Midland Business Lawyers

George L. Howell is an associate at the Law Offices of Sullivan and Leavitt, PC. George comes to the practice of law with a wide range of experience and education, all of which he uses to the benefit of his clients. Before attending law school, George was a police officer, which gives him a thorough understanding of the Fourth Amendment and police practices and procedures. After law school, George clerked for Justice Michael F. Cavanagh at the Michigan Supreme Court, gaining unique insights into the shape and direction of Michigan law. George also taught English...

Mr. Schaefer is a seasoned trial attorney practicing internet, copyright, domain name, social media, copyright, trademark, consumer class action and mass tort law on a global basis. Mr. Schaefer has significant experience in internet and technology company representation, having been named President and General Counsel of an internet start-up company in Boulder, Colorado. Mr. Schaefer has been retained on domain valuation issues in divorces, business asset valuation and other matters, having developed domain name valuation methodologies for use by courts, judges and juries. Mr. Schaefer understands the issues facing technology companies and brick-and-mortar companies with...

BRENDAN N. GUILFORD was born and raised in Kalamazoo County, attending Vicksburg High School. He went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts undergraduate degree in Political Science from Alma College in 2005. After moving to Florida with his wife, Brendan received his law degree from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale. While attending law school, he clerked for the community association firm Kahan Shir, PL in Boca Raton, FL. After graduating from law school, he relocated to the Tampa Bay region with his family in mid-2009. While working in and around Tampa, Brendan worked...

I started at May Oberfell Lorber as a law clerk in 2000. Upon graduation from law school, I became an associate, progressed to partnership, and have been with MOL ever since. I am passionate about my career, and thankful to be surrounded by such talented attorneys at MOL and in our community in general. I am licensed in both Indiana and Michigan, with the primary focus of my practice being litigation. I defend health care providers in medical malpractice disputes, manufacturers in commercial litigation disputes, and landowners in premises liability disputes. I also counsel and represent clients...

Mr. Villar graduated from the University of Michigan Law School and went on to hold clerkships for the Honorable George R. Corsiglia in the Allegan Circuit Court and for the Michigan Court of Appeals. Since entering private practice in 1993, Mr. Villar has participated in numerous high visibility cases throughout Southwest Michigan.

Mr. Villar has also worked for one of the largest law firms in America, Dorsey & Whitney. Dorsey & Whitney employed over 330 attorneys and had offices in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, New York, Brussels (Belgium), London (England), and Paris (France). While demanding, Dorsey & Whitney prepared Mr. Villar for...

I am an intellectual property attorney and business advisor (JD/MBA/MSE) with over 15 years of experience counseling clients on a range of matters, including portfolio development, patent preparation and prosecution, trademark and brand protection, litigation, licensing, and corporate due diligence. I am registered to practice before the United States Patent Office (USPTO) (Reg. No. 56,024) and admitted to practice in the State of Michigan, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. I have prepared, filed and prosecuted thousands of patent applications in fields such as automotive, autonomous...

Alari K. Adams is a highly skilled and experienced litigator whose practice concentrates on Business Law and Employment Law matters. Additionally, she is currently recognized as a Michigan Super Lawyers - Rising Star. Alari's diverse experience has given her the capacity to represent a wide array of clientele, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses, public entities, and individuals. She has assisted these clients with issues pertaining to labor and employment law, business transactions and litigation, intellectual property, and outside general counsel. Alari draws upon these diverse experiences to effectively counsel her clients, by providing the best and most...

Born and raised in Mishawaka, Spence joined the firm in 1979. He counsels clients in the areas of domestic and family law, commercial litigation, mediation and personal injury and wrongful death cases. During his career, he’s served as President of the St. Joseph County and Indiana State Bar Associations. He sits on the Mishawaka Education Foundation, and received the prestigious Sagamore of the Wabash Award from Governor O’Bannon in 2002.

Brandon is passionate about helping individuals, families, and business owners achieve peace of mind by developing and implementing creative cost effective plans tailored for each client. He aims to be his clients' attorney for life, helping to develop strategies that minimize risk, maximize returns on investment, and create legacies that last for generations to come.

Brandon received his undergraduate degree with honors from Michigan State University in History with a concentration in Mandarin Chinese, and his JD from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 2011. While at Case, he focused his studies on Federal income, estate, gift, and generation...

Attorney Beverly M. Griffor was first licensed in Michigan and has since become involved in litigation and research nationwide. She diligently represents the interests of each of her clients. Beverly graduated from the University of Michigan with a double majored Bachelors degree in Psychology and Sociology and a minor in Philosophy. In each major, Beverly sub-concentrated in both Criminology and Social Inequality. She also graduated as a member of honor societies in all three of her concentrations. Beverly received her Juris Doctor from Ave Maria School of Law, focusing her studies on trial...

The best part of being a lawyer is helping others with their legal issues. I don’t pay for TV advertisements or premium on-line placements. Instead, I do the best I can at a fair price for my valuable clients who in turn pay me the ultimate compliment by referring me to others who may need legal services. Here are a few things I ask you to consider.

- I deal directly with my clients. I do not pass you on to a junior associate; I do the actual work, which I continue to find interesting and rewarding.

-I work...

Sean's real estate practice covers both residential and commercial client needs involving transactional matters. In particular, Sean's practice focuses on drafting real estate purchase agreements and deeds. Sean also represents business owners in various transactional matters. Sean routinely counsels business clients who are buying or selling a business, as well as providing guidance on employment and human resources matters. Sean has represented clients in acquisitions of all sizes, ranging from $100k - $5 Million plus.

Brittany Thompson is an accomplished attorney dedicated to assisting clients with a multitude of legal issues. Her experience as an accountant help provide logical and easy to understand solutions for her business clients. Brittany graduated from law school Magna Cum Laude with special awards in Contracts, Property, and Civil Procedure. Brittany was Contracts I & II Teaching Assistant, an Associate Editor for the UDM Law Review, and a graduating member of the Justice Frank Murphy Honor Society. She is licensed to practice in both Michigan State and Federal Courts. With a B.S. in Accountancy from Ferris State University, Brittany started...

Codie graduated with her J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law in 2021. While in law school she served as a peer mentor in the reading, writing, and analysis department in addition to becoming a Civil Facilitative Mediator and worked as a legal intern at Jackson National Life Insurance Company before beginning her legal career at Herbert Machnik Law Firm. At Herbert Machnik Codie works primarily in Business Organization, Contracts, Property, Employment, and Trust and Estate Administration. Codie is an active member of her community and helps to mentor...

Jason N. Machnik was born and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He attended Western Michigan University where he earned a B.A. in Marketing. Jason went on to graduate Cum Laude from Thomas M. Cooley Law School and earned his J.D. in the accelerated program. While in law school, he served as Class Representative for the Student Bar Association and as Chapter President of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. Jason earned the Certificate of Merit in Property Law. Prior to joining Willis Law, Jason served as a Law Clerk for Judges in Allegan County and Cass County. When out of...

Over 50 years of successful consultation and trial practice.

David R. Draper is an accomplished Michigan-based attorney and the founding member of The Draper Law Firm. David’s representation includes a broad and varied group of businesses, corporations and individuals. David began his career with one of Michigan’s largest law firms, and then moved to an in-house position with a large insurance company, before founding The Draper Law Firm. Martindale-Hubbell, the leading source in lawyer rankings, gives David a rating of A.V., its highest rating. David has represented countless individuals in an array of criminal matters, ranging from traffic offenses to serious felonies and white collar crimes. David has also litigated numerous...

Josh Traeger is the Founding Attorney of both True North Legal Group and The Military Defense firm. He is a graduate of Wake Forest University (B.A. 2006) and Loyola University Chicago School of Law (J.D. 2009). After law school, Josh joined the United States Air Force and served on active duty for ten years. His primary role was as a Senior Trial Counsel, prosecuting criminal matters and handling the military's most difficult cases worldwide. After separating from active duty, Josh moved home to Northern Michigan and established two businesses. True North Legal Group is a community-centered law...

I began my legal career in Los Angeles practicing financial restructuring and corporate bankruptcy. I started off with a small boutique and then went to a large national firm. I worked with all kinds of complex businesses—from Idaho to Chicago, Las Vegas to New Jersey. When my wife and I moved back to Michigan in 2011, I started a solo practice. I use my experience and expertise to advise businesses and individuals in Northern Michigan and across the country. I work directly and personally with clients in every instance. You won’t be passed off to another attorney or an assistant—I...

Over three decades ago, Douglas E. Fierberg expanded his commercial trial practice in Washington D.C. to establish the only national legal practice focused on representing school violence victims and survivors nationwide. The work began on behalf of a high school student who survived brutal sexual assaults in Washington, D.C. by two assailants, and a college student hospitalized after being hazed at Omega Psi Phi Fraternity at the University of Maryland. From there, the practice went to Texas on behalf of 4 college students killed outside a fraternity house whose chapter president ignored a direct warning from the police the night...

Headquartered in Holland, Michigan with a second office in Muskegon, Michigan, West Michigan Law, P.C. was founded by Adam Zuwerink to provide the highest-quality legal services on an efficient and cost-effective basis, focusing on business, real estate and estate planning legal work.

John Di Giacomo is an experienced business, intellectual property, litigation, and Internet lawyer practicing in the areas of copyright, trademark, domain name disputes, e-money, e-payment systems, contracts, defamation, Internet law, Communications Decency Act §230 immunity issues, international commercial law, cybersquatting and domain name disputes, video game law, adult industry law, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA), E-Sign Act, shrinkwrap, browsewrap, and clickwrap issues, computer tort claims (e.g. trespass to chattels for unauthorized entry & spamming), and other intellectual property or business law related areas. John has litigated intellectual property, business, and commercial disputes in state and federal courts across...

Originally from Muskegon, Jacob studied economics at the University of Michigan and law at the University of Minnesota. Now, he practices law, focusing on business and real estate transactions, with the experienced attorneys at the Norton Shores based firm Gielow Groom Terpstra & McEvoy.

David D. Sprague is the firm's principal partner. His practice includes Business Law, Probate and Estate Planning, Elder Law and Medicaid Planning, Family Law (domestic relations/divorce/prenuptial agreements) and Real Estate Law. David has experience working as an attorney at two nationally recognized law firms: Raymond & Prokop, P.C. and Pepper Hamilton LLP. In addition, David has helped clients to successfully complete applications with the Michigan Minority Business Development Council and has defended claims made by the Business Software Alliance. Prior to practicing law, David had nearly 10 years of experience working in the automotive industry and the field of information technology...