Berrien County gets new public administrator

By: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff//April 26, 2024//

Grandy

By: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff//April 26, 2024//

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A St. Joseph attorney and Eli Lilly and Company’s former associate vice president and assistant general counsel for human resources has been appointed as Berrien County Public Administrator, Attorney General Dana Nessel announced.

Charles A. Grandy, who currently is of counsel with Jennings Law Office, was sworn in on April 23. He practices estate planning, probate administration, trust administration, HR law — including employment law and compensation and benefits matters — mergers and acquisitions, business law and general civil litigation.

Grandy worked as an engineer for GE Aircraft Engines in Cincinnati and then began his law career with Baker & Daniels now Faegre Drinker in Indianapolis. He went on to serve as corporate counsel with Eli Lilly and Company through 2022 before joining Jennings Law Office.

He serves on the boards of directors of the OrthoIndy YMCA and Child Advocates and previously served on the boards of the American Benefits Council in Washington, D.C., the In-House Benefits Council Network and Traders Point Christian Academy.

Grandy earned his law degree, magna cum laude, from Duke University School of Law, and a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Duke University. Grandy also earned his master’s degree in educational leadership in 2023 from Ball State University.

“I would like to congratulate Charles on his appointment as County Administrator to County Public Administrator,” Nessel said. “With his extensive background in estate planning, probate administration, and trust administration, I know he will serve the Berrien County community well.”

County public administrators have powers and duties primarily related to intestate decedent estates where there are apparently no known heirs, including managing the determination, collection, liquidation, and/or distribution of any assets in the estate. Attorneys who serve in this capacity often also have private practice responsibilities that are separate and unrelated to their appointment as a county public administrator.

“County public administrators serve in a position of trust in Michigan’s Probate Court system and perform vital work on behalf of their respective communities,” State Public Administrator Randi M. Merchant said in a press release. “I am confident that County Public Administrator Grandy will be an outstanding addition to the team of talented and dedicated attorneys that serve in this role across the State.”

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