

Devin Sullivan has spent his career helping government agencies, regulated utilities, and private energy companies develop critical infrastructure projects.
Devin has helped bring to fruition many of Michigan’s largest and most complex public infrastructure projects, including major highways, utility lines, and renewable energy facilities. He represents clients in both trial and appellate courts, as well as before state and local administrative bodies.
Recognized as one of Michigan’s leading attorneys representing government agencies and utilities in the acquisition of property for public projects, Devin has been named a Super Lawyer and a Best Lawyer in the area of eminent domain. He is regularly invited to address industry events on property acquisition, including those hosted by the International Right of Way Association, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and Michigan’s County Road Association. Devin has prevailed against numerous challenges to public projects, including on appeal to the Michigan Court of Appeals and the Michigan Supreme Court. He also routinely advises clients on more traditional real estate transactions in which property can be acquired voluntarily.
Bar Admissions
Education
Harvard Law School
Juris Doctor, cum laude, 2010
- Technical Editor, Harvard Environmental Law Review
- Staff Member, Harvard Journal of Legislation
- Student Coordinator, Law & Arts Initiative
University of Michigan Ross School of Business
Bachelor of Business Administration with high distinction, 2007
Professional Groups
- Energy Bar Association
- State Bar of Michigan
- Real Property Law and Young Lawyers Sections
- Real Property Law and Young Lawyers Sections
- Harvard Club of Detroit
- Treasurer
- Harvard Law School Association of Michigan
- President
- Ross Club of Eastern Michigan
- International Right of Way Association
- Co-Chair, Legal Affairs Committee, Michigan Chapter
Publications
- It’s not just “BOILERPLATE”
Crossroads, (Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan), Spring 2021 - Discovery in the Information Age: Michigan’s New ESI Rules
Wayne State University, Journal of Business Law, 2020 - Who Owns that Tree? Legal Issues Regarding Tree Removal in the Right-of-Way
Crossroads (Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan), Spring 2018
Presentations
- Detroit’s Solar Initiative: Accelerating Climate Action and Creating Resilient Neighborhoods
IRWA, International Education Conference, June 2025 - Addressing Landowner Concerns: Experience from ITC Holdings’ Acquisition Program
IRWA, International Education Conference, June 2024 - BEAD is coming to your ROW: The Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program
County Road Association of Michigan, December 2023 - All’s Fair in Love and Condemnation?
County Road Association, Legal Symposium, December 2022 - Complex Questions of Just Compensation and Relocation
IRWA, International Education Conference, June 2022 - Gordie Howe International Bridge Project
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Conference, April 2022 - Gordie Howe International Bridge Symposium
IRWA, Region 5 Fall Forum, October 2022 - Litigating Tricky Compensation Issues on the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project
IRWA (Michigan Chapter), November 2021 - Issues in Michigan Energy and Electric Utility Regulation
HalfMoon Seminars, March 2021 - Contract Clauses You Should Know
County Road Association, Legal Issues Symposium, December 2020 - The Gordie Howe International Bridge Project: Condemnation, Relocation, and Valuation Issues
Colorado Law Institute, CLE International, September 2020 - Right Tree, Right Place – ITC’s Vegetation Management Program From Conception through Litigation
IRWA 65th International Education Conference, June 2019, Portland, Oregon - 360-Degree View of Easement Valuation
IRWA, 65th International Education Conference, June 2019, Portland, Oregon - Understanding Utility Easements
Half Moon Seminars, May 2019 - Maintaining Effective Relationships with Outside Legal Counsel
County Road Association, March 2019 - Right-of-Way Acquisition: Knowing the Rules and Avoiding Subject Matter Jurisdiction Issues
County Road Association, Annual Legal Symposium, December 2019 - Making Your Case: Testifying at Depositions
IRWA (Michigan Chapter), November 2019 - Judges Have the Final Say on How to Value Easements
International Right of Way Association (Michigan Chapter), Fall Education Seminar, September 2018 - Do You Hate Lawyers? Learn to Love Them and Create a Cohesive Team in the Process
Right of Way (IRWA Magazine), May/June 2018 - Land Ownership Rights in the Right-of-Way
County Road Association Annual Legal Symposium, December 2017 - Tips and Tricks for Drafting Utility Easements
International Right of Way Association (Ohio Chapter) Law Day Seminar, November 2017 - ITC’s Michigan Thumb Loop
International Right of Way Association (Michigan Chapter), Fall Conference, October 2017 - From Legislation to Litigation: Michigan’s ‘Thumb Loop’ Transmission Line
International Right of Way Association, 63rd International Education Conference, June 2017 - Adverse Possession & Prescriptive Easements
International Right of Way Association (Michigan Chapter), May 2017 - Easement Drafting Nuts & Bolts: How to Draft Utility Easements Ahead of Time to Ensure a Successful Project
International Right of Way Association, 2nd Annual International Electric & Utility Symposium, April 2017 - Positioning Your Project to Succeed at Trial
International Right of Way Association (Michigan Chapter), September 2016
Honors & Awards
- Super Lawyers – 2025, 2026
- Best Lawyers (Michigan) – 2026
- Crain’s Detroit Business “40 Under 40” – 2022
- Best Lawyers – Ones to Watch – 2020 – 2025
- Super Lawyers Rising Star – 2018 – 2021

