Randall W. Kraker

Real Estate Development and Municipal Law Attorney

Randy is a counsel with the Environmental, Energy and Natural Resources Practice Team focusing on government, finance and real estate development. He concentrates his practice on land use and zoning issues as well as all aspects of municipal law and finance. Randy has worked on hundreds of development projects as either counsel to the municipality or to the developer, and he has assisted in the development of numerous wind and solar energy projects across Michigan.

Randy is consistently recognized by The Best Lawyers in America^© in several categories of law. He has been named “Lawyer of the Year” in Land Use and Zoning Law in the 2023 guide, which is the 11th time he has been recognized as “Lawyer of the Year.”

Experience

City attorney for City of Belding

City attorney for City of Grandville

Extensive experience representing wind energy developers in obtaining authorization for the placement of wind turbines.

Extensive representation of businesses, developers and property owners with regard to development, land use and zoning issues.

Broad experience in a wide range of municipal law, land use and zoning, and municipal finance issues.

General and special counsel to numerous local governmental units and school districts.

Participated in numerous municipal bond issues, including general obligation, special assessment, revenue and refunding bonds, and energy conservation and tax anticipation notes.

Past chairman of the firm’s Government, Finance and Development Practice Team which represents numerous counties, home rules cities, general law and charter townships, school districts, colleges, hospitals and public commissions and authorities.

Honors and Recognitions

Best Lawyers in America^® in multiple categories since 2005

Best Lawyers in America^®, Lawyer of the Year, Land Use and Zoning Law (Grand Rapids), 2023

Best Lawyers in America^®, Lawyer of the Year, Land Use and Zoning Law (Grand Rapids), 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020

Best Lawyers in America^®, Lawyer of the Year, Municipal Law (Grand Rapids), 2021, 2024

Best Lawyers in America^®, Lawyer of the Year, Litigation – Municipal Law (Grand Rapids), 2013, 2016, 2019

Best Lawyers in America^®, Lawyer of the Year, Litigation – Real Estate (Grand Rapids), 2015, 2017

Grand Rapids Magazine’s Top Lawyers: Land Use and Zoning; Municipal Law; 2019 – 2021, 2023

Leading Lawyers: Governmental, Municipal, Lobbying & Administrative Law; Land Use, Zoning & Condemnation Law; Public Finance Law; Real Estate Law – Commercial; Real Estate Law – Finance

Martindale-Hubbell^® AV Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated

Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys, Distinguished Municipal Attorney of the Year, 2016

Michigan Lawyers Weekly^® Hall of Fame Honoree, 2021

Michigan Super Lawyers^® 2007 – 2013

Professional Affiliations

American Planning Association: National and Michigan Chapters

Grand Rapids Bar Association: Real Property Section

Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys

State Bar of Michigan: Government Law Section; Real Property Law Section

Community Involvement

Bethany Christian Services, past secretary

Grandville Walker Foundation, board member

Holland Home Board of Directors, past chair

Project Rehab Board of Directors, past chair

Presentations

Speaker at numerous land use seminars sponsored by Michigan Municipal League, Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys, Public Corporation Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, Michigan Township Association, and National Business Institute.