Scott A. Huizenga

Scott A. Huizenga

Practice Areas

Industries

Education

University of Michigan Law School
Ann Arbor, Michigan
J.D., 1988

Hope College
Holland, Michigan
B.S., Chemistry, 1985

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

United States Tax Court

Corporate Attorney

Scott is a member and past chair of Varnum’s Business and Corporate Services Practice Team. He works with clients in a variety of industries, including education, manufacturing, and food retail. Providing extensive experience as a business counselor, Scott also focuses on transactional work, including mergers, acquisitions, sales and joint ventures.

Honors and Recognitions

Best Lawyers in America®, Corporate Law, since 2007

Grand Rapids Magazine’s Top Lawyers, Corporate Law, 2019 – 2021, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, 2019, 2020, 2023

Leading Lawyers: Mergers & Acquisitions Law, Publicly Held Corporations Law, Securities & Venture Finance Law

Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated

Professional Affiliations

Better Business Bureau of West Michigan: director, 1996 – 2002; chair, 2001 – 2002

Grand Rapids Bar Association

State Bar of Michigan

Community Involvement

Grand Rapids Symphony, director, 2001 – 2005

Michigan Campus Compact, director, 2008 – 2011

Opera Grand Rapids, director, 2005 – 2008

St. Cecilia Music Society, director, 2012 – present

News and Insights

Robert M. Huff

Robert M. Huff

Practice Areas

Education

University of Michigan Law School
Ann Arbor, Michigan
J.D., 2013

University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
B.A., with honors, 2008

Bar Admissions

Florida

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan

Estate Planning and Business Attorney

Rob is a member of the Estate Planning Practice Team. He is experienced with all facets of advanced planning techniques, with a particular focus on the intersection of business matters and personal estate planning. Rob regularly works with estate planning vehicles including wills, various types of trusts, powers of attorney, prenuptial agreements and other documents. He also provides counsel on entity structuring, including LLCs, family limited partnerships and corporations in order to minimize estate and gift taxes as well as facilitate the efficient management and transition of family assets.

Working with Varnum’s corporate attorneys, Rob provides guidance from an estate planning perspective in transactional matters, ensuring that clients who buy or sell a business have assets properly and optimally incorporated into their estate plan.

Rob formerly practiced in Florida, using his experience to counsel clients who own property in Florida and those clients who relocate to Florida on a more permanent basis. His knowledge of Florida homestead matters is particularly helpful for transplanting clients.

Honors and Recognitions

Best Lawyers in America®, Ones to Watch, Trusts and Estates, since 2022

Grand Rapids Magazine’s Top Lawyers, Trusts and Estates, since 2023

Professional Affiliations

Florida State Bar Association

State Bar of Michigan

Western Michigan Planned Giving Group: Membership Committee, director, vice chair

News and Insights

John M. Huff

John M. Huff

Practice Areas

Industries

Education

Northwestern University School of Law
Chicago, Illinois
J.D., 1978

Albion College
Albion, Michigan
B.A., summa cum laude, 1975

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan

Personal Legal Services Attorney

John focuses his practice on personal legal services and public sector matters. Much of John’s day-to-day practice involves representing individuals with a high net worth and complex estates. Referred by other attorneys and professionals both within and outside the firm, John seeks solutions for client and family interests with regard to various business and personal assets, business succession planning, second marriage issues and blended families. He has experience in prenuptial agreements and trusts such as credit trusts, marital trusts, qualified personal residence trusts, irrevocable trusts, charitable trusts and other wealth transfer vehicles. John also helps clients navigate estate tax law changes, gift taxation, trust administration and probate issues. He has experience in follow-up administration for tax appeals, audits, estate negotiations among siblings involved in a family business and those not involved and provisions for disabled children.

Serving both as city attorney for East Grand Rapids and township attorney for Cascade Charter Township for more than 35 years, John also has extensive experience navigating the public/private interests that play out in municipal decision-making and initiatives to improve resident quality of life.

Some of John’s interests include election law issues, contracts, zoning and claims against government entities, to name a few. John is also called upon as special counsel in various municipalities to collaborate on negotiations and resolve conflicts – often acting as a neutral sounding board to hear the concerns of elected officials as well as citizens in order to support an effective and fair resolution.

Experience

Negotiated the purchase of a dormant dam on behalf of municipal client for refurbishing as electricity supplier to township residents. Dam was acquired for $1 as part of a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) initiative. The dam has continued to supply electricity to the township since the 1980s, saving the taxpayers thousands of dollars annually.

Honors and Recognitions

Best Lawyers in America®, Trusts and Estates, since 2007

Grand Rapids Magazine’s Top Lawyers: Municipal Law; Trusts and Estates; 2019 – 2021

Leading Lawyers: Closely & Privately Held Business Law; Governmental, Municipal, Lobbying & Administrative Law; Trust, Will & Estate Planning Law

Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated

Michigan Super Lawyers® 2006 – 2020

Professional Affiliations

Albion College, Planned Giving Advisory Council

Grand Rapids Bar Association

National Association of Estate Planners and Councils (NAEPC), accredited estate planner

State Bar of Michigan: Probate and Estate Planning Section; Real Property Section

West Michigan Estate Planning Council

Community Involvement

East Grand Rapids Community Action Council

Mayflower Congregational Church, Endowment Committee

News and Insights

Herman D. Hofman

Herman D. Hofman

Practice Areas

Clerkships

District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Honorable Robert J. Jonker

Education

Michigan State University College of Law
East Lansing, Michigan
Michigan State Law Review
J.D., summa cum laude, 2016

Dordt College
Sioux Center, Iowa
B.A., 2013

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

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 Eastern District of Wisconsin

Languages

Dutch

Spanish

Litigation Attorney

Herman is a member of the Litigation and ADR Practice Team based in the firm’s Grand Rapids office. He has extensive experience litigating for and advising manufacturing, collection and health care companies in legal matters in both individual and class action contexts. Herman has also successfully handled appeals spanning a broad range of subject matters in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth and Seventh Circuits, the Michigan Supreme Court and the Michigan Court of Appeals.

For the past three years, Herman has been named by Best Lawyers® as one of the “Ones to Watch,” a designation given to attorneys who are earlier in their careers in recognition of their outstanding professional excellence in private practice. 

Before joining Varnum, Herman served as a law clerk for Chief Judge Robert Jonker of the District Court for the Western District of Michigan.

Experience

Obtained a 3-0 victory for a municipality in the Sixth Circuit in Reilly v. Ottawa County, Michigan, et al, Case No. 20-2220, (6th Cir. Sept. 2, 2021), affirming prior summary dismissal of federal constitutional and state tort claims.

Obtained a unanimous victory for a hip-hop artist in the Michigan Court of Appeals in Walker v. Maxwell, No. 345699, 2020 WL 815081 (Mich. Ct. App. Feb. 18, 2020), reversing a circuit court’s grant of judgment in the plaintiff’s favor.

Obtained a 3-0 victory for NRA Group in the Seventh Circuit in Bernal v. NRA Group, LLC, 930 F.3d 891 (7th Cir. 2019), affirming a judgment after trial against a class action and creating a circuit split on the issue of whether a collection letter permitting recovery of “any costs” authorizes the assessment of a fixed-percentage collection fee contingent on recovery of the subject debt.

Obtained a 3-0 victory for a municipality in the Sixth Circuit in Rayfield v. City of Grand Rapids, et al., 768 F. App’x 495 (6th Cir. 2019), affirming the prior summary dismissal of constitutional law claims.

Successfully obtained a judgment of non-dischargeability in favor of an insurance company after a trial.

Successfully obtained summary dismissal of claims in favor of sports equipment manufacturer in a contract dispute with a seller of sports equipment.

Successfully obtained summary dismissal of claims against former sales executive in a trade secret and contract dispute with a national chemicals company.

Served as lead associate for an industrial manufacturer in a multimillion-dollar “bet the company” trial. The parties eventually settled in a favorable outcome for the client, allowing the company to continue its operations unabated.

Obtained summary dismissal of constitutional claims against county treasurer in tax foreclosure case.

Obtained summary judgment of discrimination claims against an automotive company in an employment law case.

Served as lead associate for industrial manufacturer plaintiff in a successful trade secret and unfair competition case spanning four states.

Obtained summary dismissal of class action claims against collection agency in FDCPA case.

Honors and Recognitions

Best Lawyers in America®, Ones to Watch, Commercial Litigation, since 2021; Appellate Practice, since 2024

National Religious Liberty Writing Competition, first place

Billings, Exum & Frye National Moot Court Competition, quarterfinalist

Andrews Kurth Moot Court National Championship, quarterfinalist

Eve August Moot Court Scholarship Award

Professional Affiliations

Federal Bar Association of the Western District of Michigan: Bench Bar Committee; Young Lawyers Section

State Bar of Michigan

Community Involvement

First Netherlands Reformed Church, Ministerial Management Committee, president

Plymouth Christian School, Legal Advisory Committee

News and Insights

William R. Hineline

William R. Hineline

Practice Areas

Industries

Education

University of Michigan Law School
Ann Arbor, Michigan
J.D., 1967

Miami University
Oxford, Ohio
B.S., 1963

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

Employee Benefits Attorney

Bill provides general business counsel to clients primarily in the area of employee benefits, including benefit administration matters, selection of plan types and representation before the IRS, DOL and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). He has a strong focus on the health care industry as well as family-owned and other closely held businesses. Bill also provides counsel for business clients on various corporate and business matters, employment agreements and contract issues. For those same clients, he has served as counsel on family ownership dynamics and succession planning issues. 

Bill is past president of Law Weathers, his former firm, and past chair of that firm’s health care law practice. For more than 45 years, Bill was one of the foundational business builders at Law Weathers, growing the health care law practice from the ground up and introducing marketing and client service activities before it became common among law firms.

Honors and Recognitions

Best Lawyers in America®, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, since 1991

Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, 2014

Grand Rapids Magazine’s Top Lawyers, Construction Law, 2022

Grand Rapids Magazine’s Top Lawyers, Health Care Law, 2021

Grand Rapids Magazine’s Top Lawyers, Employee Benefits Law, since 2019

Leading Lawyers: Closely & Privately Held Business Law, Employee Benefits Law

Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated

Professional Affiliations

Grand Rapids Bar Association

State Bar of Michigan: Taxation Section; Business Section

Community Involvement

D.A. Blodgett-St. John’s Home, Advisory Council

John Ball Zoo Society Board of Directors, former member, 1985 – 2014

News and Insights

Scott J. Hill

Hillscott Web

Practice Areas

Industries

Education

Wayne State University Law School
Detroit, Michigan
J.D., 2003
The Wayne Law Review, Survey Editor
Dean’s Scholar

Alma College
Alma, Michigan
B.S., magna cum laude, Chemistry/Business, 2000

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

Corporate Attorney

Scott is a member of the Corporate Practice Team and currently serves as the firm’s Executive Partner. His practice focuses on business representation, including transactions, planning, and counseling. Specifically, Scott deals with supply chain opportunities and risks on a variety of levels and works with several closely-held businesses on their succession planning needs. He also spends a portion of his time counseling clients on sales, mergers, and similar transactional issues.

Experience

Supply side and customer side terms and conditions analysis.

Long Term Supply Agreement negotiation from award to renewal phase.

Several succession planning engagements involving two or more generations of planning.

Acquisition by material handling integrator of software development company to assist with vertical integration strategy.

Acquisition of assets of automotive supplier ($54 million).

Sale of assets of laser cosmetic surgery and related services provider with more than 200 individual customer centers to private equity fund involving subordinated seller financing ($225 million).

Merger transaction involving the consolidation of multiple automotive suppliers and subsequent sale transaction to a private equity fund, including equity rollover considerations ($415 million).

Management buyout of food processing company from private equity owner ($75 million).

Sale of a chain of 33 gas stations and convenience stores to a private equity fund ($31 million).

Representation of a food processing company in its recapitalization and sale ($63 million).

Joint venture transaction combining automotive body panels company with a tooling design and build company to offer an integrated solution for engineering, tooling, stamping, and assembly.

Acquisition of equipment dealer involving real estate and post-closing transition consideration.

Merger of two privately-held service businesses operating with public and private clients.

Several sale, acquisition, and joint venture transactions involving medical practices, food processing companies, and automotive suppliers.

Honors and Recognitions

Leading Lawyers, Leading Lawyer, 2021

Grand Rapids Magazine’s Top Lawyers, Corporate Law, 2023

Michigan Super Lawyers®, Rising Star, 2013

The Best Lawyers in America®, Corporate Law, since 2023

Grand Rapids 200, since 2020

Professional Affiliations

Alma College, President’s Advisory Council, 2014 – 2017

Better Business Bureau of Western Michigan: Board, 2011 – 2016; Executive Committee, 2012 – 2015

Economic Club of Grand Rapids, 2009 – present

Grand Rapids Bar Association

Grand Rapids Chamber – Governance Committee, 2022 – present

State Bar of Michigan

Western Michigan Roundtable, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

Community Involvement

AYSO coach, 2011 – 2016

Bite Cancer Foundation, Board, 2016 – present

Clarkston Basketball Foundation, Board, 2013 – present

Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Grand Rapids, Class of 2017

Youth basketball coach, 2014 – 2021

Youth baseball coach, 2012 – present

Presentations

Panelist, Strategic Discussion with West Michigan Family-Owned Businesses, MiBiz, January 17, 2022

Panelist, Strategic Discussion with West Michigan Automotive Suppliers, MiBiz, August 19, 2019

Panelist, Strategic Discussion with West Michigan Automotive Suppliers, MiBiz, August 20, 2018

Panelist, Strategic Discussion with West Michigan Automotive Suppliers, MiBiz, August 20, 2017

Panelist, Conversation with West Michigan Automotive Suppliers, MiBiz, August 4, 2016

Panelist, Startup Blunders and Barriers: So You’ve Got Capital. Now What?, June 2012

Speaker, Pure Michigan Business Connect – West Michigan, August 2011

Panelist, Exit Strategies: Guiding the Family Business Through a Critical Transition, May 2010

“Scott Hill of Varnum provides my company excellent and valuable advice, service and support in the areas of best business practices as well as contractual review with our clients and vendors.”

President, material handling equipment supplier

News and Insights

Laura J. Harner

Laura J. Harner

Practice Areas

Education

Lansing Community College
Lansing, Michigan
Post Bachelor Certificate, Paralegal Program, 1991

Central Michigan University
Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
B.S., Political Science, 1990

Litigation Paralegal

Laura works in the Litigation and Trial Services Team, with extensive experience in all aspects of complex commercial litigation matters including contract disputes, class actions, insurance coverage disputes, labor and employment issues and property tax appeals.

She focuses her attention on the implementation of litigation support technology throughout the litigation process including electronic discovery, complex document management and trial presentation/assistance.

Honors and Recognitions

Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Unsung Legal Heroes award, 2017

Professional Affiliations

Association of Litigation Support Professionals (ALSP)

State Bar of Michigan, Paralegal Section

News and Insights

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Charyn K. Hain

Charyn K. Hain

Practice Areas

Industries

Education

University of Michigan Law School
Ann Arbor, Michigan
J.D., 1992

Hope College
Holland, Michigan
B.A., cum laude, English, 1989

 

Bar Admissions

Michigan

New York

 

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

United States District Court for the Northern District (Western Division) of Illinois

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 Eastern District of Wisconsin

Litigation Attorney

Charyn is a member of the Litigation and Trial Services Practice Team. A significant part of her practice focuses on probate litigation, including will contests, guardianship/conservatorship matters, mental health proceedings and disputes involving trust agreements. With a background in commercial litigation, Charyn is an effective advocate for her probate clients. She has extensive experience representing and advising personal representatives, trustees and beneficiaries in all forms of probate matters. Charyn strives to balance strong advocacy for her clients with an understanding of the many complicating and often emotional issues involved in disputes among family members.

In addition to her probate litigation practice, Charyn has a strong focus on physician licensing, credentialing, privileging and employment matters. Charyn spent much of her early career defending physicians in medical malpractice matters and, in doing so, developed an appreciation for the myriad of legal issues that may impact health care providers. Charyn has significant experience assisting medical care providers in all aspects of medical staff issues, due process hearings, investigations and complaints initiated by state licensing agencies, and the many serious consequences that may arise as a result of such actions against a medical care provider’s license, staff privileges or approved provider status.

Charyn also continues to focus on her representation of school districts and institutes of higher education. As a prior associate general counsel at a Big Ten university and counsel for a multistate K-12 policy company, Charyn has developed insight and experience not only in legal aspects of education, but also the practical aspects and the needs of her clients. She has significant experience preparing school policies, representing school boards, providing counsel on student affairs, school discipline matters, representing districts and higher education clients in Title IX as well as other matters investigated by the Office of Civil Rights, and campus safety and health issues.

Charyn is also admitted to practice in the State of New York.

Honors and Recognitions

Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation, since 2018

Martindale-Hubbell® Distinguished™ Peer Review Rated

Professional Affiliations

American Health Lawyers Association

Federal Bar Association

Grand Rapids Bar Association

Michigan Council of School Attorneys, Board

National and Michigan Associations of School Boards, Council of School Attorneys

National Association of College and University Attorneys

State Bar of Michigan

Community Involvement

Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, Board

Mercy Health Saint Mary’s Hospital, Institutional Review Board

News and Insights

Janelle G. Haggadone

Janelle G. Haggadone

Practice Areas

Education

Vanderbilt University Law School
Nashville, Tennessee
J.D., 2017
Articles Editor, Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
B.A., Political Science and Psychology, with distinction, 2009

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

450 x 360 Estate Planning Millennials Webinar 1

Estate Planning Attorney

Janelle joined Varnum in 2017 and is an attorney with the estate planning group. Her approach to planning is informed by experience administering estates exceeding $10 million as well as smaller estates.

The most productive client meetings center around a person or couple in a moment of transition – whether that is a recently married couple, new parents, the transition to an empty nest, a person who is newly single, or someone thinking about retirement. That is the planning that excites Janelle and propels her to find creative solutions.  Beyond basic estate planning, Janelle’s practice includes designing and implementing sophisticated estate plans, settlement of decedents’ estates, estate taxation, and charitable gift planning. 

Janelle’s experience working in the nonprofit sector prior to law school strengthens her ability to facilitate sensitive conversations between family members. She is skilled in helping clients work through challenging circumstances to accomplish estate plan objectives. Her nonprofit sector expertise benefits clients for whom charitable giving is important.  

For the past three years, Janelle has been named by Best Lawyers® as one of the “Ones to Watch,” a designation given to attorneys who are earlier in their careers in recognition of their outstanding professional excellence in private practice. 

In the community, Janelle serves on the Senior Neighbors Board and the American Cancer Society’s West Michigan Volunteer Leadership Council. Within the firm, she serves on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, the Workforce Advancement Committee, and serves as a mentor attorney to several associates. 

Honors and Recognitions

Best Lawyers in America®, Ones to Watch, Trusts and Estates, since 2021

Professional Affiliations

State Bar of Michigan

Grand Rapids Bar Association

Women Lawyers Association of Michigan (WLAM)

Community Involvement

American Cancer Society – West Michigan, Volunteer Leadership Council

Senior Neighbors, Board of Directors

Rockford 100 Women Who Care

American Heart Association, Go Red for Women Executive Leadership Team (past)

Rethinking Dementia: Accelerating Change, Board of Directors (past)

San Juan Diego Academy, Development Board (past)

News and Insights

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Randall J. Groendyk

Randall J. Groendyk

Practice Areas

Education

Wayne State University Law School
Detroit, Michigan
J.D., with honors, 1984

Calvin College
Grand Rapids, Michigan
B.A., Political Science, 1981

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan

United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan

Creditors’ Rights Attorney

Randy focuses his practice on creditors’ rights law. He specializes in representing commercial and residential landlords in courts throughout Michigan. He has defended numerous financial institutions in claims brought under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Telephone Consumer Protection Act and analogous state laws.

Randy represents creditors in litigation in federal courts for the Western and Eastern Districts of Michigan, the bankruptcy courts for the Western and Eastern Districts of Michigan, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and Michigan state courts. Randy also advises clients on compliance matters.

Honors and Recognitions

Martindale-Hubbell® Distinguished™ Peer Review Rated

Professional Affiliations

ACA International

Commercial Law League of America

Grand Rapids Bar Association

Michigan Association of Collection Agencies

Michigan Creditors Bar Association

Property Management Association of West Michigan

Rental Property Owners Association

State Bar of Michigan

Community Involvement

Cornerstone United Reformed Church – member and past Chairman, Board of Directors

Institute for Reformed Biblical Counseling – President, Board of Directors

United Reformed Churches of America – Board of Directors

News and Insights