Six Miller Johnson Lawyers are Recognized by Best Lawyers® as a 2027 “Lawyer of the Year”
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – August 20, 2026 – Miller Johnson is pleased to announce that six of the firm’s lawyers have recently been recognized by Best Lawyers® as a 2027 “Lawyer of the Year.”
Congratulations to
- Maxwell N. Barnes recognized as the 2027 Grand Rapids “Lawyer of the Year” for Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
- Barry F. Irwin recognized as the 2027 Chicago “Lawyer of the Year” for Litigation – Patent
- Jeffrey G. Muth recognized as the 2027 Grand Rapids “Lawyer of the Year” for Litigation – Insurance
- Robert W. O’Brien recognized as the 2027 Grand Rapids “Lawyer of the Year” for Litigation – Real Estate
- Andrew Portinga recognized as the 2027 Grand Rapids “Lawyer of the Year” for Insurance Law
- Stephen J. van Stempvoort recognized as the 2027 Grand Rapids “Lawyer of the Year” for Appellate Practice
Only a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year,” making this accolade particularly significant. These lawyers are selected based on particularly impressive voting averages received during the peer review assessments.
Receiving this designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism and their integrity.
Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected lawyer ranking service in the world. For 40 years, Best Lawyers has assisted those in need of legal services to identify the lawyers best qualified to represent them in distant jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties. Best Lawyers awards are published in leading local, regional and national publications across the globe.
Miller Johnson is a full-service law firm delivering strategic legal counsel to businesses and individuals through corporate law, employment and labor, litigation, mergers & acquisitions, education law, and private client services. The firm’s 170+ attorneys serve clients across regional, national, and global markets from offices in Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Kalamazoo. For more than six decades, Miller Johnson has helped clients navigate complex legal matters through a collaborative, practical, and results-driven approach. The firm is recognized in Chambers USA; Best Lawyers; Best Law Firms; Legal 500; and additional leading rankings and recognition publications reflecting its commitment to excellence and client service.
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