Top best L Lawyers in Battle Creek | 122 available

Jessica L. Brandow, J.D., is an attorney with experience spanning estate planning, probate and estate administration, contract law, property law, and elder law.. Jessica graduated in May of 2015 with her J.D. from the University of Arkansas School of Law. Shortly after graduation, she began working as a paralegal for an estate planning firm in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She sat for the July 2016 Arkansas Bar Exam and was admitted to practice in Arkansas in October 2016. Promoted to associate attorney, Jessica continued working in Fayetteville until March 2018, at which time she relocated with her husband to Michigan. Jessica obtained her Michigan law license in November 2018 and continues to work in the filed of estate planning and elder law, servicing clients across Southwest Michigan.. While in law school, Jessica interned with Legal Aid of Arkansas, the Washington County Circuit Court - Juvenile Division, and the Arkansas Department of Human Services. She is currently a member of the Michigan Bar Association, the Michigan Bar Elder Law and Disability Section, the Michigan Bar Probate and Estate Planning Section, the Michigan Bar Young Lawyers Section, the Kalamazoo County Bar Association and the Kalamazoo County Young Lawyers Section.

James E. Reed is an attorney and shareholder of the Firm. He was born in 1953 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He graduated from Western Michigan University in 1975 with a major in mathematics and from the University of Puget Sound School of Law, Tacoma, Washington, in 1978 where he served as Editor in Chief of the Law Review. Jim was in private corporate and general business law practice in Tacoma, Washington, from 1978 to 1982. He joined the Firm in 1982.. Jim's areas of concentration include real estate law and litigation, commercial law and litigation, environmental law, and probate and estate planning. His commercial law experience includes representing banking and other lending institutions and representing both large and small business owners in a variety of matters including formation of corporations and partnerships, public securities offerings, and general commercial litigation. He has also represented franchisees of national chains, including the food service and retail sectors.. Jim has served as the attorney for the Branch County Association of Realtors since 1996 and the Battle Creek Area Association of Realtors since 1987. Jim has also assisted in various aspects of major commercial real estate development in downtown Battle Creek. His real estate experience includes work for major commercial and retail landlords in the area and the creation of commercial and residential condominium projects.. Jim is a member of the Washington State Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, American Bar Association, Calhoun County Bar Association (President 1989-90), Michigan Land Title Standards Committee (since 1985, Chairman 2001-04), and Michigan Real Property Law Section. Jim also serves on a number of non-profit Boards in the Battle Creek area.

Jacqulene Robinson is an attorney of Vandervoort, Christ & Fisher, P.C. She has lived in the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek area for most of her life. She graduated from Delton-Kellogg High School, then received an Associate of Applied Science Degree from Kalamazoo Valley Community College. After moving to Eugene, Oregon, she attended the University of Oregon and obtained her Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2008. While in Oregon, she worked with adjudicated youth and adults with severe and persistent mental illness.. In 2010, Jackie returned to Michigan after the birth of her nephew. After working at Denso Manufacturing of Michigan and the State of Michigan as a Foster Care Worker, she pursued her legal degree at Thomas M. Cooley Law School on an honors scholarship.. At Cooley, Jackie was involved in many school activities, including: being an Ambassador to welcome new students to the school; two of the school’s legal publications; the Melissa Mitchell Moot Court competition; a negotiation competition; and working as a teaching assistant for her Taxation professor. She received awards for achieving the highest grade in her class in Taxation, Scholarly Writing, and Bankruptcy. In her final term, she received the John D. Voelker Award (awarded for the greatest contribution to the Thomas M. Cooley Law Review for the term) and the Leadership Achievement Award (an honor that acknowledges those students who have consistently, comprehensively, and effectively provided leadership in a variety of capacities). She graduated magna cum laude in 2015.. While in law school, Jackie volunteered with the Service to Soldiers program contacting attorneys to provide pro bono legal services for servicemembers with legal concerns. She also provided editing support for a bench book on the Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act. Jackie also volunteered her time at the Allegan County Legal Assistance Center helping self-representing individuals navigate the legal process, specifically with regard to domestic-relations cases. Jackie’s externship was completed at Veritas Law Group, where she primarily worked with attorneys on civil litigation matters.. After graduating from law school, Jackie returned to Allegan to work for the Honorable Margaret Zuzich Bakker as a law clerk. From there, Jackie went to Kalamazoo to work as a criminal law clerk, primarily serving Judges Gary Giguere, Paul Bridenstine, and Pamela Lightvoet. Through these experiences she observed the inner workings of circuit courts on civil, criminal, and family cases. Her work consisted of reading documents filed with the court, researching the law on the issues presented, and drafted memoranda for the judges prior to hearings, and orders after or in lieu of hearings.. While in Allegan, Jackie served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Allegan County Legal Assistance Center and the Allegan Bar Association.. Jackie currently lives in Hickory Corners with her husband and two dogs: a deaf Husky/Border Collie mix and a red Doberman Pinscher. She enjoys cooking, reading, listening to podcasts, writing, going to concerts, playing games, and spending time with family.. Jackie joined VCF in 2017 and will be working in all areas of the law including family law and civil litigation. She is looking forward to becoming actively involved in the Battle Creek community. She is interested in providing community and legal support to hearing impaired populations, active duty and veteran members of the military, community re-entry programs for recently incarcerated individuals, and substance abuse treatment programs.

I have been personally involved in the private practice of commercial civil law continuously in Battle Creek, Michigan since 1975.  Martindale Hubbell, the only known confidential attorney peer review publication, has rated me as av and preeminent continuously since 1986.. My community involvement includes serving on Boards of Director of both our Battle Creek Y Center and the Sherman Lake Camp Y-Center with service for over 30 years, having served as board chair for both organizations.. For the state bar of Michigan I have served as an attorney grievance hearing officer for many years.. Over my near 40 years of practice experience I have provided legal representation to thousands of clients involving all aspects of commercial and real estate law.  I currently represent commercial lenders, realtors, title companies, developers, insurance agences and individuals in matters involving virtually all aspects of commerical law.

I am the Owner and Managing Attorney at Michael B. Walling, PLC and The Elder Law Center.  I received my undergraduate degree from Western Michigan University and went on to attend Wayne State University Law School where I earned my Juris Doctorate in 1996 and my Master of Laws degree in 2000.  I am also a Law Instructor at Western Michigan University.  In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis, guitar and spending time with my niece and nephew.

For nearly three decades, I have worked to provide the best possible legal representation for clients by doing what it takes to get the job done, and charging clients only for productive time at a reasonable rate.  I truly believe in putting the client first.  During our first meeting, we will have an honest conversation about what you expect and hope to achieve.  It is important at the beginning of our relationship to have an honest discussion about your goals, whether I can actually help you achieve them, and the ways in which the journey could play out.  Keeping clients informed of what is going on is paramount - decisions about how to proceed belong to the client, not the lawyer.. I provide services in the following areas:

Ashley A. Smith is a skilled attorney licensed to practice law in Michigan. Her experience in Criminal Law and Family Law lends her the knowledge and skills required to meaningfully advocate for clients. Ms. Smith is a Valparaiso University Alumna holding both a Juris Doctorate and Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with a minor in Peace and Social Justice.