Omena Lawyers

For over 30 years Jim Austin has been providing quality legal services, counseling and care to individual and business clients throughout Michigan with business, general civil and transportation matters. Jim practices regularly in courts throughout the State of Michigan. With Corcoran Austin, PC, he has offices in Alden, Traverse City and Charlevoix. He has argued cases before the Michigan Supreme Court, Michigan Court of Appeals, Federal District Courts and Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. He represents wrecker and towing companies throughout Michigan and sits on the Board of Directors of the Michigan Towing Association. He has represented truckers and trucking companies...

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.

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.

The Mortimer Law Firm and their experienced team of attorneys and paralegals are skilled in, Social Security Disability, Bankruptcy, Driver’s License Restoration, Criminal Law, Student Loan Repayment consulting, and Estate Planning. For over 30 years, the Mortimer Law Firm has served their clients with zeal and fought effectively for their justice. The Mortimer Law Firm has 2 offices in Alpena and Petoskey, MI. Our consultations are always free.

Waltman Law PLLC is centrally located in northern lower Michigan in the city of Gaylord. The primary areas of practice are Bankruptcy and Real Estate Transactions. I am also trained as an eldercaring coordinator and as a mediator in General Civil, Domestic Relations, Child Protection, Behavioral Health, and Elder matters.

Zach Backlund works in our Gaylord, Michigan branch office and has handled numerous family law, estate plan, and real estate cases over the past several years in many counties in northern Michigan. He previously practiced law in the Traverse City, Michigan area, working on a variety of cases involving both transactional and litigated matters. Before becoming an attorney, Zach Backlund worked as a landman (2014-2016), taught English as a second language (2006), and also served as an AmeriCorps Corps Member (2005-2007).

Sterling Law practices in the areas of Family Law, Immigration, Estate Planning, Probate, Civil Litigation, Real Estate, and Business...

Active in the practice of Admiralty and Maritime Law throughout the Great Lakes and Great Rivers Region of the United States, including marine related criminal offenses. Representing marine insurance interests, recreational boaters, ferry operators, marine surveyors, salvors, marine construction, charter boat operators, ferry operations, and marinas. Affiliated with: GREAT LAKES DISPUTE RESOLUTION, LLC www.GLDR.us , a mediation and arbitration service dedicated to marine and maritime interests.

Over 35 years of trial experience. Former prosecutor and public defender of criminal cases. Handle divorce, custody, child support, and paternity cases in the area of family law. Also, adoption, guardianship and conservatorship cases. Represent parents and/or children in juvenile court cases. Estates and estate planning.

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...

Raised in Michigan and Florida, Attorney Powers maintains her private practice of law in Petoskey, Michigan, a resort community nestled along Lake Michigan's Little Traverse Bay. However, she handles matters throughout the State of Michigan and often works with out-of-state counsel. Attorney Powers practices in the areas of real property law, appellate law, business law, estate planning and probate and trust administration, and municipal law. Ms. Powers served as City Attorney for the City of Petoskey for several years and also wrote, implemented, and coordinated the Paralegal Program for North Central Michigan College, an associate degree program,...

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,...

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,...

Working in Michigan since 1979 to understand and serve my corporate and individual clients in the areas of Estates & Trusts, Elder Law, Business and Contracts, Real Estate, and General Civil Law to develop cost effective solutions and strategies.

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...

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...

I am a graduate of the Michigan Law School, JD '83 and the U of M business school, BBA '80. Best thing I got in Ann Arbor was my bride Rachel. We married in '84 and have raised 4 now adult children together. My father was a lawyer and we moved to Boyne City in 1961 from Detroit. I am a member of the Walloon Lake Community Church and have served there as board chairman since 1998. I coached baseball, softball and basketball for many years mostly so I could hang...

LAUREN K. PFEIL graduated with a Bachelors of Arts with highest honors from The University of Texas at Austin and received her law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where she specialized in family law. While in law school, Lauren received family and child law fellowships from both Loyola University Chicago School of Law and The University of Michigan School of Law. Her article “Recognizing Race as a Reality, Not a Barrier: The Problems within Colorblind Adoption Policy within a Race Conscious America” was published in the spring edition of The Children’s Legal Rights Journal. Upon graduation from...

Paul Jarboe is an experienced and dedicated trial attorney with over 30 years of legal experience. Mr. Jarboe graduated from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1982. Mr. Jarboe is a former prosecuting attorney, and has an extensive background in the areas of divorce, child custody, criminal defense and civil litigation, which includes State and Federal Criminal cases. Mr. Jarboe’s practice includes: Criminal Defense, Family Law, Personal Injury & Estate Planning.

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...

Wm Paul Slough resides in Gaylord with his wife, son, and two daughters. Paul grew up on a fourth generation dairy farm in Ellsworth, Michigan and graduated from East Jordan High School. He attended North Central Michigan College in Petoskey before graduating from Michigan State University. Paul received his bachelors of science in Mathematics from the Lyman Briggs School of Science, and later his law degree at Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Paul has worked as a law clerk for the 46th Circuit Trial Court in Gaylord. He has been has been in private practice since the...

Indiana University undergraduate, JD cum laude from St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO. Indiana Deputy Attorney General for two years. The Dow Chemical Company for 25 years, serving as Assistant General Counsel for Financial Law, Assistant General Counsel for Litigation, and Deputy Director Global Ethics and Compliance. Joined the Petoskey firm of Stroup Erhart, PC, almost 20 years ago, now known as Nelson Forster & Stikovich, PC. Current practice area focuses on estate planning and administration. Martindale Hubbell Peer Rated A-V Preeminent. See: www.accesslaw.net

Over the past 29 years, Ray Gregory has represented thousands of clients in family, employment, business, contract, criminal, and probate litigation in state and federal courts.

Groat Law is a boutique family law experience serving clients throughout Northern Michigan and beyond. With a nearly 20-year proven winning track record, let Travis be your warrior and fight for you and your family.

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...

Mr. Geht is an attorney with extensive public and private sector experience. After clerking for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, Mr. Geht joined a top law firm in Washington, D.C., where his practice included accountant malpractice litigation, environmental litigation, and labor and employment law. Until he moved to Traverse City in October of 2012, Mr. Geht served for five years as a Trial Attorney with the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. He received several awards from the Department of Justice and from the Internal Revenue Service for his...