SUPER ATTORNEYS
ColumbusJewishNews.com | COLUMBUS JEWISH NEWS | 39
MARCH 19, 2026
Local Lawyers / Super Attorneys Local Jewish attorneys included in this section completed a questionnaire that was emailed to attorneys and/or firms. The Q&A form was also available at columbusjewishnews.com. Some opted to not answer all questions and some answers were edited for clarity and brevity. To view the list of Local Lawyers / Super Attorneys online, including attorneys added after deadline, visit issuu.com/cjpc. Attorneys did not pay to be included in this directory. Complied by Andrew Isaacs and Becky Raspe. Mitchell Adel
Alex Alfonso
Jedidiah Bressman
Law firm: Cooper, Adel, Vu & Associates Age: 50 Residence: Columbus Undergraduate: Ithaca College Law school: Capital University Law School If you weren’t practicing law what career could you see yourself in? Event coordinator. For 15 years, I have planned and coordinated every firm-related celebration. Also, countless birthday and golf trips with friends and family. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law? You can do it yourself. If you try to do your own plumbing and you make a mistake, you can hire someone to fix it. If you mess up your estate planning, no one finds out until after you are deceased and then it cannot be corrected, potentially tearing apart families. What skill or trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today? Empathy for your clients. Many people today are very transactional, trying to resolve the issue as fast as possible and on to the next. Spend time understanding your client’s needs from their side. What technological tool or innovation has most changed the way you practice law? Talk to text dictation apps. I used to spend an enormous amount of time typing or writing client notes. What is a community cause or organization you care deeply about? Anytime current students call from the Ithaca College Alumni Fundraising office, I love taking their call and after a back and forth about what life was like when I was there and now, I always donate money. My time at Ithaca changed my life. I came out of my shell and met some of my best friends. How do you relax? Jigsaw puzzles What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition or family custom? Lighting the menorah on Chanukah. Always brings me back to my parents house as child.
Law firm: Grossman Law Offices Age: 32 Residence: Columbus Synagogue: Congregation Agudas Achim Undergraduate: DePauw University Law school: The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received? The skills for being a good lawyer are different than for being a great lawyer. A good lawyer is detail-oriented and possesses good organization and time management skills. These attributes make mastering the skills of a great lawyer much easier. If you don’t have the skills to be a good lawyer, it doesn’t matter if you’re a great lawyer. If you weren’t practicing law what career could you see yourself in? Public service What is one misconception people often have about your area of law? Being a good attorney means being a zealous advocate for your client and not settling issues in your case. What skill or trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today? Being open to feedback and asking questions when you feel a bit lost in the sauce. What technological tool or innovation has most changed the way you practice law? Using AI in legal research. Not the AI case hallucination stuff, but more the AI tools which make finding relevant and persuasive case law easier and more efficient. What is a community cause or organization you care deeply about? JewishColumbus How do you relax? Learning languages, walking my three dogs and cooking What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition or family custom? Passover
Law firm: Bressman Law Age: 33 Residence: Westerville Synagogue: Temple Beth Shalom Undergraduate: Indiana Institute of Technology Law school: The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received? “Come work for me.” – David Bressman If you weren’t practicing law what career could you see yourself in? Finance What is one misconception people often have about your area of law? That ChatGPT can represent them. What skill or trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today? Having the ability to market yourself. What technological tool or innovation has most changed the way you practice law? AI has, and will continue, to reshape how we practice law. What is a community cause or organization you care deeply about? JewishColumbus security fund How do you relax? Relax? What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition or family custom? Zipporah and Rivkah’s Bubbe’s food
Leon Bass Law firm: Leon Bass Law Age: 52 Synagogue: Congregation Beth Tikvah Undergraduate: Michigan State University Law school: The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
Gwen Silverberg Callender Organization: Chief counsel for the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio, Inc. Age: 59 Residence: Columbus Undergraduate: University of Wisconsin - Madison Law school: The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received? To drain the emotion from your voice when dealing with a difficult person. If you weren’t practicing law what career could you see yourself in? Something in the fitness industry. What skill or trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today? Young lawyers need to be able to write in a formal context. What technological tool or innovation has
most changed the way you practice law? AI What is a community cause or organization you care deeply about? Friendship Circle in Cleveland. My niece is autistic. Friendship Circle continues to offer her a place to belong. How do you relax? I exercise to relax. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition or family custom? For Shabbos, we throw pieces of challah to those at our table starting with the oldest to the youngest. My paternal grandfather started this tradition, those who join us for Shabbos know what to expect.
Robert G. Cohen Law firm: Kegler Brown Hill + Ritter Age: 62 Residence: Liberty Township Undergraduate: University of Michigan Law school: The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received? When things are going your way, keep your mouth shut. If you weren’t practicing law what career could you see yourself in? Securities trader What is one misconception people often have about your area of law? That being overly contentious somehow benefits the client’s cause. What skill or trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today? Curiosity What technological tool or innovation has most changed the way you practice law? The prevalence of electronic communication, including email, has accelerated the timeline for everything and has created instant round the clock communication without boundaries. What is a community cause or organization you care deeply about? Kegler Brown How do you relax? Ohio: Work outside. Florida: Walk on the beach. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition or family custom? Two nights of Passover dinner.