Roy Vizcarra, Paralegal
Robert ‘Bob’ Cooper has practiced law for over 40 years, helping family-owned businesses with their business, real estate, and estate planning legal needs. He works with many companies as their “in-house” counsel and is a part of the Hilger Hammond firm in the same capacity.
“Of counsel” means that while Bob does not participate in the firm’s business operating decisions, he can assist firm clients in his practice areas. At a time when many lawyers have scaled back their practices or retired altogether, Bob plans to remain active and passionate in helping satisfy client legal service needs.
Bob’s only hobby is the pursuit of the game invented by the Scots, which Robin Williams described as trying to hit a small ball at your feet with a curved stick into a gopher hole located hundreds of yards away in an area guarded by trees, bushes, sand pits, and ponds.
Education
Hope College
Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude
Holland, MI
Penn State
Dickinson School of Law
J.D., magna cum laude
State College, PA
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Bar Admissions
- Michigan
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
- American Bar Association
- State Bar of Michigan
- Grand Rapids Bar Association
- 2025 Grand Rapids Magazine Top Lawyers, Construction Law
- Phi Beta Kappa
- Allan Kinney Award for Economics
Recent publications from the Hilger Hammond Blog:
Corporate Transparency Act Updates – 2025
Changes to the enforceability and reporting requirements of the Corporate Transparency Act are evolving monthly! In this blog post, Hilger Hammond attorneys Jill Miller and Ron Reynolds track, evaluate, and explain these changes in real-time and provide legal insight into how they could affect your business operations.
New Legal Challenges to FTC Non-Compete Ban
On August 20, 2024, a federal district judge in Texas issued a ruling blocking implementation of the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Rule banning non-compete agreements on a nationwide basis; concluding that the FTC lacked statutory authority to promulgate the Rule. Learn more about what this ruling means for Michigan
Top 2024 Michigan Lawyer Awards
We are honored to have had several Hilger Hammond attorneys receive some of the top state and nationally recognized legal awards in 2024.
Michigan Minimum Wage & Employee Paid Leave Initiatives Ruled Unconstitutional
On August 31, 2024, the Michigan Supreme Court issued a significant decision that will have a major impact on employers for both minimum wage and employee paid leave. Here, we condense and simplify the 7 main components of the decision and provide counsel on what businesses should do next.
Michigan Real Property Law Section: Summer Conference – 2024
The State Bar of Michigan Real Property Law Section (RPLS) Summer Conference was held July 17-20 at the Grand Traverse Resort. Hundreds of lawyers from across the state met at the annual conference to discuss significant legal issues including 5 attorneys from Hilger Hammond: Ben Hammond, Aileen Leipprandt, Stacey
Federal Trade Commission Issues Ban on Employee Noncompete Agreements
On April 23, 2024, the FTC banned employer noncompete agreements with limited exceptions. Learn more about its business impact here.
Michigan Overturns Open & Obvious Law
New changes to the Michigan Open & Obvious Law leave Michigan property owners open to more liability lawsuits. Learn more about the comparative fault doctrine and how to protect your business.
Ron Reynolds Presents on Water Law Principles at Real Property Law Section Conference
Ron Reynolds was joined by Judy Dworkin, a Phoenix-based attorney with expertise on Arizona water law, to discuss and contrast Michigan and Arizona water law principles. The discussion included rights attaching to both surface water and groundwater, as well as the impact and significance of multi-jurisdictional agreements contained in
14 Tips on Using Arbitration to Resolve Legal Disputes
Using arbitration can offer parties a speedy and economic resolution to their disputes. Here are 14 best-practice arbitration tips developed from 40 years of both litigator and arbitrator experience.
Driver v Bordeaux: Michigan Builder’s Trust Fund Act Legal Case
Learn about how the Michigan Builder’s Trust Fund Act influenced the ruling in the recent Driver v. Bordeaux legal case.