Frederick D. Dilley

Fred Dilley has been actively involved in the Grand Rapids and West Michigan legal communities in both state and federal courts as a first chair litigator for more than 35 years. He has worked on a variety of complex and difficult matters ranging from business disputes to divorce cases to personal injury matters. For the last 15 years, he has brought that experience to his facilitative mediation and arbitration practice which now represents the majority of his professional endeavors. Fred is a sought-after facilitative mediator. He completes about 100 mediations each year with a very significant success rate and a large number of return users. Attorneys and clients have come to trust Fred’s judgment and expertise as a litigator; as a mediator; and as an arbitrator.

Fred is also frequently engaged as local counsel in federal and state courts in matters such as patent and trademark infringement, securities fraud and energy litigation involving anti-trust claims. His ability to assist out-of-town counsel in navigating through the local rules, procedures and practices has been of great value to a number of Fortune 1000 companies, their general counsel and, outside counsel. 

American College of Trial Lawyers Fellow

International Society of Barristers Fellow, 2007-2018

American Board of Trial Advocates Associate

AV® Preeminent™ Martindale-Hubbell

Best Lawyers in America® - (Arbitration, Mediation, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs), 1995-2026

Best Lawyers in America®  - "Lawyer of the Year" in Arbitration in Grand Rapids, 2025

Best Lawyers in America®  - "Lawyer of the Year" in Mediation in Grand Rapids, 2014 & 2015

Negligence Law Section of the Michigan State Bar, Distinguished Service Award, 2017

Michigan Super Lawyers, General Litigation, 2005-2025

Michigan Super Lawyers, "Top 100 Lawyers", 2019

Grand Rapids Magazine "Top Lawyer", Mediation, 2024

Grand Rapids Magazine "Top Lawyer", Arbitration, Mediation, 2019 and 2022

Grand Rapids Magazine "Top Lawyer", Mediation, 2020 and 2023

2016 Outstanding Achievement Award, Negligence Section, State Bar of Michigan

2015 Hillman Award, Federal Bar Association for the Western District of Michigan

Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Leader in the Law, 2015

Legal Affiliations:

• American College of Trial Lawyers
  • State Committee, Member
• Judicial Conference of the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, Life Member
• National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals
• American Inns of Court, Gerald R. Ford Chapter, Founding Master and Past President (1995)
• Hillman Advocacy Program, Steering Committee, Past Chair
• Civil Justice Advisory Group, Western District Michigan, Past Chair
• Voluntary Facilitative Mediation Advisory Group, Western District Michigan, Past Chair
• Michigan State University College of Law, Trustee Emeritus and Former Vice Chair
• Grand Rapids Bar Association
  • Family Law Section
  • Litigation Section
  • ADR Section
• State Bar of Michigan
  • Family Law Section
  • Negligence Section
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution Section
• Federal Court Voluntary Facilitative Mediation Program
  • Pro bono mediator
  • Past Chair