On September 28, 2009, Holy Cross College announced the appointment of Michael J. Willis, J.D., C.P.A., of Kalamazoo, Michigan, to their Board of Trustees. Mr. Willis, the managing partner and co-founder of Willis Law, will bring expertise in corporate law, real estate and tax law, and business development to the Holy Cross Board.
"As Holy Cross College prepares for another wave of growth, having a talented, experienced and knowledgeable professional like Mr. Willis on our board is indispensable. He has developed a strong reputation of compassionate, moral leadership in his Southwestern Michigan law practice, and we will draw heavily on his wise counsel as we plan and make decisions going forward" said Br. Richard Gilman, C.S.C., Ph.D., President of the college.
With locations in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and Paw Paw, Michigan, Willis Law serves clients both regionally and throughout the country. The practice is well-known for providing outstanding service to clients and the community. The firm's pro bono work includes providing free legal service once a month to the public at the Kalamazoo Public Library and the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission as well as operating the Corporal Christopher Kelly Willis Foundation, a scholarship fund that benefits American children who have lost their parent (or whose parent has been permanently disabled) in combat.
In 2007, Mr. Willis was selected by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as one of Michigan's Up and Coming Lawyers, an award presented to only six of 40,000 attorneys in Michigan. He was selected as a Rising Star by Michigan Super Lawyers and is listed in Marquis "Who's Who in American Law." He was also selected by the Florida Bar as the President's recipient of the Pro Bono Service Award for 2009 for the Out-of-State (49 states) Judicial Circuit.
Michael received his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. He graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame. Mr. Willis's wife Susan and their children, Isabella, Christian and Mary, are the lights of his life. They live in Kalamazoo.
Willis Law is a full-service business law firm headquartered in downtown Kalamazoo.