Matthew F. Burns

CONTACT INFORMATION

CONTACT INFORMATION

mattb@bolhouselaw.com
Telephone: (616) 531-7711
Fax: (616) 531-7757

LinkedIn

LEGAL ASSISTANT

Nancy Hillegonds
nancyh@bolhouselaw.com

PRACTICE EXPERIENCE AND DESCRIPTION

Family Law

Matt has extensive experience in the area of family law that includes divorces with high net worth, custody issues, parenting time, and jurisdictional disputes. He is skilled at successfully negotiating positive resolutions for his clients where prior attorneys have struggled to get results through traditional litigation strategies. Matt was featured on PBS Newshour for successfully representing a client in an annulment from a forced marriage, the first of its kind in the State of Michigan.

Criminal Defense

There are few things in life as stressful as being charged with a crime. Matt has successfully represented numerous clients who have faced a variety of criminal charges including with Domestic Violence, Assault and Battery. Regardless of the severity of the charges, Matt is an aggressive advocate who fights to protect his clients' rights and is always focused on their best interests.

General Civil Litigation

In his eight years of practice, Matt has handled a wide variety of cases in an area known as General Civil Litigation. These cases have included insurance disputes, libel and slander, contract disputes, and residential real estate disputes.

EDUCATION

Juris Doctor from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School, 2011

  • Cum Laude
  • Law Review, Moot Court
  • Judicial Intern for the State of Michigan 17th Judicial Circuit Court - Family Division
  • Student Intern for Drew, Cooper & Anding, PC
  • Student Intern for the Kent County Office of the Defender

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Grand Valley State University, 2008

COURT AND BAR ADMISSIONS

All Michigan State Courts
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
Michigan Bar Association
Grand Rapids Bar Association

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, FAMILY AND HOBBIES

A native of the Chicago area, Matt moved to Michigan to attend Grand Valley State University and enjoyed west Michigan so much he decided to stay for law school, get married and start a family. He and his wife and their children make their home in Jenison. When Matt is not at the office or spending time with his family, you can find him on the golf course in the summer, and on the hockey rink in the winter. Matt's volunteer work has included participating in the Grand Rapids Bar Association's Constitution Day activities where he speaks to 5th grade students on the Constitution's purpose, history and present state. Matt is also an Adjunct Professor at Davenport University where he has taught Business Law and Sport Law classes. He has also worked as a coach for the Women's Ice Hockey Club at Grand Valley State University.