Jeffrey A. DeVree

Employee Benefits and Tax Attorney

Jeff is a partner and part of the Employee Benefits Team. He has 35 years of experience working with employers, executives and third-party administrators on a wide range of employee benefit, executive compensation and individual retirement matters, including plan design, plan administration, benefit plan disputes and tax planning for retirement.

He also helps solve complex tax issues in business and investment transactions, especially those involving pass-through entities and oil and gas activities.

Chambers USA, which ranks top lawyers and law firms, notes Jeff’s "considerable expertise in tax issues relating to benefit and pension plans". Sources say he is "a very strong lawyer" who is "very thorough in his approach – he will not rush into any matter."

For more information, please contact Jeff DeVree at 616/336-6566 or jadevree@varnumlaw.com 

Represented Granger Energy Services division's sale of 16 landfill gas-to-energy sites across six states to an Australian company. Negotiated sale agreement, coordinated antitrust filings, and advised on tax, employee benefits and energy regulatory matters.

Represented a publicly-traded bank holding company in its merger with a similar sized publicly-traded bank holding company, resulting in the third-largest bank holding company in the state.

Best Lawyers in America^®, Employee Benefits Law and Tax Law since 2008

Best Lawyers in America^®, Lawyer of the Year, Litigation and Controversy - Tax, Grand Rapids, 2019

Best Lawyers in America^®, Lawyer of the Year, Tax Law, 2018

Chambers USA^©: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business

Grand Rapids Magazine's Top Lawyers: Employee Benefits Law; Tax Law; 2019

Leading Lawyers: Employee Benefits Law; Tax Law - Business

Martindale-Hubbell^® AV Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated

Michigan Super Lawyers^® since 2006

American Bar Association: Taxation Section; Business Law Section

Grand Rapids Bar Association: Business Section; Tax Section

IRS Great Lakes Area Tax-Exempt and Government Entities Council, member emeritus

Michigan Oil and Gas Association, Taxation and Economics Committee, chair

National Center for Employee Ownership

State Bar of Michigan: Taxation Section; Business Law Section

The ESOP Association

Baxter Community Center, past Board member

Grandville Education Foundation, past Board member

Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce: Tax and Regulatory Affairs Committee; Health and Human Resources Committee