Practice Areas
Industries
Education
Rutgers University School of Law
Newark, New Jersey
J.D., 1977
Rutgers University
New Brunswick, New Jersey
M.C.R.P. (Master of City and Regional Planning), 1977
Calvin College
Grand Rapids, Michigan
B.A., 1973
Bar Admissions
Michigan
Court Admissions
All Michigan state courts
Real Estate Development and Municipal Law Attorney
Randy is a counsel with the Environmental, Energy and Natural Resources Practice Team focusing on government, finance and real estate development. He concentrates his practice on land use and zoning issues as well as all aspects of municipal law and finance. Randy has worked on hundreds of development projects as either counsel to the municipality or to the developer, and he has assisted in the development of numerous wind and solar energy projects across Michigan.
Randy is consistently recognized by The Best Lawyers in America© in several categories of law. He has been named “Lawyer of the Year” in Land Use and Zoning Law in the 2023 guide, which is the 11th time he has been recognized as “Lawyer of the Year.”
Experience
City attorney for City of Belding
City attorney for City of Grandville
Extensive experience representing wind energy developers in obtaining authorization for the placement of wind turbines.
Extensive representation of businesses, developers and property owners with regard to development, land use and zoning issues.
Broad experience in a wide range of municipal law, land use and zoning, and municipal finance issues.
General and special counsel to numerous local governmental units and school districts.
Participated in numerous municipal bond issues, including general obligation, special assessment, revenue and refunding bonds, and energy conservation and tax anticipation notes.
Past chairman of the firm’s Government, Finance and Development Practice Team which represents numerous counties, home rules cities, general law and charter townships, school districts, colleges, hospitals and public commissions and authorities.
Honors and Recognitions
Best Lawyers in America® in multiple categories since 2005
Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year, Land Use and Zoning Law (Grand Rapids), 2023
Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year, Land Use and Zoning Law (Grand Rapids), 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020
Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year, Municipal Law (Grand Rapids), 2021, 2024
Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year, Litigation – Municipal Law (Grand Rapids), 2013, 2016, 2019
Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year, Litigation – Real Estate (Grand Rapids), 2015, 2017
Grand Rapids Magazine’s Top Lawyers: Land Use and Zoning; Municipal Law; 2019 – 2021, 2023
Leading Lawyers: Governmental, Municipal, Lobbying & Administrative Law; Land Use, Zoning & Condemnation Law; Public Finance Law; Real Estate Law – Commercial; Real Estate Law – Finance
Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated
Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys, Distinguished Municipal Attorney of the Year, 2016
Michigan Lawyers Weekly® Hall of Fame Honoree, 2021
Michigan Super Lawyers® 2007 – 2013
Professional Affiliations
American Planning Association: National and Michigan Chapters
Grand Rapids Bar Association: Real Property Section
Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys
State Bar of Michigan: Government Law Section; Real Property Law Section
Community Involvement
Bethany Christian Services, past secretary
Grandville Walker Foundation, board member
Holland Home Board of Directors, past chair
Project Rehab Board of Directors, past chair
Presentations
Speaker at numerous land use seminars sponsored by Michigan Municipal League, Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys, Public Corporation Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, Michigan Township Association, and National Business Institute.