Overview
Public Sector, Litigation and Real Estate Attorney
Bob focuses his practice on public sector, litigation, and real estate matters. Within his public sector practice, he provides litigation services to cities, villages, townships, counties, and public authorities in the areas of land use, right-of-way acquisition, contract disputes and eminent domain. Bob has significant experience in street vacations and plat amendments under the Land Division Act for public and private developments.
Bob has a unique focus advising both general aviation and commercial service airports throughout Michigan and northern Indiana on regulatory matters, operations, leases and agreements, and real estate acquisition. He has proudly represented Gerald R. Ford International Airport since 1993, as well as Capital Region International Airport and Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport.
For more information, please contact Bob Buchanan at 616/336-6231 or rabuchanan@varnumlaw.com
Experience
Experience
Northwest Airlines v County of Kent, 510 US 355 (1994): Represented the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in an action involving airline rates and charges which were claimed to violate the Anti-Head Tax Act (AHTA) and the Commerce Clause for the Airlines’ use of the Airport; obtained a court decision upholding the rates and charges as reasonable.
Leadership
Honors & Recognitions
Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year, Municipal Law, 2017
Best Lawyers in America®, Municipal Law 2014, 2016, 2017, 2020
Leading Lawyers: Aviation Law; Land Use, Zoning & Condemnation Law; Real Estate Law - Commercial
Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated
Michigan Super Lawyers®, Real Estate and Aviation Law
Professional Affiliations
American Association of Airport Executives
Grand Rapids Bar Association
Grand Rapids Bar Foundation, life member
State Bar of Michigan: Aviation Law Section; Public Corporation Law Section; Real Property Law Section
News & Publications
News
Publications
Practice Areas
Industries
Education
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee
J.D., 1975
Denison University
Granville, Ohio
B.A., 1972
Bar Admissions
- Michigan
Court Admissions
- All Michigan state courts
- United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- United States Court of Federal Claims
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
- United States Supreme Court