Best Lawyers in Michigan, United States for Real Estate Law

Neil specializes in business, estate and gift tax planning, estate planning, probate, business succession planning, and real estate law, representing numerous individuals and businesses with their planning and business issues since 1984. Neil is a member of the estate planning, probate, real property, and business and taxation sections of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan, and the Grand Rapids Bar Association. Neil is a member of the Western Michigan Estate Planning Coun...

Ms. Zelenock represents national and regional lenders, mortgage bankers and loan servicers, with emphasis on capital markets, conduit and bank financing, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac multifamily and manufactured housing lending. Ms. Zelenock has served as closing or supervising counsel for several billion dollars in commercial mortgage loans destined for securitization, including a variety of loan sizes and property types (multifamily, office, manufactured housing communities, nursing...

Prior to joining Dickinson Wright, Jim served as legal counsel for the Internal Revenue Service, as a Senior Tax Attorney with the Office of Chief Counsel, and as a Special Assistant United States Attorney with the Department of Justice, where he developed an expertise in tax appeals, audits, collections, and litigation. Since moving into the private sector and practicing law at Dickinson Wright, his unique expertise and extensive experience has proved to be invaluable in assisting individual...

John G. Cameron, Jr., practices principally in the areas of real estate, construction, and general business law. He has written numerous chapters and articles and, in addition to writing the two-volume Michigan Real Property Law: Principles and Commentary (Michigan ICLE 3d ed) (often referred to as the “Bible” of Michigan real property law), is the author of the five-volume treatise Michigan Real Estate Forms & Practice (Aspen Publishers 1998) and A Practitioner’s Guide ...

Ralph A. Castelli Jr. is an attorney with Kemp Klein in Troy, Michigan . His practice focuses on Corporate Law , Real Estate Law , and Trusts and Estates , with an emphasis on advising businesses and individuals on planning, transactions, and long‑term business and ownership strategies. Mr. Castelli works with closely held and family-owned businesses on a wide range of corporate matters, including business planning and structuring, exit planning , shareholder and partner separations, and comp...

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.

Nyal is a partner in the Real Estate Practice Group. He focuses his practice on conveyance and lease transactions, land use approvals for various development projects including shopping centers, resorts, residential subdivisions, marinas and commercial projects, construction and permanent lending, on behalf of lenders and borrowers and real estate investment trusts. He has unique municipal experience having served as a member of the East Grand Rapids City Commission and Chairperson of its Pla...

Fredric N. Goldberg practices in the area of corporate and business law, with an emphasis in transactional practice, and in the area of college and university law. In addition, he has developed substantive expertise in the field of water law and the law of natural resources generally. He was recently recognized in the 2010 Best Lawyers publication for his water law expertise. Fred is a member of the Grand Rapids Bar Association and the State Bar of Michigan. He received his bachelor's degree ...

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.

Bradley S. Defoe is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Real Estate Law. Bradley S., who practices law in Novi, Michigan, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Bradley S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Peter A. Schmidt is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Peter A., who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Peter A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mr. Scavone is chair of Bodman’s Real Estate Practice Group. He has represented banks and other financial institutions in a wide variety of complex, multi-million dollar, secured loans and other financial arrangements involving real estate. Such financings include mortgage loans, land acquisition and development loans, and construction financing for projects as diverse as shopping centers, apartment projects, office buildings, manufacturing facilities, residential developments, golf cou...

David D. Marsh is a shareholder with Kemp Klein in Troy, Michigan. His practice focuses on Real Estate Law and Land Use and Zoning Law, advising businesses, property owners, and investors on a wide range of commercial and residential real estate matters. Mr. Marsh works with clients throughout the lifecycle of real estate transactions, including the purchase, sale, development, leasing, and financing of property. Mr. Marsh regularly counsels purchasers and sellers of commercial and residentia...

Steve is a partner and member of the firm’s Real Estate Practice Team. He is experienced in corporate transactions and real estate matters.

James B. Cunningham is a resident in our Nashville, Tennessee and Troy, Michigan offices and focuses his national practice in four primary areas: 1. Commercial real estate acquisition, divestiture and development matters, 2. Real estate finance and capital markets transactions, 3. Commercial loan workouts, resolutions and enforcement actions, specifically in the CMBS industry and 4. Corporate matters, with an emphasis on corporate mergers and acquisitions. James' commercial real estate practi...

Mr. Gonway specializes in real estate, mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, family offices and secured lending. His experience includes the acquisition, financing, construction, development and leasing of all types of commercial real estate (with particular expertise in multi-family housing), as well as the representation of clients in all aspects of corporate law, mergers and acquisitions and commercial transactions, including complex franchise acquisitions and private equity s...