Corinne N. Sprague Curtis
- Partner
My admin
- Lisa Kunecki
My personal and professional mission is to help good people do good work. Whether they are local small businesses, multi-generational family businesses with national or international reach, or community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and other non-profit entities focused on impact investing, my clients all make significant contributions to their communities. Helping them accomplish this allows me to do the same, to make a difference, and that really matters to me.
A seasoned corporate attorney, Corinne advises companies on mergers and acquisitions, commercial contracts, ownership planning and transfers, and corporate planning and governance. Corinne assists family-owned businesses and family offices in designing governance, ownership and compensation structures to align with their long-term succession planning and business objectives. She also represents nonprofit issuers of securities (primarily in the impact investing space) with their debt offerings.
industries
practices
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- Advises privately held businesses with acquisitions, succession planning, governance and other corporate matters, including multigenerational succession planning for family-owned businesses.
- Drafts and reviews a variety of commercial contracts, including supply agreements, distribution agreements and consulting agreements, for clients in the manufacturing, information technology and medical device industries.
- Represents nonprofit issuers of debt securities in structuring and completing single-state, multistate and national offerings of debt securities while complying with registration/exemption and disclosure requirements under federal and state securities laws.
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- Advises privately held businesses with acquisitions, succession planning, governance and other corporate matters, including multigenerational succession planning for family-owned businesses.
- Drafts and reviews a variety of commercial contracts, including supply agreements, distribution agreements and consulting agreements, for clients in the manufacturing, information technology and medical device industries.
- Represents nonprofit issuers of debt securities in structuring and completing single-state, multistate and national offerings of debt securities while complying with registration/exemption and disclosure requirements under federal and state securities laws.
General Corporate Advising
- Assists several multigenerational family businesses, including Louis Padnos Iron and Metal Company, a leading recycler of paper, plastics and metals throughout the United States, and EJ Group, Inc., a world leader in infrastructure access solutions with corporate planning and governance, ownership planning, commercial contracts, general business matters and business acquisitions.
- Represents Skytron, LLC, a leading OEM and supplier of medical equipment, with regard to supply and service contracts.
- Assists Stryker Corporation (NYSE) with respect to corporate structure management, organization and maintenance in connection with domestic and international tax matters.
Impact Investing
- Advises CDFIs and other nonprofit organizations in multistate and national impact investment offerings of over $1 billion in debt securities on an annual basis. Representative clients include Calvert Impact Capital, Inc., Enterprise Community Loan Fund, and RSF Social Investment Fund.
Representative Mergers and Acquisitions
- ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. (Nasdaq), the holding company of ChoiceOne Bank, in its acquisitions of County Bank Corp. (parent of Lakestone Bank & Trust) and Community Shores Bank Corporation (parent of Community Shores Bank).
- Keweenaw Financial Corporation (OTC), the holding company of Superior National Bank, in its acquisition of North Star Financial Holdings, Inc. (parent of Main Street Bank).
- TCSB Bancorp, Inc., the holding company of Traverse City State Bank, in its merger with Independent Bank Corporation (Nasdaq).
- CCL Industries, Inc.(TSX) in its $532 million acquisition of Checkpoint Systems, Inc. (NYSE).
- West Shore Bank, in its acquisitions of West Michigan Bank and Trust and Ellis Capital Management.
- American Grease Stick Company, a multigenerational family business, in its sale of substantially all of its assets to an affiliate of 3 Rivers Capital.
- Birmingham Bloomfield Bancshares, Inc. (parent of the Bank of Birmingham) in its merger with Arbor Bancorp, Inc. (parent of the Bank of Ann Arbor).
- Chemical Financial Corporation (Nasdaq) in its acquisitions of Lake Michigan Financial Corporation, Monarch Community Bancorp, Inc., and Talmer Bancorp, Inc.
- Action Fabricators, Inc. and Laminin Medical Products, Inc. in their sale to a private equity affiliate of River Associates Investments, LLC.
- Mercantile Bank Corporation (Nasdaq) in its acquisition of Firstbank Corporation in an all-stock merger of equals transaction.
- Spartan Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq) in its merger with Nash-Finch Company in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $1.3 billion.
- Consumers Energy Company (NYSE) in a $155 million acquisition of a gas-fired power plant from AlphaGen Power LLC.
- Dri-Design, LLC, in its 2014 sale of stock to Kingspan Group, a global leader in high performance insulation, building fabric and solar integrated building envelopes.
- Howmedica Osteonics Corp., an affiliate of Stryker Corporation(NYSE), in its acquisition of assets from Marshall Steele & Associates, LLC.
- Perrigo Company(NYSE) in its acquisition of assets from CanAm Care, LLC.
- East Jordan Iron Works, Inc., d/b/a EJ USA, Inc., in its acquisition of Syracuse Castings Sales Corporation and Syracuse Castings West Corp.
- Reid Supply Company in its sale of assets to Filtrona Newton, Inc.
Public Private Partnerships (P3)
- Part of the Warner team serving as P3 procurement, governance and commercial counsel to the Canadian government and Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority in connection with the multi-billion dollar Gordie Howe International Bridge.
- “Succession Planning Throughout a Closely Held Business’s Life Cycle,” ICLE 36th Annual Tax Conference, May 23, 2024
- “Corporate Transparency Act: Who’s Impacted and What Does it Mean,” Michigan Venture Capital Association, May 15, 2024
- “What You Need to Know About the Corporate Transparency Act,” Midla
- “Succession Planning Throughout a Closely Held Business’s Life Cycle,” ICLE 36th Annual Tax Conference, May 23, 2024
- “Corporate Transparency Act: Who’s Impacted and What Does it Mean,” Michigan Venture Capital Association, May 15, 2024
- “What You Need to Know About the Corporate Transparency Act,” Midland Business Alliance, March 20, 2024
- “2024 Corporate Transparency Act – Who’s Impacted and What Does It Mean?,” Warner Webinar, March 6, 2024
- “The Small Business Briefing,” Small Business Association of Michigan, January 15, 2024
- “Family Business Alliance 2023: Exploring Family Ownership Structures: Slicing the Pie,” September 19, 2023
- “Contracting for Privacy and Security,” MBA Bankers Education Summit and Trade Show 2023, April 13, 2023
- Did You Form New Entities this Year? You Still Need to Complete CTA ReportingLegacy Matters
- New Corporate Transparency Act Reporting Requirement Begins in 2024Legacy Matters
- Financial Housekeeping Tips for Cannabis EntrepreneursWarner’s Legal News For the Cannabis Industry
- ICLE 36th Annual Tax Conference
- Michigan Venture Capital Association’s Corporate Transparency Act Webinar
- Midland Business Alliance: What You Need to Know About the Corporate Transparency Act
- 2024 Corporate Transparency Act – Who’s Impacted and What Does It Mean?
- Family Business Alliance 2023: Exploring Family Ownership Structures: Slicing the Pie
- Warner Attorneys Selected for Multiple Honors by Best Lawyers in America®
- Warner Partner Corinne Sprague Discusses Corporate Transparency Act with Crain’s Grand Rapids Business
- 66 Warner Attorneys Named Top Lawyers by Grand Rapids Magazine
- Corinne Sprague Elected to the Grand Rapids Art Museum Foundation Board of Trustees
- Warner Attorneys Selected for Multiple Honors by Best Lawyers in America®
- Warner Attorneys Selected for Multiple Honors by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine
- Corinne Sprague Appointed to the Grand Rapids Symphony Board of Directors
- 18 Warner Attorneys Named to Rising Stars List by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine
- Warner Represents US Subsidiary in Connection With Chervon Holdings’ Initial Public Offering
- Michigan State Bar Recognizes Warner for Pro Bono Contributions
- Corinne N. Sprague Selected for Leadership Grand Rapids
- 19 Warner Attorneys Named to Rising Stars List by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine
- Warner Represents Horizon Bank in Acquisition of 14 TCF Branches
- 20 Warner Attorneys Named to Rising Stars List by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine
- 25 Warner Attorneys Named to Rising Stars List by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine
- Warner Represents Vilex and Orthex in Acquisition by OrthoPediatrics
- IJGlobal Names Gordie Howe International Bridge 2018 Deal of the Year
- Gordie Howe International Bridge Named Canadian Deal of the Year by Lexpert® in its Top 10 Deals of 2018
- Gordie Howe International Bridge Named PFI’s 2018 Transport Deal of the Year
- Warner Represents SpartanNash in its Acquisition of Martin’s Super Markets
- Warner Partner Corinne Sprague Named as Up & Coming Lawyer by Michigan Lawyers Weekly
- Warner Represents Structural Concepts Corporation in Its Sale to Mason Wells
- 27 Warner Attorneys Named to Rising Stars List by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine
- 24 Warner Attorneys Recognized as Top Women Lawyers by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine
- Warner Represents TCSB Bancorp, Inc. in Its Merger With Independent Bank Corporation
- Warner Names Four Attorneys as Partners
- 25 Warner Attorneys Recognized as Rising Stars
- Warner Represented West Shore Bank in the Acquisition of Ellis Capital Management
- Warner Advises in the Sale of American Grease Stick Company
- Warner Represented CCL Industries Inc. in US$500 Million Offering of 3.25% Senior Notes Due 2026
- 26 Warner Attorneys Recognized as Rising Stars
- Chemical Financial Corporation Completes Merger with Talmer Bancorp, Inc.
- Warner Representing Birmingham Bloomfield Bancshares, Inc. (Bank of Birmingham) in Merger with Arbor Bancorp, Inc. (Bank of Ann Arbor)
- Warner Representing West Shore Bank in $8.3 Million Acquisition of West Michigan Bank & Trust
- Warner is advising Perrigo Company in the sale of its U.S. Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements Business
- CCL Industries Inc. Acquires Checkpoint Systems, Inc. in an Approximate $500 Million Transaction
- Warner advises Consumers Energy Company in its $155 Million Power Plant Acquisition
- The CTA Reporting Deadline is Fast Approaching with No Judicial Relief in Sight
- Did You Form New Entities this Year? You Still Need to Complete CTA Reporting
- Federal Court Found Corporate Transparency Act Unconstitutional. What Does this Mean for Entities Preparing to Comply?
- New Corporate Transparency Act Reporting Requirement Begins in 2024
- The Corporate Transparency Act Becomes Effective January 1, 2024: Here’s How You Can Prepare
- “Confidential Supervisory Information: What Business Attorneys Should Know,” Michigan Business Law Journal, Fall 2019
- “Confidential Supervisory Information: What Business Attorneys Should Know,” Michigan Business Law Journal, Fall 2019