Practice Areas
Industries
Education
University of Michigan Law School
Ann Arbor, Michigan
J.D., 1990
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Bachelor of Arts, Economics,
with high distinction, 1986
Bar Admissions
Illinois
Michigan
Court Admissions
All Illinois state courts
All Michigan state courts
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
United States Supreme Court
Corporate and Finance Attorney
Jim is a member of the firm’s Business and Corporate Services Practice Team, as well as the Finance Practice Team, with an emphasis in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, private offerings, asset based lending, real estate finance, project finance and franchising. He has extensive experience counseling mature and emerging closely held businesses with regard to structure, planning and succession, governance and general commercial matters.
Experience
Represented a provider of professional architectural and engineering services in multiple acquisitions of regional firms.
Represented a manufacturer of recreational marine products in the sale of a division to a publicly-traded manufacturer and distributor of marine products.
Represented a company engaged in the development, manufacture, testing and filling of pharmaceutical products, in its sale to a pharmaceutical-focused private equity group.
Represented a regional wholesaler and distributor of convenience store products in its sale to a privately-held strategic buyer.
Represented a manufacturer of aerospace components in its sale to an industry-focused private equity group.
Represented a company engaged in metalforming in the structuring and formation of a joint venture with a subsidiary of a global diversified metals manufacturing company.
Represented an oil and gas exploration company in the acquisition of a privately-held oil and gas exploration company.
Represented various lenders in complex commercial loan and real estate loan transactions.
Represented numerous clients in a variety of exempt, multistate private offering transactions.
Represented numerous clients in structuring and negotiating complex commercial arrangements, including supply arrangements, financing arrangements, joint ventures and other strategic ventures.
Honors and Recognitions
Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated
Grand Rapids Magazine’s Top Lawyers, Corporate Law, 2022
Michigan State Bar Foundation, fellow
Professional Affiliations
Association for Corporate Growth, West Michigan, past board member
Grand Rapids Bar Association
Illinois Bar Association
Michigan State Bar Foundation, GRBA Justice Foundation, fellow
State Bar of Michigan
Community Involvement
D.A. Blodgett-St. John’s Home, Capital Campaign cabinet
Gilda’s Club of Grand Rapids, past board member
Precision Metalforming Association, board member
St. Stephen Parish, Faith Formation Committee
University of Michigan Club of Grand Rapids, past board member; past president