William D. Howard

William D. Howard, a partner at Howard Law Group in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was named Maritime & Admiralty Lawyer of the Year in Michigan, US at the 2024 Corporate INTL Global Awards. A civil litigation and business attorney, Howard is recognised for his work in maritime and admiralty law, a specialised field of particular relevance to a Great Lakes state with an extensive tradition of commercial and recreational navigation.

Howard Law Group is a civil litigation and business law firm based in Grand Rapids, known for a strong trial record and a commitment to being available to clients around the clock. The practice handles a broad range of contentious and transactional matters, including admiralty and maritime disputes, commercial litigation, construction law, product liability, trucking and transportation matters, partnership disputes, breach of contract and non-compete issues, alongside real estate, business formation and estate planning work. Within that mix, maritime and admiralty law is a distinct and technically demanding area in which Howard has built his reputation.

Admiralty and maritime law governs navigation, shipping and activity on navigable waters, drawing on a specialised body of federal law that differs markedly from ordinary civil practice. Matters can involve vessel collisions and casualties, cargo and charter disputes, injuries to crew and passengers, liens and salvage, and questions of insurance and liability. Practitioners must command both the procedural distinctiveness of admiralty jurisdiction and the commercial realities of the shipping and transportation industries, making it a field in which experienced counsel is highly valued.

Howard completed his undergraduate studies at Kalamazoo College, graduating in 1981, and went on to attend Washington University School of Law. Over the course of his career he has helped clients throughout Michigan with maritime and admiralty matters as well as construction, product liability, transportation and commercial disputes. He is peer-review rated AV Preeminent through Martindale-Hubbell, the organisation's highest rating, reflecting the assessment of his peers as to his legal ability and professional ethics, and has also been recognised by Super Lawyers.

The firm positions itself as a group of experienced and dynamic lawyers prepared to take on complex litigation, and its maritime capability is a notable element of that offering in a state defined by its extensive Great Lakes coastline and inland waterways. Cases in this area frequently combine questions of federal admiralty law with the practical demands of commercial and personal injury litigation, calling for a lawyer equally comfortable in the courtroom and with the technical framework that governs activity on the water.

The Maritime & Admiralty Lawyer of the Year in Michigan, US award acknowledges William D. Howard's expertise in this specialised discipline and his standing within the Michigan litigation bar. It highlights both his individual contribution and the role of Howard Law Group in serving clients whose interests turn on the distinctive rules of the sea and navigable waters.