Bio

Ford Turrell counsels real estate and corporate clients in transactions. Within his real estate practice, he guides clients in buying and selling commercial property and drafts and reviews commercial lease agreements and buy-sell agreements for multitenant buildings, commercial buildings or vacant land, including farmland. He also drafts and reviews easement and license agreements for commercial and residential use and prepares and reviews construction and development agreements. On the corporate side, Ford helps organizations form new entities and advises closely held companies through stock and asset transactions. In addition, he reviews and drafts business contracts such as service and supply agreements. He primarily represents Michigan-based organizations in a variety of industries, including agriculture, manufacturing and retail. Ford provides transaction legal counsel to farmers and developers through drafting and negotiating feedstock supply agreements and land agreements related to anaerobic digestion and biogas development and production. Many of the contracts he drafts involve feedstock supply, gas purchase, tolling fee sharing and related real estate purchases, leases and easement agreements. This movement of turning human, animal and food waste into usable biogas is on the rise. Alternative energy programs, in general, require complex and customized legal contracts and creative solutions – considering short-term and long-term strategies to build facilities, programs and relationships that will foster new energy development. However, this type of renewable energy is altering traditional views on waste as a liability – something that Ford enjoys pioneering with clients as they develop this sustainability-focused space. Ford always takes a pragmatic approach to writing, commenting and protecting client interests. He excels at keeping clients updated about what’s happening, what they can expect throughout the legal process and the plan for getting from point A to point B. Drawing on 12 years of teaching experience, Ford incorporates into his practice his knowledge of writing, interpersonal and organizational communication and conflict resolution, as well as his ability to tailor communication to a variety of audiences. Additionally, his clear speaking and writing style and highly responsive approach help to relieve clients of their worries so they can sleep better at night. While Ford enjoys the dynamics and challenges of helping large corporations attain their goals, many of his clients are smaller, closely held companies. He finds it highly gratifying to help people protect their businesses and set them up for growth because these commercial ventures are often thoroughly connected to their families. Ford relishes the opportunity to provide truly life-changing legal services for the people who own and run the organizations.