Bio

A partner in the firm’s Grand Rapids office, Andrea Forsyth focuses her practice in the areas of transportation law and general liability defense.

Ms. Forsyth’s litigation practice has particular emphasis on the representation of national insurance providers in complex medical fraud and excessive billing actions, third-party liability defense, and costly insurance coverage disputes. Ms. Forsyth also has extensive experience in commercial litigation and white-collar criminal defense.

Admitted to practice in Illinois, Colorado and Michigan, as well as the federal courts in Illinois and Michigan, Ms. Forsyth also has extensive experience in commercial litigation, white-collar criminal defense work and employment law. A certified divorce mediator, her practice also includes expertise in all aspects of family law.

Representative Client Work

  • Directed large-scale litigation cases for large Chicago-based real estate developer involving property disputes, many of which were based on allegations of fraud and breach of contract
  • Provided employment liability representation to national foodservice company with a portfolio of more than 20 different restaurant brands
  • Represented international food distributor in commercial litigation matters, including intellectual property disputes
  • Provided representation and counsel to a California-based film production company responsible for the release of numerous major-motion pictures
  • Represented leading financial institutions in multi-million dollar commercial real estate foreclosure matters that often involved complex construction liens and related issues
  • Obtained favorable settlement for physician in white-collar criminal prosecution involving allegedly fraudulent insurance billing practices
  • Successfully defended multi-million dollar securities fraud claim involving propriety of arbitrage options trading strategy in arbitration before FINRA
  • Successfully served as first-chair in an arbitration involving breach of contract
  • Successfully defended a bench trial involving easement rights

Representative Published Cases/Notable Cases

  • Barbara Harris and Robert Harris v Samantha Rae-Del Brocco Mason, Case #18-000022-NI, Berrien County Circuit Court, Aug. 29, 2019
  • People of the State of Illinois v Washington,  375 Ill.App.3d 243, 873 N.E.2d 540, Ill. App. 1 Dist., 2007

Professional Certifications

  • Divorce Mediator
  • Mediation

Professional Affiliations

  • Grand Rapids Bar Association
  • State Bar of Michigan
  • Colorado Bar Association
  • Illinois State Bar Association

Community Involvement

  • Heartside Ministry, Board of Directors
  • i understand, Board of Directors
  • Parenthesis Family Center, Former Member, Board of Directors
  • West Cook Pro Bono Network, Former Volunteer Attorney
  • Chicago Pro Bono Moms, Volunteer Attorney
  • Oak Park Concert Chorale, Soprano, Former Member

Publications/Articles and Lectures

Fraternity

  • Phi Delta Phi Honors Fraternity

Credentials

Clerkships

  • Law Clerk, Chicago Transit Authority, Law Department, 2004-2005
  • Law Clerk, Michigan Department of Attorney General, Consumer Protection and Antitrust Division, 2003

Education

  • Chicago-Kent College of Law, with high honors, J.D., 2005
  • DePaul University, B.S., 1998

Admissions

  • Illinois, 2005
  • Colorado, 2010
  • Michigan, 2013
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 2007
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 2013

Honors/Awards

Honors & Recognitions

  • Order of the Coif
  • CALI Award for Academic Excellence in Family Law and Remedies

Insights