Blank Rome LLP is a national law firm representing domestic and international publicly-traded and private companies, governmental and other non-profit entities, as well as individuals. With nearly 500 attorneys, in offices in New York, Washington, DC, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Florida, Connecticut and Hong Kong, Blank Rome advises clients in a wide range of industries including: real estate; financial services; health care; gaming; hospitality; life sciences; manufacturing; maritime; energy; telecommunications; technology, and transportation. In addition, Blank Rome clients benefit from the services of the Firm's affiliate, Blank Rome Government Relations LLC, which is staffed by attorneys and lobbyists who guide companies through the complex processes of federal, state and local government.

Blank Rome's New York office represents some of the area's leading real estate, financial services and technology companies. Blank Rome counsels businesses and organizations ranging in size from multi-billion dollar international companies to startups in areas such as: capital formation; mergers and acquisitions; insolvency and restructuring; taxation; intellectual property; labor; and all aspects of litigation. The Firm has had many high-profile representations in the areas of white collar defense, and has prosecuted significant class actions in the environmental, securities and insurance areas. The New York office also has one of the largest and most visible matrimonial and estates & trusts practices in the United States. Blank Rome represents high net worth clients in all aspects of matrimonial law including divorce, mediation, equitable distribution of property, support, paternity, custody and visitation rights, as well as trusts and estates.

Statement of Practice

Administrative Law, Administrative Adjudications; Administrative Agency Practice, Administrative Hearings and Appeals, Administrative Litigation, Federal Administrative Law, Professional Licensing, Professional Licensing Regulation, Public Law, Admiralty and Maritime Law, Marine Law, Maritime Contracts, Maritime Finance, Maritime Law, Maritime Liens, Ship Sales and Mortgages, Aged and Aging, Age Discrimination, Elder Care, Elder Law, Agency and Distributorships, Distribution Agreements, International Distribution, Alcoholic Beverages, Liquor Licensing, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Arbitration, International Arbitration, International Dispute Resolution, Mediation, Antitrust and Trade Regulation, Antitrust, Business Combinations, Competition, Covenants Not To Compete, Deceptive Trade Practices, Noncompetition and Non-Solicitation Agreements, Price-Fixing, Restrictive Covenants, Trade Regulation, Unfair Trade, Appellate Practice, Civil Appeals, Art Law, Artists Rights, Museum Law, Asset Protection, International Asset Protection, Aviation and Aerospace, Aircraft Finance and Leasing, Aircraft Sales, Airline Labor Law, Aviation Law, Aviation Defense, Aviation Insurance, Aviation Litigation, Aviation Products Liability, Aviation Regulation, Bankruptcy, Bankruptcy Arbitration, Bankruptcy Chapter 7, Bankruptcy Chapter 11, Bankruptcy Chapter 12, Bankruptcy Chapter 13, Bankruptcy Collections, Bankruptcy Litigation, Bankruptcy Mediation, Bankruptcy Reorganization, Bankruptcy Taxation, Bankruptcy Trustees Rights, Commercial Bankruptcy, Commercial Foreclosure, Commercial Insolvency, Commercial Recovery, Commercial Workouts, Foreclosures, Fraudulent Conveyance, Insolvency, International Bankruptcy, International Insolvency, Liquidations, Out of Court Debt Restructuring, Pre-Bankruptcy Workouts, Receiverships, Repossessions, Workouts, Workouts Taxation, Banks and Banking, ATM Networks, Bank Collections, Bank Directors and Officers Liability, Bank Foreclosures, Bank Mergers and Acquisitions, Banking Antitrust, Banking Law, Banking Litigation, Commercial Banking, Commercial Credit, Commercial Loans, Consumer Banking, Credit Card Law, Credit Finance, Credit Law, Electronic Banking, Fair Lending, Financial Law, Interest and Usury, International Banking Law, International Loans, Lender Law, Lender Liability, Lender Regulation, Lenders Rights, Letters of Credit, Loan Restructuring, Loan Workouts, Loans, Savings and Loan Law, Secured Lending, Truth in Lending, Biotechnology, Biomedical Technology, Biotechnology Licensing, Business Law, Business Arbitration, Business Associations Law, Business Crimes, Business Development, Business Dissolutions, Business Estate Planning, Business Formation, Business Fraud, Business Litigation, Business Mediation, Business Organization, Business Planning, Business Regulation, Business Reorganization, Business Sales, Business Succession Planning, Business Successions, Business Syndication, Business Taxation, Business Torts, Business Transactions, Business Transfers, Business Trusts, Business Valuation, Buying and Selling of Businesses, Capital Formation, Closely Held Business Estate Planning, Closely Held Business Law, Closely Held Business Taxation, Complex Business Litigation, Emerging Business Law, Emerging Growth Companies, Entrepreneurial Business Law, Family Business Law, Family Business Mediation, Family Business Successions, International Business Law, International Joint Ventures, Joint Ventures, Limited Liability Company Law, Privatization, Professional Practices, Small Business Law, Sole Proprietorships, Strategic Alliances, Chancery and Equity, Chancery Practice, Children, Child Custody, Child Support, Civil Practice, Federal Civil Practice, Sex Discrimination, Commercial Collections, Post Judgment Collections, Commercial Law, Commercial Litigation, Complex Commercial Litigation, Secured Transactions, Uniform Commercial Code, Commercial Real Estate, Commercial Real Estate Acquisitions, Commercial Real Estate Development, Commercial Real Estate Finance, Commercial Real Estate Foreclosure, Commercial Real Estate Sales, Commercial Real Estate Syndication, Commercial Real Estate Workouts, Industrial Real Estate Law, Shopping Center Acquisitions, Shopping Center Development, Shopping Center Law, Complex and Multi-District Litigation, Computers and Software, Computer Contracts, Computer Law, Computer Security, Computer Software Law, Computer Technology, Electronic Commerce, Information Technology, Information Technology Contracts, Information Technology Licensing, International Computer Law, Internet Law, Software Copyright, Software Licensing, Software Protection, Year 2000 Computer Conversion, Constitutional Law, First Amendment Law, Construction Law, Construction Finance, Construction Litigation, Construction Workouts, Environmental Construction Law, International Construction Law, Public Construction Law, Consumer Law, Consumer Arbitration, Consumer Class Actions, Consumer Credit, Consumer Credit Compliance, Consumer Finance, Consumer Fraud, Consumer Litigation, Consumer Protection, Consumer Rights, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Contracts, Breach of Contract, Commercial Contracts, Contract Fraud, Contract Litigation, International Commercial Contracts, International Contracts, Copyrights, Copyright Infringement, Copyright Litigation, Copyright Prosecution, Copyright Protection, Copyright Registration, International Copyright Law, Corporate Law, Closely Held Corporations, Corporate Banking Law, Corporate Commercial Law, Corporate Contracts, Corporate Control Contests, Corporate Criminal Law, Corporate Dissolutions, Corporate Ethics, Corporate Fiduciary Law, Corporate Finance, Corporate Formation, Corporate Governance, Corporate Income Tax, Corporate Insurance, Corporate Insurance Defense, Corporate Investigations, Corporate Litigation, Corporate Organization, Corporate Partnerships, Corporate Planning, Corporate Real Estate, Corporate Reorganization, Corporate Successions, Corporate Tax Controversies, Corporate Tax Planning, Corporate Taxation, Corporate Trusts, Corporate Workouts, Family Corporations, Foreign Sales Corporations, Hostile Takeovers, Incorporation, International Corporate Finance, International Corporate Law, International Corporate Taxation, Nonprofit Corporations, Offshore Corporations, Professional Corporations; Proxy Contests, Public Corporations, S Corporations, Securitization, Small Business Corporations, Takeovers, Tender Offers, Transfer Pricing, Criminal Law, Debtor and Creditor, Creditor Bankruptcy, Creditors Rights, Creditors Rights in Bankruptcy, Debtor and Creditor Bankruptcy, Debtor and Creditor Collections, Debtor and Creditor Remedies, Debtor and Creditor Reorganization, Debtor and Creditor Rights, Debtor and Creditor Workouts, Debtor Bankruptcy, International Creditors Rights, Secured Creditors Rights, Unsecured Creditors Rights, Disabilities, Americans with Disabilities Act, Academic Employment, College and University Law, Administrative Lobbying, Executive Lobbying, Legislative Lobbying, Lobbying, Eminent Domain, Employee Benefits, COBRA, Deferred Compensation, Employee Benefit Taxation, Employee Benefit Trusts, Employee Compensation, Employee Stock Ownership Plans, ERISA, Executive Compensation, Executive Compensation Taxation, Flexible Benefit Plans, Multi-Employer Benefits, Multi-Employer Pensions, Non-Qualified Benefits, Pension and Profit Sharing Plans, Pension Plans, Pension Taxation, Profit Sharing, Public Pension Plans, Qualified Retirement Plans, Retirement Benefit Plans, Taft-Hartley Plans, Unemployment Compensation, Music Copyright, Environmental Law, Environmental Compliance, Environmental Liability, Environmental Litigation, Environmental Mediation, International Environmental Law, Equipment Finance and Leasing, Equipment Finance, Equipment Leasing, Vehicle Leasing, Family Law, Divorce, Matrimonial Law, Finance, Asset Based Finance, Financial Institution Reorganization, Financial Institutions Law, Financial Institutions Taxation, Financial Restructuring, International Commercial Finance, International Finance, Franchises and Franchising, Franchise Law, Franchise Licensing, Franchise Litigation, Franchise Taxation, International Franchising, General Practice, Federal Practice, Government, County Government Law, Federal Government Law, Government Affairs, Government Agency Practice, Government Relations, Legislative Practice, Local Government Law, Public Policy, Qui Tam Litigation, State Government Law, State Legislative Practice, Township Law, Government Contracts, Government Construction Contracts, Government Contract Arbitration, Government Contract Fraud, Government Procurement, International Government Contracts, Local Government Contracts, Public Bidding, Public Contract Law, Public Works Contracts, Guardianship and Conservatorship, Health Care, Alternative Health Care Delivery System, Certificates of Need, Health Care Administration, Health Care Contracts, Health Care Corporate Law, Health Care Facility Licensing, Health Care Facility Regulation, Health Care Finance, Health Care Fraud, Health Care Legislation, Health Care Licensing, Health Care Mergers and Acquisitions, Health Care Regulation, Health Care Reimbursement, Health Care Taxation, Health Insurance, Health Insurance Coverage, Health Insurance Defense, Health Insurance Trusts, Health Law, Health Maintenance Organizations, Integrated Health Care Delivery Systems, Long Term Care, Managed Care, Managed Care Contracts, Medical Antitrust, Mental Health Law, Nursing Home Regulation, Pharmacy Law, Physicians Contracts, Hospital Law, Hospital Administration, Medical Staff Contracts, Medical Staff Credentialing, Housing Law, Affordable Housing, Apartment Projects, Housing Finance, Insurance, Commercial Insurance, Insurance Company Taxation, Insurance Litigation, Insurance Defense, Intellectual Property, Artistic Property, Chemical Intellectual Property, Electrical Intellectual Property, Intellectual Property Infringement, Intellectual Property Licensing, Intellectual Property Litigation, International Intellectual Property, International Licensing, Mechanical Intellectual Property, Medical Intellectual Property, Pharmaceutical Intellectual Property, Piracy, Proprietary Rights, Taxation of Intellectual Property, International Law, International Trade, Antidumping, Countervailing Duties, Customs Law, Export Regulation, Import and Export Law, International Trade Regulation, Latin America Trade, Russia Trade, Investments, Financial Services Law, Financial Services Regulation, Foreign Investment, Foreign Investment in the United States, International Investment, Investment Banking Law, Investment Company Law, Investment Partnerships, Investment Regulation, Labor and Employment, Affirmative Action, Collective Bargaining, Employee Drug Testing, Employer Liability, Employment at Will, Employment Contracts, Employment Discrimination, Employment Litigation, Employment Mediation, Executive Employment Law, Executive Severance Contracts, Fair Labor Standards, Family and Medical Leave Act, Federal Employment Law, Harassment, International Employment Contracts, International Labor Law, Labor Arbitration, Management Labor Law, National Labor Relations Act, Personnel Policies, Public Sector Collective Bargaining, Public Sector Labor Relations, Sexual Harassment, Unfair Labor Practices, Union Contract Negotiations, Union Elections, Union Organization, Wage and Hour Law, WARN Act, Workplace Violence, Wrongful Termination Defense, Leases and Leasing, Commercial Leasing, International Leasing, Landlord and Tenant Law, Lease Finance, Leasing, Leveraged Leasing, Office Leasing, Retail Leasing, Shopping Center Leasing, Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility, Legal Ethics, Litigation, Civil Litigation, Complex Litigation, Defense Litigation, Federal Civil Litigation, Federal Litigation, International Litigation, Long-Arm Litigation, Trial Practice, U.S. Supreme Court Litigation, Newspaper Contracts, Publishing Contracts, Medical Malpractice, Medicare and Medicaid, Medicaid Planning, Medicare and Medicaid Reimbursement, Medicare Fraud and Abuse, Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures, Business Acquisitions, Business Divestitures, International Mergers and Acquisitions, Leveraged Acquisitions, Leveraged Buyouts, Merger Reorganization, Mergers and Acquisitions, Mergers and Acquisitions Finance, Mortgages, Commercial Mortgages, Mortgage Banking Law, Mortgage Bankruptcy, Mortgage Finance, Mortgage Foreclosure, Mortgage Insurance, Mortgage Lien Foreclosure, Mortgage Refinancing, Mortgage Securitization, Mortgage Tax, Mortgage Workouts, Secondary Mortgage Market, Municipal Bonds, Municipal Bonds Taxation, Municipal Contracts, Municipal Corporation Law, Municipal Derivative Products, Municipal Finance, Municipal Labor Law, Municipal Leasing, Municipal Pension Law, Municipal Redevelopment, Municipal Securities, Municipal Taxation, Tax Increment Finance, Natural Resources, Nonprofit and Charitable Organizations, Charitable Limited Partnerships, Charitable Organizations Law, Charitable Trusts and Foundations, Nonprofit Organizations Law, Nonprofit Tax Law, Private Foundations, Tax Exempt Organizations, Occupational Safety and Health, OSHA, Partnership Law, Family Limited Partnerships, Family Partnerships, Limited Liability Partnerships, Limited Partnerships, Partnership Dissolution, Partnership Formation, Partnership Organization, Partnership Syndication, Partnership Taxation, Patents, Biochemical Patents, Biotechnology Patent Prosecution, Biotechnology Patents, Chemical Patent Prosecution, Chemical Patents, Computer and Software Patents, Design Patents, Electrical Patent Prosecution, Electrical Patents, Electronic Patents, International Patents, Mechanical Patent Prosecution, Mechanical Patents, Medical Patents, Metallurgical Patents, Molecular Biology Patents, Patent Applications, Patent Infringement, Patent Interference Practice, Patent Licensing, Patent Litigation, Patent Prosecution, Patent Protection, Pharmaceutical Patents, Personal Injury, Premises Security, Probate, Ancillary Probate, International Probate, Probate Administration, Probate Litigation, Probate Taxation, Products Liability, Drug and Medical Device Defense, Firearms Products Liability, Professional Liability, Public Finance, Bond Finance, Economic Development, Housing and Urban Development, Industrial Development, International Economic Development, International Project Finance, Project Finance, Public Authority Finance, Public Finance Taxation, Public-Private Development, Tax Exempt Bonds, Tax Exempt Finance, Railway Labor Law, Real Estate, Condominium Association Law, Condominium Conversions, Condominium Development, Condominium Law, Conveyancing, Cooperative Association Law, Cooperative Conversions, Cooperative Housing Law, Easements, International Real Estate, Land Acquisitions, Land Sales, Land Trusts, Planned Unit Development Law, Real Estate Acquisitions, Real Estate Arbitration, Real Estate Banking Law, Real Estate Bankruptcy, Real Estate Brokers Licensing, Real Estate Contracts, Real Estate Development, Real Estate Finance, Real Estate Foreclosure, Real Estate Investment, Real Estate Investment Taxation, Real Estate Investment Trusts, Real Estate Joint Ventures, Real Estate Leasing, Real Estate Litigation, Real Estate Mediation, Real Estate Partnerships, Real Estate Restructuring, Real Estate Sales, Real Estate Secured Lending, Real Estate Securities, Real Estate Settlements, Real Estate Syndication, Real Estate Tax Appeals, Real Estate Tax Assessment, Real Estate Taxation, Real Estate Title, Real Estate Transfers, Real Estate Valuation, Real Estate Workouts, Real Property, Real Property Acquisitions, Real Property Development, Real Property Finance, Residential Real Estate, Residential Real Estate Development, Waterfront Development, Regulatory Law, Drug and Medical Device Regulation, Federal Regulatory Law, Regulated Industries, Regulatory Agency Practice, Regulatory Investigations, Religious Nonprofit Corporation Law, RICO, Securities, Bank Securities, Broker-Dealer Arbitration, Broker-Dealer Regulation, Initial Public Offerings, Private Placement, Private Placement Syndication, Public Offerings, SEC Enforcement, Securities Arbitration, Securities Litigation, Securities Offerings, Securities Registration, Securities Regulation, Shareholder Agreements, Shareholder Disputes, Tax Exempt Securities, Sports Contracts, Sports Licensing, Taxation, Employment Tax, Estate and Gift Taxation, Federal Income Tax, Federal Tax Controversies, Federal Taxation, Fiduciary Income Tax, Income Tax, Individual Taxation, International Tax Controversies, International Taxation, Like Kind Exchanges, Local Taxation, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, Property Tax Abatement, Property Tax Appeals, Sales and Use Tax, State Taxation, Tax Appeals, Tax Audits, Tax Collection, Tax Deferred Exchanges, Tax Planning, Tax Shelters, Trusts and Estates Taxation, Electronics, High Technology Contracts, Semiconductor Technology, Technology Contracts, Technology Licensing, Technology Protection, Technology Transfers, Torts, Trade Association Law, Toxic Torts, Trade Secrets, Theft of Trade Secrets, Trademarks, International Trademarks, Trade Dress, Trade Names, Trademark Arbitration, Trademark Infringement, Trademark Licensing, Trademark Litigation, Trademark Prosecution, Trademark Protection, Trademark Registration, Transportation, Common Carrier Law, Mass Transit Law, Public Transportation Law, Transit Labor, Trusts and Estates, Decedents Estates, Estate Administration, Estate Litigation, Estate Planning, Family Trusts, Family Wealth Transfer, Fiduciary Law, Fiduciary Liability, Fiduciary Litigation, Financial Planning, International Estate Planning, International Trusts, Living Trusts, Offshore Trusts, Personal Planning, Retirement Planning, Trust Administration, Trust Law, Trust Litigation, Trust Planning, Wealth Preservation, Unfair Competition, Utility Law, Utility Acquisitions, Utility Contracts, Utility Taxation, White Collar Crime, Embezzlement, White Collar Criminal Defense, White Collar Fraud, Wills, Contested Wills, Inheritance, Living Wills, Successions, Zoning, Planning and Land Use, Building and Public Safety Codes, Cemetery Law, Environmental Land Use, Fire Districts, Improvement Districts, Land Conservation, Land Development, Land Entitlement, Land Use, Land Use Litigation, Land Use Permitting, Land Use Regulation, Rezoning, Special Districts, Subdivisions, Water Districts, Zoning Law, Zoning Variances, Retail Industry Development.

Clients

A list of Representative Clients will be furnished upon request.

Address

PNC Center
201 East Fifth Street, Suite 1700
Cincinnati, OH 45202, (Hamilton Co.)

Phone

Phone: 513-362-8700
Fax: 513-362-8787

Website

http://www.BlankRome.com

Firm/Affiliate Offices

PARTNER

Michael L. Cioffi (Partner) born Cincinnati, Ohio, February 2, 1953; admitted to bar, 1979, Ohio. Education: University of Notre Dame (B.A., 1975); University of Cincinnati (J.D., 1979). Co-Author: Sixth Circuit Federal Practice Manual, 1993, 1999. Author: Ohio Pretrial Litigation, 1991, 1998. Member: Cincinnati, Ohio State, Federal (President, Cincinnati Chapter, 1993-1994) and American (Member, Sections on: Litigation; International Law, 1980—) Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Litigation; Environmental Law.Email: Michael L. Cioffi

SENIOR AND OF COUNSEL

Nathaniel R. Jones (Senior Counsel) born Youngstown, Ohio, May 13, 1926; admitted to bar, 1957, Ohio. Education: Youngstown State University (A.B., 1951; LL.B. 1956). Alpha Delta Boule; Sigma Pi Phi; Kappa Alpha Psi. Listed in: "Who's Who In America"; "Who's Who In Black America". U.S. Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 1979-2002. General Counsel, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), 1969-1979. Assistant General Counsel, National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders (Kerner Commission), 1967-1968. Assistant United States Attorney, Northern District of Ohio at Cleveland, 1960-1967. Executive Director, Fair Employment Practices Commission, City of Youngstown, Ohio, 1956-1959. Co-Chair, Board of Directors, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Member, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, North America, Inc. Diversity Advisory Board. Member, KnowledgeWorks Foundation Board of Trustees. Member, Executive Committee, Cincinnati Youth Collaborative. Member, Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati Board of Trustees. Co-Chairman, Cincinnati Black-Jewish Coalition. Member, Advisory Committee of the Urban Morgan International Human Rights Institute. Master, Potter Stewart American Inns of Court. Trustee: Interrights USA; National Conference on Community and Justice. Chair, National Conference on Racial and Ethnic Justice. Member: Buckeye Lodge I.B.P.O.E.; Gothic Lodge #22 King Solomon Consistory No. 20; 33rd Degree - United Supreme Council, Mason. Member: United Way and Community Chest Board of Trustees; Metropolitan Club. Charter Member, Youngstown Area Development Corporation. Member: Houston Law Club; University of Cincinnati College of Law Board of Visitors. Former Member, Case Western Reserve University, School of Law In Cleveland, Board of Visitors. Member: Back Bencher Society; Indiana University Board of Visitors; Nova University Law Center, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Board of Visitors; The American Bar Association Law School Accreditation Committee Commission on Opportunities for Minorities in the Profession. Member: Mahoning County, Cinncinnati, Ohio State, National, American and Federal Bar Associations; Black Lawyers Association of Cincinnati; American Arbitration Association. [U.S. Army Air Corps]. Practice Areas: Litigation; Dispute Resolution.Email: Nathaniel R. Jones

Rachel Payne (Of Counsel) admitted to bar, 1994, Kentucky; Ohio; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky and U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio. Education: Northern Kentucky University (B.A., 1988); Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law (J.D., 1994). Member: Cincinnati, Kentucky, Northern Kentucky and Ohio State Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Litigation.Email: Rachel Payne

ASSOCIATE

William M. Huse (Associate) admitted to bar, 2003, Ohio and U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio. Education: Purdue University (B.S., 1999); University of Cincinnati (J.D., 2003). Delta Theta Phi. Master of Scrolls (Re-Chartering Member, 2000-2001). Member: American Institute of Chemical Engineers, 1997—; American Morgan Horse Association, 1990—. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation.