Practice areas: Real Estate; view more
Licensed in Michigan since: 2017
Education: Western Michigan University Cooley Law School
Selected to Rising Stars: 2023 - 2026 Call today:
616-333-2427
Sutherland Law, PLC
234 Division Ave NSuite 400
Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Visit website
In just over half a decade, Kevin Sutherland has emerged as a leader within his legal community through his client-centric approach to handling every case he takes on and possessing a wealth of practical knowledge he uses on his clients’ behalf. A partner at Sutherland Law, PLC, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the head of the firm’s landlord/tenant division, he focuses his efforts on resolving complex real estate matters across the state.
Mr. Sutherland completed his undergraduate studies in 2013, graduating with his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. He went on to attend the Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, where his academic prowess was evident through the certificates of merit he received in bar exam knowledge, criminal procedure and appellate advocacy. After earning his Juris Doctor cum laude in 2016, he obtained his license to practice law in Michigan the following year.
With a penchant for solving legal matters of maximal complexity with ease, Mr. Sutherland has been an invaluable asset to his clients. His emphasis on alleviating all their legal burdens allows them to focus on what is important, offering respite and peace of mind during this difficult period of time. For his many contributions, he has been rated “Good” on Avvo and hosts myriad positive client testimonials on the site as well. Within his legal community, he maintains close affiliations with legal organizations such as the State Bar of Michigan and the Federal Bar Association (Western District of Michigan Chapter).
Practice areas
Real Estate: BusinessFocus areas
Landlord/Tenant
- 100% Real Estate: Business
First Admitted: 2017, Michigan
Professional Webpage: https://www.stuartlawplc.com/team/kevin-sutherland
Bar / Professional Activity
- Grand Rapids Bar Association - Member, 2017 - 2022
Transactions
- By December 31, 2022, personally handled more than 1000 cases this year in 16 District Courts in 8 counties
- By December 31, 2021, personally handled more than 500 cases this year in 15 District Courts in 7 counties.
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Michigan Licensed Real Estate Agent, 2021 - 2022
Pro bono / Community Service
- WMU-Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Veterans Legal Assistance Program, Volunteer
- WMU-Cooley National Mock Trial team, fall of 2015 and winter of 2016
- Chief Judge for Moot Court Competition - March 20, 2021 - Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School, 2021
Educational Background
- University of Colorado at Colorado Springs - Bachelor's Degree - Criminal Justice Honors: Graduated #1 in Criminal Justice, May 2013, Member, of Student Government Association’s Judicial Board, President’s List, Dean’s List, School of Public Affairs Class Rank: 1/46 National Honor Society Alpha Phi Sigma—Lambda Sigma 2013, University of Colorado Board of Regents Debate, Debate Moderator - October 2012 El Paso County Public Defender, Investigator Intern - Summer 2012, 2013
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Landlord-Tenant presentation for the annual Michigan Court Officer and Deputy Sheriff Association (MCODSA) Seminar - November 2025, Speaker, Michigan Court Officer and Deputy Sheriff Association (MCODSA) Seminar - November 2025, 2025
- November - December 2020 We must discuss inevitable residential tenant evictions looming and likely early in 2021. Folks, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, twice this year residential tenants were favored by an eviction moratorium that deferred consequences for failing to pay rent. Recall the first moratorium was under the federal CARES Act between March 27, 2020 and July 25, 2020. The federal moratorium ran alongside Executive Orders by Michigan Gov. Whitmer halting most residential evictions through mid-July, 2020. Again, a second eviction moratorium came post-August 8, 2020, when President Trump signed four Covid-19 Executive Orders; these did not extend the moratorium or provide additional funding, but rather asked certain federal agencies to consider whether eviction moratoriums are necessary and to identify ways to help renters and homeowners who are struggling to meet their financial obligations. The result was a delay through 2020 as the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Center for Disease Control (CDC) issuing the current agency order (hereafter “CDC Order”) that temporarily halts residential evictions of covered persons from September 4, 2020, through December 31, 2020, based on failure to pay rent[3]. Qualifications include tenants provide their landlord with a sworn declaration that complies with the CDC Order-under penalty of perjury-attesting tenant meets all criteria to opt-into the eviction moratorium. Today, appearances show most Courts in West Michigan have worked through the backlog of landlord-tenant cases. New cases filed now seek rent due and owing from after July 25, 2020. Landlords and landlord attorneys are waiting for the inevitable when the SCAO will allow the District Courts to return to normal LT procedures with respect to Mich. Sup. Ct. Admin. Order 2020-17, as amended June 24, 2020. Fiscal consequences of policy changes like this will compound as much as they lag. This can be worse than Zoom meetings with poor Wi-Fi. Those consequences are steadily coming, already, and it’s time to get in front of the problems. Let’s deal with the basics of supply and demand here in the residential rental market of West Michigan. While a current CDC Order may keep tenants in their homes through December 31, many tenants will become untenable in early 2021. Again, tenants may be covered for 2020, but many tenants will become untenable during 2021. Consequences include the creation of unattainable debt, increase landlord debt, and a host of renters become unqualified tenants for housing. At the risk of sounding like a Scrooge for Christmas, evictions need to happen (sooner, rather than later). Private real estate markets need the freedom to control their occupancy rates. This notion may seem in sharp contrast to the pandemic stay-at-home health policies. Economic interests must be reconciled as with the pandemic policies of the general public. All landlords, both small and large, require treatment as a stakeholder in this conversation with policy makers. If not, one risk result may be less rental options available next year, at a time when rental units are in shorter supply, vacancy rates are low, waitlist for units are higher, incoming residents from coastal populated cities escaping Covid-19 driving up rental rates, and tenants seek out larger properties that have the units available now. Worse yet, the outlook looming for the smaller landlords. Think baby boomers, owners with a couple properties that attempt to subsidize planned retirement income, rather than run a business. Here, the Summer 2020 property tax bill was still issued to property owners, in the midst of the CARES Act moratorium, and the Winter 2020 property tax bill will arrive under the CDC eviction moratorium. Where’s the moratorium for the landlord paying to keep ALL OUR lights on? See Section 4024 of the CARES Act, Pub. L. 116–136, H.R. 748, eff. March 27, 2020. See Gov. Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-19 et seq. Under Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 264) and 42 CFR 70.2, Contributing Writer, Residential Tenant Evictions Looming, The Grand Rapids Lawyer, Legal, 2020
Honors
- Litigation Team Competitor, Texas Young Lawyers Association, February 2016
Industry Groups
- Landlords
- Property Management Companies
Office location for Kevin Sutherland
234 Division Ave N
Suite 400
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Phone: 616-333-2427
Selections
- Rising Stars: 2023 - 2026
