John R. "Jack" Oostema

Daniel J. James is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law, Litigation - Insurance and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. He has been recognized since 2025. He represents clients in insurance coverage disputes, both property and liability, arising under a wide variety of policies, including CGL, auto, homeowner, renter, landlord, and professional liability. He has significant experience with claims arising under the Michigan auto no-fault sta...

Kimberly A. Clarke is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Immigration Law. Kimberly A. practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan Best Lawyers has recognized Kimberly A. Clarke since 2019. 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 Kimberly A. Clarke is held by other lawyers.

Joe is a partner in the Corporate Services Practice Group and has been with the firm since 1993. His practice focuses on corporate governance and counseling, securities matters, and mergers and acquisitions along with certain tax matters. He represents publicly-held and privately-held clients in a variety of industries and matters, from board governance to securities law compliance to buying and selling businesses, as well as structuring business transactions, and successions. Joe is also inv...

Mary Kay Shaver is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Banking and Finance Law and Public Finance Law. Mary Kay practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan Best Lawyers has recognized Mary Kay Shaver 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 Mary Kay Shaver is held by other lawyers.

Kurt G. Yost is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Kurt G. practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan Best Lawyers has recognized Kurt G. Yost since 2013. 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 Kurt G. Yost is held by other lawyers.

Gregory G. Timmer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. He helps public and private organizations and individuals resolve litigation issues at all levels of the state and federal courts as well as the appellate courts, including the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. His appellate practice focuses on all phases of the appeal process including drafting appellate briefs and motions, oral...

Jeff chairs Varnum's employee benefits practice group. He has 25 years of experience working with employers, executives and third-party administrators on a wide range of employee benefit, executive compensation and individual retirement matters, including plan design, plan administration, benefit plan disputes and tax planning for retirement. He also helps solve complex tax issues in business and investment transactions, especially those involving pass-through entities and oil and gas activit...

Joan is a member of the Financial Services Practice Group. She represents commercial lenders and asset-based lenders (including banks) in documenting, negotiating and closing numerous commercial loan transactions, including working capital and formula-based loans; real estate acquisition and development loans; and leveraged buy-out financing. She also represents lenders in connection with borrower insolvencies, loan restructurings and workouts, banks in various matters concerning regulatory c...

Elizabeth K. Bransdorfer received her bachelor’s degree from the College of Liberal Arts and her law degree cum laude from the Law School, both at the University of Minnesota. Liz specializes in divorce and family law using mediation, and collaborative practice as well as traditional litigation and arbitration. She is admitted to practice in all Michigan state courts, the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the United States District Co...

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...