Partner Nathan J. Collison
Nathan J. Collison grew up in Saginaw Michigan, graduating from Saginaw Valley State University with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature in 2007. While at Saginaw Valley, he received the Tyner Prize for Excellence in Student Writing, Non-Fiction. Nathan earned his Juris Doctorate at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2011. He is admitted to the State Bar of Michigan, the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, the United States 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States.
As the former Chief Appellate Attorney at the Saginaw County Prosecutor’s Office, Nathan J. Collison won every criminal and civil appeal he litigated. He also served as the Saginaw County Prosecutor’s personal attorney, winning several civil lawsuits. In addition to his appellate duties, Nathan successfully litigated drug asset forfeitures and was the former head prosecutor of the 10th Circuit Drug Treatment Court. In December of 2017 the Michigan State Police awarded him the Third District Commendation for his unbeaten drug asset forfeiture record.
Before joining the Saginaw County Prosecutor’s Office, Nathan clerked for the Hon. William C. Whitbeck, former Chief Judge of the Michigan Court of Appeals, and for the Hon Richard B. Yuille, Chief Judge of the Genesee County Courts. Nathan received extensive civil litigation training while an associate attorney at Collison & Collison – an AV rated civil litigation firm in Saginaw, Michigan, that maintains a state-wide practice focused on the areas of personal injury, premises liability, automobile negligence, and all appellate proceedings. He was the third generation of his family to practice law there, and the 4th generation of his family to practice law in the Great Lakes Bay region.
Nathan is a Past President of the Saginaw County Bar Association, an Attorney Discipline Board Hearing Panelist, former member of the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan’s Drug Initiates Committee, frequent lecturer of Medical Marijuana law and asset forfeiture, past Chairman of the Saginaw Riverfront Development Commission, a Board member of several Saginaw area non-profit organizations, and sits on the Saginaw Valley State University Alumni Association Board of Directors. In 2017 he received the 1st State Bank RUBY Award for young professionals and the Saginaw County Bar Association Community Service Award. Nathan is also an Adjunct Professor of Law and Political Science at Saginaw Valley State University and serves as a Volunteer Special Deputy for the Saginaw County Sheriff’s Department.
Partner Schivan I. Pedawi
Schivan I. Pedawi is a first-generation Kurdish-American. He was born and raised in the Great Lakes Bay Region, graduating with honors from Saginaw Valley State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Public Relations. After graduating from SVSU, Schivan worked in politics as a field representative and campaign advisor for local, state, and national campaigns. It was during this time that he decided to go to law school. Schivan earned his Juris Doctorate with a focus on International Law and International Business Transactions from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2012, finishing in the top 15% of his class. While in law school, he clerked for Judge William C. Whitbeck at the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Schivan left Michigan for Washington, DC, to work for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee where he gained valuable experience in international trade, business and policy. He was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar and remains licensed to practice there.
When Mr. Pedawi returned to Michigan he joined Collison & Collison, where he practiced with his childhood friend and future law partner, Nathan J. Collison. There he expanded his courtroom experience representing the largest insurance agencies in Michigan and their insureds in premises liability, product liability, auto negligence, and insurance coverage cases.
Mr. Pedawi left Collison & Collison and moved to Kurdistan in northern Iraq to helm the internal legal department for the multinational corporation, Ster Group. There, he divided his time between offices in Dubai, UAE and Erbil, Iraq. Schivan worked closely with governmental and international agencies such as the US Consulate (Iraq), the Italian Army, and the German Ministry of Defense to draft and negotiate complex business contracts.
After many years abroad, Schivan returned to his hometown of Saginaw, Michigan to be closer to his family and practice law with his childhood friend Nathan J. Collison. Shortly after his return, Mr. Pedawi and Mr. Collison Founded Great Lakes Bay Legal, Attorneys & Counselors, where he is currently a partner.