Brant A. Freer

Brant A. Freer passed peacefully on March 30, 2023 at age 69. He was born in Alpena, Michigan to Robert and Betty Freer. He grew up in Midland and Curran, Michigan, and graduated from Fairview High School, Fairview, Michigan, in 1972. His undergraduate degree was from Michigan State University and he graduated with honors from the University of Michigan Law School.

As an adult, Brant lived at different times in Los Angeles, California and in Troy and Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He was a member of the State Bars of both Michigan and California and practiced law in each. He split his law career between the practice of tax law as a nationally known bond tax expert, and supervising and developing the computer systems of law firms. He was an early adopter of new technologies, new music and upcoming comedians before they became household names, and he enthusiastically (and sometimes annoyingly) enriched his friends and family with all his new finds.

Brant began his law career as a tax associate at Miller Canfield in Detroit before leaving for O’Melveny & Myers in Los Angeles in 1984. He became a tax partner in 1986 at Mudge Rose, also in Los Angeles, before returning to Miller Canfield in 1996 where he remained until 2000 when he joined Brobeck, Phleger and Harrison, in Los Angeles. There he became the head of knowledge management for several practice groups. He returned to Miller Canfield for his final tour in 2002 where he remained until he retired. At that time he spent the majority of his time as a tax lawyer in the Miller Canfield Public Finance department and as head of the Miller Canfield Information Systems Committee. His extensive tax law expertise was equalled by his knowledge of computer systems.

Brant’s greatest achievement was perhaps not his skill as a lawyer or as an expert on computers and knowledge management systems, but as a compassionate friend and a person who cared deeply for his family. Friends going through difficult times had Brant’s unceasing help and care, and friends at all times had his incredible wit and humor and the simple joy of being around him. If a dinner party had more than one table, the person doing the seating arrangement always somehow had Brant seated at their table and it was always the table with the most laughter, the table the slowest to have the food eaten, and, often, the table suffering the greater wine consumption.

Brant is survived by his mother, Betty Freer, his sister Robin Freer and her two sons Robert and Jorge, his sister Jennifer (Guy) Harris and their daughter Sophie, cousin Priscilla (Ronnie) Deller, many friends and his cat Slinky. He always watched out for his family in every way he could and he will be greatly missed.

His greatest legacy are his family, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances who honor him by feeling his loss so deeply.