Hope College, B.A. 1991 University of Detroit-Mercy School of Law, J.D., 1995

Phone: (248) 841-2200 Fax: (248) 652-2852 betzel@millerlawpc.com

Brian E. Etzel specializes in commercial litigation with experience in business and contract disputes, shareholder disputes, land use, condemnation, securities, distributor/supplier relationships, and construction.  He has tried jury and bench trials in federal and state court, AAA arbitrations, and administrative bodies.  He has represented a variety of municipalities and government agencies in condemnation litigation and zoning matters, and has served on a municipal zoning board of appeals for six years, including three years as vice chair of the board.  He has given speeches on eminent domain litigation at seminars and conferences.  His recent litigation results include a favorable award in a 16-day arbitration hearing before AAA representing a modular homebuilder that supplied buildings to a high profile housing development in the City of Detroit.

While at Hope College, Mr. Etzel was selected for the college’s Washington Honors Semester, where he studied in Washington, D.C. while working in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys.  While attending the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, Mr. Etzel was a member of the University of Detroit Mercy Law Review.  He is a 2006 graduate of the International Association of Defense Counsel’s Trial Academy held at Stanford Law School.  In January 2007, Mr. Etzel was one of 24 recipients to receive a fellowship from the Michigan State University’s Michigan Political Leadership Program, which includes a 10-month public policy and leadership training program.