Linsey Gleason

Linsey Gleason

Practice Areas

Education

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

Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
B.A., Eli Broad College of Business, General Management, 2003
Additional Major, Economics, 2003
Graduated with highest honors

Bar Admissions

Florida

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

All Florida state courts

United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan

Estate Planning Attorney

Linsey has been with Varnum LLP since 2008. Her legal practice includes estate and tax planning, trust administration, guardianships and conservatorships, elder law and special needs planning. She is passionate about counseling her clients and helping them to identify and achieve their immediate and long-term estate planning and philanthropic goals. In 2015 she earned credentials as a Chartered Advisory in Philanthropy®.

Linsey is currently the Chairperson of the Grand Rapids Public Museum Foundation Board of Trustees, is the past Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Senior Neighbors, Inc, and also serves on the Saint Mary’s Foundation Board of Trustees, the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids Board of Directors, the Grand Action 2.0 Advisory Committee, the Grand Rapids Whitewater, Inc. Cabinet Campaign, the Grand Rapids Public Museum Board of Directors and Grand Rapids Community Foundation’s Centennial Campaign Council. She is the former Chair of the Probate and Estate Planning section of the Grand Rapids Bar Association and past President of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan – Western Region and has served on many other community non-profit boards. She is the proud graduate of the Leadership Grand Rapids Class of 2013 and is one of Grand Rapids Community Foundation’s 100 New Philanthropists. 

Linsey was honored by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as a member of the 2019 class of Women in the Law, was named one of the 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan in 2020 by the Grand Rapids Business Journal and was also included in the 2019 and 2020 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and in Grand Rapids Magazine‘s list of Top Lawyers in Michigan. Linsey was named a Michigan Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine for six consecutive years and was an ATHENA Young Professional Award finalist in 2013 and 2015. In 2016, she received the Center for Community Leadership Create GReat Award, and in 2017 she was awarded the 3-in-10 Award by Grand Rapids Bar Association.

Honors and Recognitions

Best Lawyers in America® since 2019

Grand Rapids Bar Association, 3-In-10 award, 2017

Grand Rapids Business Journal©, 40 Under Forty, 2015

Grand Rapids Business Journal©, 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan, 2020

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

Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Women in the Law, 2019

Michigan Super Lawyers®, Rising Star, 2013 – 2018

The Center for Community Leadership, Create GReat award, 2016

Professional Affiliations

Grand Rapids Bar Association: Probate and Estate Planning Section, past chair

Partnership for Philanthropic Planning

State Bar of Florida

State Bar of Michigan

The Economic Club of Grand Rapids

Western Michigan Planned Giving Group

Women Lawyers Association of Michigan – Western Region: president, 2011 – 2012;  vice president, 2010 – 2011

Community Involvement

Grand Action 2.0, Advisory Committee

Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Grand Rapids, Class of 2013

Grand Rapids Public Museum Board of Trustees, Chairperson

Grand Rapids Public Museum Foundation, Board member

Grand Rapids Whitewater, Inc., Campaign Cabinet

Rotary Club of Grand Rapids

Saint Mary’s Foundation Board of Trustees, Board member

YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids, Association Board member

Thomas W. Forster

Forster Tom Web

Practice Areas

Industries

Education

Wayne State University Law School
Detroit, Michigan
J.D., cum laude, 2000
Associate Editor, Wayne State Law Review
Order of the Coif

University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
B.G.S., Philosophy and Psychology, 1996

Bar Admissions

Florida

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

Play Video

Real Estate and Corporate Attorney

Tom is a real estate and corporate attorney. He counsels clients on complex transactional, corporate and real estate matters, including the acquisition, financing, sale, leasing and subleasing of commercial property; the negotiation of joint ventures; asset and stock purchase transactions; the syndication of membership interests; and the acquisition, financing, exchange (1031 exchange), preservation and sale of multifamily, office, industrial, retail shopping center, condominium and mixed use developments. Tom represents a range of clients from publicly-held companies to closely-held family businesses, individuals, investors, builders, developers, lenders, real estate brokers, family officer and property managers.

Chambers USA, which ranks top lawyers and law firms, notes Tom’s “ability to advise on the full gamut of real estate transaction work” makes him “a deal maker and tough negotiator.” A client concluded that “whatever comes up, I have confidence he can handle it.”

Experience

Represented client in the acquisition and financing of a seven shopping center portfolio with properties in four states.

Advised client regarding an equity investment in a portfolio of 21 student housing projects valued more than $500 million.

Represented client in an office building refinance loan of $92 million with multiple lender participants.

Represented joint venture investor with respect to a $65 million senior housing project.

Sale of investment in a regional chain restaurant portfolio.

Counseled client on acquisition, preservation, financing and tax credit syndication of four projects with a value in excess of $40 million.

Represented client with joint venture involving more than 30 properties relating to concrete and sand and gravel operations.

Advised client regarding portfolio of industrial leases, with combined matter value in excess of $400 million.

Guided client in development of a shopping center with more than 400,000 square feet of leasable area.

Served as intern to the Honorable Justice Patricia Boyle of the Michigan State Supreme Court.

Honors and Recognitions

Best Lawyers in America®, Real Estate Law, since 2017

Chambers USA©: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business as a Leader in the field of Real Estate

Community Alliance Star Award, 2012

DBusiness© Top Lawyers, Real Estate Law, 2013, 2020, 2021, 2022

Michigan Super Lawyers® since 2008

Michigan Super Lawyers® Rising Star, 2008 – 2012

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association

State Bar of Michigan, Real Property Section

The Florida Bar, Real Property Section

University of Michigan Alumni Association

Wayne State Law School Alumni Association

Community Involvement

Leadership Ann Arbor, Class of 2009

John W. Allen

John W. Allen

Practice Areas

Education

University of Michigan Law School
Ann Arbor, Michigan
J.D., 1972

University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
B.A., 1969

Bar Admissions

Florida

Illinois

Indiana

Michigan

Minnesota

Wisconsin

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

United States Court of Federal Claims

United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida

United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida

United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida

United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois

United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois

United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana

United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

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 Central District of Illinois

United States District Court for Minnesota

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin

United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin

United States Supreme Court

United States Tax Court

Business Litigation Attorney

John has over 40 years of experience, focuses his practice on business and commercial litigation, and is a certified civil trial advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He is admitted to the AAA International Centre for Dispute Resolution. In addition, John has written and co-written dozens of articles and books, and he is a frequent speaker to business and law groups. On a regular basis, he teaches courses in law and trial practice to other lawyers, often serving as an expert witness.

The Best Lawyers in America® has named John the Kalamazoo “Lawyer of the Year” for Trust and Estate Litigation in the 2021 guide. It has also recognized John as one of The Best Lawyers in America® in Family Law, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants, Litigation – Antitrust and Litigation – Banking and Finance.

John is a rules official for the USGA and PGA, and an honorary member of the Michigan PGA.

Honors and Recognitions

Best Lawyers in America® since 2005

Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year, Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Kalamazoo, 2021

Leading Lawyers: ADR Law – Commercial Litigation; Commercial Litigation

Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated

Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Leader in the Law, 2012

Michigan Super Lawyers® since 2011

Michigan Super Lawyers®, Top 50 Consumer Super Lawyers, 2017

Michigan Super Lawyers®, Top 100, 2011, 2016, 2018

Professional Affiliations

American Arbitration Association, certified arbitrator

American Bar Association – Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, Standing Committee on Ethics and Professionalism

American Bar Association: Ethics 2000 Advisory Committee; Commission on Lawyers Assistance Programs; Revenue Enhancement Committee; Ethics and Professionalism Committee

American Board of Trial Advocates

National Board of Trial Advocacy, certified civil trial advocate

State Bar of Michigan: Ethics Committee, past chair

Community Involvement

Golf Association of Michigan, Board

Michigan High School Athletic Association, golf rules official

Presentations

ICLE Ethics Update Seminar, chair and presenter, Evergreen Retainers; moderator, Professionalism, 2019