WP&B Attorneys
DAN A. PENNINGThomas A. Cooley Law School, Juris Doctor, 1986
State Bar of Michigan - Business Law Section, Probate and Estate Planning Section
American Bar Association; Oakland County Bar Association
AV Peer Review Rated - Martindale Hubbell
Dan is a founding shareholder of Wright Penning & Beamer and works primarily in succession planning for individuals, families and business owners. Dan’s practice focuses on planning for business entities including family businesses, estate planning for business owners, individuals, families with special needs children and succession planning for family cottages and farms.
The spectrum of Dan’s practice ranges from negotiating the sale or acquisition of multi-million dollar businesses in his business law practice, advising business and agribusiness law clients, facilitating real estate transactions including succession planning for family farms and cottages to planning for the financial safety and security for families with special needs children in his estate planning practice. Dan has also established himself and the firm as a leading resource for individual and business clients in property tax appeals and related matters.
Dan also has extensive trial experience and has successfully defended appeals before both state and federal appeals courts. He is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in Michigan, as well as the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Dan served several semesters as an instructor in Oakland University’s Certificate Program in Personal Financial Planning and is a consultant to the Family Business Council of Southeast Michigan.
Hour Detroit and D Business magazines, utilizing an independent market research company, named Dan a “FIVE STAR Wealth Manager” for 2010. More than 102,500 high net worth individuals and 4.200 financial services professionals were asked to evaluate wealth managers including financial planners, investment advisors, estate attorneys and accountants in the Detroit community. The final list was reviewed by a blue-ribbon panel of financial services industry professionals. Fewer than 7% of those nominated were selected.
Dan was recently made a member of the Fellows of the Michigan State Bar Foundation, an honor reserved for only 5% of the active members of the State Bar of Michigan, recognizing outstanding legal ability and devotion to the welfare of the community, state and nation. Additionally Dan also possesses an “AV” rating which is the highest peer review rating from Martindale Hubbell.
Dan has served on numerous non-profit and charitable boards including the Farmington Family YMCA, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Farmington-Farmington Hills Chamber of Commerce, Farmington Planning Commission and currently serves as the Suttons Bay-Bingham Township Fire Board Authority.
Dan is married and has three teenage sons, including a son with special needs. Dan and his family maintain residences in both Farmington and Suttons Bay, Michigan.
He is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in Michigan, as well as the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Contact Info:
dpenning@wrightpenning.com
direct dial: 248.893.1400
In Suttons Bay: 231.271.4500
Blog: Suttons Bay Depot Legal News
DIRK A. BEAMER
University of Michigan Law School, Juris Doctor cum laude, 1993
State Bar of Michigan – Labor & Employment Law Section, Litigation Law Section
Oakland County Bar Association
AV Peer Review Rated - Martindale Hubbell
Dirk is a shareholder of the firm and oversees the firm’s diverse litigation practice, focusing primarily on business and commercial litigation. He spearheads the firm’s efforts in insurance law, unfair competition, trademark infringement, employment matters and contract disputes. Dirk has litigated in state and federal courts across the country. He also counsels business owners and managers concerning employment practices and management.
Dirk enjoys a prestigious Martindale Hubbell AV peer review rating and has received numerous industry and civic awards.
Dirk was recently made a member of the Fellows of the Michigan State Bar Foundation, an honor reserved for only 5% of the active members of the State Bar of Michigan, recognizing outstanding legal ability and devotion to the welfare of the community, state and nation.
Dirk is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in Michigan and Ohio, as well as the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Contact Info:
dbeamer@wrightpenning.com
direct dial: 248.893.1401
LECLAIR L. FLAHERTY
University of Michigan Law School, Juris Doctor, 1992
State Bar of Michigan - Real Property Law Section, Probate and Estate Planning Section
Financial and Estate Planning Council of Metropolitan Detroit; Christian Legal Society
AV Peer Review Rated - Martindale Hubbell
Lee is a shareholder of the firm. In addition to being primarily responsible for the firm’s sophisticated real estate practice, she is well versed in business law, estate planning and probate.
Recent commercial real estate projects include the acquisition and development of sites throughout Michigan to house a national chain of auto parts stores and the successful negotiation of leases for a variety of retail, manufacturing, service and professional clients.
Lee’s business expertise encompasses the support of ongoing businesses, business purchases and sales, and the representation of not-for-profit organizations.
Her estate planning practice focuses on the preparation of a wide variety of trusts and other documents to assist clients in avoiding probate, preserving assets and minimizing taxes. She is also skilled in probate and trust administration.
Long active in the community, Lee is currently President of the Farmington/Farmington Hills Optimist Club and serves on the Board of Directors of New Hope Center for Grief Support.
Contact Info:
lflaherty@wrightpenning.com
direct dial: 248.893.1402
DUANE L. REYNOLDS
Michigan State University College of Law, Juris Doctor cum laude, 1983
State Bar of Michigan - General Practice Section, Real Property Law Section, Probate and Estate Planning Section
Oakland County Bar Association
AV Peer Review Rated - Martindale Hubbell
A former shareholder in two area firms, Duane has practiced law in Farmington Hills since 1983, focusing primarily in the areas of business and corporate law, real estate, probate and estate planning.
Duane has helped to organize and advise numerous business entities, including a number of not-for-profit organizations. He has negotiated and handled a wide variety of residential and commercial real estate transactions and has worked closely with individuals establishing personal estate plans. He is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in Michigan. He also serves on the boards of a number of organizations, including The Farmington/Farmington Hills Chamber of Commerce and LOC Federal Credit Union.
Contact Info:
dlreynolds@wrightpenning.com
direct dial: 248.893.1403
JULIE H. PFITZENMAIER
Wayne State University Law School, Juris Doctor, 2005
State Bar of Michigan - Probate & Estate Planning Section, Litigation Law Section
Women’s Bar Association; Women Lawyer’s Association; Wayne County Probate Bar Association
An associate attorney with the firm, Julie focuses her practice primarily on business, commercial, and probate litigation. She is also well-versed in probate administration, including decedent, conservatorship, and guardianship estates, as well as trust administration.
In March of 2007, Julie was a presenter at the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association Seminar, “What Every P.I. Lawyer Must Know About Probate.” In addition, she serves on the Board of Directors of the Women’s Bar Association.
Contact Info:
jpfitzenmaier@wrightpenning.com
direct dial: 248.893.1404
HEATHER BRENNEMAN MILES
Ave Maria School of Law, Juris Doctor, 2006
State Bar of Michigan - Probate and Estate Planning Section, Business Law Section, Real Property Law Section, Taxation Section
Heather is an associate attorney with Wright Penning & Beamer. She devotes her time primarily to business transactions and estate planning. She has special expertise working with family business succession matters and with agribusiness and agricultural real estate.
Heather is licensed to practice both in Michigan and in Indiana.
Contact Info:
hbmiles@wrightpenning.com
direct dial: 248.893.1406
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Wright Penning & Beamer “Of Counsel” Attorneys
WILLIAM M. WRIGHT
Wayne State University, Juris Doctor, 1973
Bill has 35 years’ experience in advising businesses and engaging in complex estate and tax planning. Bill was a founding shareholder of the firm and now serves the firm in an “of counsel” capacity.
Bill has authored a chapter for The Institute of Continuing Legal Education’s Michigan Probate Litigation: A Guide to Contested Matters and has taught courses at Ave Maria School of Law in Ann Arbor and at Oakland University.
Bill is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in Michigan.
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GEORGE M. SMRTKA
University of Michigan Law School, Juris Doctor, 1967
George, who serves in an “of counsel” capacity, is an accredited estate planner through the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils, as well as a member of the Financial and Estate Planning Council of Metropolitan Detroit.
George is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in Michigan, as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati.
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JOHN G. GIBBONS
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, 1970
John is “of counsel” to the firm. His practice focuses primarily on estate planning and administration, income tax planning, business law, acquisitions and mergers, commercial law and qualified and non-qualified deferred compensation.
He is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in Michigan.
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GEORGE BADITOI
Wayne State University, LL.M., 1959
George serves the firm in an “of counsel” capacity. He consults regularly with business owners concerning their operations and tax matters, as well as working in estate planning and estate and trust administration.
He is admitted to practice before all state courts in Michigan, as well as the United States Tax Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati.