History of Wheeler Upham
Wheeler Upham traces its roots to a law partnership started in Grand Rapids in 1883 by Niram A. Fletcher and George P. Wanty. The partnership underwent a series of name changes over the next hundred years, including Knappen & Kleinhans and Knappen, Uhl & Bryant. In 1982, the year it was incorporated as Wheeler, Upham, Bryant & Uhl, the firm was honored by the Michigan Historical Society as a centennial business. The name of the firm was shortened to Wheeler Upham in 1992.
The firm's founders were both dedicated public servants. Niram A. Fletcher served as a member of the Michigan legislature in 1882, as a member of the Grand Rapids school board, and as a member of the board of control of the Kalamazoo Asylum for the Insane. George P. Wanty was appointed a United States District Judge for the Western District of Michigan in 1900, in which capacity he served until his untimely death in 1906.
Judge Wanty was succeeded on the Western District bench by firm attorney Loyal Edwin Knappen, who served for four years before being elevated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Judge Knappen also served as a regent of the University of Michigan, as a member of the Grand Rapids Board of Education, as prosecuting attorney in Barry County, and as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Kent County.
The dedication to public service exhibited by our founders has continued through the firm’s history. Kent County Probate Judge Richard Bryant and Circuit Judges George Boucher and Patricia Gardner were all members of the firm. Seven presidents of the Grand Rapids Bar Association have been firm attorneys: Loyal E. Knappen, Jacob Kleinhans, Marshall M. Uhl, Winter N. Snow, Donald G. Slawson, Gordon B. Wheeler, and Buford A. Upham. In addition, Stuart E. Knappen served as President of the State Bar of Michigan. Firm attorneys have served on boards of such organizations as the State Bar of Michigan’s Representative Assembly; the Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan; the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce; the Michigan State Board of Law Examiners; the Grand Rapids YWCA; and the Grand Rapids YMCA. From the firm’s inception through today, many of our attorneys have held leadership positions in our respective houses of worship.
Wheeler Upham attorneys routinely receive accolades from their peers. Gordon Wheeler, for example, was a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Gary A. Maximiuk is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and is recognized in Best Lawyers in America. Current shareholder Glenn L. Smith is also recognized in Best Lawyers in America. Firm attorneys have consistently earned the highest Martindale-Hubbell peer review ratings and are regularly asked to contribute to Michigan’s Institute of Continuing Legal Education publications.
Wheeler Upham Privacy Policy
We hope that the following statement will help you understand how we collect, use, and safeguard the personal information you provide us on our web site.
We only collect personally identifiable information that you voluntarily provide to us. We do not use cookies or similar technology to collect personally identifiable information about our visitors. We may keep web logs indicating the IP addresses of those who have visited the web site, but these IP addresses are not linked to any personally identifiable information. We use the IP addresses to analyze and monitor the activities of our web site visitors so that we can improve our web site. We will not try to connect this non-identifiable information with any identifiable information that you may voluntarily provide.
On some of our web pages, you may be asked for personal information in order to communicate with us or learn more about our services. If you provide us with the requested information, we will only use this information to respond to your request. If you do not want Wheeler Upham, P.C., to have your information, please do not provide it to us.
We will not distribute your information to others for advertising or similar purposes. We will only use the information as needed to do what you ask us to do. We may disclose personal information in response to law enforcement activity, to enforce our contractual or other rights, or when otherwise required by law. Information we collect may also be transferred in the event of a merger of the firm. If we hire any third parties to perform services relating to the way the web site functions, we will require them to protect your personal information in the same way that we do.
We intend to use commercially reasonable means to protect the integrity of our web site and the confidentiality of the personal information that you provide. While we consider online security a priority, we cannot provide absolute assurances against, and will not be liable for, any breaches of confidentiality due to system failures or unauthorized access by third parties.
Our attorneys work with a number of professional organizations and similar entities. Our web site includes links to these entities' sites, as well as to other sites that are not affiliated with Wheeler Upham, P.C. We are not responsible for the operation or collection of any information from any web site operated by unaffiliated third parties. For relevant information about the privacy practices of other parties' web sites, please refer to their respective privacy policies. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this site.
The laws, regulations, and policies that govern our practice change from time to time, and we reserve the right to modify this privacy policy. If we do modify this policy, we will post the revised version on this site. Any information that we collect at the current time will be used consistently with the privacy policy in effect at the time of use.
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, the practices of Wheeler Upham, P.C., or your dealings with us, we invite you to contact us.
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