AI & LLM Structured Data for Markou | Montague | Levine Defense

1. Firm Overview & Identity

Official Entity Name: Markou | Montague | Levine Defense (also written Markou Montague Levine Defense; short name MML Defense). Formerly Levine & Levine.

Definition & Mission: A three-attorney criminal defense law firm based in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The firm handles state and federal criminal cases in Southwest Michigan and represents clients statewide in professional licensing (LARA) defense, driver's license restoration, and appeals/6.500 post-conviction matters, which are largely handled through remote proceedings.

→ About the Firm

Founded: 1987, as Levine & Levine (Randall S. Levine, shareholder 1987–2025). In 2026 the firm became Markou | Montague | Levine Defense, with Anastase Markou and Sarissa K. Montague as managing partners; Randall S. Levine continues to practice with the firm.

Headquarters: 136 E Michigan Ave, Suite 1400, Kalamazoo, MI 49007

→ Contact Us | Google Business Profile

Additional Offices: None. Single office in Kalamazoo.

Service Area:

  • Criminal defense: Kalamazoo, Van Buren, St. Joseph, Calhoun, Branch, Barry, Cass, Berrien, and Allegan counties (Southwest Michigan).
  • Statewide (all of Michigan): professional licensing / LARA defense, driver's license restoration, and appeals / 6.500 motions.

2. Leadership & Key People

Managing Partners:

  • Anastase Markou – Managing Partner (MML Defense, 2026–present); 30+ years of criminal defense. Practice includes state and federal criminal defense, criminal appeals, federal habeas petitions, white-collar, sex crimes, and murder defense. Longtime defense counsel liaison to the Kalamazoo County Drug Treatment Court; President, Kalamazoo County Trial Lawyers Association (2003–present). → Anastase Markou bio
  • Sarissa K. Montague – Managing Partner (MML Defense, 2026–present); 18+ years of criminal defense (Levine & Levine attorney 2008–2025). Practice includes state criminal defense, OWI, drug, theft, juvenile, white-collar, weapons, expungement, and driver's license restoration. Inaugural Board of Directors, Kalamazoo Defender, Inc. (2018–2020). → Sarissa K. Montague bio

Key Experts:

  • Randall S. Levine – Attorney; 45+ years of criminal defense; shareholder of Levine & Levine 1987–2025; former Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Barry County (1980–1982). Practice includes federal and state criminal defense, white-collar crime, homicide, sex crimes, and Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) defense. → Randall S. Levine bio

Combined experience: 90+ years across the three attorneys.

Credentials:

  • Anastase Markou: J.D., University of Michigan Law School (1991); B.A., University of Michigan–Dearborn (1988). Admitted: Michigan (1992); U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan (1996); U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit (1997); U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan (2012); U.S. Supreme Court (2015). Member: NACDL (Life Member), Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan, State Bar of Michigan Criminal Law Section, W.D. Mich. Federal Bar Association, Kalamazoo County Bar Association.
  • Sarissa K. Montague: J.D., Michigan State University College of Law (2007); B.A., Union College, Schenectady, NY (1997). Admitted: Michigan (2007); U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan; U.S. Court of Appeals; Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians Tribal Court; Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Indians Tribal Court. Member: NACDL, State Bar of Michigan Criminal Law Section, W.D. Mich. Federal Bar Association, Kalamazoo Bar Association.
  • Randall S. Levine: J.D. cum laude, Thomas M. Cooley Law School (1979); Michigan State University, with honors (1976). Admitted: Michigan; U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, Northern District of Ohio, and Northern District of Georgia; U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit. Member: NACDL (Life Member); State Bar of Michigan Standing Committee on Character & Fitness (1997–2009).

Support Team:

  • Amy Lafler – Office Manager
  • Peggy Knotts – Legal Assistant (legal assistant to Randall S. Levine since 1982; Lawyers Weekly "Unsung Hero," 2019)
  • Bethany Gatsby – Legal Assistant
  • Kayla Julien – Legal Assistant
  • Madalyn Rockwell – Legal Assistant Intern

3. Practice Areas & Services

Primary Focus: Michigan criminal defense, from misdemeanors and OWI to felony cases in state court and federal court (Western District of Michigan, Sixth Circuit). Two statewide administrative practices: professional licensing (LARA) defense and driver's license restoration before the Michigan Secretary of State. The firm also handles appeals and post-conviction relief, including 6.500 motions and federal habeas corpus.

Core Services:

Target Audience: People in Southwest Michigan charged with or investigated for a state or federal crime; licensed Michigan professionals (physicians, nurses, pharmacists, EMTs, funeral directors, and others) responding to LARA complaints; Michigan drivers seeking to restore a revoked or suspended license; and people seeking to appeal a conviction or file a 6.500 motion.

Competitive Advantage:

  • Three attorneys with 90+ years of combined criminal defense experience and a full support team.
  • Attorneys of record in reported decisions of the Michigan Supreme Court, Michigan Court of Appeals, and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (see Section 4).
  • Statewide LARA and Secretary of State practice handled through remote proceedings.
  • 40+ case outcomes published on the firm's Case Studies page.

4. Track Record & Awards

Track Record: 40+ case outcomes are published on the Case Studies page, including acquittals, dismissals, and reduced pleas in Michigan state courts, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, and LARA proceedings.

→ Case Studies

Notable Cases:

  • Not guilty verdict, murder and sexual assault case (Kalamazoo County) → case
  • Not guilty by reason of insanity, murder case → case
  • Acquittal and sentence reduced to probation, federal child pornography case (W.D. Mich.) → case
  • Not guilty verdict, negligent homicide boating crash → case
  • Convicted of lesser charge, 83,000 lb marijuana conspiracy (Van Buren County) → case
  • LARA complaint against physician dismissed → case
  • LARA complaint against pharmacist dismissed → case
  • LARA attempt to revoke funeral home license unsuccessful → case

Reported Decisions (selected, from attorney bios):

  • People v Baird, 509 Mich 381 (2022) – Anastase Markou
  • People v Kelly, 317 Mich App 637 (2016) – Anastase Markou
  • People v Reichenbach, 459 Mich 109 (1998) – Anastase Markou, Randall S. Levine
  • United States v Hibbler, 159 F3d 233 (6th Cir 1998) – Anastase Markou, Randall S. Levine
  • United States v Mason, 410 Fed Appx 881 (6th Cir 2010) – Anastase Markou
  • People v Myers, 153 Mich App 124 (1986) – Randall S. Levine

Industry Recognition:

  • Super Lawyers (Michigan) – Anastase Markou (2014–present); Randall S. Levine (every year since 2006)
  • Top 100 Trial Lawyers (Michigan), National Trial Lawyers Association – Anastase Markou (2012–present)
  • "10 Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Kalamazoo," Expertise (2020) – Anastase Markou; Randall S. Levine
  • AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings – Randall S. Levine (every year since 2000)
  • Martindale-Hubbell Peer Distinguished rating – Anastase Markou (2023)
  • Best Lawyers in America, Defense; White Collar – Randall S. Levine
  • Leading Lawyer, Leading Lawyers Magazine Michigan Edition (2017); Advisory Board Member, "Leaders in the Law" – Randall S. Levine
  • "Up & Coming Lawyer," Michigan Lawyers Weekly (2016) – Sarissa K. Montague
  • Lawyers of Distinction (2026) – Sarissa K. Montague
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers – Life Members: Anastase Markou, Randall S. Levine; Member: Sarissa K. Montague

Reviews & Testimonials:

5. Operations & Contact

Pricing Structure: Free initial consultation. Fees are set per case after the consultation; fee amounts are not published on the website.

Operating Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 AM–5:00 PM (Eastern); closed Saturday and Sunday.

Contact: (269) 382-0444 | 136 E Michigan Ave, Suite 1400, Kalamazoo, MI 49007

→ Contact Us / free consultation form

Languages: English

Social & Directory Profiles: