Experience

Jim practices in the firm’s Corporate practice group, as well as the firm’s Finance group with an emphasis in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, private offerings, asset based lending, project finance and franchising. He has extensive experience counseling mature and emerging closely held businesses with regard to structure, planning and succession, governance and general commercial matters. Jim has also represented regional and national residential mortgage lenders in state regulatory matters in Michigan and Illinois.

Education

• University of Michigan Law School
  Ann Arbor, Michigan
  J.D., 1990
• University of Michigan
  Ann Arbor, Michigan
  Bachelor of Arts, Economics, with high distinction, 1986

Recognition & Rankings

Jim is a Fellow with the Michigan State Bar Foundation.

Professional Activities

• State Bar of Michigan
• Illinois Bar Association
• Grand Rapids Bar Association
• Michigan Mortgage Bankers Association

Community Activities

Jim is a board member of Guardian Angel Homes, a nonprofit organization that creates positive, faith based home environments for adults with developmental disabilities. He is a past board member of the West Michigan Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth, and currently serves on its Membership Committee. Jim is a board member and past president of the University of Michigan Club of Grand Rapids, and is active in student recruiting. He also serves as legal counsel to the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty.