Joseph H. Bourgon

Leading Sommers Schwartz growth and success

Joe Bourgon began his career in commercial banking before becoming a lawyer. Currently, Joe serves as the firm’s Chief Executive Officer, overseeing the firm’s operations and ensuring its continued growth and profitability.

Joe grew up in a family of lawyers, which imbued a strong respect for the law and the power that it can have to right many of society’s wrongs. With a strong background in business, from an early age Joe’s goal was to bring business analytics and the practice of law together and apply them in the world of complex business transactions and responsible corporate management.

Under Joe’s guidance, Sommers Schwartz has maintained an outstanding reputation, earned over the course its more than 40-year-old history, primarily by focusing steadfastly on personal injury and medical malpractice law. During this time, Sommers Schwartz has also developed a national reputation as a leading law firm in the areas of class action law and employment law. As a result of the firm’s success during Joe’s tenure as CEO, Sommers Schwartz has opened additional locations in Detroit and San Diego, California (it’s first office outside of Michigan).

Joe’s keen understanding of the business world has undoubtedly had a positive impact on the firm’s bottom line, which has allowed partners to explore new technologies and innovations to better represent clients.

Before becoming a lawyer, Joe worked as a commercial banker. After attending law school at Michigan State University College of Law, Joe focused his practice in complex commercial litigation, representing lenders in all types of commercial loan transactions. In this role, Joe structured and documented complex commercial loans, handled loan work-outs and remedial actions, and counseled real estate clients in purchase and sale transactions, loan agreements, leasing, construction, and property development. He also advised borrowers in various types of real estate loan transactions.