Contact Chip

Always known as “Chip” (he says just to keep you confused), Chip has been with the firm since 1994 after practicing in California for a number of years. He brings years of experience with a broad transactional practice that includes corporate and business entity formation and advice, business contracts and transactions, business purchases and sales, succession planning, and commercial real estate matters. He serves as general business and corporate counsel to an expansive spectrum of clients in the West Michigan area.

While Chip actually was born in Grand Rapids, he grew up in Southern California, coming back to his roots by attending Calvin College in Grand Rapids to obtain a degree in Business and Economics. He then returned to Sacramento, California to study at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, where he graduated in 1982.

After practicing for a number of years in Bakersfield, California, Chip was unable to resist the pull to West Michigan, and he and his family moved back to join the firm. Like many of our clients, Chip’s family includes a number of small business owners, grounding him in family business dynamics from a personal perspective as well as a professional one.

Chip is married to Jan and they have four grown children, and yes, grandchildren are the joy of their lives. They enjoy traveling, winter sports, camping, and boating (they live on a lake). Traveling to see their children has opened up lots of fun new adventures.

Chip is a member of the Grand Rapids Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan, and the State Bar of California (inactive). He is also a member and past president of the Business and Tax Section of the Grand Rapids Bar Association, the Bar Association’s Real Estate Section, and is also an active member of his church.

Areas of Practice:

Education

  • Calvin College (B.A., 1979)
  • University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law (J.D., 1982)

Bar Admissions: 

  • California, 1982 (inactive)
  • Michigan, 1994

Memberships: 

  • State Bar of Michigan
  • Grand Rapids Bar Association
  • Business and Tax Section, Grand Rapids Bar Association