Varnum LLP

Law Firm Overview

Varnum is a regional business law firm with more than 150 lawyers, serving clients in a full range of practice areas. We have built our reputation by helping clients identify opportunities, negotiate and close commercial transactions, win lawsuits and benefit from up-to-the-minute legal advice. Our clients range from large world-leading companies to smaller businesses who want world-class attention and service.

We've recently updated our web site in order to present information on our services and our people in an easy-to-navigate manner. For those who don't know us, we have also provided some pages that describe how we incorporate values that are important to us - diversity, commitment to community, and the satisfaction that comes from doing challenging and rewarding work - into our firm culture.

Ever since the firm was founded more than 120 years ago, a guiding principle has been our commitment to excellence. We are pleased to occasionally be recognized for this commitment. Recent notable recognition includes:

• 21st Century Innovators (2008): The Women Lawyers Association of Michigan and Michigan Lawyers Weekly selected Varnum as the recipient of the 2008 21st Century Innovator award, in recognition of our efforts in attracting and retaining top talent. Varnum received the top honor among 21 finalists statewide.
• Law Firm of the Year (2008) - Michigan State University College of Law Diversity Services Office & the Wolverine Student Bar Association/NBLSA recognized Varnum "for making extraordinary strides to diversify the legal profession and support MSU College of Law diversity initiatives."
• Ranked in Chambers USA (2008) - the firm was recognized for its expertise in banking and finance law, labor and employment law, and litigation.
• BTI Consulting (2006) - Varnum was rated a top Michigan-based firm and one of the highest-ranking firms in the country based on exceptional client satisfaction and number & strength of client relationships.

Areas of Practice

• Agricultural Law
• Air Quality
• Alternate Dispute Resolution
• Antitrust & Trade Regulations
• Appellate Law
• Asbestos Litigation
• Association Law
• Automotive Industry
• Banking
• Bankruptcy Services
• Bond Counsel
• Computer Law
• Construction Law
• Creditor's Rights
• Criminal Law
• Divorce
• eBusiness Services
• Employee Benefits
• Employment Litigation Defense
• Energy Law
• Environmental Litigation
• Environmental Litigation and Administrative Enforcement
• Environmental Representation
• Estate Planning
• Federal Tax
• General Business Services
• Health & Life Sciences Law
• Health Care Litigation
• Health Care Services
• Hospitality and Beverage Control Law
• Immigration
• Insurance
• Intellectual Property
• International Business Law
• Labor & Employment Relations
• Land Use & Development
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Minority/Woman-Owned Small Businesses
• Municipal Bond Counsel
• Native American Business & Development
• Native American Families & Individual Rights
• Native American Housing
• Native American Land, Environment & Resources
• Native American Organization & Governance
• Oil & Gas
• Personal Injury
• Probate Litigation
• Product Liability & Warranty Defense
• Property Tax Law
• Public Sector Litigation
• Public Sector Services
• Real Estate
• Real Estate Litigation
• Real Estate Loan Workouts
• Receivership Law
• Regulatory Compliance
• Securities & Corporate Governance
• Small Business Services
• State and Local Tax Law (SALT)
• Tax Litigation
• Uniform Commercial Code
• Union Negotiations
• Venture Capital Financing
• Wage & Hour Compliance Litigation
• Waste Management
• Water Law
• White Collar Criminal Defense
• Workers' Compensation Defense
• Workplace Safety & Health

Pro Bono Activities

• Pro Bono Publico

West Practice Categories

Business Organizations, Cable (Broadband), Telecommunications, Environmental Law, Trusts, Family Law, Insurance Law, Labor Law, Labor Relations Boards & Proceedings, Litigation & Appeals, Federal Trial Practice, State Trial Practice, Taxation Law