Elizabeth Badovinac	Jennifer Lewis	Stephanie Sackett

Rhoades McKee is pleased to announce that Elizabeth Badovinac, Jennifer Lewis, and Stephanie Sackett have joined the firm.

Elizabeth Badovinac

Badovinac joins Rhoades McKee as an Associate. She assists individuals and businesses facing legal challenges in a range of areas, including real and personal property transactions, contractual disputes, personal injuries, and matters requiring litigation or alternate dispute resolution.

Badovinac is a member of the Grand Rapids Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan, the Federal Bar Association, and a past Board Member of the American Bar Association’s Student Lawyer Magazine. She completed her Bachelor of Arts from Hope College, her Master of Arts from Northwestern University, and her Juris Doctor from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

Jennifer Lewis

As an Associate at Rhoades McKee, Lewis assists businesses and individuals in a wide variety of legal issues, including matters requiring litigation or alternative dispute resolution, the defense of healthcare professionals in medical malpractice cases, and corporate and businesses transactions.

Lewis earned her undergraduate degree from Michigan State University and her law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School. She is a member of the Grand Rapids Bar Association and the State Bar of Michigan.

Stephanie Sackett

Sackett joins Rhoades McKee as an Associate on the Real Estate Law and Environmental Law Teams. She counsels clients on environmental compliance and regulatory issues to avoid liability when buying, selling, or leasing commercial real estate.

Sackett is a member of the Grand Rapids Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan, the West Michigan Air & Waste Management Association, and the West Michigan Chapter of Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW). She completed her Bachelor of Arts from Wheaton College, her Master of Arts from Fordham University, and her Juris Doctor from Michigan State University College of Law.

Effective January 1, 2023, Cunningham Dalman is excited to announce we are acquiring Bos & Glazier, trial attorneys in Grand Rapids. Carole Bos and Brad Glazier will join Cunningham Dalman as partners. Rob Howard will join as an associate attorney on a partnership track. Their attorneys and staff will continue to provide quality legal services to Bos & Glazier clients and leverage the expertise of Cunningham Dalman in their other practice areas.
In early February, they will move to a new suite in the same building, the Boardwalk Building, where Bos & Glazier is located. The new address for the Grand Rapids office will be:
 
Bos & Glazier
A division of Cunningham Dalman, PC
940 Monroe Ave. NW, Suite 253
Grand Rapids MI 49503
 
Cunningham Dalman will continue to serve individuals, businesses, institutions, and municipalities in West Michigan from their corporate office in Holland and look forward to the new relationships this acquisition will provide.
 
Cunningham Dalman is excited about this news and believes that it will be beneficial for all of their clients.

Brett Flessner joins Rhoades McKee as an Associate in the Hastings, Michigan office.
 
Flessner assists individuals and businesses in the areas of divorce, child custody, adoption matters, probate and estate administration, and managing business affairs.
 
Before joining Rhoades McKee, Flessner was an attorney at Legal Aid in Southwest Michigan.
 
A graduate of Michigan State University and Loyola Chicago School of Law, Flessner is currently a member of the Berrien County Bar Association, the Barry County Bar Association, the Grand Rapids Bar Association, and the State Bar of Michigan.

Bloomfield Hills, MI —  Timothy F. Sheridan, a senior trial attorney and partner of Plunkett Cooney, one of the Midwest’s oldest and largest law firms, was recently inducted into the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (NADN).

NADN is a professional association whose membership consists of distinguished Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) professionals known for their hands-on experience in the field of civil and commercial conflict resolution. Membership is by invitation only, and all NADN members are thoroughly vetted to meet stringent selection criteria. Members are also considered to be among the most in-demand neutrals in their respective states, as selected by their peers and approved by local litigators.

A member of Plunkett Cooney’s board of Directors and the managing partner of the firm’s Grand Rapids office, Sheridan has over 25 years of experience handling cases involving construction litigation; professional liability, including legal and accounting malpractice matters; trucking and transportation litigation; premises liability; and products liability.

Sheridan, who is an ICLE general civil mediation trained attorney, has mediated numerous cases involving first-party No-Fault and third-party auto negligence disputes, premises liability disputes, construction site accidents and construction defect matters, legal and accounting malpractice cases, and commercial business disputes. In 2020, Grand Rapids magazine recognized Sheridan as one of its Top Mediation Attorneys in West Michigan.

Sheridan, who serves as the leader of Plunkett Cooney’s ADR Practice Group, is a member of the Grand Rapids Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan, DRI, the Incorporated Society of Irish American Attorneys and the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel.

Admitted to practice in state and federal courts in Michigan, Sheridan received his law degree from the University of Toledo College of Law in 1993 and his undergraduate degree from the James Madison College at Michigan State University in 1988.

Grand Rapids – McShane & Bowie is pleased to announce that attorney Kyle J. Quinn has been elected as a Fellow to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML).  Founded in 1962, the AAML’s mission is to “provide leadership that promotes the highest degree of professionalism and excellence in the practice of family law.”  There are over 1500 family law lawyers throughout the United States who have earned the distinction of AAML Fellowship, and only 38 in the State of Michigan. 
 
Comprised of the top matrimonial attorneys throughout the nation, AAML Fellows are recognized as preeminent family law practitioners with the highest levels of knowledge, skill, and integrity. For election to the AAML, an attorney must have substantial experience litigating complex family law matters, a commitment to continuing legal education, the respect of the bench and bar for their legal expertise, and successfully completed a rigorous selection process that includes interviews, examinations, and professional and judicial evaluations. 
 
“Our firm was thrilled to receive word of Kyle’s admission. We know that he demonstrates the highest standards of family law,” shared Michelle H. Anthes, managing partner at McShane & Bowie. “Kyle’s admission reflects his highly respected position in the field, not only by Judges, but also by his peers. Now McShane & Bowie is proud to be the only law firm in West Michigan with not one, but two members of the Academy.”
 
Quinn concentrates his work exclusively on family law matters at McShane & Bowie, helping individuals and families with matters related divorce, separate maintenance, property division, child and spousal support, custody, and parenting time. He received his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University and his juris doctorate from Marquette University Law School. Quinn’s recognitions include Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Leading Lawyers, and Grand Rapids’ Top Lawyers.
 
“Our Michigan AAML Chapter warmly welcomes Kyle as its newest Fellow,” shared Laura Eisenberg, AAML, Michigan Chapter President. “Like all our Fellows, he worked very hard to achieve acceptance, and we are thrilled to have him join us and continue our tradition of providing exceptional legal services to clients.”

GRAND RAPIDS - Britt Morton Cobb, attorney and firm partner of Willey & Chamberlain LLP, recently became the new President of the West Michigan Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.

Britt began her practice in Colorado before relocating to Michigan in 2006. She has worked exclusively as a defense attorney, representing the accused in criminal cases Since joining Willey & Chamberlain, Britt’s practice has included a wide variety of trial and appellate work at both the state and federal level, including felony and misdemeanor cases in state courts across Michigan. Today, her focus is on her federal practice in Michigan, handling everything from serious drug trafficking and fraud offenses to more minor federal offenses.

As the new President of the West Michigan Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, Britt hopes to augment the Association’s visibility in the community through service, serve members through programming and improve the practice of law in West Michigan by working with partners such as the GRBA.

Mark Wassink, managing partner of Warner Norcross + Judd LLP, has been selected for the Grand Rapids 200 list.
 
Published by Grand Rapids Business Journal, Grand Rapids 200 is a comprehensive list of the most powerful executives in more than 20 industries in Grand Rapids. The list was compiled based on a number of factors, including the size of a given company or organization, growth rate, geographical reach and extensive personal contacts.
 
Wassink leads the 230-attorney firm, which is one of the largest in Michigan. He joined the firm in 1992, became a partner in 2001 and managing partner earlier this year. Wassink has previously served in many roles at Warner, including chair of the Recruiting Committee and Professional Staff Committee. He currently serves on the leadership team of Warner’s Diversity, Equity + Inclusion Action Committee.
 
Wassink concentrates his practice on business, commercial finance and related legal areas. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America©, which named him as the 2023 Grand Rapids Corporate Lawyer of the Year, and Leading Lawyers.
 
Wassink serves on the board of The Right Place, Inc.
 
He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a law degree magna cum laude from Indiana University Law School.

Mika Meyers attorney and member Jennifer Puplava has earned the Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US) credential from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). The CIPP is the global standard for privacy certification, and the CIPP/US credential demonstrates a mastery of jurisdictional laws, regulations, enforcement models, and frameworks, as well as requirements for collecting, handling and transferring data.

As part of her legal practice, Jennifer Puplava helps clients identify, address, and comply with applicable laws and other requirements by offering practical advice regarding complicated privacy and security requirements. She represents municipalities, educational institutions, and private businesses of all sizes, and routinely provides assistance negotiating agreements, building privacy programs through the development and implementation of practices, policies, and notices, and responding to data security incidents. Jennifer also works with clients to protect their intellectual property rights.

The International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) is the largest and most comprehensive global information privacy community and resource. The IAPP is a not-for-profit association that helps to define, promote, and improve the privacy profession globally. The IAPP is reasonable for developing the only globally recognized credentialing programs in information privacy, including the CIPP, the Certified Information Privacy Manager, and the Certified Information Provider Technologist.

Warner Norcross + Judd LLP attorney Bill K.A. Warners has been elected to join the Festival of Arts board of directors, serving a three-year term starting Sept. 27.

Inspired by the 1969 installation of Alexander Calder’s “La Grande Vitesse” in front of City Hall in Grand Rapids, Festival of the Arts began in 1970 as a grand celebration of the arts in West Michigan. Over five decades, the festival has grown in popularity, with local performers, art shows and activities for families – free of charge – and a variety of food booths operated by nonprofit organizations.

Grand Rapids, Michigan, August 25, 2022 -- Legal Aid of Western Michigan is delighted to honor the law firm Gruel Mills Nims & Pylman, PLLC with the 2022 Michael S. Barnes Award. We are also proud to honor attorney Charles E. Burpee, of Warner Norcross + Judd, with the 2022 Justice in Action Award. Both Gruel Mills and Mr. Burpee have distinguished themselves through pro bono advocacy on behalf of our West Michigan client communities.

The Michael S. Barnes Award recognizes a law firm or an attorney who has made significant pro bono contributions benefiting legal aid clients. Michael S. Barnes, a partner with the law firm Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge, was a dominant force in providing legal aid and pro bono service to LAWM’s client communities.

“It can be a hard problem, but also a very happy one, to select individual law firms and attorneys from among our many, dedicated pro bono supporters,” said Legal Aid Executive Director Pam Hoekwater. “For decades we have counted on Gruel Mills. They volunteer on challenging cases. They have generously shared their time and expertise with our attorneys. And they are leaders in our legal community. When we at LAWM call, Gruels Mills answers. For these reasons and many more the law firm’s attorneys and staff deserve this prestigious honor.”

The Justice in Action Award, which LAWM will present for the first time this year, highlights a pro bono volunteer’s or law office’s exceptional contributions to serving pro bono clients in the past year.

“We had been considering whether to create a new award so that we could recognize those times when, over the course of a year, a pro bono advocate simply goes above and beyond,” said Hoekwater. “Chuck Burpee made that decision for us. He is a longtime volunteer, just as his law firm, Warner, is a longtime LAWM supporter. But this year Chuck has been an extension of our staff as we expanded our capacity to do criminal record expungements. Chuck recognized how expungements can help people change their lives, leading to better jobs and housing. He jumped right in. Chuck is a sharp advocate, a thoughtful colleague, and he still takes other types of referrals on top of all else. We could not ask for more.”

LAWM will present the awards to Gruel Mills and Mr. Burpee at its annual Barnes Award Ceremony & Pro Bono Reception, taking place in Grand Rapids on October 20th. For more information contact Steve Grumm, LAWM Director of Community Engagement, at sgrumm@lawestmi.org.