Education

Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D., 2007 magna cum laude

Grand Valley State University, B.B.A. 1996, magna cum laude

Community Involvement

Spring Lake Township Board of Trustees

Muskegon County Bar Association, President 2018-2019

Ottawa County Bar Association, Board of Directors

ARC Muskegon, Former President

Awards & Recognition

Lakeshore Athena Award – Nominee Finalist 2017

Presentations & Publications

2018 Family Law Section Mid-Summer Conference – Presenter

Rachel is a lawyer in Muskegon, MI concentrating her practice in the areas of family law, probate litigation and civil litigation, including contract disputes, landlord-tenant issues, probate matters and other general civil matters. Rachel has represented numerous clients throughout West Michigan, including Muskegon, Grand Haven, Spring Lake, and Grand Rapids. She is one of the only divorce lawyers in Muskegon, or the rest of West Michigan, who offers a collaborative divorce practice. She also assists many of Gielow Groom Terpstra & McEvoy’s small business clients with their legal needs.

Experience

Prior to starting her law career, Rachel spent more than a decade working on-site with corporate clients and small businesses in the areas of accounting, training and consulting, financial management, time management, customer service, presentation skills, business communication, and business writing. This diverse business and accounting background provides a unique perspective and ability to guide clients through the challenges of running a small business or navigating through a divorce involving a small or family-owned business.

Sample Projects

  • Enforced the retirement provisions of a Judgment of Divorce, recovering tens of thousands in lost 401(k) proceeds and successfully defended that award in the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.
  • Assisted client in successfully preventing the location of cell tower in a residential neighborhood.

Education

Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D., 2007 magna cum laude

Grand Valley State University, B.B.A. 1996, magna cum laude

Community Involvement

Spring Lake Township Board of Trustees

Muskegon County Bar Association, President 2018-2019

Ottawa County Bar Association, Board of Directors

ARC Muskegon, Former President

Awards & Recognition

Lakeshore Athena Award – Nominee Finalist 2017

Presentations & Publications

2018 Family Law Section Mid-Summer Conference – Presenter