Local Lawyers Super Attorneys 2019

JANUARY 25, 2019

CJN.ORG | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | 33

LOCAL LAWYERS - SUPER ATTORNEYS

Local Lawyers Super Attorneys

A Cleveland Jewish News Special Section

34 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG

JANUARY 25, 2019

THE FUTURE BEGINS TODAY.

A Law Firm Built for Business.

Kudos to the KJK attorneys who were named to the 2019 lists of Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.

SAMIR DAHMAN

CONGRATULATIONS!

ROBERT GILMORE

ARI JAFFE

Chair Employment & Labor

LAURA ENGLEHART Business/ Corporate

Rising Stars Honoree

JUSTINE KONICKI Business Litigation

Managing Partner Business/ Corporate

JIM SAMMON

Employment & Labor

Family Law

Co-Chair Family Law

JON PINNEY

Business/ Corporate

ALAN RAUSS

JOHN RAMSEY

SARAH GABINET

Business Litigation

BRETT KRANTZ

Business Litigation

LOCAL LAWYERS

SUSAN SCHEUTZOW

Business Litigation

ALEXIS PRESKAR Business Litigation

Chair Health Care

MELISSA YASINOW Business Litigation

Cleveland Office:

Columbus Office:

1375 East Ninth Street One Cleveland Center, 29th Floor Cleveland, Ohio 44114 216.696.8700

10 West Broad Street One Columbus Center, Suite 1900 Columbus, Ohio 43215 614.427.5731

SUPER ATTORNEYS

CJN.ORG | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | 35

JANUARY 25, 2019

Mentoring talent pays dividends for law firms BECKY RASPE | SPECIAL SECTIONS STAFF REPORTER @BeckyRaspeCJN braspe@cjn.org |

M

entoring is a common practice in many professional fields, especially law.

According to Andy Colón, chief talent officer at Thompson Hine LLP, in Washington, D.C., serving all the firm’s markets, including Cleveland, and Jennifer Slife, professional development consultant at Buckingham, Doolittle and Burroughs, LLC in Akron, it’s important for firms to have robust mentoring programs.

“It is important to provide associates with a well-rounded support system for their success within our firm, the community and their personal lives,” Slife said. “Associates are assigned supervising attorneys, partners with whom they work, a practice group leader and office partner-in-charge whom all offer leadership and support.”

She said associates are also given a general mentor who is separate from their day-to-day workflow. This offers associates a varied perspective outside of their practice.

“The mentoring program helps to keep the focus on meeting the needs of the associates as they develop in their careers,” Slife added.

Colón added, “(Mentoring programs) are

important because to be a successful lawyer in today’s legal landscape, you need certain skills to deal with the changing expectations of the field. Law schools do teach those skills to some extent, but firms play a large role in that as well.”

At Thompson Hine, Colón said young attorneys take part in a four-stage mentoring program. The first stage is for summer associates who are paired with more seasoned attorneys, who teach them about the firm and the practice.

“When they join as an entry-level attorney, they will be assigned another mentor,” Colón explained. “What we do there is assign someone for at least a period of one year to make sure goals are maintained.”

The third and fourth layers include informal mentoring and mentoring for groups of women or diverse lawyers, respectively, he added.

At Buckingham, Doolittle and Burroughs, Slife said young associates are partnered with senior attorneys outside of their practice area and often times outside of their office.

“This gives the associate an opportunity to get to know someone they may not

Colón

Slife

otherwise have the opportunity to connect with,” Slife noted. “Pairings typically happen out of similar interests and circumstances, such as another lawyer that recently went through an event such as the birth of a child or a common interest or a hobby.”

Both professionals said mentoring programs teach attorneys important skills.

“The skills developed through mentoring programs vary based on the relationship fostered, but associates often gain a different perspective on practicing law,” Slife explained. “Mentors help encourage community involvement, build associate business development skills and specialty areas, and assist associates when making both practice and life-based decisions.”

Colón said, “Mentoring programs give people an opportunity to learn about the firm culture, learn about expectations of the

“(Mentoring programs) are important because to be a successful lawyer in today’s legal landscape, you need certain skills to deal with the changing expectations of the field.”

Andy Colón, Chief Talent Officer Thompson Hine LLP firm regarding their job and their ability to progress within the organization. We view mentoring as an opportunity to develop the appropriate skills and knowledge that is required to be successful.”

Slife added mentors also get a lot out of the mentor-mentee relationship.

“Oftentimes, the program enriches the mentor as much as the mentee,” she said.

“As mentors think through the needs of a more junior lawyer they are reminded how they can enrich their own practice and growth. The relationship fosters an appreciation for one another and promotes collaboration.”

Special needs attorneys can help navigate challenges BECKY RASPE | SPECIAL SECTIONS STAFF REPORTER @BeckyRaspeCJN braspe@cjn.org |

F

or many, hiring a lawyer is a one-time need. But for individuals and families with special needs or disabilities, an attorney is more like a necessity.

According to David Banas, an attorney at Hickman & Lowder in Cleveland, and Laurie Steiner, a partner at Solomon, Steiner & Peck, Ltd. in Mayfield Heights, there are various reasons to hire a special needs attorney.

“Though there are federal and state laws that should be followed completely, there is major push back because of the cost to the state, schools or individuals to make the necessary accommodations (for those with special needs),” Steiner said. “A lawyer who understands all the laws and who can explain them to the entity and who is willing to go through the court if necessary to enforce the person’s rights is necessary.”

Banas added, “The lawyer-client relationship is a special one as there are things that come with it – like confidentiality. The lawyer-client relationship is where you have that heightened duty to the client and the confidentiality. That means you can have a conversation, ask all the questions on your

mind and know the lawyer has your best interests. That’s the base of it.”

Banas said there are many situations in which someone with special needs should contact their lawyer.

“As a general rule, anytime anything changes in one’s life is a good time to talk with a special needs lawyer,” he said. “This can be changes in living arrangements, a death of a caregiver, a move, an increase in income/assets or a marriage/divorce. Any sort of life change we can think of is a good time for a person with a disability or special need to see how that can change the status quo and how it affects their benefits.”

Steiner focused on education, noting some school districts are “superb” in understanding Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, a law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. In those districts, parents might not need an attorney or advocate.

“But in other school districts, many who are not well-funded, will fight with families about providing the proper

Banas

Steiner

accommodations, like an aide in the school, enrollment in a special school or transportation to another school,” Steiner explained. “Some schools don’t even follow a parent request for an evaluation for special services.”

Banas added, “Knowledge is power here. Sometimes, you can take steps to protect things in the event of something happening.”

Both professionals recognized the similarities between a special needs advocate and an attorney. That’s why so many clients tend to hire a special needs attorney as it’s the best of both worlds.

“A special needs advocate knows the laws and understands the complexities and requirements for accommodations, civil rights and financial protections and can enforce them,” Steiner said. “That is what is needed to assist a disabled individual to

“A special needs advocate knows the laws and understands the complexities and requirements for accommodations, civil rights and financial protections and can enforce them.”

Laurie Steiner, Partner Solomon, Steiner & Peck, Ltd. live his or her best life. Even when there is a simple issue requiring litigation that an attorney can handle, a special needs attorney is needed to make sure the settlement amount is properly protected.”

Banas noted, “As an attorney, I’m both an advocate and a counselor at law. Many times, they are one in the same. But it comes down to the lawyer-client relationship. It allows an individual with a disability to rely on that person and their counsel. A strict advocate is needed, of course, and do what they can.

But, they can’t be held liable for advice.”

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JANUARY 25, 2019

LOCAL LAWYERS

Graduates should seek job support from law school BECKY RASPE | SPECIAL SECTIONS STAFF REPORTER @BeckyRaspeCJN braspe@cjn.org |

E

ntering the workforce can be stressful for a college graduate.

But for law school graduates, Lee Fisher, dean at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, and Dan Nathan, clinical professor of law, and Kelly Tomlinson, lecturer in law and director of the Office of Professional Development, both at the University of Toledo’s College of Law in Toledo, there are some additional things to keep in mind.

“Graduates should keep in mind that, for better or for worse, they will start building their reputations from day one,” Nathan start. “Treat opposing counsel honestly and with respect. Promptly return phone calls and emails from clients and opposing counsel.

These people are likely to talk to others about their experience working with you. Give them a reason to say something positive.”

Fisher added, “Your ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and writing, a positive attitude and a team-oriented work ethic are the most important factors in your ability to secure, keep and excel in a job. Grades, while important, are insufficient.”

Fisher explained employers would choose a student with “great” communication skills, a positive attitude and lower grades over a student without those skills,

Fisher

Nathan

Tomlinson

but better academic marks.

“New graduates should keep in mind it remains a competitive marketplace, especially for entrylevel attorneys,” he added. “An open mind and an entrepreneurial mindset will lead to a wider world of possible employment opportunities.”

As a student begins the job search, Tomlinson said the student’s alma mater is a good starting point.

“As you are searching for a job post-graduation, a first stop should be your law school’s career services or professional development office,” she noted. “Many career offices offer their students and graduates free access to password-protected job databases and other resources.”

Fisher added, “The alumni network is often a useful resource for graduates. Also, almost every college and university continues to offer comprehensive career services to graduates no matter how many years ago

they graduated.”

The professionals said it’s important to network as a new lawyer.

“It is also helpful to get to know lawyers where you hope to practice by participating in committees or volunteer work through the local bar association,” Tomlinson said. “Because some jobs are never posted, getting to know lawyers through bar association participation can help increase your likelihood of receiving a job referral.”

Fisher said, “Graduates should not be shy about letting everyone they meet know who they are and what kinds of employment opportunities they are seeking. They should join relevant professional associations and begin attending meetings and volunteering for projects and special events. There are a wealth of resources available.”

But in their own personal career paths, the professionals said there were some nuances they wish were mentioned to them.

“I wish someone would have told me to remain open-minded and flexible with respect to my career path,” Fisher stated. “Too many lawyers settle too quickly on a lifelong career path and regret many years later that they didn’t try other pathways earlier in their career.”

Nathan added, “It is essential to have mentors whom you trust and who are willing to answer your questions. Let people know that you are inexperienced.

Trying to fake it doesn’t work.”

SUPER ATTORNEYS

JANUARY 25, 2019

CJN.ORG | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | 37

Lawyers share memories, lessons from first jobs BECKY RASPE | SPECIAL SECTIONS STAFF REPORTER @BeckyRaspeCJN braspe@cjn.org | First jobs can open many doors and provide many opportunities for many aspiring professionals in the legal field.

Area lawyers were asked to share memories from their first jobs and how those jobs shaped their professional future.

ART ELK ELK & ELK

Art Elk, managing member of Elk & Elk in Mayfield Heights, recalled his first legal job as an assistant prosecuting attorney for Ashland County.

He said the role was the first step in fulfilling his long-term goal of being a trial lawyer.

“Two years later, I successfully ran for the office of prosecuting attorney for Ashland County, which I held for two four-year terms,” Elk noted.

This role also led him to the second

part of a family-led injury law firm, formed in 1984.

“In my work as the elected prosecuting attorney, I saw firsthand how adjusters for insurance companies would race to settle catastrophic injury cases for a fraction of their real value,” Elk explained. “They would go out of their way to keep hardworking people away from attorneys who know the true value. It was a natural transition for me. As a prosecuting attorney, I helped victims of crime and now as an injury lawyer, I’m helping victims of injury.”

Elk said many aspects of his first job

still inform his decisions today.

“First, the most important part of a lawyer’s job is helping people whose lives have been derailed because of an injury,” he said. “When you do something rewarding for people, personal satisfaction and success will always follow.”

But if Elk had to speak to the man in that position with what he knows today, his advice is simple.

“Stay the course, follow your passion, vision and dreams, and cherish your family,” he said. “Good things will naturally happen for you.”

IAN FRIEDMAN

cases though so I knew that the freedom of my own practice was necessary.”

He appreciated the work he completed at the smaller firms, working with veteran lawyers. He said that allowed him to feel comfortable going out on his own.

“In this light, I try to help as many young lawyers as possible today to minimize the bumps and bruises of a new practice,” Friedman added.

His first job also continues to inspire his work, Friedman noted.

“I learned on day one that clients are otherwise good people who have faced

FRIEDMAN AND NEMECK

Immediately after law school, Ian Friedman of Friedman & Nemeck Attorneys at Law in Cleveland tried his hand as a criminal defense lawyer at two small firms. Not long after, he ventured out to create his practice.

Friedman said his experiences directly led him to where he is now, even if he didn’t realize it at the time.

“The initial positions helped me get a good taste of what this profession was and could be,” Friedman explained. “I’ve always had my own style of defending

AARON MINC MINC, LLC

But there is one thing he does remember changing his life – “the food, of course,” Minc said.

Even as the skills he learned in the food industry don’t seem to directly apply to law, Minc said he uses many of them every day.

“I learned that you need to work hard and put in the effort to succeed and make money in the world,” he explained.

“Being in the food industry also taught me how to operate in a demanding, fast-paced environment. Also, some jobs must be done and are important, even if they aren’t glamorous.”

But Minc’s message for his 15-year-old self was simple.

“You are doing the right thing,” he stated. “Keep at it, get good and be the best at whatever you do.”

JEROME WEISS

throughout my career: Lewis R. Katz and Daniel T. Clancy.”

He said the pair were “instrumental” in helping him get his job as a legal adviser to five local police departments and managing a study on felony cases for Katz.

“This provided the opportunity to work with an array of talented people who shared my interest in problemsolving,” he noted.

Though neither job was “conventional,” Weiss said both played a role in his current career in mediation.

“Both areas of work were gratifying

their own difficulties during their lives,” he said. “Merely defending against government allegations is not enough in most cases. To be the most meaningful and effective defense attorney, you must wear many hats.”

Talking to his younger self, Friedman said he would thank that man for the experiences.

“Every experience is an opportunity to learn and grow,” he said. “This was the case in my professional journey. I learned that I loved being a criminal defense lawyer. It was apparent from day one that this is what I was meant to do.”

Instead of drawing on his first legal job, Aaron Minc, principal at Minc, LLC in Orange, recalled his time spent working at Swenson’s in Montrose.

Being a 15-year-old working in a kitchen feels like a distant past to Minc, so he isn’t sure that led him to his career path.

Publisher’s note: Aaron Minc is a member of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company Board of Directors.

MEDIATION INC

When Jerome Weiss, founder of Mediation Inc in Cleveland, graduated from law school, he had “the great fortune of not knowing” what to do with his career.

It wasn’t until years later that he realized he was “lucky” not to know.

“Looking back, I was actually quite worried about all the uncertainty,” Weiss recalled. “Luckily, I had developed great relationships with several (professors) who remained enduring friendships

given my social inclination, talking and listening and working with a hands-on team to problem-solve was great fun,” he said. “It brought out the best in everyone.

To me, this was more satisfying than any ‘win’ I had later in my legal career.”

Pulling from his personal experiences, Weiss said it’s OK to think outside of the box when it comes to your career.

“It isn’t bad to have a career path that isn’t linear and totally predictable,” he said. “I’m living proof of that as I still find my winding career path and where I landed exciting and gratifying.”

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JANUARY 25, 2019

LOCAL LAWYERS

Solomon, Steiner & Peck celebrates 25 years NONA NELSON

S

olomon, Steiner & Peck, a boutique law firm in Mayfield Heights offering specialized service for clients preparing for their golden years, celebrated its silver anniversary in 2018 with a party and –with an eye to the future – started 2019 by adding a new partner.

For partners Michael Solomon, Laurie Steiner and Jennifer Peck, staying focused on all aspects of estate planning, business taxes and elder care is where it began in 1993 and most likely where it will remain.

“I hope we have a moderate growth,” Steiner said.

“We like being kind of a small firm with a niche practice. We want to be able to grow enough to serve our clients and do a really good job. We want to help as many people as we can, as we have for the last 25 years.”

“We started with three attorneys, and we are now five attorneys,” Solomon said. “When we started, we had one staff person.”

With attorneys, paralegals and support staff, the office head count is now 16.

Staying small allows for more personal relationships with clients, Solomon said, which helps set the group apart in a growing field.

“Each individual client is more important,” he said.

“We try to give them better services. It’s a competitive world and there are a lot of good attorneys in the Cleveland area, so we have to work a little harder with hopefully more attention than they would get at a larger firm.”

“I feel that over the last 20 some years that I

Peck

Solomon

Steiner

have gotten to know my clients and I see them so frequently,” said Peck, who joined Solomon and Steiner in 1996. “We develop a very nice relationship. I think that in the future our goal is continuing to do that, to mold new employees and new attorneys to continue to represent the families.”

While the firm maintains a steady course, the practice of estate law and elder care have changed considerably in the last quarter century, making it increasingly harder for people to navigate on their own and creating an increased need for legal assistance.

“It’s become a ‘must-have’ area of law because it encompasses so much more than estate planning or even Medicaid eligibility planning,” Steiner said. “It’s Social Security and housing and special needs law and so much more that people need as they age, and they don’t even know they need it. I don’t ever see it getting simpler. “ “A lot of times when someone passes and the children come in to see us, it hammers home to them that they need to do their own estate planning,” Peck said. “We are dealing with them in this very difficult

situation and they see that when we’re done planning, gosh, this is pretty easy to handle.”

Helping older people is what first attracted Peck to this niche. Inspired by a political science class at Cleveland State University in Cleveland as an undergraduate, she decided to pursue law as a career.

To afford the tuition, she started working in an estate planning law firm while taking classes at ClevelandMarshall College of Law. “I just kind of fell in love with it,” she said.

Solomon said much of the new business the firm sees now comes from referrals. Some, Steiner added, is almost inherited.

“A lot of times kids come in for their parents, realize how complicated it is, and they say, ‘Hey wait a minute, I am not ready for these things,’” Steiner said.

“So, oftentimes, it is a multi-generational thing. We help the parents, the kids and then the kids’ kids. We see a lot of people we helped initially now coming full circle.”

Solomon is a Georgetown University Law School graduate. Steiner, a graduate of Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Cleveland. Peck has taught a course about elder law at Cuyahoga Community College.

Part of what contributes to the firm’s longevity is the solid relationship the partners have created with each other in sharing a business for so long.

“We’ve kind of grown up together, had kids together, and work together more than we are at home probably,” Steiner reflected.

“We will be around for a long time,” Solomon said.

“We pride ourselves on doing good work.”

Nona Nelson is a freelance writer.

Worrying about weed at work LARRY W. ZUKERMAN Special to the CJN

W

ith the state of Ohio finally launching medical marijuana sales Jan. 16, it is important to remember while some Ohio employers can accommodate an employee’s use of medical marijuana, no employer is required to do so.

Section 3796.28 of the Ohio Revised Code sets forth the rights of employers in response to the legalization of medical marijuana and states “(a) person who is discharged from employment because of that person’s use Zukerman of medical marijuana shall be considered to have been discharged for just cause if the person’s use of medical marijuana was in violation of an employer’s drug-free workplace policy, zero-tolerance policy, other formal program or policy regulating the use of medical marijuana.”

Some employers, such as federal contractors or those that receive federal funds, are prohibited from accommodating an employee’s use of medical marijuana because they are required to maintain a drug-free workplace and marijuana use remains illegal

under federal law. Other employers, such as those that intend to continue to receive workers’ compensation insurance rebates from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation for maintaining a drug-free workplace must continue to maintain a drug-free workplace.

Unlike some states that have medical marijuana laws that include protections for an employee’s use of medical marijuana with a valid prescription during nonworking hours as long as the employee dosn’t show up to work under the influence of marijuana, Ohio employers are permitted to discharge and discipline employees who use medical marijuana during nonworking hours.

Ohio employers can also refuse to hire a prospective job applicant based on the applicant’s admitted medical marijuana use. Ohio Revised Code Section 3796.28(A) (5) provides the medical marijuana control program does not “permit a person to commence a cause of action against an employer for refusing to hire, discharging, disciplining, discriminating, retaliating, or otherwise taking adverse employment action against a person with respect to hire, tenure, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment related to medical marijuana.”

The fact Ohio law doesn’t require an employer to accommodate an employee’s medical marijuana use should not be surprising, considering the majority of

the 33 states that have passed medical marijuana laws have not included protections for an employee’s use of medical marijuana during nonworking hours. Courts in states that have addressed the issue of whether an employer must accommodate an employee’s medical marijuana use have traditionally ruled the employer may fire and/or discipline an employee for medical marijuana use even when the employee has a serious medical condition and only uses medical marijuana during nonworking hours.

An Ohio employer’s enforcement of drug-free workplace policies will not raise concerns under the Americans with Disabilities Act because the ADA does not require accommodations that would create a threat to employee safety or an unreasonable risk of harm and/or that would constitute allowing an activity that remains illegal under federal law. Thus, Ohio employers aren’t required to accommodate marijuana use in the workplace under the ADA.

Larry W. Zukerman is the managing partner of Zukerman Daiker & Lear Co. LPA in Cleveland.

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JANUARY 25, 2019

CJN.ORG | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | 39

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JANUARY 25, 2019

LOCAL LAWYERS

Nurenberg Paris: Fighting for underdog for 90 years MARK OPREA

I

t all started with an insect bite. In 1954, a railroad worker named Gallick was working in the Flats in Cleveland on a job for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co., when he suffered a freak infection. Days later, his legs needed to be amputated. Gallick wanted to sue. After all, he said, the higher-ups knew all along about possible infestation.

Gallick called upon two lawyers, Marshall Nurenberg and Abe Dudnick, lawyers working in a Cleveland-based firm dealing mostly with wrongful injury cases. Dudnick, the firm’s founder since 1928, took up Gallick’s plight – all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. In a 1964 landmark trial, they won.

“In a time when personal injuries never saw the light of day at the Supreme Court?” said David M. Paris, a lawyer for 39 years at the firm. “Let’s just say it leveled the playing field between the little guy and big corporations.”

Celebrating its 90th anniversary fighting for the workers of the world, Nurenberg Paris has seen over the past nearcentury a wide swath of diverse litigation, from seven-figure class-action lawsuits to one-man road crash cases. Their approach to picking out big business’ profit over safety has made the firm one of Cleveland’s most well-known injury righters.

For Paris, who started out as an office clerk under the helm of Leon M. Plevin in 1980, technological advances in the 1970s and 1980s meant the simultaneous presence of error – from faulty power presses, dangerous conveyors and auto parts – requiring the call-to-action of persistent

litigation from Nurenberg’s team.

Paris’ greatest feat might have been in 1997, when he fought on behalf of a State Farm policyholder whose son had been killed on the road by an uninsured driver. After the man had been unable to collect on all of his three policies he had taken, Paris realized State Farm’s policies enabled them to accumulate “over $50 million in extra premiums” for which their clients knew not a thing about.

“It was a very gratifying resolution. We won,” Paris recalled. “Really, every case we take, when somebody’s been victimized? It all becomes a dogfight. You’ve got to have fire in your belly to do this job.”

As airline accidents grew rampant in the 1980s, the firm hired Jamie Lebovitz, a specialist in aviation law, off Paris’ recommendation. He had worked on the infamous United Airlines DC-10 crash in which 112 passengers were killed years before, and Paris knew he would be a huge asset.

It wasn’t until the Alaska Airlines crash in 2000 when Lebovitz turned Nurenberg Paris into one of the country’s noted aviation law defenders. As one of the three lawyers representing families of loved ones, Lebovitz showed how minute maintenance issues – a horizontal stabilizer jackscrew needed to be replaced – could lead to whopping and unnecessary fatalities.

All for good reason. More than $300 million in recoveries came from the verdict.

“I practice law to help people,” Lebovitz said. “Like all of us, I’m not a tax lawyer, I don’t defend insurance companies.

I’m fighting for people who have simply been wronged.”

As Nurenberg Paris continues to fight into its centennial

The staff of Nurenberg Paris has hundreds of years of collective experience. | Submitted photo

at the Cleveland helm, its team says there will always be wrongful suits to tackle, even as manufacturing industries are kept in check (There’s “no greater cause than big pharm,” Paris added.)

“All this has been going on for decades and probably will continue to go on,” Paris said. “We’re going to be here, fighting for the little guy. I mean, that’s what makes us tick.”

Mark Oprea is a freelance writer.

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SUPER ATTORNEYS

CJN.ORG | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | 41

JANUARY 25, 2019

SUPER LAWYERS

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recognized by Super Lawyers every year since 2006

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1300 East 9th Street, Suite 1801 216-687-0900

42 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG

JANUARY 25, 2019

LOCAL LAWYERS

Virginia ‘GiGi’ Benjamin Howard Bobrow Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP BECKY RASPE | SPECIAL SECTIONS STAFF REPORTER @BeckyRaspeCJN braspe@cjn.org |

JANE KAUFMAN | STAFF REPORTER @jkaufmanCJN jkaufman@cjn.org |

T

hough Virginia “GiGi” Benjamin, senior counsel at Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP, has had the same job for 42 years, she can remember when she decided a legal career was right up her alley.

“When I was in high school and college, I found myself very interested in government and politics,” she recalled. “Also, all the people I admired and respected were lawyers, so I thought that was a good place for me to start in my career.”

The reason she’s stayed in the field so long is tangible results inspire her, she said.

“I believe that I can see positive results in things that I’ve done,” she explained. “I worked on the Pinecrest project (the mixed-use project in Orange) and I can go there and see it.

It’s tangible. Most times, people think of lawyers as arguing all the time, but in my field, everyone is working toward the same goal. It’s not a zero-sum situation.

Everyone can feel good in the end.”

One example of Benjamin’s tangible work is her involvement in Spice For Life, a social enterprise and spice shop.

Benjamin runs the shop with Penny Harris, a professor, and Debbie Fitzgerald, an entrepreneur and businesswoman. All profits support human trafficking victims. Throughout 2019, Spice for Life proceeds benefit the Renee Jones Empowerment Center.

Benjamin said Harris asked her if she was interested in becoming involved with Spice for Life at their gourmet group.

“I knew I wanted to step down from my legal career and do something different and good with my free time,” she said. “Penny came up with the idea, but I endorse it wholeheartedly. Ohio is an epicenter for human trafficking. We thought that if we could do something to help women, we would do it. We have all been so lucky in our careers that we wanted to do something for those that aren’t as lucky. It’s all right in our neighborhood, so we need to give back.”

Benjamin said it’s been interesting incorporating her legal and business prowess into something she loves, like food.

“Both of the businesses are peopleoriented,” she noted. “You’re dealing with people. But in a lot of ways, it’s

Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP

W

hen Howard Bobrow was an undergraduate student at Miami University in Oxford, he decided to study abroad for a year at Tel Aviv University in Israel

About Virginia

Practice Area: Public finance and economic development Favorite Jewish movie: “Schindler’s List” Favorite Jewish celebrity: Barbra Streisand Favorite Jewish food: Matzah ball soup Favorite Jewish holiday: Passover Favorite Jewish tradition: Lighting the menorah for Chanukah Hobbies: Playing golf and taking pictures different. I’m dealing with a tangible product instead of in my knowledge and judgment. I’m also learning a whole lot more about spices and food generally.

Food has already been important to me.”

Growing up Jewish had an impact on Benjamin’s career.

“The values of dealing ethically and fairly with people and giving back to the community has always been part of my work ethic in my legal career as well as my spice career,” she said.

But the most important thing to Benjamin in either career is finding humor and happiness in it.

“For anything you do, having a sense of humor is really important,” she explained. “There are a lot of things we can all be angry about or things that make us sad. There are also a lot of things that make us happy or make us laugh. If you can find the humor and the good in what you’re doing, it makes it a whole lot better.”

Having grown up in a Jewish family in Cleveland, he always felt strong ties to Israel.

“It was like the best year ever,” he said.

At the time, Bobrow aspired to work in foreign service. His double major was political science, and diplomacy and foreign affairs.

When he was in law school, he received a paid internship at a law firm in Cleveland.

“I was doing legal research for motions and briefs, and pretty much doing what anybody asked,” he said of his work as an intern. “I enjoyed the law firm world and the law firm life, and basically stuck with it and never pursued a career in the foreign service.”

Bobrow, 48, said many paths exist to pursue a particular goal and picking the best path is his challenge as a lawyer.

“I view myself as an instrument by which clients can effectively achieve their goals,” he said. “I view my clients’ successes, and if they are successful, I consider myself to be successful.”

Today, as a partner at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP in Cleveland, Bobrow continues to forge new ties to Israel and to help people he met in that year through the firm’s Israeli business practices section.

“We do represent several venturebacked Israeli companies,” he said.

“Representing a company that goes from startup through an exit transaction is one of the most gratifying things I can do as a transactional lawyer.

So, for example, when I represent a company that exits, gets sold, that is a very gratifying achievement from my perspective. We’ve had a few of those over the past few years. A couple of them have even been Israeli startups that have co-located here in Cleveland, raised venture capital here and then subsequently exited in a sale transaction.”

Born in New York City, a hotel fire prompted Bobrow’s family to move to Cleveland when he was 8 years old.

His father, Carl Bobrow, worked at a hotel which burned to the ground,

About Howard

Practice Area: Private equity mergers and acquisitions and venture capital Favorite Jewish movie: “The Chosen” Favorite Jewish celebrity: George Burns Favorite Jewish food: Kreplach Favorite Jewish holiday: Sukkot Favorite Jewish tradition: Longstanding family tradition of a shot of vodka to break the fast after Yom Kippur Hobbies: Running and watching movies suddenly leaving him jobless with a family to support. He decided to scout out a business opportunity, choosing Cleveland only because his sister’s husband was at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine at the time.

He bought Odziemski Hardware Store at Harvard Road and East 131st Street, and the family relocated to Orange. Bobrow grew up attending B’nai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike and attended Beth Torah religious school. Bobrow spent time working at his father’s hardware store when he was a teenager and graduated from Orange High School in Pepper Pike.

Bobrow and his wife, Deb, are Solon residents and have three children, Aidan, Daniel and Lindy.

He said he is particularly proud of his work with Israeli companies.

“I certainly have a particular affection for the Israeli businesses we represent,” he said, “just because of the natural affinity for them and the connection I have for Israel.”

SUPER ATTORNEYS

CJN.ORG | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | 43

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JANUARY 25, 2019

Robert Botnick

LOCAL LAWYERS

Robert ‘Kip’ Danzinger

The Botnick Law Firm, LLC

Sleggs, Danzinger & Gill, Co., LPA

MARISSA NICHOL

MARISSA NICHOL

R

R

obert “Kip” Danzinger keeps his Cleveland-based business personal through the niche practice of helping property owners lower tax assessments. He gained the nickname “Kip” from being born on Yom Kippur.

obert Botnick has helped guide clients who have never been involved in the criminal justice system as a criminal and traffic defense attorney and founder of The Botnick Law Firm, LLC in Shaker Heights since 2012.

“It’s helping people,” Botnick said. “I think it’s really important to lay out all of the information for the client so that way, when it comes time to making an important decision, they know why it is that they’re the ones who are making the decision.”

Botnick’s firm, which also specializes in criminal DUI traffic defense, is unique because of his background as a Cuyahoga County prosecutor, a role he held for seven years. He said he knows his clients appreciate his ability to think like a prosecutor.

“I can tell a client, ‘Here’s exactly what the prosecutor is going to say in a closing argument’ or ‘Here’s what they’re going to be looking for to try to make the case.’ So we need to try to figure out how to find the holes in their case,” Botnick said.

Botnick said because he defends so many young people, he doesn’t want to see young people get into trouble.

He became a role model outside of his law career when he started coaching his son’s youth baseball team about six years ago.

“Not every family is the same, and we know that,” he said. “But if you can be a person who is there, that a child can look up to, they can feel comfortable confiding in, I think that’s important.

I think as long as there is structure, if kids feel that there are people out there who care about them, then hopefully they don’t turn to some of the things that I do see. I do see some ugly stuff, so I try to do that.”

Botnick is also on the education committee at B’nai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike, where he helps to determine the direction of education, especially for students attending Jewish day schools and not religious school programming on the weekend.

“I think it’s an interesting time to be part of the Jewish community in Cleveland, to figure out how you can

About Robert

Practice Area: Criminal and traffic defense Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation Favorite Jewish TV show: “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” Favorite Jewish celebrity: Adam Sandler Favorite Jewish holiday: Rosh Hashanah Favorite Jewish tradition: Reading Torah Favorite Jewish food: Lox and cream cheese on an everything bagel Hobbies: Shaker dads beer club, golf, racquetball, listening to music and going to concerts have a secular life, but also have a religious education as well,” he said.

Botnick emphasizes there are successful days he loves, as well as unhappy endings to cases. In the past year, he had one client sentenced to 30 years in prison and another client who received a fine and probation for one year with no felony on his record.

“Sometimes, it can stay with you, that’s for sure. But, it also gives you that insight so the next time that you have a client who’s in a similar situation, one, you have an idea of what you’re facing,” Botnick said of cases that end unfavorably. “You have to know that at the end of the day you tried your hardest, you never gave up.”

Marissa Nichol is a freelance writer.

“My partners and I made the decision at the outset to never hire associates, so we can always work with our clients during every level of the appeal process,” Danzinger said.

The Sleggs, Danzinger & Gill, Co., LPA website states in large lettering: “When you hire Sleggs, Danzinger & Gill, you work directly with Sleggs, Danzinger and Gill.” The company’s value correlated with Danzinger’s personal values and relationships with his partners. He considers himself a family man first, so he strives to make his work environment similar to a family setting.

“We never like to refer to staff members as ‘associates’ or ‘assistants,’ but rather we emphasize that everyone that works at SDG is part of a team,” he said. “My partners and I are very accommodating in allowing our team members to work around family conflicts as we emphasize that their families are as important to us as are they.”

Danzinger pointed to the importance of helping lower property owners’ tax assessments, saying, “Who likes paying taxes?” He said especially for commercial property owners, the property tax liability can be one of the largest expense items that affects profitability.

“Although we understand the importance of property taxes for the school districts, we just want to make sure our clients pay only their fair share, but nothing more,” he said.

In the past year, his firm successfully argued several case before the Ohio Supreme Court that helped commercial owners lower their tax assessments.

Being an attorney was not necessarily Danzinger’s dream profession.

“I wanted to be either an NBA player or a rock star,” he said. “But since I’m short and can’t sing, I needed another profession.”

Danzinger became interested in learning about real property one summer in middle school when he painted his friend’s uncle’s apartment

About Robert

Practice Area: Property tax litigation Synagogue: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple Favorite Jewish movie: “Schindler’s List” Favorite Jewish holiday: Passover Favorite Jewish tradition: Anything that brings the family together Favorite Jewish food: Gummy fruit slices eaten on Passover Hobbies: Triathlons, golf and javelin throwing building in Cleveland Heights. He remembered thinking how cool it would be to own a building, provide benefits for tenants and collect rent. After law school, he worked at a firm specializing in property tax litigation, and that personal drive to own a business led him to where he is today.

“Although I gained wonderful experience working with larger firms, I was envious of my peers that owned their own business,” he said. “I have two great legal partners, Todd Sleggs and Steve Gill, so making the decision to start a firm with them was easy.”

When Danzinger helped start the firm in 2005, the personalized service and office culture that was created helped shape his favorite aspect of his career, which he said is “building great relationships with my clients with, whom many I consider friends. I also am very lucky to consider my legal partners my brothers.”

Marissa Nichol is a freelance writer.

SUPER ATTORNEYS

JANUARY 25, 2019

CJN.ORG | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | 45

Rachel Kabb-Effron The Kabb Law Firm NONA NELSON

A

t one point, Rachel Kabb-Effron wanted to be an actress. Learning to drive a hard bargain, however, convinced her to answer another calling.

“If we wanted to go to Heights Pharmacy, we had to start at $5 and settle for $2,” she said of her negotiations for spending money with her dad, attorney Ken Kabb. “I had to create good cogent arguments and defenses. I had to think on my feet.”

Deciding that she could be successful at convincing people of her point in a courtroom, Kabb-Effron attended Cleveland-Marshall College of Law after earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati.

She said initially she wanted to specialize in death penalty litigation.

However, the low success rate of winning such cases – coupled with the inevitable consequence of failure – was more than she thought she could bear.

“It was too heartbreaking,” she said.

After law school, Kabb-Effron worked for her father, who at that time was involved in a variety of cases. Serving as a role model once again, he helped point her toward specializing in elder law.

“I came across National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys seminar brochures and thought I would love that,” she recalled. “My dad had dabbled in elder law when he was trying to understand the law when my grandmother was at Montefiore and I thought that if the smartest guy I know couldn’t figure out this system, there would be a niche for me.”

Many older people will eventually have to make choices for long-term care.

Assisting people in protecting their assets through trust-based planning and navigating through the Medicare system is an area in which Kabb-Effron specializes. It’s one she thinks more people need to be aware of.

“The client has special considerations from a care standpoint, a legal standpoint and a financial standpoint,” she said. “Engaging a lawyer with a holistic approach is really critical.”

In addition to her law practice, Kabb-Effron is an adjunct professor at her alma mater, Cleveland-Marshall.

She is also active at Park Synagogue in Cleveland Heights and Pepper Pike, is a member of several civic and professional organizations, and serves on the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s

Dean Lee Fisher and the faculty and staff of Cleveland-Marshall College of Law congratulate our C|M|LAW Super Attorneys.

About Rachel

Practice Area: Elder law Synagogue: Park Synagogue Favorite Jewish movie: “Dirty Dancing” Favorite Jewish celebrity: Howard Stern Favorite Jewish holiday: Passover. It is the one time the whole family gets together.

Favorite Jewish tradition: As we get closer to my daughter’s bat mitzvah, I have to say I love the coming of age rite of passage Favorite Jewish food: My brisket or my mom or aunt’s noodle kugel housing coalition.

When she’s not working at her practice or in the community, she spends time with her husband, David Effron, an analyst with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Together, they are raising their daughters, Trudie, 17, and Mia, 12.

She also plays golf and sails, a hobby inspired by her dad and her husband, both accomplished and avid sailors.

And Kabb-Effron still follows her passion to perform. She sings with Choral Arts Cleveland and Orange Community Education and Recreation glee club. She takes dance classes at the Mandel Jewish Community Center in Beachwood and last year attended a Broadway camp for adults in New York.

As much as she loves the stage, even stardom couldn’t lure her away from the law.

“I really love helping people,” she said. “I love doing what I do.”

Nona Nelson is a freelance writer.

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46 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG

JANUARY 25, 2019

Reducing Real Property Tax Assessments Aaron S. Reducing Real Property Tax hroughout Ohio And Across The United Assessments Throughout Ohio AndStates Hahn Loeser

Across The United States

Sleggs, Danzinger & Gill, Co., LPA Sleggs, Danzinger & Gill, Co., LPA

LOCAL LAWYERS

Evenchik

ALYSSA SCHMITT | STAFF REPORTER @AlyssaSchmitCJN aschmitt@cjn.org |

A

aron S. Evenchik said he has to be the producer, director and writer when advocating for clients in the hearing room.

“You’re putting all this together, because, ultimately, if you do have a hearing or any kind of litigation, you’ve got two competing stories that are being told to an audience of one, three, 12 or eight – whether you have a judge or a jury – and they’ve got to figure out what version of the story they like better,” he said. “As a lawyer, I’m talented at putting all that together.”

As a partner focused on construction, Each client is directly represented at all levels by a principal of the firm with a zoning and real estate law at Hahn combined 75 years of experience. No pyramid, no associates, no on-the-job training.

Loeser in Cleveland, Evenchik said he must be passionate so he can get what Our clients deserve the very best representation, so we structured our firm to allow he needs from clients. each client, throughout the entire process, to work directly with Messrs. SLEGGS, Being interested in engineering DANZINGER and/or GILL. Our philosophy is to work cooperatively with school district and math, Evenchik studied civil and County officials to ensure that our clients pay the lowest possible real property tax engineering at The Ohio State University in Columbus, which he said obligations. If a fair resolution requires litigation, SLEGGS, DANZINGER & GILL have he uses often in his profession. the depth of trial and appellate experience to handle the most complex valuation issues.

Looking back on his 17-year career, he said he’s proud to be able to gain the Whether the valuation relates to large industrial plants, apartments, shopping trust of clients. Each client not only centers, warehouses, office buildings, vacant land or any other type of commercial relies on him to solve problems, but he property, the faces above will ensure that you receive the best counsel, legal advice also helps them avoid problems from and litigation expertise. occurring by providing training to their staff.

Todd W. Sleggs, Esq. Robert K. Danzinger, Esq. Steven R. Gill, Esq. Furthermore, his desire to train client is directly represented at all levels by a principal of the firm with a combined 75 years of experience. No pyramid, no tsleggs@sdglegal.net rdanzinger@sdglegal.net sgill@sdglegal.net iates, no on-the-job training. others reaches more than his clients.

He speaks ients deserve the very best representation, structured our firm at to allow each by client, throughout the entire process, to work at seminars geared toward Each client so is we directly represented all levels lawyers y with Messrs. SLEGGS, DANZINGER and/or GILL. Our philosophy is to work cooperatively with school district and County officials and to construction industry a principal of the firm with a combined 75 years e that our clients pay the lowest possible real property tax obligations. If a fair resolution requires litigation, SLEGGS, DANZINGER & groups, sometimes speaking at these of experience. pyramid, no associates, no on-issues. ave the depth of trial and appellate experience toNo handle the most complex valuation seminars up to three times a week. He’s training.

(216) alsoorproud er the valuation relates to largethe-job industrial plants,771-8990 apartments, shopping centers, warehouses, office buildings, vacant land any of the training he’s been able type of commercial property, the faces above will ensure that you receive the best counsel, legal advice and litigation expertise. to offer to the lawyers and paralegals sdglegal.net that work with him citing a time his Our clients deserve the very best representation, so we Todd W. Sleggs, Esq. Robert K. Danzinger, Esq. Steven R. Gill, Esq. client had a question and his paralegal structured our firm to allow each client, throughout the tsleggs@sdglegal.net rdanzinger@sdglegal.net sgill@sdglegal.net was able to answer it. entire process, to work directly with Messrs. SLEGGS, “I like to share and teach, and I DANZINGER and/or(216) GILL. 771-8990 Our philosophy is to work think it’s a good way of establishing a sdglegal.net Sleggs, Danzinger & Gill cooperatively with school district and County officials reputation,” he said.

Sleggs, Danzinger & Gill Member Firm to ensure that our clients pay the lowest 820 possible Westreal Superior Ave. Evenchik said he always enjoys 820 West Superior Ave. property tax obligations. If a fair resolution requires Seventh Floor teaching others and doesn’t focus just Seventh Floor on topics related to his career field. For litigation, SLEGGS, DANZINGER & GILL haveCleveland, the depth OH 44113 Cleveland, OH 44113 years, he’s given a seminar on money of trial and appellate experience to handle the most management and how to talk with complex valuation issues. your spouse about money to Orthodox rabbinical students who come to Each client is directly represented at all levels by a principal of the firm with a Whether the valuation relates to large industrial plants, Cleveland before their wedding to learn combined 75 years of experience.

No pyramid, associates,office no on-the-job training. apartments, shopping centers, no warehouses, the laws related to the mikvah.

When you hire Sleggs, Danzinger & Gill, you work directly with Sleggs, Danzinger and Gill.

When Danzinger& & Gill, Gill, Whenyou you hire hire Sleggs, Sleggs, Danzinger you work directly and Gill. you with workSleggs, directlyDanzinger with Sleggs, Danzinger and Gill.

When you hire Sleggs, Danzinger & Gill, you work directly with Sleggs, Danzinger and Gill. buildings, vacant land or any other type of commercial

Our clients deserve the verythe best representation, weyou structured our firm to allow property, faces above will ensuresothat receive the best advice and litigationdirectly expertise.with Messrs. SLEGGS, each client, throughout thecounsel, entirelegal process, to work DANZINGER and/or GILL. Our philosophy is to work cooperatively with school district Todd W. Sleggs, Esq. Robert K. Danzinger, Esq. Steven R. Gill, Esq. and County officials to ensure that our clients pay the lowest possible real property tax tsleggs@sdglegal.net rdanzinger@sdglegal.net sgill@sdglegal.net obligations. If aMember fairFirm resolution requires litigation, SLEGGS, Sleggs, DANZINGER & GILL have Danzinger & Gill (216) 771-8990 West Superior Ave. the depth of trial and appellate experience to handle the most 820 complex valuation issues. sdglegal.net

Seventh Floor, Cleveland, OH 44113

Whether the valuation relates to large industrial plants, apartments, shopping

About Aaron

Practice Area: Construction, zoning and real estate law Synagogue: Waxman Chabad Center Favorite Jewish TV Show: “The Goldbergs” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” Favorite Jewish food: Chicken soup Favorite Jewish holiday: Passover Favorite Jewish tradition: Upsherin Hobbies: Playing guitar, bass guitar, piano and a little bit of drums, traveling around the city and doing outdoor activities Evenchik, who attends Waxman Chabad Center in Beachwood, draws on his Jewish background when doing a speaking engagement and often uses analogies based on it.

He also represents Orthodox institutions in Cleveland for either a discounted fee or no fee as a way to give back to the community.

“That’s something I’m proud of,” he said. “My success in other areas gives me the ability to do that here. I do it because the organization deserves representation, even if they couldn’t afford it otherwise. I wish I could give back more financially, but what I can give is my knowledge and expertise if I can’t write as big of a check as I’d like to.”

SUPER ATTORNEYS

CJN.ORG | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | 47

JANUARY 25, 2019

Marty Gelfand Gelfand Law, LLC ELIZABETH RANDOLPH

F

ollowing a 16-year career serving in the U.S. Navy, Marty Gelfand decided he wanted to study and practice law. After the Cleveland Heights resident graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, he began working as the legal counsel for U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich.

Gelfand was alongside Kucinich until he left Congress. That’s when Gelfand decided to pursue his own firm, Gelfand Law, LLC.

“Retiring from the Navy still wasn’t a ‘golf club retirement,’ so I knew I had to work more when I left,” he said. “I worked as a government lawyer and then, after being licensed and practicing for years, decided to begin Gelfand Law. It allowed me to go out there and see what would happen.”

Gelfand founded his firm in 2013. His cases range from probation violation to

About Marty

Practice Area: Housing, probate, criminal defense.

Synagogue: Park Synagogue and Beth El-The Heights Synagogue Favorite Jewish movie: “Keeping the Faith” Favorite Jewish food: Falafel, especially from Sabra Favorite Jewish holiday: Sukkot Favorite hobbies: Travel, reading spending time with family, hiking defending domestic violence victims. He said the cases he handles can be difficult both while they’re happening and after a verdict is reached. With every case, though, he enjoys seeing clients make necessary changes to their lives.

“I worked with a mom in crisis who lost her son due to alcoholism and

mental health issues,” Gelfand said.

“After meeting her and working with her, I have watched her get better. I can see the difference she is making and it’s nice to see those results.”

In 2011, Gelfand decided to take another leap in his career and entered the political arena. Politics was something he always loved and initially had no plans to run for local government.

“I was very satisfied working as a legal counsel and helping clients I’ve worked with and never considered running myself,” he said. “It wasn’t until 2011 after another councilwoman left that I realized I could do what I did for them for myself.”

Now in his second term as a South Euclid City councilman, Gelfand said his day often goes beyond typical business hours. However, he is proud of the work he’s done and happy he pursued another career path.

“I get the chance to do some good and help in a small way,” he said.

When he gets a chance to unwind, he spends time with family and travels. He said one of his favorite family trips is to the Cleveland Metroparks, where they hike together.

“I always try to visit a new place,” he said. “My favorite places I’ve visited, though, has been Newport, R.I., Lynchburg, Va., and Mobile, Ala.”

Elizabeth Randolph is a freelance writer.

Congratulations to our 2019 Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars™

Ann-Marie Ahern Super Lawyer

Hugh Berkson Super Lawyer

David Cuppage Super Lawyer

Rob Glickman Super Lawyer

Toby Hirshman Super Lawyer

Chuck Kampinski Super Lawyer

Kimon Karas Super Lawyer

Bob Kracht Super Lawyer

Ken Liffman Super Lawyer

Chris Patno Super Lawyer

David Schaefer Super Lawyer

John Seich Super Lawyer

Katie Arthurs Rising Star

Danielle Garson Rising Star

Jack Moran Rising Star

Nick Oleski Rising Star

Colin Ray Rising Star

With special mention to Christian R. Patno, who was ranked Top 10 Ohio, Top 50 Cleveland and Top 100 Ohio; as well as Ann-Marie Ahern, who was included in the Top 25 Cleveland Women and Top 50 Ohio Women lists; and David A. Schaefer, who was included in the Top 50 Cleveland and Top 100 Ohio lists.

SM

Trusted Advisors. Respected Advocates. www.mccarthylebit.com

48 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG

JANUARY 25, 2019

Thomas I. Hausman

Ira Kaplan

JANE KAUFMAN | STAFF REPORTER @jkaufmanCJN jkaufman@cjn.org |

MARISSA NICHOL

Thomas I. Hausman LLC

Benesch

I

T

ra Kaplan praises the opportunities working at Benesch in Cleveland for 39 years has given him, including his community involvement and a broad range of law work under his belt.

ax attorney Thomas I. Hausman finds his practice as a lawyer and teaching tax law gratifying.

Hausman, 60, who operates Thomas I. Hausman LLC, frequently works as a tax lawyer for firms that don’t have a tax law practice.

“Some of my clients are law firms that don’t have a tax lawyer,” he said.

“They call me and I draft these kinds of documents for them.”

He is occasionally asked to represent clients of other law firms before the Internal Revenue Service.

From 1994 until it disbanded, he headed the graduate school tax law program at Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland.

Today, he teaches at the law school as an adjunct professor. Hausman said he enjoyed heading the program, calling it a turning point in his life.

“I just remember being contacted by all kinds of people and law firms,” he said. “Part of my job was to hire a graduate tax faculty. I would call a lot of law firms. It was just enjoyable for me. It wasn’t as stressful as the regular practice of law could be at that time. And it was fun. It was fun to teach. It was fun to work with the administration.”

The position raised his profile in the eyes of other lawyers, he said, and he enjoyed helping his students both learn and find jobs.

“In addition, I learn a lot more than the students do,” he said, by preparing to teach.

Hausman does estate planning, partnerships, buying and selling of businesses, and corporate transactions as well as representing clients before the IRS. Hausman said there are certain qualities that help make a good tax lawyer.

“Certainly, empathy is important,” he said. “I would say emotional intelligence, but that includes empathy, being able to listen to what the client wants, being diligent, being honest.”

He said good tax lawyers are objective and not afraid to ask questions, either of their clients or of the IRS. Hausman grew up in Toledo’s small

LOCAL LAWYERS

About Thomas

Practice Area: Tax Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel Favorite Jewish movie: “Schindler’s List” Favorite Jewish celebrity: Gilda Radner Favorite Jewish food: Matzah Favorite Jewish holiday: Chanukah Hobbies: Swimming, yoga, walking in the woods Jewish community and graduated from Thomas A. DeVilbiss High School in Toledo. He studied at the University of Colorado, where he majored in economics and enjoyed skiing.

He said he had a friend who went to law school to avoid the draft and that he decided “at the last possible moment.”

He graduated from Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University in Columbus and holds a master’s in law taxation LLM from New York University.

He said he gravitated toward tax law in law school, where he liked his professors in tax law and figured it would be a stable specialty.

Hausman worked for Kadish, Krantz & Weiss in downtown Cleveland until four years ago, when he decided to go into solo practice to be closer to home.

He lives in Shaker Heights with his wife, Susan Case. Hausman has two sons, Jonathan and David, who both live in Cleveland. Case has three children.

Together, they have five grandchildren.

“In my career, I’ve been able to work on transactions that were complex, interesting and fun, such as the acquisition of the Six Flags Amusement Parks and of our former afternoon newspaper, The Cleveland Press,” Kaplan said.

Now, the executive chairman at Benesch, Kaplan has done a copious amount of work in different sectors, including representing either private equity funds or management groups looking for capital to do acquisition strategies. He is currently working heavily in the physician practice management space, specifically for groups acquiring dental practices, and on helping a client build a waste to energy plant that would significantly improve the reuse of plastic waste in a sustainable manner.

“You learn something new every day,” he said. “You meet great, very interesting people. I’ve represented a number of these folks for a very long time helping them fulfill their dreams, and the great collateral benefit is many of them have become good friends.”

One part of Kaplan’s career he enjoys is working with family businesses for the family to achieve its goals and the business to thrive going forward. In addition, his experience of being the managing partner of Benesch allowed him to culturally be involved in the community. He continues to make connections with interesting people through civic involvement, which is fully supported by Benesch.

“We think Benesch is a really important way to contribute and give back to the community, and also puts you in a position where you get to know really good people who are also involved in business,” he said.

Kaplan is the past board chair of Menorah Park in Beachwood, board chair of Bellefaire in Shaker Heights and on the board of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland.

“Being involved with Bellefaire JCB has been an extraordinary experience,” he said. “The work that Bellefaire does with autistic children and children with behavioral needs is amazing.

About Ira

Practice Area: Mergers and acquisitions, general business counseling and private equity work Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel Favorite Jewish movie: “The Chosen” and “Life is Beautiful” Favorite Jewish celebrity: Steven Spielberg Favorite Jewish holiday: Passover Favorite Jewish tradition: Shabbat dinner Favorite Jewish food: Chopped liver Hobbies: Playing golf and bicycling The visions that has led to the current construction of a psychiatric hospital for kids that will increase the local capacity by about 50 percent will make a meaningful and positive change as to how these young people are cared for.”

Kaplan has always been passionate about how the community can take care of older populations because of the several years his grandmother lived with him growing up. Seeing the care she had, and the care his mother received from Montefiore and Stone Gardens in Beachwood when that was needed, has inspired him to make a difference in peoples’ lives.

“It has been extremely rewarding,” Kaplan said. “The work has been interesting and the practice at Benesch has given me the opportunity to contribute also to our community as that involvement is a part of the culture of the firm.”

Marissa Nichol is a freelance writer.

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CJN.ORG | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | 49

JANUARY 25, 2019

Anna Kelberg-Kim Kelberg Law

BECKY RASPE | SPECIAL SECTIONS STAFF REPORTER @BeckyRaspeCJN braspe@cjn.org |

G

rowing up in a family of artists and performers, Anna Kelberg-Kim knew she wanted to have a career in entertainment.

It wasn’t until she was working as a paralegal that she realized she loved law and specifically, the practice of entertainment law.

Now the namesake of her firm, KelbergKim pulls from her musical past to help her current and future clients.

“Entertainment law is so interesting to me,” she explained. “I speak the language.

I grew up in that environment and it’s so organic to me. I grew up in a family of performers and I was training to become a professional violinist when I decided to go to law school. I went because I wanted to know more. It made sense to me.

Everything that is happening in the world of entertainment and performing arts, I’m speaking that language.”

Along with her experiences in show business, Kelberg-Kim noted her son is also a recording artist, which motivated her to

About Anna

Practice Area: Entertainment law Favorite Jewish movie: “Felix and Meira” Favorite Jewish celebrity: Joan Rivers Favorite Jewish food: Latkes with sour cream Favorite Jewish holiday: Whatever brings good food and company, but specifically Rosh Hashanah Favorite Jewish tradition: Family gatherings for Jewish holiday dinners and enjoying traditional Jewish cooking Hobbies: Sports, hiking and dancing continue pursuing entertainment law.

“My son became an artist in his early years and that also prompted me to get into this,” she said. “He started off as a classical pianist and he went into jazz. And now his own style has evolved into a fusion of many different styles. It depends on the day what he feels like.”

Kelberg-Kim said there are similarities

between performing and law.

“They do intertwine when musicians go on stage,” she said. “When one becomes a performer, there are different legal aspects involved. The business side of it also changes. It’s about preparing artists from the get-go as they develop before they get out there.”

When it comes to preparing for a case, Kelberg-Kim frequently finds herself using her artistic skills.

“When I was starting in music, it was a good old Russian-style of performing,” she said. “We had to study a lot of different disciplines, like theory and harmony, that don’t have anything to do with performing on stage. Because I am trained to do so, it is now ingrained in me to approach a case or client with all the background covered. It’s like a stage in the courtroom. It helps me see a bigger picture.”

Though Kelberg-Kim was raised a nonobservant Jew, she incorporates Jewish values into her work.

“I always knew my identity and knew those Judaic values,” she said. “It built my moral character as well. The way

I approach my work reflects that. It is encoded into my DNA to do things at 100 percent, to achieve perfection and not to cut corners. It is my heritage behind everything I do.”

As for why she’s practiced in entertainment law for so long, Kelberg-Kim noted its fluidity.

“Entertainment law is ever evolving,” she said. “It changes all the time and it is never stale. It is so broad and covers so many different practices within entertainment. It keeps me on my toes. You have to be aware of everything. It’s also my desire to strive beyond the immediate, obvious answer for something.”

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50 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG

JANUARY 25, 2019

Philip Seth Kushner

Anthony Lazzaro

Kushner & Hamed

Lazzaro Law Firm

BECKY RASPE | SPECIAL SECTIONS STAFF REPORTER @BeckyRaspeCJN braspe@cjn.org |

JILL MCCULLOUGH

A

W

nthony Lazzaro is one of the few lawyers in Ohio that practices wage and hour law on behalf of the plaintiff. He knew since college he wanted to practice law.

hen it came to pursuing a career in law, Philip “Phil” Seth Kushner said it wasn’t always the plan.

After college, Kushner worked as a congressional staffer and found the connection between two fields – politics and law.

“So much of what goes on in politics and government involves the law, so I concluded that I should go to law school, too,” he said.

Now the president of Clevelandbased firm Kushner & Hamed, Kushner continues in this field for one reason: he likes to help people.

“People come to me because they have a problem and I like to try and help them solve that problem,” he explained.

“It’s as simple as that.”

Most lawyers would say the same thing motivates them. But Kushner sets himself apart in his practice by way of his hobbies.

When he’s not in the courtroom, Kushner is either performing with his rockabilly band, Galaxie Deluxe, around Greater Cleveland or participating in a lawyers lampoon group, the Court of Nisi Prius.

The lampoon group meets regularly to perform songs, skits, humorous speeches and poems.

“It’s a great way to get to know other people in the legal community in a congenial, nonadversarial setting, and it makes practicing law, I think, more fun,” he said. “Lots of times, you’re dealing with or appearing in front of your friends.”

As for the band, Kushner said it directly relates to his professional abilities even though it has nothing to do with the legal community.

The band features Kushner on keyboards and backup vocals; Johnny San Angelo on lead vocals; Al Struck on lead guitar and backup vocals; Sonny Neal on drums and backup vocals; and Jon Paulus on string bass.

“The band is the opposite,” he began.

“I’m the only lawyer in the band and it’s an opportunity to get away from the pressures of being a professional. The other guys in the band aren’t lawyers, the venues we play are places where lawyers don’t usually go and I just view it as an opportunity to change the

LOCAL LAWYERS

About Phil

Practice Area: Litigation Synagogue: Solon Chabad Favorite Jewish movie: “Diner” Favorite Jewish celebrity: Bob Dylan Favorite Jewish food: Potato pancakes Favorite Jewish holiday: Passover Favorite Jewish tradition: Lighting the Sabbath candles Hobbies: Tennis, swimming and playing the piano channel from what I do professionally and relax.”

Kushner said having hobbies is an important part of having an inclusive world view.

“I think particularly as a litigator, all you do is deal with other lawyers.

You can lose perspective,” he said.

“That isn’t good for you personally or professionally.”

But all his hobbies and career wouldn’t mean much to Kushner if he didn’t have Judaism. Relying on his upbringing in the culture, he thinks back to every teaching to guide his life, whether it’s at work or at home.

“I think a big theme in Judaism is trying to do things correctly and trying to get things right,” he explained. “And that drive to get it right is probably the same drive that makes you want to hit the right notes whether it’s in the courtroom, in your life or on the piano.”

“I had the skill sets … and I was a good negotiator and advocate for people,” said Lazzaro, who attended Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. While in law school, he worked for Frantz Ward LLP in Cleveland as a summer associate. He stayed after graduation and worked in the labor and employment department representing companies.

Two years later, after learning his way around the Fair Labor Standards Act, he started his firm.

“I had become knowledgeable about wage law and realized that this is what I wanted to do. I switched sides. Instead of representing the company, I represented the plaintiff – the employees in wage and hour cases,” said Lazzaro.

Lazzaro employs five attorneys and two paralegals, and with four practicing wage and hour law exclusively, he said.

“We represent employees in a very narrow area of the law, he said. “We are at the forefront of wage and hour litigation in Ohio. We started filing these cases 12 years ago – a time when no one was really filing them.”

Even now, few Ohio attorneys specialize in wage and hour law on behalf of employees, Lazzaro said.

“In this day and age, what we do is very important, as the Fair Labor Standards Act is 80 years old. This law is more relevant today than it ever was,” he said. “We are living in a time when employees’ rights are continuously under attack … union representation is on the decline.”

Clients seek Lazzaro to file collective actions, which are similar to class actions.

“In a class action, everyone involved is automatically part of the case,” he said. “With a collective action, one must opt in and be certified. We have closed around $45 million for employees who were owed overtime pay.”

Lazzaro said his most noteworthy case is Laskoski, et al. v. Inkstop, a collective action for more than 600

About Anthony

Practice Area: Employment law, including overtime and minimum wage law Synagogue: Park Synagogue Favorite Jewish Movie: “Life is Beautiful” Favorite Jewish Food: Matzah ball Favorite Jewish Holiday: Purim and Chanukah Favorite Jewish Tradition: Celebrating the holidays with friends and family Hobbies: Coffee roasting former employees of a company that abruptly closed before paying its workers several weeks of pay.

“It was a bad situation because the employees had no notice,” he said.

“They showed up to work one day and found a note on the door … then the company filed for bankruptcy.”

The case settled for more than $600,000 and the company’s owners and board of directors paid the settlement out of their pockets, Lazzaro said.

While passionate about his clients’ rights, Lazzaro does more than litigate.

He makes coffee, something he has been doing longer than he has been practicing law.

“For the last 20 years, I’ve been into coffee,” he said. “My friends and I are starting a high-end coffee roasting business.”

Jill McCullough is a freelance writer.

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CJN.ORG | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | 51

JANUARY 25, 2019

JEFFREY A. LEIKIN

JEFFREY A. LEIKIN ESQ. LLC NONA NELSON

AT KLEIN & CARNEY:

S

ome people feel the call to practice law, like Jeffrey Leiken.

“When I was in high school, my father told me to be a lawyer,” he recalled. “In my household, back when I grew up, my father was the man who decided those things.”

Not that Leiken regrets the decision.

He said working as a law clerk for a local firm while he attended Cleveland-Marshall College of Law showed how much he could help people. During his more than 30-year career as a civil litigator, he feels it was the right choice.

“It’s a wonderful way to help people through a difficult time in their lives,” he said.

During his career, Leiken has helped to resolve more than 500 cases, including traffic accidents, wrongful deaths and workplace injuries.

Leiken and his family’s roots run deep in Cleveland. He is the son of Milton Leiken, the late founder of Leiken Motor Companies, which remains in the family and is run by his brother, Ronald. He has been a lifelong Cleveland resident, except for the four years he and his identical twin brother, James, a local accountant and small business owner, attended the University of Colorado.

After earning his bachelor’s degree, Leiken returned to Cleveland and worked a full-time day job and attended law school at night.

After more than 30 years at a large firm, Leiken opened his office in 2017. In the two years he’s been a sole practitioner, he said he has gotten back to his roots and is enjoying having more meaningful contact with clients.

“I would tell clients it’s an impersonal process,” he said of his days litigating at a big firm, where a team of clerks, assistants and paralegals handled most of the direct client communication and he could be dealing with as many as 150 cases at one time.

“It was kind of disheartening,” Leiken said. “That relationship with the client and the ultimate feeling of helping people out was really why I was in it. I’ve found a lot of that coming back to me in my solo practice.”

Leiken said most of his cases are settled out of court. However, when circumstances warrant, he relishes the opportunity of trying a case in front of a jury.

“I am a litigator,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun (to be in court), to be honest with you.”

Leiken, who serves on the Orange

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About Jeffrey

Practice area: Personal injury, wrongful death litigation Favorite Jewish movie: “Fiddler on the Roof” Synagogue: Park Synagogue Favorite Jewish celebrities: Alan King and Don Rickles Favorite Jewish holiday: Passover Favorite Jewish holiday tradition: The Passover meal School Board, enjoys spending evenings with his family, including his wife, Tracie, sons Max, 18, and Jared, 16, and his daughter Lindy, 12, at school events.

Both boys play varsity baseball and basketball. Lindy is preparing for her bat mitzvah, which will take place on a family trip to Israel.

Leiken also coached the mock trial team at Orange High School in Pepper Pike and is active with the booster and alumni organizations.

Beyond work, family life and community service, Leiken said he is a devoted fan of all Cleveland sports teams.

“I’ve been a season ticket holder for 26 years with the Indians,” he said. “And my family has had season tickets for the Browns since before I was born. I have been going to games since I was 8 years old.”

Impressed with the work ethic of this year’s Browns, Leiken said he admired their tenacity.

“They never gave up,” he said. “They never gave up in a single game.”

Nona Nelson is a freelance writer.

55 Public Square • Suite 1200 • Cleveland, OH 44113

216-861-0111 kleincarneylaw@gmail.com

www.kleinandcarney.com

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1360 E. Ninth St., Ste. 400 • Cleveland, OH 44114 216-696-3030 • www.khwlaw.com

52 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG

JANUARY 25, 2019

LOCAL LAWYERS

David W. Leopold

Scott M. Lewis

ALYSSA SCHMITT | STAFF REPORTER @AlyssaSchmitCJN aschmitt@cjn.org |

JANE KAUFMAN | STAFF REPORTER @jkaufmanCJN jkaufman@cjn.org |

Ulmer & Berne LLP

A

W

s an immigration attorney in today’s political environment, David W. Leopold said his job has become more difficult under President Donald Trump’s administration, but the new challenges that come with it have kept him energized.

“My job right now is much more difficult because you have an administration that wants to lock the doors to the country to job creators, to innovators, to people who want to bring new ideas, so it’s more difficult,” he said. “But it’s also more satisfying because the Trump administration is completely wrong on immigration, and it’s a struggle that will ultimately win because the country has thrived on immigrants and immigration and that’s what made America as amazing as it is.”

Before becoming partner and chair of the immigration law group at Ulmer & Berne LLP in Cleveland, Leopold led his own immigration law practice for more than 20 years. As he’s gotten involved in advocacy and politics around immigration, he said he views his career as more of a calling than a job and cites his upbringing as to why he became active in immigration law.

“I was raised at the knee of a Holocaust survivor,” he said. “My father fled the Nazis, and I was brought up in a home were I learned how important it is to defend your rights.”

His analyses and opinions on current immigration issues regularly appear in national media outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, CNN and the BBC among others.

He described today’s immigration environment in the United States as “awful” and the treatment of immigrants as “repulsive.” He added that it’s due to the current administration, which he described it as the “most anti-immigrant administration in the history of the country.”

“It’s repulsive as an America, it’s repulsive as a lawyer and it’s repulsive as a Jew,” said Leopold.

Throughout his career, he’s most proud of being able to help people and

Meyers, Roman, Friedberg & Lewis hen Scott M. Lewis was in college, he aspired to be a television sports broad-

caster.

About David

Practice Area: Immigration Synagogue: Solon Chabad Favorite Jewish Movie: “The Infidel” and “The Pianist” Favorite Jewish celebrity: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Favorite Jewish food: Any Israeli food Favorite Jewish holiday: Passover Favorite Jewish tradition: Tzedakah Hobbies: Photography businesses thrive in the United States.

Even as each day brings new difficulties, Leopold stays motivated to keep fighting because he views now as a more crucial time then ever.

“I think right now we’re in an epic battle for the survival of the United States. We’ve got the biggest threat ever to the rule of law and to our system of government and I think that’s what keeps me motivated,” he said. “We’ve got to right this wrong, meaning we have to make sure the country, the rule of law, the way of life of this country is protected from those who want to tear it down for partisan gain.”

He said he incorporates his Jewish background throughout his career by giving back to the community and in his efforts to make the world a better place, or tikkun olam.

A 1977 graduate of Brush High School in Lyndhurst, he double-majored in journalism and political science at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and worked as a stringer for newspapers near Ann Arbor.

A father-son talk changed his professional destiny, he said. His father started the conversation by asking a question.

“He said, ‘What do you want to be? What do you want to do?” Lewis recalled. “I said I want to be like (sportscaster) Brent Musburger.”

“It’s a vagabond existence,” his father told him, he said, and encouraged him instead to study for the law school entrance exam.

“I heeded his advice and it’s served me well,” he said.

Lewis, 59, graduated from the University of Chicago Law School and then returned to his hometown of Cleveland to begin law practice at Kahn Kleinman. There, he found many mentors in the legal profession, who had distinctive styles and strengths.

He ended up in the specialty of mergers and acquisitions because that was where the firm needed his expertise.

He is now a partner at Meyers, Roman, Friedberg & Lewis in Woodmere.

It took Lewis a while to develop his negotiating style, which he described as moderate and guided by a sense of ethics.

“We fought hard, we did the right thing,” he said. “We weren’t selfish.

We left something on the table. We did something that creates value.

“It’s not healing the world, but you need to be focused on more than just a ‘zero-sum’ result in order to do this job effectively.”

He said he tries to be respectful.

“If someone wants an attorney that’s going to start on the 3-yard line, that’s not me,” he said. “That’s going to lead to protracted and very costly negotiations.”

His daughter, he said, has been critical of his work, viewing it as helping the wealthy.

However, Lewis said his proudest moments on the job often involve resolutions to cases that serve a wider purpose.

In one case, he was pleased to be able to bring to resolution an eight-figure

About Scott

Practice Area: Business practice, mergers and acquisitions Synagogue: Park Synagogue Favorite Jewish movie: “Fiddler on the Roof” Favorite Jewish celebrity: Barbra Streisand Favorite Jewish food: Chopped liver Favorite Jewish holiday: Passover Favorite Jewish tradition: Break fast Hobbies: Instrumental and vocal music, basketball, jogging, weightlifting, golfing, reading transaction within a month. In that case, he was dealing with what he called “sophisticated” clients on both sides of the transaction.

In a second, he helped a franchisee recover lost costs to a franchiser that “wouldn’t or couldn’t” deliver.

And finally, he helped bring a southwestern Ohio factory back to life that had been mothballed and was about to be sold in a foreclosure sale.

“My office would not take no for an answer,” he said. “It was a very satisfying moment for me.”

Lewis was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. and raised in Lyndhurst. He attended Temple Emanu El, now in Orange, as a child and accompanied its cantor on the organ and piano as a teenager. He now sings with Park Synagogue’s choir and the show choir, Note-Oriety.

Lewis lives in Orange, where he has been active in city government. His wife, Shelly Lewis, teaches at the Joseph and Florence Mandel Jewish Day School in Beachwood. His daughter, Sara, lives in San Francisco and his son, Bradley, lives in Pittsburgh.

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CJN.ORG | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | 53

JANUARY 25, 2019

Mordechai Lichtenstein Guardian Connection JILL MCCULLOUGH

A

ging individuals suffering debilitating effects of mental decline often means family members will obtain legal guardianship of them. Those without relatives are dependent on strangers to identify and resolve their needs.

Even as a child, Mordechai Lichtenstein thought he might like to practice law. By the time he was in college, he was sure.

“I have always enjoyed the intellectual and analytical aspects of the law,” said Lichtenstein, adding he has a history of standing up and taking care of the underrepresented.

After graduating from the University of Maryland School of Law in Baltimore, Lichtenstein prosecuted child abuse cases in New York for 10 years. He also served on then Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s 2005 campaign.

“I served as mayor Bloomberg’s Jewish liaison,” he said. “We did outreach, rallies and grassroots work, anything that related to the mayoral campaign and the Jewish community.”

Lichtenstein never strayed from his passion for the underserved. A year ago, he came to Cleveland, where he started his firm dedicated to helping a vulnerable segment of the adult population.

“Guardian Connection is a comprehensive provider of legal guardian services … we represent people with mental incompetency or some kind of mental illness that would prevent them from making their own decisions,” he said. “We focus on elder care and legal guardianship.

“It has been exciting to build up something from scratch and find our niche,” he said.

Many of Lichtenstein’s clients don’t have family willing or able to make financial decisions that would serve the client well.

“Sometimes, family members are living out of state, or the client does not have any relatives,” he said. “We work with hospitals, nursing homes and families who need guidance.”

Lichtenstein remembers his first elder care case, which began shortly

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About Mordechai

Practice Area: Legal guardianship Synagogue: Young Israel of Greater Cleveland Favorite Jewish Food: Hot pastrami on rye with coleslaw and sour pickles Favorite Jewish Holiday: Sukkot Hobbies: Skiing, hiking and photography after a nursing home representative asked him to visit one of its residents in need of a guardian.

“I went to the home to see the resident,” he recalled. “She had dementia. At the end of our conversation, she walked me to the door and blew kisses at me. I was later told that she had not had a single visitor in 10 months.”

The story serves as a reminder to Lichtenstein as to why he started Guardian Connection.

“I enjoy the work,” said Lichtenstein, who also works with the probate court system representing patients in cases of involuntary psychiatric hospitalization.

The work has no affiliation with Guardian Connection.

“I am appointed by the courts to represent the patient,” he said. “I pick up such cases when I am available … these patients are unable to make their own decisions.”

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Jill McCullough is a freelance writer.

Rubin Guttman

55 Public Square, Suite 1860 Cleveland, OH 44113 216-696-4006

54 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG

Gary Lieberman

Lieberman, Dvorin & Dowd LLC

Ken Liffman McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Liffman Co., LPA ED CARROLL | STAFF REPORTER @EdCarrollCJN ecarroll@cjn.org |

ELIZABETH RANDOLPH

T

K

he real estate business can be complex and it’s not uncommon for a lawyer to be involved in matters of buying, and, in some cases, losing homes. Dealing with matters like these is something Gary L. Lieberman faces in a typical week.

An alumnus of The Ohio State University in Columbus and ClevelandMarshall College of Law, Lieberman founded his firm in 1982. His focus was on real estate related matters, including buying and selling, leasing, development, financing, license agreements and stock sales. He worked to build and maintain relationships with clients. But after decades of success, he said he decided to make a change.

“Three years ago, I took in partners and changed the name of my firm to Lieberman, Dvorin & Dowd LLC.,” he said. “It grew to its current size of seven lawyers.”

Lieberman made the decision to transition from being an entrepreneur to being a managing member of the firm. He works alongside partners David Dvorin and Darren Dowd at his Pepper Pike office. Since becoming a firm with more levels of expertise, Lieberman said his firm deals closely with all forms of transactions in real estate. The partnership has also allowed the firm to venture into providing counseling for small business owners.

“We are deeply involved in real estate transactions and handle initial acquisitions, dispositions, development agreements, financing, organizational issues as well as operational issues such as leases, contracts and evictions,” he said. “We are also involved with small business matters, ranging from inception of the business, forming entities, employment agreements, shareholder agreements and operating agreements.”

In addition to a lengthy career in law, investing is another of Lieberman’s business practices. Throughout the years, Lieberman has been involved in

LOCAL LAWYERS

JANUARY 25, 2019

en Liffman’s values have been influencing his career since before he had one.

About Gary

Practice Area: Real estate, business Favorite Jewish movie: “The Last Suit” Favorite Jewish celebrity: Jerry Seinfeld, Pink, the Three Stooges, Adam Sandler, Woody Allen, Adam Levin and Henry Winkler.

Favorite Jewish food: Brisket and matzah ball soup.

Favorite Jewish holiday: How can you go wrong with Chanukah?

Favorite hobbies: Weather permitting, I enjoy bike riding with family and friends many facets of real estate, including family residential properties, shopping centers and office spaces.

Lieberman has primarily practiced law in Cleveland, and that allows him to have a career that keeps him challenged and excited about his work. It also provides him an opportunity to take on new cases, as real estate laws change frequently.

“The field of law is intellectually interesting, and no two work days are the same,” he said.

Elizabeth Randolph is a freelance writer.

“It starts with education, without a doubt,” he said. “My parents came here (to the U.S.), I’m first generation and if they weren’t educated, it would have been a much tougher journey for me. I think that’s also why (Jews have) survived 6,000 years. I think whether it’s philanthropic or business-wise, it’s an obligation to do it right, but it’s an honor to help people and to do good things for folks. Whether you do that as counsel or you do that as a lawyer or you do that because you have certain abilities to help a philanthropic endeavor, I think those are all important values, along with family values.”

Liffman compared his career to a round of golf, saying he was on the “back nine” of his career, and said he’s started to turn his eye toward the bigger picture.

“The stuff I’m more concerned about now is more of a strategic plan for what has been a very successful firm,” Liffman said. “I do talk to some folks, and when you ask them what’s going to happen to the practice after they’re gone and they say, ‘What do I care, I’m not here,’ and that’s not me. To do well, I think you have to have an ego. The issue starts when you start to believe your own stuff. That turns to arrogance.”

He said the legal industry is already undergoing some “extraordinary” changes, and said one of the biggest challenges still facing the legal community will be artificial intelligence. But, he said, one of the biggest questions facing the community in Cleveland is how the city’s current leadership hands the reins off to the next generation of leaders.

“I think that’s the biggest question of the Cleveland community,” Liffman said. “Part of the reason I stayed in Cleveland is it’s an amazing philanthropic community. Some of the giants (in the community) have either passed away or it’s late in the game for them, in terms of their generosity of time and money.”

He said the firm gets asked to contribute to philanthropic causes up to five times a day and knows they’re all worthy causes, but tries to find the people and causes that will use the

About Ken

Practice Area: Real estate, construction, business, corporate, mergers, acquisitions, banking Synagogue: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple Favorite Jewish movie: “Defiance” Favorite Jewish celebrity: Jerry Seinfeld or Mel Brooks Favorite Jewish food: Potato pancakes Favorite Jewish holiday: As a kid, Chanukah; as a parent, probably Passover Favorite Jewish tradition: When I was a kid, it was definitely my mom and me saying the Shema every night with my prayers. As I got older, most people refer to it as the children’s blessing Hobbies: Sports, golf, working out, playing with my grandchildren money most wisely.

“We have to – and you see this with most of the better run organizations – really work to get the youth involvement,” Liffman said. “It has to start early. Not necessarily a financial involvement when they’re young, but there has to be some investment. I think you can never take the future for granted. We have great infrastructure, great people and Cleveland really is a giving town in the attitude of the folks and their decency. But we have to get the youth involved. ... I like helping people and that’s what it’s about.”

SUPER ATTORNEYS

JANUARY 25, 2019

CJN.ORG | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | 55

Howard Mishkind Mishkind Kulwicki Law Co., LPA JANE KAUFMAN | STAFF REPORTER @jkaufmanCJN jkaufman@cjn.org |

H

About Howard

oward Mishkind sees an obligation to clients to be thorough, forthright and realistic.

The personal injury and medical malpractice lawyer said he makes a point of studying each case from both the plaintiff and the defendant’s position as well as to consider the cost of pursuing the case.

Among the types of cases Mishkind takes are catastrophic cases: wrongful death, serious injury such as stroke and paralysis, orthopedic claims, injuries to babies, and vaccine injury claims, which he argues at a specialized court in Washington, D.C. “Transparency and honesty has always been, I guess, my guiding light,” he said.

Mishkind, 63, often has difficult conversations with potential clients, where he tells them that in his opinion, they don’t have a case.

“I spend a lot of time looking at medical records and researching the issues only to tell the people that I feel badly about the death,” he said.

Mishkind tells them, “I feel badly about

Practice Area: Personal injury and medical malpractice Synagogue: Temple Emanu El Favorite Jewish movie: “Schindler’s List” Favorite Jewish celebrity: Lee Fisher, former state senator and Ohio attorney general and lieutenant governor and dean of ClevelandMarshall College of Law Favorite Jewish food: Corned beef and potato pancakes Favorite Jewish holiday: Chanukah Favorite Jewish tradition: Attending b’nai mitzvahs Hobbies: Hiking and horseback riding your injury. I can’t change what happened, but I don’t want to add salt to an open wound. I don’t want to pursue a case where I know that the likelihood is that you’re going to get further bad news.”

In cases that have merit, he said, his general rule is that resolving cases out of court is a safer option for clients.

“It’s always better to resolve the case reasonably,” he said. “Because when you

take the case to trial with eight jurors, you don’t know how they’re going to react to the evidence and what their bias is when they come into the case. I’ve won cases that I should have lost. I’ve lost cases that I should have won.”

Mishkind said he is unafraid of going to trial and that his defendants include prominent doctors, Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals. He said he will pursue litigation in cases where he believes a hospital system’s protocol may have led to the injury or death, or when a doctor appears to have been negligent and subsequently has refused to accept responsibility.

“There are circumstances where the existing law needs to be challenged, or the defense is taking a position that you feel in your gut is wrong,” he said, adding if clients, knowing the risks, want their day in court, Mishkind will represent them.

“I may not always agree that that’s the best decision, but it’s not my case. It’s the client’s case.”

Mishkind is sometimes referred cases from other lawyers who prefer not to litigate, he said.

Born in Cleveland, he graduated from Shaker Heights High School in 1973 and

became a bar mitzvah at Heights Jewish Center Synagogue. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a major in marketing and management in 1977 and from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1980. His first internship was with lawyer Fred Weisman.

He said he never expected to pursue personal injury law, but found he enjoyed trial work. He initially worked at Weisman, Goldberg and Weisman in Cleveland.

Mishkind and his wife, Jane Mishkind, live in Kirtland. They have a daughter, Beth Roth, and a granddaughter, who live in Willoughby Hills.

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56 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG

JANUARY 25, 2019

LOCAL LAWYERS

Richard S. Mitchell Roetzel & Andress ALYSSA SCHMITT | STAFF REPORTER @AlyssaSchmitCJN aschmitt@cjn.org |

R

ichard S. Mitchell went to law school at the encouragement of his father to pursue a profession. While he might not have had a burning desire to be a lawyer since he was a child, he said he’s been able to thrive in his career.

As a shareholder at Roetzel & Andress in Cleveland, Mitchell focuses his practice on complex business litigation, including shareholder disputes, securities litigation, Lanham Act violations and emergency injunctions in non-competes and trade secrets. He’s also been a lead trial counsel for cases in state and federal courts in Ohio and throughout the country.

A graduate of Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, Mitchell has stayed interested in business litigation for his 35-year career for its ability to stay fresh.

“Business litigation is interesting from a stand point that you end up learning lots of different businesses

and sustenance areas instead of being in certain areas like if you were in (medical malpractice),” he said.

“Business litigation, in my mind, keeps it fresh because the facts are always very different in every case and you often are tending to learn about somebody’s business or products or things of that nature. ... Plus we’re in lots of different sustenance areas of law, so my cases range from anything from breach of contract cases to security class action to shareholder dispute (or) intellectual property dispute, so it runs pretty broad.”

Mitchell chalks up each of his wins as the proudest moments of his career, because that’s what he’s hired to do.

However, like many in his line of work, the challenges of juggling different cases and the stress of fighting with everybody involved in the case – including opponents, judges and sometimes colleagues and clients – can get to him.

To overcome that extra stress, he said, he tries to work with good people that are able to assist him and he exercises.

“I suppose (working out is) an outlet for relieving stress and meeting new people,” he said. “Originally, I started about 11 years ago when my kids were in about fifth and seventh grade, working out with a professional trainer and we were doing weight lifting. And over time, that’s expanded to running, more recently swimming. But from that we’ve done Tough Mudders and other triathlons and other competitions.”

While he started working out to have more face time with his kids, its also been a way for him to bridge his stress reliever with his professional life. He serves on the Mandel Jewish Community Center of Cleveland’s board of trustees and also serves on its executive committee. In this role, he said he’s able to incorporate his Jewish background as well.

“I take my work talents and try to incorporate them to helping in the JCC,” he said. “Being on the executive committee and on the board, we’re faced with long-term business challenges and, specifically, I help on governance areas.”

About Richard

Practice Area: Business litigation Synagogue: Congregation Shaarey Tikvah Favorite Jewish Movie: “Schindler’s List” Favorite Jewish food: Blintzes Favorite Jewish holiday: Passover Favorite Jewish tradition: Any of the holidays is in turn spending time with family Hobbies: Scuba diving, water skiing and working out

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SUPER ATTORNEYS

JANUARY 25, 2019

Suzann Moskowitz The Moskowitz Firm MARISSA NICHOL

CJN.ORG | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | 57

Ohio Medical Malpractice & Personal Injury Attorneys

S

uzann Moskowitz is approaching the 10th anniversary of The Moskowitz Firm in Cleveland next year, where she works primarily on trademark, copyright and technology matters.

“My client relationships usually begin during a happy, preventative care time and then I’m able to really get to know them, know their business,” she said. “So, if a problem does arise, I’m personally able to give them a tailored solution that’s going to be cost-effective and really suited to who they are and what kind of business they run.”

Prior to founding the firm, Moskowitz worked at a larger firm with entrepreneurs, which gave her “the bug” to start her business. She was always interested in consumer protection as a child. She recalls watching the television show “Fight Back,” in which consumer advocate David Horowitz took on big businesses and fought against poor service and practices for consumers.

“I just hated the idea of someone being ripped off,” she said. “To me, false advertising, especially to kids or vulnerable populations, felt like a real crime.”

Moskowitz calls her job a great hybrid between being a lawyer and a marketing executive to protect ideas and brands. This specialization interested her when she worked as a legal assistant at Newsweek magazine for about 1½ years between her undergraduate schooling and law school at Stanford University in Stanford, Calif.

“It gave me an understanding of how important it is to actually protect your brands once you’ve built them,” she explained. “Not every company has physical goods. Sometimes what we’re really protecting are the ideas and the brands themselves.”

As Moskowitz combines her legal and business expertise to run her business, she combines professional and personal passions to help others. She uses her ability as a lawyer and business owner to do reduced rate and pro bono intellectual property work for arts organizations.

“Personally, I’m not much of an artist,” she admitted. “I feel like it’s important to support the arts, so the best way that I can is by doing pro bono IP work for them as much as possible.

That’s one of the nice things about

Howard D. Mishkind, Esq.

David A. Kulwicki, Esq.

hmishkind@mishkindlaw.com

dkulwicki@mishkindlaw.com

Wishing you peace, prosperity and goodMishkind health theKulwicki New Year!

Howard andin David were again

About Suzann

Practice Area: Intellectual property lawyer Synagogue: The TempleTifereth Israel Favorite Jewish movie: “An American Tail” Favorite Jewish celebrity: Fievel Mousekewitz Favorite Jewish holiday: Purim Favorite Jewish tradition: Mandatory consumption of fried foods Favorite Jewish food: Grandmother’s blintzes and soup Hobbies: Inline skating, bicycling and reading working for myself, too. There’s no real limit to how much pro bono and reduced rate work I can do.”

As a resident of Shaker Heights and being involved in Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, a program of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association in Cleveland, she has a soft spot for local organizations. She also does work for nonprofits and businesses all over the country and the world. Moskowitz said she feels if she has access to her law degree, she can use a specialized skill set to provide more targeted help for organizations.

“In addition to donating to community organizations, I think pro bono work is a great way to give tzedakah,” she said. “I try to also point out to my children that I’m doing this work. Giving of our time is one of the most valuable things we can do when we’re so busy.”

Marissa Nichol is a freelance writer.

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58 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG

JANUARY 25, 2019

LOCAL LAWYERS

Dana M. Paris

Michael B. Pasternak

JILL MCCULLOUGH

ED CARROLL | STAFF REPORTER @EdCarrollCJN ecarroll@cjn.org |

Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy

P

M

eople who are injured in a car accident or by another event caused by negligence are members of a club they never wished to join. That is where Dana Paris comes in. An associate attorney who grew up with the law, she considers it a privilege to seek justice on behalf of clients.

One could argue Paris was an expert in legal matters long before she attended Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University. Her father is a trial lawyer and her mother is a judge.

“I grew up in a household where discussions centered around inequalities in our legal system and the effect it has had on a large segment of our population,” she said. “In the latter part of college, I knew I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives and followed in my parents’ footsteps into a great profession.”

Paris, who has practiced since 2013, is a personal injury trial attorney at Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy in Cleveland.

“Oftentimes, when clients are involved in accidents through no fault of their own, it has an enormous impact on their lives,” she said. “They’re unable to work due to their injuries and their medical treatment and bills seem insurmountable.”

It is motivation for Paris to go to the mat on their behalf.

“Not only do I take pride in fighting for my clients and helping to return their lives to some semblance of normalcy, but it’s incredibly rewarding to form lasting friendships with my clients as well,” she said.

One gratifying moment occurred when Paris resolved a particularly contentious case. The client – a soon-to-be bride – asked Paris to officiate her wedding.

“Of course, I couldn’t, but it was flattering to know that she wanted me involved in one of the most important days of her life,” she said.

Paris said the most notable case of her career involved a client who

Michael B. Pasternak – Attorney at Law ichael B. Pasternak said he likes representing the underdog and the pursuit of justice, two things that led him to representing Eugene Johnson, who, along with Derrick Wheatt and Laurese Glover, are commonly referred to as the “East Cleveland 3,” three East Cleveland residents who were imprisoned for 20 years for a murder they did not commit.

About Dana

Practice Area: Personal injury trial attorney Synagogue: Suburban Temple-Kol Ami Favorite Jewish Movie: “Wet Hot American Summer” Favorite Jewish Celebrity: No comment Favorite Jewish Food: Kugel Favorite Jewish Holiday: Rosh Hashanah Favorite Jewish Tradition: No comment Hobbies: Skiing and yoga suffered from an undiagnosed angina due to medical malpractice. The client had a major heart attack that left her permanently disabled.

“The case went to a verdict in her favor,” said Paris, who added that no amount of money could erase the devastation suffered by her client, but the jury’s decision offered a measure of peace.

The win was significant for Paris, who was raised with solid Jewish values, including compassion, honesty and an inclination to put forth “maximum effort for every client.”

Jill McCullough is a freelance writer.

While Pasternak helped secure judgments of $5 million from East Cleveland and $1.5 million from Cuyahoga County for Johnson’s wrongful imprisonment, Pasternak acknowledged it would be a “challenge” to collect the settlement from the poor suburb of East Cleveland, but was pleased with the decision.

“It was a once-in-a-career moment to participate in helping get their story out and getting them some compensation for being wrongly imprisoned,” he said.

He said, despite the attention East Cleveland has received from this and other cases and the spotlight on the city due to the reporting of the investigative reporting podcast, “Serial,” which based its third season in Cleveland, he’s seen “no evidence” of East Cleveland changing its ways.

“The city doesn’t seem to get the focused attention from outside entities (as other locations do),” he said. “On some level, because (East Cleveland is) not sitting on a pile of cash, they feel they’re judgment proof, so that makes them feel emboldened to not change. I’ve seen no evidence that (these cases have) changed their conduct, sadly.”

He said his Jewish values line up well with his work.

“My goal in business is to do the right thing, honorably represent my clients,” Pasternak said. “I go against big companies, insurance companies, cities ... and I try to honorably represent my clients and be advocates for justice.

But that’s what all lawyers are supposed to do, regardless of whether they’re Jewish or not.”

He said representing Johnson was a bit of an eye-opener for him.

“In terms of the East Cleveland case, I grew up privileged in Beachwood,

About Michael

Practice Areas: Civil litigation, trial lawyer Synagogue: Jewish Family Experience Favorite Jewish Movie: “Defiance” Favorite Jewish food: Corned beef Favorite Jewish holiday: Yom Kippur Favorite Jewish tradition: Shabbat Hobbies: Working out, hanging out with my family and reading never had any bad experiences with police officers or the court system,” he said. “Working on the East Cleveland 3 case was a scary eye opener for me.

There are members of American society, where the system is not just and it’s not fair. And we overlook it and tend to move on.

“There are lots of cases where people are wrongfully charged, wrongfully convicted,” he said. “The thing about the East Cleveland 3 we need to take away is we all have to take criminal justice reform seriously and address the bias we have. The first recognition is that we do have a bias problem, that literally is the first step. The system, as it exists today, is biased from the way lawyers are paid, to the way someone thinks when they are charged with a crime. You can’t ask the question if you’re not going to entertain possible solutions.”

SUPER ATTORNEYS

CJN.ORG | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | 59

JANUARY 25, 2019

Joy B. Savren

JEFFREY A. LEIKIN, ESQ., LLC

Joy B. Savren Law

55 PUBLIC SQUARE, SUITE 2100 • CLEVELAND, OHIO 44113

ALYSSA SCHMITT | STAFF REPORTER @AlyssaSchmitCJN aschmitt@cjn.org |

Jeffrey A. Leikin, Esq. is the founder of the litigation firm of Jeffrey Leikin Esq., LLC. and has worked for over thirty years protecting the rights of his clients and their families. The firm is handling matters involving personal injury that includes wrongful death, medical negligence, nursing home liability, automobile, motorcycle and trucking accident cases. Consultation is free. Give us a call or visit our website at www. leikinlegal.com.

W

hat keeps Joy B. Savren’s practice interesting is her desire to continue learning throughout her career as an attorney specializing in family law, juvenile law and probate and estate planning. Her natural interest led her to become a family law mediator, trained parenting coordinator and allowed her to hone her skills as a negotiator.

Her prime motivation, she said, is working with people, especially in the area of divorce law.

“I’m working with people where either they’re at the worst possible moments of their life or could be the best possible moment – that they’re making changes in their lives,” said Savren. “I can be an adviser and I can be part of that.”

However, Savren didn’t always plan to go into these practices. When she was at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University, she wanted to go into public interest law, specifically employment and education discrimination. While in law school, she had an opportunity to see Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg – before she was a supreme court justice – argue a case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Yet, Savren said when she graduated law school, the country was changing and becoming more conservative so the funding for such practice dried up.

Thus, she began her practice.

In her practice, it’s less likely for her to go to trial as clients can’t always afford it or the court will pressure those involved to settle as many things as possible, so when the case does go to trial, it’s only on limited parts. With these variables around her, Savren said she’s had to hone her negotiating skills.

“You have to know and study more about human behavior and (have) listening skills and (ask), what is it that’s motivating people, what’s keeping them from settling?” she said. “Part of that is, what language are you using? ...

Are you turning somebody off within the first 30 seconds of opening your mouth or can you get them to actually listen?”

Savren also speaks at workshops focused on changes in family law,

LET 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORK FOR YOU About Joy

Practice Area: Family law, juvenile law, probate and estate planning Favorite Jewish movie: “Schindler’s List” Favorite Jewish celebrity: Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Favorite Jewish food: Matzah ball soup Favorite Jewish holiday: Passover (goes with the soup) Favorite Jewish tradition: Tzedakah Hobbies: Hiking with my dogs at parks, traveling, watching movies, reading and photography especially since the right to marry has changed the landscape in the LGBTQ community. In the ’70s or ’80s, she said when a same-sex couple would separate, the laws were against them to have custody of their children. But now, because this area of law is newer, she said it provides an opportunity to set new precedents.

“It’s a chance to be a positive, to make a change in the law and make positive results in the community,” she said.

Growing up, she learned the importance of volunteering and often participated in Jewish organizations, she said. Through this, she learned to be responsible for the community and to treat others equally, which she incorporates into her work.

“These are people with lives and they matter,” she said. “There was a Yiddish word that was used in my household a lot: mensch. To be a mensch is to be a humane individual ... and to pay attention to not just yourself, but to those around you.”

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60 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG

JANUARY 25, 2019

LOCAL LAWYERS

Susan Stone

Stephen S. Zashin

ED CARROLL | STAFF REPORTER @EdCarrollCJN ecarroll@cjn.org |

ELIZABETH RANDOLPH

Kohrman Jackson & Krantz LLP

L

S

aw and business are two practices that can be equally complex and difficult for some to understand. Stephen S. Zashin, co-managing partner of Zashin & Rich, decided he wanted to thoroughly understand both to better relate to his clients.

usan Stone, a partner at Kohrman Jackson & Krantz LLP in Cleveland, is cochair of the firm’s student-athlete defense practice, where she and the other co-chair represent students, athletes and professionals who might be having issues in an academic setting, which she called a “unique practice.”

“(We represent clients) whether they need to fight for more disability rights and services or they’re being accused of student misconduct,” Stone said.

“Misconduct can take the form of a Title IX allegation, which is typically about a sexual assault, plagiarism or any other type of academic misconduct. We’ve expanded our practice to represent scientists and academics accused of misconduct, whether that’s dealing with falsification, fabrication or plagiarism of research that’s done at the academic level and funded by the Department of Health and Human Services. It’s a wide variety of student and athlete defense.

It’s a pretty unique practice in the country.”

Stone said the biggest issues surrounding Title IX regard what the Office of Civil Rights regulations will be, and Stone and her co-chair went to Washington, D.C., when the draft legislation came out to give their thoughts on the proposed regulation.

“We’re all just waiting to see what (the regulations are) going to look like in permanent form,” she said.

She said there was a lot of criticism toward the previous regulations, as they did not afford enough due process to students accused of misconduct and said students were being expelled without the proper right of notice or to be heard. She is hoping the regulations will give students the right to confront their accusers, more cross examination and more participation allowed from student advisers. The notice and comment period is open until Jan. 28, and then the regulations should come out sometime after the government has taken the time to consider them.

When asked if there might be a compromise in terms of regulations allowing the accused to confront accusers, given that in cases of sexual misconduct, forcing an alleged victim to interact with an accuser could be particularly traumatic, Stone suggested they could communicate via Skype or

Zashin & Rich

About Susan

Practice Area: Education, student and criminal defense and cyber and white collar crime Synagogue: Jewish Family Experience Favorite Jewish movie: “Defiance” Favorite Jewish celebrity: Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Favorite Jewish food: Challah Favorite Jewish holiday: Purim Favorite Jewish tradition: Friday night dinner Hobbies: Aside from work and children, loves to exercise, do yoga, work out and do all types of exercise another video communications program or, the questions could be filtered through a third party.

“There does need to be a way to test credibility, because so often these cases are (credibility flawed), because they happen behind closed doors,” Stone said.

“Our course we defend, but really ... we take the position that we are about due process. We want the process to be fair.

When you’re looking at someone being expelled and having their reputation ruined for the rest of their life, there has to be a way to test the truth in this situation. ... Without cross examination, it’s very hard to determine whether someone is telling the truth. It is the time-old treasured way that this country has established through our judicial process to test credibility is to ask them questions. ... Cross examination doesn’t have to be ... this cruel process, but that’s not really what it is in real life.

You’re just asking questions based on evidence that would call into question the validity of facts.”

With both a law degree and an MBA, Zashin said his background allows him to bring a unique approach to his cases. Zashin’s practice is labor and employment and he deals with issues like workplace law, performance issues, defending unions, and, in some cases, terminates employees on behalf of a company.

“I think my approach is different because I think more like business people,” he said. “This changes the way I deal with cases because I try to find more creative solutions and how it pertains to business.”

Zashin’s firm is unique in that it doesn’t compete with other law firms in Ohio. With offices in Cleveland and Columbus, the law firm is one of few in Ohio that directly works with labor and employment law.

A graduate of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Zashin said throughout his career he has been hired by sports teams who want to build cases against the NFL regarding workplace practices. In 2016, he defended Lane Johnson, a right tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles.

“Lane brought claims against the NFL Players Association and the NFL concerning discipline under the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement,” he said. “The case is still pending. It’s unique when you are taking on the NFL and the state of Pennsylvania.”

Outside of work, Zashin spends time with another passion of his: music.

“Music has always been very important to me,” he said.

Through his band, Faith and Whiskey, he lives out his musical dreams by often performing live.

In addition to music, Zashin is a self-proclaimed workout junkie. He

About Stephen

Practice Area: Labor and employment Synagogue: Park Synagogue Favorite Jewish movie: “The Jazz Singer” Favorite Jewish celebrity: David Lee Roth Favorite Jewish food: Matzah ball soup Favorite Jewish holiday: Rosh Hashanah Hobbies: Exercise, playing music said anyone who is close to him knows health and fitness are important to him.

When he’s not working or playing at a show, and spends a lot of his free time at Corus 45 in Beachwood, which his wife owns. Zashin said he also enjoys Crossfit training regularly.

Zashin & Rich may not have much competition in Ohio, and they haven’t had issues with client retention. Zashin said clients have relationships with the firm that span years, and in some cases decades.

“I have clients when I joined the firm in 1997 that still work with me today,” he said. “I attribute that to how passionate we are about our clients. We are also very responsive and have good business practices.”

Elizabeth Randolph is a freelance writer.

SUPER ATTORNEYS

CJN.ORG | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | 61

JANUARY 25, 2019

LOCAL LAWYERS / SUPER ATTORNEYS Meet some noteworthy Jewish attorneys* Name: Jack W. Abel Firm: Abel & Zocolo Co., LPA Practice area(s): Family law, divorce, custody and probate and estates Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: University of North Carolina School of Law Graduation year: 1974 Last vacation: San Fransisco Hobbies: Golf, fishing and radio-controlled

Name: Michael Robert Blumenthal Firm: McGlinchey Stafford Practice area(s): Environmental law Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1986 Last vacation: Los Angeles

If not a lawyer...: Either a stand-up comedian or a politician Favorite local restaurant: Red, the Steakhouse Top of bucket list: An arctic cruise

airplanes Favorite local restaurant: Hyde Park Top of bucket list: Fly fishing in Alaska Name: Fred J. Arnoff Firm: Weston Hurd LLP Practice area(s): General business law, commercial law, real estate law, employment law, creditor’s rights, bankruptcy and estate planning Undergraduate school: Miami University Law school: Univ. of Akron School of Law Graduation year: 1975 Synagogue: Park Synagogue Name: Richard Bain Firm: Meyers Roman Friedberg & Lewis Practice area(s): Business litigation and counseling businesses Undergraduate school: Miami University Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1979 Favorite place to relax: Home Last vacation: Glacier National Park and Jackson Hole If not a lawyer...: I would still be mayor of Pepper Pike Hobbies: Fishing and hiking Name: Todd Behrens Firm: Medley, Behrens & Lewis, LLC Practice area(s): Intellectual property Undergraduate school: Duke University Law school: CWRU School of Law Graduation year: 2005 Synagogue: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple If not a lawyer...: Engineer or doctor Hobbies: Golfing and supporting Duke basketball and Cleveland sports teams Favorite local restaurant: Marotta’s Name: Matthew D. Besser Firm: Bolek Besser Glesius, LLC Practice area(s): Employment, civil rights and appellate Undergraduate school: The George Washington University Law school: OSU’s Moritz College of Law Graduation year: 2004 Synagogue: Park Synagogue Last vacation: Fort Lauderdale, Fla. If not a lawyer...: A photojournalist Favorite local restaurant: Melt Bar & Grilled Top of bucket list: To argue before the U.S. Supreme Court

Aggressive .

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Successful.

OHIO LAWYERS GIVE BACK

DWORKEN & BERNSTEIN, L.P.A.

Over $37 million in cy pres funds directed to charity since 2003.

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Dworken & Bernstein Co.,L.P.A. is a full-service law firm that has represented businesses and individuals in Northeastern Ohio for more than 50 years.

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62 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG Name: Cathleen Bolek Firm: Bolek Besser Glesius, LCC Practice area(s): Employment law Undergraduate school: Syracuse University Law school: CWRU School of Law Graduation year: 1992 Synagogue: Park Synagogue If not a lawyer...: Psychologist or journalist Hobbies: Cooking, reading, being with my children and attending musical theater Favorite local restaurant: fire food & drink Guilty pleasure: Twitter Name: Ken Bossin Firm: Sole practitioner Practice area(s): OVI, traffic, criminal and business consulting Undergraduate school: Univ. of Missouri Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1970 Synagogue: Temple Israel Ner Tamid Favorite place to relax: Home in front of a fireplace with my wife If not a lawyer...: A rabbi Favorite local restaurant: Arrabiata’s Guilty pleasure: Singing songs of the ’50s and ’60s and hoping I don’t drive under a bridge, lose the satellite signal and have to hear what I sound like.

JANUARY 25, 2019 Name: Robert Botnick Firm: The Botnick Law Firm, LLC Practice area(s): Criminal, DUI/OVI and traffic defense Undergraduate school: Miami University Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 2004 Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation Favorite place to relax: On my balcony Last vacation: Iceland If not a lawyer...: Jewish history professor Top of bucket list: Take a whiskey tour of Scotland and Ireland Name: Seth P. Briskin Firm: Meyers Roman Friedberg & Lewis Practice area(s): Labor and employment law Undergraduate school: Cornell University Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1995 Synagogue: Park Synagogue Favorite place to relax: Tree skiing in powder conditions out west If not a lawyer...: Concert promoter Hobbies: Live music, golf, exercise, poker and fly fishing Favorite local restaurant: Ginko

Dinn, Hochman & Potter, LLC wishes to congratulate Steven B. Potter, Jason Hochman, Ben Carnahan and Michael C. Hennenberg, Of Counsel for their inclusion as 2019 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.

Steven B. Potter Super Lawyer

Benjamin D. Carnahan Rising Star

Jason D. Hochman Rising Star

Michael C. Hennenberg Of Counsel, Super Lawyer

Established for over 30 years, our firm provides effective legal solutions, strength in litigation, and innovative business solutions, providing corporations, business of all sizes and their owners with sophisticated business law, real estate, estate planning, and litigation representation that is tailored to their needs and goals. Of Counsel to the firm, Mr. Hennenberg uses an early and aggressive Team Defense strategy in representing individuals, business entities and licensed professionals in grand jury investigations, embezzlement, theft, health care, insurance, tax, mortgage fraud, cyber and drug crimes, public corruption, expungements and judicial release before Ohio and Federal Courts and professional licensing boards.

Dinn, Hochman & Potter, LLC is AV ® rated and ranked in 2019 as one of the Best Law Firms ® in Ohio.

LOCAL LAWYERS Name: Peter D. Brosse Firm: Meyers, Roman, Friedberg & Lewis Practice area(s): Business and corporate Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: University of Toledo College of Law Graduation year: 1984 Synagogue: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple

Last vacation: Italy Name: Adam Michael Brown Firm: Zuckerman Lear & Murray Co., LPA Undergraduate school: Ohio University Law school: OSU’s Moritz College of Law

Graduation year: 2014 Favorite place to relax: Tucson, Ariz.

If not a lawyer...: Bored Top of bucket list: Going to Italy Guilty pleasure: Chocolate chip cookies Name: James Mitchell Brown Firm: James Mitchell Brown Practice area(s): Social Security disability Undergraduate school: Ohio University Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1973 Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel Favorite place to relax: On my couch with a novel If not a lawyer...: Social justice activist Hobbies: Reading, tie collecting and golf Top of bucket list: Tikkun olam Name: Lori E. Brown Firm: Gallagher Sharp LLP Practice area(s): Professional liability (defense) Undergraduate school: University of Michigan Law school: OSU’s Moritz College of Law Graduation year: 1998 Synagogue: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple Favorite place to relax: Cleveland Metropark’s South Chagrin Reservation If not a lawyer...: Teacher Favorite local restaurant: Crumb & Spigot Tavern Guilty pleasure: Soda pop Name: Sandra J. Buzney Firm: Sandra J. Buzney Co., LPA Practice area(s): Estate planning, Medicaid planning and applications, probate and planning for individuals with special needs Undergraduate school: University of Cincinnati Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1999 Synagogue: Suburban Temple-Kol Ami and Congregation Shaarey Tikvah Last vacation: Sanibel Island, Fla. Hobbies: Golf, beading and reading Top of bucket list: Visiting national parks Guilty pleasure: Relaxing with a light fiction book

SUPER ATTORNEYS Name: Stephanie A. Chisling Firm: Stephanie A. Chisling, Esq. Practice area(s): Health care contracting, commercial law, employment law and risk management Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1990 Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel Favorite place to relax: Overlooking mountains Last vacation: Spain If not a lawyer...: Basketball statistician Hobbies: Mahjong, working out and reading Name: Robert E. Chudakoff Firm: Ulmer & Berne, LLP Practice area(s): Intellectual property Undergraduate school: Miami University Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1987 Favorite place to relax: My patio Last vacation: Cruise to Mexico If not a lawyer...: Astronomer Hobbies: The Schvitz Name: David R. Cohen Firm: David R. Cohen Co., LPA Practice area(s): Special master, mediator and arbitrator Undergraduate school: University of Michigan Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1991 Synagogue: Suburban Temple-Kol Ami Favorite place to relax: My family has a remote cabin on an island in Ontario that we visit every summer.

Last vacation: My wife and I visited Africa last November – truly the trip of a lifetime.

Hobbies: Skiing, reading, spending time with family and traveling Favorite local restaurant: Eating in Name: Daniel Cohn Firm: Howard M. Cohn & Associates Practice area(s): Intellectual property Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: Brooklyn Law School Graduation year: 2010 Favorite place to relax: Coffee shop If not a lawyer...: Browns quarterback Top of bucket list: Climbing Mount Everest Guilty pleasure: Extra strong martinis

CJN.ORG | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | 63

JANUARY 25, 2019 Name: Gary Cowan Firm: Elk & Elk Practice area(s): Personal injury Undergraduate school: University of Ottawa Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1987 Favorite place to relax: Caribbean beach Hobbies: Standardbred racing, baseball and golf Favorite local restaurant: SASA Guilty pleasure: 20-ounce bone-in ribeye Name: Marc E. Dann Firm: The Dann Law Firm Practice area(s): Consumer, debtor and disability rights Undergraduate school: University of Michigan Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1987 Synagogue: Beth Israel-The West Temple Favorite place to relax: My backyard Last vacation: Costa Rica If not a lawyer...: Park ranger Hobbies: Reading, hiking, biking and playing with my dogs Name: Robert K. Danzinger Firm: Sleggs, Danzinger & Gill Co. LPA Practice area(s): Property tax litigation Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1992 Synagogue: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple Last vacation: Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) If not a lawyer...: Middle school teacher and sports coach Top of bucket list: Cycling across Israel Guilty pleasure: Double Stuff Oreos Name: Gary S. Desberg Firm: Singerman, Mills, Desberg & Kauntz Co., LPA Practice area(s): Real estate Undergraduate school: Univ. of Michigan Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1985 Synagogue: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple Last vacation: Maui If not a lawyer...: A cartoonist Top of bucket list: Going to The Masters Guilty pleasure: Craft beer

Name: Steve M. Dettelbach Firm: BakerHostetler Practice area(s): White collar, investigations and securities enforcement and litigation Undergraduate school: Dartmouth College Law school: Harvard Law School Graduation year: 1991 Synagogue: Park Synagogue Favorite place to relax: Solon Recreation Center working out or watching one of my son’s basketball games If not a lawyer...: I would teach high school U.S. history and coach the basketball team Top of bucket list: Watching the Indians win a World Series with my family Guilty pleasure: A cigar and nice glass of bourbon

Favorite place to relax: Wellfleet, Cape Cod If not a lawyer...: Engineer Favorite local restaurant: Parallax Top of bucket list: Travel to Australia/New Zealand Name: David Drechsler Firm: Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs Practice area(s): Inheritance litigation and business litigation Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1989 Synagogue: Solon Chabad If not a lawyer...: Comedian Hobbies: Exercise, skiing and hiking Favorite local restaurant: Tommy’s Top of bucket list: African safari

Name: Michael H. Diamant Firm: Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP Practice area(s): Arbitrator and mediator (technology, IP and business) Undergraduate school: CWRU Law school: Harvard Law School Graduation year: 1971 Synagogue: Park Synagogue

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64 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG

JANUARY 25, 2019

Name: Stanley M. Dub Firm: Stanley M. Dub Co., LPA Practice area(s): Franchise law and dealerships Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1975 Synagogue: Suburban Temple-Kol Ami Favorite place to relax: Cedar Lee Theater Last vacation: Israel If not a lawyer...: Business owner Guilty pleasure: Watching Baker Mayfield play football Name: Brandon Duber Firm: Bentoff & Duber Co., LPA Practice area(s): Personal injury, workers’ compensation and criminal defense Undergraduate school: Skidmore College Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 2005 Synagogue: Park Synagogue Last vacation: Lanai, Hawaii If not a lawyer...: A ski bum Favorite local restaurant: Sara’s Place Name: Rob Dubyak Firm: Dubyak Nelson, LLC Practice area(s): Business litigation Undergraduate school: Miami University Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1992 Synagogue: Park Synagogue

Name: Marcel C. Duhamel Firm: Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, LLP Practice area(s): Litigation with experience in privacy, consumer class actions, patent infringement and general commercial litigation Undergraduate school: CWRU Law school: University of Chicago Law School Graduation year: 1993 Synagogue: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple Favorite place to relax: On my bicycle If not a lawyer...: Lacking the talent and athleticism to be a professional cyclist, I’d probably be a professional brewer.

Hobbies: Road cycling, beer brewing and photography Guilty pleasure: Watching “Game of Thrones,” over and over Name: Mark Edelman Firm: McGlinchey Stafford Practice area(s): Consumer financial services and regulatory compliance Undergraduate school: University of Michigan Law school: OSU’s Moritz College of Law Graduation year: 1986 Synagogue: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple Favorite place to relax: Sunroom and King’s Gym If not a lawyer...: IT support or chief information officer Top of bucket list: Traveling to the Galapagos Islands Guilty pleasure: Watching cartoons from the 60s to the 90s

LOCAL LAWYERS

Name: Arthur Elk Firm: Elk & Elk Practice area(s): Personal injury and medical malpractice Undergraduate school: CWRU Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1973 Synagogue: Park Synagogue Hobbies: Spending time with family, riding motorcycles, jet skiing on Lake Erie, and daily workouts Favorite local restaurant: Marble Room Top of bucket list: A family visit to Israel with Rabbi Joshua Skoff Guilty pleasure: Chocolate mousse, pies and candy.

Name: David J. Elk Firm: Elk & Elk Practice area(s): Personal injury Undergraduate school: CWRU Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1964 Synagogue: Park Synagogue Favorite place to relax: A Caribbean beach If not a lawyer...: Pro baseball player Top of bucket list: Traveling to Israel with my family Guilty pleasure: Eating a corned beef sandwich without my wife, Marilyn, knowing about it Name: Michael A. Ellis Firm: Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLC Practice area(s): Mergers and acquisitions and early stage investments Undergraduate school: University of Penn Law school: Duke University School of Law Graduation year: 1997 Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation Favorite place to relax: On a beach with a book If not a lawyer...: Business owner Favorite local restaurant: EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute Guilty pleasure: Watching science fiction movies or TV shows

Marc B. Merklin

Managing Partner, Business Restructuring, Bankruptcy & Commercial Law mmerklin@brouse.com

Congratulations to

Marc and Irv

Top 100 Ohio Attorneys, Top 50 Cleveland Attorneys, Top Rated Attorney – Bankruptcy

on being selected to the 2019 Ohio Super Lawyers list.

Irving B. Sugerman

Partner, Real Estate & Litigation ibsugerman@brouse.com

Top Rated Attorney – Land Use & Zoning

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Name: Brian Eisen Firm: The Eisen Law Firm Practice area(s): Medical malpractice and birth injury Undergraduate school: Harvard College Law school: Harvard Law School Graduation year: 1992 Synagogue: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple Favorite place to relax: The open road. I relax by riding my motorcycle, concentrating on the feeling of freedom as I ride through the beautiful back roads of Ohio.

Last vacation: I took an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime trip to hike the Inca trail to Machu Picchu.

If not a lawyer...: I would be a teacher.

Hobbies: I really enjoy game night with my family.

SUPER ATTORNEYS Name: Aaron Evenchik Firm: Hahn Loeser & Parks Practice area(s): Construction, real estate and zoning Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: OSU’s

Name: Mark S. Frank Firm: Mark S. Frank Attorney at Law, LLC Practice area(s): Plaintiff personal injury, probate administration, wills and municipal

Moritz College of Law Graduation year: 2001 Synagogue: Waxman Chabad Center Last vacation: With my in-laws in Paris. It was terrific.

If not a lawyer...: I would be a singer or television talk show host.

Favorite local restaurant: Kantina Top of bucket list: Natural hot springs in a cold climate

criminal law Undergraduate school: Univ. of Cincinnati Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1981 Favorite place to relax: Golf course If not a lawyer...: Stand-up comedian Top of bucket list: Retire in the Caribbean on a 60-foot yacht Guilty pleasure: Grandkids

Name: Marc Feldman Firm: Feldman Law Firm Practice area(s): Corporate and real estate Undergraduate school: Michigan State University Law school: Chicago-Kent College of Law Graduation year: 2001 Synagogue: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple Last vacation: Western Caribbean cruise Hobbies: Coaching my kids, watching television and exercising Favorite local restaurant: Red, the Steakhouse Top of bucket list: Playing Augusta National Golf Club

Name: Barry Y. Freeman Firm: Buckingham Doolittle & Burroughs Practice area(s): Labor and employment law and litigation Undergraduate school: Univ. of Chicago Law school: University of Michigan Graduation year: 1993 Synagogue: Park Synagogue Favorite place to relax: On the couch watching the Browns or the Wolverines If not a lawyer...: Football player Top of bucket list: Visit southeast Asia Guilty pleasure: Traveling

Name: Lee Fisher Firm: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Practice area(s): Dean (also teaches a course on police reform and a course on leadership) Undergraduate school: Oberlin College Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1976 Synagogue: Suburban Temple-Kol Ami Favorite place to relax: Barnes & Noble If not a lawyer...: Solo artist like Jackson Browne and James Taylor Hobbies: Reading, Pilates, driving my boat and jet ski Guilty pleasure: Mint chocolate chip ice cream

CJN.ORG | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | 65

JANUARY 25, 2019

Name: Adam M. Fried Firm: Reminger Co., LPA Practice area(s): Estate and trust litigation and elder law Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1995 Synagogue: Solon Chabad Favorite place to relax: The Schvitz Last vacation: Israel Top of bucket list: Hitting a hole in one Guilty pleasure: Fine bourbon Name: Ronald P. Friedberg Firm: Meyers, Roman, Friedberg & Lewis Practice area(s): Surety and insurance, construction litigation and business litigation Undergraduate school: Univ. of Michigan Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1991 Last vacation: Aspen, Colo.

If not a lawyer...: Concert promoter Favorite local restaurant: Crumb & Spigot Tavern Top of bucket list: Having dinner with Bruce Spingsteen, Harlan Coban and/or Howard Stern (preferably all three) Name: Jeffrey H. Friedman Firm: Friedman, Domiano & Smith Co., LPA Practice area(s): Personal injury, medical malpractice, worker’s compensation, natural gas explosions and nursing home neglect Undergraduate school: JCU Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1972 Synagogue: Green Road Synagogue Favorite place to relax: Marco Island, Fla. If not a lawyer...: Senator Favorite local restaurant: Mitchell’s Fish Market and Corky & Lenny’s Restaurant Deli Top of bucket list: Change the law to benefit injured people Name: Ian N. Friedman Firm: Friedman & Nemeck, LLC Practice area(s): Criminal, cyber and white collar defense Undergraduate school: Ohio University Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1997 Last vacation: Cuba If not a lawyer...: Military or politics Top of bucket list: Dinner with James Taylor Guilty pleasure: Pocket watches and cufflinks Name: Susan L. Friedman Firm: Friedman Law, LLC Practice area(s): Estate planning, special needs planning and probate Undergraduate school: Washington University in St. Louis Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1996 Synagogue: Park Synagogue If not a lawyer...: A musician Hobbies: Skiing, music and reading Favorite local restaurant: Crostatas Rustic Pizza Guilty pleasure: Mitchell’s peanut butter chocolate chunk ice cream

Jeffrey D. Zimon, Esq. Zimon Law provides businesses with access to cost-effective employee benefits and compensation advice and counsel.

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66 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG

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JANUARY 25, 2019 Name: Joshua Fuchs Firm: Cohen Rosenthal & Kramer, LLP Practice area(s): Litigation Undergraduate school: CWRU Law school: Duquesne Univ. School of Law Graduation year: 2010 Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel Last vacation: Providenciales If not a lawyer...: Professional cyclist (a slow one) Hobbies: Cycling and running Favorite local restaurant: Brewnuts Name: Marty Gelfand Firm: Gelfand Law, LLC Practice area(s): Criminal, juvenile, domestic relations, domestic violence and personal injury Undergraduate school: St. John’s College Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1997 Synagogue: Beth El-The Heights Synagogue and Park Synagogue Favorite place to relax: Cleveland Metroparks If not a lawyer...: Environmental advocate Favorite local restaurant: Nighttown Guilty pleasure: Always pleading

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Proud to be part of Cleveland’s thriving business community.

LOCAL LAWYERS

Name: Alex Gertsburg Firm: The Gertsburg Law Firm Co., LPA Practice area(s): Business law and litigation Undergraduate school: Miami University Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 2000 Favorite place to relax: On the boat If not a lawyer...: An author Top of bucket list: Live abroad for 30 days Guilty pleasure: Co-hosting “Best.Podcast.Ever” Name: Marc P. Gertz Firm: Day Ketter, LLP Practice area(s): Bankruptcy and commercial law Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: OSU’s Moritz College of Law Graduation year: 1977 Synagogue: Anshe Sfar-Revere Road Synagogue Favorite place to relax: OSU football games If not a lawyer...: Comedian Favorite local restaurant: L’Albatros Brasserie + Bar Guilty pleasure: Diet Coke. I need to cut down Name: Melvin R. Ginsburg Firm: Melvin R. Ginsburg Co., LPA Practice area(s): Bankruptcy, probate, evictions, wills and deeds Undergraduate school: KSU Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1975 Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation Favorite place to relax: Put-in-Bay Last vacation: Nashville, Tenn.

Favorite local restaurant: Winking Lizard Tavern Guilty pleasure: Eating Name: Michael A. Glazer Firm: Law Office of Michael A. Glazer, LLC Practice area(s): Social Security disability Undergraduate school: Kenyon College Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 2007 Synagogue: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple Favorite place to relax: Progressive Field If not a lawyer...: Dentist Hobbies: Softball Guilty pleasure: Netflix Name: Ira S. Goffman Firm: Rolf, Goffman, Martin, Lang LLP Practice area(s): Health care law Undergraduate school: State University of New York at Binghamton Law school: University of Toledo College of Law Graduation year: 1981 Synagogue: Park Synagogue Last vacation: Israel Hobbies: Sports, especially playing basketball with 25 other guys at 5:30 a.m. three mornings a week at Mandel JCC Favorite local restaurant: Lockkeepers Top of bucket list: Being able to spend more time with my kids and grandchildren and sharing more memories

SUPER ATTORNEYS

CJN.ORG | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | 67

JANUARY 25, 2019

Name: Michael J. Goldberg Firm: The Goldberg Law Firm Practice area(s): Federal and state criminal defense Undergraduate school: University of Cincinnati Law school: OSU’s Moritz College of Law Graduation year: 1988 Synagogue: Congregation Shaarey Tikvah Favorite place to relax: On my couch with my wife and dog If not a lawyer...: History teacher, wrestling and football coach or Torah scholar Favorite local restaurant: My kitchen. My wife is a fabulous cook.

Top of bucket list: Seeing both of my sons thrive and reach their highest potential

Name: James A. Goldsmith Firm: Ulmer & Berne LLP Practice area(s): Trust and estate planning and administration and litigation Undergraduate school: Univ. of Denver Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1980 Synagogue: Suburban Temple-Kol Ami Favorite place to relax: At home with my family If not a lawyer...: Hotel restaurant manager Top of bucket list: A safari Guilty pleasure: Real maple syrup/maple sugar candy from Geauga County

Name: Steven M. Goldberg Firm: Goldberg Legal Co., LPA Practice area(s): Litigation involving personal injury, medical/hospital malpractice, nursing home abuse/neglect and asbestos cancer mesothelioma Undergraduate school: Arizona State University Law school: Capital University School of Law Graduation year: 1989 Synagogue: Solon Chabad Favorite place to relax: Outdoors Last vacation: Alaska Hobbies: Chauffeuring my daughters Guilty pleasure: Pasta

CONGRATULATIONS Ohio Super Lawyers Top 50 List | 2019

Name: Warren Goldberg Firm: Hahn Loeser and Parks LLP Practice area(s): Corporate and technology transactions Undergraduate school: SUNY Albany Law school: University of Michigan Law School Graduation year: 1981 Synagogue: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple Favorite place to relax: Mandel JCC If not a lawyer...: Entrepreneur Favorite local restaurant: Jack’s Deli and Restaurant Top of bucket list: Founding big-time tech company Guilty pleasure: Chocolate

COLUMBUS: Jonathan Downes CLEVELAND: Andrew Zashin

Super Lawyers List | 2019 Brad Bennett, Deanna DiPetta, Michele Jakubs, Christopher Reynolds, Jonathan Rich, 10 YEARS: Jon Dileno, Jeffrey Wedel, Stephen Zashin, 15 YEARS: George Crisci, Jonathan Downes, Andrew Zashin

Rising Stars List | 2019 Christopher Caspary, Amy Keating, Ami Patel, Drew Piersall, David Vance, Kyleigh Weinfurtner

Best Lawyers | 2019

workplace & family law

Name: Steven A. Goldfarb Firm: Hahn Loeser & Parks, LLP Practice area(s): Litigation Undergraduate school: Indiana University Law school: OSU’s Moritz College of Law Graduation year: 1985 Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation Hobbies: I like to spend time with my friends and family, travel, boat and cheer on the Ohio State Buckeye football team.

Name: Ari Goldstein Firm: Goldstein Legal Services, LLC Practice area(s): General practice with a focus on domestic relations and criminal law Undergraduate school: Rutgers University Law school: CSU’s Cleveland Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 2016 Favorite place to relax: Willowick parks If not a lawyer...: Engineer Favorite local restaurant: Corky & Lenny’s Restaurant Deli Guilty pleasure: Watching prison documentaries

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Brad Bennett, Deanna DiPetta, Christopher Reynolds, Kyleigh Weinfurtner, 5 YEARS: George Crisci, Jon Dileno, Jonathan Rich, Stephen Zashin, 10 YEARS: Jonathan Downes, Jeffrey Wedel, Andrew Zashin, FAMILY LAW LAWYER OF THE YEAR: Amy Keating

cleveland 216.696.4441 | columbus 614.224.4411 | zrlaw.com

1/21/19 8:36 AM

68 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG Name: Michael D. Goldstein Firm: Goldstein & Goldstein Practice area(s): Personal injury (plaintiff) Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School Graduation year: 2002 Synagogue: Temple Emanu El Last vacation: Family trip to Niagara Falls and Toronto Hobbies: Playing softball in the lawyer’s league and Beachwood Men’s Softball League, traveling and sports with my 3- and 5- year old sons Favorite local restaurant: Flour and B Spot Top of bucket list: Attend as many major league ballparks as possible

JANUARY 25, 2019 Name: Andy Goldwasser Firm: Ciano & Goldwasser, LLP Practice area(s): Civil litigation Undergraduate school: OSU/University of Akron Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1997 Favorite place to relax: Bay Point in Marblehead Last vacation: Israel Top of bucket list: Humanitarian trip working with refugees Guilty pleasure: Wheat bagel from Bialy’s Bagels

“Benesch always does a good job of explaining what our options are and giving us counsel from a very pragmatic approach aimed at keeping matters moving forward and reaching effective agreements.”

FRITZ KOHMANN, CFO Shearer’s Snacks

MY TEAM ROBERT A. ROSS W. ERIC BAISDEN ALISON K. EVANS YELENA BOXER H. ALAN ROTHENBUECHER JOSEPH N. GROSS STEPHANIE S. PENNINGER RICK HEPP

Not every company has an on-site legal team, but the right legal partner can make you feel as if you do. Fritz and the Shearer’s team rely on Benesch to help them handle a wide array of legal matters touching all parts of Shearer’s business—from contract negotiations, M&A deals and IP protection to leases, litigation, employment and more.

They know they can count on the Benesch team for a practical, riskintelligent perspective that cuts through legalese and focuses on the business. It’s the convenience of in-house counsel with the advantage of wide-ranging business experience and deep legal knowledge.

To learn more about our relationship with Shearer’s, visit beneschlaw.com/myteam

www.beneschlaw.com © 2019 Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP

ShearersSnacks4c_6.5x8Ad.indd 1

Name: Alan Goodman Firm: Alan I. Goodman Esq., LLC Practice area(s): Employment Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1969 Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation Favorite place to relax: On the tennis court If not a lawyer...: Teacher Hobbies: Tennis, skiing, reading and attending lectures and educational events Top of bucket list: Skiing again and traveling to other national parks Name: David L. Grant Firm: Grant & O’Malley Practice area(s): Criminal defense Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: Univ. of Akron School of Law Graduation year: 1976 Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel Last vacation: Boca Raton, Fla. Hobbies: Golfing, exercising and watching Cleveland sports Favorite local restaurant: Austin’s Steakhouse Top of bucket list: Witnessing the Browns win a Super Bowl

MY BENESCH

Featured team (left to right)

LOCAL LAWYERS

1/17/19 9:15 AM

Name: Caryn Markowitz Groedel Firm: Caryn Groedel & Associates Co., LPA Practice area(s): Employment law and civil rights Undergraduate school: George Washington Univ.

Law school: George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School Graduation year: 1985 Synagogue: Solon Chabad Last vacation: South Africa If not a lawyer...: Actor Top of bucket list: Going to Alaska Guilty pleasure: Good wine Name: Marc W. Groedel Firm: Reminger Co., LPA Practice area(s): Medical malpractice, professional, liability and legal professional liability Undergraduate school: Univ. of Toronto Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1979

Name: Kevin M. Gross Firm: Zipkin Whiting Co., LPA Practice area(s): Plaintiff’s employment and personal injury Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 2016 Synagogue: Solon Chabad Favorite place to relax: The Schvitz Last vacation: Columbus for OSU game Top of bucket list: Watch the Browns play in every NFL stadium

SUPER ATTORNEYS

CJN.ORG | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | 69

JANUARY 25, 2019

Name: Joseph N. Gross Firm: Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff, LLP Practice area(s): Labor and employment Undergraduate school: University of Missouri Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1991 Favorite place to relax: On my motorcycle Last vacation: Crested Butte, Colo.

Hobbies: Riding motorcycles, skiing, hiking and anything outdoors Guilty pleasure: Good coffee, bourbon, scotch and cigars with friends or family

Name: Jill Friedman Helfman Firm: Taft Stettinius & Hollister, LLP Practice area(s): Domestic relations Undergraduate school: Univ. of Michigan Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1987 Synagogue: Park Synagogue Favorite place to relax: Any beach Last vacation: The Caribbean (on a cruise over the winter break) Top of bucket list: Vacation, vacation and more vacations Guilty pleasure: Raw cookie dough. There’s nothing better.

Name: Mike Heller Firm: Mike Heller Law, LLC Practice area(s): Bankruptcy, divorce, personal injury, landlord-tenant and property taxes Undergraduate school: Hawaii Pacific University Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 2001 Synagogue: Temple Israel Ner Tamid Favorite place to relax: Home or my mom’s house If not a lawyer...: Policeman Favorite local restaurant: Geraci’s Top of bucket list: World travel

Name: Todd E. Gurney Firm: The Eisen Law Firm Practice area(s): Medical negligence and birth injury Undergraduate school: Indiana University Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 2005 Synagogue: Park Synagogue Favorite place to relax: On couch at home Last vacation: Charleston, S.C. Top of bucket list: Playing golf at the Old Course at St. Andrews Guilty pleasure: French fries Name: Norman W. Gutmacher Firm: Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff, LLP Practice area(s): Commercial real estate Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: University of Cincinnati College of Law Graduation year: 1971 Synagogue: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple Last vacation: Israel Hobbies: Reading and working out Top of bucket list: Seeing all my grandchildren marry happily Guilty pleasure: Enjoying a bottle of wine from a vineyard that I have visited Name: Barry Guttman Firm: Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff, LLP Undergraduate school: New York University Law school: Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law Graduation year: 2013

Name: Thomas I. Hausman Firm: The Law Office of Thomas I. Hausman, LLC Practice area(s): Tax and estate planning Undergraduate school: University of Colorado Law school: OSU’s Moritz College of Law Graduation year: 1970 Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel Favorite place to relax: Sedona, Ariz., and my back porch If not a lawyer...: A scientist studying the human brain Hobbies: Swimming and yoga Guilty pleasure: Eating sugary foods

AT H A H N LO E S E R ,

WE SEE ISSUES FROM OUR CLIENT’S PERSPECTIVE. We are committed to each of our clients and their success and take the time to understand their businesses. Whether a Fortune 500 corporation, a privately-held business, a non-profit, a government entity, or an individual, we strive to offer unique solutions for the challenges and opportunities our clients face every day.

HAHN LOESER & PARKS LLP | HAHNLAW.COM 200 PUBLIC SQUARE | SUITE 2800 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44114 | 216.621.0150 C L E V E L A N D | C O LU M B U S | N A P L E S | F O R T M Y E R S | S A N D I E G O | C H I C A G O

70 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG Name: Jeffrey M. Heller Firm: Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy Co., LPA Practice area(s): Plaintiff’s personal injury and medical malpractice Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 2011 Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation Favorite place to relax: Around the poker table If not a lawyer...: Sportswriter Hobbies: Keeping my two boys out of trouble Guilty pleasure: Talking mulligans Name: Michael C. Hennenberg Firm: Dinn, Hochman & Potter, LLC Practice area(s): Criminal defense Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1974 Synagogue: The Shul Favorite place to relax: On the golf course If not a lawyer...: A college professor Favorite local restaurant: Giovanni’s Top of bucket list: Visiting Alaska

JANUARY 25, 2019

Name: Matt Henoch Firm: Hahn Loeser & Parks, LLP Practice area(s): Trusts and estates Undergraduate school: Washington University in St. Louis Law school: CWRU’S School of Law Graduation year: 2005 Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel Favorite place to relax: On any ski slope Hobbies: Coaching and playing soccer Top of bucket list: Going to Super Bowl LIV and watching the Browns win Guilty pleasure: Overly complicated nerdy board games Name: Evan Hirsch Firm: Singerman, Mills, Desberg & Kauntz Co., LPA Practice area(s): Real estate, business and finance Undergraduate school: Boston University Law school: OSU’s Moritz College of Law Graduation year: 2006 Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation Last vacation: A Disney cruise in the Caribbean If not a lawyer...: President of the United States Hobbies: Entertaining my wife and kids Favorite local restaurant: McDonald’s

Meyers Roman Proudly Salutes Our

2019 Super Lawyers

Richard M. Bain

Seth P. Briskin

Peter D. Brosse

Anne C. Fantelli

Mario J. Fazio

Rising Star

Michelle R. Gearity

Ronald P. Friedberg

Alan N. Hirth

Jonathan T. Hyman

Scott M. Lewis

Rising Star

T. Kinsey McInturf

R. Russell O’Rourke

Barbara K. Roman

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Rising Star

meyers roman Meyers, Roman, Friedberg & Lewis

A Legal Professional Association

28601 Chagrin Blvd., Suite 600 Cleveland, OH 44122 Phone: 216.831.0042 www.meyersroman.com

Name: Alan N. Hirth Firm: Meyers, Roman, Friedberg & Lewis Practice area(s): Civil and commercial litigation Undergraduate school: City College of New York Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1973 Synagogue: Temple Israel Ner Tamid Favorite place to relax: By the pool Last vacation: Aruba If not a lawyer...: Movie and TV critic Top of bucket list: Watching “Diners, Drive-In’s and Dives” Name: Jason Hochman Firm: Dinn, Hochman & Potter, LLC Practice area(s): Real estate and business transactional matters Undergraduate school: University of Michigan Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 2005 Favorite place to relax: The Schvitz If not a lawyer...: Doctor Favorite local restaurant: Ginko Guilty pleasure: Oreos Name: Michael David Hoenig Firm: Ulmer & Berne LLP Practice area(s): Business litigation, financial services litigation and product liability litigation Undergraduate school: New York University Law school: OSU’S Mortiz College of Law Graduation year: 2008 Synagogue: Green Road Synagogue Favorite place to relax: A nature trail If not a lawyer...: A chef Favorite local restaurant: Kantina Guilty pleasure: Eating potato chips Name: Mark L. Hoffman Firm: Law Offies of Mark L. Hoffman Practice area(s): Estate planning, probate, elder law, LGBTQ planning, real estate and business Undergraduate school: George Washington University Law school: CWRU’S School of Law Graduation year: 1976 Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel Favorite place to relax: Maine Last vacation: Colorado If not a lawyer...: Professional musician Favorite local restaurant: Tommy’s Restaurant

LOCAL LAWYERS Name: Jonathan T. Hyman Firm: Meyers, Roman, Friedberg & Lewis Practice area(s): Labor and employment Undergraduate school: Binghampton University Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1997 Favorite place to relax: Home with a glass of wine If not a lawyer...: Something music related Hobbies: My family and going to concerts Favorite local restaurant: Le Bistro du Beaujolais Name: Barbara Bellin Janovitz Firm: Reminger Co., LPA Practice area(s): Estate planning Undergraduate school: University of Pennsylvania’s The Wharton School Law school: New York University School of Law Graduation year: 1983 Synagogue: Park Synagogue Favorite place to relax: My hot tub If not a lawyer...: Working with dogs Hobbies: Reading and traveling Top of bucket list: To do more traveling and become a grandparent Name: Kenneth S. “Ken” Kabb Firm: Kabb Law Firm Practice area(s): Veterans Undergraduate school: Ohio University Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1969 If not a lawyer...: Sailing my boat.

Hobbies: Sailing, writing, photography and firearms instruction Top of bucket list: An extended voyage to Israel and living aboard my sailboat Guilty pleasure: Sneaking out of work for a sail or an afternoon at the firing range Name: Rachel Kabb-Effron Firm: Kabb Law Firm Practice area(s): Elder law Undergraduate school: University Cincinnati Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1998 Synagogue: Park Synagogue Favorite place to relax: Put-in-Bay. Last vacation: Italy If not a lawyer...: Be in musical theater Guilty pleasure: Binge watch shows like “Narcos” or “Below Deck”

SUPER ATTORNEYS Name: Charles Kampinski Firm: McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Liffman Co., LPA Practice area(s): Litigation Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: OSU’s Moritz College of Law Graduation year: 1974 Favorite place to relax: The couch Last vacation: Thailand If not a lawyer...: A professional bowler Favorite local restaurant: Cru Uncorked Top of bucket list: It’s all checked off Name: Daniel R. Karon Firm: Karon LLC Practice area(s): Class action litigation Undergraduate school: Indiana University Law school: OSU’s Moritz College of Law Graduation year: 1991 Synagogue: JFX Favorite place to relax: Amsterdam If not a lawyer...: Author Hobbies: Writing, yoga and teaching Top of bucket list: Getting my book published Name: David J. Kaufman Firm: Calfee, Halter & Griswold, LLP Practice area(s): Labor and employment Undergraduate school: Georgetown University Law school: Emory Univ. School of Law Graduation year: 2004 Favorite place to relax: On a sailboat Last vacation: Antonio, Costa Rica If not a lawyer...: History professor Top of bucket list: A cross-country road trip Name: Steven S. Kaufman Firm: Kaufman & Company, LLC Practice area(s): Complex business and commercial litigation Undergraduate school: Colgate University Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1975 Last vacation: Sanibel Island, Fla. If not a lawyer...: Political science professor Hobbies: Hiking, fishing and travel Favorite local restaurant: fire food and drink

CJN.ORG | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | 71

JANUARY 25, 2019

Name: Sarah E. Katz Firm: Ciano & Goldwasser, LLP Practice area(s): Complex commercial, transactional and business litigation matters Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 2017 Favorite place to relax: Tabletop board game cafe If not a lawyer...: An actress Favorite local restaurant: La Fiesta Mexican Guilty pleasure: Binge watching CW television Name: Grant Keating Firm: Dworken & Bernstein Co., LPA Practice area(s): General business litigation Undergraduate school: Ithaca College Law school: CWRU’s University School of Law Graduation year: 2005 Favorite place to relax: The Schvitz If not a lawyer...: A behavioral neuroscientist Favorite local restaurant: Trentina Top of bucket list: Attending The Masters Name: Anna Kelberg-Kim Firm: Kelberg Law Practice area(s): Entertainment law Undergraduate school: CSU Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 2005 Favorite place to relax: By the ocean Last vacation: Croatia Top of bucket list: Learn Spanish and take a backpacking trip through Nova Scotia Guilty pleasure: Any baked goods Name: Joshua A. Klarfield Firm: Ulmer & Berne Practice area(s): Product liability Undergraduate school: Yeshiva University Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 2005 Synagogue: Young Israel of Greater Cleveland Last vacation: The Bahamas Favorite local restaurant: Kantina

Name: Larry S. Klein Firm: Klein & Carney Co., LPA Practice area(s): Personal Injury Undergraduate school: Boston University Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1980 Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation Name: James N. Kline Firm: Ulmer & Berne LLP Practice area(s): Liability defense litigation Undergraduate school: University of Michigan Law school: OSU’s Mortiz College of Law Graduation year: 1984 Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel If not a lawyer...: Already did it – stand-up comedian/writer Hobbies: Building models Top of bucket list: Visit Normandy beaches Guilty pleasure: Nesquik Name: Walter H. Krohngold Firm: Ritzler, Coughlin & Paglia, Ltd. Practice area(s): Insurance defense Undergraduate school: University of Rochester Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1983 Synagogue: The Shul Favorite place to relax: Home with family If not a lawyer...: Radiologist Hobbies: Raquetball, bowling and daily dog walks Top of bucket list: Trip to Israel Name: Philip Seth Kushner Firm: Kushner & Hamed Practice area(s): Litigation Undergraduate school: Yale Univ.

Law school: University of Chicago School of Law Graduation year: 1985 Synagogue: Solon Chabad Favorite place to relax: In the mountains Last vacation: Paris If not a lawyer...: A musician or writer Hobbies: I play piano in a rockabilly band, act, sing in a lawyers’ lampoon group, play tennis, swim, travel and read.

The law firm of Solomon, Steiner & Peck, Ltd. is excited to announce that partner Laurie G. Steiner has been named to the 2019 Super Lawyers list. Laurie is designated as a Certified Elder Law Attorney by NELF (National Elder Law Foundation) and as an Elder Law Specialist by the Ohio State Bar Association. Additional areas of practice include estate planning and disability/special needs planning.

Contact Laurie today!

Elder Law, Estate Planning, Probate, Trust Administration Medicaid, Special Needs, VA and Disability Planning

Michael L. Solomon, Esq.

Jennifer E. Peck, Esq.

Todd Bartimole, Esq.

6105 Parkland Boulevard, Suite 140 Mayfield Heights, Ohio 44124 Additional locations in Westlake, Independence and Mentor

216.765.0123 www.ssandplaw.com/CJN

72 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG Name: Jack Landskroner Firm: Landskroner Grieco Merriman Practice area(s): Personal injury and consumer class relations Undergraduate school: Boston University Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1992 Last vacation: Hawaii Hobbies: Guitar and hanging with my beautiful wife and kids Top of bucket list: Kite surfing Guilty pleasure: Key lime pie Name: David L. Lash Firm: David L. Lash, Attorney at Law Practice area(s): Foreclosure defense Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1977 Favorite place to relax: Clearwater Beach, Fla. If not a lawyer...: A lifeguard Hobbies: Bicycle riding Top of bucket list: Visit Israel Name: Gary L. Lieberman Firm: Liberman, Dvorin & Dowd, LLC Practice area(s): Real estate law Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1981 Name: Jeffrey A. Leikin Firm: Jeffrey A. Leikin, LLC Practice area(s): Litigation and personal injury Undergraduate school: University of Colorado Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1984 Synagogue: Park Synagogue Favorite place to relax: At home with family Last vacation: Phoenix If not a lawyer...: High school history teacher Top of bucket list: Seeing my children married and employed

JANUARY 25, 2019 Name: Kevin L. Lenson Firm: Elk & Elk Practice area(s): Personal injury Undergraduate school: University of Wisconsin, Madison Law school: University of Toledo School of Law

Graduation year: 1996 Favorite place to relax: Naples, Fla. If not a lawyer...: Veterinarian Favorite local restaurant: L’Albatros Brasserie + Bar Guilty pleasure: Sitting in the steam room at the Mandel JCC Name: David W. Leopold Firm: Ulmer & Berne LLP Practice area(s): Immigration law Undergraduate school: University of Michigan Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1985 Synagogue: Solon Chabad Last vacation: Iceland Hobbies: Photography, cycling and traveling Name: Scott M. Lewis Firm: Meyers, Roman, Friedberg & Lewis Practice area(s): Mergers and acquisitions, corporate and franchising Undergraduate school: University of Michigan Law school: University of Chicago Graduation year: 1984 Synagogue: Park Synagogue Last vacation: Eretz Yisrael If not a lawyer...: Either a sportswriter, music teacher or over-the-top, theatrical basketball official Favorite local restaurant: Ken Stewart’s Grill (Akron or Stow, but the original in Akron is my and my wife’s favorite) Top of bucket list: Visiting Iceland and Greenland; playing Augusta National and Pebble Beach golf courses; being backstage at a Cher, Gladys Knight or Diana Ross concert Name: Michael Liner Firm: Liner Legal, LLC Practice area(s): Social Security disability Undergraduate school: University of Michigan Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 2010 Favorite place to relax: Beechmont Country Club steam room If not a lawyer...: My hidden talent is I make delicious pancakes. So, I might be flipping flapjacks at the Original House of Pancakes on Chagrin Blvd. Or maybe an astronaut.

Top of bucket list: Not dying Guilty pleasure: Ice cream dates with my daughter in the summer

Name: Tanya Linetsky Firm: Tanya M. Linetsky Assoc. LLC Practice area(s): Immigration Undergraduate school: CSU Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 2005 Synagogue: Oheb Zedek-Cedar Sinai Synagogue Name: Franklin C. Malemud Firm: Reminger Co., LPA Practice area(s): Trust and probate litigation Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1997 Synagogue: Kol Halev Favorite place to relax: On the steps outside of the Cleveland Museum of Art at the base of Rodin’s “Thinker.”

If not a lawyer...: Musician or DJ Favorite local restaurant: Larder Delicatessen and Bakery and Spice Kitchen Top of bucket list: Far East extended visit Name: Jack S. Malkin Firm: Jack S. Malkin, Esq. Practice area(s): Small business Undergraduate school: Ohio University Law school: University of Akron School of Law Graduation year: 1981 Synagogue: Park Synagogue Favorite place to relax: Palm Springs, Calif.

If not a lawyer...: Baseball sportscaster Hobbies: Grandfather, watches, golf and tennis Favorite local restaurant: 56 Kitchen Name: Joshua M. Mandel Firm: Taft Stettinius & Holliser, LLP Practice area(s): Commercial litigation Undergraduate school: Oberlin College Law school: University of Miami School of Law Graduation year: 2018 Favorite place to relax: Wherever I am can watch sports Hobbies: Fantasy football and watching documentaries Favorite local restaurant: Barrio Top of bucket list: Visiting Washington, D.C.

LOCAL LAWYERS Name: Ellen S. Mandell Firm: Law Office of Ellen S. Mandell Practice area(s): Divorce, dissolution, custody and support Undergraduate school: CWRU Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1977 Synagogue: Temple Emanu El Favorite place to relax: Cleveland Metroparks, walking my dog, Charlie Last vacation: Disney World and Harry Potter World Favorite local restaurant: Lyndhurst Grill Top of bucket list: Not having a bucket list Name: Dale Markowitz Firm: Thrasher, Dinsmore & Dolan, LPA Practice area(s): Real estate Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1975 Synagogue: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple Name: Daniel L. Messeloff Firm: Tucker Ellis LLP Practice area(s): Employment law, cybersecurity and business litigation Undergraduate school: Washington University in St. Louis Law school: Fordham University School of Law Graduation year: 2001 Synagogue: Green Road Synagogue Favorite place to relax: Beachwood city parks Last vacation: Walden Pond in Concord, Mass.

If not a lawyer...: Sportswriter Hobbies: Reading Name: Donald H. Messinger Firm: Thompson Hine LLP Practice area(s): Corporate Undergraduate school: Colgate University Law school: Duke University School of Law Graduation year: 1968 Last vacation: Miami, my wife’s hometown. In February, we plan to go to New Orleans to visit The National WW II Museum.

If not a lawyer...: History professor Hobbies: Following all Cleveland, Colgate and Duke sports and attending Cleveland Pops Orchestra concerts Favorite local restaurant: Nighttown

SUPER ATTORNEYS Name: David Michel Firm: Law Office of David S. Michel Practice area(s): Personal injury Undergraduate school: University of Michigan Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1983 Synagogue: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple Favorite place to relax: A Caribbean beach Hobbies: Golf, travel and reading Favorite local restaurant: Winking Lizard Tavern and Geraci’s Guilty pleasure: Binge-watching a television series Name: Barry J. Miller Firm: Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff, LLP Practice area(s): Construction Undergraduate school: Miami University Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1983 Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel Favorite place to relax: Outdoors Last vacation: Seneca Lake Top of bucket list: Tour the northern National Parks Guilty pleasure: My granddaughter Name: Steven Miller Firm: Miller Goller Faeges Lapine, LLP Practice area(s): Business litigation and strategic analysis Undergraduate school: Brown University Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1981 Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel Favorite place to relax: Home Last vacation: Vienna, Prague and Amsterdam Hobbies: Associate editor ABA Litigation journal Guilty pleasure: Deep-tissue massage and stretching Name: Aaron Minc Firm: Minc Law Practice area(s): Internet defamation Undergraduate school: Miami University Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 2010 Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel Favorite place to relax: On vacation If not a lawyer...: An entrepreneur Top of bucket list: Heli-skiing Guilty pleasure: Chocolate and Sour Patch Kids

JANUARY 25, 2019

CJN.ORG | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | 73

Name: David Minc Firm: David Minc, Attorney, LLC Practice area(s): Corporate and dispute resolution Undergraduate school: Hofstra University Law school: Cornell University Law School Graduation year: 1972 Synagogue: Temple Israel and Beth El Congregation Favorite place to relax: My favorite way and place to relax is doing recreational sports in the parks around Northeast Ohio.

Last vacation: Our last vacation was in Europe, with most of our time spent in France.

If not a lawyer...: When I was young, I wanted to be an astronaut.

Hobbies: Participatory recreational sports, such as biking, hiking, swimming and skiing Name: Howard D. Mishkind Firm: Mishkind Kulwicki Law Co., LPA Practice area(s): Plaintiff personal injury, medical negligence and wrongful death Undergraduate school: University of Cincinnati Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1980 Synagogue: Temple Emanu El Favorite place to relax: Scottsdale, Ariz.

If not a lawyer...: A baseball player and perhaps a basketball player if I was taller and had better physical skills.

Hobbies: Who has time for hobbies being a full-time lawyer? But I love being with my family and grandchild and watching the local sports teams.

Guilty pleasure: Cookies Name: Suzann Moskowitz Firm: The Moskowitz Firm, LLC Practice area(s): Trademark, copyright and technology Undergraduate school: Cornell University Law school: Stanford Law School Graduation year: 2003 Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel Favorite place to relax: Any beach or library If not a lawyer...: City planner Favorite local restaurant: Brassica Top of bucket list: Going fully paperless

CONGRATULATIONS TO

PAUL J. SINGERMAN

GARY S. DESBERG

RONALD J. TEPLITZKY

EVAN S. HIRSCH*

WHO WERE SELECTED FOR INCLUSION IN 2019 OHIO SUPER LAWYERS.® *RISING STAR® Singerman, Mills, Desberg & Kauntz prides itself on bringing a wide range of substantial experience to structuring and executing business and real estate transactions for our clients.

Our goal is to provide our clients with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that their counsel is single-mindedly looking out for their best interests.

Experience . . . peace of mind.

3333 Richmond Road, Suite 370 • Beachwood, Ohio 44122 (216) 292-5807 • www.smdklaw.com

74 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG

Laurel G. Stein AT TO R N E Y AT L AW D O M E S T I C R E L AT I O N S Nee Law Firm. LLC 26032 Detroit Road, Suite 5 Westlake, OH 44145 440-793-7720 (phone) | 440-793-7920 (fax) laurel@neelawfirm.com www.neelawfirm.com Business Counseling | Estate Planning | Probate Litigation | Appeals | Domestic Relations | Adoptions

Julie Rabin Falck

Bankruptcy – not a failure, but a fresh start 55 Public Square, Suite 1750 Cleveland, OH 44113 P 216-771-8084 | F 216-771-4615 jrabin@rabinandrabin.com Rabin&Rabin Co. LPA www.rabinandrabin.com

When you’ve been injured, you need more than a personal injury lawyer. You need an advocate.

Park Center I 23215 Commerce Park Rd. Suite 109 Beachwood, OH 44122 www.bento spero.com sspero bento spero.com mauricewutscherad2018.ai 1 1/11/2018 1:13:24 PM (216) 861-9899

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Delivering superlative defense and a resultsoriented approach to every matter.

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JANUARY 25, 2019 Name: Susannah Muskovitz Firm: Muskovitz & Lemmerbrock, LLC Practice area(s): Labor and employment Undergraduate school: McGill University Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1984 Synagogue: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple If not a lawyer...: A plumber, just like my dad (who was a plumber before he became a lawyer) Favorite local restaurant: Mallorca Top of bucket list: Visiting Alaska and Hawaii Guilty pleasure: Laying on my hammock in my backyard reading a spy thriller Name: Richard A. Naegele Firm: Wickens Herzer Panza Practice area(s): Employee benefits/ ERISA Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1979 Synagogue: Oheb Shalom Temple Favorite place to relax: Santa Monica, Calif.

If not a lawyer...: A CPA or an actuary Hobbies: Travel, reading, running and exercise Top of bucket list: Living in Santa Monica, Calif.

Name: Steve Nobil Firm: Fisher Phillips LLP Practice area(s): Traditional labor and employment Undergraduate school: Baldwin Wallace University Law school: OSU’s Moritz College of Law Graduation year: 1972 Synagogue: Temple Beth Shalom Favorite place to relax: Poolside in Naples, Fla., listening to an audiobook Last vacation: Tahiti If not a lawyer...: Browns general manager Top of bucket list: Going to the Super Bowl when the Browns win it.

Name: Tod Northman Firm: Tucker Ellis LLP Practice area(s): Aviation and emerging technology law Undergraduate school: Portland State University Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1994 Synagogue: Green Road Synagogue Last vacation: London If not a lawyer...: Professor of kinesiology Favorite local restaurant: Fishstix Guilty pleasure: Following the British royals, particularly with Duchess Meghan Name: Andrew November Firm: Liner Legal, LLC Practice area(s): Disability attorney Undergraduate school: University of Cincinnati Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 2009 Favorite place to relax: Easy, on the couch with my wife, Keri, and our new puppy, Kensie.

Favorite local restaurant: Tony’s Southside Top of bucket list: A house on the Erie Islands Guilty pleasure: Potato chips, specifically Cape Cod Kettle Cooked Chips Name: Gary S. Okin Firm: Dworken & Bernstein Co., LPA Practice area(s): Domestic relations Undergraduate school: Washington and Lee University Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1977 Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation Favorite place to relax: Lake Chautauqua Favorite local restaurant: Blue Pointe Grille Top of bucket list: Trip to Israel Guilty pleasure: Scotch Name: Lawrence E. Oscar Firm: Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP Practice area(s): Corporate, M&A and financially troubled businesses Undergraduate school: University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School Law school: New York University Graduation year: 1981 Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation Favorite place to relax: The High Desert

LOCAL LAWYERS (Carefree, Ariz., or Santa Fe, N.M.) If not a lawyer...: Culture critic, I would love to see a continuous stream of art and performances Favorite local restaurant: fire food and drink Guilty pleasure: Chopped chicken liver Name: Matthew Palnik Firm: Marnecheck & Palnik Practice area(s): Workers’ compensation Undergraduate school: Washington University in St. Louis Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1996 Synagogue: Solon Chabad Last vacation: Lake Chautauqua Hobbies: Playing video games with my kids Favorite local restaurant: Swirl Wine Bar Top of bucket list: Traveling around Europe Name: Elizabeth L. Perla Firm: The Perla Law Firm, LLC Practice area(s): Elder law, estate planning and probate Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: OSU’s Moritz College of Law Graduation year: 2007 Synagogue: Beachwood Kehilla Last vacation: My husband and I spent our 10th anniversary hiking Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks.

If not a lawyer...: A research psychologist or perhaps a writer.

Favorite local restaurant: Bar Sushi Top of bucket list: Travel with my family to far off places.

Name: Scott Perlmuter Firm: Tittle & Perlmuter Practice area(s): Medical and nursing home negligence, wage and hour Undergraduate school: University of Wisconsin Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 2007 Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel Favorite place to relax: The Schvitz Last vacation: Duck Key, Fla. Top of bucket list: Traveling abroad without kids Guilty pleasure: I can’t go very long without a McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish sandwich

SUPER ATTORNEYS Name: Robert Port Firm: Hahn Loeser & Parks, LLP Practice area(s): Commercial litigation Undergraduate school: Drexel University Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 2004 Synagogue: Park Synagogue Favorite place to relax: Anywhere playing guitar Last vacation: Las Vegas Favorite local restaurant: Pacific East Guilty pleasure: Hostess Name: David A. Posner Firm: BakerHostetler Practice area(s): Employment litigation Undergraduate school: Indiana University Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1989 Favorite place to relax: Home If not a lawyer...: Cancun, Mexico Hobbies: Candy taste-tester at All City Candy Guilty pleasure: Cooking Name: Jamie Price Firm: Walter Haverfield Practice area(s): Business and probate litigation Undergraduate school: Northwestern University Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 2008 Favorite place to relax: Running on the Green Belt in Scottsdale, Ariz.

If not a lawyer...: I would either work for a non-profit or go to culinary school and become a baker Favorite local restaurant: Parallax Top of bucket list: Traveling around Europe and Asia for six months Name: Howard Rabb Firm: Dworken & Bernstein, Co. LPA Practice area(s): Bankruptcy and estate planning Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1986 Synagogue: Park Synagogue Last vacation: Hiking in Georgia If not a lawyer...: Probably a business owner Hobbies: Biking, gardening, hiking, movies and photos Top of bucket list: Spending more time with friends

JANUARY 25, 2019 Name: Julie E. Rabin Firm: Rabin & Rabin Co., LPA Practice area(s): Bankruptcy Undergraduate school: Northwestern University Law school: New York University School of Law Graduation year: 1981 Synagogue: Beth El-The Heights Synagogue Favorite place to relax: Walking my sister’s Labrador retriever with my husband in the Cleveland Metroparks Hobbies: Studying Hebrew and playing piano Favorite local restaurant: Flour, Michelangelo’s and Anatolia Cafe Guilty pleasure: Coffee and lots of it. Chocolate is a close second Name: Carole S. Rendon Firm: BakerHostetler Practice area(s): White collar, investigations and securities enforcement and litigation Undergraduate school: Northwestern University Law school: Northwestern University School of Law Graduation year: 1987 Synagogue: Park Synagogue Favorite place to relax: My sun porch Last vacation: Israel in July 2018 If not a lawyer...: A preschool teacher Guilty pleasure: Building jigsaw puzzles Name: Jodi Rich Firm: Ulmer & Berne LLP Practice area(s): Real estate Undergraduate school: The George Washington University Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 2000 Synagogue: Park Synagogue Favorite place to relax: My couch with a good book Last vacation: Ireland If not a lawyer...: A politician Favorite local restaurant: Choolaah Indian BBQ and Crumb & Spigot Tavern Name: Stephen Richman Firm: Kohrman, Jackson & Krantz Practice area(s): Real estate Undergraduate school: University of Miami Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1985 Synagogue: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple Favorite place to relax: Cuyahoga County and Cleveland public libraries Last vacation: China Favorite local restaurant: Corky & Lenny’s Restaurant Deli Guilty pleasure: Late-night snacks

CJN.ORG | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | 75 Name: Barbara K. Roman Firm: Meyers Roman Friedberg & Lewis Practice area(s): Family law and divorce Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1977 Synagogue: Park Synagogue Last vacation: Southern Africa If not a lawyer...: Photojournalist Top of bucket list: Spending a month in a villa in Tuscany Guilty pleasure: Day at the spa Name: Peter A. Rome Firm: Ulmer & Berne LLP Practice area(s): Corporate, mergers and acquisitions and securities Undergraduate school: Tufts University Law school: The George Washington National Law Center Graduation year: 1984 Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel Favorite place to relax: Maine Last vacation: Goose Rock Beach, Maine If not a lawyer...: An entrepreneur and philanthropist Top of bucket list: Playing Augusta National and Cypress Point Name: Gary M. Rosen Firm: Day Ketterer, Ltd. Practice area(s): Family law Undergraduate school: Tufts University Law school: Georgetown University Law Center Graduation year: 1978 Synagogue: Beth El Congregation Favorite place to relax: Shabbat dinners with family and friends.

Last vacation: Costa Rica If not a lawyer...: A journalist or talk show host Hobbies: Baseball games (the Akron RubberDucks and the Cleveland Indians), traveling and exercising Name: Robert C. Rosenfeld Firm: Robert C. Rosenfeld Attorney-at-Law Practice area(s): Estate planning Undergraduate school: Kent State University Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1975 Favorite place to relax: My front porch Last vacation: Shenandoah Valley, Va. Favorite local restaurant: Jerusalem Grill Top of bucket list: Visit my new grandson in Gush Etzion, Israel

Name: Irving Rosner Firm: Dworken & Bernstein Co., LPA Practice area(s): Workers’ compensation and employment Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1979 Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation Favorite place to relax: Any place where my kids are Hobbies: Watching sports, football, baseball and basketball Favorite local restaurant: Johnny’s Bar on Fulton Guilty pleasure: Hot fudge sundae at Mitchell’s Ice Cream Name: Marc. D. Rossen Firm: Petronzio Schneier Co., LPA Practice area(s): Startup law and Internet law Undergraduate school: University of Michigan Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1994 Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel Favorite place to relax: Cleveland Racquet Club If not a lawyer...: Entrepreneur Favorite local restaurant: Slyman’s Name: Ken Rubenstein Firm: Ken Rubenstein, Esq. Practice area(s): Bankruptcy, criminal defense and probate Undergraduate school: CWRU Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1991 If not a lawyer...: Talent agent Hobbies: Sports, movies, music and history Top of bucket list: Travel to Europe Guilty pleasure: Watching superhero movies Name: Karen E. Rubin Firm: Thompson Hine, LLP Practice area(s): Business litigation and professional responsibility Undergraduate school: CSU Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1985 Synagogue: Beth El-The Heights Synagogue Favorite place to relax: Any beach Last vacation: New York City If not a lawyer...: International spy Favorite local restaurant: Issi’s Place, Jade Chinese Kitchen and Bar Sushi

76 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG Name: Scott A. Rumizen Firm: Rumizen Weisman Co. Ltd. Practice area(s): Personal injury and nursing home neglect Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: University of Toledo College of Law Graduation year: 1991 Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel Favorite place to relax: My backyard by the fireplace with my wife and kids Last vacation: Mexico Hobbies: Golf and attending sporting events and concerts Guilty pleasure: Any kind of chocolate (my wife turned me onto it) Name: Bruce Rutsky Firm: Petronzio Schneier Co. LPA Practice area(s): Personal injury and criminal defense Undergraduate school: Indiana University Law school: OSU’s Mortiz College of Law Graduation year: 1982 Synagogue: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple Favorite place to relax: At home with a good book Last vacation: At the beach in the Outer Banks If not a lawyer...: A Major League Baseball player, preferably for the Indians Favorite local restaurant: Geraci’s Name: Richard J. Rymond Firm: Reminger Co., LPA Practice area(s): Professional liability defense for healthcare providers Undergraduate school: Macalester College Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1982 Last vacation: Steamboat Springs, Colo.

If not a lawyer...: Ski bum Favorite local restaurant: Red, the Steakhouse Top of bucket list: Making a bucket list Name: Michael A. Saltzer Firm: Kisling, Nestico & Redick Practice area(s): Plantiff’s personal injury Undergraduate school: Ohio University Law school: The University of Akron School of Law Graduation year: 1988 Synagogue: Solon Chabad Favorite place to relax: Hilton Head Island, S.C. If not a lawyer...: A politician Hobbies: Reading, watching movies and spending time with family Top of bucket list: Travel. There are so many places in the world to see

Name: Emmanuel Sanders Firm: Ulmer & Berne LLP Practice area(s): Product liability, pharmaceutical, medical device and mass tort litigation Undergraduate school: Yeshiva University’s Yeshiva College Law school: New York University School of Law Graduation year: 2017 Synagogue: Green Road Synagogue Favorite place to relax: Relaxing is an avenue of pleasure I am sure I have never been down If not a lawyer...: A penniless philosopher Hobbies: Reading ‘Harry Potter” with my daughter Rutie, doing puzzles with my daughter, Mollie, and wrestling with my son, David Top of bucket list: Learning the entire Talmud and learning to drive Name: Mark L. Sarlson Firm: Roetzel & Andress Practice area(s): Banking Undergraduate school: University of Virginia Law school: OSU’s Moritz College of Law Graduation year: 1986 Favorite place to relax: Cleveland Metroparks North Chagrin Reservation trails, followed closely by reading with my wife in our sun room Hobbies: Running, music and the easier home improvements Top of bucket list: Paris Guilty pleasure: If you ask my wife, it is romantic comedies and in particular, “Notting Hill.” I will continue to deny this Name: Kevin Schadick Firm: The Schadick Law Firm, LLC Practice area(s): Business/ corporate formation and transactions Undergraduate school: The University of Chicago Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 2005 Synagogue: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple Favorite place to relax: At home with my family If not a lawyer...: Unemployed. Seriously though, I would love to be some sort of web designer/programmer Favorite local restaurant: Cowell and Hubbard Guilty pleasure: Creme brulee and doughnuts Name: Roy J. Schechter Firm: Weltman, Weinberg & Reis Practice area(s): Complex civil litigation Undergraduate school: Arizona State University Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1986 Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel Favorite place to relax: Fowlers Mill Golf Course If not a lawyer...: Independently wealthy

JANUARY 25, 2019 Favorite local restaurant: Fat Cats Guilty pleasure: Cooking and eating my creations Name: William E. Schonberg Firm: Benesch Practice area(s): Debtor and creditors’ rights and bankruptcy Undergraduate school: Ohio University Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1979 Synagogue: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple Name: Aaron A. Schwartz Firm: Reitz, Paul & Shorr Practice area(s): Estate planning and domestic relations Undergraduate school: Miami University Law school: CWRU’s University’s School of Law Graduation year: 2002 Favorite place to relax: A movie theater.

Last vacation: Miami.

Favorite local restaurant: Tasty’s Pizza Top of bucket list: I would like to visit Israel in the not-too-distant future Name: Patricia A. Shlonsky Firm: Ulmer & Berne LLP Practice area(s): Employee benefits Undergraduate school: Miami University Law school: OSU’s Moritz College of Law Graduation year: 1984 Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel Favorite place to relax: On the beach in Captiva Island If not a lawyer...: A novelist Favorite local restaurant: Felice Guilty pleasure: Haruki Murakami novels Name: Marvin A. Sicherman Firm: Marvin A. Sicherman, Attorney Practice area(s): Bankruptcy and commercial law Undergraduate school: CWRU Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1960 Last vacation: Los Angeles, San Diego and Coronada Hobbies: Playing bridge Top of bucket list: Another visit in Israel Guilty pleasure: My obsession with the law

LOCAL LAWYERS Name: Marc Alan Silverstein Firm: Jones Day Practice area(s): Real estate and construction Undergraduate school: Brown University Law school: Harvard Law School Graduation year: 1980 Synagogue: Park Synagogue Last vacation: The Galapagos If not a lawyer...: An urban planner Favorite local restaurant: The Marble Room Guilty pleasure: Chocolate chip cookies Name: Joseph S. Simms Firm: Reminger Co., LPA Practice area(s): Financial services, professional liability, securities litigation, commercial litigation and probate and trust litigation Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1996 Last vacation: Myrtle Beach, S.C. Hobbies: Bass guitar Top of bucket list: To become an expert skier so I can keep up with my daughter Guilty pleasure: Oreos Name: Paul J. Singerman Firm: Singerman, Mills, Desberg & Kauntz Co., LPA Practice area(s): Business and real estate Undergraduate school: CWRU Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1983 Synagogue: Temple Israel Ner Tamid Favorite place to relax: On my screened-in porch during the summer If not a lawyer...: Entrepreneur Top of bucket list: Travel the world Guilty pleasure: Peanut butter Name: Roni Sokol Firm: The Sokol Law Firm Practice area(s): Personal injury Undergraduate school: UCLA Law school: Southwestern Law School Graduation year: 1995 Synagogue: Park Synagogue Last vacation: Las Vegas If not a lawyer...: A journalist Favorite local restaurant: ML Tavern or Shuhei Top of bucket list: To visit Japan

SUPER ATTORNEYS Name: Robert E. Somogyi Firm: Kuenzi/Somogyi Attorneys Practice area(s): Family law Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1993 Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel Last vacation: My family heads down to the east coast every summer with a number of other families If not a lawyer...: I would have either followed my love of sports or art and found a niche within those areas Hobbies: Golfing with friends Top of bucket list: I always wanted to travel to Italy with my wife Name: Loren M. Sonkin Firm: Loren M. Sonkin – Attorney at Law Practice area(s): Estate planning, probate and elder law Undergraduate school: Purdue University Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1989 Favorite place to relax: My home, preferably outside on a nice day Last vacation: Madrid, Spain Hobbies: Wine (writing, making and drinking) Top of bucket list: I would like to visit Alaska both for the ocean but also go inland Name: Jeremy Sosin Firm: Sosin Law LLC Practice area(s): Commercial real estate Undergraduate school: Indiana University Law school: Valparaiso University School of Law Graduation year: 1997 Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel Last vacation: Finger Lakes region of New York If not a lawyer...: I would like to be a forever student in an experiential education program that includes travel Hobbies: My hobbies are playing guitar, cooking, hiking and reading Guilty pleasure: Doritos Name: Scott A. Spero Firm: Bentoff & Spero Co. LPA Practice area(s): Personal injury and medical malpractice Undergraduate school: Indiana University Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1989 Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel Favorite place to relax: Punta Cana, Dominican

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JANUARY 25, 2019 Republic If not a lawyer...: A bike shop owner Favorite local restaurant: My wife’s homecooked meals Top of bucket list: To re-qualify for the Boston Marathon in my new age group Name: David J. Steiger Firm: Sheldon Karp Co., LPA Practice area(s): Plaintiff’s workers’ compensation and personal injury Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: Capital University Law School Graduation year: 1992 Favorite place to relax: At home with my family Hobbies: Reading, exercising and watching movies Top of bucket list: Opening a dog or farm animal sanctuary Guilty pleasure: Playing poker Name: Laurie G. Steiner Firm: Solomon, Steiner & Peck, Ltd. Practice area(s): Elder law Undergraduate school: College of Wooster Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1989 Last vacation: Amish Country in Lancaster, Pa. Hobbies: Reading, crafts and shopping Favorite local restaurant: Burntwood Tavern Top of bucket list: Travel to all 50 states Name: Marc Stolarsky Firm: Marc L. Stolarsky Law, LLC Practice area(s): Estate planning, family law and probate Undergraduate school: Ohio University Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Year: 1995 Synagogue: Temple Israel Ner Tamid Last vacation: Disney World If not a lawyer...: A bad writer Favorite local restaurant: Ho Wah Guilty pleasure: Pop (usually Coca Cola)

Litigate.

Win. Repeat.

Ulmer is Benchmark’s Ohio Litigation Firm of the Year…Again.

We are honored to be named “Ohio Litigation Firm of the Year” by Benchmark Litigation for an unprecedented third year.

Ulmer’s litigation team remains at the top, endorsed by the continued trust and confidence of our clients:

“Exceptionally talented — client-centric, and they get results.”

“Incredibly strong, strategic, and effective litigators.”

Name: Roger Synenberg Firm: Synenberg & Associates, LLC Practice area(s): White collar criminal defense Undergraduate school: American University Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1976 Favorite place to relax: Home If not a lawyer...: Cabinet maker Hobbies: Reading Top of bucket list: Family vacation

CLEVELAND

COLUMBUS

CINCINNATI

CHICAGO

BOCARATON

ULMER.COM/LITIGATION

78 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG Name: Ronald J. Teplitzky Firm: Singerman, Mills, Desberg & Kauntz Co., LPA Practice area(s): Commercial lending and business transactions Undergraduate school: Ohio University Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1987 Synagogue: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple Favorite place to relax: Behind home plate at Progressive Field If not a lawyer...: A college professor Top of bucket list: Attending the Kentucky Derby Guilty pleasure: Watching American Ninja Warrior Name: Michael S. Tucker Firm: Ulmer & Berne LLP Practice area(s): Bankruptcy and creditors’ rights Undergraduate school: Miami University Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1986 Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation Last vacation: Las Vegas for my daughter’s 21st birthday If not a lawyer...: A full-time softball pitcher Favorite local restaurant: Geraci’s Restaurant Top of bucket list: Visit Israel Name: Peter Turner Firm: Meyers, Roman, Friedberg & Lewis Practice area(s): Civil and commercial litigation Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1981 Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel Favorite place to relax: Wherever my granddaughter, Shay, happens to be If not a lawyer...: Unemployed or an engineer Top of bucket list: It changes often Guilty pleasure: Hand-sliced lox Name: Michael N. Ungar Firm: Ulmer & Berne LLP Practice area(s): Litigation Undergraduate school: Boston University Law school: Boston University School of Law Graduation year: 1984 Synagogue: Temple Israel Ner Tamid Favorite place to relax: Cleveland Metroparks Chagrin Reservation If not a lawyer...: Uber driver Favorite local restaurant: Any restaurant in Cleveland Heights Guilty pleasure: Oreo cookies

JANUARY 25, 2019 Name: Mark I. Wachter Firm: Wachter Kurant, LLC Practice area(s): Alternative dispute resolution; commercial, construction and business litigation Undergraduate school: University of Michigan Law school: American University’s Washington

College of Law Graduation year: 1976 Synagogue: Beachwood Kehilla Favorite place to relax: Shabbos afternoon on the hammock in my back yard.

If not a lawyer...: Orchestra conductor Hobbies: Running, cycling, skiing and enjoying our grandchildren.

Guilty pleasure: Sharing grilled steak and red wine at home with my wife, Sally. But I don’t feel the least bit guilty Name: Steven L. Wasserman Firm: Weston Hurd LLP Practice area(s): Business law, real estate and banking and finance Undergraduate school: University of Cincinnati Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1978 Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation Favorite place to relax: Either the golf course or on my motorcycle Last vacation: Eastern Europe on a river cruise If not a lawyer...: Psychologist Favorite local restaurant: L’Albatros Brasserie + Bar Name: David Waxman Firm: McGlinchey Stafford Practice area(s): Real estate development and finance and environmental law Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: University of Toledo College of Law Graduation year: 1986 Synagogue: Park Synagogue Favorite place to relax: At an Indians game If not a lawyer...: A musician Favorite local restaurant: Lola Guilty pleasure: Scotch, bourbon and cigars Name: Craig T. Weintraub Firm: Law Offices of Craig T. Weintraub Practice area(s): Criminal and civil litigation Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1987 Synagogue: Temple Emanu El Favorite place to relax: Florida and Mexico beaches

If not a lawyer...: Co-owner of Amazon Hobbies: Guitar, golf and landscape construction Top of bucket list: Be a Bernese Mountain dog breeder and own a farm Name: Joseph “Jake” Weinberg Firm: McDonald Hopkins LLC Practice area(s): Commercial finance Undergraduate school: OSU Law school: University of Miami School of Law Graduation year: 2013 Last vacation: Israel as part of the Honeymoon Israel program If not a lawyer...: I would be teaching high school U.S. history and coaching sports Hobbies: Cheering on the Buckeyes, Browns, Indians and Cavs Top of bucket list: Witnessing the Browns win a Super Bowl in person Name: David C. Weiner Firm: Dinn, Hochman and Potter, LLC Practice area(s): Litigation Undergraduate school: University of Cincinnati Law school: Georgetown University Law Center Graduation year: 1968 Favorite place to relax: Canterbury Golf Club Favorite local restaurant: Yours Truly Restaurant Top of bucket list: Playing the Augusta National Golf Club Guilty pleasure: Monster hash at Yours Truly Restaurant Name: Jerome F. Weiss Firm: MediationInc Practice area(s): Mediation and alternative dispute resolution Undergraduate school: Syracuse University Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1971 Synagogue: Congregation Shaarey Tikvah If not a lawyer...: Veterinarian Favorite local restaurant: fire food and drink and Etna Top of bucket list: Bareboat cruise the Caribbean for a year. Biking the Garden & Wine Route in South Africa Guilty pleasure: Great Pinot Noir and Riesling Name: Scott S. Weltman Firm: Weltman, Weinberg & Reis Co., LPA Practice area(s): Creditors rights and collections Undergraduate school: USC Law school: USC Gould School of Law Graduation year: 1989 Synagogue: Park Synagogue

LOCAL LAWYERS Favorite place to relax: On my couch next to my dog Hobbies: Working out, travel and watching college football Favorite local restaurant: Flour Guilty pleasure: Starbucks Name: Frederick N. Widen Firm: Ulmer & Berne LLP Practice area(s): Taxation Undergraduate school: CSU Law school: CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year: 1981 Synagogue: Suburban Temple Kol Ami Last vacation: Palm Springs, Calif.

If not a lawyer...: A venture capitalist Favorite local restaurant: Mama Santa’s Top of bucket list: Caribbean vacation with all my kids and grandchildren Name: Scott J. Wilkov Firm: Tucker Ellis LLP Practice area(s): Trial defense with an emphasis on products liability Undergraduate school: American University Law school: University of Arizona Graduation year: 1992 Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel Favorite place to relax: Cleveland Metroparks Last vacation: New York City If not a lawyer...: College professor Hobbies: Jogging and reading Name: John M. Wirtshafter Firm: McDonald Hopkins LLC Practice area(s): Employee benefits and executive compensation Undergraduate school: Indiana University Law school: CWRU’s University School of Law Graduation year: 1984 Last vacation: I went on a six-day whitewater rafting trip with my extended family and friends down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho If not a lawyer...: I’d be running a nonprofit organization or finding another way to help people who need a helping hand Hobbies: Planning tennis, traveling and riding my motorcycle Favorite local restaurant: Parallax and L’Albatros Brasserie + Bar

SUPER ATTORNEYS Name: Eric H. Zagrans Firm: Zagrans Law Firm, LLC Practice area(s): Business litigation (trial and appellate) Undergraduate school: University of Notre Dame Law school: Harvard Law School Graduation year: 1977 Synagogue: Agudath B’nai Israel Favorite place to relax: A ballgame, bookstore or visiting my grandchildren If not a lawyer...: A university president Hobbies: Coaching college or high school football Top of bucket list: Visiting Israel, spending time on a kibbutz and the opportunity for at least one more oral argument in the U.S. Supreme Court Name: Andrew A. Zashin Firm: Zashin & Rich, Co. LPA Practice area(s): Family law Undergraduate school: Brown University Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1993 Synagogue: Solon Chabad Favorite place to relax: Haven’t figured it out If not a lawyer...: In big trouble Hobbies: Movies, reading history, current events and oenology (the study of wine) Guilty pleasure: Good dinner, good wine and a good movie Name: Jeffrey D. Zimon Firm: Zimon LLC Practice area(s): Employee benefits and compensation/ERISA Undergraduate school: Brandies University Law school: CWRU’s University School of Law Graduation year: 1992 Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation Last vacation: Italy If not a lawyer...: A builder Favorite local restaurant: Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant Guilty pleasure: Scotch

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JANUARY 25, 2019 Name: Ami Zukowsky Firm: Zukowsky Law, LLC Practice area(s): Divorce and litigation Undergraduate school: Yeshiva University Law school: Yeshiva University’s Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law Graduation year: 2013 Synagogue: Beachwood Kehilla Last vacation: Amsterdam If not a lawyer...: Indiana Jones Top of bucket list: Be nominated for an Academy Award Guilty pleasure: MTV’s “The Challenge” Name: Olga Y. Zullig Firm: Olga Y. Zulling, Attorney at Law LLC Practice area(s): Immigration Undergraduate school: CWRU Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 1997 If not a lawyer...: Pastry chef Hobbies: Movies and cooking Top of bucket list: Horse drawn sleigh ride in the wilderness Guilty pleasure: I don’t feel guilty enjoying good food, wine and pastries

* Attorneys included in this section completed a questionnaire that was emailed to attorneys and/or firms by the Cleveland Jewish News. The questionnaire also was available at cjn.org and included in our Boker Tov newsletter. Some opted not to answer all questions.

JLI to host ‘Crime and Consequence’ series

The Jewish Learning Institute of Cleveland will host its “Crime and Consequence” six-session series beginning at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Feb. 6 at JLI, 25400 Fairmount Blvd. in Beachwood.

Participants can learn about the implications of ancient Talmudic teachings for modern course cases and discuss injustices facing the criminal justice system today. Rabbi Shmuli Friedman will lead the course.

A free opening night will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 6. Kosher wines and hors d’oeuvres will be served. The morning class on Feb. 6 is also free.

The course has been approved by the Supreme Court of Ohio commission on continuing legal education for credit hours, with three of attorney professional conduct instruction.

For more information or to register, call 216-282-0112, email jli@enrichngjudaism.com or visit myjli.com.

Lawyers, firms receive recognition The following Cleveland attorneys were named by Super Lawyers magazine as 2019 Super Lawyers or Rising Stars:

TUCKER ELLIS

Super Lawyers: Keith A. Ashmus, Brett. K. Bacon, T. Merrit Bumpass, Jr., Michael N. Chesney, Gregory R. Farkas, Michael J. Frantz, Carl H. Gleuk, Patrick F. Haggerty, Joel R. Hlavaty, Christopher G. Keim, Brian J. Kelly, Christopher C. Koehler, John F. Kostelnik, James B. Niehaus, Mark L. Rodio, Marc A. Sanchez and Daniel Ward Rising Stars: Klevis Bakiaj, Thomas E. Cardone, Alan B. Dailide, Thomas G. Haren, Angela D. Lydon, Christina E. Niro, Michael C. Nunnari, Jr., Bradley D. Reed, Allison Taller Reich and Ryan T. Smith

Super Lawyers: Ernest Auciello, Heather Barnes, Henry Billingsley. Ann Caresani, Stephen Ellis, Laura Hong, Irene Keyse-Walker, John Lewis, Rita Maimbourg, John McCaffrey, Mark McCarthy, Daniel Messeloff, Matthew Moriarty, Glenn Morrical, Carl Muller, Brian O’Neill, Anthony Petruzzi, Susan Racey, Keith Raker, Dustin Rawlin, Benjamin Sassé, Patricia Seifert, Ronald Stansbury, Robert Tucker and Kevin Young Rising Stars: Brandon Cox, Dana Elfvin, Marissa Ennis, Jonathan Feczko, Erica James, Paul Janowicz, Jayne Juvan, Seth Linnick, Matthew Marguerite, Jennifer Mesko, Chelsea Smith, Chelsea Mikula Tomko, Seth Wamelink and Chaz Weber

THE GERTSBURG LAW FIRM, LPA

ULMER & BERNE, LLP

FRANTZ WARD, LLP

Super Lawyers: Alex Gertsburg Rising Stars: Max Julian

HAHN LOESER & PARKS, LLP

Super Lawyers: Jeffrey A. Brauer, Erica L. Calderas, M. Patricia Culler, Rocco I. Debitetto, Daniel A. DeMarco, Christina D’Eramo Evans. Robert J. Fogarty, Stephen H. Gariepy, Steven A. Golfarb, Joan M. Gross, Andrew J. Natale, Lawrence E. Oscar, Rob Remington, Dennis R. Rose and Christopher B. Wick Rising Stars: Matthew K. Grashoff, Casey McElfresh, Charles W. Pugh, Christopher W. St. Marie and Gregory A. Thompson

KAUFMAN & COMPANY, LLC

Super Lawyers: Steven Kaufman

MEYERS, ROMAN, FRIEDBERG AND LEWIS

Super Lawyers: Richard M. Bain, Seth P. Briskin, Peter D. Brosse, Mario J. Fazio, Ronald P. Friedberg, Alan Hirth, Jonathan T. Hyman, Scott M. Lewis, R. Russell O’Rourke and Peter Turner Rising Stars: Anne C. Fantelli, Michelle Gearity and T. Kinsey McInturf

Super Lawyers: Inajo Davis Chappell, Robert E. Chudakoff, Timothy J. Downing, Jeff S. Dunlap, William D. Edwards, Bill J. Gagliano, Frances Floriano Goins, James A. Goldsmith, Howard M. Groedel, Manju Gupta, Lori A. Pittman Haas, Richard T. Hamilton, Jr., Richard G. Hardy, Stephen H. Jett, Mark D. Katz, Joshua A. Klarfeld, James N. Kline, David W. Leopold, Mary Forbes Lovett, Amanda Martinsek, Harold “Kip” Reader, Peter A. Rome, Patricia A. Shlonsky, Stephanie Dutchess Trudeau, Michael S. Tucker, Michael N. Ungar and Frederick N. Widen Rising Stars: Candice L. Musiek Capoziello, Delores “Lola” Garcia Prignitz, Daniel A. Gottesman, Trevor J. Hardy, Paul R. Harris, Georgia Hatzis, Michael Davis Hoenig, Steven P. Larson, J. Matthew Linehan, Daniela Paez, Stanley D. Prybe, Raymond D. Seiler and Nicholas B. Wille

ZASHIN & RICH

RATHBONE GROUP, LLC

Super Lawyers: George S. Crisci, John Dileno, Deanna L. DiPetta, Michele L. Jakubs, Christopher R. Reynolds, Jonathan A. Rich, Jeffrey J. Wedel, Andrew Zashin and Stephen S. Zashin Rising Stars: Christopher D. Caspary, Amy Keating, Ami J. Patel, David R. Vance and Kyleigh A. Weinfurtner

SANDRA J. BUZNEY, CO. LPA

Information was submitted by law firms.

Rising Stars: Steven Alsip

Super Lawyers: Sandra J. Buzney

80 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG

JANUARY 25, 2019

LOCAL LAWYERS

LEFT TO RIGHT: Marilena DiSilvio*†‡, R. Craig McLaughlin*, Kevin Lenson*, Gary Cowan*, Amy Papesh*‡, Phillip Kuri*, Arthur Elk, David Elk, Michael Eisner*, Christina Spallina** (Of Counsel), William Price*†, Robert Dubyak* (Of Counsel), William Campbell* INSET: James Kelley III*†, John O’Neil*†, Kimberly Young** *CHOSEN TO 2019 SUPER LAWYERS; **CHOSEN TO 2019 RISING STARS; †TOP 100 OHIO & TOP 50 CLEVELAND; ‡TOP 50 WOMEN OHIO & TOP 25 WOMEN CLEVELAND

Elk & Elk Attorneys Recognized on 2019 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists Partners Jay Kelley, John O’Neil, Phillip Kuri, and Marilena DiSilvio, and attorneys Gary Cowan, R. Craig McLaughlin, Amy Papesh, Michael Eisner, William Price, William Campbell, and Kevin Lenson were recognized on the 2019 Super Lawyers list. Kimberly Young was named to the 2019 Rising Stars list.

Kelley, O’Neil, DiSilvio, and Price earned spots on the Top 100 Ohio Super Lawyers and Top 50 Cleveland Super Lawyers lists.

Papesh, who heads Elk & Elk’s Probate Division, and DiSilvio were recognized on the Top 50 Women Ohio Super Lawyers and Top 25 Women Cleveland Super Lawyers lists.

Robert Dubyak of Dubyak Nelson LLC, of counsel to Elk & Elk on business-related matters, was selected as a 2019

Elk & Elk Co., Ltd.

Super Lawyer. Christina Spallina, also of Dubyak Nelson, was recognized as a 2019 Rising Star.

Managing Partner Arthur Elk stated, “Our success and the respect of our peers are demonstrative of our commitment to providing our clients the best legal talent and all of the resources they deserve.”

Skilled paralegals, in-house nurses, physicians, accident reconstructionists, accountants and support staff work hand-in-hand with Elk & Elk’s experienced attorneys toward our commitment to injured clients and the community.

Elk & Elk’s tireless devotion to obtaining justice for injury victims has resulted in recovering more than $1 billion for clients throughout Ohio.

6105 Parkland Boulevard, Suite 200, Mayfield Heights, Ohio 44118

1.800.ELK.OHIO | elkandelk.com

34 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG

FEBRUARY 1, 2019

Frantz Ward attorneys elected to OSBA council

Frantz Ward attorneys Thomas G. Haren and Ryan T. Smith were elected as District 12 representatives of the Ohio State Bar Association council of delegates. Each will serve a two-year term.

The council is one of two major governing bodies of the bar association. Members of the council meet a least once a year to consider legal proposals offered by the committees and the sections of the association.

Frantz Ward’s Cleveland office is at 200 Public Square, Suite 300 in downtown Cleveland.

Ulmer & Berne rated a top law firm in BTI rankings

Ulmer & Berne LLP was recognized in BTI’s “BTI Client Service A-Team 2019: The Survey of Law Firm Client Service Performance.”

Corporate counsel ranked Ulmer in 17 of the activities clients use to evaluate client service.

The activities are: commitment to help, client focus, understanding the client’s business, providing value for the dollar, legal skills, quality, meeting core scope, keeping clients informed, dealing with unexpected changes, handling problems, breadth of services, helping advise on business issues, unprompted communication, bringing together resources, dealing with complexity, anticipating clients’ needs and innovative approach.

Ulmer & Berne adds attorney to labor, employment practice

Ulmer & Berne LLP hired associate Jonathan R. King to its employment and labor practice group. King comes to the firm from the National Labor Relations Board in Region 8.

In addition to his role as an attorney, King is also a member of the Ohio Army National Guard and serves as a program manager in the federated intelligence program.

Meyers Roman Proudly Salutes Our

2019 Super Lawyers

Richard M. Bain

Seth P. Briskin

Peter D. Brosse

Anne C. Fantelli

Mario J. Fazio

Rising Star

Michelle R. Gearity

Ronald P. Friedberg

Alan N. Hirth

Jonathan T. Hyman

Scott M. Lewis

Rising Star

T. Kinsey McInturf

R. Russell O’Rourke

Barbara K. Roman

Peter Turner

Rising Star

meyers roman Meyers, Roman, Friedberg & Lewis

A Legal Professional Association

28601 Chagrin Blvd., Suite 600 Cleveland, OH 44122 Phone: 216.831.0042 www.meyersroman.com

LOCAL LAWYERS

Meet some noteworthy Jewish attorneys* Name:Stephanie A. Chisling Firm:Stephanie A. Chisling, Esq. Practice area(s): Health care contracting, commercial law, employment law and risk management Undergraduate school:The Ohio State University Law school:The John Marshall Law School Graduation year:1990 Synagogue:The Temple-Tifereth Israel Favorite place to relax:Overlooking mountains Last vacation:Spain If not a lawyer...:Basketball statistician Hobbies:Mahjong, working out and reading Name:Michelle Gearity Firm:Meyers, Roman, Friedberg & Lewis Practice area:Tax Undergraduate school:University of Miami Law School:CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year:2016 Synagogue:B’nai Jeshurun Congregation Favorite place to relax:Walking around my neighborhood in Shaker Heights and the Cleveland Museum of Art Last vacation:Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Favorite local restaurant:L’Albatross Brasserie + Bar or Dewey’s Pizza Guilty pleasure:Going to the hair salon and getting my hair cut and nails done Name:Rob Gilmore Firm:Kohrman, Jackson & Krantz LLP Practice area:Labor and employment law Undergraduate school:University of Cincinnati Law school:OSU’s Moritz College of Law Graduation year:1986 Synagogue:Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple Favorite place to relax:At Progressive Field watching the Indians Last vacation:Sonoma wine country Top of bucket list:Wimbledon center court, as a spectator unfortunately Guilty pleasure:Reading mystery novels

Name:Rubin Guttman Firm:Rubin Guttman & Associates, LPA Pratice area:Personal injury, including auto and trucking accidents, motorcycle and bicycle accidents and medical malpractice Undergraduate school:Brooklyn University – The City University of New York Law school:CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation:1977 Synagogue:Green Road Synagogue Hobbies:I spend time with my family and do as much as I can to help build Jewish Cleveland.

Name:Renee Heller Firm:Renee Heller, Attorney at Law Practice area: Bankruptcy, divorce and probate Undergraduate school:Florida State University Law school:CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Graduation year:1994 Synagogue:B’nai Jeshurun Congregation Favorite place to relax:Wherever it’s warm If not a lawyer...:Sports analyst Top of bucket list:Grand Canyon Guilty pleasure:“Real Housewives of New Jersey” Name:Ari H. Jaffe Firm:Kohrman, Jackson & Krantz LLP Practice area: Business litigation Undergraduate school:Brandeis University Law school:CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year:1986 Synagogue:Green Road Synagogue Last vacation:Israel Hobbies:Volunteering in the Jewish community Favorite local restaurant:Bar Sushi and Fishstix Top of bucket list:Seeing age 120

LAWYERS | 35

SUPER ATTORNEYS

CJN.ORG | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | 35

FEBRUARY 1, 2019

Scenes from holiday parties

Tittle and Perlmuter LAWYERS | 34 Name: Alan M. Rauss Firm: Kohrman, Jackson & Krantz LLP Practice area: Employment law and mergers and acquisitions Undergraduate school: Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania Law school: University of Michigan Law School Graduation year: 1972 Synagogue: Congregation Shaarey Tikvah Favorite place to relax: Golf course Last vacation: Mexico Hobbies: Golf, reading and dining Favorite local restaurant: Parallax Name: Laurel G. Stein Firm: Nee Law Firm Practice area: Domestic relations Undergraduate school: Washington University in St. Louis Law school: University of Memphis School of Law Graduation year: 1999 Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel If not a lawyer...: A party planner Favorite local restaurant: Bull & Bird Top of bucket list: Travel to Europe Guilty pleasure: Watching Lifetime movies

Name: Mark Wallach Firm: Walter Haverfield LLP Practice area: Business litigation Undergraduate school: Wesleyan University Law school: Harvard Law School Graduation year: 1974 Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel Favorite place to relax: Listening to jazz at Nighttown If not a lawyer...: A government official Favorite local restaurant: Paladar Guilty pleasure: “Game of Thrones” Name: Melissa Yasinow Firm: Kohrman Jackson & Krantz LLP Practice area: Business litigation Undergraduate school: Mt. Holyoke College Law school: CWRU’s School of Law Graduation year: 2011 Synagogue: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple Favorite place to relax: At home with a book Last vacation: Iceland If not a lawyer...: Journalist Hobbies: Reading, hiking and Korean cooking

Liner Legal Law firms were asked to submit their holiday party photos

When it’s their truck vs. your car, you need Rubin Guttman & Associates, where we’ve been representing people who’ve been injured or disabled, or whose loved ones have been the victims of wrongful death as a result of serious car and truck accidents, medical malpractice or nursing home neglect and abuse since 1977. We’re proud that Rubin Guttman has been recognized once again by his peers as an Ohio Super Lawyer.

Rubin Guttman, Esq, Rubin Guttman & Assoc., LPA

* The attorney listings either had errors or were ommitted from last week’s section.

To read the CJN’s special section, Local Lawyers Super Attorneys, visit bit.ly/2WuMC9D

Rubin Guttman

55 Public Square, Suite 1860 Cleveland, OH 44113 216-696-4006