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Private Client and Family Office

As a member of a wealthy family, you need trusted legal advisors who take a 360-degree view of your wealth, businesses, legacy and family. Warner attorneys work seamlessly with your other advisors, have encountered the most complex relationships, tax and governance structures, and have confidentially dealt with delicate financial and personal situations to create bespoke solutions that respond to your unique needs, goals and objectives. Regardless of where you fall generationally, Warner is critical to the future wealth – and health – of your family.

Sophistication, Plus Strategy

While we provide some of the most sophisticated and strategic tax and wealth planning work in Michigan, the sheer size of our firm – and the resulting depth and breadth of our team – also enables us to serve the full range of needs of family offices and wealthy families, from the professional to the personal and philanthropic, and in just about any practice area they might require. On top of this, we are agile and able to pivot – and to help our clients to pivot – quickly, in response to even the most unpredictable events. In sum, we offer our private and family office clients both peace of mind and protection in everything they do.

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Strengths Snapshot

Honors & Accolades

Chambers High Net Worth guide has consistently awarded a top-tier ranking to Warner as one of Michigan’s top firms in private wealth law. Chambers has specifically recognized attorneys Mark K. Harder, Laura A. Jeltema, Susan Gell Meyers, David L.J.M. Skidmore and W. Michael Van Haren in for private wealth law and attorney Richard A. Roane for high net worth family/matrimonial law.

The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) has elected six Warner attorneys as Fellows, the largest number of ACTEC Fellows practicing at any Michigan firm. ACTEC Fellows in the Private Client and Family Office practice include Carl W. Dufendach, Mark K. Harder, Jennifer L. Remondino, David L.J.M. Skidmore and W. Michael Van Haren.

Warner attorney Mark K. Harder chaired the State Bar of Michigan committee that spent more than five years writing the Michigan Trust Code, which governs how trusts are established and administered in the state. He also co-authored a reference for attorneys and courts on the meaning of Michigan’s laws regarding probate, trusts, guardianships and conservatorships.

Warner serves as a Thought Leader for the Family Office Exchange (FOX), an international community for wealthy families who are pursuing best practices for management and transfer of family legacy and wealth. Warner provides thought leadership and educational content for FOX’s member families.

In recent years, four Warner attorneys have been elected to lead the Probate and Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan. Mark K. Harder, John H. Martin, David L.J.M. Skidmore and W. Michael Van Haren have all served as chairs of this section.

Michigan Lawyers Weekly has named Susan Gell Meyers and Jennifer Remondino as two of its leading “Women in the Law.”

Warner Partner Bruce C. Young was honored by inclusion in Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s 2022 Hall of Fame.

Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine has named Jennifer Remondino (2021) and Beth O’Laughlin (2022) as Rising Stars. This peer-review award requires attorneys are 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less. Those selected for the list are noted for attaining a high degree of peer recognition and personal achievement. Fewer than 2.5% of attorneys in Michigan are selected for this recognition.

Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine has named 42 attorneys from Warner to its 2022 Super Lawyers list. The peer-review award recognizes attorneys who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 5% of the lawyers in Michigan are recognized each year. Attorneys recognized this year from the Private Client and Family Office group:

  • Sean H. Cook
  • Mark K. Harder
  • Frank E. Henke
  • Susan Gell Meyers
  • Richard A. Roane
  • David L.J.M. Skidmore
  • W. Michael Van Haren

The Best Lawyers in America has named many Warner attorneys from the Private Client and Family Office group as Lawyers of the Year in the last few years. Our attorneys have been recognized recently in the following categories:

Detroit Area:

  • Tax: Sean H. Cook, Jay A. Kennedy

Grand Rapids Area:

  • Business Organizations: Bruce C. Young (2 wins)
  • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses: Susan Gell Meyers (2 wins), Bruce C. Young (2 wins)
  • Corporate Law: Shane B. Hansen; Stephen C. Waterbury
  • Employment Law: Jonathan P. Kok (2 wins)
  • Family Lawyer: Richard A. Roane
  • Family Law Mediation Lawyer of the Year: Richard A. Roane
  • Labor Law – Management: Jonathan P. Kok, Louis C. Rabaut (2 wins)
  • Nonprofit/Charities: Jeffrey B. Power
  • Real Estate: Christian E. Meyer
  • Real Estate Litigation: Christian E. Meyer (3 wins)
  • Securities/Capital Markets: Loren M. Andrulis
  • Trusts and Estates: Carl W. Dufendach, Mark K. Harder (3 wins)
  • Trusts and Estates Litigation: Laura E. Morris (2 wins), David L.J.M. Skidmore (3 wins)

The Best Lawyers in America 2022 has selected Warner Private Client and Family Office group attorneys for this peer-review award, which denotes legal excellence in specific practice areas, including:

  • Loren M. Andrulis
  • Daniel W. Borst
  • Sean H. Cook
  • Carl W. Dufendach
  • Shane B. Hansen
  • Mark K. Harder
  • Frank E. Henke
  • Laura A. Jeltema
  • Matthew D. Johnson
  • Jay A. Kennedy
  • Jonathan P. Kok
  • Christian E. Meyer
  • Susan Gell Meyers
  • Jeffrey B. Power
  • Louis C. Rabaut
  • Jennifer L. Remondino
  • Richard A. Roane
  • David L.J.M. Skidmore
  • James J. Steffel
  • Michael Van Haren
  • Stephen C. Waterbury
  • Bruce C. Young

Twenty-one attorneys from the Detroit, Macomb County and Bloomfield Hills offices of Warner Norcross + Judd LLP have been selected as 2022 Top Lawyers by DBusiness. Selection is based on the peer ratings of fellow attorneys who nominate peers who they would recommend to close friends or relatives if they could not handle a case themselves. Attorneys recognized from Warner’s Private Client and Family Office group include:

  • Sean H. Cook, tax law
  • Jay A. Kennedy, tax law

Fifty-one Warner Norcross + Judd LLP attorneys have been selected as 2021 Top Lawyers by Grand Rapids Magazine. Selection is based on survey ratings of fellow attorneys who are asked to nominate peers who excel in their practice areas. Attorneys recognized from Warner’s Private Client and Family Office group include:

  • Loren Andrulis
  • Daniel W. Borst
  • Jason L. Byrne
  • Carl W. Dufendach
  • Shane B. Hansen
  • Laura A. Jeltema
  • Matthew D. Johnson
  • Jonathan P. Kok
  • Christian E. Meyer
  • Susan Gell Meyers
  • Jeffrey B. Power
  • Richard A. Roane
  • James J. Steffel
  • Michael Van Haren
  • Stephen C. Waterbury

 

Resources

Podcast: Selecting the Right Trustee – Mark Harder

Legacy Matters Blog

Starting and Sustaining Family Meetings:

10 Common Mistakes Family Office Managers Make:

Approaching Prenuptial Agreements Positively: