Jeffrey Sluggett

With a background in finance and accounting, and with specialized training in business valuation, Paul helps clients determine the value of privately held business interests, often in high-stakes, complex and (sometimes) contentious shareholder and family law disputes. Business valuation expertise is critical to his clients with respect to shareholder and governance issues, shareholders looking to exit companies who either have or lack liquidity rights, families in multi-generational business...

Ryan McNally is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law and Real Estate Law. Ryan, 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 Ryan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

D. Andrew Portinga has been practicing law since 1996. He is a litigator, and has extensive experience in both federal and state courts. He has represented both Fortune 500 companies and family owned businesses, and Mr. Portinga has handled complex cases involving myriad issues. General Commercial Litigation Mr. Portinga has handled a wide variety of complicated commercial cases. His clients have included oil and gas producers, a manufacturer of implantable medical devices, a national communi...

Robert D. Wolford is a member of the Firm’s Management Committee and has been practicing law since 2001. He is a corporate lawyer who represents automotive suppliers and other manufacturers ranging from publicly traded to closely held as well as nonprofit. He has significant experience in mergers and acquisitions as well as workouts and bankruptcy. Mr. Wolford serves as the Legal Counsel to several groups including the Economic Club of Grand Rapids. He is one of the founders of the West...

Justin M. Bratt is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Justin M., who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Justin M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Tim Eagle focuses his practice in intellectual property, e-commerce and litigation, including commercial/business, technology, and product liability. Tim is admitted to practice in all federal and state courts in Michigan and Ohio, the United States Courts of Appeals sitting in Cincinnati, Ohio and Washington, D.C., as well as the United States Supreme Court. He is also admitted to practice before the United States Patent & Trademark Office. Tim is a frequent speaker on issues such as e-c...

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 ...

Tom's representative clients are individuals and small, closely held businesses. Tom helps these West Michigan businesses in all business matters, including but not limited to, estate and tax planning, commercial and real estate transactions, and mergers and acquisitions.

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.