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Lawyer Profile

Image of William G. Barris

William G. Barris

Barris, Sott, Denn & Driker, P.L.L.C
  • Recognized Since:
    1987
  • Recognized in:
    Real Estate Law
  • Website:
    http://www.bsdd.com
  • Location:
    333 West Fort Street, Suite 1200
    Detroit, MI 48226
"Bill is the consummate professional; he is creative, pragmatic, exceptionally technically competent, responsive, and focused on the client's needs and goals. I would be happy to refer any client with a real estate law need to Bill."

-Robert R. Jeanguenat (Robert R. Jeanguenat, CPA, P.C.), St. Clair Shores

"William Barris is, in our opinion, one of the best in real estate law. We have used this firm for the past 40 years."

-Samuel R. Sobel (SobelCo.), Boca Raton

Read More Client Comments
  • Lawyer Bio
  • Client Comments
  • Firm Details

Lawyer Bio

Bill has over four decades of real estate experience representing lenders and developers. 

This includes representation of numerous real estate lenders, owner-investors, and large developers with regard to retail, shopping center, office, high-tech, industrial and hotel projects in Michigan and other states. 

Bill has a unique perspective on all aspects of real estate transactional work. His philosophy is to find common-sense solutions to issues so that transactions do not become bogged down by unnecessary roadblocks.

Bill is chairman of the firm's real estate department.

  • Education
  • Bar Admissions
  • Award List
  • Additional Information
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge

Education:

  • University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, J.D.

Bar Admissions:

  • Michigan, State Bar of Michigan

Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers for:

  • Real Estate Law, Detroit (2009)
 

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for work in:

  • Real Estate Law
 

Awards:

  • Best Lawyers 1987 - 2016
  • Super Lawyers
  • Best Lawyers--Lawyer of the Year, 2009 (Real Estate, Detroit, Michigan)

Special Focus:

  • Condominiums
  • Construction
  • Development
  • Finance
  • Land Use
  • Office Buildings
  • Planned Real Estate
  • Secured Transactions
  • Transactions
  • Workouts and Restructurings
 

Lawyer Client Comments

"Bill is the consummate professional; he is creative, pragmatic, exceptionally technically competent, responsive, and focused on the client's needs and goals. I would be happy to refer any client with a real estate law need to Bill."

Robert R. Jeanguenat, Robert R. Jeanguenat, CPA, P.C., St. Clair Shores

"William Barris is, in our opinion, one of the best in real estate law. We have used this firm for the past 40 years."

Samuel R. Sobel, SobelCo., Boca Raton

"William Barris has provided our firm with outstanding real estate services for over 35 years."

Samuel R. Sobel, SobelCo., Boca Raton

"Bill is a top-notch attorney in all respects. I have personally used the top five attorneys in Michigan over the past 30 years, and he ranks number one. Hal Koss"

Hal Koss, HJK, Inc., Bloomfield Hills

"Bill is a deal maker. He is an excellent drafter of documents. He maintains a good relationship with opposing attorneys/negotiators and can be tough when necessary, yet keeping in mind the end goal of making the deal. With his vast experience, especially in real estate, Bill can present us with the pros and cons of various situations. I have worked with Bill for over 20 years and have found him to be logical, thorough, and easy to work with."

Jerome Kondalski, Sobel Co., Southfield

"Bill Barris has one of the brightest real estate minds in the business. His expertise in the industry is second to none. He is easy to work with and would be someone I would confidently refer to anyone."

Anthony Antone, Kojaian Management Corporation, Bloomfield Hills

"I deal with attorneys all across the country and Bill is one of the most knowledgeable real estate attorneys I know. I can always depend upon Bill to represent our company as if he is representing his own family. Bill is very reliable. He has the uncanny ability to bring all parties to agreement and he has the respect of everyone he deals with."

David Haboian, Kojaian Management Corporation, Bloomfield Hills

"In working with Bill over the past 20 years, he has proven himself to be not only a thoroughly competent, efficient, and highly moral attorney, but a deal maker as well. All the skills in the world are useless to me as a client unless the transaction gets completed. I have worked with other counsel representing me and those representing others all over the country in my real estate development projects and other business ventures and have never come across anyone finer than Bill. I give him the highest marks and an unequivocal recommendation."

Jeffrey Sobel, Sobel Co., Ft. Lauderdale

Firm Details

Image for Barris, Sott, Denn & Driker, P.L.L.C View Firm Profile
Barris, Sott, Denn & Driker, P.L.L.C
http://www.bsdd.com
 
Headquarters
333 West Fort Street, Suite 1200
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 965.9725
 
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