Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1951
- HeadquartersSouthfield, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
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.
Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Southfield
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- 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.
- General Civil Litigation: Commercial litigation, premises liability, product liability, and construction litigation services typically billed at hourly rates.
- Insurance Defense: Representation of insurance carriers in coverage disputes, bad faith claims, and third-party liability matters.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Professional legal services billed at attorney hourly rates |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Your House CounselminorSelected as member firm of Your House Counsel, a network or consortium of law firms providing coordinated legal services.
- NextGen Attorney GroupminorSelected as member firm of NextGen Attorney Group, a network positioning the firm within emerging legal service delivery models.
- A.M. BestminorFirm featured in Best's Insurance Professional Resources, an industry resource for insurance professionals.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad 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
Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty social profiles
Digital presenceSullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&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
What does Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty do?
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.
Is Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty a public or private company?
Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty founded?
Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty was founded in 1951. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty based?
Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty is headquartered in Southfield, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Legal Services - Professional Liability Defense is the primary driver. The others are general Civil Litigation and insurance Defense.
Who are Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Honigman LLP, Dykema Gossett PLLC, Dickinson Wright PLLC, Butzel Long and Miller Canfield. Direct peers are Plunkett Cooney, Secrest Wardle, Collins Einhorn Farrell, Garan Lucow Miller and Kitch Attorneys & Counselors.
Does Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty.
What industry is Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty in?
Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty's product category is Defense Litigation Law Firm. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAAAM, Personal Injury & Insurance Defense, with a secondary code of FSAJAGAC, Professional Liability (E&O). Its NAICS code is 5411 and its SIC code is 8111.