About John M.
John M. Karafa earned his law degree from Wayne State University in 1983 after completing a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at Michigan State University in 1980. He took a traditional route through legal education, pairing a foundation in criminal justice with three years of formal legal training in Detroit. Those academic years shaped his understanding of both the mechanics of law and the communities it serves.
Karafa’s recent career moves are straightforward. He joined Gravis Law in 2023 as a lawyer. A year later he moved to Tabono Law and became a senior lawyer in 2024. The records list those positions without embellishment. They mark his current standing in the Michigan legal community and a continuity of practice within the state.
He practices in Michigan and maintains memberships that reflect work in both state and federal forums. Karafa is a current member of the Ottawa County Bar Association and the Federal Bar Association for the Western District of Michigan. Those affiliations indicate regular engagement with peers and the procedural environments of both county and federal courts.
Colleagues describe him as methodical and steady in the courtroom. He brings the perspective of someone trained in criminal justice into legal problem solving. That background informs how he approaches factual development and client interviews. He has worked on matters submitted in Michigan courts and, through his Federal Bar Association membership, participates in federal practice matters as well.
Outside of firm titles and association memberships, his public professional record is focused on contributions to client work rather than public office or academic posts. He did not list bar leadership roles or judicial appointments in available records. Instead, his trajectory shows consistent practice within Michigan law offices and an emphasis on hands-on litigation and case management.
At Tabono Law he continues to handle matters brought in Michigan courts and extends representation into federal matters where appropriate. His current practice is concentrated on litigation and client representation in Michigan state and federal courts.
