Grand Rapids, Michigan, June 13, 2024 – David L.J.M. Skidmore, a partner with the law firm Warner Norcross + Judd LLP, has been appointed chair of the board of directors for Broadway Grand Rapids.

Skidmore joined as a board member in 2013 then transitioned to vice chairman in 2020. As chair, he will serve an one-year term leading the board of Broadway Grand Rapids, which offers a variety of world-renowned Broadway productions to West Michigan audiences. In partnership with the Broadway Across America, BGR works to bring the most current shows from New York to Grand Rapids. Through each performance, BGR strives to connect and inspire the Grand Rapids community and all visitors.

Skidmore concentrates his practice in probate litigation, with an emphasis on disputed estate, trust, fiduciary, guardianship and conservatorship matters. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Council, a member of the American Bar Association and a civil mediator with the Kent County Circuit Court.

Prior to serving on the BGR board, he was a board member of Grand Rapids Civic Theatre & School of Theatre Arts from 2006-2008. His passion for the arts led Skidmore to perform as a chorus member in the Opera Grand Rapids, West Michigan Opera Project and West Michigan Savoyards. His work has also been exhibited in ArtPrize.

Steven Stapleton, a Member of the Clark Hill’s Litigation team, now leads the firm office of 27 individuals including nine members.

“I’m honored to be named Member-In-Charge of our Grand Rapids office and look forward to greater involvement with my local colleagues and promoting Clark Hill throughout West Michigan,” Stapleton said.

In addition to his work in commercial litigation, Stapleton has established a niche practice in sports law by advising many governing bodies, conferences, leagues, teams, administrators, and coaches. He also represents coaches and university athletic department personnel in NCAA-related investigations.

Stapleton has been named among The Best Lawyers in America® – Commercial Litigation by Best Lawyers since 2014 and was recently selected as a “Grand Rapids Top Lawyer.” He’s an American Bar Foundation, Fellow (2005-present) Litigation Council of America, Fellow (2009-present) and member of the Grand Rapids Bar Association.

He earned his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and his undergraduate degree from Grand Valley State University. 

The West Michigan Chapter of the Federal Bar Association invites you to a lunchtime panel to discuss the themes of “To Kill a Mockingbird” and the role of race and bias in today’s criminal justice system on Friday, April 26th at 12:00pm, at Warner Norcross + Judd LLP, 150 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 1500, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. A Zoom option will be available and sent out closer to the event date.

If you weren’t able to get tickets to the FBA outing of “To Kill a Mockingbird” in Grand Rapids that evening, this panel event is a wonderful way to connect with other members, and to discuss how the lessons from Harper Lee’s classic are still relevant today. We are pleased to have Professor Catherine Grosso from The Michigan State University College of Law and Professor Tracey Brame from Cooley Law School as panelists.

Professor Catherine Grosso focuses on the role of race and other extralegal factors in criminal investigations, trials, and the administration of capital punishment. Her recent work examines the persistent role of race in jury selection and in charging and sentencing decisions relating to capital punishment. She is the consulting editor of the National Registry of Exonerations, a virtual home for exoneration stories and also an accessible, searchable statistical database about the cases; and was co-president of Society of American Law Teachers from 2020-2022.

Professor Tracey Brame is the Associate Dean of Experiential and Practice Preparation and the Director of the Cooley Innocence Project, and is also the Immediate Past President of the Grand Rapids Bar Association. In her role at the Alabama Capital Resource Center, she obtained experience in death penalty legislation, and conducted extensive legal research; interviewed inmates, relatives, and former jurors; compiled statistics on racial composition of juries; helped prepare an argument for the U.S. Supreme Court; and drafted racial-justice legislation for the state of Alabama. Professor Brame started the Access to Justice Clinic at the Cooley Grand Rapids campus in 2006. She has overseen this clinic and the West Michigan Public Defender Clinic.

If you plan to attend in-person and would like to order a lunch for $15, please email Melissa Rabidoux at melissa_rabidoux@fd.org by April 19th.

Warner Norcross + Judd LLP recently welcomed eight new attorneys to the firm.
 
Jonathan J. Altes, Danica N. Bebble, Emily O. Elmer, Mohamad Knio, Samuel D. Poortenga, De’Andre L. Robbins, Joseph B. Rockwell and Michael Tae Woo have been admitted to the State Bar of Michigan. They are gaining experience in a variety of legal matters before selecting a practice group.
 
Bebble, Poortenga, Rockwell and Woo are based in the firm’s Grand Rapids office. Altes, Elmer, Knio and Robbins are based in the Detroit office.
 
Altes received his law degree summa cum laude from Michigan State University College of Law. He holds a bachelor’s degree summa cum laude in chemical engineering from the University of Michigan. Prior to attending law school, Altes served as one of Warner’s patent specialists.
 
Bebble received her law degree cum laude from MSU College of Law. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social relations and policy from MSU. Bebble previously worked as a law clerk for Legal Services of Eastern Michigan.
 
Elmer received her law degree cum laude from University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. She holds a bachelor’s degree in integrative studies from Oakland University and an executive certificate in negotiation from the University of Notre Dame. Elmer previously served as a summer associate with Plunkett Cooney and was a law clerk for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Office of Legal Counsel. Prior to attending law school, she was a paralegal for firms in California and Michigan. She is a member of the Wolverine Bar and Women Lawyers Association of Michigan.
 
Knio received his law degree magna cum laude from UDM School of Law. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from U-M Dearborn and an international baccalaureate degree from Nanjing International School in Nanjing, China.
 
Poortenga received his law degree from U-M Law School, where he was an editor of the Journal of Law Reform. He holds a bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Calvin University in economics and political science. Poortenga previously interned with the North Carolina Department of Justice, Brinks Law Firm and 62-B District Court in Kentwood.
 
Robbins received his law degree magna cum laude from UDM School of Law, where he was an associate editor of the Detroit Mercy Law Review. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wayne State University. Robbins previously worked as a legal intern with auto supplier Meritor and as a judicial extern with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
 
Rockwell received his law degree magna cum laude from U-M Law School, where he was Order of the Coif and managing notes editor of the Michigan Journal of Environmental and Administrative Law. He holds a bachelor’s degree summa cum laude in business administration and an associate degree magna cum laude in legal studies from Ferris State University. Rockwell previously served as a legal extern with the Executive Office of the Governor in Michigan and as a legal intern with the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office. He also served as a communications fellow for the Michigan House Democrats and a leadership fellow with The Hub Project.
 
Woo received his law degree cum laude from the University of Iowa College of Law, where he was a note and comment editor of the Iowa Law Review. He holds a master’s degree in classics from U-M and a bachelor’s degree summa cum laude in classics and bachelor’s degree cum laude in English from the University of California, Davis. He served as a legal extern for the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Iowa and the Hon. Judge Therese Stewart in the First District of the California Court of Appeals in San Francisco.
 

Rhoades McKee is pleased to announce the election of Jacob Dunlop to serve on the firm's Executive Committee as Vice President of Associate Development.

Rhoades McKee is a full-service law firm providing transaction and litigation legal services to corporate institutions, family-run businesses, individuals, and families in over 25 practice specialties. As a member of the Executive Committee, Dunlop joins the current leadership, Anthony Pearson and Stephen Hulst, to guide the firm’s strategic planning and lead a team of more than 90 attorneys and administrative professionals serving clients in the West Michigan community and beyond.

According to Dunlop, “It's an honor to be selected by my partners for the opportunity to serve on the Executive Committee. I started my legal career at Rhoades McKee, and the mentorship I received from shareholders and the leadership team during my time as a young associate positively impacted my success as an attorney. I look forward to continuing the firm's tradition of fostering growth and development with our associate group.”

As a  business and corporate attorney, Dunlop focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, business planning, and serving as general corporate counsel for his clients. He helps entrepreneurs, their businesses and families navigate a broad range of legal issues. Dunlop advises clients on their day-to-day legal needs ranging from the formation of a single-member limited liability company for an early-stage start-up to the closing on the sale of a business and everything in between. He also assists business owners with issues involving corporate governance, succession planning, credit facilities, and real estate matters.

Dunlop actively participates in the community and serves as a Board Member and past Chair of the Board for Wedgwood Christian Services and as a Board Member for the Western Michigan Association for Corporate Growth. He is a current member of the Grand Rapids Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan, and the Grand Rapids Chamber.

He is a graduate of Michigan State University and the Indiana University Maurer School of Law.

The law firm of Hilger Hammond is proud to announce that as of January 3, 2024, Jill K. Miller has been promoted to shareholder. Miller joined the firm in 2018 and has over 25 years of experience representing clients nationwide across industries. With a law degree and Master of Business Administration, Miller offers clients business and real estate expertise on matters including entity formation, corporate governance, corporate and real estate transactions, and succession planning.

“Jill strengthens Hilger Hammond’s capabilities in the business and real estate practice areas and allows us to continue providing exceptional service to our clients. With her leadership, we have seen tremendous growth with our clients. She is a brilliant lawyer focused on practical resolutions to real world business and real estate challenges,” said Ben Hammond, co-founder of Hilger Hammond. “We are grateful that Jill continues to dedicate herself long-term to our clients and firm.”

With in-depth knowledge of real estate and business law, Jill counsels privately held businesses on all matters. She drafts, negotiates, and finalizes asset, stock, and real estate purchase and sale agreements, shareholder agreements, commercial lease agreements, employment agreements, independent contractor agreements, financing documents, and other business agreements. Jill also counsels non-profit organizations on entity formation and corporate governance.

Jill is licensed in Michigan, Florida, and Illinois. She regularly publishes and presents legal updates and material to help guide business owners. She earned both her law degree and MBA from Loyola University of Chicago. Jill is active in the East Grand Rapids community, including serving as the former president of the East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation.

Thomas R. Behm of Gruel, Mills, Nims & Pylman, PLLC in Grand Rapids became a member of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers (IATL) in October 2023.

The International Academy of Trial Lawyers limits membership to 500 Fellows from the United States in addition to Fellows from nearly 40 countries across the globe. IATL seeks out, identifies, acknowledges, and honors those who have achieved a career of excellence through demonstrated skill and ability in jury trials, trials before the court, and appellate practice.  Members are engaged in civil practice on both the plaintiff’s and the defendant’s side of the courtroom, and the trial of criminal cases. The Academy invites only lawyers who have attained the highest level of advocacy. A comprehensive screening process identifies the most distinguished members of the trial bar by means of both peer and judicial review.  Tom has been evaluated by his colleagues and the judges in his jurisdiction and has been highly recommended as possessing these qualifications and characteristics.

Chartered in 1954, the Academy’s general purposes are to cultivate the science of jurisprudence, promote reforms in the law, facilitate the Administration of Justice, and elevate the standards of integrity, honor, and courtesy in the legal profession.

The 98th NBA Annual Convention & Exhibits will provide unparalleled content from some of the world’s top legal professionals, strategic minds, subject matter experts and renowned thought-leaders!
 

With more than 40 CLE sessions, an interactive state of the art exhibit hall, networking opportunities and thought provoking presidential showcases, this year’s convention will be an experience you do not want to miss. Click here for more information!

Cody A. Mott has joined Warner Norcross + Judd LLP as an associate. Mott concentrates his practice on business law with a focus on internal governance matters, commercial transactions and financing. He also has experience in election and campaign finance law. He is based in Warner’s Grand Rapids office.

Before joining Warner, Mott was an associate with Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C. in Grand Rapids. He had legal externships with the National Bank of Indianapolis and the Attorney General Office of Michigan. Prior to law school, Mott worked as a legislative aide in the Michigan House of Representatives.

Mott holds a bachelor’s in business administration degree in finance and business economics from Grand Valley State University and a law degree from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law, where he was an articles editor of the Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies.

A native of Wyoming, Michigan, Mott resides in Grand Rapids Township with his wife, Meghan.