PARTNERS OF FIRM
Barbara J. Arison (Partner) born Akron, Ohio, October 10, 1952; admitted to bar, 1975, Ohio; 1980, U.S. Supreme Court; 1991, California. Education: University of Akron (B.A., 1972); University of Virginia (J.D., 1975). Practice Areas: Litigation; Complex and Multi-District Litigation; Drug and Medical Device Litigation; Products Liability Law; Commercial Litigation.Email: Barbara J. Arison
Keith A. Ashmus (Partner) born Cleveland, Ohio, August 19, 1949; admitted to bar, 1974, Ohio; 1980, U.S. Supreme Court; 1991, California. Education: Michigan State University (B.A., 1971; M.A., 1972, Phi Beta Kappa); Yale University (J.D., 1974). Member: Ohio State Bar Association. Practice Areas: Disability; OSHA Law; Litigation/Litigation Defense; Employment Discrimination Law; Employer-Employee Relations; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Wage Hour; Wrongful Termination; Employment at Will; Mediation Services.Email: Keith A. Ashmus
Brett K. Bacon (Partner) born Perry, Iowa, August 8, 1947; admitted to bar, 1972, Ohio. Education: University of Dubuque (B.A., 1969); Northwestern University (J.D., 1972). Practice Areas: Business Torts; Civil Trial; Insurance Defense Law; Lender Liability; Products Liability Law; Mediation Services; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Creditors Rights; Commercial Law; Banking Law; Consumer Law; Health Law.Email: Brett K. Bacon
Rebecca J. Bennett (Partner) born Cleveland, Ohio, January 11, 1973; admitted to bar, 1998, Ohio; 1999, U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas and U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth, Eighth and Eleventh Circuits. Education: The Ohio State University (B.A., summa cum laude, 1995); Cleveland Marshall College of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 1998). Member, Moot Court Board of Governors, 1997-1998. Business Editor, Cleveland State Law Review, 1997-1998. Board Member of Saint Joseph Academy, The Gathering Place and Berea's Animal Rescue Fund. Defense Research Institute. Member: Federal Bar Association (Northern District of Ohio Chapter); Cleveland Metropolitan and Ohio State Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Labor Law; Employment Law; OSHA; Litigation; Affirmative Action; Prevailing Wage Litigation; Wage and Hour Law; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Noncompete Litigation; Trade Secrets; Employment Discrimination and Civil Rights Litigation; Employee-Employer Relations; Wrongful Termination; Employment at Will; Executive Employment Contracts; College and University Law.Email: Rebecca J. Bennett
T. Merritt Bumpass, Jr. (Partner) born Roxboro, North Carolina, September 10, 1943; admitted to bar, 1969, North Carolina; 1972, Ohio. Education: United States Military Academy (B.S., 1965); Wake Forest University (J.D., 1969); Columbia University (LL.M., in Labor, 1971). Practice Areas: Employment Law and Litigation; Labor Law; ERISA; OSHA.Email: T. Merritt Bumpass, Jr.
Michael N. Chesney (Partner) born Ravenna, Ohio, June 16, 1966; admitted to bar, 1992, Ohio; U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin; U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court. Education: Duke University (A.B., 1988); Notre Dame Law School (J.D., summa cum laude, 1992). Lead Note Editor, Notre Dame Law Review, 1992. Recipient of Fairbaugh Prize for High Scholarship in Law. Member: Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association. Practice Areas: Labor and Employment Law(50%); Litigation(50%).Email: Michael N. Chesney
James T. Dixon (Partner) born Toledo, Ohio, December 14, 1968; admitted to bar, 1997, California and U.S. District Court, Northern District of California; 1999, U.S. District Court, Central District of California; 2002, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California; 2004, Ohio and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio. Education: Denison University (B.A., English Literature, 1991); Case Western Reserve University (J.D., 1997). Editor in Chief, Case Western Reserve Law Review, 1996-1997. Author, "On Lemon Squeezers and Locking Devices: Consumer Product Safety and Firearms, A Modest Proposal," Case Western Reserve Law Review, Spring 1997. Practice Areas: Construction Litigation; Commercial Litigation.Email: James T. Dixon
Gregory R. Farkas (Partner) born Cincinnati, Ohio, December 27, 1972; admitted to bar, 1998, Ohio; U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit; U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio. Education: Michigan State University (B.A., with high honors, 1994); University of Michigan (J.D., cum laude, 1997). Phi Beta Kappa. Defense Research Institute. Member: Cleveland Metropolitan and Ohio State Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Litigation; Bankruptcy; Products Liability; Class Action Defense.Email: Gregory R. Farkas
Toni Querry Farkas (Partner) born Painesville, Ohio, March 6, 1972; admitted to bar, 1996, Ohio. Education: Cornell University (B.A., with distinction, 1994; J.D., summa cum laude, 1996). Order of the Coif. Managing Editor, Cornell Law Review, 1995-1996. Member: Ohio State Bar Association; Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association; Defense Research Institute. Practice Areas: Litigation; Products Liability; Business Litigation.Email: Toni Querry Farkas
Ian H. Frank (Partner) born Chardon, Ohio, July 2, 1971; admitted to bar, 1996, Ohio. Education: Baldwin-Wallace College (B.A., magna cum laude, 1993); Cleveland Marshall College of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 1996). Editor, Cleveland State Law Review, 1994-1996. Member: Ohio Contractors Association; American Arbitration Association; Surety Association of Ohio; Associated General Contractors of America; U.S. Green Building Council - Northeast Ohio Chapter. Member: American Bar Association (Member, Forum on the Construction Industry). Practice Areas: Construction Law; Litigation; Products Liability Law.Email: Ian H. Frank
Michael J. Frantz (Partner) born Piqua, Ohio, May 7, 1951; admitted to bar, 1976, Ohio. Education: University of Notre Dame (B.A., magna, cum laude, 1973); Georgetown University (J.D., 1976). Adjunct Lecturer, Labor Relations, Cleveland State University and Oberlin College. Member: American Arbitration Association (Member, Labor Advisory Council). Practice Areas: Labor Law; Litigation and Employment Law; College and University Law; Construction Law; Health Care; ERISA.Email: Michael J. Frantz
Stephen F. Gladstone (Partner) born Chicago, Illinois, December 6, 1950; admitted to bar, 1981, Ohio; 1985, U.S. Supreme Court. Education: Xavier University (A.B., 1972; M.Ed., 1976); Case Western Reserve University (J.D., 1981). Order of the Coif. Practice Areas: Litigation; Health Care; Business Arbitration; Commercial Law; Fraud; Insurance.Email: Stephen F. Gladstone
Carl H. Gluek (Partner) born Kalamazoo, Michigan, August 2, 1959; admitted to bar, 1985, Ohio. Education: Colby College (B.A., 1982); Case Western Reserve University (J.D., 1985). Practice Areas: Labor Law; Employment Law; ERISA; College and University Law.Email: Carl H. Gluek
Patrick F. Haggerty (Partner) born Cleveland, Ohio, August 16, 1955; admitted to bar, 1985, Ohio. Education: McGill University (B.A., 1978); Cleveland-Marshall College of Law (J.D., 1984). Practice Areas: Litigation; Product Liability Law; Construction Law; Insurance.Email: Patrick F. Haggerty
Craig T. Haran (Partner) born Rochester, New York, January 17, 1975; admitted to bar, 2000, Ohio. Education: John Carroll University (B.A., 1997); Case Western Reserve University (J.D., 2000). Member: Cleveland Metropolitan and Ohio State Bar Associations; American Health Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Health Care Fraud; Long Term Care; Health Care Reimbursement; Health Care Facility Regulation; Health Care Mergers and Acquisitions; Integrated Health Care Delivery Systems; Physician Practices; Medical Staff Credentialing; Hospital Risk Management; Hospital Administration; Medical Staff Contracts; Business Law; Public Charities; Nonprofit and Charitable Organizations; Charter School Law; College and University Law.Email: Craig T. Haran
Ralph P. Higgins, Jr. (Partner) born Cleveland, Ohio, May 20, 1955; admitted to bar, 1980, Ohio. Education: University of Notre Dame (B.B.A., 1977; J.D., 1980). Practice Areas: Estate Planning; Federal Estate and Gift Taxation Law; Probate Law; Trust Administration; Trust Law; Wills.Email: Ralph P. Higgins, Jr.
Joel R. Hlavaty (Partner) born Cleveland, Ohio, September 10, 1955; admitted to bar, 1983, Ohio. Education: John Carroll University (B.A., 1977); University of Akron (J.D., 1983). Practice Areas: Labor Law; Employment Law; ERISA; Health Care; OSHA.Email: Joel R. Hlavaty
Christopher G. Keim (Partner) born Cleveland, Ohio, May 19, 1971; admitted to bar, 1996, Ohio; 2002, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio; 2003, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio. Education: The Ohio State University (B.S., 1993); Case Western Reserve University (J.D., 1996). Practice Areas: Litigation; Business Disputes; Trade Secrets/Non-Competition Agreements; Transportation Law; Toxic Torts; Products Liability Litigation.Email: Christopher G. Keim
Brian J. Kelly (Partner) born Stamford, Connecticut, November 5, 1969; admitted to bar, 1994, Ohio; 1995, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit; 2003, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio; 2004, U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of Michigan (B.A., with high distinction, 1991; J.D., cum laude, 1994). Practice Areas: Labor and Employment Law; Litigation.Email: Brian J. Kelly
Christopher C. Koehler (Partner) born Cleveland, Ohio, March 21, 1967; admitted to bar, 1992, Ohio. Education: College of the Holy Cross (B.A., 1989); Case Western Reserve University (J.D., 1992). Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Products Liability; Business Litigation.Email: Christopher C. Koehler
Joseph P. Koncelik (Partner) born Ithaca, New York, May 31, 1968; admitted to bar, 1993, Ohio. Education: The Ohio State University (B.A., 1990; J.D., 1993). Member: Cleveland Metropolitan and Ohio State Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Environmental Law; Government Relations.Email: Joseph P. Koncelik
John F. Kostelnik, III (Partner) born Euclid, Ohio, August 22, 1956; admitted to bar, 1981, Ohio. Education: Miami University (B.S., 1978); Ohio State University (J.D., 1981). Former Law Clerk to U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert J. Sidman. Practice Areas: Bankruptcy; Creditors Rights; Banking Law; Commercial Law; Transactional Law.Email: John F. Kostelnik, III
Hans L. Larsen (Partner) born Casper, Wyoming, December 11, 1959; admitted to bar, 1992, Ohio. Education: United States Naval Academy (B.S., 1982); University of Virginia (J.D., 1992). Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Municipal Law; Financial Transactions; College and University Law; Banking Law; Real Estate.Email: Hans L. Larsen
Maris J. McNamara (Partner) born Buffalo, New York, July 3, 1967; admitted to bar, 1993, Ohio. Education: Canisius College (B.A., 1989); University of Akron (J.D., 1992). Hearing Officer, The Industrial Commission of Ohio. Practice Areas: Labor and Employment Law; Workers' Compensation.Email: Maris J. McNamara
Colleen C. Murnane (Partner) born Lakewood, Ohio, December 30, 1967; admitted to bar, 1995, Ohio. Education: Boston College (B.A., in Political Science, magna cum laude, 1990); The Ohio State University College of Law (J.D., summa cum laude, 1995); Order of the Coif. Practice Areas: Litigation; Consumer Finance; Business Litigation; ERISA Litigation; Products Liability Law.Email: Colleen C. Murnane
Andrew J. Natale (Partner) born Cleveland, Ohio, March 19, 1964; admitted to bar, 1989, Ohio; Ohio State and Federal Courts; 2002, U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Education: University of Dayton (B.A., 1986); University of Cincinnati (J.D., 1989). American Arbitration Association (Member, Panel of Construction Arbitrators and Mediators). Associated General Contractors. Ohio Contractors Association. Construction Employers Association. Member: American Bar Association (Member, Forum on the Construction Industry). Practice Areas: Construction Law and Litigation; Mechanics Lien Law; Bond and Security Law; Insurance Coverage Litigation; General Litigation; Arbitration and Mediation; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Commercial Law; Architects and Engineers Liability Law; Construction Contracts; Construction Claims Management; Scheduling Disputes; Competitive Bid Law.Email: Andrew J. Natale
Bernard H. Niehaus (Partner) born Cleveland, Ohio, January 21, 1930; admitted to bar, 1955, Ohio. Education: John Carroll University (B.S.S., 1952); Western Reserve University (LL.B., 1955). Law Director, Westlake, Ohio, 1978-1986. Practice Areas: Commercial Law; Probate; Real Estate; Taxation; Municipal Law; Corporate Law; Business Law; Estate Planning.Email: Bernard H. Niehaus
James B. Niehaus (Partner) born Lakewood, Ohio, June 24, 1958; admitted to bar, 1983, Ohio. Education: University of Notre Dame (B.A., 1980; J.D., 1983). Contributing Author, Ohio Business Competition Law (Lawyers Coop Publishing 1994). Practice Areas: Antitrust; Trade Regulation; Litigation; Commercial Law; College and University Law; Telecommunications.Email: James B. Niehaus
Debra A. Perelman (Partner) born Cleveland, Ohio, August 29, 1963; admitted to bar, 1989, Texas; 1993, Ohio. Education: Miami University (B.S., Business, cum laude, 1985); Case Western Reserve University (J.D., cum laude, 1988). Member: Cleveland Metropolitan, Ohio State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Corporate Finance; Franchises and Franchising; Joint Ventures; Business Law; Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures; Securities.Email: Debra A. Perelman
Jeffrey A. Perlmuter (Partner) born Cleveland, Ohio, December 23, 1949; admitted to bar, 1975, Ohio; 1978, District of Columbia (inactive). Education: Tulane University (B.A., 1972); American University (J.D., 1975); Georgetown University (LL.M., Taxation, 1978). Member: Cleveland Metropolitan, Columbus, Ohio State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Employee Benefits; Estate Planning; Taxation.Email: Jeffrey A. Perlmuter
M. Neal Rains (Partner) born Burlington, Iowa; admitted to bar, 1968, Ohio. Education: University of Iowa (B.A., 1965); Northwestern University (J.D., 1968). Phi Beta Kappa; Omicron Delta Kappa. Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Antitrust and Business Litigation. Listed in Ohio Super Lawyers. Member: American Inns of Court (Master Bencher and Former President, William K. Thomas Chapter); Cleveland Bar Foundation (Past President); Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (Past Vice President). Fellow: American Bar Foundation. Practice Areas: Litigation; Products Liability; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Business Litigation; Antitrust and Trade Regulation; Business and Commercial Law.Email: M. Neal Rains
Mark L. Rodio (Partner) born Cleveland, Ohio, November 23, 1969; admitted to bar, 1995, Ohio; 1996, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio; 2001, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit; 2002, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio. Education: Case Western Reserve University (B.S., summa cum laude, 1992); University of Pennsylvania Law School (J.D., cum laude, 1995). Member: Ohio State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Construction Litigation; Real Estate Litigation.Email: Mark L. Rodio
Brian E. Roof (Partner) born Cleveland, Ohio, August 24, 1971; admitted to bar, 1999, Ohio; 2000, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio; U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit. Education: University of Notre Dame (B.A., cum laude, 1994); University of Notre Dame Law School (J.D., cum laude, 1999). Board Member and Vice President, Ohio Boys Town, 2000. Member, Class of 2006, Cleveland Bridge Builders. Notre Dame Lawyers' Alumni Committee. Notre Dame Club of Cleveland. Recognized as an "Ohio Super Lawyer Rising Star" by Law & Politics Magazine. Selected as a Fellow in the Trial Lawyer Honorary Society - Litigation Council of America. Linking Employment, Abilities and Potential (LEAP), Member, Board of Trustees, August 2008. Member: Cleveland Metropolitan and Ohio State Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Business Law; Products Liability; Commercial Litigation.Email: Brian E. Roof
Marc A. Sanchez (Partner) born Cleveland, Ohio, May 8, 1966; admitted to bar, 1991, New Hampshire; 1994, Ohio. Education: Duke University (A.B., 1988); Stanford University (J.D., 1991). Board Member, West Side Ecumenical Ministries. Member: Eighth Judicial Conference (Life Member); Hispanic National Bar Association. Practice Areas: Litigation; Construction Law; Insurance Coverage and Defense.Email: Marc A. Sanchez
Michael E. Smith (Partner) born Mantua, Ohio, August 8, 1964; admitted to bar, 1989, Ohio. Education: University of Notre Dame (B.A., magna cum laude, 1986); Case Western Reserve University (J.D., summa cum laude, 1989). Order of the Coif. Practice Areas: Litigation; Commercial Law; Construction; ERISA; Health Care; Products Liability; Telecommunications; Insurance Coverage.Email: Michael E. Smith
Daniel A. Ward (Partner) born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 17, 1952; admitted to bar, 1982, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Education: LaSalle College (B.S., 1978); University of Tulsa (J.D., 1981); New York University (LL.M., in Labor, 1982). Practice Areas: Employment Litigation; OSHA Law; Labor Relations Law; Health and Hospital Care Law; Complex Litigation.Email: Daniel A. Ward
OF COUNSEL
Suzanne Conroy (Of Counsel) born Columbus, Ohio, March 27, 1969; admitted to bar, 1995, Ohio. Education: Ohio University (B.S., 1991); Cleveland-Marshall College of Law (J.D., 1995). Member: Cleveland Metropolitan and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Real Estate; Commercial Leasing; Banking Law.Email: Suzanne Conroy
Michael M. Hughes (Of Counsel) born Cleveland, Ohio, June 21, 1937; admitted to bar, 1962, Ohio; 1964, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio; 1969, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit; 1970, U.S. Supreme Court; 1991, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan; 1982, U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit; 1994, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit;. Education: Georgetown University (B.S., 1959); University of Michigan (J.D., 1962). Order of the Coif. Managing Editor, Michigan Law Review, 1961-1962. Member: International Association of Defense Counsel; Cleveland Association of Civil Trial Attorneys (President, 1968-1969). [Capt., U.S. Army (Artillery), 1962-1964]. Practice Areas: Products Liability Defense; Commercial Litigation; Tort Defense; Insurance Coverage; Professional Liability.Email: Michael M. Hughes
Thomas J. Piatak (Of Counsel) born March 12, 1964; admitted to bar, 1989, Ohio. Education: Case Western Reserve University (B.A., summa cum laude, 1986); University of Michigan (J.D., cum laude, 1989). Member: Ohio State Bar Association. Practice Areas: Employment Law; Litigation; Labor Law; Occupational Safety and Health.Email: Thomas J. Piatak
ASSOCIATES
Kelley J. Barnett (Associate) admitted to bar, 1999, Ohio; U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio. Education: Michigan State University (B.A. magna cum laude, 1995); Case Western Reserve University (J.D., 1999). Practice Areas: Employment Disputes(20%); Products Liability Litigation(20%); General Business Litigation(60%).Email: Kelley J. Barnett
Lindsey A. Carr (Associate) born Cleveland, Ohio, February 14, 1975; admitted to bar, 2001, Ohio; 2007, New York. Education: Northwestern University (B.S., Journalism, 1997); Case Western Reserve University (J.D., magna cum laude, 2001); New York University (LL.M., General Studies and Constitutional Law, 2003). Order of the Coif. Practice Areas: Litigation(100%).Email: Lindsey A. Carr
Jay R. Carson (Associate) born Youngstown, Ohio, December 4, 1969; admitted to bar, 1997, Ohio; 2000, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit; 2001, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio; 2002, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio. Education: Baldwin-Wallace College (B.A., 1992); The Ohio State University (J.D., 1997). Magistrate, Medina County Common Pleas Court, 1999-2000. Law Clerk to The Honorable Alice M. Batchelder, 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Practice Areas: Business Litigation.Email: Jay R. Carson
Aaron S. Evenchik (Associate) born Cleveland, Ohio, July 7, 1976; admitted to bar, 2001, Ohio; 2002, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio; 2009, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio. Education: The Ohio State University (B.S.C.E., 1998; J.D., 2001). Practice Areas: Construction Law; Real Estate.Email: Aaron S. Evenchik
Julie Fenstermaker (Associate) born Warren, Ohio, August 21, 1975; admitted to bar, 2000, Pennsylvania and U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania; 2006, Ohio and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio. Education: Bowling Green State University (B.A., 1997); Ohio State University (J.D., 2000). Member: Cleveland Metropolitan, Ohio State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Intellectual Property Litigation.Email: Julie Fenstermaker
Emily C. Fiftal (Associate) born Omaha, Nebraska, December 23, 1978; admitted to bar, 2004, Ohio. Education: Truman State University (B.A., summa cum laude, 2001); Case Western Reserve University (J.D., magna cum laude, 2004). Order of the Coif. Managing Editor, Law Review, 2003-2004. Member: Cleveland Metropolitan, Ohio State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Labor and Employment(100%).Email: Emily C. Fiftal
Brendan M. Gallagher (Associate) born Cleveland, Ohio, 1979; admitted to bar, 2006, Ohio and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio. Education: Boston College (B.A., cum laude, 2001); Cleveland-Marshall College of Law (J.D., 2006). Practice Areas: Labor and Employment.Email: Brendan M. Gallagher
Jennifer Griveas (Associate) born Cleveland, Ohio, May 31, 1976; admitted to bar, 2005, Ohio. Education: Kent State University (B.A., Journalism, 1998); Cleveland-Marshall College of Law (J.D., 2005). Member: Cleveland Metropolitan, Ohio State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Labor and Employment; Litigation.Email: Jennifer Griveas
Byron J. Horn (Staff Attorney) born Columbus, Ohio, April 27, 1964; admitted to bar, 1989, Ohio. Education: Kenyon College (B.A., 1986); Case Western Reserve University (J.D., 1989). Member: Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association. Practice Areas: Litigation.Email: Byron J. Horn
Lisa M. Jones (Associate) born Cleveland, Ohio, June 28, 1982; admitted to bar, 2007, Ohio. Education: Duke University (A.B., 2004); The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law (J.D., 2007). Recipient: Southern District of Ohio's Federal Bar Association Externship Scholarship; Charles A. Kettlewell Award for Professional Responsibility. Editor-in-Chief, Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law. Member: Cleveland Metropolitan, Ohio State and American Bar Associations; Defense Research Institute. Practice Areas: Labor and Employment.Email: Lisa M. Jones
Melissa A. Jones (Associate) born Youngstown, Ohio, January 19, 1974; admitted to bar, 2002, Ohio. Education: The Ohio State University (B.A., 1996); Cleveland-Marshall College of Law (J.D., 2002); The University of York, United Kingdom (Certificate of Study, 1995). Melissa's practice focuses on construction and collection laws. She represents suppliers, subcontractors, contractors and owners in all phases of construction disputes, advises clients in lien protection and preservation procedures, and is experienced in commercial and residential lien foreclosure claims. Melissa's collections experience includes negotiating effective payment plans, filing and foreclosing judgment liens, and locating, seizing and garnishing assets. Member: American Bar Association; Akron Bar Association; Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association; Ohio State Bar Association. Practice Areas: Litigation; Construction Law; Creditor's Rights.Email: Melissa A. Jones
Kenneth J. Kleppel (Associate) born Garfield Heights, Ohio, August 15, 1979; admitted to bar, 2005, Ohio; 2006, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio; 2007, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit; U.S. District Court, District of Colorado. Education: University of Notre Dame (B.B.A., magna cum laude, 2001; J.D., 2004). Editor-in-Chief, The Journal of College and University Law. Member, Justice For All Committee, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association. Judge Joseph E. Mahoney Award for Outstanding Leadership, Notre Dame Law School, 2004. Member: Cleveland Metropolitan and Ohio State Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Labor and Employment; Higher Education; Litigation; Workers Compensation.Email: Kenneth J. Kleppel
Kelly Summers Lawrence (Associate) born Cleveland, Ohio, June 14, 1975; admitted to bar, 2002, Ohio; 2004, New York. Education: Miami University (B.A., 1997); Cleveland-Marshall College of Law (J.D., 2002). Practice Areas: Labor and Employment(100%).Email: Kelly Summers Lawrence
Nora E. Loftus (Associate) admitted to bar, 2005, Ohio; 2006, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio. Education: Miami University (B.A., 1994); Cleveland-Marshall College of Law (J.D., 2005). Member: Cleveland Metropolitan, Ohio State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Construction Law; General Litigation.Email: Nora E. Loftus
Matthew H. Matheney (Associate) born Zanesville, Ohio, March 23, 1971; admitted to bar, 1998, Ohio. Education: College of Wooster (B.A., 1995); Cleveland-Marshall College of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1998). Law Clerk to the Honorable Marilyn Shea-Stonum, United States Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Ohio. Practice Areas: Bankruptcy; Creditors Rights; Commercial Law; Commercial Lending Transactions; Banking Law.Email: Matthew H. Matheney
Jenifer E. Novak (Staff Attorney) born Ashtabula, Ohio, June 27, 1970; admitted to bar, 1999, Ohio. Education: Kent State University (B.A., 1992); Cleveland-Marshall College of Law (J.D., 1999). Member: Cleveland Metropolitan and Ohio State Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Litigation; Products Liability Law; Insurance Coverage; Insurance Defense.Email: Jenifer E. Novak
Julie L. Pietrzen (Associate) born Southfield, Michigan, March 13, 1974; admitted to bar, 2004, Ohio. Education: Albion College (B.A., 1996); Case Western Reserve University (J.D., 2004). Member: Cleveland Metropolitan, Ohio State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Litigation; Workers Compensation; Labor and Employment.Email: Julie L. Pietrzen
Timothy J. Pillari (Associate) born Cleveland, Ohio, October 10, 1980; admitted to bar, 2008, Ohio. Education: University of Notre Dame (B.A., 2003); University of Notre Dame Law School (J.D., 2008). Member: Cleveland Metropolitan, Ohio State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Health Law; Employment Law; Business Litigation.Email: Timothy J. Pillari
Timothy J. Richards (Associate) born Cleveland, Ohio, October 2, 1976; admitted to bar, 2004, Ohio. Education: Wesleyan University (B.A., Philosophy and Classical Civilization, 1999); The Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law (J.D., with honors, 2004). Practice Areas: Bankruptcy(15%); Litigation(85%).Email: Timothy J. Richards
Adam J. Russ (Associate) born Youngstown, Ohio, June 4, 1980; admitted to bar, 2005, Ohio. Education: University of Notre Dame (B.B.A., Finance, 2002; J.D., 2005). Member: Cleveland Metropolitan, Ohio State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Labor and Employment; Litigation.Email: Adam J. Russ
Philip J. Truax (Associate) born April 1, 1979; admitted to bar, 2005, Ohio and U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio; 2006, Kentucky; 2007, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky; 2008, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio. Education: Ohio University (B.S., 2001); Case Western Reserve University (J.D., cum laude, 2005). Member: Cincinnati, Ohio State, Kentucky and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Construction Law.Email: Philip J. Truax
Steven R. Yoo (Associate) born Cleveland, Ohio, February 10, 1963; admitted to bar, 1990, Ohio. Education: The Ohio State University (B.A., 1985); Cleveland-Marshall College of Law (J.D., 1988). Delta Theta Phi; Order of Barristers. Member: Moot Court Board of Governors; Benton National Moot Court Team. Treasurer, Student Bar Association, 1988. Recipient, The Jeffrey A. Stein Award. Member: Cleveland Metropolitan and Ohio State Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Workers Compensation.Email: Steven R. Yoo