Ronald G. Dewaard

Ron is a trial lawyer and former federal prosecutor who currently serves as chair of the firm. He concentrates his practice in civil and white collar litigation, as well as internal investigations. He is a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and has been recognized as one of Michigan's top lawyers by Best Lawyers®, Super Lawyers®, Benchmark Litigation©and by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as a Leader in the Law. Prior to his election as chair, Ron led the firm’s Litigation and Trial Practice Team.

Before joining the firm, Ron served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Miami for the Southern District of Florida, where he prosecuted and tried several large criminal cases. He was also the Deputy Chief of the Major Crimes Division in that office from 2000 - 2001. Since joining Varnum, Ron has tried cases in courts across the country, including New York, Washington, D.C., Florida, North Carolina, Michigan, Tennessee, Kentucky and Kansas. Ron has obtained multimillion dollar verdicts and settlements for plaintiff businesses, including a top ten verdict in Michigan, as recognized by the Michigan Lawyers Weekly. He has also obtained a number of defense verdicts against plaintiffs claiming high damages.

Ron has extensive experience as an instructor of trial advocacy. He has taught at the preeminent trial advocacy program in the United States, the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, and at the National Advocacy Center, which is the trial practice school for the Department of Justice. Since 2006, he has taught at the Hillman Trial Advocacy Clinic, the trial advocacy program for the Western District of Michigan, and he led that program in 2012 and 2013. He is also a federal court approved mediator.

As a former federal prosecutor, Ron represents companies and officers in white collar criminal matters and governmental investigations, and he conducts internal investigations.