Alexandra E. "Alex" Haywood

Elizabeth K. Bransdorfer received her bachelor’s degree from the College of Liberal Arts and her law degree cum laude from the Law School, both at the University of Minnesota. Liz specializes in divorce and family law using mediation, and collaborative practice as well as traditional litigation and arbitration. She is admitted to practice in all Michigan state courts, the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the United States District Co...

Emily specializes in real estate and environmental law. Her real estate practice focuses on buying, selling, and leasing commercial real estate, although she also helps businesses, individuals and financial institutions with a variety of other real estate matters. She routinely advises clients regarding environmental compliance and regulatory issues relating to underground storage tanks, waste management, permitting, environmental enforcement, and the investigation, cleanup and regulatory clo...

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...

Joe focuses on employment law and litigation and has experience in all areas of employment law including FLSA, ADA, wrongful discharge, the Elliott-Larson Civil Rights Act, Title VII, ADEA, Retiree Health Insurance, FMLA, the Whistleblowers’ Protection Act and others.

Kurt G. Yost is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Kurt G., who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kurt G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Tim Lundgren is a partner on Varnum's Environmental, Energy and Natural Resources team. On energy issues, Tim represents clients before the Michigan Public Service Commission, including energy suppliers, marketers, manufacturers, agricultural processors, public entities and institutions, and trade associations representing competitive power supply and business interests. He also advises clients on developments in energy law and policy in Michigan, and assists them in the development of legisl...

John M. DeVries, a native of Grand Rapids, practices in the areas of litigation in federal and state courts, oil, gas and water law, eminent domain and zoning law. John received his bachelor's degree from Calvin College and his law degree from the University of Michigan, magna cum laude, Order of the Coif. He is a member of the Grand Rapids and Federal Bar Associations, the State Bar of Michigan, and is a life member of the Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference.

Peter is a trial attorney with a focus on business litigation defense (FSLA, Product Liability Defense, Malpractice Defense) as well as significant experience in personal injury, wrongful death, auto and trucking litigation. Peter is certified in Alternative Dispute Resolution for practice in the U.S. District Court for Western District of Michigan and in Michigan circuit courts.

Michael Stroster is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labor Law - Management. Michael, who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Lauretta K. Murphy is a Member of the firm and has been practicing law since 1988. Her practice areas include elder law and disability planning, and probate and estate planning. She knows how to explain things in plain English and puts people at ease even in complex estate planning or elder law situations. She recently edited Advising the Older Client or Client with A Disability for the Institute for Continuing Legal Education. Wills and Trusts Trust and Estate administration Estate and gift ...