About
Your Trusted Legal Partners
Michael Brower has firsthand knowledge of licensing, starting, running, and expanding businesses in the spirits and hospitality industry. He is also an expert in protecting intellectual property within these fields.
Upon returning home to Michigan, Michael formed Stariha & Brower, PLC, with his grandfather, James R. Stariha, a man frequently referred to as the “Godfather” of Michigan liquor law. Over the next several years, Michael established himself as a liquor lawyer, representing hundreds of licensees (both retailers and manufacturers) throughout the state of Michigan. During this same time, Michael also became the youngest Associate Professor at MSU College of Law while co-teaching the schools inaugural “Hospitality Law” course.
When not practicing law, Michael began pursuing other endeavors, eventually leading him to a co-founding position within three alcohol manufacturers. At his brewery, Pigeon Hill Brewing Company, Michael now acts as Chief Brand Officer, with an emphasis on the legal, marketing, and sales efforts of the company. These days, Michael enjoys spending his days at Pigeon Hill while maintaining a select legal client base, doing his part to “keep the booze flowing” on all fronts.
Michael's Services
Liquor and Licensing Law
- Breweries, Distilleries & Wineries
- Liquor Licensing & Violations
- Trademark and Intellectual Property
Contact Michael
Nick's Services
Dental Transactional Law
- Dental Healthcare & Business Law
- Practice Brokerage & Dental Consulting
- Commercial Real Estate Leases, Sales, & Purchases
Contact Nick
Nicholas Vander Veen is an expert in the dental industry.
After undergrad, he moved from Ann Arbor to Chicago to work for a year before attending law school. He graduated early in December of 2010 and then passed the February Illinois Bar Exam and then the July Michigan Bar Exam in the same year. He started his own firm in Chicago where he continued his work with Robert Bosch, LLC (the North American subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH) by serving as outside general counsel on several internal compliance matters. During this same period, he developed his niche practice serving dentists in practice transitions. By applying his experience working behind the scenes in his father’s dental practice growing up, he is able to anticipate the unique challenges as well as the common issues that dental practices face.
In the fall of 2014 he returned to Grand Rapids to focus on his health care transition practice with a large local law firm. In 2016, seeking to serve his clients in a more direct and personal manner, he formed Brower Vander Veen, PLC with his best friend he met in law school, Michael Brower.
Nick has represented medical professionals for over 8 years, from obtaining their first associate position to the sale of their practice, in addition to all the day to day issues in between. He provides full and comprehensive counsel in each transaction that covers the purchase of the assets, retention of key staff, and negotiation of commercial leases and sales.
When not in the office, Nick enjoys golfing, participating in long distance races and triathlons, rock climbing, and spending time with his family on Lake Michigan along with his dog, Archer.
