William H. Heritage III

Will Heritage concentrates his practice in the areas of corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, healthcare law, business planning and transactions, and real estate law. He has twenty-five years of experience in dealing with complex business and commercial transactions within a broad range of clients and representative industries.

His practice includes representation of small to large privately-held businesses as well as international business clients. Mr. Heritage’s clients are involved in many industry and service segments, including automotive, health care, professional practices, general manufacturing, food products and distribution, capital equipment manufacturing, and consulting. He assists businesses in their formation and counsels them on all corporate law matters including governance issues, contracts, growth through acquisitions and financing. He works with closely-held businesses to develop succession planning and buy-sell agreements. A significant part of Mr. Heritage’s business work includes negotiating and drafting a wide variety of contracts to meet his clients’ needs. Mr. Heritage represents many physicians, dentists and their related professional practices and ancillary business interests, and he is knowledgeable at handling health law matters.

Mr. Heritage’s experience includes many complex business transactions, and he has represented both purchasers and sellers. A representative list of his transaction experience is provided below under Transactions. His representation of merger and acquisition clients covers the entire spectrum of the transaction from initial assessment and planning, drafting letters of intent and conducting due diligence through negotiating the transaction, preparing the transaction agreements, closing and post-closing matters. He is skilled in business planning strategies and the structuring of transactions to accomplish the needs of his clients.

He also conducts a very active real estate practice representing clients with the purchasing, selling and leasing of commercial, professional, industrial and retail properties. He is also experienced in real estate financing.

Mr. Heritage is the President of the Law Firm, Chair of the Business Law & Commercial Transactions Group and a member of both the Firm’s Board of Directors and its Executive Committee. He has practiced law with the Law Firm during the entirety of his distinguished career. Mr. Heritage was recognized in 2018 and 2019 by dbusiness magazine as one of Metro Detroit’s 500 most powerful business leaders.

Mr. Heritage is active in a number of community and civic organizations. He served on several boards, including his current longstanding service as a member of both the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the American Red Cross - Michigan Chapter. He has been active as a member of fund raising committees, including serving as the honorary chairman of events for organizations such as Children’s Hospital, Haven House and the American Red Cross.

DISTINCTIONS

•“AV” Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest ranking by peers for general ethical standards and legal ability
•U.S. News - Best Lawyers in America 2013-2020
•Michigan Super Lawyer 2011-2020
•Michigan Rising Stars (Super Lawyers) 2008
•dbusiness Top Lawyer 2011-2014, 2016-17, 2019
•Leading Lawyers 2014-2019
•Recognized as a Top Attorney in Michigan by the New York Times
•Recognized as one of Metro Detroit’s 500 most powerful business leaders by dbusiness magazine (2018 and 2019)
•Association for Corporate Growth recognized Kar Nuts Product Company’s acquisition of Sander’s/Morley Candy Makers as the “All Star Deal of the Year Under $50MM” for 2018.
Mr. Heritage represented Sander’s and Morley Candy Makers. https://www.dbusiness.com/from-the-magazine/2019-acg-ma-all-stars/

articles

• “Kassab v. Michigan Basic Property Assn: Contract Performance Not Within Civil Rights Act,” 1993 Det. C.L. Rev. 1687 (1993)

Peer Reviewed

best lawyers: 2013-2020

2011-2020

rising stars: 2008

top lawyers: 2011-2014, 2016-17, 2019

2014-2019

top attorney

News / blog

GMH Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2026

Sep 10, 2025 Adam Levitsky, Alexander Lebedinski, Anthony Chubb, Bruce W. Haffey, Courtney Q. Moore, David Occhiuto, Donald K. Warwick, Elizabeth “Liza” Favaro, Firm News, Geoffrey S. Wagner, George A. Contis, Jared Trust, John R. Fleming, Julius H. Giarmarco, Kara S. Ferrara, Katherine Ross, Keela Johnson, Kenneth B. Chapie, LeRoy H. Wulfmeier, III, Matthew S. Weaver, News, Paul A. Thursam, Ryan L. Perry, Samantha Faulkner, Thomas P. Cavanaugh, Timothy J. Mullins, Victoria S. Lehman, William H. Heritage, III, William H. Horton

GMH Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2026GMH is proud to announce that numerous attorneys from our Troy office have been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America . These honors...

21 GMH Attorneys named to 2024 Best Lawyers List

Aug 29, 2023 Adam Levitsky, Bruce W. Haffey, Dennis M. Rauss, Elizabeth “Liza” Favaro, Firm News, George A. Contis, Jared Trust, John A. Anderson, John R. Fleming, Julius H. Giarmarco, Kara S. Ferrara, Keela Johnson, Lauren Studley, LeRoy H. Wulfmeier, III, Matthew S. Weaver, News, Paul A. Thursam, Ryan L. Perry, Thomas P. Cavanaugh, Timothy J. Mullins, Victoria S. Lehman, William H. Heritage, III, William H. Horton

21 Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C. lawyers named to 2024 Best Lawyers list. Best Lawyers, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession, has named the following lawyers from Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton as The Best Lawyers in...

26 Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C. Attorneys Recognized as Best Lawyers

Aug 29, 2024 Adam Levitsky, Anthony Chubb, Bruce W. Haffey, Dennis M. Rauss, Donald K. Warwick, Elizabeth “Liza” Favaro, Firm News, Geoffrey S. Wagner, George A. Contis, Jared Trust, John A. Anderson, John R. Fleming, Julius H. Giarmarco, Kara S. Ferrara, Katherine Ross, Keela Johnson, Kenneth B. Chapie, Lauren Studley, LeRoy H. Wulfmeier, III, Matthew S. Weaver, News, Paul A. Thursam, Ryan L. Perry, Thomas P. Cavanaugh, Timothy J. Mullins, Victoria S. Lehman, William H. Heritage, III, William H. Horton

26 Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C. Lawyers Recognized as Best Lawyers Award Recipients and Ones to Watch in America August 29, 2024 -- Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C. is pleased to announce that 23 lawyers have been included in the 2025 edition of...

William Heritage, III Selected to DBusiness Detroit 500 Business Leaders

Aug 22, 2018 Firm News, William H. Heritage, III

Congratulations William H. Heritage, III Mr. Heritage was Recognized by DBusiness for inclusion in Detroit 500 Business Leaders in Metro Detroit. DBusiness magazine, presents Detroit 500, a comprehensive list of the most powerful executives in more than 30 industries...