Warner Norcross + Judd LLP

Managing Partner: Mark J. Wassink

Number of partners: 120; Number of lawyers: 230

Languages: Arabic, 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, health care providers, energy companies, financial services corporations, closely held businesses and high net-worth individuals. With over 230 attorneys working in 13 indus­tries and 18 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 and Finance: 

Warner’s Financial Institutions Industry Group is an interdisciplinary team with substantial experience counseling entities regarding banking law, operations, regulation, compliance, problem solving and growth. Warner focuses on bank formations, strategic transactions, commercial lending, consumer credit, negotiable instruments, bank litigation, workouts and bankruptcy, leveraged leasing and antitrust compliance. Additionally, we provide 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. Contact Rob Davies at 616.752.2133.

Bankruptcy / Restructuring: 

Our bankruptcy and insolvency team serves industries such as automotive, agriculture, health care, hospitality, manufacturing, oil and gas and real estate. We represent secured creditors, debtors, creditors' committees, trustees, purchasers and other stakeholders in all bankruptcy, restructuring and insolvency matters, as well as out-of-court workouts. Contact Rozanne Giunta at 989.698.3758.

Corporate / M&A: 

Warner’s Corporate Practice Group is one of the largest and most experienced in the state of Michigan. We assist clients with day-to-day operational matters and help clients evaluate, structure, negotiate and complete virtually all forms of business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, tender offers, hostile takeovers and going-private transactions. We have specialists focused on financing, licensing, compensation, taxes, antitrust law, government compliance, proxy disputes and shareholder lawsuit defense, and we have some of the leading securities attorneys in Michigan. Contact Matt Johnson at 616.752.2529.

Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation: 

Warner’s Employee Benefits Practice Group is one of the largest and most comprehensive of any law firm in Michigan. We design, develop, manage and maintain retirement plans, health and welfare plans and executive compensation programs for organizations of all sizes. We represent 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. Our attorneys help companies understand the SECURE Act and its impact on employers and employees. Contact Justin Stemple at 616.752.2375.

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. Warner’s intel­lectual property attorneys are experienced in every aspect of acquiring, managing, protecting, licensing, selling and exploiting all types of intellectual property assets. Contact Chad Kleinheksel at 616.752.2313.

Litigation ─ General & Commercial: 

Warner has a team of nearly 100 litigators that tailor legal strategies to meet the specific needs of each client, whether for an individual, small startup or a multinational corporation. The firm has been named one of the nation's most feared litigation firms – and we have earned that honor by fiercely advocating for our clients. We provide litigation counsel for many of the nation's most respected corporations and our appellate attorneys have argued more U.S. Supreme Court cases than any other law firm in Michigan. Contact Amanda Fielder at 616.752.2404.

Real Estate: 

Warner’s Real Estate Practice Group is committed to serving clients with business and residential property matters and legal disputes. We provide pre-transaction counseling to identify and address issues that may interfere with your deal, negotiate agreement terms to reduce your risks and liabilities, and advise on other matters needed to help close the deal. Contact Chris Meyer at 616.752.2423.

Private Wealth Law:  

Our Private Client and Family Office Industry Group provides sophisticated, strategic and holistic tax and wealth planning and serves the full range of needs for wealthy families, their family offices, businesses, foundations and private trust companies. We meet each generation where they are, and we create wealth education programs to help families prepare their next generations to manage wealth. Contact Laura Jeltema at 616.752.2161.

Additional Areas of Practice: 

Aerospace and Defense; Agribusiness & Food; Craft Brewery; Automotive; Autonomous & Connected Mobility; Cannabis; Cybersecurity & Privacy; Data and Information Governance; Data Analytics & eDiscovery; Economic Incentives; Emerging Media & Technologies; Family Law & Divorce; Funds & Investments; Government Advocacy and Affairs; Health Care; Higher Education; Immigration; Information Technology Transactions; Infrastructure and P3 (Public-Private Partnerships); Insurance; Labor & Employment; Mining; Regulatory & Compliance; Resources, Energy & Environmental Law; Securities & Corporate Governance; Tax; Trusts & Estates; White Collar Criminal Defense.

Michigan Offices: 

BLOOMFIELD HILLS: 40701 Woodward Ave, Suite 105, MI, 48304-5078 Tel: 248 784 5100

DETROIT: 2715 Woodward Ave, Ste. 300, MI, 48201-3030 Tel: 313 546 6000

GRAND RAPIDS: 150 Ottawa Ave, NW, Suite 150, MI, 49503-2832 Tel: 616 752 2000

HOLLAND: 99 East Eighth Street, Ste. 200, MI, 49423-3528 Tel: 616 396 9800

KALAMAZOO: 180 E. Water Street, Ste. 7000, MI, 49007-3876 Tel: 269 276 8100

LANSING: One Michigan Avenue Building, 120 N. Washington Square, Ste. 410, MI, 48933-1617 Tel: 517 679 7400

MACOMB COUNTY: 12900 Hall Road, Ste. 200, Sterling Heights, MI, 48313-1150 Tel: 586 303 4100

MIDLAND: 715 East Main Street, Ste. 110, MI, 48640-5382 Tel: 989 698 3700

MUSKEGON: 700 Terrace Point Road, Ste. 350, P.O. Box 900, MI, 49443-0900 Tel: 231 727 2600