Varnum partners Sara Bennett, Mallory Field, Yvonne George, Linsey Gleason, and Mary Kay Shaver have been recognized as Notable Women in Law by Crain’s Detroit and Crain’s Grand Rapids. The honor highlights women attorneys who are making significant contributions to their profession and their communities.
Bennett is a mobility and regulatory partner, advising clients on regulatory strategy, state and federal compliance, data privacy, and cybersecurity. She guides companies developing connected and autonomous technologies through evolving federal and international regulatory landscapes. Drawing on her decade of federal service, including at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, she provides practical insight into agency expectations and helps clients manage risk, build internal compliance programs, and advance their goals through strategy and partnerships. Bennett is based in the Ann Arbor office.
Field is a member of the Business and Corporate Practice Team advising emerging and middle market companies across industries on general corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and capital fundraising. Field supports startups and entrepreneurs through venture financings from pre-seed to Series B, advising on SAFEs, convertible notes, equity plans, investor relations, and a wide range of brand, sponsorship, and licensing agreements. She practices from the Novi office.
George is on the Business and Corporate Practice Team, advising clients on employment and family-based immigration matters and healthcare clients on regulatory compliance issues. She manages non-immigrant and immigrant applications, provides regulatory guidance to physicians and medical practices, and supports corporate transactions that require specialized immigration or healthcare law expertise. George combines legal precision with strategic counsel, helping clients navigate challenging compliance requirements while facilitating business growth and workforce development. George is based in the Grand Rapids office.
As part of the Estate Planning Practice Team, Gleason focuses on estate and tax planning, trusts, and elder law. She works closely with individuals, families, and business owners to develop comprehensive strategies that address both immediate and long-term goals. Gleason also manages complex estate and trust administrations, navigates nuanced tax and succession matters, and mentors associates, ensuring her clients receive thoughtful, strategic guidance and consistently high-quality, personalized legal service. She practices out of the Grand Rapids office.
Shaver maintains a broad public and corporate finance practice, advising municipalities and diverse institutions on complex tax-exempt and taxable financings, including bonds, special taxing districts, and election and compliance matters. She serves in multiple counsel roles across a wide range of financing instruments. Her corporate finance work spans working capital and asset-based lending, equipment leasing, and Article 9 issues, supporting both single-lender and syndicated transactions across varied industries. Shaver is based in the firm’s Grand Rapids office.
Crain’s Detroit and Crain’s Grand Rapids have published special sections profiling all Notable Women in Law recipients, including Bennett, Field, George, Gleason, and Shaver.
This article was originally published on February 23, 2026 and updated on March 5, 2026.
