Mark K. Harder, a partner at Warner Norcross & Judd LLP, has been elected as a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.
Harder, who chairs the Firm's Trusts and Estates Group, is the fifth Warner Norcross attorney to be elected to the College, which is the highest designation for attorneys practicing in this area. Fellowship in ACTEC is extended by invitation only to experienced trust and estate attorneys recognized as having made substantial contributions to the field through lecturing, writing, teaching and Bar activities. To date, about 2,700 lawyers from throughout the United States are ACTEC fellows.
"We are very pleased that Mark's peers have recognized the exceptional work he has accomplished in his field," said Douglas E. Wagner, managing partner of Warner Norcross. "It is a tremendous honor to be elected to the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and demonstrates the exceptional skill that Mark brings to his work.
"He joins four other partners in the Firm who have been recognized as Fellows for their expertise in trust and estate law. We are very proud of Mark and our other ACTEC Fellows for their singular achievements in our profession."
In addition to his work in estate planning, Harder concentrates his practice on family business issues, including succession planning and general representation of closely held businesses. His work in this area was recognized last year when Attorneys for Family-Held Enterprises named him to its board of directors and as chairman of its 2007 and 2008 Annual Conferences. He is also a member of the Family Firm Institute.
Active both personally and professionally, he is a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Wisconsin and the State Bar of Michigan, where he serves on the Council of the Probate and Estate Planning Section and chairs the Council's Amicus Curiae and Michigan Trust Code Committees. He has held leadership and board positions with numerous organizations, including the Holland Area Chamber of Commerce and the Center for Women in Transition.
Harder is recognized as one of The Best Lawyers in America. He has also been elected as a Fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation.
Harder holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa with high distinction. He received his doctor of jurisprudence with highest distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law, where he was Order of the Coif and editor in chief of The Journal of Corporation Law.
About the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel is a professional association consisting of approximately 2,700 lawyers from throughout the United States. Fellows of the College are nominated for and then elected to membership on the basis of professional reputation and ability in the fields of trusts and estates and on the basis of having made substantial contributions to these fields through lecturing, writing, teaching and bar activities. ACTEC strives to maintain an international association of lawyers skilled and experienced in all aspects of trust and estate planning.
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About Warner Norcross & Judd:
This year, Warner Norcross & Judd LLP celebrates its 75th anniversary of service to clients in Michigan, across the country and throughout the world. With more than 180 attorneys in Grand Rapids, Metro Detroit, Holland and Muskegon, Warner Norcross is one of Michigan's leading providers of legal services. For the third consecutive year, the Firm has a greater percentage of partners listed in the 2006 edition of The Best Lawyers in America than any other large law firm in Michigan. Warner Norcross was also named the best corporate law firm in West Michigan by Corporate Board Member magazine for the third year in a row. Warner Norcross has been recognized as a national leader in client service among law firms by BTI Consulting and as one of West Michigan's 101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For. The Firm represents local, statewide, regional, national and international clients in all areas of business and civil law.