Barbara A. Ruga

Fred is a member of the Estate Planning Practice Group. He has been assisting his clients with their estate planning needs since he first began his practice, and he has during that time handled a wide variety of estate settlements and estate settlement issues. His particular focus is on counseling clients on techniques to minimize estate and gift taxes, and drafting the documents to accomplish that objective. Fred is also a trusted personal advisor to many of the families he has worked with o...

Mel and his firm concentrate on securities and business disputes, including: Securities Litigation; FINRA Arbitration and Related Court Cases; Defending Investment Firms and their Financial Professionals against Investor Claims; Litigating Enforcement of Confidentiality Agreements, Non-solicit Agreements, Non-competes, and other Restrictive Agreements; FINRA Expungement hearings; Advising Clients on Securities Law and Compliance; Business Disputes, especially closely held firms. Mel is also a...

Aaron has successfully represented a wide range of clients—states, countries, Fortune 100 companies, law firms, and individuals—in cases of great significance, spanning numerous areas of law, including administrative, constitutional, contract, criminal, environmental, and tax. Specifically, he has represented clients in complex litigation at all levels of the state and federal courts, including in 13 cases on the merits at the U.S. Supreme Court, twice presenting oral argument. He...

Jeffrey D. DenBraber is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law and Litigation - Insurance. Jeffrey D., who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jeffrey D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Douglas A. Donnell graduated magna cum laude from Miami University with a bachelor's degree in Economics and received his law degree with honors from Boston College Law School. Doug specializes in environmental law and commercial litigation and has represented both public and private sector clients and individuals in these areas since 1979. He is a member of the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Section of the American Bar Association and the Environmental Law Section of the Michigan ...

Bill has been the chairman of Varnum’s Trial Practice Group since 2007. He has served firm clients for over three decades in litigation matters that have been resolved through arbitrations, mediations, and bench and jury trials. Bill also oversees Varnum's construction litigation practice area. He is one of two Varnum partners who serve as a Practice Management Leader, through which he assists and guides Varnum lawyers in the conduct of their practice efforts.

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...

Bruce, an experienced commercial litigator, represents clients of all sizes in trial and appellate courts throughout Michigan. A former president of the State Bar of Michigan, Bruce is also a court-approved mediator in the U.S. District Court and has served as an arbitrator for disputes involving insurance coverage issues, employment, and general business. Bruce’s expertise includes litigating, mediating and arbitrating complex disputes involving multimillion-dollar construction project...

Bob is committed to making a difference for those he serves. Applying his deep tax background and education, Bob represents buyers and sellers in merger, acquisition and disposition transactions, and provides comprehensive counsel pertaining to business and partnership tax matters. He also advises start-up companies and established businesses alike interested in pursuing capital sources from the private equity market to raise capital for a number of diverse enterprises. Bob’s industry e...

Jeremy Tiedt is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Jeremy, 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 Jeremy is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.