Firm History

On Tuesday, May 21, 1957, Howard Fant entered Harvey Scholten’s office to determine whose name would appear first in their new law firm. As good lawyers, they wanted to follow a fair and just process. So they agreed that they should draw cards, with the person drawing the high card being named first on the letterhead. They also agreed that they should flip a coin to see who would draw first.

Howard Fant won the coin toss; Harvey Scholten drew the high card.

A few years later, Scholten and Fant hired a young attorney with an audacious goal. Neal Stanton wanted to help build a firm that could compete with the “big city” firms not only on price, but on the quality of professional legal services as well. Shortly thereafter, four more attorneys joined the firm, each determined to specialize in particular areas of the law. The fact that three of these five attorneys are still in active practice with the firm today, and that Neal Stanton passed away while in active practice with the firm, illustrates the stability and long-term commitment of the firm’s attorneys.

Today, as a result of steady growth, the firm employs more than 20 attorneys and over 30 support staff at our offices located in Grand Haven and Holland. This size and diversity allows our attorneys to specialize in the areas of the law they are most interested in while, at the same time, permitting the firm to provide a full range of legal services to our clients.

Scholten Fant is presently the largest and oldest resident law firm in Ottawa County and services a full variety of clients including individuals, businesses, units of government and charitable organizations.

Even after 50 years, we still have that deck of cards, as well as our commitment to fairness, justice, and quality.