About Our Firm
In 1992, Michael and Peggy Pitt, Cary McGehee, and Stuart Dowty formed a trial law firm known as Pitt Dowty and McGehee in downtown Royal Oak, Michigan. Now over 30 years old, our firm continues its involvement in trailblazing litigation and achievement of outstanding results for our clients.
Our firm has played key roles in several significant civil rights cases, such as DeBoer v. Snyder, which was pivotal to the legalization of same-sex marriage through the Supreme Court's landmark Obergefell v. Hodges decision. We have also secured major settlements for Flint, Michigan residents who were impacted by the ongoing water crisis, as well as for gymnasts who survived the abuse of United States women's national gymnastics team doctor, Larry Nassar. Further, we have successfully challenged discriminatory practices in the workplace, including Robinson v. Ford, which set a precedent for same-sex sexual harassment cases in Michigan; and representing former employees in cases of wrongful termination, such as securing a confidential settlement for sixteen Bengali Muslim employees who were denied their religious rights by a Michigan-based automative door systems manufacturer. In a recent historic victory, our firm secured New Mexico's largest employment-related verdict, with a jury awarding John Fikany $104.6 million in a breach of contract case against Bright Green Corporation (BGC), affirming his right to compensation promised under his CEO agreement.
Firm Recognitions
2025, 2026 Chambers & Partners Litigation: Mainly Plaintiffs Band 1
2025, 2026 Law.com Elite Trial Lawyers Employment Rights Finalists
2027 Best Lawyers Top-Listed Awards
State Awards
Top-Listed in Michigan in Employment Law - Individuals with 6 lawyers
Metro Awards
Top-Listed in Royal Oak in Employment Law - Individuals with 6 lawyers
Top-Listed in Royal Oak in Litigation - Labor and Employment with 6 lawyers
2026 Best Law Firms
Top-Listed in Royal Oak in Employment Law - Individuals with 5 lawyers; Regional Tier 1 Troy: Employment Law – Individuals, Litigation - Labor and Employment; Regional Tier 3 Troy: Criminal Defense: General Practice
We are proud members and supporters of the Oakland County Bar Association.
Our Guiding Principles are clear: Every member of our firm is an exceptional talent, unrelenting in their passion for our clients and the progressive nature of legal work that we do, and is committed to working in an ethical, fair, and collaborative environment both inside the firm and in our relationships with opposing counsel, the courts and governmental agencies, and the public at large.
We are leaders in many legal, public, and private organizations dedicated to the advancement of social justice and human rights including the Michigan Coalition for Human Rights, Eastern District Court of Michigan Pro Se Clinic, American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, Michigan Association for Justice, the Michigan Fair Housing Coalition, JARC, Roeper Board of Trustees, Michigan State University College of Law Board of Trustees, Wayne State University Law School Board of Visitors, Music Hall Board of Trustees, Forgotten Harvest, Oakland County Bar Association, Michigan State Bar and the Michigan State Bar Foundation, Public Justice, and the Federal Bar Association.
Our firm has secured far-reaching and landmark legal rulings from the United States Supreme Court, the Michigan Supreme Court, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Michigan Court of Appeals, and Federal District Courts. We are recognized in the community for our appellate advocacy and are a “go-to” firm for lawyers seeking creative and innovative approaches to difficult legal problems.
Many of us have engaged in high-level pro bono work including volunteer work on behalf of incarcerated individuals who were sentenced as juveniles to life without the possibility of parole. Through our efforts, two individuals serving more than 30 years behind bars for crimes committed when they were children have been resentenced and released.
We have the talent to deliver great results for our clients, the passion to fight as long and as hard as it takes, and an unwavering commitment to ethics, fairness, and collaboration in every relationship.
Justice, served for over 30 years and more to come!
We would be remiss if we did not mention our outstanding staff of legal assistants, clerks, and office managers. Our staff is our secret sauce and without them, we could not have grown from four to ten attorneys.
