Meet Charissa
Charissa Huang is a highly qualified attorney with a demonstrated record of service and leadership in Grand Rapids.
If elected, she would be the first Asian American to serve as an elected official in any capacity, in the history of Kent County, Michigan.
Charissa is the oldest child of Taiwanese immigrants.
She was born in California and her family moved to the Kalamazoo area when she was just over a year old.
She attended Portage Public Schools beginning in kindergarten and is a graduate of Portage Central High School. She is a strong proponent for public education.
She attended the University of Michigan and earned two Bachelor’s degrees.
Charissa then went on to Northwestern University where she earned her law degree.
After law school, Charissa returned to West Michigan. She joined Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge, a law firm with over 60 lawyers that has built a reputation for excellence in litigation since 1941.
Charissa has devoted her legal career to helping ordinary people.
Her clients are often facing the hardest of situations including discrimination, harassment, and the loss of loved ones. She also represents both children and adults in sexual abuse and assault cases. In addition, she has served as trusted counsel for a wide variety of businesses in commercial litigation.
An accomplished attorney, Charissa has received many honors for her work. Her recognitions include:
“Top Lawyer” on multiple occasions by Grand Rapids Magazine
“Rising Star” in numerous areas of the law by Super Lawyers magazine
“Woman In the Law” by Michigan Lawyers Weekly
Benchmark Litigation's 40 and Under List
40 Under 40 Business Leader by Grand Rapids Business Journal
Credit: Anntaninna Biondo, MLive.com (top), Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge (above)
Charissa is very active in the Grand Rapids community.
She enjoys volunteering and supporting local families, children, and marginalized communities.
Charissa lives in the Creston neighborhood of Grand Rapids with her wife Lindsay, dog Grover, and cat Michael.
