Shareholder
Attorney
Location: Battle Creek, Michigan
Phone: (269) 965-7000
James E. Reed is an attorney and shareholder of the Firm. He was born in 1953 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He graduated from Western Michigan University in 1975 with a major in mathematics and from the University of Puget Sound School of Law, Tacoma, Washington with honors, in 1978 where he served as Editor in Chief of the Law Review. Jim was in private corporate and general business law practice in Tacoma, Washington from 1978 to 1982. He joined the Firm in 1982.
Jim’s areas of concentration include real estate law and litigation, commercial law and litigation, and environmental law. His commercial law experience includes representing banking and other lending institutions and representing both large and small business owners in a variety of matters including formation of corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies, public securities offerings, and general commercial litigation. He has also represented franchises of national chains, including the food service and retail sectors.
Jim has served as the attorney for the Branch County Association of Realtors since 1996 and the Battle Creek Area Association of Realtors since 1987. Jim has also assisted in various aspects of major commercial real estate development in downtown Battle Creek. His real estate experience includes work for major commercial and retail landlords in the area and the creation of commercial and residential condominium projects. Jim is a member of the Washington State Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan, the Calhoun County Bar Association (President 1989 – 90), Michigan Land Title Standards Committee (Chairman, 2000-04), and Michigan Real Property Law Section. Jim also serves on a number of nonprofit Boards in the Battle Creek area.
Year Joined Firm
- 1982
Areas of Practice
- Real Estate Law
- Litigation
- Commercial Law and Litigation
- Environmental Law
- Probate and Estate Planning
Bar Admissions
- Washington, 1978
- Michigan, 1982
- U.S. Federal Court, 1978
Education
- University of Puget Sound School of Law, Tacoma, Washington
J.D. cum laude – 1978
Law Review: University of Puget Sound Law Review, Editor in Chief, 1977 – 1978 - Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan
B.A. – 1975
Major: Mathematics
Published Works
- Fair Use and Home Videotape Copying of Television Broadcast (Comment) 1 University of Puget Sound Law Review 192, May, 1978
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Washington State Bar Association, Member
- State Bar of Michigan, Member
- American Bar Association, Member
- Michigan Land Title Standards Committee, 1985 – Present
- Michigan Land Title Standards Committee, Chairman, 2001 – 2004
- Calhoun County Bar Association, President, 1989 – 1990
- Michigan Real Property Law Section
Past Employment Positions
- Hutchins, Wheeler & Huss; Tacoma, WA, Associate Attorney, 1978 – 1982
Pro Bono Activities
- Grace Health Board Member
- Pennfield Exchange Club
- Battle Creek Area Habitat for Humanity Board Member
