John F. Schaefer has practiced law continuously since 1969, and is the founder of The Law Firm of John F. Schaefer, with offices in Birmingham and Grosse Pointe, Michigan. He specializes in complex matrimonial matters and has been an adjunct professor at the Detroit College of Law (now Michigan State University College of Law), teaching courses in domestic relations for more than thirty years. Mr. Schaefer attended Cranbrook School, the University of Notre Dame, Michigan State University, and the Detroit College of Law. He earned bachelor of arts and Juris Doctor degrees and he also holds an honorary doctor of laws degree.
Mr. Schaefer’s expertise, reputation, and experience have been recognized by, and he is listed in The Best Lawyers in America (first edition and all subsequent editions) and Who’s Who in America, among other publications. Mr. Schaefer is and has been associated with numerous organizations and has served them variously, including: American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (past president, Michigan chapter); Detroit College of Law Foundation (chairman); Detroit College of Law (trustee 1986 to 2001); Michigan State University College of Law (trustee emeritus 2001 to date); Michigan State Bar Foundation (fellow); Oakland County Bar Association (past president); State Bar of Michigan: Family Law Section (past chairman); Attorney Grievance Commission (arbitrator); Committee on Character and Fitness; Beaumont Hospitals (trustee); and The Detroit Police Athletic League (former director).
Mr. Schaefer has instructed hundreds of Michigan circuit court judges and thousands of practicing lawyers in the substantive law of matrimonial matters through the Michigan Judicial Institute and the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE). Mr. Schaefer is the author of Family Law in Michigan, a publication of ICLE, and he has written numerous articles and made numerous television and radio appearances relative to legal matters. In 2010, Michigan State University College of Law dedicated and named the law library “The John F. Schaefer Law Library” and dedicated The John F. Schaefer Chair in Matrimonial Law. The Best Lawyers in America named John F. Schaefer Lawyer of the Year for 2013 for family law in the metropolitan Detroit area.
In furtherance of his courtroom accomplishments, among Mr. Schaefer’s many notable cases include Dart v. Dart, a case involving the laws and courts of England and assets in excess of $1 billion; Nasser v. Nasser, representing the 36-year wife of Jacques Nasser, the then-CEO of Ford Motor Company; and two cases of Iacocca v. Iacocca, representing two of the wives of Lee Iacocca, the former CEO of Chrysler Corporation. He has also represented the distinguished and preeminent Robert A. Lutz, former president of Chrysler Corporation and vice chairman of General Motors Corporation.
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