Given his expertise in land acquisition issues, Mark was one of the primary drafters of the Michigan Uniform Condemnation Procedures Act, including provisions dealing with environmental remediation of contaminated property being acquired for public use.

Mark has also gained prominence for navigating financially distressed businesses through liquidation, rehabilitation, and receivership. He has been appointed as Receiver and Conservator to troubled businesses by the Governor, the Insurance Commissioner, the Attorney General, and the Cemetery Commissioner.

He had a leading role in several troubled companies in which the State exercised its regulatory authority, such as The Wellness Plan, OmniCare, and most notably, a collection of 28 cemeteries across the state. In the cemetery matter, the prior owner misappropriated more than $60 million in trust funds, but after Mark instituted a number of measures to avoid financial collapse, recover assets, and restore solvency and profitability, the trust funds were replenished and the business was eventually sold and transitioned to a new owner. Mark also served as counsel to Cadillac Insurance Company for one of the largest and most complex insurance company receiverships in Michigan history.

Mark’s influence has also been felt in the region’s economic growth. As counsel for the city of Detroit in the development of the Fox Theater District and the Cobo Hall expansion projects, he has been at the forefront of the revitalization of downtown Detroit. Mark has also represented Detroit and Wayne County, as well as the state of Michigan, in other important economic development projects in the region, including the Chrysler Jefferson Assembly Plant, Tiger Stadium, Detroit City Airport, Pinnacle Aeropark, and Veterans Administration Hospital projects. His work has made a substantial impact on future growth in Southeastern Michigan. Other representative clients include ITC Holdings, the Detroit Pistons, Piston Group and its affiliate, Vinnie Johnson Enterprises, and the State of Michigan. Mark’s participation in resolving budget disputes between the Wayne County Sheriff and the Wayne County Executive has also placed him at the forefront of important political issues in our region.

Mark’s work for the community extends beyond legal representation. He serves on a number of community boards, including City Year Detroit, a non-profit organization that partners with Detroit schools by providing diverse and talented tutors, mentors, and role models to work alongside teachers to support and enhance student success. In 2019, Mark was inducted into the inaugural class of the Michigan Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame, which annually recognizes 20 Michigan legal leaders for their notable successes and demonstration of strong leadership.

Despite his many victories and accomplishments, Mark is most proud of the law firm he has built. By assembling a team of talented and credentialed attorneys and fostering a culture of hard work, innovative thinking, and entrepreneurism, Zausmer has become the go-to firm for companies, municipalities, and individuals in need of first-class legal representation. For Mark, lists, rankings, and industry accolades are meaningless compared to the business and personal relationships he and his colleagues have cultivated with their clients and the deep trust that those clients place in the firm.