Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty, P.C.

United States 2025

National Rankings

Metro Rankings

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General Information

Practice Areas

Individuals recognized in Best Lawyers

Client Comments

Year founded: 1951

This is the year the firm (or its earliest predecessor entity) was founded.

Overview

Content is provided by the firm.

Founded in 1951, Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty, P.C. is a business and litigation law firm serving national corporations, businesses of all sizes, families and individuals in a wide variety of legal matters. We assist clients across the country from our offices in Southfield and Grand Rapids, Michigan. Our firm numbers nearly 25 attorneys, supported by 25 staff and legal professionals.

Sullivan Ward has earned the prestigious AV rating for legal excellence by Martindale Hubbell. Several of our members are nationally recognized as among the top practitioners in their fields by The Best Lawyers in America® (Woodward/White, Inc.), Thomson Reuters (publishers of Michigan “Super Lawyers” and Michigan “Rising Stars”), DBusiness Magazine and many others. Sullivan Ward has also achieved Tier One Status in the US News and World Report Ranking.

We are known for the diverse backgrounds and broad work experience of our attorneys. Combined with our legal acumen and training, these attributes bring an industry insider’s perspective to the practice of law. It is the hallmark of our firm, and a reflection of our founders’ philosophy of “doing what we know best.”

Our attorneys possess experience beyond book training, including real-world work experience and accumulated knowledge relevant to their areas of practice. Before practicing law, many of us owned, operated or directed family businesses, oversaw corporations, founded start-ups and ran entrepreneurial enterprises. We worked for engineering firms, insurance companies, banks and other financial institutions. Our attorneys previously served in municipal government, state legislature and legislative agencies; were commissioned and non-commissioned officers in the military; and managed and directed healthcare institutions and charitable organizations.

At Sullivan Ward, we surround ourselves with like-minded people who appreciate our roll-up-the-sleeves environment. From attorneys to staff, each day we re-dedicate ourselves to the success of our clients. Their hard work inspires, motivates and challenges us to demand equal measure of ourselves. For every one of us, it is the very reason we do what we do.

Rankings

Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty, P.C. is nationally ranked in 1 practice areas and metro ranked in 6 practice areas. Best Law Firms rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process.

Read how Best Law Firms ranks firms

National Rankings

Tier 3

Tier 3 for Litigation - Construction

Metro Rankings

Detroit

Tier 1 for Construction Law

Tier 1 for Litigation - Construction

Tier 1 for Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants

Tier 2 for Commercial Litigation

Tier 2 for Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

Firm Leadership

Christopher B. McMahon

Secretary

Keith P. Felty

Vice President & Treasurer

Lee Patton

President

Highlighted Client Comments

All client comments represent the opinions of the people who provided them. All potential clients are urged to remember that no two cases are ever completely alike and that the result in one case does not guarantee a similar result in another case.

Construction Law

Sullivan, Ward, Asher & Patton is an excellent firm. They never fail to dig into the pertinent details.

Litigation - Construction

It has been a while since I worked with Sullivan, Ward, Asher & Patton (as I am no longer in a claims role at Zurich), but I recall that Kevin Gleeson and Chris McMahon were always very helpful, even providing some assistance to me in explaining some engineering terms and concepts that I found confusing.

Doug Cohen – Zurich North America

Commercial Litigation

I have been working with Sullivan, Ward, Asher & Patton attorney John Simmerer, Esq. on defense of insurance agent's professional liability claims for the past 12 years. John is more than the average or typical defense attorney; John goes the extra mile to get a complete understanding of the individuals involved as well as the issues. John is a pleasure to work with. I have also had several cases with Christopher McMahon, Esq. of the firm who is also extremely capable.

Litigation - Construction

I have had several cases with Sullivan, Ward, Asher & Patton over the years and have had excellent results in all of the attorneys.

Rankings

National Rankings

Tier 3

Tier 3 for Litigation - Construction

Regional Rankings

Detroit

Tier 1 for Construction Law

Tier 1 for Litigation - Construction

Tier 1 for Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants

Tier 2 for Commercial Litigation

Tier 2 for Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

Tier 3 for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Practice Areas

The below are areas of legal specialty volunteered by the firm and do not designate a specialty in which a Best Law Firms ranking is held.

Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Litigation - Construction
Litigation - Environmental
Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Product Liability Litigation - Defendants

Individuals Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America^®

Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty, P.C. has 5 lawyers recognized for individual performance in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America^®. By receiving this Best Lawyers recognition from their peers for their professional excellence, these lawyers made Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty, P.C. eligible for evaluation for Best Law Firms rankings. For almost two decades, Best Lawyers has awarded these singular accolades, making them the foundation of our Best Law Firms awards. Read more about our Best Lawyers process here.

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Client Comments

Editions

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Demographics

Partners

Male: 12

Female: 1

Black / African American: 1

White / Caucasian: 12

Associates

Male: 4

White / Caucasian: 4

Other Lawyers

Male: 6

Female: 2

White / Caucasian: 8

Attorney Management / Department Heads

Male: 3

White / Caucasian: 3

Paralegals

Female: 2

White / Caucasian: 2

Non-Legal Employees

Male: 1

Female: 22

Black / African American: 1

Hispanic / Latinx: 1

White / Caucasian: 21

Awards

Awards are self-reported by firms and are not verified by the Best Law Firms rankings.

2018 Michigan Super Lawyers
Martindale Hubbell Bar Register Preeminate Lawyers
2018 "Best Law Firms" Rankings
National Tier 3
Metropolitan Tier 1 Detroit
Metropolitan Tier 2 Detroit
Metropolitan Tier 3 Detroit
The Best Lawyers in America, 2018
America's Top 100 High Stakes Litigators for 2017
dBusiness Magazine 2017 Top Lawyers in Detroit
2017 Leading Lawyers Magazine, Michigan Edition
Best's Recommended Insurance Attorneys