About the Varnum Blog
Welcome to the Varnum blog, a forum for legal and industry news in various practice groups including alternative energy, water law, agriculture, food processing and estate planning. We hope you will find this information useful and interesting, and we welcome your participation.
The information contained in this blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please be aware that comments between those who post on the blog and those who comment does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. For a full disclaimer, see Terms and Conditions of Use.
Bruce Goodman is the primary contributor to the alternative energy section. In addition to his energy and environmental legal work, Bruce is a strong advocate for the alternative energy industry in Michigan and has worked with state and economic development agencies to advance the industry. He has travelled across the country to foster relationships with alternative energy companies, and has helped clients with unique manufacturing capabilies partner with these companies. Bruce is the author of the “Watt’s New? Michigan Energy News” newsletter.
Eric Guerin is a partner in Varnum’s trial group. He has extensive experience in real estate matters, including construction law, riparian rights, boundary disputes, zoning and land use issues. Eric’s practice also includes disputes involving closely-held businesses including shareholder disputes, non-compete issues and the misappropriation of confidential business information.
Tim Lundgren is a partner in the environmental group and chair of the firm’s Water Law group. Tim works on matters related to NPDES permitting, stormwater and water withdrawal; he also works on site remediation and cleanup issues, permitting for energy development, solid and hazardous waste issues, and due diligence related to property transfers. Tim is also the author of Water Marks, a newsletter devoted to water matters in Michigan and the surrounding region.
Jessica DesNoyers is the primary contributor to our estate planning blog section. In addition to her legal work in Varnum’s Estate Planning and Corporate practice groups, Jessica is active with the Grand Haven Chamber of Commerce, various local fundraising and community events, volunteering with her church’s youth group, as well as the Grand Haven Area Young Professionals organization, where she currently serves as treasurer.
Aaron Phelps contributes to the Agriculture Law section of Varnum’s blog. Michigan Agriculture law is a large focus of Aaron’s practice, which includes commercial and environmental litigation in state and federal courts. He is the author of “Growing Michigan” a Michigan-focused newsletter for those in the agriculture industry.
Steve Kluting contributes to the Food Law portion of the blog, Food for Thought. Steve is a partner and the co-chair of Varnum’s Food Law practice group and has extensive experience counseling FDA regulated businesses on a series of legal issues, including product labeling, recalls, import and export issues and regulatory issues.
Matt Eugster also contributes to the Food Law portion of the blog, Food for Thought. Matt is a partner and the co-chair of Varnum’s Food Law practice group and has worked for years assisting food processing companies with various environmental and food safety matters, including environmental permitting, food safety regulation, organic certification and brownfield redevelopment and economic incentives.
John Pestle is a telecommunications and utility lawyer who is the chair of the firm’s Telecommunications Practice Group. He mainly represents municipalities, property owners and others in their dealings with cell phone, telecommunications and cable companies. Typical matters are cell tower leases and zoning, cable TV franchises and other telecommunications matters. John is a graduate of Harvard, Yale and the University of Michigan Law School and held an FCC license to work on radio, TV and ship radar transmitters.
The Varnum battery energy attorneys have a depth of legal experience applicable to the advanced energy storage industry. Michigan has been the recipient of over $3 billion in federal grants for the research, development, and manufacture of lithium ion batteries for automotive, electronic, alternative, and other applications. Varnum has followed this effort to develop and expand the industry, providing the full range of legal skills of a full service law firm which are directly applicable and useful to this new industry: corporate law, employment law, real estate law, immigration law, and regulatory law.
Chris Caldwell and Laura Radle are attorneys experienced in cottage planning from a professional standpoint, but also understand the personal issues related to cottage ownership. Laura is an owner of a family cottage near Pentwater which is rented part of the year. Chris’s in-laws own a cottage in Indian River, Michigan, which is an important gathering place for many in his extended family. This background helps Laura and Chris bring practical experience to the often complicated issues regarding planning for the family cottage.
