About Us

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.

Over the Next Decade,

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.