Litigation Department

Overview

Our litigation team is best known for complex business, commercial, and shareholder litigation.  The firm leverages the specialization of four JD/CPA’s who practice in our business group, as well as another attorney who holds an LLM.  Further, our commercial trial lawyers have developed unique specializations, including litigation of complex business valuation matters.

Over 90% of our litigation attorneys are ranked in other programs including American College of Trial Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and Martindale Hubbell.

In 2018, some highlights include:

• Post-Acquisition Disputes. We assist both sellers and buyers when disputes arise after the sale and purchase of a company.  In one case, representing the sellers, we successfully resolved a claim against one of the company’s advisors and then initiated arbitration against the buyer to pursue the remaining purchase price.  We prevailed at arbitration and then entered into a settlement for the sellers valued at more than $2.25 million. 
• Shareholder Cases. Sometimes litigation cannot be avoided.  We handled and resolved, a host of shareholder litigation matters in 2018.  We defended majority shareholders in a suit involving over 17 companies and, after months of smash-mouth litigation, resolved it for less than was offered by corporate counsel prior to litigation.  In another case, we represented the plaintiff and resolved the case for more than 100% of value, together with attorneys’ fees, following the first wave of discovery.

Members

Hulst, Stephen (Head of Department)

Appleman, Jackie

Bevins, David

Brainerd, Catherine

Cartwright, Mary Ann

Courtade, Bruce

Ellis, Patrick

Fatum, Mark

Furtado, G. Will

Lichtenberg, John

McCarthy, Paul

Neckers, Bruce

Northon, Ian

Poll, James

Smith, Mark

Strong, Laurie

Sweeney, Patrick

Timmer, Gregory

VandenBerge, Doug

Clients

Huntington Bank

Mercantile Bank

Michigan Turkey Producers

Steelcase

Industries

Agriculture

Banking and Financial Services

Charities and Not for Profit

Commercial and Professional Services

Construction

Environmental

Healthcare

Insurance Defense

Manufacturing

Real Estate

Transportation