Professional Licensing Defense
Protecting licensed professionals when careers, credentials, and reputations are at risk.
Strategic defense for licensed professionals facinginvestigations, complaints, disciplinary proceedings,and regulatory actions.
MOAHR & MCOLES Defense Attorney
This practice is devoted to professional licensing defense and administrative proceedings in Michigan, with particular focus on matters before the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules (MOAHR) and the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES).
Representation centers on administrative record development, procedural timing, and disciplined engagement with agency process in matters where outcomes are frequently shaped at the earliest stages. With a career and livelihood at stake, early intervention is often critical.
This perspective is informed by a background in law enforcement investigations and administrative review, with focused attention on how investigative records are developed, where evidentiary gaps arise, and how incomplete or inconsistent statements can shape licensing and disciplinary outcomes across professional settings.
When to Contact Counsel
Received a LARA complaint
Notice of Intent to Deny
Internal affairs or departmental investigation
MCOLES certification issue
License suspension or emergency action
Request for compelled statement (Garrity)
What Is at Stake
Loss of professional license or certification
Employment termination or inability to continue practicing or serving
Loss of MCOLES certification, affecting continued law enforcement employment
Permanent record affecting future opportunities
Collateral consequences across agencies
Approach to Representation
Early case assessment and record analysis
Strategic response to agency inquiry
Development of administrative record
Representation at hearing or negotiated resolution
Early Intervention & Pre-Complaint Guidance
Pre-complaint risk review
Counsel before internal reporting events
Documentation and record guidance for professionals
Why This Practice Is Different
Focused exclusively on administrative and licensing matters
Not a general civil or criminal practice
Emphasis on administrative record development and procedural precision
Direct, discreet representation in sensitive professional matters
Early engagement in administrative matters is often determinative. Counsel should be considered before key procedural steps or statements are made.
Professional Licensing and Administrative Defense
Representation Before the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules (MOAHR) and the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES)
Joseph A. Bunting represents licensed professionals before the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules (MOAHR) and in proceedings involving the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES). He advises law enforcement officers, physicians, nurses, other healthcare professionals, and licensed individuals facing investigations or disciplinary action.
This is a boutique administrative defense practice—deliberate in scope and focused on precision, procedural rigor, and professional discretion in matters where the administrative record is decisive.
Administrative proceedings carry consequences distinct from civil or criminal litigation. Outcomes are shaped by procedure, timing, and the administrative record, often under agency-specific rules that leave little room for correction once a matter is underway.
This practice is devoted to administrative hearings and licensure matters in Michigan, with particular focus on proceedings before MOAHR and MCOLES. Representation centers on disciplined record development, statutory analysis, and careful engagement with agency process.
Proceedings before MOAHR often arise from statutory or regulatory enforcement actions and are governed by administrative law and evidentiary rules distinct from court litigation. In this forum, effective representation requires a precise and structured approach to contested cases and investigations.
Focus Areas
• Contested administrative hearings (MOAHR)
• Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) proceedings
• Bureau of Professional Licensing (LARA) matters
• Licensure investigations and compliance reviews
• Suspension, revocation, and reinstatement proceedings
• Notices of Intent to Deny
• Preparation for contested administrative hearings
• Pre-hearing and hearings before administrative law judges
MCOLES Licensure & Administrative Hearings
MCOLES certification is a statutory requirement for Michigan law enforcement officers. Licensure reviews and disciplinary proceedings are governed by mandatory standards and administrative procedures under Michigan law.
These matters are technical and time-sensitive, and early decisions often shape both the scope and outcome of the review process.Representation includes internal investigations, disciplinary hearings, Garrity and Weingarten-related matters, and workplace investigations affecting certified officers and other professionals serving in public safety roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can licensing issues affect my employment?
A: Yes. Licensing issues can directly affect employment, certifications, and the ability to continue working. Early representation is critical.
Q: What is professional licensing defense?
A: Professional licensing defense involves representing individuals in administrative proceedings where their license or certification is at risk.
Q: Which agencies handle these matters in Michigan?
A: These matters may involve the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules (MOAHR) and the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES).
Q: When should I contact an attorney?
A: An attorney should be consulted as early as possible when an investigation or disciplinary issue arises.
Q: Can licensing matters be resolved without a hearing?
A: In some cases, matters may be resolved before a formal administrative hearing depending on the circumstances.
Based in Troy, Michigan, Estate&Risk serves clients throughout Oakland County, Metro Detroit, and across the State of Michigan.
We provide professional licensing defense with a focus on clarity, structure, and protecting careers and professional standing.