GUDEMAN & ASSOCIATES - Key Persons
Mr. Rookard has been published in the American Bankruptcy Institute's Law Journal on several occasions.
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner
- Partner
- Attorney / President, 1984 to 2007
Edward Gudeman is the managing partner of Gudeman & Associates. At only 16 years of age, Mr. Gudeman attended college at Miami University, in Oxford, Ohio. In 1968, he graduated from Miami University.
He went on the attend one of the top law school's in the country, the University of Michigan School of Law. Mr. Gudeman graduated from law school in 1971, attaining a Juris Doctor degree, prior to his 24th birthday. After graduation, he was employed by the tax department of Arthur Andersen, in Detroit, Michigan. He enjoyed his employment because it gave him the chance to help clients prepare and deal with difficult tax issues.
In 1974, Mr. Gudeman opened up his own law practice, Edward J. Gudeman, P.C. The law firm specialized in Taxation, Estate Planning and Securities Law. In addition to these areas, he gained valuable additional experience with equipment leasing and ventured into real estate development and syndication.
In 1990, Mr. Gudeman expanded his practice into the field of bankruptcy law. He filed consumer cases under Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy code and also filed business cases under Chapter 11. Through the bankruptcy system, he was able to help many individuals get a fresh start with their finances. He also gained valuable courtroom experience in the Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. He became familiar with the bankruptcy community, including the Bankruptcy Trustees and Judges.
In addition to the practice of law, Mr. Gudeman has been personally involved with the ownership and management of a number of successful businesses. He brings the expertise that he obtained through those ventures to help the clients of Gudeman and Associates receive superior service and expertise. He appreciates and understands the value of a dedicated and hard-working staff.
On a personal level, Mr. Gudeman is the proud father of three children, including a set of twins. He and his wife of 27 years have learned to balance a busy family life with a successful legal career and business. After hours at Gudeman and Associates, Mr. Gudeman can often be found on the soccer field, as a volunteer coach.
Education
The University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Juris Doctor - 1971
Miami University , Oxford, Ohio
B.A. - 1968
Partner Edward J. Gudeman has been practicing law for 50 years and has owned and managed several successful businesses. He created our firm in 2009 out of a desire to provide the strongest possible results with exceptional service and communication while keeping our services affordable for clients.
Laura attended Wayne State University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor's Degree in Asian Studies. She then obtained her Paralegal Certification from Oakland Community College, where her 4.0 average earned her the distinction of Summa Cum Laude. After interning at Gudeman and Associates, she officially joined the team in January of 2013.
Outside of work, Laura is married with one son. She is a very avid reader who has been known to complete over 100 books in one year. To date, her personal record, which she is always trying to break, stands at 187.
Rachel obtained her Paralegal Certification from Oakland Community College in 2016. After interning at Gudeman and Associates, she officially joined the team in March of 2015.
Rachel has since become an integral part of the firm, supporting attorneys in filing chapter 7, 11, and 13 bankruptcies, as well as helping with estate planning and probate matters.
Rachel enjoys historical sewing, knitting and crochet, you could say she's crafty!
Sean graduated from Baker College of Auburn Hills Cum Laude in 2018. He is currently a 3L at WMU Cooley Law School where he has served as a teachers assistant, Academic Resources Representative, and student mentor. Sean also worked on the Cooley Law Review as its Executive Managing Editor.
Prior to attending Law School, Sean worked in various sales and service roles, including managing web communications, training new hires, providing coaching, and supervising service teams.
In his current role, Sean assists the firm in administering probate estates, preparing pleadings for litigation matters, conducting legal research, and preparing transactional documents.
Outside of work, Sean is married with one daughter, three dogs and a cat. Sean enjoys traveling, golfing, and Steven King novels.