Richard L. Bouma

Bob serves as general counsel to high-net-worth families and their businesses. He personally handles matters that require attention to corporate compliance, corporate governance, business sales and combinations, shareholder disputes, contracts, real estate, credit facilities, and estate and tax planning. When counseling clients, family, or friends, Bob makes every effort to fully understand their present situation and their ultimate goals and objectives. By placing himself in their shoes he i...

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...

John has extensive experience in corporate, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and real estate matters. His clients trust him to provide practical advice with respect to their complex legal needs and legal planning matters, and he serves as outside general counsel to companies across a wide spectrum of industries. John has served as lead counsel in numerous mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, financing transactions, real estate acquisition and dispositions, busi...

Rick is a partner in the Kalamazoo office. Since 1981, he has represented employers exclusively in solving labor and employment law problems in the workplace. He devotes most of his time to advising employers about how to avoid workplace crises, comply with state and federal labor and employment laws and regulations, and prevent litigation. He has significant experience counseling employers on how to stay union-free, and routinely works with clients in the application and enforcement of colle...

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.

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...

Jeff’s practice is focused on financing transactions, from tax-exempt and taxable bond issues to commercial loans. He has served as bond counsel to State of Michigan departments and agencies as well as to local bond issuers. Jeff also represents letter of credit providers and underwriters in bond transactions.

Laura E. Radle is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law and Trusts and Estates. Laura E., who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Laura E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jeffrey A. Michael is a partner in the firm's Grand Rapids, Michigan, office, and a member of the Intellectual Property and Technology Departments, as well as the Nanotechnology Practice Group. Jeffrey serves corporate and individual clients by obtaining intellectual property protection in the United States and foreign countries and concentrates this portion of his practice primarily in the areas of electrical, electro-mechanical, mechanical, and computer-related inventions. He also counsels ...

David Hall is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Commercial Finance Law. David, 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 David is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.