Education

Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D., 2008, summa cum laude

Ohio University, B.S., 2005, summa cum laude, Communications

Bar and Court Admissions

Michigan

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

Photo of Laura J. Garlinghouse
Grand Rapids
1700 East Beltline, N.E.
Suite 200
Grand Rapids, MI 49525-7044
T: 616.726.2238
F: 616.726.2299

Laura J. Garlinghouse

Associate

Read Laura's Bankruptcy Blog at www.michbankruptcyblog.com

Laura joined Foster Swift in 2008 and practices in the firm's Grand Rapids office. Laura's practice focuses on bankruptcy, municipal law, and trial-level and appellate litigation.  In the area of bankruptcy, Laura regularly represents Chapter 7 Trustees and creditors and maintains a blog about new cases from Michigan's bankruptcy courts.  In 2011, Laura was appointed by the Office of the United States Trustee to serve as a Chapter 7 Trustee in the Western District of Michigan, where she administers cases filed in the Kalamazoo area.   Read more about Laura's work as a trustee here.

Additionally, Laura works with Foster Swift's municipal attorneys to assist townships and cities with various legal issues, including property tax, zoning, and litigation matters.  Laura has also handled a wide range of trial and appellate matters for individual and business clients and has appeared before the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Michigan Court of Appeals, and the United States Bankruptcy Courts for the Western and Eastern Districts of Michigan, as well as Michigan circuit and district courts across the state. Most notably, she posted her first victory at the Michigan Court of Appeals just a few months past her first anniversary of being a lawyer.

Laura earned both her undergraduate and law degrees with summa cum laude designation. In law school, Laura earned 18 Certificates of Merit - the highest honor for academic performance in a course - and was selected to receive the Alumni Association Distinguished Student Award. Laura excelled in her trial and appellate advocacy studies and was a National Quarter Finalist at the Pace National Environmental Moot Court Competition in New York, as well as the first-place winner of the State Bar of Michigan 1L Oral Advocacy Competition.

Laura enjoys speaking and writing about current legal topics and most recently served as the chair of a panel about bankruptcy exemptions at the Federal Bar Association Bankruptcy Section's annual seminar at Boyne Mountain.  Laura is also an adjunct professor at Thomas M. Cooley Law School, where she teaches bankruptcy law, and she sings as a First Soprano and serves on the Board of Directors of the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus. 

Highlights & Recognitions

Thomas M. Cooley Alumni Association Distinguished Student Award

Pace National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition, National Quarter-Finalist

State Bar of Michigan 1L Oral Advocacy Competition - First Place

Representative Matters

  • Bankruptcy. Represents Chapter 7 trustees in all matters related to estate administration, including liquidation of estate assets, avoidance of security interests and preferential transfers, and objections to claimed exemptions. Represents creditors in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases, including nondischargeability actions and motions for relief from the automatic stay.  Represents debtors in Chapter 7 cases.
  • Municipal. Works with Foster Swift Municipal Team to advise townships, cities, and counties regarding various legal issues. Represents municipal clients in litigation matters, including zoning and land use disputes and property tax collections.  Assists municipal clients with adopting police power and zoning ordinances, approving industrial facilities tax exemption certificates, establishing special assessment districts, and acquiring easements in connection with public improvements.
  • Litigation. Represents wide range of clients in trial-level and appellate litigation in state and federal court, including individuals, small and family-owned businesses, municipalities, libraries, and insurers.
  • Collections. Represents individual and business creditors in negotiation, litigation, and post-judgment proceedings to collect delinquent accounts and enforce contractual obligations.
  • Insurance Defense.  Defends municipalities in litigation, including cemetery liability and sewer system event cases.

News

Speaking Engagements

Publications

For more, click here

Memberships & Affiliations

Legal Affiliations:
  • Grand Rapids Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Association Bankruptcy Section (Western District of Michigan), Steering Committee Member
Industry & Professional Associations:
  • National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees
  • Grand Rapids Young Professionals
  • Inforum
  • American Bankruptcy Institute
Community Involvement:
  • Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus, Board of Directors 2011-2012

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