Jerome A. Colligan was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana where he grew up. He received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 1961. He completed graduate studies at the University of Michigan, including mathematics (M.A.-1962) and electrical engineering (M.S.-1963 and Ph.D-1967) where he also undertook research in pseudo-random communications and control theory. After graduation, Mr. Colligan engaged in geophysical exploration research with Exxon Production Research Company from 1968-1976. Mr. Colligan attended South Texas College of Law in Houston from 1972-75, receiving his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree in 1975. He was licensed to practice law in Texas and Michigan in 1976 and continues as a member of the Michigan Bar.

Mr. Colligan commenced private law practice in Traverse City in 1976 where he has been a member of the Grand Traverse-Antrim-Leelanau Bar Association. He has been admitted to practice before the United States District Court (Western District of Michigan) and the United States Court of Appeals (Sixth Circuit).

Mr. Colligan became Secretary and General Counsel of a small Traverse City based oil and gas producer in 1978 and was an active member of the Michigan Oil and Gas Association and the Oil and Gas Committee of the Michigan Bar Association from 1980 to 1995. In 1983, he became an initial shareholder, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Federated Natural Resources Corp, a publicly traded Traverse City based oil and gas producer with producing property interests in eight states and offices in Houston, Texas and Lafayette, Louisiana.

Mr. Colligan returned to private law practice in 1989, operating an active solo practice in business organization, contract drafting and administration, and litigation, particularly with respect to oil and gas matters. He also has significant experience in estate planning, as well as trust and probate administration, employment and environmental matters.

Mr. Colligan served as an active member of the Traverse City Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee and the finance committees of the Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools and St. Patrick Catholic Church. He has taught a mathematics course at St. Francis High School since the mid 1980s. In 2004, Mr. Colligan became Of Counsel to the firm.