About Us

View Transcript

SBBL Law | Criminal Defense Attorneys

SBBL Law serves as a fierce and empathetic barrier between our clients and the power of the criminal justice system.

This firm, SBBL Law, has collectively been able to obtain more jury acquittals in the last five years than some practitioners have done throughout their entire career.

Our team is led by former federal prosecutors, former army Jags, former FBI special agents—and with that experience, we just bring a depth of knowledge that cannot be found elsewhere.

Judges know that we have credibility. Prosecutors know that we have credibility. Investigators know that we have credibility.

Unlike a lot of other practitioners who may dabble in family law, personal injury, wills, and trust. Our attorneys focus day-to-day—every day—on criminal law.

Every attorney at this firm has been accused of taking a case too personally; I don't see that as a criticism. I see that as a strength.

You really are involved with someone in the most trying time of their life. We take a lot of time to get to know what's going on in the situation and how to deal with the case, but also with the person themselves.

You're innocent until proven guilty. If you have a case, we will find it. We'll make the best case for you. And many of our clients are found not guilty in the end, or beat charges at trial, or charges are dismissed.

It's in our DNA to break through even our own expectations of what's possible in a case.

Most of the time, you'll find holes in the case that you can leverage to the advantage of your client.

We can think about these cases as a prosecutor would. What would we have done if we were prosecuting this case? It has given us a real edge and helped us to win when I don't think other firms could.

We are the most prepared and the most knowledgeable criminal defense attorneys, and that hard work and that knowledge leads to great results for our clients.

If you're facing charges, you need somebody that knows what they're doing, that's handled these cases before, and can give you expert advice on how to proceed. There's no better defense than SBBL Law.

OUR FIRM

is devoted to criminal defense in state courts throughout Michigan and federal courts nationwide. We serve as a fierce and empathetic barrier between our clients and the criminal justice system—expertly navigating, communicating, and defending. With discretion and an unusually high success rate, we partner with our clients to face the overwhelming power of the government.

Tessa Muir Criminal Defense Attorney
Gary Springstead Criminal Defense Attorney

Our Partners

We are led by former federal prosecutors, FBI agents, and Army JAGs with a deep understanding of the criminal justice system. In past positions, our partners spent years building cases for the federal government and, as a result, understand how to defend our clients effectively. Knowing the system from the inside out allows us to explain the process to our clients along the way. We pride ourselves on strategizing each case's swift and successful resolution, whether by negotiating a favorable plea agreement, challenging an illegal search and seizure, or taking the case to trial.

Our Values

EXCELLENCE

INNOVATION

COMMITMENT

RELIABILITY

TRANSPARENCY

LOYALTY

INTEGRITY

DISCRETION

EMPATHY

Our History

In May 2011, Gary K. Springstead and Michael R. Bartish came together to launch Springstead Bartish, a two-person law firm dedicated to criminal defense in Grand Rapids and Fremont, Michigan. They recognized the need for a firm in western Michigan that brought new energy and a fresh perspective to state and federal criminal defense. The two united over their shared experience building cases and investigations for the federal government — Gary as a Special Agent in the FBI and Mike as a trial attorney in the Army JAG Corps. With insider knowledge of the system, Gary and Mike set out to defend the underdog against the overwhelming power of the government in both state and federal court.

O V E R T H E N E X T D E C A D E,

Matthew G. Borgula, Heath M. Lynch, and Tessa K. Muir joined the firm as partners after each serving as Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs) for the Western District of Michigan. Before becoming AUSAs, Matt and Heath worked at large corporate law firms in Chicago and Philadelphia, and Tessa served on active duty as a Captain in the Army JAG Corps. The firm also welcomed to the role as “Of Counsel” Donald A. Davis, former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan and a career prosecutor. As federal prosecutors, Matt, Heath, Tessa, and Don collectively led thousands of cases for the federal government in all areas of criminal law, from white-collar crime and IRS investigations to drug conspiracies and RICO cases. They worked closely with federal agencies—including the FBI, DEA, ATF, IRS, and Homeland Security—to investigate and prosecute cases. 

THE FIRM’S ENTIRE LEADERSHIP TEAM

shares a common background of building cases for the federal government. They bring an unrivaled collective level of expertise to their work defending clients. In 2020, the firm expanded its headquarters into newly-renovated executive office space in a historic bank building in downtown Grand Rapids and rebranded to SBBL Law. Our team serves individuals and corporations around the country, blending national-caliber qualifications and expertise with Midwestern values rooted in service and integrity. 

SBBL Law Criminal Defense Attorneys
Heath Lynch Criminal Defense Attorney

Contact Our Team