Christopher R. "Chris" Genther

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...

Daniel J. James is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law and Litigation - Insurance. Daniel J., who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Daniel J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Stephanie R. Setterington is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Stephanie R., 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 Stephanie R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ross A. Leisman graduated with honors from Calvin College in 1984, and with honors from the University of Michigan Law School in 1988. Ross has served as chairman of the firm's Local Government Practice Group, has served on the firm's Management Committee and is a member of the Litigation Group. Ross specializes in civil litigation, bank disputes, land use and municipal law. He has served on several community boards, including the Kent County Building Authority, the Ada Township Planning Comm...

Melissa leads the Real Estate Practice Team, and focuses her practice on corporate and real estate matters, with an emphasis on commercial sales, acquisitions, leasing, redevelopment, and construction law. She has extensive experience in structuring primary and replacement real estate financing with banks, private investors, and joint ventures, including mezzanine and other uniquely structured secured loan facilities. Melissa offers her clients significant experience in negotiating commercial...

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.

Kaplin concentrates his corporate practice on advising clients regarding choice of entity and transactional tax planning; structuring tax-free reorganizations and like-kind property exchanges; setting up and advising tax-exempt and nonprofit corporations; handling IRS audits and appeals hearings; commencing and settling tax litigation; formulating and drafting tax opinions; and preparing IRS ruling requests. Kaplin negotiates and structures the following types of transactions: asset and prope...

Kim Large's legal practice is diverse, ranging from family law to estate planning, as well as litigation. As a mom of two, Kim understands the challenges that her family law clients face, and she will be everything from a legal advocate to a sympathetic ear. Kim also finds her role as a wife and as a daughter of older parents that she can relate on a personal level to a number of issues that estate planning clients confront, and she is a passionate fighter for her business and individual clie...

Art has extensive experience in condemnation (eminent domain), real estate and zoning matters, including the litigation of dozens of significant cases. He has represented clients in Michigan District and Circuit Courts, Federal District Courts, the Michigan Court of Appeals, the Michigan Supreme Court and the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. Learn more on the firm website.

Floyd Gates heads Bodman’s Grand Rapids office. He is an experienced litigation, banking and corporate attorney. He has represented financial institutions throughout the country in connection with workout and related litigation along with the investigation of complex fraud schemes involving hundreds of millions of dollars in claims. Floyd has also handled significant real estate related litigation including representing numerous owners, contractors and suppliers in connection with multi...