Jeff Muth is chair of the firm’s Litigation Section as well as the firm’s Privacy & Cybersecurity practice group. His practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and risk management counseling, with a niche in cybersecurity and insurance coverage.

Commercial Litigation

Mr. Muth maintains a diverse commercial litigation practice. He represents clients in shareholder disputes, derivative shareholder actions, and corporate governance matters. He also represents clients in commercial contract disputes, insurance coverage disputes and contested tax matters. He has been successful in achieving excellent results for his clients at trial courts, court of claims, tax tribunal and appellate courts. Mr. Muth has an established track record of consistently successful results, with outright dismissals, favorable settlements and judgments at trial and on appeal.

Privacy and Cybersecurity

Mr. Muth chairs Miller Johnson’s Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice Group.  He advises domestic and international businesses and government entities regarding a wide range of privacy & cybersecurity compliance and risk management challenges that enterprises face.  His expertise includes information governance, information security policies and procedures, government and internal investigations, negotiating and obtaining cybersecurity insurance coverage, managing risk, and responding to data breaches.  He also advises clients on cybersecurity matters in connection with mergers and acquisitions.  Mr. Muth developed the practice group’s team approach to resolving the privacy and cybersecurity needs of clients.  To that end, he has developed the practice group’s strategic alliances with identity theft protection services, information technology and security experts, cyber-risk insurance providers, and the Meritas Data Protection Group, an international team of expert privacy lawyers.

Risk Avoidance and Alternative Dispute Resolution

Working in conjunction with Miller Johnson’s employment and business attorneys, Mr. Muth seeks to educate and assist clients in establishing proactive policies and practices that anticipate and manage risk. We recognize that in any business, disputes develop and litigation is only one method of resolving them. Mr. Muth combines his years of litigation experience with common-sense in order to find pragmatic and cost-effective solutions for his clients. He is experienced and successful in many forms of alternative dispute resolution including facilitative mediation, early neutral evaluation, and arbitration. Mr. Muth attended and completed the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School “Mediating Disputes.” He is also an approved mediator for the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan’s Facilitative Mediation Program.

Corporate Counseling

Mr. Muth advises closely held companies with respect to various legal and business issues. In that role, he fulfills the general counsel needs for clients who do not have inside counsel. As a founding member of a closely held company, Mr. Muth understands the day-to-day issues that growth stage companies face, and the value of strategically leveraging legal expertise to efficiently and effectively manage those issues and achieve sustainable growth. As outside general counsel, Mr. Muth serves as a clearinghouse for his clients’ legal needs. In so doing, he leverages his professional resources, both inside and outside the firm, in order to ensure obtaining the best possible solutions for his clients.

Professional Affiliations, Activities and Honors

Mr. Muth is involved in a number of professional associations. He serves on the State Bar of Michigan Character and Fitness Committee and has served on the Grand Rapids Bar Association Judicial Review Committee. He is active with the Hillman Advocacy program both as Vice President of the Steering Committee as well as serving on the faculty. He is also a member of the American Bar Association.

Mr. Muth is listed in “Best Lawyers in America” for Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Insurance, Privacy and Data Security Law and Litigation – Securities.  He is also listed in Michigan Super Lawyers in Business Litigation. He has an AV® rating by Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Muth has also been recognized by Best Lawyers® as the Grand Rapids “Lawyer of the Year” for Litigation – Insurance.

Education

Mr. Muth is a graduate of DePaul University College of Law where he earned his J.D. and Kalamazoo College where he received a B.A. degree. He is admitted to practice in all Michigan state and appellate courts. He is also admitted to practice in several federal courts including the United States Supreme Court, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the United States Court for the District of Minnesota.