Warner Norcross + Judd LLP

Managing Partner: Douglas A. Dozeman
Number of partners: 123
Number of lawyers: 228
Languages: French, German, Russian, Spanish

Firm Overview:
Founded in 1931, Warner Norcross + Judd is one of the largest and most respected business law firms in Michigan. The firm provides client-focused, proactive legal counsel to companies of all sizes — from startups to Fortune 500 companies — and represents leading automotive suppliers, healthcare providers, energy companies, financial services corporations, closely held businesses and high net-worth individuals. With nearly 230 attorneys working in 13 industries and 77 specialized practice areas, Warner is a full-service firm that meets the legal needs of clients operating in North America and around the world.

Main Areas of Practice:

Banking & Finance:
The financial services group is an interdisciplinary team with substantial experience in all aspects of banking law and regulation. The firm does extensive work as bond counsel, underwriter’s and remarketing agent’s counsel and letter of credit bank counsel in the tax-exempt and taxable financing arena of tax-exempt bonds.

Corporate Services / Mergers & Acquisitions:
Business law is the heart of Warner. Its corporate services group helps clients evaluate, structure, negotiate and complete virtually all forms of business transactions. The mergers and acquisitions team has a special focus on financing, securities law, corporate, executive and shareholder tax consequences, antitrust law, government compliance, shareholder’s lawsuit defense and proxy disputes.

Data Solutions:
Managing massive quantities of information and data— paper and electronic documents, emails, voice mails, text messages and other structured and unstructured data—is costly and can create legal headaches if mishandled. The firm is one of the few law firms providing full life-cycle support for business data, from data creation to disposition and everything in between, including eDiscovery, cybersecurity and data privacy solutions.

Employee Benefits / Executive Compensation:
The Warner employee benefits/executive compensation practice is one of the largest and most comprehensive of any law firm in Michigan. Warner represents clients in governmental audits, investigations and administrative proceedings. The firm also establishes more employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) than any other law firm in Michigan and regularly drafts and manages RFPs for investment advisory services and retirement plans.

Intellectual Property:
Patents, trademarks and copyrights are significant and valuable business assets and are often the driving force behind revenue-generating transactions and activities. Protecting and managing those assets is critical to realizing a return on investment and maintaining a competitive advantage. The attorneys in Warner’s intellectual property group are experienced in every aspect of acquiring, managing, protecting, licensing, selling and exploiting all types of intellectual property assets and are dedicated to doing so in an efficient, effective manner.

Labor & Employment:
The labor and employment attorneys at Warner provide the counsel you need to comply with ever-changing employment laws—and the firepower you demand when your decisions are challenged in court or before an administrative agency. The firm works with publicly traded and privately held companies, with union and non-union work-forces, on hiring, promoting, supervising, disciplining and firing employees.

Litigation – General & Commercial:
A team of more than 75 litigators that tailors legal strategies to meet the specific needs of each client, whether it is a small startup or a multinational corporation. Warner has been named one of the nation’s most feared litigation firms. The firm provides litigation counsel for many of the nation’s most respected corporations and its appellate attorneys have argued more US Supreme Court cases than any other law firm in Michigan.

Real Estate:
Described as a leading real estate authority by legislators, business leaders and peers, the real estate practice group at Warner is committed to serving you. The firm provides pre-transaction counseling to identify and resolve issues that may block or delay your transaction along with sound legal counsel in negotiating terms to reduce your risks and liabilities. In addition, it resolves real estate legal disputes efficiently, effectively and fairly.

Clients:
Amway, Auto-Owners Insurance, Bethany Christian Services, Bissell, CCL Industries, Central Michigan University, Consumers Energy, The Dow Chemical Company, Dow Corning, Fifth Third Bank, Grand Valley State University, GreenStone Farm Credit, Haworth, Inc., Mahle Industries, Merrill Lynch Capital Services, Michigan State University, Nexteer Automotive, Nextera Energy Resources, Priority Health, Robert Bosch, SpartanNash, Spectrum Health, Transport Canada, UBS AG, Van Andel Institute, Warrior, Whirlpool, Wolverine Worldwide