Five Bodman PLC Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America “Lawyers of the Year”
08/28/26
Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that five of its attorneys have been named 2027 “Lawyers of the Year” by the publisher of The Best Lawyers in America.
Only one lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area receives the Lawyer of the Year honor. The designation is based on particularly strong voting results in the Best Lawyers annual peer review assessments.
The Lawyer of the Year designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned from other leading lawyers in the same community and practice area for their abilities, professionalism, and integrity.
The Bodman attorneys named 2027 Lawyers of the Year are as follows:
Brian Foley has been named the 2027 Detroit Lawyer of the Year for Real Estate Law. Foley represents financial institutions, companies, and individuals in real estate matters, with an emphasis on commercial real estate secured financing transactions. He regularly advises clients, as both lead and local counsel, in purchases and sales of real property, real estate workouts and foreclosures, loan sales, leasing transactions, and other general real estate matters. Foley has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America since 2023 in both Real Estate Law and Banking & Finance Law.
David P. Larsen has been named the 2027 Detroit Lawyer of the Year for Trusts and Estates. Larsen is the senior member of Bodman’s High Net Worth Practice Group and provides highly individualized and comprehensive legal advice to many high net worth families, their family offices, and their closely held businesses. He has also been named a Lawyer of the Year on multiple past occasions, including in 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2024, 2025 and 2026 for Trusts and Estates or Litigation-Trusts and Estates. He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 2003.
Ralph E. McDowell has been named the 2027 Detroit Lawyer of the Year for Bet-the-Company Litigation and Litigation-Bankruptcy. McDowell assists clients primarily in commercial bankruptcy, debtors’ and creditors’ rights, workouts, and commercial lending. He also represents clients in general business law matters, including corporate finance, the purchase and sale of business interests, and collections and workouts, among other areas. McDowell previously received the Detroit Lawyer of the Year award in 2017, 2020, and 2026 for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; in 2019 for Bet-the-Company Litigation; and in 2015, 2021, and 2025 for Litigation – Bankruptcy. He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 2003.
Wayne D. Roberts has been named the 2027 Grand Rapids Lawyer of the Year for Litigation and Controversy – Tax. Roberts is Co-Chair of Bodman’s Business Tax Group and focuses his practice on corporate, business, and individual tax planning, as well as federal, state, and local tax controversies. He has represented both closely held and publicly traded companies in transactional tax matters, including mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, and dispositions. Roberts was also honored with the Grand Rapids Lawyer of the Year award in 2014, 2017, 2021, and 2023 for Tax Law, and in 2017, 2023, and 2025 for Litigation and Controversy – Tax.
Larry R. Shulman has been named the 2027 Detroit Lawyer of the Year for Banking and Finance Law. Shulman represents lenders in loan originations and lenders acting in non-lending capacities, such as trustee or escrow agent. His practice also encompasses loan workouts, contract and other general business matters, and counseling lenders on lender liability issues. Shulman previously received the Detroit Lawyer of the Year award for Banking and Finance Law in 2009, 2016, 2020, and 2025.