W. Michael "Mike" Van Haren

Andrew Oostema is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Health Care Law and Litigation - Health Care. Andrew, 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 Andrew is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Bruce, an experienced commercial litigator, represents clients of all sizes in trial and appellate courts throughout Michigan. A former president of the State Bar of Michigan, Bruce is also a court-approved mediator in the U.S. District Court and has served as an arbitrator for disputes involving insurance coverage issues, employment, and general business. Bruce’s expertise includes litigating, mediating and arbitrating complex disputes involving multimillion-dollar construction project...

J. Scott Timmer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. J. Scott, who practices law in Norton Shores, Michigan, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which J. Scott is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Aaron M. Phelps is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - ERISA. Aaron M., 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 Aaron M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Fred is a member of the Estate Planning Practice Group. He has been assisting his clients with their estate planning needs since he first began his practice, and he has during that time handled a wide variety of estate settlements and estate settlement issues. His particular focus is on counseling clients on techniques to minimize estate and gift taxes, and drafting the documents to accomplish that objective. Fred is also a trusted personal advisor to many of the families he has worked with o...

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...

Ryan P. Duffy is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Health Care. Ryan P., 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 P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Brian Kersey concentrates his practice in aviation law and commercial finance matters. He brings nearly 30 years of wide-ranging experience as a lawyer and as a banker to bear in providing practical solutions and guiding his clients to successful outcomes quickly and efficiently. Mr. Kersey is Co-Chair of Bodman's Aviation Law and Finance Practice Group. His aviation law practice encompasses a wide variety of areas, including purchase and sale transactions, regulatory compliance, risk managem...

Melissa leads the Real Estate Practice Team, and focuses her practice on corporate and real estate matters, with an emphasis on commercial sales, acquisitions, leasing, redevelopment, and construction law. She has extensive experience in structuring primary and replacement real estate financing with banks, private investors, and joint ventures, including mezzanine and other uniquely structured secured loan facilities. Melissa offers her clients significant experience in negotiating commercial...

Aaron has successfully represented a wide range of clients—states, countries, Fortune 100 companies, law firms, and individuals—in cases of great significance, spanning numerous areas of law, including administrative, constitutional, contract, criminal, environmental, and tax. Specifically, he has represented clients in complex litigation at all levels of the state and federal courts, including in 13 cases on the merits at the U.S. Supreme Court, twice presenting oral argument. He...