Approaches from Other States” Birmingham, Michigan, May  2019

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers – Michigan Chapter

“Valuing Personal Services Businesses: What We Need to Know and Arguments We Should  Consider” Birmingham, Michigan, May 2018

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers – Michigan Chapter

“Property Settlement: Payment Terms, Default, Acceleration, Collateral” Birmingham, Michigan,  May 2017

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers – Michigan Chapter

“Byington & Skelly: Premarital Property, Marital Property, Post-Separation Property, and Non Marital Property” Birmingham, Michigan, May 2016

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers – Michigan Chapter

“Effective Tax Rates, Marginal Tax Rates, and Differential Tax Amounts” Birmingham, Michigan,  May 2014

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers – Michigan Chapter

“Presentation of Financial Issues in the Courtroom and on Appeal” Birmingham, Michigan, May  2013

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers – Michigan Chapter

“Evidentiary Problems in the Courtroom; Proper Methods/Etiquette for Raising Disqualification  of the Court” Birmingham, Michigan, May 2012

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers – Michigan Chapter

“The Equities of Temporary Spousal Support Orders” Birmingham, Michigan, May 2011

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers – Michigan Chapter

“Psychological Evaluations in Custody Cases” Birmingham, Michigan, May 2009

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers – Michigan Chapter

“Income vs. Cash Flow When Calculating Support” Birmingham, Michigan, May 2008

Oakland County Bar Association

(Family Court Committee & Domestic Relations Task Force)

“Evidence by the Rules from the Experts” Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, February 2003

Institute of Continuing Legal Education

“Another Look at Separate Property Theory” Troy, Michigan, December 2002 Institute of Continuing Legal Education

“Often Overlooked Issues When Drafting Property Settlement Provisions” Troy, Michigan, December 2002

Institute of Continuing Legal Education

“Handling Separate Property Claims in Michigan” Troy, Michigan, April 2002

Institute of Continuing Legal Education

“Handling Separate Property Claims in Michigan” Grand Rapids, Michigan, April 2002

State Bar of Michigan, Family Law Section

“The State of Equitable Distribution Law in Michigan” Lansing, Michigan, June 2001

State Bar of Michigan, Family Law Section

“Presenting Spousal Support Claims (Without Guidelines)” Troy, Michigan, May 2001

Michigan State University – Detroit College of Law

“Domestic Relations Bar Review for Michigan Bar Examination” 2000 – 2006

Michigan Inter-Professional Association

“Ask the Expert Panel: What Mental Health Professionals Wants Lawyers to Know and What  Lawyers Want Mental Health Professionals to Know” Bloomfield Township, Michigan, April  2015

Michigan Association of Justice

“Courtroom Strategies” Southfield, Michigan, February 2014