Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty

What Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty does

Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty, P.C. is a private Michigan professional corporation law firm founded in 1951 and headquartered in a single Southfield, MI office (400 Galleria Officentre, Suite 500). The firm specializes in defense-side litigation, with practice areas spanning medical malpractice defense (physicians, podiatrists, dentists), professional liability defense (including legal malpractice), insurance defense and coverage litigation, product liability, premises and retail liability, construction defect litigation, commercial litigation, ADR services, healthcare regulatory matters, and business planning and transactions. Its attorneys hold admissions in Michigan, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New York, and Ohio, allowing multi-jurisdictional representation of enterprise clients despite a single physical office.

The firm serves institutional clients across insurance (Allstate, Nationwide, Progressive, Medical Protective, ProAssurance), healthcare (Tenet Health Systems, Beaumont Health), banking (Citizens Bank), retail, trucking, and construction verticals. Revenue is generated exclusively through hourly fee billing on professional services engagements, with retainer agreements common for ongoing corporate clients and contingency arrangements available for select claims; specific rates are not publicly disclosed. Client acquisition relies on professional reputation, peer recognition (U.S. News Tier 1 rankings, Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent, Leading Lawyers Magazine), and direct attorney-client relationships rather than active digital marketing.

Ownership is held by equity partners under a partner-based professional corporation structure with no parent company or external institutional investment. The firm is led by President & CEO Lee C. Patton (40+ years of experience), with governance provided by an Executive Committee and Board of Directors including Keith P. Felty, Todd A. McConaghy, John M. Toth (over 180 jury trials), Cornelius C. Hare Jr., Jill H. Vandercook, David L. Delie, and Of Counsel attorney Stephen L. Witenoff. Recent activity includes lateral partner additions, internal member promotions, and entry into legal service networks (Your House Counsel, NextGen Attorney Group) in 2022-2025, alongside the firm's 75th anniversary in March 2026.

Name

Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty

Legal name

Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty, P.C.

Website

https://sullivanwardlaw.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty, P.C. is a 75-year-old private Michigan defense litigation firm headquartered in Southfield, MI, specializing in medical malpractice, professional liability, and insurance defense for healthcare systems, national insurance carriers, banks, and commercial enterprises.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Litigation Law Firm

NAICS

Legal Services (5411), Offices of Lawyers (541110)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Personal Injury & Insurance Defense (BPAHAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Professional Liability (E&O) (FSAJAGAC), Litigation Support & Expert Witness Services (BPAHALAG)

Keywords

• Medical malpractice defense
• Professional liability defense
• Insurance defense litigation
• Commercial litigation services
• Premises liability defense

Headquarters

HQ city

Southfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Legal Services - Professional Liability Defense: Hourly fee billing for litigation defense services, with matters spanning medical malpractice, legal malpractice, dental malpractice, and professional liability claims.
2. General Civil Litigation: Commercial litigation, premises liability, product liability, and construction litigation services typically billed at hourly rates.
3. Insurance Defense: Representation of insurance carriers in coverage disputes, bad faith claims, and third-party liability matters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty, P.C. is a Michigan-based defense litigation law firm providing legal services across multiple practice areas, with a core focus on defending physicians, podiatrists, dentists, and other professionals in medical malpractice claims, representing insurance carriers in coverage disputes and bad-faith claims, and handling commercial, product liability, premises liability, and construction defect litigation for corporate clients.

Product overview

Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty, P.C. is a Michigan law firm offering comprehensive legal services through multiple practice areas. The firm's core services include medical malpractice defense (for physicians, podiatrists, and dentists), insurance defense and coverage claims, product liability defense, retail liability defense, commercial litigation, ADR services, healthcare law, professional liability defense, business planning and transactions, and banking services. The firm primarily serves clients in Michigan's banking, healthcare, insurance, retail, trucking, and construction industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Medical Malpractice Defense Defense representation of physicians, podiatrists, and dentists in medical malpractice claims, including trial representation for healthcare providers and hospitals.
• Insurance Defense Representation in insurance coverage claims, professional liability defense, and insurance agent errors and omissions (E&O) claims for insurance carriers and self-insureds.
• Product Liability Defense Defense against product liability claims for manufacturers and retailers.
• Retail Liability Defense Representation against premises liability, dram shop liability, and general retail negligence claims for national and regional retailers.
• Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Services Mediation and arbitration services for business and commercial disputes.
• Commercial Litigation Litigation of business disputes, contractual disputes, and bad-faith claims between insurance carriers.
• Healthcare Law Legal services for healthcare professionals and organizations, including regulatory compliance and licensing matters.
• Professional Liability Defense Defense of attorneys and other professionals against malpractice claims.
• Business Planning & Transactions Corporate counsel including planning, reorganizations, mergers and acquisitions, and business transactions.
• Banking & Commercial Transactions Legal services for banking institutions and commercial business transactions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully tried over 180 jury cases to verdict for a single attorney (John M. Toth)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Your House CounselminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023Selected as member firm of Your House Counsel, a network or consortium of law firms providing coordinated legal services.
• NextGen Attorney GroupminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023Selected as member firm of NextGen Attorney Group, a network positioning the firm within emerging legal service delivery models.
• A.M. BestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirm featured in Best's Insurance Professional Resources, an industry resource for insurance professionals.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Honigman LLP: Large Michigan-based firm with litigation practice and healthcare/insurance industry focus. Broader service portfolio but overlaps with subject firm's enterprise client base.
• Dykema Gossett PLLC: Major Michigan-based full-service law firm with litigation, insurance, and healthcare practice groups. Larger scale but overlapping service offerings to insurance carriers and healthcare clients.
• Dickinson Wright PLLC: Larger Michigan-founded firm with broader full-service practice but includes litigation and insurance defense capabilities. Competes for larger enterprise clients and offers overlapping services to the same verticals.
• Butzel Long: Historic Michigan firm with broad practice including litigation, healthcare, and insurance-related work. Larger and more diversified than the subject firm but competes for similar enterprise clients.
• Miller Canfield: Major Michigan-based full-service firm with litigation and insurance defense capabilities. Larger scale and broader geographic reach, competing for similar enterprise and insurance panel matters.

Direct peers

• Plunkett Cooney: Michigan-based defense firm with similar medical malpractice, insurance defense, and professional liability practices. Directly competes for the same panel positions and healthcare/insurance clients in the Michigan defense market.
• Secrest Wardle: Michigan-based defense litigation firm with strong insurance defense and malpractice defense practices. Direct competitor for panel positions and overlapping client roster in Michigan.
• Collins Einhorn Farrell: Michigan defense firm with significant professional liability and insurance defense practice. Direct peer in malpractice defense, E&O defense, and commercial litigation in Michigan.
• Garan Lucow Miller: Michigan defense firm specializing in insurance defense, medical malpractice, and professional liability. Comparable in size, regional focus, and client base (insurance carriers and healthcare systems).
• Kitch Attorneys & Counselors: Michigan defense firm with insurance defense and professional liability focus. Comparable scale and overlapping practice areas serving insurance carriers and healthcare providers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sullivanwardlaw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty