Adam D. Grant

Adam Grant has spent more than two decades in the courtroom. His practice is devoted entirely to litigation, and he has handled disputes at every stage — from emergency injunctive relief through trial and appeal — in state and federal courts in Michigan and Illinois.

Adam’s commercial litigation practice spans a range of industries and claim types. He is well-versed in business disputes among members of limited liability companies and routinely handles real estate and landlord-tenant disputes. He has represented automotive suppliers in disputes with other suppliers, including crisis stop-ship situations and claim and delivery actions to recover tooling and materials. He has also represented financial institutions — banks, brokerages, broker-dealers, and lenders and servicers — in contested matters brought by borrowers and investors. His product liability experience includes defending manufacturers in asbestos litigation throughout Michigan.

He has served as first-chair trial counsel, including in a multi-week trial successfully defending a commercial landlord accused of breaching a long-term lease. He has also tried cases against an asset management firm involving tortious interference, civil conspiracy, and attempts to pierce the corporate veil, and a multi-week FINRA arbitration on behalf of a bank, brokerage, and individual brokers. He has also guided clients through business and partnership disputes. Clients rely on him for a candid early read on exposure and a plan to reach a resolution, whether that comes through motion practice, negotiation, or a verdict.

He has also litigated complex and novel tax questions, arguing and winning a unanimous decision for Detroit Public Schools in the Michigan Supreme Court (Briggs Tax Services v. Detroit Public Schools, 485 Mich. 69 (2010)) and successfully challenging the application of certain tax obligations to Renaissance Zone property on appeal (Lafarge Midwest, Inc. v. City of Detroit, 801 N.W.2d 629 (Mich. App. 2010)).

Earlier in his career, Adam built a substantial probate and fiduciary litigation practice, defending corporate trustees and fiduciaries in multiple actions alleging violations of Michigan’s prudent investor rule, conflicts of interest, and related breaches of duty. He also served as outside national discovery counsel to Ford Motor Company in its products liability litigation, an engagement that gave him early experience managing discovery across a large, coordinated docket.

• Represent landlord in multi-week trial involving claims that landlord breached its obligations to commercial tenant under long-term lease, resulting in victory for landlord.
• Represent manager in dispute under Michigan Limited Liability Company Act.
• Represented City of Grand Haven in contested litigation regarding the future of Duncan Park based on differing interpretations of a 1913 Trust Deed and related city ordinances, obtaining victory in the federal district and appellate courts and ensuring that Duncan Park remains a public park benefiting the citizens of Michigan. (Lapinske v. City of Grand Haven, Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals case no. 21-1309, 2022 WL 767707)
• Represented franchisors in numerous franchise disputes in state and federal courts. See, e.g., 7-Eleven, Inc. v. CJ-Grand, LLC, 517 F. Supp. 3d 688
• Represented asset management firm in trial of multi-million dollar action in state court involving claims of tortious interference, conspiracy, and attempts to pierce the corporate veil.
• Represented bank in action alleging conspiracy in attempt by borrower to avoid liability on promissory notes.
• Represented bank, brokerage, and individual brokers in multi-week FINRA arbitration hearing and related state court proceedings related to claims of wrongdoing by investors.
• Represent lenders and mortgage services in contested litigation matters.
• Represented automotive suppliers in disputes against other suppliers, including crisis stop-ship situations and claim and delivery actions to recover tooling and materials.
• Served as special counsel to debtor in contested bankruptcy proceedings, handling all litigation and discovery aspects of the case.
• Achieved unanimous victory for Detroit Public Schools in Michigan Supreme Court on contested tax issue. (Briggs Tax Services v. Detroit Public Schools, 485 Mich. 69 (2010).)
• Successfully challenged applicability of certain tax obligations to Renaissance Zone property in appellate court. (Lafarge Midwest, Inc. v. City of Detroit, 801 N.W.2d 629 (Mich. App. 2010)).
• Represented corporate trustees/fiduciaries in multiple actions alleging violations of Michigan’s prudent investor rule, conflicts of interest, and related claims.
• Obtained dismissal of certain defendants and claims in action against university and individual employees involving alleged violations of 42 U.S.C. 1983 for failure to disclose exculpatory evidence.
• Served as outside national discovery counsel for Ford Motor Company for products liability litigation matters.

• “Michigan Business Taxes,” Lorman Educational Services, April 2009, Co-author/presenter
• “Michigan Sales & Use Taxes,” Lorman Educational Services, October 2008, Co-author/presenter