Gaylord Lawyers

Jonathon N. Fazzola focuses his nationwide practice on representing victims and the families of victims catastrophically injured or killed as a result of hazing, gun violence, sexual assault, other violent crimes, and third-party negligence. Through his work, Mr. Fazzola has recovered tens of millions of dollars for his clients and has sought and secured enforceable concessions from institutions designed to make them better managed, safer, and more transparent about the risks they pose to the public. Notably, as lead counsel, Mr. Fazzola obtained a $6.1 million wrongful death verdict on behalf of Stephen and Rae Ann Gruver, whose son, Max,...

Bailor Bell has extensive experience representing victims and their families harmed or killed in notable cases across the nation and has achieved unprecedented results in civil cases involving mass shootings, sexual assault and abuse, catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, carbon monoxide poisoning, and vehicular negligence. Before joining The Fierberg National Law Group, Mr. Bell practiced as a general civil litigation attorney for eight years. Mr. Bell has represented clients in the Michigan Supreme Court, the Michigan Court of Appeals, the Michigan Court of Claims, the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, the United States Court of...

Mr. Smith has practiced as a trial attorney since graduating Notre Dame Law School in 1992. He has litigated cases across the country including cases from Ventura County, California to Middlesex County, New Jersey. He practices in both State and Federal courts.

In 2017, he began representing Michigan cities and counties in what has shaped up to be one of the largest pieces of litigation ever in the history of our federal court system. The majority of Northern Michigan and Upper Peninsula counties retained Mr. Smith and his team to represent their interests in MDL 2804, in RE: National Prescription Opioid...

Michael Wooley has 23 years of experience in employment-based immigration and his practice focuses solely on immigration. Mike specializes in working with C-level corporate officers and general counsels to formulate long-term immigration plans and short-term solutions for U.S. and international companies. Mike regularly speaks on immigration topics to various professional organizations and enjoys training clients’ HR teams. His expertise encompasses non-immigrant and immigrant business visas, including PERM filings and National Interest Waivers. Mike has exceptional success defending USDOL PERM audits and interfacing with immigration-related federal agencies. He has successfully represented clients in immigration appeals and immigration court. He also assists...

We opened our office in Manistee, Michigan in 1995 and have been providing excellent, affordable legal services ever since. We have experienced a variety of challenges that have assisted us in developing a law practice that is particularly suited for the needs and desires of Manistee residents and visitors. We offer free initial consultations for criminal matters and personal injury cases, we only charge $100 for initial consultations for all other matters. Admitted to Practice in the State of Michigan in 1995 and Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Tribal Court in 2004. If you...

We are a full service law firm. You can depend on us to look out for every aspect of your legal needs - business or personal, and at any stage of your life. McClintic Law Firm has been practicing law since 1913 in Isabella County and the entire state of Michigan. We provide full legal service to the community today. We are happy to serve the Mt. Pleasant area, Isabella county, Gratiot county, Clare County, Midland County, Mecosta County, and beyond. Our firm is well versed and experienced in all areas of the law, including business law, criminal law, real...

I am an attorney licensed to practice in Michigan, Illinois and Minnesota. I primarily practice in bankruptcy, foreclosure, real estate, estate planning and probate.

Matthew Benedict is a Traverse City native. He worked for nine years with his father, Hon. Richard L. Benedict, serving clients from all of northern Michigan. Matthew Benedict is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Thomas Cooley Law School.

Originally a teacher, W. Jay Brown became a lawyer in 1998 and has been in practice in the Great Lakes Bay Region ever since. Mr. Brown graduated first in his law school class and joined Midland’s largest law firm as a litigation associate. While with the firm, Mr. Brown embarked on his litigation career and was soon promoted to member of the firm. In 2009, W. Jay Brown left the law firm to start his own practice based on his vision for the practice of law – where technology and innovation are leveraged to provide clients superior customer and...

Michael Horowitz is a trial and appellate lawyer in Northern Michigan. He is licensed in Michigan, Alaska, and New York. He primarily practices criminal defense.

I specifically practice in the fields of criminal law, property law, civil litigation, personal injury, collections and construction law, including construction liens and foreclosures. In my practice I believe that an attorney has to be overly prepared and be ready to go to trial in order to adequately represent their clients. This includes extensive legal research and investigation into all legal theories and defenses. In addition to being admitted to practice law in Michigan, I am also admitted to practice law in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and the US District Court for the Western...

Courtney grew up in Mid-Michigan and earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a concentration in Criminal Justice from Central Michigan University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. She then attended Michigan State University College of Law, earning her Juris Doctor, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Following her education, Courtney was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in October 2007 and began her legal career as a judicial law clerk for the Midland County Circuit Court. There, she assisted the judiciary by researching issues in many different areas of the law. After passing the Florida Bar Exam,...

Nathan P. Miller is a partner and co-founder of Miller Embury, PLLC. He focuses the majority of his practice on plaintiff’s personal injury litigation. He represents people who have been injured in traumatic accidents and helps them receive compensation from insurance companies. He also represents people in actions against their own insurer, suing insurance companies to get benefits for his clients, benefits that have been illegally denied. In addition to personal injury law, Nathan specializes in real estate matters, landlord tenant law, and general civil litigation. Nathan has experience handling cases from inception all the...

Upon Graduation from Law School in 1997, Attorney Chefalo worked in Lansing Michigan for the 30 th Judicial Circuit Court as a law clerk for the Honorable Thomas L. Brown. While there, he researched complicated legal issues and drafted proposed opinions on all civil and criminal matter that came before the court. In 1999, Attorney Chefalo moved to Traverse City Michigan to work in private practice. When asked why he picked Traverse City, Attorney Chefalo stated: “if you are going to start a law office from scratch, you might as well do it in a beautiful place.” His goal...

Brian L. Johnson was born and raised in Muskegon, Michigan. He received his B.A., magna cum laude, from Michigan State University, and his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan. He is a member of the Benzie County Bar Association and the Probate and Estate Planning and Elder Law Sections of the State Bar of Michigan.

Brian’s areas of practice include estate planning, business formation, general business practice,...

Patrick Dougherty has been helping individuals and their families through legal challenges and the complexities of the legal system for over 24 years. Patrick is licensed to practice all issues of law in the State of Michigan. He is authorized to practice law in all State Courts in Michigan, including all State Circuit Courts; all State District Courts; the Federal Eastern District and Western District Courts; the Bankruptcy Court for the Western and Eastern Districts of Michigan; the Michigan Court of Appeals; and the Michigan Supreme Court. Patrick Dougherty is also authorized to practice law in the 6th Circuit Court...

T.J. was born and raised in Central Michigan, where he lives with his wife and three children. He is a proud Michigander, who was raised in a blue collar family and taught from the beginning the importance of hard work and giving back to the community. T.J. is a life member of the VFW, Military Order of Purple Heart and sits on the board of directors of a local non-profit organization. Shortly after graduating high school, T.J. enlisted in the Army where he would serve for nearly 11 years, retiring as a Staff Sergeant. Some of the more notable highlights...

Mas/Stig-Nielsen was founded because there is a need for high-quality, smart criminal defense in northern Michigan. We are committed to serving the needs of people accused of crimes by the government. Our firm is guided by the words of author and activist Bryan Stevenson,
each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done. Regardless of what you stand accused of doing, we will help you.

Defense attorneys often sell themselves as being aggressive advocates in the courtroom, however, in our experience, that is not enough. Mas/Stig-Nielsen vehemently fights for our clients but more importantly we are prepared,...

Kevin Hirzel is the Managing Member of Hirzel Law, PLC. Hirzel Law has offices in Farmington and Traverse City and services clients throughout the State of Michigan. Mr. Hirzel focuses his practice on condominium law, homeowners association law, litigation and real estate law. He has received numerous recognitions on a local and national level for the high level of representation that he provides to clients. Mr. Hirzel is a fellow in the College of Community Association Lawyers, a prestigious designation given to less than 175 attorneys in the country. He was named a Leading Lawyer in Michigan in 2018,...

Shelley Kester is an award-winning attorney, a community leader, a dynamic communicator and a caring individual. She is Chair of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. Her practice includes nearly all aspects of family law, including divorce law and child custody. She was among the first in Northern Michigan to complete the Family Law Certificate Program through the Institute of Continuing Education and the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. She is President of wilson Kester, the Empowered Divorce Source. A frequent contributor to the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Ms. Kester is...

Elizabeth graduated from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2020. While there, she was an Executive Article Editor for the Chicago-Kent Journal of Intellectual Property, interned in the legal departments of a national trade organization and Illinois’ top children’s hospital, and worked at law firms that focused on civil litigation and transportation law. Prior to law school Elizabeth earned degrees in Biochemistry and Biology from Ferris State University, where she participated in the biochemistry research lab and was president of the school’s chapter of the American Chemical Society. After graduating, Elizabeth relocated to Traverse City and began her career as judicial assistant...

Practice Areas: Immigration Law, Social Security Disability, Family Law, Estate Planning Admissions: Michigan, 2004 U.S. District Court, Eastern District, 2005 U.S. District Court, Western District, 2005 Law School: Wayne State University, J.D., 2004 Utrecht University, The Netherlands, exchange student, 2003 College: Eastern Michigan University, B.A., cum laude, 1998 La Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, México, exchange student, 1998

Janet M. Mistele, J.D. is a member of the State Bar of Michigan (1989), the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan (1991), and the North Carolina State Bar (2003). Ms. Mistele earned her Juris Doctor degree, Magna Cum Laude, from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School, where she was a member of the National Trial Team, and earned American Jurisprudence Awards for top honors in seven of her law school courses. Upon graduation from law school in 1989, Ms. Mistele accepted a position with the Michigan Court of Appeals in Lansing, Michigan as a Prehearing Attorney,...

Estate Planning
Wills and Trusts
Business Organization
Real Estate
Criminal Defense
Former Prosecutor

Mas/Stig-Nielsen was founded because there is a need for high-quality, smart criminal defense in northern Michigan. We are committed to serving the needs of people accused of crimes by the government. Our firm is guided by the words of author and activist Bryan Stevenson,
each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done. Regardless of what you stand accused of doing, we will help you.

Defense attorneys often sell themselves as being aggressive advocates in the courtroom, however, in our experience, that is not enough. Mas/Stig-Nielsen vehemently fights for our clients but more importantly we are...

About half of my practice consists of local government representation. The remainder is real estate, estate planning, probate, collections and general business matters. We strive to provide prompt and professional services with personal attention and care.

With over 42 years of practice in the intellectual prooperty area and contracts I can bring efficiency and experience to the benefit of cliens. My practice covers patents, copyrights, trademarks, secrecy obligations and related contracts and litigation. Mediation of conflicts is also one of the the areas that my experience is put to good use.

Over 30 years experience in Family Law.

David T. McAndrew, Attorney at Law, PLLC, was licensed in Michigan in 1998 and admitted to practice in Federal Courts. David McAndrew can assist you in stopping the harassment, the late night phone calls, wage garnishments, lawsuits, judgments, and the aggressive debt collection techniques used by many debt collectors. He will work directly with you to determine the best course of action for your individual situation.

David T. McAndrew is a member of the following:
Michigan Bar Association
Federal Bar Association, Eastern District of Michigan
Federal Bar Association, Western District of Michigan
National Association of...

As a partner at the firm Miller Embury, PLLC, Traverse City attorney Ryann S. Embury represents injury victims, businesses and those with assorted civil legal issues. Prior to the founding of his current practice, Attorney Embury served as a prosecutor and attorney at the firm of Jones, Skelton, & Hochuli in Phoenix. He is a graduate of the University of Calgary and the Michigan State University College of Law. For your consultation, please contact his firm today.

I offer customized legal solutions tailored to both individual and business needs. With a robust over forty-year background, I am well-equipped to assist clients with various legal matters, including business law, insurance, appellate issues, and litigation. I adopt a pragmatic approach to legal challenges, striving to deliver practical solutions that align with our client's business goals while minimizing risks and costs. I am committed to collaborating closely with our clients to provide prompt, cost-effective, and innovative solutions to their legal issues. Borden Law LLC is focused on guiding our clients through the complexities of business law, crafting solutions that cater to their...

Matt S. Motley practices all aspects of family law, advocating for the best possible outcome for clients. Matt is a proud Michigan native, Spartan, family man, and family law attorney. Matt is a distinguished Senior Attorney, whose unwavering dedication has secured successful outcomes for hundreds of family law clients. Matt holds a B.A. in Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy from Michigan State University’s James Madison College, with a Minor in Spanish and Business. He further solidified his legal acumen, graduating Cum Laude with a Juris Doctor from Michigan State University College of Law, and holds a Certificate in Domestic Relations Mediation. Before...

Elena A. Lentz is a proud Michigan native, a fierce advocate for her clients, and dedicated family law attorney. Elena is the oldest of five siblings, which gives her a unique perspective on family law issues. She graduated from Michigan State University in 2017, where she participated in the Honors College, Political Science Scholars, and Political Science Advisory Committee. During her tenure at MSU, she completed internships at the Senate Majority Policy Office, Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, and the 6th District Congressional Office. Elena went on to attend Indiana University Maurer School of Law in Bloomington, where...