White Cloud Business Lawyers

Nathan Piwowarski is a shareholder and attorney at McCurdy Wotila & Porteous, a law firm that serves northern lower Michigan. Nathan's practice includes estate planning, small business transactions, and municipal law. Nathan earned his B.A. degree in 2002 from Albion College, Summa Cum Laude. He then worked on the campaign and in the legislative office of State Senator Michelle McManus. As an aide to Senator McManus, Nathan was responsible for policy areas ranging from local economic development to natural resource and environmental quality regulation. Nathan earned his J.D. degree in 2007 from the Michigan State University College of Law,...

I have enjoyed a small town general law practice for my entire career. Advising real estate, business and elderlaw clients presently gives me the most satisfaction in my business; but in a rural community where many different client needs require diligence and ingenuity, I enjoy the daily challenge of helping solve people's problems. As a Christian, I try to ensure that my own integrity and my client's satisfaction are observable at the end of each client encounter.

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...

Mr. Frazier is a highly skilled attorney licensed to practice law in Tennessee, Michigan, and Texas. At Frazier Law, a tax resolution and estate planning firm, we are dedicated to providing effective representation and counsel. We aim to simplify the complex rules surrounding death and taxes, eliminating fear, anxiety, and confusion. We help clients understand their estate planning or tax concerns and guide them to solutions and peace of mind. We empower clients with knowledge and clarity, relieving tax debt without exploiting their fears. Our commitment to honesty and professionalism ensures we deliver on our promises with clear communication, providing peace...

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...

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...

A relationship approach to providing peace of mind for your family and your business. That says it all. At Lichterman Law, PLC we strive to provide families and businesses with access to their own personal lawyer. We call it the Lichterman Law Difference. It is my passion to help families and businesses make the best decisions possible throughout their lifetime or existence. We provide all services on a flat-fee only basis, agreed to in advance so there are no surprises. We want you to know you can call us any time without getting charged...

Mrs. Herson is a 2013 graduate of Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School. During her tenure at Cooley, she was a student attorney in the Sixty Plus Clinic performing over 270 hours of Pro bono service in Estate Planning. She is a current Board member for the Sixty Plus Clinic and continues to advocate for protecting our elderly. In addition to zealously advocating for her clients, Mrs. Herson is an adjunct law and MBA professor for several universities and has co-authored a nonprofit law book.

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...

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...

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...

Scot focuses on business law, real estate development, employment law, estate planning, probate, and commercial litigation. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan and his J.D., with cum laude honors, from the Notre Dame Law School. While at Notre Dame, Scot was an editor with the Journal of Legislation and clerked for the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in Flint, MI, and the Michigan Supreme Court in Lansing, MI. After graduating from Notre Dame Law School, Scot clerked with the Michigan Court of Appeals in Grand Rapids, MI. In January of...

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...

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...

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...

Geoffrey has been practicing law in western Michigan now — and previously in the Detroit metro area (and beyond) — since 2005. In that time, he has consulted thousands of clients, and took part in many bankruptcy cases (both Chapter 7 and 13) for individuals and small businesses and helped numerous individuals and small businesses with all their legal needs. In addition, Geoff has volunteered at Freedom House Detroit practicing immigration and asylum law, teaches test preparation classes, and tutors students for standardized tests. Geoff grew up on a dairy farm in western Michigan — in his free time he enjoys...

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...

Justin began his legal career in insurance defense where he gained experience handling complex litigation matters. Justin continued to build his litigation acumen by working on cases across a wide spectrum of legal issues including personal injury, no-fault PIP claims, wrongful death, contract disputes, property disputes, and premises liability. Since starting at Herbert Machnik in 2022, Justin has been a valuable asset on the civil litigation team in addition to assisting in matters related to estate planning and business planning and formation. Justin is an active member of his church and gives back to his community by working with the...