Our Team
Michael Lichterman, Attorney and Founder
Michael Lichterman is a talented attorney dedicated to helping individuals and families make the very best legal decisions. Michael’s practice focuses on estate planning, special needs planning, wealth transfer, asset protection, and small business formation and counsel. He develops lifelong relationships with his clients, serving as a trusted advisor to them and their families. Michael skillfully guides his clients as they preserve and protect their assets, loved ones, and legacies, including their most important asset – who they are and what is important to them (values, insights, stories, and experiences).
Michael received his law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Grand Rapids, MI and a B.B.A. in Finance from Grand Valley State University. Following law school, Michael worked for a commercial equipment leasing company as Vice President and Assistant Counsel.
In early 2009, seeking ways to follow his passion for helping families and businesses plan for success and create lasting relationships with his clients, Michael acted on his entrepreneurial drive and started his own law firm. Michael considers each day to be another opportunity to help West Michigan families protect and provide for their future. Michael has been practicing law in Michigan since 2007 and enjoys becoming an on-going trusted advisor and lifelong resource for all his clients, assuring he can be there for their family when they cannot.
As the attorney who brings the Lichterman Law Difference to life, Michael is devoted to helping families and businesses in West Michigan achieve their goals of protecting their assets (their “stuff”) through innovative estate and business planning. Michael thinks of his firm as a caring, forward-looking, problem-solving vehicle for legally and financially transitioning families, especially today’s young families with small children and older families who want to pass on more than just their financial wealth. Michael provides further benefits to his clients and their minor children through the Children Protection Plan – an approach that ensures his clients’ children are cared for in the short-term and the long-term. He also encourages and guides his clients to pass along more than just their financial assets through Priceless Conversations.
When he is not busy helping families and businesses protect what matters most to them and bringing them peace of mind, Michael enjoys spending time with his wife (Mandy) and children (Matthew and Elizabeth), flying, golfing, reading, and playing music at his church. He gives back to the community through his involvement with the American Cancer Society, Habitat for Humanity, Rotary (Grandville, MI), and as a Board member of Greater Life Pentecostal church. And he is proud to be a member of Wealth Counsel, the West Michigan Estate Planning Council, Grand Rapids Bar Association, American Bar Association, Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce, and the Grand Rapids Young Professionals.
Kristi Lallo, Client Services Director and Marketing Coordinator
Kristi is the friendly voice that welcomes new clients to our office, sharing with them our unique approach to estate planning and small business counsel services. Kristi is in charge of scheduling for our firm and is responsible for the responsive service and kindness for which we are known. As a mother of four children (10 – 18), Kristi is dedicated to helping families protect who and what they love. She also makes sure we stay in regular contact with our clients, which is key to the lifetime relationship we nurture with each of our clients.
Margaret Ziomkowski, Funding Coordinator
Margaret has worked in various capacities in the estate planning and probate fields for over 12 years. As Funding Coordinator, Margaret assists with the review and organization of asset information for each client, prepares a Family Wealth Inventory, helps with quality control of planning information, and works diligently with our clients and their financial institutions to make sure their assets are properly funded in coordination with their estate plans.
Matthew Lichterman, Director of Firm Energy
Matthew is responsible for ensuring that there is never a dull moment. He is diligent in finding new and exciting ways keep our energy at a level he feels is appropriate. Under his direction we have found unique and varied locations to locate (e.g. “hide”) things, which has made us experts at finding those items previously believed lost. He is compassionate and caring to the utmost.
He is an avid reader and enjoys singing and playing instruments at home at at church. He is looking forward to attending Grand View Elementary (Grandville Public Schools) in a couple of years and assures us he is ready now.
Elizabeth Lichterman, Creator of Firm Image
Elizabeth is responsible for helping us remember that we are always serious about helping our clients provide for and protect their family . . . but we shouldn’t take ourselves too seriously. Her smile regularly lights up the room and adds cheer to our lives. Many clients would rather spend time with her than with the rest of us – it doesn’t hurt our feelings . . . we promise.
Elizabeth loves to read (or be read to) and has recently discovered the ability to converse in a language we have not quite yet deciphered (she can somehow understand it). She has mastered four-legged motion and is actively seeking to discover previously unknown territory. She too expects to attend Grand View Elementary (Grandville Public Schools) in several years.
