Brian J. Plachta has been practicing law in Michigan since 1984. As a Grand Rapids native and the managing partner of Plachta, Murphy & Associates, P.C., Brian brings a wealth of legal and business experience to the local community. He specializes in Business Law, Real Estate Law, and Estate Planning and Probate. He is a frequent lecturer on Business Law and Elder Care Law topics and volunteers locally at The Dwelling Place, West Michigan Relief, Help Pregnancy Crisis Aid, and the Diocese of Grand Rapids. He is also an elder law attorney, certified by the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys.

Education
Aquinas College, B.A.
University of Detroit School of Law, J.D. summa cum laude

Bar Admission
Michigan, 1984

Professional Affiliations
State Bar of Michigan
West Michigan Estate Planning Council
Catholic Lawyers Association
Grand Rapids Business Owners Association
American Society of IRS Problem Solvers (ASIPS)

Additional Affiliations and Achievements
United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Michigan, 1982
Michigan Court of Appeals, Pre-Hearing Division, 1984-86
Assistant Editor-in-Chief, University of Detroit School of Law, Law Review, 1983-84

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Miles J. Murphy, III is a shareholder of Plachta, Murphy & Associates, P.C. A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, he graduated from the University of Notre Dame and received his law degree from the University of Detroit. He has been practicing law in Michigan since 1986 in both State and Federal Court. He has litigated cases throughout West Michigan with an emphasis in Business Litigation, Commercial and Business Law, Family Law, and Administrative/Governmental Law. He is a guest speaker on litigation topics and is a member of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals; U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan; State Bar of Michigan; Grand Rapids Bar Association (Employment Law and Family Law sections); Defense Research Institute; and several volunteer organizations through The Dwelling Place and Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Miles is married to his wife Cindy and has four wonderful children.

Education
University of Notre Dame, B.A.
University of Detroit School of Law, J.D.

Bar Admission
Michigan, 1986
U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 1986
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1986
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1998

Professional Affiliations
American Bar Association
State Bar of Michigan, General Practice and Negligence Law Sections
Grand Rapids Bar Association, Litigation and Library Committees
Defense Research Institute

Additional Affiliations and Achievements
Notre Dame Club of Grand Rapids
Kent County Family and Children’s Coordinating Council
Catholic Lawyers Association
The Dwelling Place

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Ryan M. Huizenga is a native of Hudsonville, Michigan who graduated from law school in 2005. After practicing in the Saginaw, Michigan area for a number of years, Ryan returned to his native West Michigan in 2008. He has strong roots in the area, where his family has owned and operated a local mining and concrete company for three generations. This unique background gives him a special insight into the everyday needs and concerns of business owners that allows him to provide exceptional personal service to his clients. A member of the State Bar of Michigan, he proudly continues a strong tradition of service to the community at Plachta, Murphy & Associates, where he focuses on business, probate, and civil law.

Mary A. Owens has been practicing law in Michigan since 1985. Of-Counsel with Plachta, Murphy & Associates, P.C., Mary specializes in appellate practice, both civil and criminal, as well as Domestic Relations and Civil Litigation.

Richard J. Cross has worked for more than 12 years as claims representative for the Social Security Administration (SSA) and has more than 20 years of total SSA experience. He is an expert on the rules, regulations, and laws that govern Social Security.