Ohio law firm sets up shop in GR, plans to generate jobs

By: Deborah Johnson Wood

An Ohio law firm has leased a 3,750-square-foot warehouse at 2400 Turner Avenue NW, invested $200,000 in setting up a satellite office there, and recently hired several West Michigan employees.

Chapman Law Firm Company, LPA specializes in legal, title, and property management services for the Department of the Interior, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Chapman Law Firm established the Grand Rapids office to work exclusively with HUD.

HUD issues Federal Housing Administration-insured mortgages. If those mortgages go into foreclosure, HUD puts the houses back on the market with the aid of their contracted legal counsel.

“It is our goal to return these homes to families through FHA Loans,” said Frank H. Chapman II, founder of Chapman Law Firm Company, “and while doing so to make single family homes serviced by HUD add value to the neighborhood and not detract from the surrounding home values.”

The Grand Rapids office opened April 16. Similar offices owned by Chapman have grown over the past year, and he expects the same for the Grand Rapids location. Chapman did not disclose the number of new hires, but said he expects to add to his employee base here as the office grows.

“We have created over 150 jobs in Ohio and Michigan in 2007 and will continue to add jobs to this geographic area as we win more government contracts,” Chapman said.

The company has won 19 government contracts since 2002.

Source: Frank H. Chapman II, Chapman Law Firm Company, LPA; Tracie Coffman, Home Repair Services; Steve Marcusse, Grubb & Ellis Paramount Commerce;

Deborah Johnson Wood is Development News Editor for Rapid Growth. She can be contacted at [email protected].

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