Mr. Graves’ representation of clients has resulted in the publication of Michigan jurisprudence (Yono v MDOT, 499 Mich 636 (2016); Hagerty v Manistee Co Rd Comm’r, 493 Mich 933 (2013); Jarrad v Integon Nat Ins Co, 472 Mich 1251 (2005); Griffith v State Farm Mut Auto Ins Co, 472 Mich 1020 (2004)). Mr. Graves has argued multiple personal injury related cases before the Michigan Court of Appeals and before the Michigan Supreme Court (See, e.g., Yono v MDOT, dated December 9, 2015).
Mr. Graves has received an “AV” rating from Martindale-Hubbell which is the highest rating of legal ability and ethics awarded by the company. According to Martindale, “an AV certification mark is a significant rating accomplishment – a testament to the fact that a lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.” Since 2012, Mr. Graves has been repeatedly honored further by being recognized and included in the annual Best Lawyers, which is the oldest and most respected peer-reviewed publication in the legal profession. The Best Lawyers lists of outstanding attorneys are compiled by conducting exhaustive peer-review surveys in which tens of thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. If the votes for an attorney are positive enough for inclusion in Best Lawyers, that attorney must maintain those votes in subsequent polls to remain on the list for each edition. Lawyers are not permitted to pay any fee to participate in or be included on the list. Mr. Graves is also client and peer reviewed by Avvo, a recent web-based attorney profile marketing entity, growing in popularity in today’s mobile media environment.
Mr. Graves is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the Grand Traverse-Leelanau-Antrim Bar Association. Mr. Graves now currently serves on the Board of Governors for the GTLA. For the past 10 consecutive years, Mr. Graves continues to serve on the Board of Directors of the Traverse City, City Opera House, in which he also served as past Co-Chair. Mr. Graves has served as a past Executive Board Member for the Ingham County Bar Association; past President of the Young Lawyers section of the Ingham County Bar Association; past Executive Board Member for the Arthritis Foundation, Central Michigan Chapter; past Executive Board Member for the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association; and past Board Member of the John D. Voelker Foundation. Mr. Graves is a current member of the Rotary Club of Traverse City (noon club) and the Elks (Traverse City Lodge No. 323). Finally, Mr. Graves actively/annually volunteers with the Northern Michigan Adaptive Sports Skiing program.
