Varnum partners Ron DeWaard and Peter Smit were elected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Both attorneys were voted in at the National Board Meeting on October 3, 2020.
To be eligible for membership in ABOTA, trial lawyers must be of high personal character and honorable reputation and be a member of the Bar of State, province, district, territory or country in which they practice. Membership is by invitation only.
The American Board of Trial Advocates was formed in 1958 and is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the civil jury trial right provided by the Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Members must meet the following qualifications:
- Tried at least 10 civil jury trials to jury verdict or hung jury as lead counsel for the minimum requirements to have been met
- Approval by the local ABOTA chapter prior to being listed on the application
DeWaard is a trial lawyer and former federal prosecutor who currently serves as chair of the firm. He concentrates his practice in civil and white-collar litigation, as well as internal investigations.
Smit is a member of the firm’s Personal Injury Practice. He focuses on business litigation defense, including FLSA, Product Liability Defense, and Malpractice Defense as well as significant experience in personal injury matters.