PARTNERS
Andrew J. Art (Partner) born Columbus, Ohio; admitted to bar, 1990, Ohio. Education: Bob Jones University (B.A., 1984); Capital University (J.D., 1990). General Referee (1990-1991) and Special Magistrate, Franklin County Probate Court, Ohio, 1991. Member: Columbus (Member, Admissions Committee, 2003), Ohio State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Probate Law; Estate Planning Law.Email: Andrew J. Art
John W. Bentine (Partner) born Huntington, West Virginia, July 27, 1947; admitted to bar, 1975, Ohio and U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio. Education: Marshall University (B.B.A., 1970); The Ohio State University (J.D., cum laude, 1975). Listed in: Best Lawyers - Communications Law, Energy Law and Municipal Law; Ohio Super Lawyers - Utilities, Energy and Natural Resources, and Government/Cities/Municipalities. Senior Assistant City Attorney, City of Columbus, 1978-1980. Assistant Attorney General and Counsel, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, 1975-1978. Member, Ohio Telecommunications Advisory Board, 1984-1986. Member, Ohio Veterinary Medical Licensing Board, 2004. Member: Columbus (Founding Chairman, Public Utilities Committee, 1993-1994), Ohio State (Chairman, Public Utilities Committee, 1994-1996) and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Regulated Industries; Local Government Law; Mediation; Litigation.Email: John W. Bentine
Donald C. Brey (Partner) born Columbus, Ohio, August 31, 1955; admitted to bar, 1981, Ohio; U.S. District Court, Southern and Northern Districts of Ohio; U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court. Education: Ohio Wesleyan University (B.A., summa cum laude, 1977); Yale University (J.D., 1981). Phi Beta Kappa. Contributor, Ohio Administrative Law Guide and Directory, 1993. Rules Advisory Committee, Supreme Court of Ohio (Member, 1997-2001; Chair, 1999-2000). Judicial Advisory Commission for the Northern District of Ohio, 2009. Listed in: Ohio Super Lawyers; Best Lawyers in America. Member: Columbus and Ohio State Bar Associations; Federalist Society (Member, Free Speech and Election Law and Religious Liberties Practice Groups); Christian Legal Society; National Lawyers Association; American Inns of Court (President, Duncan Chapter, 1998-1999). Practice Areas: Election Law; Litigation; Civil Practice; Administrative Law; Government Ethics; Legal Ethics.Email: Donald C. Brey
David J. Butler (Partner) born Columbus, Ohio, May 30, 1972; admitted to bar, 1997, Ohio, U.S. District Court, Southern and Northern Districts of Ohio; 1998, U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of Notre Dame (B.B.A., cum laude, 1994; J.D., cum laude, 1997). Listed, "Ohio Rising Star," Law & Politics. Member: Columbus, Ohio State, Federal and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation.Email: David J. Butler
James J. Chester (Partner) born Columbus, Ohio, April 22, 1962; admitted to bar, 1987, Ohio and U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit; 1988, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio; 1994, Wyoming. Education: Amherst College (B.A., cum laude, 1984); Case Western Reserve University (J.D., 1987). Member and Chairman, City of Columbus License Appeals Board, 1990. Member: Columbus, Ohio State and American Bar Associations; American Judicature Society. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Business Law; Real Estate Law; Motor Vehicle Auction, Dealer and Title Law.Email: James J. Chester
John J. Chester (Partner) born Columbus, Ohio, July 13, 1920; admitted to bar, 1948, Ohio. Education: Amherst College (B.A., cum laude, 1942); Yale Law School (J.D., 1948); Capital University (Honorary LL.D.). Adjunct Professor, Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law. Listed: Best Lawyers, Business Litigation; Ohio Super Lawyers, General Litigation. Representative, Ohio General Assembly, 1953-1958. Special Counsel to the President of the United States, 1974. Member: Columbus (Recipient, Professionalism Award, 2000), Ohio State (Recipient, Ohio State Bar Foundation Honorary Life Fellowship Award, 2006) and American (Member, Sections of General Practice; Litigation) Bar Associations; American Judicature Society; American Board of Trial Advocates. Fellow: American College of Trial Lawyers. [Lt. USNR, 1942-1946]. Practice Areas: General Civil Law; Trial Practice.Email: John J. Chester
John J. Chester, Jr. (Partner) born Columbus, Ohio, June 9, 1960; admitted to bar, 1989, Ohio. Education: Ohio State University (B.A., 1983); Capital University (J.D., 1989). Member: Columbus, Ohio State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Real Estate Law; Litigation.Email: John J. Chester, Jr.
Scott M. Doran (Partner) born Trenton, New Jersey, June 13, 1957; admitted to bar, 1986, Ohio; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio. Education: Miami University (B.A., 1979; M.S., 1983); University of Cincinnati (J.D., 1986). Member: Developer's Committee, Building Industry Association of Central Ohio; Executive Committee, Ohio Home Builders Association; National Home Builders Association; Board of Trustees, Ohio Wetlands Foundation. Member: Columbus and Ohio State (Member, Environmental Law Committee) Bar Associations. Fellow: Columbus Bar Foundation. Practice Areas: Environmental Law.Email: Scott M. Doran
Kenneth A. Fisher, Jr. (Partner) born Lima, Ohio, June 23, 1966; admitted to bar, 1995, Ohio; 1997, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio and U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit. Education: The Ohio State University (B.S., Architecture, 1990); Capital University Law School (J.D., 1995). Order of the Curia. Recipient: American Jurisprudence Award for Business Associations; Harter Award for Academic Achievement; Student Bar Association's Student Service Award. Published Member, Capital University Law Review. Registered Architect, Ohio, 1995. Member: Columbus, Ohio State and American Bar Associations; American Institute of Architects. [Ohio Air National Guard, 1985-1991]. Practice Areas: Construction Law.Email: Kenneth A. Fisher, Jr.
Stephen C. Fitch (Chair, Litigation Department) born Portsmouth, Ohio, September 18, 1948; admitted to bar, 1973, Ohio and U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio; 1977, U.S. Supreme Court; 1978, U. S. Court of Appeals, Sixth, Eighth and Tenth Circuits. Education: Ohio State University (B.A., 1970; J.D., 1973). Listed in: Best Lawyers, Business Litigation; Ohio Super Lawyers, Business Litigation; Chambers USA, General Commercial Litigation. Assistant Ohio Attorney General, 1973-1979. Member: Columbus (Member, Board of Governors, 1989-1996; President, 1994-1995), Ohio State (Member, Council of Delegates, 1990-2006), Federal (Member, Columbus Chapter) and American (Member, Litigation Section) Bar Associations; American College of Trial Lawyers. Fellow: Columbus Bar Foundation (Member, Board of Trustees, 1996-2005; President, 2003-2004). Reported Cases: State of Ohio v. Herbert, 49 Ohio St. 2d 88 (1976); Ohio v. Kentucky, 444 U.S. 335 (1980); Schrand v. Federal Pacific Electric, 851 F. 2d 152 (1988); Columbus Credit Company v. Evans, 82 Ohio App. 3d 798 (1992); Energy Marketing Services v. Homer Laughlin China Co., 186 F.R.D. 369 (1999), aff'd. 2000 WL 1276751; Commerce Energy v. Levin, 554 F.3d 1094 (2009). Practice Areas: Litigation; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Professional Conduct.Email: Stephen C. Fitch
Gerhardt A. Gosnell II (Partner) born Saginaw, Michigan, November 4, 1967; admitted to bar, 1995, Ohio; U.S. District Court, Southern and Northern Districts of Ohio; U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court. Education: Capital University (B.A., summa cum laude, 1990); Ohio State Law School (J.D., summa cum laude, 1995). Law Clerk to Hon. Judge Cynthia Lazarus, Tenth Judicial District, Ohio Court of Appeals, 1997-2001. Listed, "Ohio Rising Star," Law & Politics magazine. Contributing Editor, Tort Law Journal of Ohio (2006-2007). Member: Columbus, Ohio State, Federal and American Bar Associations; American Inns of Court, Franklin Inn. Practice Areas: Litigation; Appellate Practice.Email: Gerhardt A. Gosnell II
J. Anthony Kington (Partner) born Cleveland, Ohio, December 13, 1953; admitted to bar, 1980, Ohio. Education: Columbus International College (A.A., 1974); The Ohio State University (B.A., 1977; J.D., 1979). Listed in: Best Lawyers in America, Corporate Law; Ohio Super Lawyers, Corporate Law. Member: Columbus (Member and Past Chairman: Estate and Gift Tax Subcommittee), Ohio State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Real Estate Law; Federal Income Tax Law; Estate and Gift Tax Law.Email: J. Anthony Kington
Pamela Straughan Krivda (Partner) born Morgantown, West Virginia, January 6, 1954; admitted to bar, 1988, Ohio and U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio; U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit. Education: Ohio State University (B.A., 1974); Capital University (J.D., 1988). Recipient, Dean's Outstanding Student Award, 1988. Listed in Ohio Super Lawyers. Editor-in-Chief, Capital University Law Review, 1987-1988. Judicial Clerk, Hon. Mark R. Abel, U.S. Judge Magistrate, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, 1998-1990. Adjunct Professor of Legal Writing, The Ohio State University, 1989-1990. Principal, Krivda Law Offices, LLC, 1998-2009. EEOC Pro Bono Mediation Panel. Partner, Habash Reasoner & Frazier, 1996-1998. Formerly with Hahn Loeser & Parks, 1990-1996. Director of Human Resources, Employment and Compensation, The Dispatch Printing Company (The Columbus Dispatch), 1987-1997. Member: Columbus and Ohio State (Chair, 2008-2010, Program Chair, 2007 and 2008; Program Chair, Midwest Labor Law Conference, 2007 and 2008, Member, CLE Advisory Committee, 2007 and Member, Future of the Profession Advisory Committee, 2007, Labor and Employment Committee) Bar Associations; Ohio Management Lawyers Associations. (Certified Specialist in Labor and Employment Law, Ohio State Bar Association). Practice Areas: Labor Law; Employment Relations Law; Litigation.Email: Pamela Straughan Krivda
Eugene B. Lewis (Partner) born Columbus, Ohio, September 8, 1957; admitted to bar, 1982, Ohio; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio. Education: Wittenberg University (B.A., 1979); University of Cincinnati (J.D., 1982). Listed in: Best Lawyers, Family Law; Ohio Super Lawyers, Family Law. Member: Columbus, Ohio State and American Bar Associations. (Certified Specialist in Family Relations Law, Ohio State Bar Association). Practice Areas: General Civil Practice; Litigation; Family Law.Email: Eugene B. Lewis
James V. Maniace (Partner) born Lima, Ohio, 1956; admitted to bar, 1981, Ohio; 1983, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio; 1984, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit. Education: University of Notre Dame (B.A., Economics, with honors, 1978); Duke University School of Law (J.D., 1981). President, Central Ohio Land Title Underwriters, 1996; Author, "Avoiding Copyright Infringement in a Multi-Vendor Environment," The Newsletter of the Federal Bar Association's Corporate and Association Counsel's Division, Vol. 4, No. 3, September, 1999; Chairman, City of Columbus, Board of Zoning Adjustment, 1998; Past President, Columbus Metropolitan Club, 2001; Board of Directors, Columbus Rotary, 2007; Presenter, National Pattern Jury Instructions Conference, "Copyright Issues in Electronic and Print Publishing of Pattern Jury Instructions." April 18, 2008. Member: Columbus and Ohio State Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Real Estate; Business Law; Information Technology.Email: James V. Maniace
Sarah D. Morrison (Partner) born Lufkin, Texas, November 12, 1970; admitted to bar, 1997, Ohio; 1998, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio and U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit. Education: Ohio State University (B.A., 1992); Capital University Law School (J.D., magna cum laude, 1997). Order of the Curie. Staff, 1995-1996 and Associate Editor, 1996-1997, Capital University Law Review. Listed, "Ohio Rising Star," Law & Politics magazine. Member: Columbus, Ohio State, Federal (President, Columbus, Ohio Chapter, 2008-2009) and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Litigation; Elections Law; Legislative Practice.Email: Sarah D. Morrison
Craig B. Paynter (Partner) born Detroit, Michigan, February 19, 1957; admitted to bar, 1982, Ohio; 1983, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio; 1984, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit; 1993, U.S. Supreme Court. Education: Denison University (B.A., 1979); University of Akron (J.D., 1982). Listed, Ohio Super Lawyers. Member, The University of Akron Law Review, 1981-1982. Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, 1983-1987. Special Counsel to Ohio Attorney General. Former Hearing Examiner, Ohio Department of Commerce. Member: Columbus (Chairman, Construction Law Committee, 2002-2004), Ohio State and American (Member, Forum on the Construction Industry) Bar Associations. Reported Cases: Metz v. Ohio Dept. of Human Services (2001) 145 Ohio App. 3d 304; GTE Wireless of the Midwest Inc. v. Anderson Township (1999), 134 Ohio App. 3d 352; Chambers v. Stevenson (1991) 71 Ohio App. 3d 566 - Co-Counsel; Jones v. Franklin County Sheriff (1990), 52 Ohio St; 3d 40 - Trial Counsel; Beeler v. Franklin County Sheriff (1990), 67 Ohio App. 3d 748 - Trial Counsel. Practice Areas: Construction Law(70%); Government(20%); Employment Law(10%).Email: Craig B. Paynter
Frank A. Ray (Partner) born Lafayette, Indiana, January 30, 1949; admitted to bar, 1973, Ohio; 1975, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio; 1976, U.S. Supreme Court; 1977, U.S. Tax Court and U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit; 1980, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio; 1983, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan; 1987, U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit. Education: The Ohio State University (B.A., 1970; J.D., 1973). Recipient, National Award of Distinctive Service, National District Attorneys Association, 1977; Professionalism Award, Columbus Bar Association, 1997. Co-Author: Personal Injury Litigation Practice in Ohio, National Business Institute, Inc., 1988, 1991. Board of Editors, Manual for Complex Litigation, 4th Ed.Federal Judicial Center, 2004. Adjunct Professor, Moritz College of Law, The Ohio State University, 2002. Director: Economic Crime Unit, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Franklin County, Ohio, 1973-1975; Economic Crime Project, National District Attorneys Association, Washington, D.C., 1975-1976. Chief Counsel, Civil Division, Office of the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney, 1976-1977, 1978. Associate: Brownfield, Kosydar, Bowen, Bally & Sturtz, 1977-1978; Michael F. Colley Co., L.P.A., 1979-1983. Owner: Frank A. Ray Co., L.P.A., 1983-1993 and 1998-2005; Ray & Todaro Co., L.P.A., 1993-1994; Ray, Todaro & Alton Co., L.P.A., 1994-1996; Ray, Todaro, Alton & Kirstein Co., L.P.A., 1996-1997; Ray, Alton & Kirstein Co., L.P.A., 1997-1998. Member: Columbus (President, 2001-2002), Ohio State (Board of Editors, Jury Instructions Committee, 2003-2007), American (Member, Special Committee on Economic Crime, Criminal Justice Section, 1976-1977) Bar Associations; Franklin County Trial Lawyers Association (President, 1987-1988); Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers (President, 1989-1990); The Association of Trial Lawyers of America (State Delegate, Ohio, 1990-1992); American Inns of Court (President, Robert M. Duncan Chapter, 1992-1993); American Board of Trial Advocates (Ohio Chapter, President, 2004); Million Dollar Advocates Forum; Board of Bar Examiners, Ohio Supreme Court, 1992-1995; Rules Advisory Committee, Ohio Supreme Court, 1995-1999. Fellow: American College of Trial Lawyers; Roscoe Pound Foundation; Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers; Ohio State Bar Foundation; Columbus Bar Foundation (President, 2009-2010); International Society of Barristers. [Captain, U.S. Army, 1970-1976]. (Certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy). Practice Areas: Personal Injury; Negligence; Products Liability; Business Litigation; Insurance Coverage.Email: Frank A. Ray
Charles R. Saxbe (Managing Partner) born Urbana, Ohio, November 2, 1946; admitted to bar, 1975, Ohio; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio; U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court. Education: Southern Methodist University (B.A., 1969); The Ohio State University (J.D., 1975). Phi Delta Phi. Listed in, Best Lawyers - Business Litigation. Designated as one of the "Top 100 Ohio Super Lawyers". Member, Ohio House of Representatives, 1975-1982. Member: Columbus, Champaign County, Ohio State and American Bar Associations. Fellow: Columbus Bar Foundation. [Capt., USMC, 1969-1972]. Practice Areas: Litigation; General Law; Legislative Practice.Email: Charles R. Saxbe
Elizabeth M. Stanton (Partner) born Lansdale, Pennsylvania, April 12, 1947; admitted to bar, 1979, Texas; 1980, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 1982, Ohio; 1983, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio; 1986, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit; 1990, U.S. Supreme Court; 1992, U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit; 2009, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio. Education: Drexel University (B.S., Bus. Ad., 1969); University of Houston (J.D., magna cum laude, 1979). Phi Kappa Phi; Beta Gamma Sigma; Alpha Sigma Alpha. Member, Barons Scholastic Honor Society. Member: Columbus (Chair, Labor and Employment Law Section, 1996-1998), Ohio State (Vice-Chair, Advertizing Task Force, 2008-2009; Chair, State and Local Government Committee, 2004-2005; Chair, Government, Education and Construction Law Committee, 2003-2004) and American (Member, Labor and Employment Law Section) Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas; Ohio Women's Bar Association (Founding Member; Board Member, 1994-1997); National Association of Women Lawyers; Women Lawyers of Franklin County, Inc. (Treasurer, 1989-1990; Board Member, 1990-1992); Ohio Management Lawyers Association. (Certified Specialist in Labor and Employment Law, Ohio State Bar Association). Practice Areas: Labor and Employment Law; University Law; Annexation; Civil Trial and Appellate Practice; Mediation; Zoning Law.Email: Elizabeth M. Stanton
Elizabeth J. Watters (Partner) born Columbus, Ohio, July 3, 1965; admitted to bar, 1990, Connecticut; 1991, Ohio, New York and District of Columbia; 1992, U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit; U.S. District Courts, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, District of Connecticut, Southern and Northern Districts of Ohio. Education: The Ohio State University (B.A., cum laude, 1987; J.D., 1990). Phi Kappa Phi. Managing Editor, Ohio State Law Journal, 1988-1990. Member, National Council, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, 1993. Past President, OSU College of Law Alumni Society. Past President, Women Lawyers of Franklin County. Board of Trustees, Equal Justice Foundation, 2004. Member: Columbus (President, 2009-2010; Board of Governors, 2003; Chair; Notary Committee; Past Chair, Common Pleas Court Committee; Judicial Screening Committee, 2000-2002; Ethics Committee, 20052007; Sustaining Member), Ohio State (Council of Delegates, 2006), Federal and American Bar Associations. Fellow: Columbus Bar Foundation; Ohio State Bar Foundation. Practice Areas: Litigation; General Civil Law; Employment Law; Bankruptcy Law.Email: Elizabeth J. Watters
Todd A. Weber (Partner) born Woodsfield, Ohio, April 6, 1971; admitted to bar, 1996, Ohio; 1998, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio. Education: Wake Forest University (B.S., 1993); Capital University Law School (J.D., 1996). Member: Columbus (Chairman, Estate and Gift Tax Subcommittee, 2006-2007), Ohio State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Corporate; Estate Planning; Taxation.Email: Todd A. Weber
Geoffrey E. Webster (Chairman Health Care Practice) born Dalhart, Texas, January 19, 1948; admitted to bar, 1975, Ohio and U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio; 1978, U.S. Supreme Court; 1984, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit. Education: Ohio State University (B.S., 1970); Capital University (J.D., magna cum laude, 1975). Order of the Coif; Archons. Member, Office of the Attorney General, 1971-1976. Member, Victorian Village Commission, 1985. Member, Alumni Board of Trustees, Delta Chi Fraternity, Ohio State Chapter, 1990-1999. Elder, Liberty Presbyterian Church, 1994-2004;. Development Board, Catholic Social Services, Columbus, Ohio, 1997-2000. Member, Development Board, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, 2000-2004. Participant, Oxford Round Table, Oxford University, U.K., April, 2001. Member: Columbus, Ohio State and American Bar Associations; American Health Lawyers Association. [U.S. Army Reserves, 1970-1976]. Reported Cases: In Re Wedgewood Health Care Realty, LLC (2008),176 Ohio App. 3d 554, General Medicine, PC v. Morning View Care Centers (S D Ohio 2006), 477 F. Supp 858; Koski v. Willowwood Care Ctr. of Brunswick (2004), 158 Ohio App. 3d 248; Ohio Academy of Nursing Homes, Inc. v. Barry (1994), 71 Ohio St. 3d 5; Ohio Academy of Nursing Homes, Inc. v. Barry (1990), 56 Ohio St. 3d 120; Elder v. Fischer (1998), 129 Ohio App. 3d 209; Drake Center Inc. v. Department of Human Services (1998), 125 Ohio App. 3d 678; In re St. John Medical Center (1993), 91 Ohio App. 3d, 310, 632NE 2d 595; In re Deaconess Hospital (1992), 83 Ohio App. 3d 1, 613NE 2d 1049; Buckeye Quality Care Centers, Inc. v. Fletcher (1988), 48 Ohio App. 3d 150, m. to certify den'd., 39 Ohio St. 2d 703; State ex rel. Avon Convalescent Center v. Bates (1976), 45 Ohio St. 2d 53; Westchester Management Corp. v. HHS (CA 6, 1991), 948 F. 2d 279; State Bd. of Pharmacy v. Weinstein (1987), 33 Ohio Misc. 2d 25. Practice Areas: Health Care; Long Term Care; Health Care Mergers and Acquisitions; Health Care Facility Licensing; Health Care Facility Regulation; Health Care Administration; Contracts and Finance.Email: Geoffrey E. Webster
Roderick H. Willcox (Partner) born Columbus, Ohio, January 10, 1934; admitted to bar, 1958, Ohio. Education: Williams College (B.A., 1955); University of Michigan (LL.B., 1958). Listed in Best Lawyers in America - Corporate Law, Trusts and Estates (2001-). Member: Columbus, Ohio State and American (Member, Sections on: Business Law; Taxation) Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Estate and Gift Taxation; Business Law; Real Estate Law.Email: Roderick H. Willcox
Mark S. Yurick (Partner) born Akron, Ohio, 1962; admitted to bar, 1987, Ohio; 1988, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio; 1990, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio; 1990, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit; 1992, U.S. Supreme Court; 1994, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit; 1999, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. Education: University of Akron (B.S., cum laude, 1984); University of Cincinnati (J.D., 1987). Fellow, Ohio State Bar Foundation. Member: Warren County, Columbus, Cincinnati, Ohio State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Electric Power; Natural Gas; Water Law; Water Rights; Local Government Law; Litigation; Constitutional Law.Email: Mark S. Yurick
ASSOCIATES
James D. Abrams (Associate) born Stockton, California, May 18, 1945; admitted to bar, 2003, Ohio; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio; U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit; 2006, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia; 2007, U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio. Education: San Francisco State University (B.A., 1967); California State University (M.B.A., 1973); Capital University Law School (J.D., summa cum laude, 2003). Phi Alpha Delta. Member, Law Review. Certified Public Accountant, California. Author: A Missed Opportunity: Medical Use of Marijuana is Defensible. Case Note: U.S. v. Oakland Cannabis, Capital U.L.R. 31 Vol. 4. Member: Columbus, Ohio State, American and Federal Bar Associations; American Inns of Court. Fellow: Columbus Bar Foundation. [E-5, U.S. Army, 1968-1970]. Practice Areas: Litigation; Commercial Litigation.Email: James D. Abrams
Clint B. Charnes (Associate) born Beech Grove, Indiana; admitted to bar, 2001, Illinois; 2007, Ohio; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio, Northern District of Illinois and Northern District of Indiana; U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; Supreme Court of Illinois. Education: Indiana University (B.A., cum laude, 1995); Valparaiso University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2001). Member: Columbus, Ohio State and Federal Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Complex Litigation; Construction Litigation; Insurance Coverage.Email: Clint B. Charnes
Chad A. Endsley (Associate) born Coshocton, Ohio, 1980; admitted to bar, 2006, Ohio; 2007, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth and U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio. Education: Ohio State University (B.S., cum laude, 2003); Moritz College of Law, The Ohio State University (J.D., 2006). Trustee, Kiwanis Club of Columbus (Former Student Trustee), The Ohio State University. Member: Columbus, Ohio State, Federal and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Business Transactions; Real Estate; Estate Planning; Civil Litigation.Email: Chad A. Endsley
Eric B. Hershberger (Associate) born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; admitted to bar, 1991, Ohio; 1994, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio; 1996, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit; 2002, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio. Education: Miami University (B.A., 1988); The Ohio State University (J.D., 1991). Lead Counsel, Ohio State University College of Law National Mock Trial Team, 1991. Member: Columbus and Ohio State Bar Associations. Reported Cases: Medcorp, Inc. v. Ohio Dept. of Job & Family Servs., 121 Ohio St.3d 622, 2009-Ohio-2058; HCMC, Inc. v. Ohio Dept. of Job & Family Servs., 179 Ohio App.3d 707, 2008-Ohio-6223; Ohio Academy of Nursing Homes v. Ohio Dept. of Job & Family Servs., 114 Ohio St.3d 14, 2007-Ohio-2620; CommuniCare, Inc. v. Wood Cty. Bd. of Commrs., 161 Ohio App.3d 84, 2005-Ohio-2348; Koski v. Willowwood Care Ctr. of Brunswick, Inc., 158 Ohio App.3d 248, 2004-Ohio-2668; McKee v. Gilg (1994), 96 Ohio App.3d 764, 645 N.E.2d 1320; Rinehart v. W. Local School Dist. Bd. of Edn. (1993), 87 Ohio App.3d 214, 621 N.E.2d 1365; General Medicine, P.C. v. Morning View Care Centers, 477 F.Supp.2d 858 (S.D.Ohio,2006); MeadowWood Nursing Home v. U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, 364 F.3d 786 (6th Circ. 2004); Woodstock Care Center v. Thompson, 161 F.Supp.2d 813 (S.D.Ohio,2001), aff'd 363 F.3d 583 (6th Circ., 2003). Practice Areas: Business Litigation; Insurance Defense.Email: Eric B. Hershberger
Christina Hultsch (Associate) born Meiningen, Germany, 1972; admitted to bar, 2008, Ohio; Germany (inactive). Education: University of Dresden (First State Examination, with distinction, 1997); Dresden, Germany (Second State Examination, 1999); University of Dresden (Ph.D., Comparative Bankruptcy Law, magna cum laude, 2006). Member: Columbus, Ohio State, and American Bar Associations. Languages: English, German, Danish. Practice Areas: Workers Compensation; Health Care Litigation.Email: Christina Hultsch
Jessica A. Mager (Associate) born Westerville, Ohio, 1974; admitted to bar, 2001, Ohio; 2004, California; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio; U.S. District Court, Southern District of California. Education: Bowling Green State University (B.S., Criminal Justice, 1996); Capital University (J.D., 2001). Order of Curie. Recipient, Young Alumnus of the Year, Capital University Law School, 2007. Author: "Social Security Benefits - Clarified by the Supreme Court," Columbus Bar Briefs, April 2005; "Fear of Financial Hardship: How the economy impacts divorce" Columbus CEO, July 2009. Practice Areas: Family Law; General Practice; Civil Litigation; Real Estate; Criminal Defense.Email: Jessica A. Mager
Lark T. Mallory (Associate) born Warren, Ohio, July 9, 1969; admitted to bar, 1998, Maryland; 1999, District of Columbia; 2005, Ohio. Education: Ohio State University (B.S.B.A., 1991); Ohio State University College of Law (J.D., 1997); University of Florida College of Law, Graduate Tax Program (LL.M., 1998). Practice Areas: Tax Law; Closely Held Business Law; Nonprofit and Charitable Organizations; Nonprofit Tax Law; Tax Exempt Organizations.Email: Lark T. Mallory
Nathaniel S. Orosz (Associate) born Poland, Ohio, October 2, 1978; admitted to bar, 2004, Ohio and U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit; 2005, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio. Education: The Ohio State University (B.A., cum laude, 2001); The Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law (J.D., with honors, 2004). Phi Alpha Delta. Recipient, Moritz Leadership Award, 2004. Member: Columbus (Chair, Environmental Law Committee, 2008) and Ohio State Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Environmental Law; Litigation; Energy.Email: Nathaniel S. Orosz
Joseph C. Pickens (Associate) born Cleveland, Ohio; admitted to bar, 2003, Ohio; 2006, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio; 2007, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit. Education: Duke University (B.A., Environmental Science and Policy, 1995); Ohio State University (J.D., 2002). Member: Columbus, Ohio State, American and Federal Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Construction Law; Domestic Relations.Email: Joseph C. Pickens
J. Randall Richards (Associate) born Gallipolis, Ohio, June 30, 1961; admitted to bar, 1993, Ohio; 1995, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio. Education: Ohio Wesleyan University (B.A., 1983); Capital University Law and Graduate Center (J.D., cum laude, 1993). Order of the Curia. Member, (1991-1992) and Articles Editor (1992-1993), Capital University Law Review. Coordinator, Marketing Administration, United HealthCare Corporation of Ohio, Inc. (1988-1993); Law Clerk, The Honorable J. Craig Wright, The Supreme Court of Ohio (1993-1994). Member: Columbus, Ohio State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Health Care; Health Care Regulation; Patients Rights; Health Care Reimbursement.Email: J. Randall Richards
Deborah Scott (Associate) born Barberton, Ohio; admitted to bar, 2005, Ohio; 2006, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio; 2007, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit. Education: Cedarville College (B.A., 1997); Capital University (J.D, cum laude, 2005). Member: Columbus, Ohio State, Federal and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation.Email: Deborah Scott
Janica Pierce Tucker (Associate) born Dayton, Ohio, July 26, 1977; admitted to bar, 2002, Ohio. Education: University of Tennessee at Knoxville (B.A., 1999); The Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law (J.D., 2002). Member, Golden Key International Honor Society. Member: Columbus and Ohio State Bar Associations; Central Ohio Association for Justice (Director); Women Lawyers of Franklin County (President). Practice Areas: Personal Injury; Intentional Torts; Products Liability; Contracts; Wrongful Death; Business Litigation; Commercial Litigation.Email: Janica Pierce Tucker
Matthew S. White (Associate) born Charleston, West Virginia; admitted to bar, 2007, Ohio. Education: Ohio University (B.A., 2002) Phi Beta Kappa; College of William & Mary, (J.D., 2007). Member: Columbus and Ohio State Bar Association (Public Utilities Committee, New Lawyer Section).Email: Matthew S. White
OF COUNSEL
Leon D. Bass (Attorney At Law) born Cincinnati, Ohio; admitted to bar, 1998, Ohio; 1999, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio. Education: Michigan State University (B.A., 1995); The Ohio State University (J.D., 1998). Leon Bass has also worked with (in various capacities) Ohio Attorney General, Dean Nancy Rogers (Ohio State University College of Law), Rhino Records, Legal and Business Affairs, Famous Music Publishing Company, Legal Affairs, Los Angeles (a former subsidiary of Viacom/Paramount Pictures/MTV,VHI/CBS and now Sony), MCI WorldCom Advanced Networks, Hilliard, OH, Summers, Anthony & Vargas, Columbus, OH, Whee 3 Freedom Festival, and the Columbus Community Festival (ComFest). Representative clients include small to large businesses in various industries with a concentration of clients in the music, entertainment, real estate, and construction industries including concert venues, record labels, publishing companies, booking agents, managers, artists, film producers, construction companies, real estate developers, and condominium associations. Clients have included: General Businesses: Stillwater Asset Management Fund (large New York hedge fund), Innovative Beverage Group, Cumberland Trail Condominium Association, Yearling Green Apartments, Stone Creek Condominium Association, Feazel Roofing, Real Living, Inc., Able Roofing, Parking Solutions, Inc, and Hull Pottery Association Concert Venues, Agencies & Promoters: Buckeye Lake Music Center (AKA Legend Valley, a 40,000 plus capacity concert venue), Walther Productions (major East Coast concert promoter), Ashley Talent (major international booking agency) National Bands and National Tours, & Festivals: Quiet Riot, Dark Star Orchestra, Fatty Koo, The All Good Festival, Rock Never Stops (nationwide tour), and Columbus Community Festival (ComFest). Record Labels: Harmonized Records, Nilaihah Records, and Desert Dreams Productions In addition, Leon Bass is also the Founder of the Greater Columbus Music Awards and founder of a personal management company for recording artists, and a co-found of Columbus Music in the Round. He also was an instructor of First Aid, CPR, water safety and swimming, a production assistant at PromoWest Productions; a music coordinator for religious school. Mr. Bass is a member of Capital Square Rotary Club. In his free time he is an amateur Underwater Photographer (see Wetpicsphoto.com). plays guitar and mandolin in a bluegrass/rock band, and he is president of the Capitol Square Rotary Club, through which he has recently traveled to Kenya, Africa to assist an orphanage, produced several charity concerts, and assisted in a plethora of other community and international service projects and charity events.
Successful defense of trademark infringement and USPTO opposition proceedings brought by large corporation in federal district court (Texas) against business client. Obtained judgment in favor of client invalidating Plaintiff's long owned and well known industry specific registered trademark, receiving national trade press. Successfully obtained dismissal in defense of multi-million dollar breach of concert promotion agreement for US national tour for Quiet Riot, Ted Nugent, Night Ranger, and Slaughter. Successfully defended multiple law suits for copyright infringement and breach of contract by national recording artist against our record label client. Representing a large concert venue in corporate matters and in civil breach of contract, fraud and conspiracy case. Member: Columbus (Member, Sports and Entertainment Small Firms/Solo Practitioner Committees), Ohio State (Vice-Chair, Sports and Entertainment Law Committee; Member, Sections on: Corporate; Real Estate; Solo; Small Firms; General Practice Committee) and American (Member, Recording Academy; Member: Sections on: Business Law; Intellectual Property; Sports and Entertainment Law) Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Entertainment and the Arts; Business; Corporate; Trademark; Copyright; Civil Litigation.Email: Leon D. Bass
William B. Saxbe (Of Counsel) born Mechanicsburg, Ohio, June 24, 1916; admitted to bar, 1948, Ohio (inactive); 1976, District of Columbia. Education: The Ohio State University (B.A., 1940; LL.B., 1948). Member, Ohio House of Representatives, 1947-1954. Majority Leader, 1951-1952; Speaker, 1953-1954; Ohio Attorney General, 1957-1958; 1963-1968. U.S. Senator, 1969-1974. U.S. Attorney General, 1974-1975. U.S. Ambassador to India, 1975-1977.