Criminal Law

• Criminal Defense
• Arson

Business and Corporate Law

• Corporate Law
  Joined the firm in January 2022. Present emphasis on civil defense litigation and general practice matters. James defends insurance coverage disputes surrounding Michigan No-Fault law and premises liabilty, while his general practice facilitates small business growth and development across Northern Michigan through corporate governance and formation, contractual matters, and closely held transactions.
• Business Disputes

Employment Law

• Workers Compensation
  Joined the Firm in August 1999, with present emphasis on workers compensation, automobile negligence, first party and general civil defense.
• Wrongful Termination

Property Law

• Premises Liability
  Joined the Firm in 1983 after being in private practice in Hillsdale, Michigan. Present emphasis on dram shop, automobile negligence, first party, third party, and premises liability defense.

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  Joined the firm in January, 2023, after being involved in a number of roles including in-house counsel for a large insurer and an attorney at a prominent plaintiff’s personal injury firm. Present emphasis is on automobile negligence, no-fault, premises liability and general civil litigation, as well as providing counsel to indigent individuals in Probate Court.
• Medical Malpractice
  We serve individuals and businesses throughout northern and central lower Michigan, and the Upper Peninsula, with offices in Gaylord and Marquette. Our primary focus is defending lawsuits and claims in the following areas of law: Medical Malpractice, Legal Malpractice, First and Third Party Automobile Negligence, Product Liability, Premises Liability, Patent Law, Dram Shop, Real Estate, Wrongful Discharge and Workers' Compensation.

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  Joined the Firm in May 1996, after twelve years of litigation practice in diverse fields in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Present emphasis on auto negligence defense, premises and products liability, first party no-fault, insurance law, subrogation, general litigation, estate planning and workers compensation.
• Probate