James J. Rabaut

Beth is a partner in the labor and employment practice group, focusing on employment issues and litigation. She has counseled business clients on a variety of matters affecting the workplace, including effective employee handbooks and policies, disciplinary and dispute resolution procedures, discrimination issues, disability accommodation, wage-hour matters, family medical leave, and harassment and litigation prevention. When litigation is unavoidable, Beth has significant experience represen...

Jeffrey D. DenBraber is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Insurance Law and Litigation - Insurance. Jeffrey D. practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan Best Lawyers has recognized Jeffrey D. DenBraber since 2021. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Jeffrey D. DenBraber is held by other lawyers.

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...

Andrew Oostema is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation, Health Care Law and Litigation - Health Care. Andrew practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan Best Lawyers has recognized Andrew Oostema since 2023. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Andrew Oostema is held by other lawyers.

Andrew Blum focuses his practice in complex business litigation, particularly eminent domain and land use litigation, oil and gas rights disputes, business fraud/tort cases, and material supply agreement disputes in the automotive industry. Before joining Bodman in May 2024, Andrew was a Principal with a large Michigan-based business law firm where he served as Resident Director of the Grand Rapids office. Andrew has represented both landowners and condemning authorities in eminent domain cas...

Catherine A. Tracey is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Education Law and Employment Law - Management. Catherine A. practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan Best Lawyers has recognized Catherine A. Tracey since 2020. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Catherine A. Tracey is held by other lawyers.

Charyn K. Hain is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Trusts and Estates. Charyn K. practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan Best Lawyers has recognized Charyn K. Hain since 2018. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Charyn K. Hain is held by other lawyers.

Salvatore W. Pirrotta is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Commercial Litigation. Salvatore W. practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan Best Lawyers has recognized Salvatore W. Pirrotta since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Salvatore W. Pirrotta is held by other lawyers.

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...

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...