Michael R. Bartish is a founding member of Springstead & Bartish Law, P.L.L.C.. He defends and represents clients in state and federal courts throughout Western Michigan from Niles to Traverse City. Mr. Bartish is a former active duty Judge Advocate General in the U.S. Army where he served at Fort Hood, Texas, from 1999 through 2002. During his active duty service, Mr. Bartish served as a trial counsel and senior trial counsel for the First Cavalry Division and as a Trial Defense Counsel for Fort Hood, Texas. After four years on active duty, Mr. Bartish went into private practice in Grand Rapids, Michigan, beginning his civilian career at Smith Haughey Rice and Roegge. In 2005, Mr. Bartish joined the prestigious criminal defense firm Willey & Chamberlain, LLP as an associate. Mr. Bartish left Willey & Chamberlain in June 2011 to join Mr. Springstead and form Springstead & Bartish Law, P.L.L.C.. One of the leading Grand Rapids criminal lawyers, Mr. Bartish splits his criminal defense practice fairly evenly between federal criminal cases in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, and state criminal cases in Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon, Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties. Respected Federal Court Representation In federal court, Mr. Bartish has represented people charged with a variety of crimes including: Conspiracy to Commit Interstate Murder for Hire Kidnapping and Kidnapping Resulting in Death Bank, Wire, and Mail Fraud Armed Bank and Credit Union Robbery Drug Conspiracies Embezzlement Federal Gun and Explosives Offenses Identity Theft Production and Distribution of Child Pornography Internet Crimes Sex Crimes and Sex Offender Registry Act Violations Immigration Violations Bribery Ponzi Scheme Allegations Tax Fraud Mr. Bartish has won not guilty verdicts for clients charged with felonies in federal court. Mr. Bartish has also had success in securing sentences significantly below the advisory guideline range, suppressing evidence, ob
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Michigan
Since 2003
Ohio
Since 1998
6th Circuit
Since 2005
Professional Experience
1999 - Current
United States Army
Judge Advocate
1995 - 2011
Law Offices if Willey and Chamberlain
Associate
2003 - 2005
Smith Haughey Rice and Roegge
Associate
Education
1995 - 1998
University of Cincinnati College of Law
J.D. (1998)
Honors: Cum Laude
1991 - 1995
University of Notre Dame
(1995) Government
Honors: Cum Laude
Awards
year - Michael Robert Bartish
Super Lawyer
Super Lawyers Magazine
Client Choice Award
Avvo
year - Michael Robert Bartish
Client Choice Award
Avvo
year - Michael Robert Bartish
Rising Star
Super Lawyers Magazine
year - Michael Robert Bartish
Rising Star
Super Lawyers Magazine
Top 40 under 40
National Association of Trial Lawyers
year - Michael Robert Bartish
Rising Star
Super Lawyers Magazine
Contacts
Fremont28A West Main Street Fremont MI 49412Telephone: (231) 924-8700Cell: (616) 560-8438Fax: (616) 458-6007
Grand Rapids15 Ionia SW Suite 520 Grand Rapids MI 49503Telephone: (616) 458-5500Cell: (616) 560-8438Fax: (616) 458-6007
Drunk Driving http://www.springsteadbartish.com/drunk-driving/ Drunk driving (also commonly known as driving under the influence (DUI), operating under the influence of intoxicating liquor (OUIL), operating while intoxicated (OWI), operating while visibly impaired (OWVI)) has become a highly-regulated area of the law. Your attorney should know all of the latest laws, rules, and protocols related to drunk-driving investigations. The attorneys at Springstead & Bartish stay on top of the law to ensure you get good advice and a knowledgeable attorney who can navigate the facts and law in your case, maximize your chances of a favorable outcome, and challenge the integrity of drunk-driving (OWI, OWVI, DUI, OUIL) prosecutions in West Michigan.
Electric Forest Festival http://www.springsteadbartish.com/electric-forest-music-festival/ In addition to all the revelers, the Electric Forest Festival draws considerable scrutiny from law enforcement and the courts here in Michigan. The Michigan State Police, Oceana County Sheriff's Department, and one of the area's drug enforcement task forces, SSCENT (The State, Sheriff's, Chief's Enforcement of Narcotics Team), seem to be the primary law enforcement authorities at the festival, based on our experience with the prosecutions following last year's festival. most of the cases we handled involved felony charges alleging possession with intent to distribute (PWID) a controlled substance or delivery/manufacture of a controlled substance. Many of these cases also included additional charges alleging misdemeanor or felony possession of a controlled substance. Whether the charges are misdemeanor or felony depend largely on what type of drug is possessed because, in Michigan, the possession of certain drugs are considered misdemeanors, i.e., marijuana, and others felonies, e.g., cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, LSD, or mushrooms. If you or somebody you know has been charged with a crime, call Springstead & Bartish Law for a free consultation.
Unique experience http://www.springsteadbartish.com/ Springstead & Bartish Law is led by a former active-duty Judge Advocate General and two former F.B.I. Special Agents. This unique experience allows us to better understand what prosecutors and investigators think, how they will build their cases, the strategies they are likely to pursue, and the best means of countering the prosecution's case and presenting a compelling defense. There simply is no substitute for this type of experience. Springstead & Bartish Law focuses almost exclusively on criminal law, though we are called upon to employ our skills at trial advocacy in a few select areas of litigation. We also offer estate planning services to our friends, families and clients. But our niche is representing clients facing criminal charges in state court and federal court throughout West Michigan