Dale R. Rietberg

Dale R. Rietberg

Practice Areas

Industries

Education

University of Michigan Law School
Ann Arbor, Michigan
J.D., 1987

University of Michigan
School of Business
Ann Arbor, Michigan
M.B.A., 1980

Calvin College
Grand Rapids, Michigan
B.A., Business/Economics, 1978

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

Corporate Attorney

Dale has extensive experience in the area of nonprofit and tax exempt entities, and works with a wide range of exempt organizations, including charities, social service agencies, cultural and civic institutions, educational organizations, foundations, health organizations, clubs and associations, and religious organizations.

His work includes advising on such topics as exemption applications; unrelated business taxable income (UBTI); permissible political and lobbying activities; governance disputes; drafting and revising bylaws and other corporate policies; protection and licensing of intellectual property; director and officer liability protections; drafting of waivers, releases and consents; special rules pertaining to supporting organizations; excess benefit transactions and the intermediate sanctions rules; issues of private inurement and private benefit; loss and reactivation of corporate and/or tax exempt status; and special rules applicable to private foundations (e.g., self-dealing transactions, jeopardizing investments, excess business holdings and taxable expenditures).

Dale also practices in the area of general corporate and business transactions, with a focus on closely-held family businesses.

Honors and Recognitions

Grand Rapids Magazine’s Top Lawyers, Nonprofit/Charities Law, since 2019

Martindale-Hubbell® Distinguished™ Peer Review Rated

Professional Affiliations

Grand Rapids Bar Association

State Bar of Michigan

Community Involvement

Better Business Bureau of Western Michigan Foundation

Grand Rapids Children’s Museum

MOKA Corporation

News and Insights

Dean F. Reisner

Reisner Dean Web

Practice Areas

Industries

Education

University of Michigan Law School
Ann Arbor, Michigan
J.D., 1997

Alma College
Alma, Michigan
B.A., magna cum laude, Political Science, 1993

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

Business and Estate Planning Attorney

Dean is a partner in Varnum’s Corporate Practice and Estate Planning Teams.  Dean concentrates his practice on business transactional matters, general corporate work, real estate acquisition, real estate sales and development, estate planning, succession planning and agricultural law. In addition to general business representation, Dean also works closely with his clients and their advisors, including accountants, financial advisors and other consultants, to create organizational structures, business succession plans and estate plans that allow families to plan for current and future generations. Dean regularly prepares sophisticated estate plans, including estate tax planning, business succession planning and probate avoidance.

Dean is a frequent speaker on business succession planning and estate planning matters.  He has also written numerous articles on these topics.

Experience

Dozens of roll-up acquisitions for leading insurance broker since 2017 with total value in excess of $300 million.

Advising multiple significant farming operations on estate planning, focusing on estate tax minimization and business succession planning, including implementation of structure to involve next generation members in business operations.

Advising numerous high-net-worth clients with estate planning and estate tax planning strategies.

Honors and Recognitions

Martindale-Hubbell® Distinguished™ Peer Review Rated

Professional Affiliations

Ottawa County Bar Association

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

Community Involvement

Grand Haven Area Community Foundation, Board of Directors

Grand Haven Area Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors

North Ottawa Rod and Gun Club Foundation: President; Board of Directors

Greater Ottawa County United Way, volunteer

Loutit District Library Capital Campaign, volunteer

Rotary Club of Grand Haven

Grand Haven Area Young Professionals, co-founder

Presentations

Dean regularly makes presentations regarding entity selection, succession planning and estate planning. He has presented at Michigan Farm Bureau and Michigan Agri-Business Association (MABA) events.

News and Insights

Patrick J. Reid

Patrick J. Reid

Education

University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
M.A. Accountancy/Tax 1990

University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
B.S., Accounting, 1987

Executive Director

Patrick works with the firm’s governance committees, overseeing operational and strategic initiatives of the firm. He has over 25 years of experience as a senior executive with a focus on leadership and fiscal responsibilities. He has a strong background in human resource oversight, IT infrastructure management, real estate issues, compliance and strategic planning. Patrick’s unique experience includes strategic investing in non-traditional services and growth opportunities. He leads the firm’s administrative team.

Richard D. Rathburn

0 Greysilhouette Web

Practice Areas

Education

Wayne State University Law School
Detroit, Michigan
LL.M., 1965

Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan
B.S., Accounting, 1962

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

Corporate Attorney

Dick has provided tax and financial services to a wide range of corporations over the past 30 years, including advice on international transactions for large publicly traded companies and comprehensive succession planning consultation for closely held entrepreneurial companies. He is currently providing board level advisory services to many companies in the Grand Rapids area.

Prior to joining Varnum, Dick was the partner in charge of the western Michigan tax department of Ernst & Young.

Professional Affiliations

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants

State Bar of Michigan, Taxation Section

Community Involvement

Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce Foundation, treasurer

Grand Rapids Rotary, treasurer

Grand Rapids Rotary Foundation, Board of Directors

Grand Valley State University, MST Advisory Council

Porter Hills Foundation, Board of Directors

Porter Hills Presbyterian Village: past chair; Board of Directors

West Michigan Estate Planning Council, past president

Western Michigan University, Accounting Advisory Council

Laura E. Radle

Laura E. Radle

Practice Areas

Education

Michigan State University College of Law
East Lansing, Michigan
J.D., summa cum laude, 2008

Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan
M.B.A., with honors, 2007

University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
Ann Arbor, Michigan
B.A., with highest distinction, 2002

Bar Admissions

Florida

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

Estate Planning Attorney

Laura is an attorney on the firm’s estate planning team where she helps individuals and families to identify their estate planning goals and to create plans tailored to meet their specific needs. Laura’s practice includes a full range of estate planning and estate settlement services including the preparation of basic or complex estate plans, tax planning, business succession planning, cottage planning, charitable gift planning, and estate and trust administration services.

As a member of the Family Business Team, Laura assists business owners with the design and implementation of succession plans that will facilitate the transfer of decision making authority and ownership interests in the event of an owner’s disability or death. Clients benefit from her regular access to Varnum colleagues who serve the unique needs and challenges of family businesses, including the business and corporate services, labor and employment relations, family law and litigation teams.

Laura is a frequent speaker on estate planning topics including cottage succession planning and business succession planning. She has also written numerous articles on how to protect and preserve the family cottage.

Honors and Recognitions

Best Lawyers in America®, Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, since 2018

Best Lawyers in America®, Trusts and Estates, since 2019

Grand Rapids Magazine’s Top Lawyers, Trusts and Estates, since 2019

Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Women in the Law, 2021

Professional Affiliations

Grand Rapids Bar Association

Grand Rapids Bar Association, Probate and Estate Planning Section, past Vice President, past Treasurer

State Bar of Michigan

State Bar of Florida

United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan

Community Involvement

Gilda’s Club Red Council, past member

Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Professional Advisory Committee

Grand Rapids Partnership for Philanthropic Planning

Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities Organization, President, 2013 – 2015; Vice President, 2011 – 2012

Western Michigan Planned Giving Group

Matthew D. Zimmerman

Matt Zimmerman

Practice Areas

Industries

Education

University of Michigan Law School
Ann Arbor, Michigan
J.D., cum laude, 1981

Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
B.A., with high honors, 1978

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan

Environmental and Energy Attorney

Matt is a senior member of the Environmental, Energy and Natural Resources Practice Team. A significant portion of Matt’s practice involves representation of municipalities and private developers in regard to water law matters, including: the permitting, operation and expansion of water supply/treatment/distribution systems and wastewater collection and treatment systems; sewer use ordinance drafting and enforcement including industrial pretreatment programs; stormwater management including ordinance drafting, permitting and enforcement and property owner representation in Drain Code projects; riparian rights issues; and submerged lands transactions.

He represents both municipal and private clients in a wide variety of projects involving land use, including condemnation, permitting of development in protected natural resource areas (regulated wetlands, critical sand dunes, flood plains, etc.), solid waste management, zoning, brownfield redevelopment and remediation of contaminated real estate. Matt also represents developers of energy products including both traditional and renewable energy projects, primarily regarding permitting and contracting.

Honors and Recognitions

The Best Lawyers in America®, Administrative/Regulatory Law, Energy Law, Environmental Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, Municipal Law, since 2010; Water Law, since 2024

The Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year, Land Use and Zoning Law, 2017, 2022; Water law, 2025

Grand Rapids Magazine’s Top Lawyers, Environmental Law, Land Use and Zoning, 2019 – 2021, 2023

Leading Lawyers: Environmental Law; Land Use, Zoning & Condemnation Law

Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated

Professional Affiliations

Grand Rapids Bar Association, Environmental Law Section

Michigan Water Environmental Association

State Bar of Michigan: Environmental Law Section; Public Corporation Law Section

The Land Conservancy of West Michigan

Water Environment Federation

Community Involvement

Beacon Hill at Eastgate, Board

Bible Study Fellowship

Mel Trotter Ministries, Christian Legal Advisory Services

Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, Board

Kurt G. Yost

Kurt G. Yost

Practice Areas

Education

University of Michigan Law School
Ann Arbor, Michigan
J.D., 1984

Albion College
Albion, Michigan
B.A., magna cum laude, 1979

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

Business Law Attorney

Kurt has more than 25 years of experience as a business lawyer helping entrepreneurs and businesses achieve their goals and objectives. He works with a wide variety of businesses from startups to public companies. Kurt focuses his practice in business, corporate and commercial law, with an emphasis on business transactions, including merger and acquisition, financing and private investment transactions.

A significant part of Kurt’s practice involves helping clients in a broad range of commercial transactions that are the heart of their business activities, including product and service development, distribution and sale, global sourcing of goods and services, formation and operation of strategic alliances and joint ventures, and business protection and licensing. Kurt also regularly counsels closely-held businesses on corporate structure, governance, and succession planning matters.

Honors and Recognitions

Best Lawyers in America® since 2013

Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year – Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law, 2014, Grand Rapids

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

Leading Lawyers: Closely & Privately Held Business Law; Mergers & Acquisitions Law; Publicly Held Corporations Law

Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated

Michigan Super Lawyers®, 2006 – 2016

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association, Business Law Section

Association for Corporate Growth, West Michigan Chapter

Grand Rapids Bar Association, Business and Taxation Section

State Bar of Michigan: Business Law Section; Taxation Section

News and Insights

Susan M. Wyngaarden

Susan M. Wyngaarden

Practice Areas

Industries

Education

Duke University School of Law
Durham, North Carolina
J.D., 1983

University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
B.A., magna cum laude, 1980

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

Public Finance and Banking Attorney

Susan is a co-leader of the Banking, Finance and Restructuring Practice Team. She has extensive experience in the public finance area. She has served as bond counsel to the State of Michigan, its departments and authorities, as well as to many cities, counties, villages, townships, school districts, community colleges, district libraries, other public authorities and Indian tribes. In addition to serving as bond counsel, Susan has also served as underwriter’s counsel, bank counsel, tax counsel and obligor’s counsel for numerous tax-exempt financings, including governmental obligations and private activity bonds for manufacturing facilities and qualified 501(c)(3)bonds.

Susan also represents financial institutions in negotiating and documenting the direct purchase or letter of credit backing for both tax-exempt and taxable bonds/notes, including conduit bond and note transactions issued by state and local authorities for the benefit of higher education, hospital and other nonprofit organizations, pooled revenue note transactions, and State Revolving Fund match bonds and bond anticipation notes. In addition, Susan also works with financial institutions in the direct purchase of bonds and notes from governmental entities including, but not limited to, counties, cities, school districts and authorities. She also represents lenders in providing a variety of taxable loans to governmental and nonprofit organizations.

Honors and Recognitions

Best Lawyers in America® in multiple categories since 2003

Best Lawyers in America®, Women in the Law Spring Business Edition, Banking and Finance Law, Public Finance Law, 2017

Grand Rapids Magazine’s Top Lawyers, Public Finance Law; Municipal Law, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023

Leading Lawyers, Public Finance Law

Martindale-Hubbell® Distinguished™ Peer Review Rated

Michigan Super Lawyers® since 2006

Professional Affiliations

Michigan Council of School Attorneys

Michigan Women in Finance, past president and member of Board of Directors, 2005 – 2010

National Association of Bond Lawyers

State Bar of Michigan: Taxation Section; Public Corporation Section

Community Involvement

Holland Home: Audit Committee; Governance and Compliance Committee

News and Insights

Michael G. Wooldridge

Michael G. Wooldridge

Practice Areas

Education

Cornell University Law School
Ithaca, New York
J.D., 1984
Moot Court Board

Alma College
Alma, Michigan
B.A., cum laude, 1981

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

Wooldridge Mike 1280 x 720

Corporate Attorney

Mike is a partner on the firm’s Corporate Practice Team and formerly served as the chair of the firm’s Policy Committee. His practice focuses on corporate governance, securities, and mergers and acquisitions. He represents several of the firm’s clients whose securities are traded publicly in corporate governance, securities law compliance, and mergers and acquisitions. He has managed and led a variety of public equity and debt offerings for financial services and manufacturing companies. Mike is also active in advising clients in venture capital transactions.

As a trusted advisor to several of Michigan’s most respected businesses, Mike has extensive experience advising officers and directors on strategic and general business law issues, governance and compliance matters, executive compensation, disclosure requirements and corporate structure. He also assists clients with corporate transactional matters such as contract negotiations and workforce management. 

Honors and Recognitions

The Best Lawyers in America®, Corporate Law, since 2005; Mergers and Acquisitions Law, since 2024

BTI Consulting Group, Inc., Client Service All Star, 2012 (only four attorneys in Michigan were recognized for this honor)

Grand Rapids Magazine’s Top Lawyers, Corporate Law, since 2019

Leading Lawyers: Mergers & Acquisitions Law; Securities & Venture Finance Law

Martindale-Hubbell® Distinguished™ Peer Review Rated

Professional Affiliations

American Society of Corporate Secretaries

Grand Rapids Bar Association

State Bar of Michigan

UFPI Board of Directors

Community Involvement

Blythefield Country Club, past President, 2006 – 2017

YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids; Board member, Chair of Governance Committee

“Varnum is a great firm. I work primarily with Michael Wooldridge. Mike is a thoughtful individual, and you always know he is thinking of you and your company’s legal issues. His practice is general corporate, and I find myself talking to him often about issues we are facing. He is intelligent, witty and a great guy to hang out with as well.”

General counsel, global furniture manufacturer

Jordan R. Holzgen

Education

National Paralegal College
Grand Rapids, Michigan
PBA Certification, 2018

Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan
B.A., 2011

Corporate Paralegal

Jordan is part of the Quality Control Team. He prepares matter intake reviews, provides conflict analysis and manages the file screening process when conflicts arise. He assists with file transfers and provides litigation support for quality control team matters. Jordan serves as an administrator and provides internal support for the firm’s cloud-based new business intake management system. He also serves on Varnum’s Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) Taskforce, which specializes in CTA compliance, guidance and analysis. Visit our CTA Resource Center for more information.

Jordan’s background includes management of compliance documents and records in a highly-regulated industry, including management of product submissions and facility registrations with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. He formerly provided an array of law firm support services as a clerk for a global business process automation company.