Top best L Lawyers in Grand Rapids | 1480 available

I have my commercial pilots license and enjoy flying airplanes, hitting the golf ball and talking to friends on my ham radio.

I have lived in Michigan since 1989.  We moved our family to West Michigan because we were looking for a great place to raise our children.  We found what we were looking for and have never regretted it.  My wife and I have been married for 38 years and both of our children live right here in Michigan.  That’s great for us because it means our three beautiful grand daughters are close by.. I have always believed that a person cannot truly excel at what they do if their heart is not in it.   Generally, those people that rise to the top of their chosen vocations are those that go to work each morning because they love their job.    I have been blessed with a career that I love.  I am fascinated by the law and look forward every day to exploring some new aspect of it and when necessary, challenging its validity.. I am so grateful to have been born in a free land and to live under the guiding rules of our inspired Constitution.   I approach the practice of family and criminal defense law from that point of view.    The law must work for all of us or it does not work for any.   The most important promise that I can make to you is that when I go to work for you, my heart will be in it.

I have helped form dozens of companies throughout Michigan and routinely offer counsel to startups, tech companies, and other business owners on a broad spectrum of matters ranging from formation to angel and venture capital funding to interaction with third parties to merger and acquisition. My skills have been recognized by my peers in a number of publications, and am often recommended by my clients to others looking for an attorney for my pragmatic approach to both the business of practicing law and the counsel I provide.. I also help other parties resolve their disputes by serving as a facilitaitive mediator. I have taken extensive dispute resolution, and am approved by the Kent County Circuit Court to serve as a facilitaitive mediator.

I have had the privilege of practicing law in West Michigan for over 25 years. I enjoy meeting my clients and their families, hearing their stories, and helping them create an estate plan that is tailored to their unique story. Creating a Will or Trust does not have to be a complicated or stressful situation. In fact, my clients typically leave feeling a sense of peace after getting a plan in place that will help reduce stress for their loved ones in the future. I am honored to frequently receive calls from new clients who have been referred to me by previous clients. If you have questions about estate planning or probate issues, please contact me to set up a free consultation. I would love to meet with you and discuss how I can assist you and your family.

I have exclusively practiced family law for the entirety of my legal career. I have successfully resolved hundreds of cases both in and out of court. I was raised primarily in West Michigan. I earned my Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice from Grand Valley State University and law degree from Western Michigan University-Cooley Law School. My legal career began in Colorado, helping families navigate divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements and spousal support matters. I moved back to Michigan in 2021 and now resides there with my husband, son, dog and cat. I continue to represent clients through all types of family law cases in Michigan. I am passionate about helping others navigate uncertain and challenging times in their lives. I believe the gateway to helping a client rewrite their story is to listen and understand their background and create goals to move forward.

I have dedicated my career to indigent defense, and strive to provide the best representation I can to those who through no fault of their own cannot afford it.  I am a Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer (Florida 2017), "evaluated for professionalism and tested for expertise."  As an Assistant Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Michigan, I am only available by appointment of the Federal Court for the Western District of Michigan and am not available for private retention.. I am admitted to practice federally in the Western District of Florida and the Middle District of Florida.  I am admitted to practice in State court in Florida.  Please contact the Office of the Federal Public Defender, Western District of Michigan, for any questions.

I have conducted bench and jury trials to conclusion in many courts throughout the State of Michigan. I am very active in mediation and arbitration practice. I hold an AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell.

I have been with my wife for over 30 years.  We have 3 daughters.  2 are in graduate school and one in high school.    I come from a family of lawyers and currently have 2 brothers who are also attorneys, one in New York and one in Detroit.. I love practicing law and even after more than 25 years, I have no desire to do anything else.   Being able to practice on the Lakeshore in West Michigan is just an added bonus.   What a great place to live and work.   The people, landscape and way of life just makes every day a gift.. I attended Central Michigan University, transferring to Wayne State University and graduating with a degree in Public Administration.   I went to law school at Cooley Law School in Lansing when it was relatively new and the classes small.   I still keep in touch with a number of my law school classmates, some of whom are right here in West Michigan.. I have extensive experience in civil litigation, ranging from dog bites, car accident and slip and fall cases to medical and legal malpractice and business litigation.   I have represented both Plaintiffs and Defendants and inividuals as well as large companies.  I represent Defendants and insurance carriers in litigation.  When someone hires me, they are going to get that huge array of experience that I have to offer.

I have been praticing in the Rockford and Grand Rapids area for almost 20 years assisting families with their estate planning and business planning needs.

I have been practicing law since 1984. During that time, I have come to the conclusion that the practice of law is as much about managing relationships as it is the pure application of the law. As a result, I have endeavored to provide legal representation to my clients from a Christian perspective, which promotes an atmosphere of trust, and results in lasting relationships with those clients.

I have been practicing family law for 26 years.  It is my goal to provide each client with individual attention because each client and each case is different, and I enjoy the personal interaction with a client and working towards successful completion of each case to the benefit of each family.. I have seen a need to specialize in parental alienation cases which has led to an overall greater experience in child custody cases.. Secondly, I have specialized in complex divorce matters involving significant assets, business assets, determining complex income issues of executives, self employed, or those in the miliary for child and spousal support purposes.

I have been practicing criminal law for the past 24 years.  I graduated from the University of Toledo College of Law in 1987. Prior to going to law school I recieved my undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice from the university of New Haven. Since coming to Grand Rapids, my practice has been mainly criminal defense with some family law and personal injurie law to keep thngs interesting.. The reason I chose these areas of the law is that I love being in court and arguing. I have always enjoyed that part of my job the most, representing  clients is what I love.. If you find yourself in need of a criminal defense attorney, I would be honored to represent you. Just remember what I always say .... "TALK TO ME BEFORE YOU TALK TO THE POLICE"

I have 25+ years experience in estate planning and related/overlapping areas of law including wills & trusts, advanced estate/gift tax planning, asset protection, farm/business succession planning, charitable gift planning and post-death estate and trust administration.  I have an additional law degree (Ll.M. or Masters of Law) in taxation and with that have devoted my entire career to estate planning for high net worth situations (as well as more routine/basic situations).  I usually do not charge for a preliminary consultation so you can decide whether you would like to work with me "without the meter running".

I focus  my practice on general civil and commercial litigation.  I have successfully litigated numerous contractual and business disputes and have significant experience in the litigation of complex shareholder/member disputes.  In addition, my experience includes the litigation of major personal injury actions. I practice in both state and federal courts throughout Michigan.

I earned a B.A. from the University of Michigan in history, with a minor in moral and political philosophy in 2005.  Following my studies, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to clerk at Willey, Chamberlain, & Yates, which was my first experience with criminal law.  I received a J.D., with distinction, from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2009.  While in law school, I served as an associate editor of the Thomas M. Cooley Law Review and Chairman of the Mock Trial Board, Grand Rapids Campus.  Additionally, I had the opportunity to intern in the Ottawa County Prosecutor's Office which provided experience with trial work and criminal law.. Prior to joining Willey & Chamberlain LLP as an associate attorney, I used my education and experiences from law school to open a private practice devoted exclusively to criminal law.  During that time, I focused on alcohol related offenses, drug offenses, and violent crimes and was able to gain valuable experience in state courts throughout West Michigan.  Since joining Willey & Chamberlain, I have continued to develop my expertise in these areas while expanding my practice into federal criminal defense.

I earned a B.A. from Hope College in Spanish and International Relations, and graduated Magna Cum Laude. While a student at Hope College, I took advantage of their numerous study abroad opportunities, and studied in Mexico, Spain, and India. After graduating from Hope College, I volunteered for a year as an AmeriCorps Vista volunteer at the Seattle Red Cross chapter, where I worked in their International Services Department and helped reconnect families who had lost contact due to war or natural disaster.. In 2017, I received my J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, and graduated with distinction. While there, I received a certificate honoring my commitment to pro bono work. In addition, I served as an associate editor of Case Western's Journal of International Law. While in law school, I interned at several prominent Grand Rapids law firms as well as the Kent County Office of the Public Defender.. Prior to joining Springstead Bartish Borgula & Lynch PLLC as an associate attorney, I used my education and experiences from law school at the Ottawa County Office of the Public Defender. During that time, I focused on alcohol related offenses, drug offenses, assaults, and violent crimes and was able to gain valuable experience. Since joining Springstead Bartish Borgula & Lynch PLLC, I have continued to develop my expertise in these areas while expanding my practice into federal criminal defense.

I care fiercely about my clients.  I have seen what insurance companies and businesses do to those that have been injured at the hands of negligent, careless, and irresponsible individuals and companies.  I will fight to the end for you to obtain the best result possible for your case.

I attended Michigan State University from 1986-1990 and earned a bachelor of arts degree in accounting. I then went on to obtain my law degree in 1993 from Indiana University (ranked among the top 20 law schools in the country). After graduating, I moved to Grand Rapids and have been practicing law there for over 23 years. I enjoy sail boat racing, traveling and arts and crafts.

I am passionate about helping people with their family law problems.  I help my clients with issues of divorce, child custody, parenting time, child support, and family abuse protection orders.  As a parent myself, I understand how important these issues are to my clients.  I view my job as a compassionate guide through a complex legal system that can be difficult for non-lawyers to navigate on their own.  I try to resolve these issues as amicably as possible, although I have taken many cases to trial when it is necessary and appropriate to do so. I draw on my over 20 years of experience as an attorney to find the best solution to life's challenges.

I am an experienced commercial litigator and construction lawyer, representing clients large and small in courts throughout Michigan.. My litigation experience includes handling everything from routine collection cases through representing the plaintiff in a shareholder oppression/fraud case that resulted in the largest jury verdict in the history of Kent County, Michigan (roughly $7.9 million) in November 2010.. My construction practice involves all aspects of construction projects, as I have represented owners, architects, general contractors, construction managers, subcontractors and suppliers and sureties on projects throughout Michigan. I offer full services concerning construction projects, from drafting and reviewing contracts through enforcing those agreements and (if necessary) litigating issues relating to liability for damages suffered or contract balances owed by the various parties.. I have also served as a court-appointed arbitrator, and have served as a "neutral" case evaluator in the Kent County Circuit Court for more than a decade, recognizing the fact that my background in handling plaintiffs' and defense work positions me well to evaluate cases without bias or slant toward either side in a lawsuit.

I am an attorney with over 16 years of experience in all West Michigan and Metro Detroit counties specializing in:. Criminal defense representation for all misdemeanor and felony charges, including:  Drunk Driving/OWI/OUID, Drug Crimes, Criminal Sexual Conduct, Armed/Unarmed Robbery, Assault and Battery, Assault with Intent to Commit Great Bodily Harm, Felonious Assault, Domestic Vioence, Larceny/Theft crimes, Home Invasion, Trespass, MIP, Creating a Disturbance, and Resisting/Obstructing Police.. Juvenile Neglect and Abuse Cases.. Juvenile Delinquency Cases.. Driver License representation:  all issues involving license restoration hearings before the Secretary of State, circuit court appeals, and Implied Consent hearings.. Seizure/Forfeiture cases.. Criminal Record Expungements.. We also provide referrals for all legal matters that we choose not to handle ourselves.

I am an aggressive and professional litigator.  Throughout my career, I have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to providing the highest degree of representation available to persons accused of any crime.  A former collegiate swimmer (and current dog lover), I use my relentless work ethic to obtain the best possible results for my clients.. During my years in Central Florida, I handled thousands of cases ranging from violent felonies (murder, sexual assault, armed robbery, etc.) to civil mental health commitments, and every manner of charge in between.. In Michigan, I defend all types of criminal cases - misdemeanors, felonies, and expungements - all over southwest and central Michigan.. Several traits set me apart from other attorneys: I treat my clients like valued human beings, I love what I do, and I'm not afraid to go to trial.  In order to best serve my clients, I utilize an aggressive motion practice.  It has been my experience that aggressive litigation improves my position to negotiate favorable outcomes for my clients. Luckily for many of my clients, I also have strong Spanish language abilities.. It is my privilege to represent anyone accused of a crime. I will proudly stand alongside you on some of the worst days of your life, and I will fight for you.

I am a trial lawyer that specializes in personal injury and criminal defense, although I have handled nearly all areas of litigation in my career.  I focus my practice in these areas of law becuase of my passion to help those in need.  Whether the individual has been wrongfully injured or is facing criminal charges; I am willing to fight for the rights of the abused, neglected and underserved.  I have achieved favorable outcomes for my clients  against some of the largest corporations in the United States and am not afraid to go toe to toe with big business or any prosecutor.  I will take the time to listen to you about your case and will vigorously advocate on your behalf.  My practice is based out of Grand Rapids, Michigan, but I have appeared as counsel of record throughout the state of Michigan and in various other states as needed by my clients.  If you need someone in your corner that is willing to actually listen and advocate for YOU, feel free to give me a call.

I am a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and a graduate of Wabash College in 2008. I received my law degree from Thomas M. Cooley in 2011.  Before joining Plachta, Murphy & Associates, I gained valuable insight and experience as a judicial clerk for Honorable G. Patrick Hillary of the Kent County 17th Judicial Circuit Court.  In addition, I interned with the Kent County Office of the Public Defender, focusing my skills on Criminal Litigation.  At Plachta, Murphy & Associates P.C., my client legal service areas include Estate Planning, Business Law, Real Estate, Bankrupcy, and Litigation.

I am a former federal prosecutor with speicalities in appellate practice, government investigations, and commercial litigation. For 22 years I served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Western District of Michigan, and held leadership roles including First Assistant U.S. Attorney and Appellate Chief.. As First Assistant, I managed the day-to-day operations of the office, supervised the district’s Criminal, Civil, and Appellate divisions, and provided counsel to the United States Attorney on all legal and operational matters affecting the district and its 90-person team. I oversaw cases involving white collar crimes, including fraud and public corruption, as well as national security matters, cybercrimes, and violent crimes, among other matters.. As Appellate Chief, I oversaw the office’s appellate practice, drafted and reviewed hundreds of briefs, argued dozens of cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, including an en banc argument, and collaborated with the Appellate Section of the Department’s Criminal Division and the U.S. Solicitor General’s Office on matters before the U.S. Supreme Court. As a line assistant, I prosecuted violent crime cases and litigated a broad array of civil matters, including False Claims Act, environmental, tort, and regulatory compliance cases.. Before my government service, I practiced commercial litigation at Jenner & Block in Chicago and maintained an active pro bono practice, including criminal defense matters.