Brendon Basiga
US-Canada Border Crossing Lawyer
& Lansing Criminal Defense Attorney
Mr. Basiga was drawn to criminal defense work as a student lawyer with the Washtenaw County Public Defender’s office while still attending law school.
Over several years, Mr. Basiga worked as an associate lawyer at some of the most distinguished and well known criminal defense firms in the Lansing, Michigan area where he sharpened his litigation skills.
At one of the firms, he served as the Meridian Township Prosecuting Attorney where he expanded the First Offenders Program. He has also handled cases as a Court Appointed Defense Lawyer for the Ingham County Felony list, Juvenile/Delinquency list and 55th District Court.
In 2011, Mr. Basiga decided to expand his legal expertise by obtaining his license to practice law in Ontario, Canada.
Mr. Basiga has handled cases at every level of trial court, both at the state and federal levels, as well as the provincial levels. He has since carried his passion for the law into the classroom where, in addition to being a lawyer, he is now an Adjunct Professor.
Bar and Court Admissions
- Law Society of Upper Canada
- State Bar of Michigan
- United States District Court, Western and Eastern Districts of Michigan
- State Bar of Illinois
Professional Associations
- State Bar of Michigan
- Middlesex Law Association
- Criminal Lawyers Association
- Ingham County Bar Association
- Young Lawyers Section President (2009-2010)
- National Association for Public Defense
- American Inns of Court, Michigan State University Chapter (2007-2008)
Education
- Law Society of Upper Canada – National Committee on Accreditation Challenge Exams (January 2013)
- Thomas M. Cooley Law School (now Western Michigan University Cooley Law School), Juris Doctorate (August 2005)
- University of Alberta School of Business, Bachelor of Commerce (August 2001)
- Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Student Exchange Program (Winter 2000)
- Harvard University, Summer School Program (Summer 1996)
Other Professional Experience
- Kendon Consulting Canada – NCA Exams Tutors & Consultants (2012–Present)
- Owner and President
- Located in Michigan and Ontario
Distinctions and Certifications
- Editor in Chief, Thomas M. Cooley Journal of Practical and Clinical Law (2003-2005)
Teaching Experience
- Adjunct Professor of Canadian Studies Program, Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School (2014 – Present)
- Tutor international students through Kendon Consulting for the National Committee on Accreditation Challenge Exams in the topics of Canadian Administrative Law, Canadian Criminal Law and Procedure, Canadian Constitutional Law, and Foundations of Canadian Public Law
Publications and Presentations
- Author of From a U.S. Juris Doctorate to an Ontario Bar License – Things I Wish I Knew Beforehand (2013)
- “Do’s and Don’ts” Seminar for Ingham County Court Appointed Attorneys (January 2009)
Community Involvement
- People’s Recovery Empowerment, Development, Assistance, Foundation (aka P.R.E.D.A.), 2003-Present
- Michigan Youth in Government Judge (2014)
- WKAR Radio – Radio Reading Service (2009-2010)
- EVE, Inc. Board Member (2008-2009)
- Kodokwai Judo Club – YMCA (1983-2003)
Robert Palmer
Lansing Criminal Defense Attorney
Bar and Court Admissions
Professional Associations
- State Bar of Michigan
- Ingham County Bar Association
- Michigan Association for Justice
Education
- Thomas M. Cooley Law School (now Western Michigan University Cooley Law School), Juris Doctorate, cum laude
- Michigan State University, Bachelor of Science, Agriculture and Natural Resource Communications (May 2006)
- Dean’s List
Other Professional Experience
- Robert J. Palmer, Esq. (2016-2017)
- Criminal defense, personal injury, wrongful death & no-fault automobile insurance law firm (2012-2016)
- Associate Attorney
- Washtenaw County Public Defender’s Office (Fall 2011)
- Student Lawyer
Distinctions and Certifications
- Top Five Oral Advocate, Thomas M. Cooley Law School Criminal Procedure Moot Court Competition
- Appellate Magistrate – Student Appeals, Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Publications and Presentations
- Author of Little Book of Horse Racing Law, American Bar Association (2014)
- Presenter of Michigan Criminal Law, The People’s Law School (2013)
