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Professional Excellence Melds with Community Service At Bishop & Heintz

The downtown Traverse City law firm of Bishop & Heintz, P.C., has a strong commitment, both to the highest level of professional assistance for its clients, and to community service. The firm’s track record indicates success in both areas. The Traverse City area and “Downtown” have been very good to Bishop & Heintz, and the firm feels an obligation to return the favor, say founding members Doug Bishop and Pat Heintz. From its inception, the firm has made a point of expressing its appreciation, and beginning with its founding members, has implemented a policy encouraging participation in community service at all levels, by its attorneys and staff. In a unique gesture, they have, for many years, since moving into their own building at 440 West Front Street, held an annual picnic, inviting all residents and businesses of the surrounding neighborhoods. Attorneys and staff are active in many community service organizations, including participation and leadership positions in the local bar association, the Chamber of Commerce, YMCA, Grand Traverse Catholic Schools and Rotary Clubs. Pat Heintz and Jerry Colligan were the first two recipients of the Madeleine Thomas Award, given by the bar association, annually, to the attorney who has most significantly contributed to the local community area. Doug Bishop currently serves as a Trustee for Northwestern Michigan College and chairs the Board of Trustees for First Congregational Church. Among their many community activities, Dave Cvengros and Steve Fox coach a number of youth sports teams. Dave is also a Board member of TAGS, while Steve sits on the Board of the Michigan Historic Preservation Network.

The firm has again been awarded the prestigious “AV” rating for 2007 by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory,¹ the preeminent attorney rating service in the United States. The “A” rating indicates the firm is professionally ranked “very high to preeminent” and the “V” rating indicates that the firm’s general ethical standards’ rating is “very high.” The firm is headquartered in the Bishop & Heintz building, originally built as Traverse City’s third, and largest, Bohemian Hall in approximately 1905.² Doug Bishop, Pat Heintz, Dave Cvengros and Steve Fox, together with newer associates, Meagan Belden and Matt Classens, and Jerry Colligan, who is “of counsel,” provide experienced legal expertise in a broad spectrum of areas, relating to downtown businesses and property, including, Intellectual Property (Patent, Trademark, and Copyright), Real Estate and Zoning, as well as general comprehensive business and commercial services. Other legal services provided include a track record of many significant litigation results, estate planning, business succession planning and business entity formation.

The firm’s website, www.bishopheintz.com contains biographical information of all attorneys, a firm profile, and a description of services offered in primary practice areas. Attorneys may also be contacted at (231) 946-4100.

¹ CV, “BV” and “AV”, are registered certification marks of Read Elsevier Properties, Inc., used with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.
² “Stroll Magazine”, Volume 1, Issue 1, Winter 2007, pp 6-7.