Stephen R. Drew

Steve Afendoulis is a partner and past chairman of the trial practice group. He is a trial and appellate advocate with a focus in the areas of complex commercial; partnership, shareholder and LLC disputes; personal injury; real estate; and trademark and unfair competition. He is a certified facilitative mediator and is trained in advanced alternative dispute resolution.

Dustin Jackson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Dustin, 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 Dustin 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...

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...

Timothy J. Ryan is a Shareholder in the Grand Rapids, Michigan office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Mr. Ryan is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame (J.D., magna cum laude ) and Aquinas College (B.A., magna cum laude). Mr. Ryan has practiced exclusively in the labor and employment area since 1987, when he was admitted to the Bar. He has obtained an “AV® Preeminent™” rating, which is the highest peer review rating from Martindale Hubbell. He has been selected by his peers f...

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 ...

Keith E. Eastland is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Labor Law - Management. Keith E., who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Keith E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kimberly A. Baber is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Kimberly A., who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kimberly A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Laura A. Chappelle is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law and Energy Regulatory Law. Laura A., who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2017. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Laura A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael D. Almassian is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Michael D., 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 Michael D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.