A notable Michigan law firm with a growing presence across Southern Michigan has now established a new beachhead in St. Joseph and has signed on four new attorneys, including retired Berrien County Circuit Court Judge John Dewane, to better serve clients in the region.
On the heels of its recent expansion in four Southwest Michigan communities, the law firm of Kotz Sangster has opened an office in St. Joseph with four new attorneys in tow.
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Joining the firm are Kathy Bowman, John Colip, Amber Lind, and retired Berrien County Circuit Court Judge John Dewane.
Kotz Sangster leaders say their growth in the region is consistent with the firm’s strategy of offering clients a higher level of accessibility to their attorneys and providing more personalized service. Over the past two years, the firm has expanded or added offices across the region including South Haven, Niles, Buchanan, and most recently, St. Joseph.
Mitt Drew is Managing Director for Kotz Sangster's Southwest Michigan sector. He says, “This expansion is really about growing relationships – the partnerships we have with our clients, our peers and our communities.” He adds, “Our clients trust us because we earn it. We’re there when they need us, and we care about their outcomes because we have a stake in the relationship. This commitment is reflected not only through the high level of services provided to each client, but also in our bricks and mortar presence in each community that we serve.”
Working out of the St. Joseph office are John Dewane, Matt Derby and Amber Lind. Judge Dewane, now retired from Berrien County Circuit Court, has more than 40 years of experience in public sector work, commercial litigation, and employment/labor law. Matt Derby, who worked at the firm’s Detroit office, has relocated to St. Joseph bringing deep experience in private and public sector employment and labor law along with municipal law. Amber Lind is returning to her roots in Southwest Michigan after serving at a prominent Detroit firm in probate matters, civil litigation, domestic relations, estate planning and criminal law.
In Buchanan, Kotz Sangster signed on John Colip who has practiced for 35 years in Southwest Michigan in family law, estate planning and real estate law. And in South Haven, Kathy Bowman has merged her practice with Kotz Sangster and will be serving with 30 years’ experience in estate planning and real estate law. The firm’s South Haven office is also staffed by Andrew Barnes, who has extensive experience in real estate law, civil litigation and estate planning.
Kotz Sangster says it serves clients across Michigan "with responsive service, excellent legal advice and winning solutions." The firm was founded in 1978, and has 38 attorneys with offices in Detroit, Bloomfield Hills, Grand Rapids, Niles, Buchanan, South Haven and St. Joseph. You can learn more online at kotzsangster.com.
Shown in the photo on St. Joseph's South Pier in the photo accompanying this story on Moody on the Market.com are (from left to right): John R. Colip, Kelly L. Travis, Amber D. Lind, Kathleen Kinney Bowman, Matthew S. Derby, Mowitt S. Drew III, Andrew W. Barnes, and John E. Dewane (retired Berrien County Circuit Court Judge).
