Michael J. Willis, J.D., C.P.A., Co-Founder, Managing Partner

Michael is registered as a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Illinois and is licensed to practice law in both Florida and Michigan. Before forming Willis & Willis, PLC, Michael worked for Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett LLP and Kerr, Russell, Weber, PLC.

He practices:

• Corporate Law;
• Estate Planning;
• Estate and Trust Litigation;
• Estate Tax Minimization;
• Estate, Trust and Probate Administration;
• Elder Law;
• Medicaid Planning;
• Real Estate Law; and
• Lottery Disputes.

He is also a frequent lecturer on these topics.

Representative Clients:

• Entrepreneurial, Wealth-generating Individuals
• Life Science Related Corporations and Individuals
• Technology Firms
• Professional Service Organizations
• Development Companies
• Retail and Wholesale Brokers

Awards/Honors:

• Michael is listed in the Best Lawyers in America.
• Michael is rated as an AV-Preeminent attorney by Martindale-Hubbell's Peer Review Rating. This rating, according to Martindale, which has been rating lawyers for over a century, signifies that a lawyer has reached the heights of professional excellence and is recognized for the highest levels of skills and integrity.
• In 2007, he was selected by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as one of Michigan's Up and Coming Lawyers, an award presented to only 6 of 40,000 attorneys in Michigan.
• In 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2012, he was selected as a Rising Star by Michigan Super Lawyers.
• In 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012, he has been listed in Marquis Who's Who in American Law.
• In 2009, he was selected by the Florida Bar as the President's recipient of the Pro Bono Service Award for the Out of State (49 states) Judicial Circuit.
• In 2009, Willis & Willis was honored by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as a 21^st Century Innovator for its value-based employee compensation system.

Michael serves on the following corporate boards:

• Lake Doster Development Co., Secretary and Treasurer
• Jack H. Kelly Farms, Inc., President

He serves on the following non-profit boards:

• Holy Cross College at Notre Dame, Indiana, Board of Trustees
• Notre Dame Club of Kalamazoo, Committee Chair
• Cpl. Christopher Kelly Willis Foundation, Co-President
• Vineyard Outreach Ministries (past)
• St. Monica School (past)

Michael received his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. He graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame. He belongs to the Florida and Michigan Bars; the Estate Planning Committee of the American Association of Attorney-CPAs; the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law and the Taxation Sections of the American Bar Association; the Michigan Bar, the Kalamazoo County Bar Association and the Christian Legal Society. Michael's wife Susan their children, Isabella, Christian, Mary, Michael Joseph, and Therese are the lights of his life. They live in Kalamazoo. Willis & Willis, PLC dedicates its practice to God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the founders' fallen brother, Corporal Christopher Kelly Willis. You can reach Michael Willis at 269-492-1045 or by email at mjwillis@wwplc.com

Areas of Practice:

• Estate Planning
• Estate and Trust Litigation
• Corporate Law
• Estate Tax Minimization
• Estate, Trust and Probate Administration
• Elder Law
• Medicaid Planning
• Real Estate Law
• Lottery Disputes

Certification/Specialties:

Certified Public Accountant

Bar Admissions:

Florida

Michigan

Education:

The University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
J.D.

University of Notre Dame
B.A.
Honors: Magna Cum Laude

Representative Clients:

Entrepreneurial, Wealth-generating Individuals

Life Science Related Corporations and Individuals

Technology Firms

Professional Service Organizations

Development Companies

Retail and Wholesale Brokers

Classes/Seminars Taught:

• Avid Public Presenter, Estate Planning, Estate Tax, Probate Administration, Corporate Law and Real Estate, Southwestern Michigan

Professional Association and Memberships:

• Lake Doster Development Co.
• Secretary and Treasurer
• Jack H. Kelly Farms, Inc.
• President
• Notre Dame Club of Kalamazoo
• Committee Chair
• Friends of the Portage Senior Center
• Vice-President (past)
• Southwest Michigan Professional Network
• Secretary (past)
• Cpl. Christopher Kelly Willis Foundation
• Co-President
• Florida Bar Association
• Michigan Bar Association
• American Association of Attorney-CPAs, Estate Planning Committee
• American Bar Association, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law and the Taxation Sections
• Kalamazoo County Bar Association
• Christian Legal Society

Past Employment Positions:

Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett LLP

Kerr, Russell, Weber, PLC