Capabilities and connections – These are the overarching benefits that Warner’s Closely Held Business attorneys offers to clients. We adeptly handle all of the various legal aspects of your business – and we do so in a “whole company” context that ensures nothing falls through the cracks. For emerging and established companies, beyond the governing areas of law, we actively seek ways to connect you to just the right people and resources to match your needs and situation at any given time.
We Hold All Our Clients Close
That is because, aside from some of our publicly traded clients, each of our business and corporate clients falls into this “closely held” category – ranging from those solopreneurs just starting a side hustle to global, multinational corporations with hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. Drawing upon the collective strengths of our full-service firm, we are ready to respond to any legal challenge or requirement that may arise for your business, partnership and/or limited liability company. This includes issues, concerns and opportunities related to corporate and general business law, human resources, employee benefits, tax, real estate and well beyond. We listen intently to you and gain a deep understanding of your business and where you want to go – only then do we craft a strategy to help you get there.
experience
Strengths Snapshot
- Antitrust and unfair competition
- Banking law
- Business start-ups and early round financing
- CMBS special servicers
- Commercial contracts
- Commercial finance law
- Commercial transactions law
- Consumer product safety law
- Corporate and general business law
- Corporate governance
- Employee benefits
- Estate planning
- Family offices
- Financial services
- Franchise law
- Funds and investment services
- Human resources
- Income tax planning
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Private client
- Real estate
- Securities and corporate governance
- Succession planning
Videos and Podcasts
September 29, 2026
Personal Goodwill Could Save You Millions in Taxes
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September 29, 2026
How Can I Prepare My Closely Held Business for a Successful Sale?
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- Protecting Your Business’s Future: Why Succession Planning Cannot WaitLegacy Matters
- Hot Topics for Private Clients and Family Offices from the 2025 Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning – Part TwoLegacy Matters
- Managing Cybersecurity Risk for Family Offices and BusinessesLegacy Matters
- Connelly v. United States Decision Affects Life Insurance for Closely Held Business OwnersLegacy Matters
- 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
- The New Inflation Reduction Act ExplainedLegacy Matters
- Josie Boucher to Speak at The Middle Market M&A Conference
- DeVoe M&A Succession Summit 2025
- John Muhs to Speak at DILA 2025 Conference
- 65th Annual Probate & Estate Planning Institute
- 65th Annual Probate & Estate Planning Institute
- FEI Grand Rapids: Navigating Today’s M&A Landscape
- State Bar of Michigan Real Property Law Academy
- DILA 2024 Conference
- ICLE 36th Annual Tax Conference
- Michigan Venture Capital Association’s Corporate Transparency Act Webinar
- The Current State of M&A in Michigan and Beyond
- Midland Business Alliance: What You Need to Know About the Corporate Transparency Act
- Michigan Farm Bureau Presents: Take Root: Farm Succession and Estate Planning Conference
- MAA 2023 Winter Conference
- Family Business Alliance 2023: Exploring Family Ownership Structures: Slicing the Pie
- Michigan Capital Network Fall Fund Update
- Crain’s Grand Rapids Business POWER Breakfast Series: What’s Next for Family Business?
- Transitioning Your Business … Selling Your Business … Succession Planning …
- 2023 ACG Detroit – Congress Codifies M&A Broker Exemption: Clarity Brings New Opportunities
- Family Business Alliance Board of Directors Workshop
- Strategic Alternatives for Middle Market and Closely Held Businesses
- Warner Represented Rockford on Transition to 100% Employee Ownership
- Warner Represents North Arrow ABA in Transition to 100% Employee Ownership
- Linda Paullin-Hebden: Lift-Outs Are Hot — for Good Reason
- Warner Represented Harlo Corp. in its Sale to Borgman Capital
- Josie Boucher Previews M&A Market in Interview with Crain’s Grand Rapids Business
- Greg Schmidt Joins Humane Society of West Michigan
- Brandon J. Hayes Joins Warner
- Mark J. Wassink Reelected Managing Partner of Warner
- Warner Names Eight Attorneys as Partners
- Warner Partner Corinne Sprague Discusses Corporate Transparency Act with Crain’s Grand Rapids Business
- Warner Selected Top-Tier Law Firm by Best Lawyers®
- Mark Wassink Named to Grand Rapids 200 for Second Year in a Row
- Danelle Harrington Joins Hidden Harvest’s Board of Trustees
- Emily Cantor Joins Grand Rapids Public Schools Foundation Board of Directors
- Corinne Sprague Elected to the Grand Rapids Art Museum Foundation Board of Trustees
- Bruce Young Among Leaders Who Discuss Transitions, Values, Culture at Crain’s Grand Rapids Business Power Breakfast
- Shane Hansen Weighs in on New M&A Legislation
- Warner Represented Rehmann in its Acquisition of Vestal & Wiler
- Mark Wassink Selected for Grand Rapids 200
- Warner Represented Scott Snow (financial advisors) LLC in Its Sale to Clearstead Advisors
- Warner Represented Heber Fuger Wendin in Its Sale to Mariner Wealth Advisors
- Warner Partner Bruce C. Young Honored by Inclusion in Michigan Lawyers Weekly 2022 Hall of Fame
- Warner Ranked Top-Tier Law Firm by Best Lawyers®, U.S. News & World Report
- Warner Welcomes Three New Attorneys
- 105 Warner Attorneys Rated Best Lawyers in America©
- Corinne N. Sprague Selected for Leadership Grand Rapids
- Warner Partner Ford J.H. Turrell Honored by Michigan Lawyers Weekly
- Eighteen Warner Attorneys Named Lawyers of the Year
- Two Warner Partners to Participate in Grand Rapids Chamber Leadership Programs
- Warner Ranked Top-Tier Law Firm by Best Lawyers, U.S. News & World Report 2020
- Warner Partner Timothy L. Horner Named a 2019 “Leader in Law” by Michigan Lawyers Weekly
- Warner Ranked Top-Tier Law Firm by Best Lawyers, U.S. News & World Report
- One Hundred Warner Attorneys Rated Best Lawyers in America
- Eleven Warner Partners Named Lawyers of the Year
- Warner Partners Named to New Leadership Roles
- Warner Names New Executive Partner at Muskegon Office
- Warner Ranked Top-Tier Law Firm by Best Lawyers, U.S. News & World Report
- Fourteen Warner Partners Named Lawyers of the Year in 2018
- Warner Ranked Top-Tier Law Firm by Best Lawyers, U.S. News & World Report
- Fifteen Warner Attorneys Rated 2017 Top Lawyers by DBusiness
- Three Warner Partners Elected to Michigan State Bar Leadership Positions
- Nine Warner Partners Named Lawyers of the Year
- Protecting Your Business’s Future: Why Succession Planning Cannot Wait
- Warner Wins at Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, Clarifying Directors’ Heightened Fiduciary Duties in Closely Held Corporations
- Hot Topics for Private Clients and Family Offices from the 2025 Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning – Part Two
- CTA Filing is Now Voluntary for US Entities and Citizens: Rule Changes Ahead
- CTA Filing Obligations Back in Effect, but Further Developments Expected
- CTA Filing Obligations Remain Voluntary Amid Court Challenges
- Are You Ready to Submit Your Corporate Transparency Act Reports by Year End?
- Recent Connelly Decision Affects Life Insurance for Closely Held Business Owners
- Automotive Insiders Podcast — M&A: Where Are the Opportunities and the Challenges?
- The CTA Reporting Deadline is Fast Approaching with No Judicial Relief in Sight
- Managing Cybersecurity Risk for Family Offices and Businesses
- Connelly v. United States Decision Affects Life Insurance for Closely Held Business Owners
- Carbon Sequestration: What is it and How Will it Affect Me?
- Did You Form New Entities this Year? You Still Need to Complete CTA Reporting
- New Corporate Transparency Act Reporting Requirement Begins in 2024
- The Corporate Transparency Act Becomes Effective January 1, 2024: Here’s How You Can Prepare
- SEC Adopts New Rules and Amendments Affecting Private Fund Advisers
- Warner Partner Beth O’Laughlin Philanthropic Article Featured in The West Coast Way Magazine
- Do You Have an Old LLC?
- Corporate Transparency Act: FinCEN Issues Final Rule for Beneficial Ownership Reporting
- The New Inflation Reduction Act Explained
- DOJ Remains Focused on Combatting Opioid Misuse
- A New Twist for Family Businesses: Shareholder Oppression Claims Are Not Just for Minority Shareholders Anymore
































