Michael E. Wooley

Mike Wooley

Practice Areas

Industries

Education

University of Michigan Law School
Ann Arbor, Michigan
J.D., 1993

Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan
B.A., magna cum laude, Psychology, 1988

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

Immigration Attorney

Mike focuses his practice on non-immigrant and immigrant business visas, including PERM filings and National Interest Waivers. He serves numerous Michigan-based companies and organizations across the U.S. Mike excels in defending USDOL PERM audits and interfacing with immigration related federal agencies. He advises clients in various industries including mining, financial services, higher education, and a strong emphasis in health care.

Having served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador, Mike is fluent in Spanish, both oral and written. He frequently delivers talks on immigration topics to diverse professional organizations and enjoys training clients’ human resources teams.

Honors and Recognitions

A Lawyer Helps Pro Bono Honor Roll, State Bar of Michigan, Tier 2, 2020-21

Leading Lawyers Magazine Michigan – Immigration Law, 2021

Leading Lawyers Client Distinction Award – Immigration Law: Employment, 2017

Martindale-Hubbell® Client Satisfaction Award, 2013-2016

Top Michigan Lawyers – Immigration, Detroit News, 2006

Professional Affiliations

American Immigration Lawyers Association, Michigan Chapter, Former Member of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Liaison Committee; Mentor (2020-Present)

Board of Visitors, Ave Maria School of Law, Ann Arbor, Michigan (2000-2009)

Bay County Bar Association, Board of Directors (1998-2004); President (2002-2003)

Community Involvement

St. Boniface Catholic Church, Bay City, Michigan (1999-Present)

International Association of Lions Clubs, Bay City, Michigan (2008-Present)

New Dimensions, Board member (2007-Present)

Japanese Cultural Center, Tea House and Gardens of Saginaw, Board Member (2011-Present)

Knights of Columbus, Charter Member, St. Stanislaus Kostka Council 12423, Bay City, Michigan (1999-Present); Deputy Grand Knight (2000-2001); Color Corps Member, Bishop Murphy Assembly, Bay City, Michigan (2000-Present)

Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance, Ambassador (2008-Present)

Amanda L. Hirt

Hirt Amanda Web

Education

Davenport University
Grand Rapids, MI
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate, 2023

Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan
B.S., 2014

Grand Rapids Community College
Grand Rapids, Michigan
A.A., 2010

 

 

 

 

Paralegal

Amanda is member of the firm’s Quality Control Team. She prepares matter intake reviews, provides conflict analysis and manages the file screening process when conflicts arise. She provides litigation support to the firm’s General Counsel and assists with file transfers. Amanda serves as an administrator and provides internal support for the firm’s cloud-based new business intake management system.

Amanda has a background in retail and service industries, performing a variety of research and analysis responsibilities.

 

 

 

Christopher J. Biggs

Biggs Cj Web

Practice Areas

Industries

Education

Stanford Law School
Palo Alto, California
J.D., 2020
Stanford Environmental Law Journal, Lead Article Editor

University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
B.A., highest distinction, Honors English and Environmental Science & Policy, 2016
Phi Beta Kappa

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

Environmental Attorney

C.J. is an associate attorney in the Environmental Practice. He supports members of the team with legal research on environmental and regulatory matters. He has covered Clean Water Act (CWA) and Clean Air Act (CAA) matters as well as PFAS contamination matters in his research and writing.

C.J. has a wide variety of additional experience in environmental and regulatory matters, including serving as a legal extern for the EPA Region 5 Air and Radiation Division. While in law school, he served a fellowship with the Center for Biological Diversity Oceans Program, where he provided research and litigation support. He also served as an intern for the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General – Natural Resources Section, providing extensive legal research on environmental matters. He additionally served as an Environmental Law Clinic student attorney for the Mills Legal Clinic.

Professional Affiliations

Grand Rapids Bar Association

State Bar of Michigan

Francesca L. Parnham

Parnhamfrancesca Web

Practice Areas

Education

Michigan State University College of Law
East Lansing, Michigan
J.D., magna cum laude, 2023
Law Review, Executive Board

University of Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
B.A., Business Administration, 2014

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

Associate

Francesca currently supports the litigation practice team. She is a skilled researcher and is experienced in a wide variety of complex litigation matters, including renewable energy disputes, land disputes, contract disputes and corporate governance/shareholder disputes. She is additionally experienced in labor and employment litigation, including before the National Labor Relations Board.

Francesca additionally has a background in corporate transaction work as well as employment and real estate matters.

Professional Affiliations

State Bar of Michigan

 

Shelby J. Martinie

Martinieshelby Web

Practice Areas

Industries

Education

Michigan State University College of Law
East Lansing, Michigan
J.D., summa cum laude, 2023
The Geoffrey Fieger Trial Practice Institute

University of Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
B.A., magna cum laude, Sociology, 2015

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

Associate

Shelby supports Varnum’s Litigation and Trial Practice Team. She focuses on general civil litigation, complex commercial litigation, and criminal litigation.  She supports the litigation team by assisting clients with a wide variety of litigation issues, ranging from supply chain disputes to internal investigations. 

Professional Affiliations

State Bar of Michigan

Hannah A. Cone

Conehanna Web

Practice Areas

Education

Michigan State University College of Law
East Lansing, Michigan
J.D., magna cum laude, 2023
Law Review, Senior Articles Editor

University of Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
M.B.A., magna cum laude, 2019

Michigan State University Eli Broad College of Business
East Lansing, Michigan
B.A., Human Resource Management, 2017

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

Associate

Hannah supports the corporate, labor and employment, and litigation practice teams. Her corporate work includes assisting in M&A transactions and drafting agreements. She supports the labor and employment practice on employment issues, counseling clients on a variety of matters affecting the workspace as well as union relations. Her litigation work focuses on commercial litigation matters.

Professional Affiliations

State Bar of Michigan

Michael P. Puro

Puromichael Web

Practice Areas

Education

Wayne State University Law School
Detroit, Michigan
J.D., cum laude, 2023
Wayne Law Review, Editor in Chief
Order of the Coif

University of Michigan
Flint, Michigan
B.A., Political Science, 2018

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

Associate

Michael works with the corporate team, focusing on business and transactional matters. He assists clients with mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance matters, and securities law compliance. He also advises private equity funds, venture capital firms, emerging companies, and publicly traded businesses at all stages of their development.

Professional Affiliations

State Bar of Michigan

Carolyn M. H. Sullivan

Sullivan Carolyn Bw Web

Practice Areas

Education

Michigan State University College of Law
East Lansing, Michigan
J.D., magna cum laude, 2020
Michigan State Law Review, Executive Editor

Grand Valley State University, Frederik Meijer Honors College
Allendale, Michigan
B.A., English, 2016

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan

United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

Labor and Employment Attorney

Carolyn is an experienced labor and employment attorney whose practice focuses on compliance with federal and state labor and employment laws and other workplace matters. She provides counsel on a wide range of matters including effective employee handbooks and policies, discrimination, ADA compliance, sexual harassment, MIOSHA, and wage-hour issues. She litigates and defends employers in federal and state courts, as well as on administrative charges, including unemployment and EEOC matters.

Carolyn has additional experience counseling on employee benefit plans, including 401(k) plans and Section 125 Cafeteria Plans.

In addition to her client work, Carolyn is a frequent contributor to labor and employment industry publications.

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association

State Bar of Michigan

Grand Rapids Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section – Treasurer

Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, Programming Committee, Historic Preservation Committee

Community Involvement

Habitat for Humanity of Kent County, Board of Directors

Presentations

Annual EEO Case Law Update, State Bar of Michigan Labor and Employment Midwinter Meeting, contributor, 2020

Understanding Mandatory Reporting Requirements for Amateur Sports Organizations and College Athletic Programs, ABA State and Local Government Law Section, October 2021

Matthew J. Bailey

Practice Areas

Education

Michigan State University College of Law
East Lansing, Michigan
J.D., cum laude, 2014

Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
B.A., Business Administration, 2011

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

Family Law Attorney

Matthew is an experienced family law attorney with a background in litigation and appellate law. He counsels clients in divorce, custody, termination of parental rights and guardianship matters. He is a skillful negotiator with extensive experience mediating creative solutions for clients.

In addition to his private practice experience, Matthew formerly served the Office for Civil Rights and Title IX Education and Compliance for Michigan State University, representing respondents under the jurisdiction of the school’s Policy on Relationship Violence and Sexual Assault Survivors. He conducted evidentiary hearings pertaining to alleged violations of sexual assault and misconduct and was retained by the Office of Institutional Equality to litigate contested claims.

Following law school, Matthew served a clerkship with the Michigan Court of Appeals for the Honorable Stephen Borrello. He  served as an extern for the Eaton County Prosecutor’s Office while earning his law degree.

Experience

Secured entry of an order awarding a change of domicile to a client escaping a toxic and potentially dangerous environment.

Successfully challenged an opposing party’s pursuit of a change of custody after years of exercising joint custody without incident.

Defended a client against a petition to terminate a guardship originating from shortly after the child’s birth and now continuing into the child’s early adolescence.

Obtained a change of custody for a client after demonstrating a resilient effort to strengthen the bond between parent and child over the course of several years.

Professional Affiliations

Institute for Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) Family Law Advisory Board Member, 2022 – present

State Bar of Michigan

Ingham County Bar Association, Family Law Section

Ingham County Young Lawyers Society

Kevin F. Patterson

Kevin Patterson

Education

Texas A&M Commerce
Commerce, Texas
M.S. Information Technology

Texas A&M Commerce
Commerce, Texas
Bachelor of Applied Arts & Science

Director of Technology

Kevin is a solutions-driven professional with more than 20 years of law firm information technology experience. He leads the strategy and implementation of technology initiatives for the firm, improving technical operations and streamlining processes as well as leading and mentoring the firm’s technical staff.

Kevin’s experience includes serving as global portfolio manager at an international law firm, where he directed and managed the teams, business processes and functions for IT platforms and applications for 77 offices. He has additionally served as an IT manager and consultant for a boutique training and consulting organization and as regional IT manager for a national network infrastructure provider.

Certifications

Project Management Professional (PMP)

ITIL V4 Foundation Certified

DevOps Certified

CompTIA Security Infrastructure Specialist (CSIS)