WLAM Board of Directors

Kirsten J. Silwanowicz is the Chief General Counsel for the Detroit Housing Commission and an adjunct professor at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. She is a distinguished in-house counsel with extensive expertise in federal grants, contracts, litigation, compliance, and risk management. In her dual roles, Kirsten brings together real-world legal leadership and classroom instruction, equipping future lawyers with the practical skills needed to succeed in in-house environments. She provides strategic legal guidance and develops tailored solutions that drive organizational growth while aligning with mission-critical objectives. Kirsten has served the Detroit community through roles at the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation and the Great Lakes Water Authority, where she led complex contract negotiations, managed litigation, ensured regulatory compliance, and supported state and federal funding initiatives.

A passionate advocate for public service and advancing women in the legal profession, Kirsten is a leader within the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan (WLAM) and the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL). She serves as President of the WLAM State Board and past President of the WLAM Wayne Region. Through her leadership and publications in the Women Lawyers Journal, she champions women’s rights and equality in the legal field.

Kirsten holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Michigan State University, where she became fluent in Spanish. She began her legal career in Dallas, Texas, before returning to Michigan to continue her impactful practice, teaching, and advocacy efforts.

Kristina Bilowus is an experienced family law attorney who specializes in all types of family law cases at Kizy Law. She is known for being a passionate and hardworking advocate. Upon joining Kizy Law, Kristina has had the opportunity to expand her practice with criminal defense, which has been a career goal to pursue. She is committed to achieving great results for her clients and for ongoing communication throughout the case.

In addition to her work as practitioner, Kristina is an adjunct professor at WMU Cooley Law School where she teaches practical skill classes to second and third year law students. By teaching the practical application of the law, she empowers her students to be more confident advocates upon entering the legal field.

She is the President-Elect of the WBA, Secretary of the SBM YLS, Treasurer of the HBA, Director-at-Large for WLAM, Chair of Gender and Equity for WLAM, and Vice Director of the OCBA Diversity & Inclusion Committee.

Abril Valdes Siewert has dedicated her career to social justice. Ms. Siewert specializes in immigration law at Valdes Law, PLLC. She is also an instructor for Oakland University’s paralegal program teaching immigration law. She has worked with small and large firms, as well as non-profit organizations such as Lakeshore Legal Aid; and as the Immigrant Rights Attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan. During her time at the ACLU, she co-authored the Michigan Crimmigration resource guide which was distributed throughout the state. Ms. Siewert is licensed in the states of Michigan and California. She received her J.D., from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. She is the secretary and co-chair of the Diversity Equity and Inclusion committee for the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, and corresponding secretary for the State Bar of Michigan’s Immigration Law Section.

As founding partner at the Medley Law Firm Angela Medley’s background provides her with unique insight and understanding of the complex emotional and financial issues that families face when spouses go their separate ways. She considers her greatest legal attributes to be her business background and her practical life experience, both of which enable her to provide quality service to her clients in a manner that achieves results. 

She possesses a keen ability to anticipate the needs of her client, and she strives to obtain the best possible outcome for each client. Angela lives and works in Macomb County where she has lived for nearly 30 years. Her office is a block away from the Macomb County Circuit Court. She has a business degree from Baker College of Clinton Township, and she earned her law degree from Detroit Mercy Law School. 

She is a trained mediator and an experienced family law attorney. She can guide you through the complex divorce process and help put you in the best position to start your new beginning.

Tanya A. Grillo was appointed to the 16th Judicial Circuit Court of Macomb County on January 6, 2026. She was born and raised in Macomb County and is a proud graduate of Lakeview High School. 

Prior to her appointment, Judge Grillo maintained a distinguished legal career spanning trial practice, public service, and administrative roles. She served as the Managed Assigned Counsel Coordinator for the City of Southfield, where she oversaw the delivery of indigent defense services. In addition, she was an Administrative Hearing Officer for the City of Mount Clemens. Judge Grillo was the founder of Grillo Law, P.L.L.C., where her practice focused on criminal defense and trial work across Metro-Detroit. She also previously served as the Regional Manager for the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission, working with courts in Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, and St. Clair counties to implement statewide indigent defense standards and improve access to justice. 

Tanya always had a passion for helping indigent clients and served as appointed counsel in both Macomb and Oakland County.  Her desire to help those most in need of legal assistance and her vast experience in courts throughout Metro-Detroit has made her a catalyst of change in a broken system.From 2017-2019 she was the Regional Manager for the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC). In that capacity, she worked with all the courts in Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland and St. Clair Counties in the State of Michigan’s goal to reform the indigent defense system.

Tanya strongly believes in giving back to her community and her profession.  She is the past President of the Women’s Lawyer’s Association of Michigan-Macomb Region, former secretary of Sobriety Today Our Purpose (S.T.O.P), past Co-Chair of the Criminal Law Committee in Macomb County and a member of the Macomb County Bar Associations and the Criminal Defense Association of Michigan.  She also gives of her time to charitable organizations as you will find her giving her time to homeless shelters, food banks, and other charitable causes throughout the year.

Prior to going entering a career in the law, Tanya worked at Quicken Loans.  She is received her Juris Doctorate from Thomas M. Cooley Law School and a Bachelor’s Degree from Central Florida University.