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2022 Go To Thought Leader Article of the Year Award

2022 Winner:

National Law Review
Go To Thought Leader
Article of the Year Award

For 130 years, clients have trusted Varnum for excellence, innovation and superior results in the delivery of legal services. Over the years, as the needs of our clients have become more complex, we have kept pace by constantly expanding our areas of practice, our understanding of evolving trends and issues, and our ability to harness technology effectively.

Today, Varnum is firmly established as one of Michigan's premier law firms. A full-service provider of legal counsel, Varnum has a strong core of experience.

Varnum is a regional business law firm with more than 150 lawyers, serving clients in a full range of practice areas. We have built our reputation by helping clients identify opportunities, negotiate and close commercial transactions, win lawsuits and benefit from up-to-the-minute legal advice. Our clients range from large world-leading companies to smaller businesses who want world-class attention and service.

Varnum clients represent a diverse range of business and legal interests: manufacturers, financial institutions, health care providers, professional groups, municipalities, colleges and universities, school districts, developers, publishers, retailers, governmental units, transportation, trade associations and charitable organizations.

Partner
Steve focuses his practice on residential and commercial real estate transactions and community association representation. He provides counsel to condominium and homeowners associations…
Varnum attorneys have practical experience serving the needs of agricultural producers, food processors and their suppliers. Our team approach provides expertise in each legal area while…
Associate
Paul works with Varnum's Litigation and Trial Practice Team developing a strong background in mass tort, toxic tort and environmental litigation. He also has experience in multiple aspects…
Partner
Scott is a partner and chair of the Health Care Practice Team. He focuses his practice in corporate and business law with an emphasis on health care law and life sciences, including all…
Counsel
John has over 40 years of experience, focuses his practice on business and commercial litigation, and is a certified civil trial advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He is…
Associate
Justin is an associate attorney on Varnum’s Litigation and ADR Practice Team. Justin represents clients throughout the litigation process, including at hearings, depositions, trial, and…
Partner
John is a member of the firm’s Employee Benefits Team. He counsels employee benefit plan sponsors with respect to compliance with ERISA and IRS requirements for 401(k) plans, ESOPs and…
Associate
Seth is a member of the Labor and Employment Practice Team. He has experience with employment disputes, labor disputes and employment agreements. He has also worked on commercial litigation…
Partner
Seth is a partner and member of the firm’s Business and Corporate Services Team. He is experienced in business representation, planning and counseling. He focuses on mergers and…
Partner
Luis focuses his practice on labor, employment and immigration issues. Luis has a wide range of experience in traditional labor matters, including grievances, arbitrations, collective…
Partner
Kim is an attorney in the Corporate Practice Group where she represents both publicly-traded and private businesses at all stages of growth in a variety of transactional matters. Although…
Associate
Amy Baddley is an associate with Varnum's Data Privacy and Mobility teams. A CIPP/US certified information privacy professional, she analyzes clients’ compliance with newly-effective…
Counsel
Chris is a member of the firm’s Real Estate Practice Team. He has significant experience representing retail license holders, including resorts, hotels, restaurants and retail developers.…
Counsel
Joe focuses his practice on real estate transactions, representing clients in the acquisition, development, disposition, finance and leasing of commercial real estate. He frequently works…
Partner
Tom has over 30 years of experience in helping clients efficiently and effectively define theirestate planning goals and to arrange their affairs accordingly. His expertise includes…
Partner
Brendan focuses his practice on restructuring, workouts and bankruptcies, representing creditors, debtors and other parties in Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, out-of-court workouts and…
Partner
Jeff’s practice focuses on business law, real estate, estate planning and aircraft transactions. He works with many companies and family businesses to handle their legal issues, including…
Partner
Matt is a partner on the Business and Corporate Services Practice Team, and participates in both the Startup and Emerging Companies and Intellectual Property Practice Teams. His practice…
Partner
Adam is a partner in the Litigation Practice Team concentrating on complex civil litigation in both state and federal courts. He has extensive first-chair experience, including trial,…
Counsel
Bob focuses his practice on public sector, litigation, and real estate matters. Within his public sector practice, he provides litigation services to cities, villages, townships, counties,…
  Varnum LLP represents municipalities nationwide on cable and telecommunications matters such as wireless projects, cell tower leases and zoning, and cable franchise renewals and…
Partner
Real Estate Attorney Dave focuses his practice in real estate, real estate finance and municipal/land use law. He has particular experience representing both private developers and…
Partner
Chris is a partner and leads Varnum's Estate Planning team. Chris is acutely aware that advising clients on estate planning and wealth succession requires an intimate understanding of the…
Associate
Alex is an associate attorney focusing on corporate and real estate matters. He assists with mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance matters, and securities-related projects. Prior…
Counsel
Steve is a member of Varnum's Tax Practice Team. He has substantial experience in federal, state and local taxation, in both planning and controversy. Steve previously held positions at…
Cousel
Kathleen is a trusts and estates attorney focused on creating customized estate plans for a wide range of individuals and multi-generational families which achieve goals such as tax…
Partner
Kim focuses her practice on immigration matters, including nonimmigrant petitions, both employment- and family-based permanent residence applications, expatriation and foreign visa issues.…
Associate
Chloe is an associate currently working in Varnum’s litigation practice. She also provides support to the firm’s corporate and health care practices. Chloe has experience drafting…
Paralegal
Kristy focuses her Employee Benefits practice on retirement plans. In addition to drafting plans, she submits plans to IRS for opinion and determination letters, and submits plans to IRS…
Partner
Brad is a partner and member of the firm’s Litigation Practice Team, concentrating in commercial litigation in state and federal courts. He focuses his practice on commercial contract…
Partner
Jeff is a partner and leads the Employee Benefits Team. He has 30 years of experience working with employers, executives and third-party administrators on a wide range of employee benefit,…
Partner
Ron is a trial lawyer and former federal prosecutor who concentrates his practice in civil and white collar litigation, as well as internal investigations. He is a fellow in the American…
Partner
Brion is a member of the Litigation Practice Team. He is experienced in commercial and environmental litigation in state and federal court. Brion has represented clients in a wide range of…
Associate
Ashleigh is an associate attorney currently working with the labor and employment group. She also works with higher education clients and provides support on a variety of litigation matters…
Associate
Jacob is a member of the firm’s Corporate Services Team and focuses on areas of corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, private offerings, corporate finance and other commercial…
Partner
Tim focuses his practice in media law, advertising law, intellectual property, e-commerce, litigation (including commercial/business) and international law. Tim’s litigation practice also…
Associate
Jailah is an associate at Varnum. She is a skilled researcher with experience in real estate, labor and employment, bankruptcy, commercial litigation and corporate matters. Prior to joining…
From finance and siting issues to regulation and tax incentives, energy law is a diverse and thriving practice at Varnum. Our client-focused, service team approach has made us a beacon in…
Partner
Steve is a partner in Varnum’s corporate practice group. He provides strategic business advice with a focus on general corporate counseling, capital raising, M&A, strategic alliances…
At Varnum, we believe that each person has a vision for life and the legacy he or she will leave behind. The vision changes and matures but at any one time it is expressed as an objective…
Partner
MMatt's vast experience includes general environmental law, environmental compliance counseling, transactional due diligence, administrative law, civil and administrative enforcement…
Varnum's Family Law Team is comprised of lawyers who have dedicated their careers to achieving successful outcomes for individuals facing one of the most difficult times in their lives. …
Partner
Mallory is an attorney on Varnum’s Business and Corporate Services Practice Team, focusing on general corporate transactions and financial matters. She provides counsel to public and…
Varnum's Food Law practice includes more than a dozen attorneys experienced in the sophisticated areas of law that apply to food regulation. We help regulated businesses bring their…
Partner
Tom is a real estate and corporate attorney. He counsels clients on complex transactional, corporate and real estate matters, including the acquisition, financing, sale, leasing and…
Counsel
Since 1981, Rick has represented employers exclusively in solving labor and employment lawproblems in the workplace. He devotes most of his time to advising employers about how to avoid…
Counsel
Stacey focuses her practice on real estate matters and represents business owners with commercial real estate holdings, residential real estate developers, residential and commercial…
Associate
Yvonne George is a member of Varnum's Corporate Practice Team. Yvonne focuses her practice primarily on employment and family-based immigration. She assists clients with nonimmigrant…
Associate
Regan is a member of the Litigation and Trial Team. She represents clients in a variety of civil and criminal litigation matters and internal investigations. Her experience includes RICO,…
Partner
Linsey is a partner in the Estate Planning Practice Team. Her practice includes full-service estate plan preparation, estate and trust administration, guardianship and conservatorship…
Counsel
Bruce practices energy law, environmental law, and construction law. His energy background includes negotiating electric power sales agreements (both for wholesale sellers of energy and for…
Counsel
Randy focuses his practice on creditor's rights law, including collections, bankruptcy, landlord-tenant, claim and delivery, foreclosure, and commercial and general civil litigation. His…
Associate
Andrea is an associate on Varnum’s data privacy and mobility practice teams. She advises leading mobility and technology providers on domestic and international data privacy laws and…
Associate
Janelle works with Varnum’s Estate Planning Team as well as the Business and Corporate Services Practice Team. She has experience drafting estate plans, assisting with estate…
Partner
Charyn is a member of the Litigation and Trial Services Practice Team. A significant part of her practice focuses on probate litigation, including will contests, guardianship/…
Paralegal
Laura works in the Litigation and Trial Services Team, with extensive experience in all aspects of complex commercial litigation matters including contract disputes, class actions,…
Partner
Rich is a partner on the Litigation and Trial Services Team where he focuses on construction law and litigation, business litigation and commercial matters, contracts and sports law. Rich…
Partner
Scott is a partner and the leader of Varnum's Corporate Practice Team. His practice focuses on business representation, including transactions, planning and counseling. Specifically, Scott…
Counsel
Bill provides general business counsel to clients primarily in the area of employee benefits, including benefit administration matters, selection of plan types, and representation before…
Associate
Herman is a member of the Litigation and Trial Practice Team based in the firm's Grand Rapids office. He formerly served as a clerk for Chief Judge Robert J. Jonker in the District Court…
Partner
Dick Hooker has had significant experience in traditional labor relations, state/federal agency work, employment litigation, union election campaigns, unemployment insurance taxation…
Associate
Rob is a member of the Estate Planning Practice Team. He is experienced with all facets of advanced planning techniques, with a particular focus on the intersection of business matters and…
Partner
Kaplin leads the Corporate Practice Team and advises clients regarding business formation and transactions, including choice of entity, joint ventures and LLCs, mergers and acquisitions,…
Partner
Chris is a partner on the Labor and Employment Practice Team. He defends employers nationwide in federal and state courts under the many statutes that govern the employment relationship,…
Partner
Tom is a partner on the firm's Tax Practice Team. His practice includes civil and criminal tax litigation. Previously employed by the Department of Attorney General, Tom acted as legal…
Partner
Dave’s “client-centered” practice involves a variety of labor and employment issues. He provides practical and confidential ongoing advice and consulting on a number of sensitive and…
Associate
Jeff is member of the Litigation and Trial Services Practice Team with a focus on general commercial litigation and family law.  His appellate experience includes arguing before the United…
Partner
Harvey is a partner and leads the Banking, Finance and Restructuring Practice Team. He represents a wide variety of businesses and has substantial experience with mergers, acquisitions and…
Associate
Kyle’s practice is commercial litigation. He has represented clients in a wide array of litigation, including trials, administrative trials, and on appeal. He has unique experience in…
Partner
Tim is a member of the firm’s Intellectual Property and Corporate Law Practice Teams. He has extensive experience in many legal business areas including intellectual property and contract…
Associate
Yvonne focuses her practice primarily on employment and family-based immigration in addition to general corporate matters. She assists clients with employment and family-based permanent…
Good business sense combined with good people sense. That's perhaps the best way to describe our approach to labor and employment law at Varnum. Our labor and employment attorneys…
Partner
Tim is a partner in the Environmental, Energy and Natural Resources team. On energy issues, Tim represents clients before the Michigan Public Service Commission, including energy suppliers…
Partner
Richard is a corporate and business law attorney with a comprehensive corporate transactional practice involving all areas of corporate, business and commercial law. His works includes…
Associate
Marisa is an associate attorney working primarily with Varnum’s family law and litigation teams. As part of the family law team, Marisa has experience working on matters concerning child…
Partner
Mike has a multi-state practice focused on debt restructuring and complex commercial litigation. He serves many businesses, but specializes in automotive, agriculture and telecommunications…
Counsel
Paul’s practice focuses upon representation of business and individual taxpayers in federal tax planning as well as in controversies at administrative levels and the tax court and before…
Associate
Zachary Meyer is a member of the Corporate Practice Group and assists clients in matters of business law.  Zachary practices in the areas of corporate governance and structuring, mergers…
Counsel
Real Estate Attorney Chris is an experienced real estate attorney focusing on homeowners and condominium association representation. He has served as general counsel to over 100…
Partner
Bob is a partner and co-chair of the Banking, Finance and Restructuring Team concentrating on commercial and real estate finance, loan restructurings and workouts,  receiverships,…
Associate
Alex is a member of the Corporate Practice Team. His transactional experience includes mergers and acquisitions, real estate purchases and sales, and financing deals including private…
Partner
Tim is a partner on the firm's Litigation and Trial Services Team. His practice focuses on helping clients resolve business disputes, including complex commercial tort and contract…
Partner
Gary’s practice is primarily focused on representing companies and individuals – in Michigan and across the country – in connection with government enforcement actions and white collar…
Counsel
Shalini is a member of the Family Law Practice Team. She specializes in family law litigation, including high-income and high-asset divorces, custody and parenting time, child support,…
Counsel
Angelique is a member of Varnum’s Tax Team. Her practice includes all aspects of federal and state tax controversy and tax planning, including: tax audits, appeals, and litigation; tax…
Partner
Eric is a partner and leads the tax team. He concentrates on tax and financial controversy (IRS and various States) from examinations appellate conferences, criminal investigations, witness…
Counsel
Deborah has extensive experience handling all levels of property tax appeals. She has represented both Petitioners and Respondents in matters involving assessed values, taxable values,…
Associate
Ola is an associate attorney on the litigation team. She has experience in a variety of litigation issues related to property disputes and toxic tort claims. Ola also has experience in…
Partner
Melissa is a partner and leads the Real Estate Practice Team. She focuses her practice on corporate and real estate matters, with an emphasis on commercial sales, acquisitions, leasing, and…
Associate
Lauren is an associate attorney with a background in finance. She is currently working with the corporate and tax teams as well as the banking, finance and restructuring team.  While in law…
Partner
Julia is the chair of the Family Law Team and works with clients in family law matters including divorce, child custody, child support and parenting time matters. She has unique experience…
Counsel
John represents property owners nationally (35 states and counting) on cell tower leases. Since 1996, he has led the firm’s practice in this area. Most of John’s work is on the sale of cell…
Partner
For over 15 years, Aaron's practice has been focused on complex commercial and environmental litigation - in Michigan and around the country. Aaron has represented clients in contract and…
Associate
Eric is a business and corporate attorney who advises startups, private and family-owned businesses, and multinational companies in the automotive, manufacturing, technology, retail and…
Attorney
Lauren works with Varnum's Litigation, Real Estate, Corporate and Estate Planning Teams. She has a particular focus on litigation and has experience in commercial and environmental…
Of Counsel
Dave is a member of the Environmental Practice Group and the Energy Law Practice Group. He works in the defense of federal and state environmental enforcement actions involving air quality…
Partner
Laura is an attorney in the firm’s estate planning team where she helps individuals and families to identify their estate planning goals and to create a plan that is tailored to meet their…
Associate
Liz is a member of the Corporate Practice Team. She focuses her practice on immigration and agriculture. In her immigration practice, she handles nonimmigrant petitions, both employment-…
Certified Public Accountant
John is a certified public accountant who focuses on federal and multi-state controversies, audits, tax planning and litigation support. John was formally employed by the Michigan…
Partner
Dean is a partner in Varnum's Corporate, Real Estate and Estate Planning Practice Teams. He concentrates his practice on business transactional matters, general corporate work, real estate…
Counsel
Dale has extensive experience in the area of nonprofit and tax exempt entities, and works with a wide range of exempt organizations, including charities, social service agencies, cultural…
If you own land that touches or is bounded by a natural body of water, you are entitled to riparian rights. This very specialized aspect of real estate law presents unique challenges which…
Partner
Bill has served firm clients for over three decades in litigation matters that have been resolved through arbitrations, mediations, and bench and jury trials. He also oversees Varnum’s…
Partner
John represents clients in various types of complex commercial litigation and provides counsel on matters including regulatory compliance, licensing and insurance coverage. He has…
Partner
Michael Romaya represents lenders and borrowers in a wide variety of commercial financial transactions. He has structured, negotiated, and documented numerous senior and subordinate debt…
Partner
Mike focuses his practice on commercial litigation and trademarks. He also serves as a federal mediator. He has tried and arbitrated numerous commercial cases.  Mike’s experience…
Partner
Erika handles family law litigation matters including complex divorces, initial and post judgment child custody matters, change of domicile, paternity, minor guardianship and third-party…
Partner
Pete focuses on real estate, finance and municipal matters. His practice is transaction oriented, working with businesses, institutions, developers, and investors in real estate purchases,…
Partner
Fred provides general legal counsel to private business interests and nonprofit organizations. He has over 30 years of experience assisting for-profit and nonprofit companies with advice,…
Associate
Gage is an associate attorney working primarily with the Litigation and Trial Practice Team. He has experience in a variety of litigation issues including antitrust matters, property…
Partner
Stephanie advises employers on a wide variety of labor and employment matters, with an emphasis on employment litigation defense, and the identification and development of best practices in…
Partner
Mary Kay has a diverse practice focusing on public finance, corporate finance and creditors' rights issues. In the area of municipal finance, she advises clients on tax-exempt financing…
Partner
Beth is a partner in the labor and employment practice group, focusing employment issues and litigation. She has counseled business clients on a variety of matters affecting the workplace,…
Partner
Peter is a partner and leads the Personal Injury Practice Team. His practice focuses on business litigation defense (FSLA, Product Liability Defense, Malpractice Defense) as well as…
Counsel
Jeffrey is a technology-focused corporate attorney with broad legal authority in autonomous and connected vehicles. He previously served as autonomous vehicle counsel for a major global…
Partner
Shawn is an experienced tax attorney with a focus on corporate and partnership taxation issues. He advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, tax-exempt entities, individual tax…
Partner
Nina focuses her practice on business and family-based immigration matters.  Her experience encompasses nonimmigrant visa petitions including H-1B visas, L-1A and L-1B visas, TN visas under…
Associate
Will is an associate attorney who works in both the Novi and Detroit offices. His legal experience includes serving as a judicial intern for the Honorable Sean F. Cox of the U.S. District…
Kroninger
Intellectual Property, Franchise, and Business Law Attorney Tim is a registered patent attorney and member of Varnum’s Intellectual Property Team. His practice focuses on patent and…
Partner
John is a partner in Varnum's corporate practice. Over the course of his career, he has advised on dozens of complex transactions whose aggregate value totals more than $10 billion. John…
Of Counsel
Although Larry has retired from active practice, he is available to consult with clients in the areas of his previous practice, which included: representing employers on employee benefit…
Associate
Jordan is an associate at Varnum. She is a skilled researcher with experience in litigation, corporate, labor and employment, immigration, privacy and mobility, and family law matters.…
Associate
Kristen is an associate in the finance and corporate practice groups, and focuses her practice on both financial matters, and business and corporate matters. She represents lenders and…
Partner
Jessica E. VIsser is a member of the Corporate Practice Team and co-chair of Varnum's Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) Practice. As former associate general counsel for a major university,…
Partner
Joe Vogan has litigation experience in all areas of employment law, including wrongful discharge, the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, Title VII, Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA…
Partner
Bryan helps companies successfully resolve business disputes, representing clients in a wide range of industries including manufacturing, health care, and professional services. Bryan…
Associate
Jake is a member of Varnum’s Business and Corporate Services Team with a focus on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and general corporate governance. He represents buyers and sellers in a…
Counsel
Pat's practice concentrates on the full spectrum of civil rights issues including race, gender and disability matters, free speech and electronic privacy issues in the workplace. In…
Partner
As a member of the Health Care Practice Team, Sarah's unique practice includes working with physicians, physician groups, hospitals and health care entities on mergers and acquisitions,…
Partner
Mike is a partner on the firm's Corporate Practice Team and formerly served as the chair of the firm’s Policy Committee. His practice focuses on corporate governance, securities, and…
Associate
Rebecca is a member of the Estate Planning Practice Team. She advises clients on all aspects of estate planning and trusts, including probate avoidance, asset protection, special purpose…
Associate
Amy is a member of Varnum’s Business and Corporate Practice Team.  She focuses on mergers and acquisitions, contract review and corporate governance matters. A skilled researcher with…
Associate
Neil is a member of the firm’s litigation group.  Before joining Varnum, Neil clerked for the Hon. Sean F. Cox on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and…
Partner
Matt is a member of the Environmental and Energy Practice Groups. A significant portion of Matt’s practice involves representation of municipalities and private developers in regard to…

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