Jeffrey S. Dornbos

Associate | jdornbos@wnj.com | V-Card HollandT 616.396.3260F 616.494.3560 Jeff Dornbos specializes in litigation and dispute resolution, including both local and international disputes.  His background as a teacher, coach and sailing captain inform his ability to communicate clearly and direct disputes to favorable outcomes. Jeff spent nearly a year living and studying Spanish in Guatemala, has traveled extensively throughout Latin America and Europe, and drafted recommendations for setting up the War Crimes Division of the High... Read More
Jeff Dornbos specializes in litigation and dispute resolution, including both local and international disputes.  His background as a teacher, coach and sailing captain inform his ability to communicate clearly and direct disputes to favorable outcomes. Jeff spent nearly a year living and studying Spanish in Guatemala, has traveled extensively throughout Latin America and Europe, and drafted recommendations for setting up the War Crimes Division of the High Court of Uganda. His travel experiences, coupled with a Master’s degree in International Development and a concentration in International Law, provide him a solid foundation for representing clients in international, as well as local, disputes.
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Experience

Real Property Litigation
  • Successfully defended against a foreclosure action
  • Obtained a favorable judgment defending against a quiet title action attempting to invalidate an easement
  • Obtained a favorable settlement against a claim for a prescriptive easement
  • Regularly advised clients regarding routine real estate matters
  • Successfully obtained judgment related to wind turbine dispute
  • Successfully represented client in landlord/tenant dispute
  • Obtained favorable judgment in tax appeal
  • Negotiated favorable settlement in claims that property did not comply with relevant statutes
Personal Injury Litigation
  • Obtained favorable settlement in personal injury lawsuit
  • Represents both plaintiffs and defendants in personal injury lawsuits
Family Law
  • Represented families in adoption proceedings
  • Successfully represented guardians in hearings resulting in termination of parental rights
  • Advised and represented clients in various family law disputes  
International & Commercial Litigation
  • Routinely handled a variety of collection actions
  • Advised client regarding non-compete provisions
  • Successfully mediated disputes

Industries

Practices

Education

  • Calvin College B.S.
  • Case Western Reserve University J.D. magna cum laude
  • Western Michigan University M.D.A.

Admitted

  • 2010, Michigan

Clerk Experience

  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Honorable Kathleen M. O'Malley

Honors and Awards

  • Order of the Coif
  • Concentration in International Law, with honors
  • Senior Editor, Case Western Law Review
  • Editor, War Crimes Prosecution Watch
  • Distinguished Scholar Award (Jackson P. Morris Endowment)
  • DeWitt Scholarship
  • 2009 Adelstein Award in the Field of Environmental Law
  • 2010 Adelstein Award in the Field of Environmental Law
  • First Place, 2010 Legal Writing Contest Sponsored by the International Law Section of the State Bar of Texas for Article: Checkmate ("Jaque"): Does Colombia's Rescue of Its Pawns, and Capture of the FARC Queen, Justify Breaking the Rules of the Game?

Bar Associations

  • American Bar Association
    Health Law Section; International Law Section; Environment, Energy and Resources Section; Dispute Resolution Section
  • State Bar of Michigan
  • Ottawa County Bar Association
  • Grand Rapids Bar Association

Teaching and Lecturing

  • Academic Program Enrichment Fellow

Languages

  • Spanish

Publications

Professional Affiliations

  • Lawyers Without Borders
  • International Justice Mission
  • Public International Law and Policy Group

Community Affiliations

  • West Coast Leadership
  • Ottawa County Red Cross, Board Member (2013-Present)
  • Child Development Services Lakeshore Head Start  (2013-Present)
  • Anchor Points Sailing Program (2000-05)

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