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John Schaefer
The Law Firm of John F. SchaeferBadges
Claimed Lawyer Profile
Summary
John F. Schaefer, founder of The Law Firm of John F. Schaefer, is one of the best-known and most highly-respected matrimonial lawyers in the United States. From its inception, Best Lawyers in America has listed John Schaefer as one of the premier matrimonial lawyers in America, and named him Lawyer of the Year, Detroit Area, in 2013. Worth magazine named him one of the top 100 lawyers in America, in any practice area.
Practice Areas
- Divorce
- Family Law
Fees
- Credit Cards Accepted
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
- Michigan
- New York
Languages
- English
Professional Experience
- Trustee Emeritus
- Michigan State University College of Law
- - Current
- Board of Trustees
- William Beaumont Hospital
- - Current
- Hundred Club
- - Current
- President
- The Law Firm of John F. Schaefer
- - Current
- Board of Directors
- Gil Schaefer Distributors, Inc.
- - Current
- Michigan State University-Detroit College of Law
- - Current
- Board of Directors
- Walker Motors, Inc.
- - Current
- President (2005-2006)/Board of Directors (1996-2006)
- Oakland County Bar Association
- -
- Board of Directors
- Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL)
- -
- Board of Directors-Secretary
- J.P. McCarthy Foundation
- -
- Chairman
- Detroit College of Law Foundation
- -
- Board of Trustees
- Detroit College of Law
- -
- Of Counsel
- Williams, Shaefer, Ruby & Williams
- -
- Shareholder
- Williams, Schaefer, Ruby & Williams, P.C.
- -
- Board of Trustees
- Michigan Cancer Foundation
- -
- Board of Governors
- Cranbrook Schools
- -
- Board of Directors
- Consortium for Human Development
- -
- Board of Directors/Secretary/Treasurer/President
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- -
- Corporate Board
- Boys and Girls Club of Metro Detroit
- -
- Buesser, Buesser, Snyder & Blank
- -
Education
- Michigan State University
- Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree
- Honors: Distinguished Alumni Award
- Michigan State University
- B.A.
- Detroit College of Law
- J.D.
Awards
- Lawyer of the Year - Family Law - Detroit Area
- The Best Lawyers in America
- Receipient of the Hon. George N.Bashara '60 Distinguished Alumni Award
- Michigan State University College of Law
- Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree
- Michigan State University College of Law
- Naming of the John F. Schaefer Law Library
- Michigan State University College of Law
- Top Lawyers
- Crain's Detroit Business
- A True Friend to the Detroit Police Athletic League and to the Youth of Detroit
- Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL)
- 10 Divorce Lawyers You'd Want in Your Corner
- Detroit Monthly
- America's Top Divorce Lawyers
- Town & Country Guide to Civilized Divorce
- Super Lawyer
- Super Lawyers
- 2006-Present
- The Top Lawyers in Metro Detrot
- DBusiness
- 2006-Present
- The Nations' Top 100 Attorneys
- Worth Magazine
- 2006-2008
- Who's Who
- Oxford
- 1992-Present
- Whos Who in the World
- Marquis Who's Who, Inc.
- 1995-Present
- Who's Who in American Law
- Marquis Who's Who, Inc.
- 1995-Present
- Who's Who in America
- Marquis Who's Who, Inc.
- 1995-Present
Professional Associations
- Notre Dame Club of Michigan
- - Current
- International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- - Current
- Michigan State Bar Foundation Fellows
- - Current
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- - Current
- State Bar of Michigan # 19948
- Member
- - Current
- American Bar Association
- - Current
- Oakland County Bar Association
- - Current
- Detroit Bar Association
- - Current
- Judicial Review Committee
- Member - U.S. Senate Committee
- -
- Michigan Association of the Professions
- -
- Michigan Inter-Professional Association on Marriage, Divorce and the Family
- -
- American Judicature Society
- -
Publications
Articles & Publications
- Divorce in Michigan - The Legal Process, Your Rights and What to Expect
- Addicus Books, Inc.
Speaking Engagements
- The Effective Handling of the Non-Routine Divorce Case
- University of Detroit Continuing Legal Education
- An Extended Program on Family Law
- The Law Society of Upper Canada
- Divorce Settlement: Compulsory Arbitration of Mediation
- Michigan Inter-Professional Association on Marriage, Divorce and the Family
- Tax Ramifications of Divorce Cases
- Southfield Bar Association
- Trying the Big Case-Divorce
- Dearborn Bar Association
- Michigan Judicial Institute Principal Instructor to Michigan Circuit Judges
- 1981 - Domestic Relations: Substantive Law" 1980 - Domestic Relations: Substantive Law"
- WXYZ-TV
- "Kelly and Company" Appearance with Joel Hyatt and Discussion on advertising by lawyers
- Legal Malpractice
- Michigan Trial Lawyers Association and State Bar of Michigan
- Family Law in Michigan
- Legal Education Institute, Inc.
- Oakland University Continum Center
- 1988 - Speaker: "The Economics of Divorce" 1987 - Speaker: "Choosing an Attorney"
- Straight Talk About Divorce-Bitter Reality
- Oakland County Friend of the Court Divorce and Family Counseling Workshop
- WJBK-TV
- 1992 - "Comment" Family Values 1981 - "Kelly at Night" Discussion on Living Together and Palimony with reference to the book Living Together by Marvin Mitchelson 1981 - "Kelly and Company" Appearance with Marlene Adler Marks and discussion on her book The Suing of America: Why and How We Take Each Other to Court 1979 - "Women to Women" Interview and Discussion on Marvin v. Marvin
- WDIV-TV
- "Henry Baskin Show," Discussion Regarding Child Custody and Shared Responsibility
- The Role of the CPA Regarding Pre-Trial Discovery, Financial Analysis and Advice, Valuations, Tax Matters, Trial Preparation and Testimony, Use of Reports and Other Visual Aids
- The Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants
- Why Michigan Should Divorce Antenuptial Agreements from Divorce Cases
- Michigan Bar Journal
- Legal Trends in Family Law
- Women's Information Network
- Judicial Educational Seminar
- Oakland County Circuit Court-Family Court Judges
- The Uncertain State of Michigan Equitable Distribution Law Post-Reeves
- State Bar Journal
- Evidence by the Rules From the Experts
- Oakland County Bar Association
- Institute on Continuing Legal Education
- 2002 - Speaker: "Handling Separate Property in the Divorce Case" 1997 - Speaker: "Spousal Support Post Judgment" 1979 - Speaker: "Michigan Divorce Law and Procedure" 1979 - Speaker: Child Custody Contests" 1978 - Speaker: "Divorce Trial Advocacy" 1978 - Speaker: "The Divorce Case: From Separation to Settlement" 1977 - Speaker: "Settlement Agreements in Divorce Cases" 1976 - Speaker: "The Contested Divorce Case"
- WJR
- 1997 - "Paul W. Smith Show", Law Day Discussion 1979-1992 - "The J.P. McCarthy Focus Show" Law Day Discussion 1983 - "J.P. Show" Interview
- State Bar of Michigan
- 2001 - Speaker: "State of Michigan Spousal Support Law" 1995 - Speaker: "Handling the Million Dollar Divorce Case" 1991 - Speaker: "Divorce Tips from the Experts" 1989 - Seminar Panelist and Speaker: "Ask the Experts" 1985 - Speaker: "Pitfalls of a Domestic Relations Practice" 1978 - Speaker: "Discovery Procedures in Divorce" 1978 - Speaker: "Post-Divorce Motion Practice" 1978 - Speaker: "Alimony, How Would You Decide?" 1977 - Speaker: "Attitudes of Circuit Judges Regarding Alimony" 1976 - Speaker: "The Motion Docket" 1975 - Principal Participant: Attorney for Plaintiff, Mock Trial 1972 - Speaker: "Attorney Fees in Divorce Cases"
- Beyond Rinvelt: Where do Prenuptial Agreements Go from Here?
- Laches - Family Law Issue
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- 2015 - Speaker: MCR 3.206(C) 2014 - Speaker: "What is the true meaning of a "double-dip" from a Mathematical Perspective, and Why do I need to know this? 2013 - Speaker: "Creating a Statement of Net Worth; Date of Valuation" 2012 - Speaker: "Laying the Foundation for Specific Types of Exhibits and Voir Dire of Proposed Exhibits" 2011 - Moderator: "Ask the Judges" 2010 - Mediator of Panel Discuss w/ Judges Feeney, Hallmark and Newblatt 2009 - Speaker: "Is the Attorney Culpable of All Acts of the Private Investigator" 2007 - Speaker: "Big Bucks, Big Risks: The role of Results-Oriented Fees in the Practice of Matrimonial Law 2006 - Speaker: "The Problem with a 'Holder's Interest' Standard of Value" 2005 - Speaker: "Tricky and Difficult Evidence Problems in Domestic Relation Case Made Plain" 2004 - Speaker: "Nuances in Blue Cross Conversion Policies" 2000 - Speaker: "Revisiting Reeves and Making QDROs part of Judgments of Divorce" 1999 - Speaker: "Stock Options Revisited" 1998 - Speaker: "Stock Options: How to Value" 1995 - Speaker: "Presentation of Direct and Cross Examination of CPA" 1994 - Speaker: "Valuing Closely Held Corporations"
- John F. Schaefer, Courtly Lawyer
- dBusiness
- For Love or Money
- Worth Magazine - The Divorce Issue
- Fighting Words
- Worth Magazine - The Divorce Issue
- When Your Own Private Investigator Lands You Behind Bars
- The Journal-Family Law Edition
- Non-Refundable Retainers and Value Added Billing
- ICLE
- In View Series
- Hosted by Larry King featuring John F. Schaefer, preeminent family law attorney
- Appearance before the Michigan Supreme Court
- Addressing Proposed Alternative Amendments of Rule 1.5 of the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct and Proposed Amendment of Rule 7.215 of the Michigan Court Rules
Websites & Blogs
- Website
- Website
Social Media
Contact & Map