Overview

Brian Renaud provides general counsel services to mature and second stage companies and to governmental entities. His role as general counsel encompasses day-to-day advising on corporate finance, real estate, contracts, insurance, licensing, regulatory, municipal and litigation matters.

Brian’s work for corporate, institutional and government clients includes:

Business: Contract negotiation and drafting, including finance and non-competition agreements, real estate transactions and insurance coverage matters
Municipal: Municipal contracting, ordinance drafting and implementation, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Open Meetings Act compliance, zoning and planning, eminent domain proceedings
Regulatory: Transactional due diligence, environmental permitting and regulatory compliance, and regulation negotiations
Litigation: Complex cases and appeals at all levels of the state and federal court systems, including administrative litigation before various state and federal agencies and tribunals

Companies and governmental entities represented in Brian’s role as general counsel include an international manufacturer of professional sports equipment, a health care services provider with facilities in ten states, an international trucking and logistics company, and several Michigan municipalities, intergovernmental authorities and road commissions.

In addition to his legal practice, Brian has served as Chairman and is a Board Member on the Governing Board of Lexwork International, a network of independent law firms in North America, South America, Europe and Asia, offering business and regulatory law services to clients worldwide. He has also served on Foster Swift's Executive Committee and as Vice President of the firm.

Honors & Recognitions

AV® Preeminent™ Martindale-Hubbell

Best Lawyers® in America - Administrative / Regulatory Law, 2013-2025

Affiliations

Memberships & Affiliations

Legal Affiliations:

American Bar Association
State Bar of Michigan

Industry & Professional Associations:

Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys
International Right of Way Association
Community Leadership Development Academy, Graduate
Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, PAC Board Member
Licensed Michigan Real Estate Broker
Detroit Athletic Club, Resident Member

Experience

Representative Matters

Business, Real Estate & Finance:

Represented health care services provider in multi-state acquisition, financing and construction of acute care hospital facilities and development properties.
Negotiated multi-million dollar casualty insurance settlement for structural steel contractor engaged on university sports arena construction project.
Obtained dismissal of a $700,000 federal withholding tax claim against a national business services owner.
Developed regulatory policy and procedure manuals for major Midwest financial institution. Conducted policy implementation training sessions in several states.

Regulatory and Municipal:

Negotiated air emission regulation package with state environmental agency that eliminated in excess of $100 million in client capital expenditure requirements for utility, cement and paper products client group.
Managed regulatory and media response of Tier 1 automotive parts manufacturer to hazardous substance release, avoiding adverse publicity and significantly reducing remediation costs.
Negotiated state and federal operating permits for contested Great Lakes marina development. Managed media coverage issues and negotiated conservation easement with state permitting authority.
Negotiated seven figure, no-cost municipal marina reconstruction claim in favor of major Michigan municipality.

Litigation:

Successfully litigated exemption of a $45 million waste conversion facility from state personal property taxes, reducing the client’s annual tax liability by $2.5 million.
Obtained dismissal of an eminent domain challenge to a major pipeline construction project.
Obtained $1.8-million-dollar summary disposition judgment in an environmental fraud and cost recovery case of first impression in Michigan.
Obtained summary judgment in a high-profile federal whistleblower case of first impression for a national paper products client.
Obtained unanimous Federal Court jury verdict against former employee and agent of international sports equipment manufacturer in federal trademark law and unfair competition litigation.

News & Events

Speaking Engagements

A Michigan Condemnation Law Primer for Commercial Property Owners, International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), February 13, 2020
State Bar of Michigan- Professionalism in Action Program, State Bar of Michigan, August 13, 2012
Recent Developments in Michigan Environmental Law, Lorman Education Services, March 2005
Law for the Real Estate Professional, October 2002
Try to See it My Way: Dealing with the Regulatory Process, Illinois State Bar Association, September 2001

News

Foster Swift Attorneys Named 2025 Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America, August 15, 2024
Foster Swift Attorneys Named 2024 Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America, August 17, 2023
42 Foster Swift Attorneys Listed as Best Lawyers® 2020, August 15, 2019

Brian J. Renaud