| Robert H. Gillette | Geoffrey L. Gillis | John M. Roels |
| Gary A. Maximiuk | William H. Heritage | James M. Shade |
| Kenneth E. Tiews | Glenn L. Smith | Hal G. Ostrow |
| Nicholas S. Ayoub |
 | Robert H. Gillette |
Robert H. Gillette practices in the fields of civil litigation, the formation and maintenance of corporations and other business entities, estate planning, real estate, and environmental law.
Mr. Gillette was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on January 21, 1941. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan in 1963 and graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 1966. He is also president and manager of the firm.
 | Geoffrey L. Gillis |
Geoffrey L. Gillis practices principally in the areas of civil litigation, railroad and commercial problems, and real estate. He handles significant personal injury claims for both the plaintiff and the defense. His practice addresses the problems of railroads and related entities, and he is considered one of Michigan's leading authorities in the area of railroad property disposition.
Mr. Gillis graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in economics in 1966 and a law degree in 1969.
He authored the chapter on joint and several liability, contribution, and indemnity in the Institute of Continuing Legal Education's book Michigan Tort Law: Practice and Procedure. He has written and lectured frequently on issues related to damage concepts, the use of expert witnesses, and other civil litigation topics. He has spoken and consulted often on real estate issues related to rights of way and rail trail corridors for trails groups and the International Right of Way Association.
Mr. Gillis's family includes Susan, to whom he was married May 2, 1970, and daughters Margaret, a student at the University of Michigan Medical School, and Elizabeth, a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. He enjoys his sailboat and his German short hair dog. He is active in local historical and preservation groups. Mr. Gillis participates actively at Westminster Presbyterian Church, where he is a member.
 | John M. Roels |
John M. Roels maintains a general civil practice that includes litigation and resolution of personal injury, product liability, property, construction, ERISA, and employment issues, as well as creditor bankruptcy matters.
Mr. Roels was born on April 19, 1950, and received his B.A. degree from Calvin College in 1972. He received his J.D. degree from the University of Michigan in 1975.
He lectures locally on law-related subjects, serves on church and nonprofit boards, and is an adjunct professor of communications at Calvin College. He also avidly pursues the craft of baseball.
 | Gary A. Maximiuk |
Gary A. Maximiuk practices principally in the areas of personal injury defense litigation and insurance coverage litigation. Mr. Maximiuk was born on August 4, 1951, and received his B.A. degree from the University of Michigan in 1972. He received his J.D. degree from Wayne State University in 1976.
He is a frequent lecturer for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education on topics including trial and deposition skills and is also a member of the Institute's Litigation Advisory Board. He is the co-editor and a contributing author of A Practical Guide to Depositions in Michigan (2nd Edition, 2002), and a contributing author to Michigan Insurance Law and Practice (ICLE, 2002). Mr Maximiuk is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates.
 | William H. Heritage, Jr. |
William H. Heritage, Jr., practices primarily in the areas of business and corporate law, foundation and nonprofit organization law, immigration law, and international law.
Mr. Heritage was born in Greensboro, N.C. on August 30, 1944. His undergraduate studies were at Duke University (B.A., 1966). His graduate studies were at the University of Virginia (M.A. in foreign affairs, 1969; J.D., 1970). He was admitted to practice in Michigan in 1970 and subsequently to practice before the U.S. Tax Court and the U.S. Supreme Court.
He is a member of various professional bar associations, including the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Bill is an editor of the Michigan International Lawyer as well as a published author and lecturer in the areas of corporate and international law.
 | James M. Shade |
James M. Shade practices principally in the areas of business and corporate law, estate planning and administration, employee benefits law, and probate.
Mr. Shade was born on February 9, 1949, in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. He received his B.A. degree from Calvin College in 1971 and his J.D. degree from the University of Michigan in 1981.
Many of his clients are family-owned, closely held businesses. He specializes in business organization and estate planning for such clients, and he has extensive experience with purchases and sales of such businesses.
 | Kenneth E. Tiews |
Kenneth E. Tiews specializes in the law of trusts, estate planning and estate and gift taxation, probate law, will and trust contests, guardianships, ecclesiastical law, foundations and nonprofit organizations, Medicaid and elder law, noncommercial real estate transactions, and civil litigation defense and appeals.
Mr. Tiews was born November 8, 1948. He attended the University of Michigan, from which he received a B.A. degree in 1970, a J.D. degree in 1973, an M.A. degree in 1975, and a Ph.D. degree in 1977, the same year in which his doctoral dissertation, "Legal Obligations and Legal Paradigms," was published. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Tax Court as well as being licensed to practice in the State of Michigan.
He has taught courses in legal philosophy at Aquinas College and Calvin College in Grand Rapids and has participated as a co-lecturer in National Business Institute, Inc. seminars dealing with Michigan probate law. He is currently serving as attorney for the Presbytery of Lake Michigan of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and sits on the boards of Porter Hills Presbyterian Village, the Isabella Foundation, and the Gray Center for Social Learning and Understanding. He is also a member of the Kent County TRIAD Council Against Senior Exploitation.
 | Glenn L. Smith |
Glenn L. Smith practices primarily in the areas of business and corporate law, real estate, bankruptcy law, federal government contracts, postal law, torts, environmental law, and federal administrative law. Mr. Smith has extensive litigation experience in these areas and has appeared before federal district courts, courts of appeals, bankruptcy courts, boards of contract appeal, state courts, as well as state and local environmental enforcement tribunals.
Mr. Smith was born in 1963 and raised in Grosse Ile, Michigan. He attended the University of Michigan, from which he received a B.A. in Economics in 1985 and a J.D. in 1989. He completed the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's course on government contracts.
Mr. Smith is the author of, "A Trap for the Unwary." an article about mail disputes, which is published in the Michigan Bar Journal, 81 Mich B.J. 3 (March 2002). Mr. Smith is also the author of "Bankruptcy Appeals: Preserving Your Right of Review," which was accepted for publication by The Michigan Bar Journal in 2002.
Prior to joining Wheeler Upham, Mr. Smith was in-house counsel with the U.S. Postal Service where he handled some of its most complex litigation and was regarded as an expert on postal regulations and federal jurisdiction. He enjoys golf, woodworking, fly fishing and coaching his son's Little League baseball team.
 | Hal G. Ostrow |
Hal G. Ostrow practices principally in the areas of civil litigation and dispute resolution, with an emphasis on tort litigation and insurance coverage issues.
Mr. Ostrow was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on July 11, 1974, and received his B.A. degree from Wittenberg University in 1996. He received his J.D. degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1999, where he was awarded the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Legal Negotiation. Mr. Ostrow is admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Federal Claims, the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, and all state courts in Michigan.
Mr. Ostrow is a member of the Federalist Society and other professional associations. He also participates actively in several nonprofit community organizations, including at Temple Emanuel, where he serves on the Board of Trustees.
 | Nicholas S. Ayoub |
Nicholas S. Ayoub practices in the areas of civil litigation as well as business and corporate law.
Mr. Ayoub was born on August 13, 1977, and received his B.A. in 2000 from Western Michigan University. He received his J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law in 2003. Following law school, he served as a Research Attorney for the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Mr. Ayoub is a member of the Federalist Society. He attends St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church where he serves as a Chanter. Mr. Ayoub is also a musician and can be seen regularly appearing in area restaurants and lounges.
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