Damschroder honored with Outstanding Business Lawyer Award

Timothy R. Damschroder, a longtime shareholder with Bodman PLC, has been named recipient of the 11th Annual Stephen H. Schulman Outstanding Business Lawyer Award by the State Bar of Michigan Business Law Section.

Damschroder, who works in the firm’s Ann Arbor office is the chairperson of the Business Law Practice Group at Bodman, specializing in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, general business, corporate governance, securities offerings, and tax.

He has served in leadership roles both for the State Bar of Michigan Business Law Section and for other professional associations and organizations, including several years on the council of the Section and as chairman 2002-03. He has specialized in securities law, with specific emphasis on securities litigation and investor arbitration, for over 25 years.

In 2013, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder appointed Damschroder to the newly created Michigan Health Endowment Fund Board. The Fund, which was created under Public Act 4 of 2013, will benefit the health and wellness of Michigan residents through programs focusing on children and seniors. Damschroder serves as Treasurer of the Fund, which is expected to receive up to $1.56 billion in contributions over 18 years.

“I am very honored for this recognition because if you look at Prof. Schulman’s impact in our field, and the list of the past recipients of this award, it’s a list of professionals I have always admired and wanted to emulate,” Damschroder said.

Damschroder has been named the Best Lawyers® 2016 Corporate Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Ann Arbor. He is listed as one of four top-tier ranked lawyers in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2016 under Corporate/M&A – Michigan, being called, “an excellent choice of counsel for private equity and venture capital firms.”

His work on the Michigan Health Endowment Fund has been particularly rewarding, he says. As of July 2016, the fund has been responsible for funding $120 million to benefit statewide programs. “It was truly created from scratch through state legislation. When we first met we had no money and no governing documents. My focus has been on finance and treasury activities for the fund. It has been great to provide grants and invest a portion into an endowment for local communities around Michigan.”

Over the years Damschroder has negotiated and closed dozens of corporate finance transactions totaling more than $1 billion.

“I’ve been blessed in my career to have been afforded incredible opportunities,” Damschroder said “Being a part of the Business Law Section throughout my entire career certainly has contributed to these opportunities and the networking and dialogue with colleagues in this profession as part of the Section has been invaluable.”

Damschroder will be introduced at the Schulman Award Ceremony, which immediately precedes the Section’s Annual Meeting on Oct. 7 in Grand Rapids, by Dan Minkus, the 2013 recipient of the Schulman Award and managing member of the Birmingham office of Clark Hill PLC.

Damschroder serves on the Board of Directors of the Washtenaw County United Way and on various committees of Zion Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor. He is a past president of the Business Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, a past president of Board of Directors of Peace Neighborhood Center, a past vice chair of the Board of Directors of Nonprofit Enterprise At Work (NEW Center), and a past member of the St. Joseph Mercy Health System’s Development Council.