About the Firm

One of Michigan's Most Established Law Firms.

Built in Ann Arbor.
Rooted in Michigan.

When Edward Conlin, John Conlin Sr., and Albert Parker opened their practice in 1937, Ann Arbor was a city of 30,000 people. The firm they founded has grown alongside the community it serves, now serving clients across the full range of civil practice, from estate planning and family law to insurance defense litigation and municipal counsel. Over the years, no fewer than 7 of the practicing lawyers have gone on to serve as state and federal judges.

That breadth is not accidental. For nearly nine decades, CMP Law has built practice groups that are designed to work together. A business succession plan becomes more effective when the estate planning attorneys are down the hall from the corporate lawyers. A real estate closing runs more smoothly when the banking team handles the financing documentation and the litigators are available if a title dispute surfaces. Clients benefit from continuity of counsel: a single relationship that can accommodate the full arc of their legal needs.

The firm serves individuals, families, small businesses, regional manufacturers, multinational corporations, insurers, banks, and municipal governments. What each client receives is the same: preparation, direct communication, and attorneys who know each other's work.

Full-Service Under One Roof

Practice Areas
That Work Together

Most legal matters don't stay neatly inside one discipline. CMP Law is built for that reality.

A client approaches our estate planning attorneys to update a will after a spouse's passing. In the course of that conversation, it becomes clear the surviving spouse is also the primary shareholder of a family business, and there's no succession plan in place. The business holds real estate. Some of that property has title issues. Litigation is threatened, and insurance issues loom.

That is not four or five separate engagements with separate firms. At CMP Law, it is one conversation, coordinated by attorneys who know each other and work down the hall. Estate planning, business and corporate law, real estate, litigation and insurance. All connected, all at one firm.

A Timeline

  1. 1937

    The Firm Opens

    Edward Conlin, John Conlin and Albert Parker open a law practice on South Main Street.

  2. 1950s

    A Broader Practice

    The firm expands its business, litigation and real estate practice.

  3. 1962

    Chris McKenney Joins the Firm

  4. 1970

    Allen Philbrick Joins the Firm

  5. 1970s

    Growing with the Region

    Business and banking work grows with the regional economy.

  6. 1982

    A Modern Name

    The firm adopts its current name, Conlin, McKenney & Philbrick, P.C.

  7. 1990s

    Steady Expansion

    Growth in litigation and business practice drives expansion.

  8. 2000s

    Deep Community Roots

    Deep roots in the community spur expansion of the estate planning practice.

  9. 2024

    Largest Shareholder Class

    Six attorneys became shareholders, the firm’s largest class to date.

  10. Today

    Anchored in Ann Arbor

    CMP Law fields 30+ attorneys across a wide range of practice areas, serving individuals, businesses, insurers, and municipalities. Trusted across Michigan since 1937.

Estate Planning
& Probate

Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, probate administration, and multi-generational planning for Michigan families.

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Business &
Corporate Law

Formation, contracts, M&A, succession planning, and day-to-day counsel for companies of every size.

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Real Estate

Transactions, development, leasing, zoning, and disputes for investors, builders, developers, and property owners.

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Litigation &
Trial Practice

Insurance defense, commercial disputes, personal injury defense, appeals, and ADR across Michigan courts.

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All Practice Areas

Full-service legal counsel. See the full scope of what CMP Law handles.

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In the Community

Local Roots Run Deep

CMP Law attorneys serve on boards across Washtenaw County, including the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, Washtenaw United Way, the Ann Arbor Symphony, the Washtenaw Community College Foundation, and the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Chamber of Commerce.

Pro Bono at the
Highest Level

The State Bar of Michigan's Pro Bono Circle of Excellence recognizes firms that commit to meaningful pro bono service, not token contributions. CMP Law has been named to the program's highest tier, Leadership Level, and is a member of the Access to Justice Fund's Founders Society.

These aren't abstract credentials. They reflect a culture of contribution to the community that has supported this firm for nearly 90 years.

Washtenaw United Way Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation Pro Bono Circle of Excellence Ann Arbor Symphony WCC Foundation WCBA Philanthropy Cup · 2015 Washtenaw County Bar Association Ann Arbor / Ypsilanti Chamber Access to Justice Founders Society Legal Services of South Central Michigan

Join the Firm

We're Always Looking
for Good People

CMP Law has built its reputation by attracting attorneys who take the work seriously and care about the community they practice in. We offer the depth of a full-service firm, the collegial culture of a mid-sized practice, and a client base that challenges attorneys to be well-rounded, not narrowly specialized.

If that sounds like the right fit, we'd like to hear from you.

Explore Opportunities