Alexander "Alex" Thibodeau

Peter helps businesses and individuals respond to legal problems that typically arise in transactions for real and/or personal property, including the sale, leasing, financing, or development of real property or business assets. In addition, he helps lenders and commercial borrowers utilize financial transactions to structure real property and business financing. Peter has also assisted many businesses, including financial institutions, in a variety of litigation and loan work-out matters.

Mark sues insurance companies when they fail to pay claims. Varnum represents only insureds in these matters. Mark has helped shape the landscape of Michigan Insurance Law since 1985.He is regularly asked to speak on insurance issues for continuing legal education programs, and at other bar related activities. Mark is also Varnum's lead attorney in litigation matters dealing with employee benefit issues under ERISA. He has handled all facets of employee benefit litigation, from benefit claims...

Gregory G. Timmer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. He helps public and private organizations and individuals resolve litigation issues at all levels of the state and federal courts as well as the appellate courts, including the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. His appellate practice focuses on all phases of the appeal process including drafting appellate briefs and motions, oral...

Jeff chairs Varnum's employee benefits practice group. He has 25 years of experience working with employers, executives and third-party administrators on a wide range of employee benefit, executive compensation and individual retirement matters, including plan design, plan administration, benefit plan disputes and tax planning for retirement. He also helps solve complex tax issues in business and investment transactions, especially those involving pass-through entities and oil and gas activit...

Katie has a broad practice that allows her to serve many different individuals and families. She creates estate plans of all types – from those with estate tax issues and succession planning for business owners to young families planning to protect their young children. Katie helps families determine what steps to take after the loss or incapacity of a loved one and works through any probate, guardianship and conservatorship, or trust administration that may be required. She has signifi...

Robert A. Buchanan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Municipal Law. Robert A., who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2014. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Robert A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Robert D. Mollhagen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. Robert D., who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Robert D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Benjamin A. Zainea, a native of Grand Rapids, graduated from Northview High School in 1992. He attended the University of Michigan School of Business Administration, where he served as president of the professional/service fraternity of Delta Sigma Pi and graduated with high distinction in 1996. He earned his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1999. Ben specializes in business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, business formation, general business and real estate la...

Ron has accumulated a vast amount of first chair trial experience. As an Assistant United States Attorney in Miami for seven years, he tried several large criminal cases. In his final year as a federal prosecutor, he served as Deputy Chief of the Major Crimes Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Ron’s broad trial and litigation skills allow him to represent clients in diverse types of disputes in nearly any locale in the country. Since joining Varnum, Ron has tried and litigate...

Scott E. Dwyer has extensive experience in the areas of labor, employment and wrongful discharge law, business litigation, shareholder disputes, noncompete agreements and unfair competition and trade secret litigation and employee misconduct investigations, including fraud and fraud litigation. He is a member of the Grand Rapids and American Bar Associations and the State Bar of Michigan. Scott has several reported cases, including: NLRB v Beacon Light Nursing Home , 825 F2d 1076 (6th Cir 198...