Gregory E. Schmidt

Matt is the current practice group chair for the environmental practice group. and his vast experience includes general environmental law, environmental compliance counseling, transactional due diligence, administrative law, civil and administrative enforcement defense, environmental insurance, Brownfield redevelopment and financing, agricultural law, and energy/alternative energy law. He routinely reviews environmental site assessments, directs remediation projects and has done extensive wor...

Scott J. Hill 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. Scott J., who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Scott J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

James K. White has specialized in municipal finance since his graduation from Northwestern University Law School in 1976. He has served as bond counsel for numerous Michigan townships, villages, cities, counties and public authorities. Born in Jackson, Michigan, and raised in Grand Rapids, he is a magna cum laude graduate of Albion College. Jim has assisted clients with all aspects of financing public capital improvement and infrastructure projects including public buildings, roads, sanitary ...

With numerous multi-million dollar deals to his credit, Jeffrey G. York focuses his practice on corporate, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, succession planning, finance, construction, entrepreneurial, manufacturing, and real estate. He represents corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships in the acquisition or sale of a wide range of businesses, including automotive component manufacturers, tool-and-die businesses, food and equipment manufacturers, automobile dealership...

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...

Gregory G. Timmer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Gregory G., 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 Gregory G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

With over 30 years of experience, Tom helps people navigate and resolve family law problems including divorce, custody, parenting time, modification of support orders and paternity. Learn more on the firm website.

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 ...

Tom’s practice includes design and implementation of sophisticated estate plans, active administration of trust accounts, settlement of decedent’s estates, estate taxation, and charitable gift planning. He advises many of Varnum's family business owners and is a member of our Family Business Team. Tom currently serves as the Firm's Executive Partner, one of our two Managing Partners. Previously, he served five years as the chair of the Firm's Estate Planning, Tax, and Employee Ben...

Jennifer A. Puplava practices primarily in the areas of intellectual property law and technology law. She helps clients protect their trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property, and she assists clients with the negotiation, drafting and enforcement of, and compliance with, related agreements, policies, terms and conditions and other documents. She counsels clients regarding a wide range of technology law issues, including the acquisition and maintenance of domain na...