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Practice Areas

Industries

Education

University of Michigan Law School
Ann Arbor, Michigan
J.D., cum laude, 1982

Hope College
Holland, Michigan
B.A., Economics, summa cum laude, 1979

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan

United States Tax Court

Employee Benefits and Tax Attorney

Jeff is a senior attorney in Varnum’s Employee Benefits practice. He has 35 years of experience working with employers, executives and third-party administrators on a wide range of employee benefits, 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.

Honors and Recognitions

Best Lawyers in America® since 2008

Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year, Tax Law, Grand Rapids, 2018, 2022

Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year, Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Grand Rapids, 2019, 2024

Chambers USA©: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business

Grand Rapids Magazine’s Top Lawyers: Employee Benefits Law 2019 – 2022; Tax Law, since 2019

Leading Lawyers: Employee Benefits Law; Tax Law – Business

Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated

Michigan Super Lawyers® since 2006

Professional Affiliations

Grand Rapids Bar Association

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

State Bar of Michigan: Taxation Section

“I have worked primarily with Jeff DeVree at Varnum for the past 20-plus years. Jeff has been a great resource from his depth of tax knowledge and experience, ingenuity and, maybe most importantly, his open mind. Jeff always listens when I call with some idea or thought, no matter how lame-brained it may be. I’m never leery of having Jeff in front of our customers or suppliers. Jeff will work to solve the issue, not be the winner. His goals are our goals.”

Vice president, Michigan waste removal company

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