Wheeler Upham
Wheeler Upham, P.C. is a full-service Grand Rapids, Michigan law firm founded in 1883, serving individuals, SMBs, nonprofits, federal employees, and Fortune 500 companies across 16 practice areas from a single office adjacent to local courthouses.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1883
- HeadquartersGrand Rapids, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Wheeler Upham does
Wheeler Upham, P.C. is a full-service law firm organized as a professional corporation under Michigan law. Founded in 1883, it is the oldest continuously operating law firm in Grand Rapids and operates from a single office in the Calder Plaza Building at 250 Monroe Avenue NW, immediately adjacent to the county, state, and federal courthouses in Kent County. The firm practices across 16 documented areas including litigation, business and corporate law, estate planning and administration, employment law, personal injury, real estate transactions, insurance coverage, family law, elder law, postal and federal government work, tax-exempt and nonprofit institutions, creditors' rights and bankruptcy, technology and internet law, religious organizations and ecclesiastical law, alternative dispute resolution and mediation, and criminal defense. Its client base spans individuals, small and medium-sized businesses, nonprofit organizations, federal employees and contractors, and Fortune 500 companies.
The firm is staffed by approximately 9 active listed shareholders and associates, 2 emeritus attorneys, 1 paralegal, and additional support staff, with shareholder officers including Glenn L. Smith (President), Michael J. TerBeek (Chairman of the Board), and Daniel J. James (Treasurer). Multiple attorneys hold Best Lawyers in America recognition across practice areas including Employment Law, Insurance Coverage, Product Liability Defense, and Litigation – Trusts and Estates, and have earned the highest Martindale-Hubbell peer review ratings. Seven firm attorneys have served as President of the Grand Rapids Bar Association and one was elected President of the State Bar of Michigan, indicating deep professional network integration. The firm also provides local counsel services for out-of-town attorneys seeking to enter the West Michigan courts.
Revenue is generated entirely through professional service fees paid by clients for legal consultation, representation, transactional work, and advisory engagements across the firm's practice areas, with fees structured as hourly rates, flat fees, or contingency arrangements depending on the matter. The firm operates on a sales-led go-to-market motion driven by direct attorney-client relationships, peer reputation, Best Lawyers recognition, Martindale-Hubbell ratings, and community leadership, rather than through paid marketing. Wheeler Upham is independently owned with no parent company, no institutional investment, and no public stock listing; revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.
Wheeler Upham firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wheeler Upham
- Legal name
- Wheeler Upham, P.C.
- Website
- https://wuattorneys.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1883
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Wheeler Upham, P.C. is a full-service Grand Rapids, Michigan law firm founded in 1883, serving individuals, SMBs, nonprofits, federal employees, and Fortune 500 companies across 16 practice areas from a single office adjacent to local courthouses.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wheeler Upham industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Legal Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Lawyers (541110)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Family & Private Client (Trusts & Estates) Law (BPAHAAAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Estate Administration & Probate Services (FSAAANAE)
Keywords
Where Wheeler Upham is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Grand Rapids
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Wheeler Upham business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Legal Services Fees: The firm generates revenue through professional legal services billed to clients for legal consultation, representation, litigation, transactional work, and advisory services across its practice areas. Fees are likely structured as hourly rates, flat fees for specific services, or contingency arrangements depending on practice area.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Legal services pricing varies by practice area and matter complexity |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Wheeler Upham product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wheeler Upham is a full-service law firm providing legal counsel, representation, and advocacy across multiple practice areas for individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and government entities. Services include litigation, business and corporate law, estate planning, employment law, personal injury, real estate, insurance, family law, elder law, criminal defense, and federal sector representation.
Product overview
Wheeler Upham is a full-service law firm offering comprehensive legal services across multiple practice areas. The firm operates as a unified service offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Its core services include Litigation (trial and appellate advocacy), Business & Corporate Law (formation, compliance, transactions), Estate Planning & Administration (wills, trusts, probate), Employment Law, Personal Injury, Real Estate Transactions, Insurance, Family Law, Elder Law, Postal Service & Federal Government, Tax-Exempt Organizations, Creditors' Rights, Technology & Internet Law, Religious Organizations Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Criminal Defense. The firm's attorneys provide personalized legal counsel to individuals, small businesses, and Fortune 500 companies from its Grand Rapids, Michigan location.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Litigation Services Trial and appellate advocacy services across state and federal courts, including automobile liability, product liability, personal injury, insurance coverage claims, employment discrimination, FMLA claims, construction disputes, probate disputes, and business litigation.
- Business & Corporate Law Business formation, entity selection (sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, LLC), government compliance, securities laws, employment laws, employee benefits, real estate assistance, and business succession planning services.
- Estate Planning & Administration Wills, trust agreements, durable powers of attorney, patient advocate designations, guardianships, conservatorships, special needs trusts, probate proceedings, and estate tax minimization strategies.
- Employment Law
Companies that use Wheeler Upham
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Wheeler Upham technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Wheeler Upham partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Wheeler Upham competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Wheeler Upham financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wheeler Upham leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Wheeler Upham funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wheeler Upham 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 Wheeler Upham
What does Wheeler Upham do?
Wheeler Upham is a full-service law firm providing legal counsel, representation, and advocacy across multiple practice areas for individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and government entities. Services include litigation, business and corporate law, estate planning, employment law, personal injury, real estate, insurance, family law, elder law, criminal defense, and federal sector representation.
Is Wheeler Upham a public or private company?
Wheeler Upham is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Wheeler Upham founded?
Wheeler Upham was founded in 1883. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Wheeler Upham based?
Wheeler Upham is headquartered in Grand Rapids, United States, in the North America region.
How does Wheeler Upham make money?
One revenue line is on record: legal Services Fees.
Does Wheeler Upham have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wheeler Upham.
What industry is Wheeler Upham in?
Wheeler Upham's product category is Legal Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAAAK, Family & Private Client (Trusts & Estates) Law, with a secondary code of FSAAANAE, Estate Administration & Probate Services. Its NAICS code is 541110 and its SIC code is 8111.