Corporate Attorneys Join Miller Canfield
Miller Canfield announces that leading corporate attorneys John M. Sommerdyke and Jeffrey G. York have joined the firm as members of the Corporate & Securities Group. Together they bring 35 years of corporate law experience to the firm. Both will reside in the Grand Rapids office and will lead the firm’s corporate practice in the Grand Rapids area business community.
Sommerdyke focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, as well as a wide range of finance-related transactions involving traditional bank debt, mezzanine, angel and private equity/venture capital transactions. With the addition of Sommerdyke, who has an excellent reputation and substantial experience in representing start-up venture and technology companies, Miller Canfield’s venture and technology practice now includes top practitioners throughout Michigan including Kalamazoo, Ann Arbor, Oakland County and Detroit.
For nearly 20 years, York has practiced corporate law and is a leader in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, manufacturing, construction, real estate, as well as representing entrepreneurs. Miller Canfield’s known expertise in corporate law, especially in the areas of international law, securities regulation and M&A, provides York with a global platform to expand his current growing practice and from which to better serve his clients and the business community.
“We expect Grand Rapids to increasingly play a vital role in diversifying Michigan’s economy,” said Richard A. Gaffin, a managing director in Miller Canfield’s Grand Rapids office. “As local leaders in the areas of private equity, venture capital, real estate and M&A work, John and Jeff bring tremendous experience to our expanding corporate, venture, and securities practices and position us to continue to help start-ups and established businesses compete in this ever-changing global marketplace.”
Sommerdyke received his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and his undergraduate degree in business administration, with high honors, from the University of Notre Dame. He is involved in several organizations including the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce and United Way. He resides in Grand Rapids.
York received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Indiana University School of
Law-Bloomington. He received his M.B.A., magna cum laude, from Indiana University School of Business-Bloomington, and his B.A., cum laude, from Alma College. He is a member of the city of Walker Building Authority and is a basketball coach at Kenowa Hills High School. He resides in Walker, Mich.
Both are members of the State Bar of Michigan and Grand Rapids Bar Association.
Miller Canfield was established in Detroit in 1852 and employs more than 800 in offices in Michigan, Florida, New York, Canada and Poland. For more information, visit www.millercanfield.com.