Ross brings his experience as a municipal, property tax, and drain attorney to FSBR, focusing on Michigan municipal, property tax, and drain law with an emphasis on property tax appeals and special assessments, drain projects, development, zoning, building and planning, and Michigan’s Drain Code.

He appreciates the fast-paced nature of his work and is especially proud of the relief his clients feel when they put their trust in his hands. Ross is thoughtful, and a straight talker, delivering an up-front perspective about the advantages and disadvantages of a client’s particular situation. Whether it’s major litigation or a minor legal matter, Ross knows every client’s case is the most important thing to them, so he treats it that way as well.

As part of the firm’s Municipal Practice Group, he provides expertise and responsiveness to public officials and clients as Township Attorney, Village Attorney, and City Attorney, and as counsel to County Drain Commissioners throughout Michigan, where he handles litigation in administrative, trial, and appellate courts.

Ross is committed to obtaining successful results for his clients, and he strives every day to be the best at his craft. He enjoys the relationships he develops with his clients and takes pride in the trust and respect he’s built with opposing attorneys and judges as well.

Ross joined FSBR in 2008 and has been a partner since 2014. Prior to that, he was an attorney with the Hubbard Law Firm, P.C.

Off the clock, he stays active with his family, playing and coaching soccer, and supporting his three kids in their academic and athletic endeavors.

EXPERIENCE

• Meridian Township: Defended Entire Tribunal property tax appeals, including apartment complexes, commercial retail, regional mall, office, and restaurant properties.
• City of Fenton: Defended Entire Tribunal property appeals, including residential and commercial properties.
• Gratiot County Drain Commissioner: Provided counsel on behalf of drainage districts related to numerous alternative energy developments.
• MDARD and Various County Drain Commissioners: Provided counsel on behalf of inter-county drainage districts related to numerous historical jurisdiction and drainage district reviews and public hearings.

John delivers expert representation in the litigation of commercial disputes, business torts including product liability defense, construction disputes, insurance coverage questions, personal injury.

A practicing attorney since 1984, John takes his role as an advocate to heart, committed to reaching positive resolutions for wrongful suits or breaches of contracts against his clients. His work is thorough, he’s methodical, and he takes pride in his ability to analyze a case and present it clearly and persuasively before tribunals or public hearings.

His past experience includes serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Chicago, representing the interests of the United States in civil matters including bankruptcy, forfeiture, employment disputes, injunction actions, civil enforcement actions, and matters involving fraud, as well as prosecuting criminal cases.

John also taught Property Law, Civil Procedure, Torts, Professional Responsibility, Equity & Remedies, Secured Transactions as a professor at Western Michigan Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

John joined FSBR in 2015 and has been a partner since 2018.

When he’s not working, John enjoys bicycling — including tackling the DALMAC, Michigan’s best summer biking tour — and spending time with his family. He and his wife particularly enjoy exploring Ireland, where they have a shared heritage.

EXPERIENCE

• Tried construction litigation dispute (sanitary sewer project) to jury and appeal on behalf of a township.
• Represented township in utility rate dispute with city.
• Mediated construction dispute on behalf of large inter-county drainage district.
• Represented drainage district in disputed condemnation action resulting in mediated settlement.
• Negotiated numerous easements and utility crossing agreements.
• Successfully represented estate beneficiaries in fraud claim against trustee.
• Experienced litigator in non-compete disputes.

Cole supports the firm’s growing Municipal Practice Group, concentrating on the representation of drain and water resource commissioners throughout the state, as well as townships, cities, counties, libraries, and special authorities served by the firm.

His work encompasses many of the nuts and bolts of public infrastructure projects, and his attention to detail is an essential part of the process. Cole is able to quickly analyze legal issues and simplify them for clients, outlining the what and why of government regulations.

Cole assists on drain and public projects from start to finish, working with professional engineers and utility, municipal, governmental, and private entities to research easements and flood claims.

The truth is important to Cole, even when it’s not what someone may want to hear. His ability to empathize with clients while explaining the reality of a particular situation helps all parties come to an understanding regarding the details of municipal work.

Cole joined FSBR in 2016 after serving as a law clerk for the firm. He also clerked for the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. While he was in law school, Cole was an intern for the Ionia County Prosecutor.

Away from the office, Cole enjoys spending time with his wife. He’s a fan of all MSU sports, but especially basketball. He also enjoys getting out in the woods and hunting every chance he gets.

EXPERIENCE

• Historical drain and easement review
• Section 197 Drainage District Boundary Revision projects
• Drain projects from petition to construction
• Easement acquisition, including title work review, easement drafting, landowner correspondence and negotiation, and condemnation
• City of Niles: Dam removal and river restoration project

Stacy is general counsel for the Michigan Association of County Drain Commissioners, representing more than 40 drain commissioners on behalf of FSBR.

Driven by well-organized project management, Stacy is committed to doing the right thing and helping turn projects into successes everyone can celebrate. She is drawn to out-of-the-box thinking to help move ideas forward — though she’s also not afraid to say no — and she’s dedicated to being as timely and cost-efficient as possible in her work.

A practicing attorney since 1996, Stacy has more than a decade of experience representing clients on issues relating to stormwater and inland lakes and streams, working on projects involving county and intercounty drains, lake levels, lake improvement boards, sewer authorities, and county public works offices.

In addition to the practice of drain and water law, Stacy is also a Certified General Appraiser, licensed to appraise real property of any type or value in the state of Michigan. Her appraisal expertise has proven extremely beneficial for the firm’s eminent domain and tax tribunal cases.

Stacy joined FSBR in 2011 and has been a partner since 2013.

Outside of work, Stacy enjoys traveling and cheering for the Michigan State Spartans.

EXPERIENCE

• Maintenance and improvement projects
• Lake level projects
• EGLE permit issues
• Easement acquisition
• Board of Review proceedings

Brittany assists the firm’s growing Municipal and Drain Law Practice Groups. She concentrates on the representation of drain commissioners, townships, cities, counties, libraries, and special authorities served by the firm and provides support for the firm’s Labor and Employment Practice Group, researching and reviewing legal opinions and documents.

She’s proud to be part of a team that cares about its clients and wants to do the right thing. She enjoys helping her clients work through a challenging question or finding the answers they’re seeking. Her personal connection with clients and her commitment to honesty and integrity is important to her, and she enjoys the research and writing that goes into her work.

Brittany joined FSBR in 2019 following her time as an associate attorney with White Law PLLC. Her work included representing clients in a variety of areas including large civil litigation, criminal law, administrative law, general litigation, and driver license restorations. While in law school, Brittany was a judicial extern for Court of Appeals Judge Amy Ronanye Krause.

When she’s not at the office, Brittany is spending time with her husband, their two boys, and their dog. She also enjoys coaching the Haslett junior varsity girls’ basketball team.

EXPERIENCE

• Zoning ordinance and ordinance review and revision, as well as ordinance enforcement
• PA 222 litigation
• Easement drafting
• Contract review
• Tax tribunal matters

Kyle assists FSBR’s growing Municipal Practice Group, concentrating on the representation of townships, cities, counties, libraries, and special authorities served by the firm and provides support for the Drain Practice Group.

Fact-finding, problem-solving, and brainstorming are among Kyle’s favorite parts of his work, and he enjoys crafting multiple ways to help clients tackle their challenges. He’s able to simplify complex problems so all parties can understand the work at hand, making it easier to devise practical solutions.

Kyle’s work focuses on public entities in need of advice on a wide variety of legal topics from the Freedom of Information Act to drafting purchasing policies. He actively listens, asking questions to determine how FSBR can solve their legal problems and identifying other issues and concerns clients may need to address.

Kyle joined FSBR in 2018 after spending the previous summer as a summer associate with the firm. During law school at the University of Notre Dame, he externed for the City of South Bend’s legal department and the Hon. Judge Jack Zouhary, U.S. District Court Judge of the Northern District of Ohio. He helped revise ordinances, review contracts, and aided in code enforcement and foreclosure matters.

In his free time, Kyle enjoys traveling and watching Michigan football and the Green Bay Packers. He’s a self-proclaimed terrible fisherman, though he enjoys it immensely.

EXPERIENCE

• Helped establish inland lake levels and corresponding special assessment districts for lakes throughout Michigan, including an inland lake in both Michigan and Indiana.

• Assisted multiple municipalities with the special land use and site plan process to site wind energy developments including a development with an aircraft detection lighting system (ADLS).

• Aided various lake improvement boards and townships with special assessment lake improvement projects.

• Responded to 2016 ballot “Emily” FOIA request for multiple municipalities.

• Prepared successful defenses for individuals with professional licenses in the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules.

Steve has devoted his career to work in local government because of its impact on the everyday lives of people. He previously served as a member of a township board and its planning commission.  During his term of office, he experienced first-hand the range of issues facing municipalities.  In addition, he brings experience in state government to his representation of municipalities, having served as a legislative staffer in the Michigan Senate.

Steve enjoys the creativity and flexibility required in advising local government officials on the wide range of challenging and unique issues they face. He appreciates that FSBR provides an environment that encourages creativity and outside-the-box thinking that achieves results for clients where more conventional approaches fall short.

Steve works primarily in the Municipal and Drain practice groups. His practice includes open meetings and records issues, drain establishment and maintenance proceedings, public infrastructure projects, ordinance development and review, legislative tracking and analysis, special assessments, and various contracts and agreements.

Steve has a particular interest in election law issues and has developed expertise in the many facets of the Michigan Election Law that impact local governments. While living abroad in the United Kingdom for two years, he had the unique opportunity to work on legal issues surrounding the 2016 “Brexit” referendum.

Steve first joined FSBR in 2014. After living abroad for two years, he eagerly returned to the firm in 2019. Prior to joining the firm, he completed internships with the Michigan Attorney General’s Office, the Eaton County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Michigan Senate.  He was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in November 2013.

Outside of the office, Steve enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, playing and coaching tennis, and rooting for the Green Bay Packers. He is also a proud “Yooper”.

EXPERIENCE

• Local government issues related to the Michigan Election Law
• Local ballot initiative processes
• Open Meetings and Freedom of Information Acts
• Drain establishment and maintenance proceedings
• Section 197 drainage district boundary revision projects
• Easement acquisition
• Personnel policy drafting and review

Jacob contributes his knowledge of law and writing acumen to the firm’s Municipal, Drain, Environmental, and Business Services and Franchising practice groups. He works with Drain and Water Resource Commissioners as well as Intercounty Drain Drainage Boards across the state to assist with issues such as drainage agreements, easement creation and acquisition, and property condemnation. Jacob has also been involved with Lake Level and Lake Improvement issues. When necessary, he coordinates with professional engineers and property owners from around the state to accurately and thoroughly address client matters.

Jacob also assists the firm in providing legal advice to small to mid-size businesses to help manage business risk and execute growth strategies, with a focus on franchising.

Jacob joined FSBR in 2019 as a law clerk and became an Associate in 2020. While attending law school, he worked for the Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget as a legal intern and was later a legal clerk for the Executive Office of Governor Gretchen Whitmer. He was also a Senior Preemption Editor for the Western Michigan University Cooley Law Review.

Outside of work, Jacob enjoys spending time with his family, his fiancée Alison, their dog Eggs Benny, and their two cats, Pancake and Waffle.

EXPERIENCE

• Easement drafting and acquisition
• Coordination with engineers, property owners, and other stakeholders on client matters
• Assist with lake level and improvement projects (NREPA Part 307 and 309)
• Assist in administrating a FEMA hazard mitigation grant program
• Review, draft, and revise agreements, including independent contractor agreements, franchise-related agreements, and real estate contracts
• Review deed work and other real estate materials