The first sixty years

In August of 1945, Lieutenant William W. Brashear, USN returned from service in the South Pacific to join his younger brother, Lonnie H. Brashear, recently retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to form the partnership of Brashear and Brashear in the Penobscot Building in Detroit.

In 1948 William W. Brashear became the attorney for the township of Livonia. He was instrumental in effecting the incorporation of the city in 1950, drafting its charter and handling difficult litigation that threatened this accomplishment. He subsequently served as the city of Livonia's first city attorney and third mayor.

In the meantime, the firm opened a branch on Five Mile Road west of Farmington Road in Bill White's small real estate office. This building now is part of the city of Livonia's Greenmead historical park. When the firm moved into its own Livonia building the Livonia location became the main office and the Detroit office the branch.

The firm continued to grow and added several partners. James Mies, who subsequently became a Wayne County Circuit Court Judge, joined the office in 1951. William W. Brashear's son, William R. Brashear, joined the firm a few years later and remains today of counsel with the firm. Former partner, Patrick Duggan, is currently a United States District Judge.

Over the years the firm's name has changed several times from the original Brashear and Brashear to the present name of Creighton McLean & Shea PLC. The general objectives of the firm however, have remained constant: to engage in the general practice of civil law, providing services to both individuals and businesses in Livonia and surrounding communities. The firm has always been proud of the high percentage of outstanding clients it has maintained over the years and of its history of donating substantial services to civic and community groups and organizations including incorporating the Livonia Chamber of Commerce, St. Mary's Hospital and Nursing School and the Canton and Livonia Goodfellows.

And now

Over the years as new attorneys and partners have joined the firm, Creighton McLean & Shea PLC continues its history of active participation in volunteer organizations including Plymouth Canton Educational Excellence Foundation, Madonna University, Angela Hospice and the Canton Foundation. Members of the firm have served on the boards of Livonia Public Schools, Livonia Family YMCA, Italian American Club of Livonia, Pewabic Society of Detroit, American Diabetes Association, American Diabetes Association- Michigan Affiliate, Livonia Hockey Association, Livonia Rotary Youth Foundation, Livonia Rotary Charitable Foundation and Cranbrook Music Guild.

Creighton McLean & Shea PLC Attorneys