experience
Deal Announcements
- Warner Represented Shorepoint Capital Partners in its Sale to Allworth Financial
 - Warner Represents Lead Balloon Productions in Purchase of Kalamazoo State Theatre
 - Warner Represented Eagle Wealth Management in Sale to Mercer Advisors
 - Warner Represented Better Money Decisions in Sale to EP Wealth Advisors
 - Warner Represented The Paul Group in its Sale to United Capital Financial Advisors
 - Warner Represented Centricity Wealth Management in its Sale to Composition Wealth
 - Warner Represented Full Sail Capital, LLC in its Sale to Mercer Global Advisors, Inc.
 - Warner Represented West Shore Bank in its Acquisition of Auto Club Trust’s Wealth Management, Investment Advisory and Trust Services Business
 - Warner Represented Kent Manufacturing LLC in Its Sale to Sur-Seal Corp.
 - Warner Represented First State Bank of Decatur in its Sale to GTSB Financial, Inc.
 - Warner Represents Highland Group in its Purchase of Brandworks Detroit
 - Warner Represented Yeo & Yeo CPAs & Advisors in its Acquisition of the Practice of Berger, Ghersi & LaDuke PLC
 - Warner Represented ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. in its Merger with Fentura Financial, Inc. and Underwritten Public Offering of Common Stock
 - Warner Represented Freeland State Bank in Its Merger with Thumb Bancorp, Inc.
 - Warner Represented Crown Capital Securities in its Sale to LPL Financial
 - Warner Represented Lumin Financial in its Sale to Perigon Wealth Management
 - Warner Represented Century Mold in its Acquisition of Integrity Injection Molding
 - Warner Represents Macatawa Bank Corporation in Its Pending Merger with Wintrust Financial Corporation
 - Warner Represented Linamar in Acquiring Three Battery Enclosure Factories
 - Warner Represented Star Truck Rentals in Its Sale to Penske Truck Leasing
 - Warner Represented Syntrinsic in Its Transaction with IMA Financial Group
 - Warner Advises Speedrack Products Group on ESOP Deal
 - Warner Represented Earth Equity Advisors in its Partnership with Prime Capital Investment Advisors
 - Warner Represented Rehmann in its Acquisition of Vestal & Wiler
 - 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 Represented Emerson Wealth in Its Sale to Mariner Wealth Advisors
 - Warner Represented Azimuth Capital in Joining Focus Financial Partners Inc.
 - Warner Represented Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry in the Sale of a Majority of Its Stock to The Hoffmann Family of Companies
 - Warner Represented Beene Garter in Its Business Combination with Doeren Mayhew
 - Warner Represents Nichols Paper & Supply in Its Sale to Imperial Dade
 - Warner Represents Performance Trust Capital Partners in the Placement of $75 Million of Subordinated Notes by Arbor Bancorp, Inc.
 - Warner Represented West Shore Bank Corporation in the Offering of $20 Million of Subordinated Notes
 - Warner Represents Horizon Bank in Acquisition of 14 TCF Branches
 - Warner Represented Kendall Electric, Inc. In Its Acquisition of Rumsey Electric Company
 - Warner Represented Pere Marquette Shipping Co. and Lake Michigan Car Ferry, Inc. in Their Sale to Interlake Holding Company
 - Warner Represented Uncle Ed’s Oil Shoppes, Inc. and AutoBath America, Inc. in Their Sale to FullSpeed Automotive
 - Warner Represents American Holoptics in $42 Million Acquisition of Military Supplier
 - Warner Represents The Kendall Group in its Acquisition of Forberg Scientific
 - Warner Represents FormulaFolios in its Strategic Transaction with Brookstone Capital Management
 - Warner Represents Ranir in its Acquisition of the Steripod® Toothbrush Accessory Brand and Related Assets
 - Warner Representing ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. in the Acquisition of Community Shores Bank Corporation
 - Warner Represents Vilex and Orthex in Acquisition by OrthoPediatrics
 - Warner Represents ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. in Its Merger with County Bank Corp.
 - Warner Represents SpartanNash in its Acquisition of Martin’s Super Markets
 - Warner Represents BPV Environmental in Its Sale to Pestell Group
 - Warner Represents Structural Concepts Corporation in Its Sale to Mason Wells
 - Warner Represents Lambert, Edwards & Associates in the Acquisition of NYC Financial Communications Firm
 - Warner Represents TCSB Bancorp, Inc. in Its Merger With Independent Bank Corporation
 - Warner Represented CMS Enterprises in Purchase of Solar Power Plant in Lansing, Michigan
 - Warner Represented Adtegrity.com, Inc. in the Acquisition of Media Place Partners, LLC
 - Warner Represented West Shore Bank in the Acquisition of Ellis Capital Management
 - Warner Advises Xcentric Mold & Engineering on Investment from The Riverside Company
 - Warner Advises in the Sale of American Grease Stick Company
 - Warner Advises in a Purchase of an NBA D‑League Team
 - Perrigo to Acquire National Healthcare & Consumer Goods Products Distributor – Geiss, Destin & Dunn, Inc.
 - Warner Representing Birmingham Bloomfield Bancshares, Inc. (Bank of Birmingham) in Merger with Arbor Bancorp, Inc. (Bank of Ann Arbor)
 - CCL Industries Inc. Acquires Checkpoint Systems, Inc. in an Approximate $500 Million Transaction
 - Warner is advising Perrigo Company in the sale of its U.S. Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements Business
 - Warner Representing West Shore Bank in $8.3 Million Acquisition of West Michigan Bank & Trust
 - Chemical Financial Corporation Completes Merger with Talmer Bancorp, Inc.
 - Warner advises Consumers Energy Company in its $155 Million Power Plant Acquisition
 - Complex Corporate Acquisition Spans 23 Nations
 
Strengths Snapshot
Our Mergers and Acquisitions attorneys draw on extensive experience to provide counsel in these and other areas:
 
- Drafting and negotiating early-stage M&A agreements such as letters of intent, term sheets, confidentiality agreements and investment banker engagement letters
 - Preparing a business for due diligence by potential acquirers
 - Legal due diligence review of acquisition targets
 - Assisting with sale processes, including auctions
 - Preparing and negotiating definitive acquisition agreements
 - Drafting ancillary transaction agreements and documents, including consulting agreements, employment agreements, noncompetition agreements, real estate documentation and closing checklists
 - Counseling boards of directors and special committees with respect to fiduciary duties and other obligations
 - Obtaining governmental approvals, including preparing the premerger notification report required by the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Act
 - Negotiating transaction financing terms and documentation
 - Closing the transaction
 - Assisting in post-closing price adjustment and transition matters
 - Preparing closing binders
 - Advising on estate planning and tax planning strategies
 
Videos and Podcasts
- Getting Ready to Sell Your Investment Advisory BusinessLegally Speaking: Broker-dealer and Investment Adviser Industry Insights
 - Engaging an Investment Banker Before Selling a BusinessLegally Speaking: Broker-dealer and Investment Adviser Industry Insights
 - Protecting Client Relationships During the M&A TransactionLegally Speaking: Broker-dealer and Investment Adviser Industry Insights
 - RIA: Client Consent in M&A TransactionsLegally Speaking: Broker-dealer and Investment Adviser Industry Insights
 
- DeVoe M&A Succession Summit 2025
 - Commercial Alliance of Realtors West Michigan Summit
 - Shane Hansen to Speak at 2025 Midwest Securities Law Institute
 - John Muhs to Speak at DILA 2025 Conference
 - 2025 Bankruptcy Summer Seminar
 
- FEI Grand Rapids: Navigating Today’s M&A Landscape
 - State Bar of Michigan Real Property Law Academy
 - AM&AA: Commercial Real Estate and its Role in M&A
 - 2024 OFN Conference
 - ACG University Fall 2024
 - 2024 Midwest Securities Law Institute
 - DILA 2024 Conference
 - Echelon Partners Deals and Dealmakers Summit
 - MMA Update: Supreme Court Paid Leave Decision & the Impact on Manufacturers
 - MTEC SmartZone’s Inaugural AMMP Accelerator Cohort
 - Women In Defense: Michigan Defense Leadership Summit
 - The Current State of M&A in Michigan and Beyond
 - Midland Business Alliance: What You Need to Know About the Corporate Transparency Act
 - MAA 2023 Winter Conference
 - Grand Rapids Chamber’s OUTPRO Forum: Beyond the Politics
 - Family Business Alliance 2023: Exploring Family Ownership Structures: Slicing the Pie
 - Michigan Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame Luncheon
 - M&A Roundtable: Anatomy of the Deal
 - Legal Trends to Watch in 2016
 - M&A Market Update
 - Human Resources Seminar 2015
 
- Linda Paullin-Hebden: Lift-Outs Are Hot — for Good Reason
 - Warner Represented Shorepoint Capital Partners in its Sale to Allworth Financial
 - Warner Represents Lead Balloon Productions in Purchase of Kalamazoo State Theatre
 - Warner Represented Eagle Wealth Management in Sale to Mercer Advisors
 - Warner Represented Better Money Decisions in Sale to EP Wealth Advisors
 
- Warner Represented The Paul Group in its Sale to United Capital Financial Advisors
 - Warner Represented Centricity Wealth Management in its Sale to Composition Wealth
 - Warner Named as Leading Michigan Law Firm by Chambers USA 2025
 - Warner Represented Harlo Corp. in its Sale to Borgman Capital
 - Warner Represented Full Sail Capital, LLC in its Sale to Mercer Global Advisors, Inc.
 - Warner Welcomes Robert J. Cambridge
 - Two Warner Transactions Recognized by ACG West Michigan
 - Three Warner Transactions Recognized by Crain’s Grand Rapids Business
 - Warner Represented West Shore Bank in its Acquisition of Auto Club Trust’s Wealth Management, Investment Advisory and Trust Services Business
 - Warner Represented Kent Manufacturing LLC in Its Sale to Sur-Seal Corp.
 - Warner Partner Charlie Goode Named to Michigan Go To Lawyers Power List by Michigan Lawyers Weekly
 - Linda Paullin-Hebden Featured in Michigan Lawyers Weekly
 - Warner Represented First State Bank of Decatur in its Sale to GTSB Financial, Inc.
 - Warner Represents Highland Group in its Purchase of Brandworks Detroit
 - Josie Boucher Previews M&A Market in Interview with Crain’s Grand Rapids Business
 - Warner Represented Yeo & Yeo CPAs & Advisors in its Acquisition of the Practice of Berger, Ghersi & LaDuke PLC
 - Warner Represented ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. in its Merger with Fentura Financial, Inc. and Underwritten Public Offering of Common Stock
 - Greg Schmidt Joins Humane Society of West Michigan
 - Warner Represented Freeland State Bank in Its Merger with Thumb Bancorp, Inc.
 - Warner Named as Leading Michigan Law Firm by Chambers USA 2024
 - Warner Represented Crown Capital Securities in its Sale to LPL Financial
 - Brandon J. Hayes Joins Warner
 - Warner Represented Lumin Financial in its Sale to Perigon Wealth Management
 - Warner Partner Charlie Goode Honored as Michigan Go To Lawyer for Business Transactions by Michigan Lawyers Weekly
 - Warner Represented Century Mold in its Acquisition of Integrity Injection Molding
 - Warner Represents Macatawa Bank Corporation in Its Pending Merger with Wintrust Financial Corporation
 - Warner Attorney Sarah Harper, Client Star Truck Rentals Honored by Crain’s Grand Rapids M&A Deals and Dealmakers of the Year
 - Warner Partner Linda Paullin-Hebden Recognized as All-Star Advisor of the Year by ACG® Detroit
 - Mark J. Wassink Reelected Managing Partner of Warner
 - Warner Names Eight Attorneys as Partners
 - Warner Leads Calumet Electronics to Secure Nearly $50 Million in Federal and State Incentive Packages
 - 22 Warner Attorneys Rated 2024 Top Lawyer by DBusiness
 - Warner Selected Top-Tier Law Firm by Best Lawyers®
 - Mark Wassink Named to Grand Rapids 200 for Second Year in a Row
 - Emily Cantor Joins Grand Rapids Public Schools Foundation Board of Directors
 - Christian Rhoades Joins Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes Associate Leadership Board
 - Corinne Sprague Elected to the Grand Rapids Art Museum Foundation Board of Trustees
 - Warner Represented Linamar in Acquiring Three Battery Enclosure Factories
 - Sarah Harper Joins D.A. Blodgett – St. John’s Emerging Leaders Council
 - Warner Represented Star Truck Rentals in Its Sale to Penske Truck Leasing
 - Warner Represented Syntrinsic in Its Transaction with IMA Financial Group
 - Bruce Young Among Leaders Who Discuss Transitions, Values, Culture at Crain’s Grand Rapids Business Power Breakfast
 - Corinne Sprague Appointed to the Grand Rapids Symphony Board of Directors
 - Warner Partner David Eberhard Among Michigan’s Go To Real Estate Lawyers
 - Warner Selected as Leading Michigan Law Firm by Chambers USA 2023
 - Cody A. Mott Appointed to Opportunity Thrive’s Board of Directors
 - Cody A. Mott Joins Warner
 - MiBiz Honors Warner Partner Justin Stemple, Shepler’s Transaction with Dealmaker of the Year Awards
 - Warner Partner Kelly Hollingsworth Honored by Michigan Lawyers Weekly
 - Warner Represented Earth Equity Advisors in its Partnership with Prime Capital Investment Advisors
 - 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 Welcomes Paul Engel
 - 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 Represented Emerson Wealth in Its Sale to Mariner Wealth Advisors
 - Warner Represented Azimuth Capital in Joining Focus Financial Partners Inc.
 - Warner Represented Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry in the Sale of a Majority of Its Stock to The Hoffmann Family of Companies
 - Warner Partner Bruce C. Young Honored by Inclusion in Michigan Lawyers Weekly 2022 Hall of Fame
 - Warner Represented Beene Garter in Its Business Combination with Doeren Mayhew
 - Warner Represents Nichols Paper & Supply in Its Sale to Imperial Dade
 - 21 Warner Attorneys Rated 2022 Top Lawyer by DBusiness
 - Warner Ranked Top-Tier Law Firm by Best Lawyers®, U.S. News & World Report
 - Warner Welcomes Three New Attorneys
 - Linda Paullin-Hebden Named to Detroit 500 List
 - Warner Partner Shane B. Hansen Named BTI Client Service All-Star
 - 105 Warner Attorneys Rated Best Lawyers in America©
 - 11 Warner Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers®: Ones to Watch List
 - Corinne N. Sprague Selected for Leadership Grand Rapids
 - Benjamin P. Nimphie Appointed to InterAct of Michigan Board
 - Warner Attorney Malaina J. Weldy Appointed to Affinity Mentoring Board
 - Warner Represents Horizon Bank in Acquisition of 14 TCF Branches
 - Warner Selected as Leading Michigan Law Firm by Chambers USA 2021
 - Warner Partner Ford J.H. Turrell Honored by Michigan Lawyers Weekly
 - Crain’s Detroit Business Names Linda Paullin-Hebden to “Notable Women in the Law” List
 - Warner Represented Kendall Electric, Inc. In Its Acquisition of Rumsey Electric Company
 - Warner Partner Susan M. Cook Honored by Inclusion in Michigan Lawyers Weekly 2021 Hall of Fame
 - Warner Partner Receives MiBiz Dealmaker of the Year and Deal of the Year Awards
 - OESA and Warner to Present “2021 Automotive Supplier Legal Hot Topics”
 - Warner Represented Pere Marquette Shipping Co. and Lake Michigan Car Ferry, Inc. in Their Sale to Interlake Holding Company
 - Warner Partner Among Michigan Go To Business Lawyers
 - Warner Partner Jeffrey Ott Provides Insight into Bank M&A during Pandemic
 - 21 Warner Attorneys Rated 2021 Top Lawyer by DBusiness
 - Warner Ranked Top-Tier Law Firm by Best Lawyers, U.S. News & World Report
 - Warner Represented Uncle Ed’s Oil Shoppes, Inc. and AutoBath America, Inc. in Their Sale to FullSpeed Automotive
 - Warner Represents American Holoptics in $42 Million Acquisition of Military Supplier
 - 102 Warner Attorneys Rated 2021 Best Lawyers in America
 - Eighteen Warner Attorneys Named Lawyers of the Year
 - Eight Warner Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers Ones to Watch List
 - Daniel C. Persinger Returns to Warner as Senior Counsel
 - Warner Represents The Kendall Group in its Acquisition of Forberg Scientific
 - Warner Represents FormulaFolios in its Strategic Transaction with Brookstone Capital Management
 - Warner Named a Leading Michigan Law Firm by Chambers USA 2020
 - Michigan Lawyers Weekly Honors Linda Paullin-Hebden as One of Its “Leaders in the Law”
 - Warner Represents Ranir in its Acquisition of the Steripod® Toothbrush Accessory Brand and Related Assets
 - Warner Representing ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. in the Acquisition of Community Shores Bank Corporation
 - Warner Names Six Attorneys as Partners
 - Warner Ranked Top-Tier Law Firm by Best Lawyers, U.S. News & World Report 2020
 - Warner Welcomes Daniel G. Bonucchi
 - Warner Partners Receive MiBiz Dealmaker of the Year and Deal of the Year Awards
 - Warner Represents Vilex and Orthex in Acquisition by OrthoPediatrics
 - Warner Partner Stephen C. Waterbury Recognized in Inaugural Hall of Fame by Michigan Lawyers Weekly
 - Warner Partner Jeffrey S. Battershall Receives Carol Van Andel Angel of Excellence Award
 - Chambers USA 2019 Names Warner a Leading Michigan Law Firm
 - Warner Partner Timothy L. Horner Named a 2019 “Leader in Law” by Michigan Lawyers Weekly
 - Warner Represents ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. in Its Merger with County Bank Corp.
 - Warner Names Eight Attorneys as Partners
 - Warner Partner Corinne Sprague Named as Up & Coming Lawyer by Michigan Lawyers Weekly
 - Warner Ranked Top-Tier Law Firm by Best Lawyers, U.S. News & World Report
 - Warner Represents BPV Environmental in Its Sale to Pestell Group
 - Warner Represents Structural Concepts Corporation in Its Sale to Mason Wells
 - A focus on serving others serves Waterbury well during four-decade legal career
 - Warner Partner Stephen C. Waterbury Receives Inaugural Hall of Fame Award for Lifetime M&A Achievement
 - One Hundred Warner Attorneys Rated Best Lawyers in America
 - Warner Represents Lambert, Edwards & Associates in the Acquisition of NYC Financial Communications Firm
 - Warner Represents TCSB Bancorp, Inc. in Its Merger With Independent Bank Corporation
 - Three Warner Partners Elected to Management Committee
 - Chambers USA 2018 Warner Partners as Leading Michigan Law Firm
 - Linda Paullin-Hebden Named To Crain’s Detroit Business “Notable Women Lawyers” List
 - Warner Ranked Top-Tier Law Firm by Best Lawyers, U.S. News & World Report
 - Jeffrey A. Ott Named Finalist for Dealmaker of the Year
 - Warner Represented CMS Enterprises in Purchase of Solar Power Plant in Lansing, Michigan
 - Warner Represented Adtegrity.com, Inc. in the Acquisition of Media Place Partners, LLC
 - Warner Represented West Shore Bank in the Acquisition of Ellis Capital Management
 - Warner Advises in the Sale of American Grease Stick Company
 - Warner Advises Xcentric Mold & Engineering on Investment from The Riverside Company
 - Warner Represents Chemical Financial Corp. in Transaction Recognized as One of Biggest Deals of 2016
 - Warner Advises in a Purchase of an NBA D‑League Team
 - 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
 - Warner Partner, Client to be Honored by Association for Corporate Growth
 - Chemical Financial Corporation Completes Merger with Talmer Bancorp, Inc.
 - Perrigo to Acquire National Healthcare & Consumer Goods Products Distributor – Geiss, Destin & Dunn, Inc.
 - Warner Representing Birmingham Bloomfield Bancshares, Inc. (Bank of Birmingham) in Merger with Arbor Bancorp, Inc. (Bank of Ann Arbor)
 - Crain’s Detroit Business Names Linda Paullin-Hebden to “100 Most Influential Women” List
 - Warner Representing West Shore Bank in $8.3 Million Acquisition of West Michigan Bank & Trust
 - Linda Paullin-Hebden Named Executive Partner of Warner Southfield Office
 - 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
 - Chambers USA 2016 Recognizes Warner as Leading Michigan Law Firm
 - Warner advises Consumers Energy Company in its $155 Million Power Plant Acquisition
 - Jeffrey S. Battershall Received Client Choice Award in Recognition of Excellence in Client Service
 - Warner Welcomes David W. MacDonald
 - Jeffrey A. Ott Named Finalist for Dealmaker of the Year
 - Warner Welcomes Rachel J. Foster
 - Great Lakes Bay Region Professionals Will Share M&A Market Update for Business Owners
 - Jeffrey S. Battershall Received Client Choice Award in Recognition of Excellence in Client Service
 - Chambers USA 2015 Recognizes Warner as Leading Michigan Law Firm
 - Complex Corporate Acquisition Spans 23 Nations
 
- Automotive Insiders Podcast — M&A: Where Are the Opportunities and the Challenges?
 - Getting Ready to Sell Your Investment Advisory Business
 - Engaging an Investment Banker Before Selling a Business
 - Protecting Client Relationships During the M&A Transaction
 - RIA: Client Consent in M&A Transactions
 
- M&A Strategy Update: Union Contracts and Section 363 Sales
 - Corporate Transparency Act: FinCEN Issues Final Rule for Beneficial Ownership Reporting
 - Warner OESA Legal Corner Article: Quick Tips To Better Prepare For Your M&A Future
 - OESA and Warner Join Forces to Present “Legal Trends to Watch in 2016” to the Automotive Supply Industry
 - Warner Represents Chemical Financial Corporation in a $1.1 Billion Bank Merger with Talmer Bancorp, Inc.
 - Revlon Revisited: Delaware Supreme Court Provides New Guidance on M&A Rules
 - Business Practice Group Recent Transactions