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Dan A. Penning
Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Juris Doctor with distinction, 1986
State Bar of Michigan Business Law Section, Probate & Estate Planning Section, Oakland County Bar Association, Christian Legal Society.
Dan is a founding shareholder of Wright Penning & Beamer and works primarily in business and corporate law, complex business litigation and estate planning.
He has negotiated the sale or acquisition of numerous multi-million dollar businesses. Dan also has extensive trial experience and has successfully defended appeals before both state and federal appeals courts.
Dan served several semesters as an instructor in Oakland University's Certificate Program in Personal Financial Planning.
He is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in Michigan, as well as the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

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Dan A. Penning Wright Penning & Beamer The Home of Cottage Law
When Dan Penning decided to establish an office in northern Michigan for his law firm, Wright Penning & Beamer, Suttons Bay was chosen as the perfect location for a variety of reasons.
A centralized office in the Grand Traverse area in Leelanau County enhanced their local involvement with their family of clients in northern Michigan. Living and working in the northern Michigan community lets him know first-hand many day-to-day issues facing their families, property, industries and businesses.
Cottage Law is the practice area of Wright Penning & Beamer where Dan is recognized as the leading expert of cottage law. Cottage Law focuses on family cottage sharing and cottage succession planning. Their Suttons Bay office in "The Depot" is known nationally as "The Home of Cottage Law."
In addition to Cottage Law, the diversity of businesses, industries and the expanding agribusinesses including vineyards, wineries and orchards populating Leelanau County and the greater Grand Traverse region are practice areas of legal expertise of Wright Penning & Beamer.
A Local Lawyer, A Professional Advisor, A Law Firm With Solutions
Success within Leelanau County was built on the strength of the family business. Many of those same family businesses have survived through careful planning and still exist today employing their neighbors and members from their community. Each decade has visited subtle changes to the northern Michigan economy and the way in which business and commerce is conducted.
In southeastern Michigan Dan was one of the founding shareholders of the law firm Wright Penning & Beamer. It was discovered early on that their clients expected them to "know" how to run a business, have the "know" power to find solutions, and to "know" how to get to "yes" utilizing what the firm has became known for, "The Power of Know."
Wright Penning & Beamer attorneys provide legal services to over one-hundred corporations and business entities, including partnerships and non-profit corporations, and also thousands of individual business owners, family members and friends. The strength and the "The Power of Know" of the Wright Penning & Beamer Law Firm has traveled north with Dan to Leelanau County, for you, in the Suttons Bay Depot.
A Law Practice Devoted to Tradition, Families, Conservancy and Preservation of the Northern Michigan Way of Life
During late summer of 2007 Suttons Bay experienced the loss of attorney Stuart J. Hollander, attorney / author of "Saving the Family Cottage". Since purchasing Stuart's general law practice, Dan has worked diligently to conserve, preserve and maintain a way of life in Leelanau County through his efforts with family businesses, farm land preservation, land conservancy, and becoming a legal and legislative advocate for northern Michigan vineyards, wineries, family farms, and family cottage owners. Making these issues a reality for the families and businesses in Leelanau County involves many phases of estate planning and cottage succession planning including the development and construction of wills and trusts and cottage plans. This protective realm of the law for families and family businesses is an area of expertise within the Wright Penning & Beamer law practice and an area of specialization for Dan. If you have questions about how to protect and preserve your estate for future generations, call Dan at 231-271-4500 - he is dedicated to being the custodial bridge between the many generations of the Leelanau Peninsula.
Innovative Strategies, Innovative Alternatives, Timely Service and Personal Attention
Tom Peters defined innovation as being prepared for the future. Dan Penning, and the entire law firm of Wright Penning & Beamer is poised to help you look at that future, and to help you with your financial planning to help your business grow.
Protection for your assets and loved ones. It doesn't hurt to take a look. For many in today's hectic internet-paced world "home" and "work" is often distorted.
A refreshing client-focused policy is the belief of knowing they always do more than just try and win cases for you. Dan encourages you to stop by, to talk about your business, to help you assess potential liabilities and to evaluate means to avoid those liabilities. If you have current disputes, Dan will work with you through them in order to determine the best options for a resolution - before they would ever become a lawsuit.
If however, you should find yourself in a lawsuit, Dan will work with you to develop a strategy and budget to fit your needs and to meet your objectives.
As a business owner in northern Michigan you cannot do meaningful estate planning, for example, without also making plans for transferring your business - to either close family members or to outside buyers.
There is tremendous value to you of having a law firm conveniently located in Suttons Bay that is able to assist you and advise you on a broad range of legal services.
For Those Living in Leelanau County or Surrounding Grand Traverse Region
Most individuals seek help within these areas of the law - all of which Dan can talk with you about and also provide these services to you on an individual basis:
Cottage Law
- Cottage Succession Planning
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Property Tax Appeals
- Related Tax Matters
Estate Planning
- Trusts
- Wills
- Powers of Attorney
Trust Administration
Probate Administration and Litigation
Tax Planning
Real Estate Transactions
- Including the sale, lease and purchase of real estate
Property Tax Appeals
Family Farm Succession Planning and Conservation Easements
For Today's Entrepreneurs and Businesses in All Stages of Growth
If you are an entrepreneur, in the process of growing your business, or have been successfully managing your business, these are different areas of the law where Dan can provide legal advice and services to you:
Commercial Real Estate
-Acquisition, Sale, Lease, Financing
Computer and Software Law
Contract Negotiation
Corporate Formation and Start-up
Financing Arrangements
Human Resources and Employment Matters
Insurance
Matching Investors with Opportunities
Mergers, Acquisitions and Sales
Professional Practices
-Accounting, Medical, Veterinary Science
Tax Planning
Workouts and Asset Protection
In Times of Disputes and Litigation
If you are involved in disputes or are facing possible litigation, please contact Dan. Because of years of experience Dan has tremendous strength in working to resolve disputes and work through litigation within these areas:
Construction
Contract Disputes
Employment Disputes
Insurance Coverage Disputes
Landlord/Tenant Disputes
Sales Representative Contracts
Trademark and Trade Name Infringement
Unfair Competition and Trade Secrets
Call or Email Wright Penning & Beamer Today!
Dan A. Penning, Attorney
In The Suttons Bay Depot
The Home of Cottage Law
101 S. Cedar St.
P.O. Box 490
Suttons Bay, MI 49682
231.271.4500
Farmington Hills Office 27555 Executive Drive
Suite 165 Farmington Hills, MI 48331
248.477.6300
Farmington Hills Law Blog: www.BizLawBuz.com
eMail: dpenning@wrightpenning.com
Website: www.wrightpenning.com
Cottage Law Website: www.Cottage-Law.com
Suttons Bay / Traverse City Law Blog: www.SuttonsBayLaw.com
231.271.4500
Fax: 231-271-4538
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The Suttons Bay Depot, known as The Home of Cottage Law, was built by the Leelanau Transit Company in 1920.
The main entrance door is located "Track Side."
The tracks which used to run Track Side and through Suttons Bay were built by the Traverse City, Leelanau, and Manistique; a company which was formed by the Grand Rapids and Indiana to build and operate a car ferry from Northport to Manistique. The line was completed in 1903 and proved to be unsuccessful immediately. By 1908 the car ferry was gone. In 1919 the line was purchased by the Leelanau Transit Company and leased to the Manistee and Northeastern. In later years the tracks were operated by Pere Marquette, and C&O.
During the 1960s the tracks north of Suttons Bay were abandoned, and the tracks south of Suttons Bay were used by the Leelanau Scenic Railroad between 1989 and 1995. The whistle would blow and puffs of smoke would billow from the mighty engine and tourists and train buffs would flood the village of Suttons Bay for a quick stop to visit the shops and buy souvenirs until the whistle blew and the conductor yelled "All Aboard!"
In 1996 the tracks were removed and the formation of the Leelanau Trail began. Stuart Hollander was instrumental in the successful development of the Leelanau Trail.
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