In order to serve a growing client base and expanding attorney roster, Varnum has opened a fourth Southeast Michigan office. The new office is located in Birmingham at 260 E. Brown Street in the central business district.
At just over 8,000 square feet, the new space includes 15 private offices, several conference rooms and a large open-style multi-work station area for support personnel. Seven attorneys from the firm’s Novi and Detroit locations have moved to the new office, which opened August 12. They are joined by a veteran estate and business planning attorney from a Detroit-based firm.
“Our new Birmingham office, together with our downtown Detroit, Novi and Ann Arbor locations, is strategically positioned to serve our growing client base in Southeast Michigan,” said Ron DeWaard, chair of the firm. “Our goal is to double the size of the office in the coming year. Moving attorneys from the Novi and Detroit locations also opens up space in those offices, which had been at capacity.”
“We’re excited about this additional location and the opportunity it presents for continued growth of the firm,” DeWaard said. “There is a demand for our brand of client-focused legal service in this market.”
Varnum’s client base in Southeast Michigan has grown more than 50 percent in the past five years. In addition to a growing number of clients, the new office serves an expanding attorney roster. Since last year, 12 of the 18 attorneys who have joined the firm are based in the firm’s Southeast Michigan offices.
Varnum is currently the fourth largest Michigan law firm, according to the 2019 directory of law firms published by Michigan Lawyers Weekly, and is the only West Michigan-based firm to be included in Crain’s 2019 list of 20 largest law firms, based on number of attorneys in Southeast Michigan.
Mike Romaya, a senior attorney on Varnum’s Banking and Finance Team, serves as the lead partner for the Birmingham office.
“We have a significant client base in Birmingham and this location allows us to better serve their needs,” Romaya said. “We’re very excited about the new location and looking forward to being part of the Birmingham community.”
“While this office will have a strong focus on working with business and finance clients, we are a full service law firm offering an array of sophisticated legal offerings, no matter which office you visit,” Romaya added.
Joining Romaya in Birmingham are attorneys Anthony Akins, Tom Bergh, Brad Defoe, Barbara Buchanan, Lena Gionnette and Casey Koppelman. Practice areas represented in the new office include finance, litigation, labor and employment, employee benefits, trusts and estates, and corporate services.
Estate and business planning attorney Stephen C. Rohr will also practice in the Birmingham office. Rohr recently joined Varnum from Miller Canfield, where he led the Personal Services Practice Group.