D. Andrew Portinga is a Member of the firm and has been practicing law since 1996. He is a litigator, and has extensive experience in both federal and state courts. He has represented both Fortune 500 companies and family owned businesses, and Mr. Portinga has handled complex cases involving myriad issues. General Commercial LitigationMr. Portinga has handled a wide variety of complicated commercial cases. His clients have included oil and gas producers, a manufacturer of implantable medical devices, a national communications company, the co-inventor of a popular ultrasonic toothbrush and a chain of truck stops. Insurance Coverage LitigationMr. Portinga a member of the firm's insurance coverage practice group. He has assisted policyholders in enforcing their rights to a defense and indemnification from their insurers in numerous matters, many of which involved millions of dollars. He has also represented policyholders in obtaining coverage for property damage and environmental contamination at their businesses. ERISA LitigationMr. Portinga has handled more than 100 ERISA cases, representing employee welfare plans, third-party administrators and insurance carriers. Mr. Portinga's cases have involved both employee welfare plans and employee pension plans. Mr. Portinga is an active member of the Defense Research Institute's Life, Health and Disability Litigation Committee and is a contributor to the committee's newsletter. Appellate LitigationAs a former law clerk to the Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, Mr. Portinga has seen the inside and outside of appellate process. He has handled appeals in the Federal Circuit, the Sixth Circuit, the Seventh Circuit and in the Michigan Court of Appeals. These cases have covered diverse topics, including ERISA, insurance, oil and gas law and patents. Some of Mr. Portinga's appeals include:- DFS Secured Healthcare v. Caregivers Great Lakes, 384 F.3d 338 (7th Cir. 2004)(representing the appellant in a case where three issues of first impression under the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act were certified to the Indiana Supreme Court, whereupon the case settled).
- Rorke v. Savoy Energy, 260 Mich. App. 251; 159 Oil & Gas Rptr. 681 (2003)(representing an oil and gas producer in successfully enforcing its rights under a lease).
Mr. Portinga is also a member of the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States. Intellectual Property LitigationMr. Portinga has experience in litigating trademark, copyright and patent disputes and had prosecuted and defended infringement lawsuits in the Western District of Michigan, the Eastern District of Michigan and the Federal Circuit. Professional Affiliations and ActivitiesMr. Portinga served as a member of State Bar of Michigan Board of Commissioners from 2002-2005, and is currently a member of United States Courts Committee for the State Bar of Michigan. He is a former chair of Young Lawyers Section of the State Bar. An avid runner, he has completed several marathons. Articles and PresentationsMr. Portinga writes and speaks on a variety of litigation-related topics. Some of his articles include:- "E-Discovery and the New Rules of Federal Civil Procedure: They Apply to You," (Michigan Bar Journal, February 2007).
- "Getting Satisfaction," Inter Alia, Summer 2004.
- "Handling a Claim for Benefits Under ERISA," Inter Alia, Winter 2003.
- "The COA Proposes Shortening the Briefing Schedule to Reduce Appellate Delays," Inter Alia, Fall 2003.
- "The COA Rules that an Attorney has an Ethical Obligation to Return Inadvertently Disclosed Documents," The Litigation Newsletter, Summer 2003.
- "Appeal Bonds and Stay Bonds," Inter Alia, Summer 2002.
- "Judicial Review of State Administrative Decisions," Inter Alia, Fall 2002.
- "Is an Order Really Final if it Doesn't Say that it is Final?", Inter Alia, Spring 2002.
- "Racial Diversity as a Compelling Governmental Interest," 75 U. Det. Mercy L. Rev. 73 (1997).
- "ABA Accreditation of Law Schools: An Antitrust Analysis," 29 U. Mich. J. L. Ref. 635, 653 (1996)
EducationMr. Portinga earned his law degree, cum laude, as well as his Master's of Public Policy from the University of Michigan. He earned his bachelor's degree, magna cum laude, from Kalamazoo College. He is admitted to practice in Michigan.Bar Admissions
Michigan, 1996
Education
University of Michigan Law School (1996, J.D.)
cum laude
University of Michigan, School of Public Policy (1996, M.P.P.)
Kalamazoo College (1992, B.A.)
magna cum laude
Published Works "Racial Diversity as a Compelling Government Interest," FSU Det. Mercy L. Rev 73 (1997) ABA Accrediatation of Law Schools: An Antitrust Analysis, 29 U. Mich. J. L. Ref. 635 (1996) "The COA Rules that an Attorney has an Ethical Obligation to Return Inadvertantly Disclosed Documents," The Litigation Newsletter of the State Bar of Michigan (Summer 2003) Getting Satisfaction, Inter Alia (Summer 2004) "Handling a Claim for Benefits Under ERISA," Inter Alia (Winter 2003) "Appeal Bonds and Stay Bonds," Inter Alia (Summer 2002) "Is an Order Really Final if it Doesn't Say its Final?" Inter Alia (Spring 2002) "Judicial Review of State Administrative Decisions," Inter Alia, Fall 2002 "The COA Proposes Shortening the Briefing Schedule to Reduce Appellate Delays," Inter Alia, Fall 2003 Professional Associations and Memberships
American Bar Association
Federal Bar Association
State Bar of Michigan
Grand Rapids Bar Association
State Bar of Michigan, Young Lawyers Section, Chair (past)
State Bar of Michigan, Board of Commissioners (past)
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