Alan J. Couture

Originally from Alpena, Mr. Couture received his B.A. degree from Michigan State University in 1982 and his law degree from Texas Tech University in 1985. He has practiced throughout northern Michigan, including the Upper Peninsula, for over 25 years, primarily in the areas of civil litigation, employment law, real estate and general business matters, and is licensed in both Michigan and Texas. He is a former partner of Running, Wise & Ford, PLC in Traverse City. Mr. Couture has had numerous jury and bench trials and binding arbitrations in both Texas and Michigan, and has successfully argued countless dispositive motion hearings.

In addition to an active practice as a court-approved Mediator for many northern Michigan courts, Mr. Couture has spoken at seminars on employment law and litigation matters and has published several articles in legal publications. As an adjunct professor for Spring Arbor University for over 10 years, he taught masters-level courses in employment law, business law and negotiations. He is a past Chair of the City of Gaylord Planning Commission and past Board member for the Otsego County Commission on Aging, the Grand Traverse, Antrim and Leelanau County Bar Association, and the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel, and he was the original editor of the MDTC’s E-Newsletter. He is a past Chair and current Board Member of the Peninsula Township Planning Commission and is also a member of the Peninsula Township Zoning Board of Appeals. For over 15 years, he has been on the Board of Northern Family Intervention Services, which works with families of troubled teens. He also holds a Fourth Degree Black Belt in Tang Su Do karate.