John R. Oostema
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Biography

For over 45 years, John (Jack) Oostema’s practice has focused primarily on representing lawyers in legal malpractice actions and on insurance coverage matters related to professional liability insurance. He has represented attorneys, law firms, and insurance carriers nationwide.

He has served as National Coverage Counsel for a prominent professional liability carrier that writes coverage for lawyers in over 40 states. In addition to regularly representing many of the largest firms in the state, Jack has also represented the State Bar of Michigan in connection with litigation challenging the constitutionality of the Character & Fitness review process. Recently, as part of its 50-State Survey of Legal Malpractice Law, Jack was asked by the Professional Liability Committee of the Litigation Section of the American Bar Association to author the Michigan chapter on legal malpractice law. For a copy of that work, click here.

A native of Grand Rapids, Jack is married to Gloria. They have two sons, J. Adam and Andrew, and a daughter, Megan.

Admitted

State Bar of Michigan, 1976

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 1982

U.S. Supreme Court, 1984

Education

Calvin College (B.A., 1973)

Thomas M. Cooley Law School (J.D., summa cum laude, 1976)

Accolades

AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

Listed in Best Lawyers (2009-2023) -- Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants, Insurance Law, Litigation - Insurance, Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants (2023)

Listed as Best Lawyers, "Lawyer of the Year" (2020) - Insurance Law

Listed as Best Lawyers, "Lawyer of the Year" (2020) - Litigation - Insurance

Listed as a "Local Litigation Star" in Benchmark Litigation (2021-2022) -- Insurance Litigation

Listed as "Lawyer of the Year" in Best Lawyers (2022) -- Professional Malpractice Law, Defendants

Listed in Leading Lawyers (2014) -- Commercial Litigation; Insurance, Insurance Coverage & Reinsurance Law; Professional Malpractice Defense: Legal/Technical/Financial

Listed as a "Michigan Super Lawyer" -- Insurance Coverage (2006-2018), Professional Liability Defense (2006-2022)

Listed as a "Local Litigation Star" in Benchmark Litigation (2010-2012, 2015) -- Insurance Litigation

Listed as "Lawyer of the Year" in Best Lawyers (2013) -- Legal Malpractice Law, Defendants

Listed as a highly recommended lawyer by Chambers and Partners -- Michigan: General Commercial Litigation (2012)

Selected as a "Leader in the Law" by Michigan Lawyers Weekly (2010)

Listed as “Top Lawyer” in Grand Rapids Magazine -- Legal Malpractice Law (2021, 2022); Insurance Law (2019, 2022)

Affiliations

American Bar Association

The Federal Bar Association

State Bar of Michigan (Member: Character & Fitness Committee, 1983-1989; Civil Procedure Committee, 1991 - 1999)

Grand Rapids Bar Association (Chairperson: Judicial Candidate Review Committee)

Michigan Defense Trial Counsel

Defense Research Institute

Professional Responsibility Counselors