Meet The Firm

►The Firm represents the Michigan Association of REALTORS®, numerous local associations and individual brokerage companies throughout Michigan, the Michigan Association of Home Builders, and many developers and property owners. The Firm provides monthly articles for both the Michigan REALTOR® magazine and the Michigan Association of Home Builders’ Association News. Members of the Firm conduct numerous seminars on real estate issues for REALTORS®, home builders, developers, and attorneys.

The Firm’s attorneys have written amicus curiae briefs in the Michigan Supreme Court, Michigan Court of Appeals, circuit courts, and U.S. District Courts on major issues in real estate and property law including the taking of property by restrictive land use regulation, regulation of real estate brokers and agents, and the allowable limits of fees and charges by local governments for development approvals.

The Firm represents and advises major real estate interests on bills in the Michigan legislature; those that have become law include the Seller Disclosure Act, reform of the Subdivision Control Act/Land Division Act, and revisions to the real estate licensing section of the Occupational Code.

The Firm represents developers, property owners, and agents in the sale, purchase, financing, and development of property. Representation includes drafting of governing documents and obtaining approvals for site condominiums, subdivisions, zoning; natural resource approvals such as wetlands and floodplains, and other development issues such as sewer and water service, annexation, roads, and site access.

In transactions, the Firm represents developers of residential, commercial, and multi-family developments, including purchase and sale, title and survey issues, construction and end loans, and financing through taxable bonds and notes.

►Commercial Law and Litigation: In business transactions, the Firm represents business owners in commercial transactions including the purchase and sale of businesses, transfer of liquor licenses, software development and licensing. The Firm generally represents entrepreneurs and privately-held entities in all aspects of their business activities. In conjunction with its representation of numerous small and medium size businesses, the Firm acts as general counsel for the Small Business Association of Michigan.

►Opinions of the Courts: Reported opinions of the courts in cases in which the Firm’s attorneys represented parties or assisted the court as amicus include:

General Aviation, Inc. v. Capital Region Airport Authority, 224 Mich App 710 (1997) in the Michigan Court of Appeals;

Kendall Medical v. Progressive Medical, 85 F3d 1570 (6^th Cir., 1996) in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit;

K&K v Michigan Department of Natural Resources, 217 Mich App 56 (1996); 456 Mich 570 (1998); Volkema v Michigan Department of Natural Resources, 214 Mich App 66 (1996) in the Michigan Court of Appeals and Michigan Supreme Court; and

Andrie v Chrystal-Anderson, 187 Mich App 333 (1991), in the Michigan Court of Appeals.

►Transactions: In addition to conventionally financed projects, the Firm has represented developers in such transactions as:

Taxable Bond Issue of $6,980,000 to Finance Construction for the State of Michigan as a Single Tenant;

Tax-exempt Bond Issue of $3,500,000 for Construction of New Manufacturing Facility;

Tax-exempt bond issue of $11,500.00 to finance construction of Apartment Complex for Older Adults; and

Public Offering of Variable Rate Notes of $43,260,000 to Finance 19 Real Estate Projects.