Steven L. Barney

Ron has accumulated a vast amount of first chair trial experience. As an Assistant United States Attorney in Miami for seven years, he tried several large criminal cases. In his final year as a federal prosecutor, he served as Deputy Chief of the Major Crimes Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Ron’s broad trial and litigation skills allow him to represent clients in diverse types of disputes in nearly any locale in the country. Since joining Varnum, Ron has tried and litigate...

Todd A. Holleman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Banking and Finance and Litigation - Securities. Todd A., who practices law in Detroit, Michigan, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Todd A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Steve Howell has been practicing for over 40 years as a bankruptcy and insolvency lawyer providing a broad range of services in the distressed business context. A significant part of Steve’s practice is spent counseling lenders in troubled loan matters throughout the workout process, including exit strategies, refinancings, restructures, sales, out-of-court and court proceedings, bankruptcy and liquidation. Steve has also represented borrowers, creditors’ committees, creditors and...

Marc is the Co-Chair of Brooks Kushman's intellectual property litigation practice. He has been instrumental in building, developing, and growing the team. Throughout his career, Marc has successfully tried patent, trademark, trade secret and copyright cases in Federal Courts nationwide. Marc has successfully argued appeals before the Federal Circuit including a leading decision on 101 jurisprudence, Ancora Techs., Inc. v. HTC Americas, Inc. , 908 F.3d 1343 (Fed. Cir. 2018). Marc, as lead cou...

Brian P. Foley represents financial institutions, companies, and individuals in real estate matters, with an emphasis on commercial real estate secured financing transactions. He also regularly advises clients, as both lead and local counsel, in purchases and sales of real property (including sales of lender owned property), real estate workouts and foreclosures, loan sales (both performing and distressed), leasing transactions, and other general real estate matters.

Joshua P. Lushnat is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Joshua P., who practices law in Birmingham, Michigan, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joshua P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Shelley Kester is an award-winning attorney and dedicated family law practitioner who has spent her career advocating for the protection of children and the empowerment of the individual. Shelley is the President of Wilson Kester the Empowered Divorce Source. She is the first attorney from Northern Michigan to have served as Chair of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. A frequent presenter for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Shelley has participated on the front ...

Mark E Rizik is Chair of the firm’s Taxation practices. He has extensive experience in matters regarding tax penalty cases, tax refund claims and litigation, estates and trusts as S corporation shareholders, employee and independent contractor classification, employee leasing, business transactions, and tax controversies. Mr. Rizik has tried hundreds of tax cases successfully. His cases have often resulted nationally published opinions. Mr. Rizik previously was a Senior Trial Attorney i...

With a practice focus on Litigation, Benjamin Dolan has tried over 40 civil and criminal jury trials. He has represented major financial institutions, lenders, automotive manufacturers and suppliers, insurance companies, surgery centers and managing entities of surgery centers, securities firms, a major telecommunications company and others in various matters including foreclosure, disputes over lease and management agreements, violation of non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, breach ...

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...