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Donovan J. Visser

Phone: (616) 531-9860
Fax: (616) 531-9870

Donovan Visser has extensive knowledge and practice in the areas of business formation and transactions, contract drafting and interpretation, corporate litigation, property tax appeals, and residential and commercial real estate matters. He offers comprehensive services to small and medium businesses from entity formation and contracts (including software licensing and development agreements), to litigation, commercial collections and complex insurance claims. Donovan is one of the premier attorneys from West Michigan to appear regularly before the Michigan Tax Tribunal and Visser and Associates is one of the few firms to have Court of Appeals decisions related to Tax Tribunal issues.

Before Donovan graduated, Cum Laude, from Michigan State University College of Law with his Juris Doctor, he attended Seattle Pacific University where he graduated, Magna Cum Laude, with a degree in Business with a Finance Concentration. While in law school, Donovan received the Jurisprudence Award in Admiralty Law and Negotiations and Drafting for the Closely Held Business.

Along with practicing law, Donovan has been involved in all aspects of property management including troubleshooting, dealing with contractors and regulators, financing, lease/contract negotiations and drafting, construction project management, and sales. Donovan’s prior experience as a commercial real estate salesperson gives him a unique perspective on real estate matters, allowing him to view the problem from every angle.

In the past, Donovan worked as the Manager of Finance and Manager of Economic Analysis for Alaska Airlines where he worked on multiple large projects including the launch of the Boeing 737-800, evaluation of the purchase of new database information from SABRE, engine-thrust rating contracts with CFM, and the evaluation of multiple new destinations and service locations. While at Alaska Airlines, Donovan was also responsible for $288 million in aircraft leverage lease financing, fuel hedging, lease monitoring, M&A analysis and modeling, affinity credit card programs, and a new tank farm at SeaTac International Airport. He also served as a Principal and VP of Finance and Operations at Cyberstreams, Inc. a Seattle-based technology consulting firm. While with Cyberstreams, Donovan participated in bank financing and negotiations, project financing, management of consumer and vendor contracts and strategy for Fortune 500 and numerous ".com" and regional companies.

Business clients are able to take advantage of Donovan's vast financial and corporate experience in planning and contracting for their own companies' futures and resolving any legal challenges that may arise.

Bar Admissions and Licenses

  • All Michigan Courts
  • State Bar of Michigan
  • United States District Court, Western District of Michigan
  • State of Michigan – Licensed Real Estate Sales Person

Education

  • J.D., Michigan State University College of Law, Cum Laude, 2007
  • Certificate in Admiralty and Maritime Law, Tulane University Law School, Rhodes, Greece, 2006
  • B.B.A. (finance) Seattle Pacific University, Magna Cum Laude, 1997
  • Dale Carnegie Course, 1995
  • Grand Rapids Christian High School, 1993

Professional Affiliations, Activities and Service

  • State Bar of Michigan
    Insurance & Indemnity Law Section
    Taxation Section
    Real Property Law Section
  • Member of Alger Park Christian Reformed Church