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Gillard, Bauer, Mazrum, Florip, Smigelski & Gulden

Hours Open:
Monday:
9 am to 5 pm
Tuesday:
9 am to 5 pm
Wednesday:
9 am to 5 pm
Thursday:
9 am to 5 pm
Friday:
9 am to 5 pm
Saturday:
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Sunday:
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Gillard, Bauer, Mazrum, Florip, Smigelski & Gulden is a full service law firm which has roots in the Alpena community dating to 1924.  As Northeast Michigan’s largest law firm, our attorneys and staff are dedicated to providing advice and counsel to our clients in nearly every area of the law.  For a complete listing of our legal services, refer to Areas of Practice.
Skilled Attorneys in a Variety of Legal Fields

Our attorneys are highly skilled in handling individual matters, including wills, trusts, criminal offenses, real estate transactions, divorces, child custody, social security disability, and personal injuries.  Additionally, the law firm serves as counsel to several local municipal governments and public utilities, and represents a wide range of large and small businesses, corporations, and state agencies.  For an illustrative listing of some of our public and business clients, refer to Clients.  We are also happy to refer clients to other attorneys with differing legal specialties.

The firm’s lawyers are experienced advocates with over 215 years of combined experience in the practice of law.  Our goal is to deliver the very best in legal services at reasonable rates, while striving for the solutions that best meet our clients’ legal needs.  The law firm holds an AV-Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, indicating that the firm has reached the height of professional excellence and maintains the highest ethical principles. Five of the firm’s attorneys individually hold the prestigious AV-Preeminent rating – a rating achieved by only one other attorney in our five-county area.
Providing Service to the Alpena Area for Over 90 Years

Our firm’s client base centers on the five-county Northeast Michigan area of Alpena, Presque Isle, Montmorency, Oscoda, and Alcona Counties, and also includes many businesses and individuals from all over Michigan and various parts of the United States who transact business in Northern Michigan.

Due to the diverse interests of the firm’s attorneys, we are proud to provide experienced legal services in almost any area of the law.  The firm’s wide range of professional specialties combined with its personal and economically efficient client service makes Gillard, Bauer, Mazrum, Florip, Smigelski & Gulden the perfect choice for legal assistance.

About Our Firm
James L. Mazrum

As your optimal choice for legal assistance in the Alpena and Northeast Michigan area, Gillard, Bauer, Mazrum, Florip, Smigelski & Gulden is proud to offer first rate advice and representation in nearly every area of the law.  Refer to Areas of Practice to learn about the many legal services that we offer.

The law firm is also proud to have called Downtown Alpena “home” since 1924, and we’ve practiced law in the same building on Chisholm Street for over 75 years.  Take a look at the Firm History and Building History links to learn more about our Alpena heritage.

You can also view a listing of some of our many public and business clients, and read up on the latest Law Firm news.  Check back periodically for news and notes as events occur and the seasons change.

Attorneys

Roger C. Bauer, Partner

Family Law; Personal Injury; Social Security Disability; Criminal Defense; Automobile Negligence; Wrongful Death

James L. Mazrum, Partner

Wills & Estate Planning; Business Law; Real Estate; Labor & Employment; Corporations; Contracts

James D. Florip, Partner

Municipal Law; Public Utilities; Zoning, Planning, & Land Use; Labor & Employment; Environmental Law; Natural Resources; Real Estate; Probate, Wills & Estates; Elder Law

William S. Smigelski, Partner

General Practice; Family Law; Real Property; Business Law; Real Estate Development; Probate & Estate Planning

Timothy M. Gulden, Partner

Commercial Litigation; Business Law; Real Estate; Zoning, Planning, & Land Use; Municipal Law

Joel E. Bauer, Partner

Criminal Defense; Personal Injury; Wrongful Death; Automobile Negligence; Family Law; Real Property; Driver’s License Appeals; Juvenile Practice; Collections

Daniel J. Florip, Partner

Real Estate & Development; Condominiums; Land Disputes; Contracts; Civil Litigation; Probate & Estate Planning; Medicaid Planning; Business Law; Municipal Law

Areas of Practice
James D. Florip & William S. Smigelski

Gillard, Bauer, Mazrum, Florip, Smigelski & Gulden prides itself on giving knowledgeable and experienced legal advice and representation in nearly every area of the law.  In addition to the general areas listed below, the firm’s attorneys have successfully worked in many different specialized and nuanced legal matters.

Business Law, Labor & Employment
Collections
Criminal Defense & Driver’s License Appeals
Estate Planning & Probate
Family Law, Divorce, & Juvenile Practice
Litigation (Lawsuits) & Personal Injury
Municipal Law & Public Utilities
Real Estate & Mineral Leases
Social Security Disability & Workers’ Compensation

When you contact our office, your questions will be referred to the attorney best suited to provide you with assistance.

BUSINESS LAW, LABOR & EMPLOYMENT

Our attorneys offer a wide range of business services, including business organization, formation of corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies, contracts, buying and selling businesses, tax implications, and business wind-ups.  The firm’s friendly contacts with many accountancy firms and experience in representing financial institutions ensure that the client receives both well rounded legal services and sound financial advice.  Additionally, we strive to create long lasting relationships with our business clients, which results in lower legal fees for the business and more in-depth and focused service.  For a listing of some of our business clients, refer to Clients.

The law firm is also experienced in labor law and employment law, and offers sound legal advice on hiring practices, retaining employees, providing employee benefits, and labor negotiations (generally for the employer).

COLLECTIONS

Much of the collections work done in Northern Michigan is conducted by downstate firms which specialize only in collections for mortgage companies, banks, and credit card companies.  Our attorneys are happy to appear in court in the Alpena area for collections firms on a per-hearing basis, thus saving time and travel miles.

CRIMINAL DEFENSE & DRIVER’S LICENSE APPEALS

The law firm is ready to assist with any criminal proceedings.  Our seasoned team includes several former prosecuting attorneys and provides knowledgeable counsel for all traffic infractions, misdemeanors, felonies, and driver’s license appeals.  We provide experienced and aggressive defense for impaired driving, assault, domestic violence, and all other criminal matters.  We work with both adults and juveniles.

ESTATE PLANNING & PROBATE

The law firm offers full estate planning in the form of wills and trusts and also takes into consideration how planning your estate will have an effect on Medicaid, insurance policies, retirement benefits, real estate, and your taxes.  Many possibilities exist, and our attorneys will work to determine what extent of planning is most sensible and affordable for the client.  An estate planning package is also rounded out with forms for powers of attorney and patient advocate designations (“living wills”).

We also offer a full probate court practice including decedent estates, guardianships, and conservatorships, and we can provide efficient and knowledgeable administration of estates and trusts when it comes time to begin the distribution of assets.

FAMILY LAW, DIVORCE, & JUVENILE PRACTICE

Family is often a client’s most important concern, and the law firm provides a steady hand through divorce and child custody proceedings.  Our attorneys are highly knowledgeable and experienced in the realm of family matters; issues such as division of property, child custody, parenting time, spousal support, tax implications, and business assets will not be overlooked as we seek to reach the best possible result for our clients’ interests.

The law firm also offers a full practice in the family court in matters of juvenile delinquency, paternity, adoption, and guardianship.

LITIGATION (LAWSUITS) & PERSONAL INJURY

The law firm represents individuals and business in all types of disputes and lawsuits, from boundary disputes and breach of contract to no-fault auto claims and other personal injuries.  We practice in all Michigan state courts, and in both jury and non-jury trials.  The commencing of litigation often results in the negotiation of a settlement, and our attorneys put their long experience to good use when bargaining for the best settlements for our clients.

MUNICIPAL LAW & PUBLIC UTILITIES

We’re proud to act as counsel for several local governmental bodies at the county, township, and village levels, and our attorneys are experienced in working with road commissions and township boards of trustees to bring about road improvements, public utility projects, and proper enforcement of local ordinances.  The law firm is also highly experienced in representing public utility companies.  For a listing of our many municipal clients, refer to Clients.

REAL ESTATE & MINERAL LEASES

The firm provides a full real estate practice which includes assistance with deeds, passing land between family members, residential and commercial property transactions, easements, condominium and subdivision development, buying and selling hunting or recreational land, boundary line and access disputes, oil and gas leases, and environmental matters.

Buying or selling a home, business, or other real estate is a large step which invariably involves contracts, inspections, disclosures, deadlines, real estate brokers, accountants, banks, title insurance, deeds, public records, tax implications, and environmental considerations.  Keeping it all straight can be a difficult task, and the law firm provides knowledgeable assistance and experienced representation through the entire process.

SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY & WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

The law firm provides experienced representation in resolving your Social Security Disability and Workers’ Compensation claims.  No attorney fee is charged unless the client’s claim is successful.