Mallory E. Reader

Mallory Reader is an associate with Foster Swift’s Municipal Practice Group in the firm’s Grand Rapids office. Mallory’s role is to help local officials help their communities, whether that be as general counsel on day-to-day matters or representing the local government in litigation.  “The most rewarding part of my career is getting to know people all across the state and learning what makes their communities special.” In addition to general municipal law, Mallory also practices in the areas of election law, property law, and related litigation.

Mallory’s time at Foster Swift has included:

• Winning a property dispute for a township
• Ensuring the placement of a candidate on a local ballot
• Negotiating settlements for cities and townships
• Drafting ordinances specific to the needs of each community
• Successfully defending the decisions of zoning authorities

 Before entering private practice, Mallory worked for a prominent Washington, D.C. think-tank where she authored amicus briefs for consideration by the U.S. Supreme Court. She then worked in education policy as a government relations associate for a charter school organization spanning nine states.

Mallory is a graduate of Notre Dame Law School. While earning her law degree, she served as President of the Public Interest Law Forum and as an articles editor for the Journal of Legislation. As a student, she missed just one home football game. Go Irish! Mallory earned her undergraduate degree in political science from Hope College in Holland, Michigan. While at Hope, Mallory was awarded the Robert Elder, Jr. Award for demonstrating unusual promise during her semester “abroad” in Washington, D.C.

Away from work, Mallory loves to run, ski, mountain bike, and golf. She is an avid reader and an amateur potter. Mallory and her partner, David, live in Grand Rapids with Stevie the cat and Scottie the GSP.

Legal Affiliations

• Grand Rapids Bar Association
• Women Lawyers Association of Michigan (WLAM)
  • Member, WLAM Journal Editorial Board, Vol. 2, Issue 1

Community Involvement

• Girls on the Run West Michigan
  • Board Member
• West Michigan Mountain Bike Alliance
• Notre Dame Club of Grand Rapids