Jon Siebers is an experienced business and real estate attorney in Smith Haughey's Grand Rapids office. He serves as chair of the firm's Real Estate, Construction and Government Law Practice Group and as co-chair of the firm's Agribusiness Industry Team. Jon represents businesses and land owners in the health care, construction, development, agriculture, retail and banking industries, as well as governmental agencies and municipalities. Although he lives in Grand Rapids, Jon has close ties with northern Michigan and spends a considerable amount of time working with clients in the Grand Traverse Region and throughout Michigan.

Real Estate and Construction. Jon represents real estate clients with the acquisition, finance, disposition, development and leasing of real estate. His real estate clients include investors, developers, landlords, tenants, brokers, retailers and restaurants, health care facilities, medical and dental practices, individuals and others with real estate legal needs. He also represents numerous associations, including condominium associations, private wastewater treatment associations, property owner associations and home owner associations. Jon advises clients on title, easement, property tax, zoning, subdivision, private road, permitting and environmental issues. He also has extensive experience with condominium development, ownership and financing, and with office, retail and flex leases.

Jon also has construction law experience and is accredited as a LEED Green Associate by the U.S. Green Building Certification Institute. He has represented general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and owners with respect to negotiation, drafting, and review of construction documents, and with lien and permitting issues.

Financial Transactions and Financial Institutions. Jon represents lenders and borrowers in mortgage and asset-based financing transactions, work outs and commercial foreclosures. He prepares and negotiates loan documents, reviews and analyzes issues relating to collateral and guarantees, and advises on loan participations, syndications and inter-creditor relationships. Jon has also assisted financial institutions with respect to office and branch acquisition and development. His financial institution clients include national, regional and community banks, and credit unions. Jon has considerable experience representing borrowers in obtaining loans from life insurance companies. Jon's familiarity extends beyond conventional loan programs and includes SBA loans.

Business Transactions. Jon assists clients with entity creation, buy/sell agreements, stock and membership interest sales, succession planning and asset acquisitions and dispositions. He negotiates, drafts, and reviews a wide variety of contracts for businesses, including equipment leases, supply agreements, service agreements, non-compete agreements and intellectual property licenses. Jon's business clients include manufacturers, distributors, retailers, medical and dental professionals, and franchisors and franchisees.

Agribusiness Law. Jon represents agribusiness entities and individuals with entity formation, business transactions, real estate acquisition, equipment acquisition and financing. He also prepares and negotiates wind leases, oil, gas, mineral and gravel leases, conservation easements, farming leases, and hunting leases. Jon advises his agribusiness clients on Right to Farm Act issues, wetland and soil erosion issues and property tax matters. His agribusiness clients grow fruit, vegetables and field crops, raise hogs, cattle, poultry, and alpacas and breed and board horses.

Governmental Law. In addition to representing private entities and individuals, Jon also represents municipalities, authorities, and road commissions. His governmental law experience includes zoning, real estate, construction, highway and road matters, FOIA compliance and public/private partnerships.

Jon received his B.A. from Hope College in 1993 and his J.D., magna cum laude, from Indiana University - Bloomington School of Law in 1997. Jon and his wife, Gretchen, live in Grand Rapids with their three young children and dog. In his spare time, Jon enjoys spending time with his family, reading, fishing, hiking, camping, golfing, sailing, snowboarding and traveling.

Noteworthy

• LEED Green Associate, U.S. Green Building Certification Institute

Education

• Hope College (B.A., 1993)
• Indiana University School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 1997); Indiana Law Journal, Order of the Coif

Admitted to Practice

• State Bar of Michigan, 1997
• State Bar of North Carolina, 2008

Presentations

• "SBA Loan Refinancing Program: Opportunity Knocks," SHRR seminar: Legal Know-How for Business Owners, June 2011.
• "Asset Purchase Agreements: Common Provisions and Legal Issues," Michigan Business Brokers Association monthly membership meeting, April 2011.
• "Exemption Options: Michigan Principal Residence Exemption," SHRR seminar: Practical Tips for Reducing Your Property Tax Bill, February 2011.
• Roundtable captain: "Legal Concerns and Opportunities for Business Owners," SHRR seminar: Legal Seminar for Real Estate, Development, and Construction Professionals, October 2011.
• Panel discussion: "Distressed Assets," Commercial Alliance of Realtors seminar: Distressed Assets, March 2010.
• Roundtable captain: "Green Building & LEED Certification," SHRR seminar: Key Legal Issues for the Construction Industry," March 2010.
• "Wind Energy in Michigan: State Law and Local Ordinances," SHRR seminar: Wind Energy in Michigan - Leasing Your Land for Wind Farm Development," December 2009.

Client Successes for Jonathan J. Siebers

• 10/1/2010
  Jon Siebers has closed real estate transactions totalling over $20 million since May 1, 2010. The transactions include a mix of traditional bank-financed acquisitions and seller-financed acquisitions.
• 5/1/2010
  Jon Siebers and Robert Parker recently represented a group of landowners in negotiating a form wind lease to be used in a 56-turbine wind project in the northern Lower Peninsula.
• 4/1/2010
  Chuck Judson and Jon Siebers assisted the Grand Traverse Emergency Services Authority in coordinating the conditions to bid for a new fire station, which will be constructed this year thanks to a $2.8 million federal stimulus grant recently awarded under the direction of the Federal Emergency Management Authority. Chuck and Jon assisted in drafting documents that will meet the stringent federal requirements for issuance of the grant, and will also coordinate the drafting of all construction documents.

Smith Haughey Publications

News for Jonathan J. Siebers

12/22/2011
Siebers Elected to Positions in the Michigan Business Brokers Association and the Grand Rapids Bar Association's Real Property Section

9/29/2009
Business and Real Estate Attorney Joins Smith Haughey

Professional Affiliations

• State Bar of Michigan
• State Bar of North Carolina
• Grand Rapids Bar Association (Member, Executive Committee of the Real Property Section)
• Michigan Business Broker's Association (Member, Board of Directors)
• Commercial Alliance of Realtors
• Kent County Farm Bureau
• International Council of Shopping Centers