2026 Local Lawyers / Super Attorneys by Cleveland Jewish Publication Company

A Cleveland Jewish News Advertising Special Section

McGlinchey Stafford to close Shaker Heights office

Firm disbands as eight attorneys join Womble Bond Dickinson for new Cleveland office

JIMMY OSWALD joswald@cjn.org

New Orleans–based law rm

McGlinchey Sta ord PLLC recently announced it voted to disband, setting into motion a shutdown of its operations in 18 locations, including its o ce at 3401 Tuttle Road in the Van Aken District in Shaker Heights, the company announced on its website on Jan. 6.

According to a message posted by the rm to its site, the vote by equity members didn’t come from one single event, nancial circumstance or leadership decision but amidst a variety of reasons centered on market factors, like lagging collections, and internal circumstances. e rm assessed other strategic alternatives before settling on shuttering.

Consultants and counsel have been brought in to guide the rm through the wind-down, including transitioning client service and support for employees.

“As we begin McGlinchey’s 52nd year of operation, my colleagues and I are saddened to announce its nal chapter,” Michael Ferachi, managing member, said in the message. “McGlinchey’s attorneys and legal professionals have focused for 51 years on solving our clients’ legal problems, and that

will remain our focus as we wind down our business. We are committed to comporting ourselves with dignity and grace during this process. I am immensely proud of the culture we have built, the excellent service we have o ered, and the team that we have assembled. I truly believe no one does it better.”

e rm was founded in 1974 in New Orleans by Graham Sta ord, Carl Schumacher, Donald Mintz and Dermott McGlinchey. It began to expand to other markets and opened its Cleveland o ce in 2001, operating downtown until summer 2018 when it moved to Van Aken District in Shaker Heights.

No timeline has been given on when the company will o cially shut down or when individual o ces will be closing.

McGlinchey operates 18 locations in 12 states and Washington, D.C. McGlinchey o ers services in more than 40 practice areas but has a particularly large presence in the corporate defense litigation eld, according to its website. According to law.com, an online trade publication for the legal industry, the rm’s attorney numbers declined from 199 in 2016 to 37 in 2021, but rebounded with 160 attorneys employed by the company going into 2026.

e o ce in Cleveland had 18 attorneys, according to its website, and a total sta count of 31 people at the time of the announced closing.

Emails sent by the CJN to several sta members at the Northeast Ohio location were not returned.

“Our team comprises exceptional legal minds and some of the most skilled legal talent in the market, and while we are sad to bid them farewell, we know they will all thrive wherever they choose to land,” Ferachi said. “McGlinchey will continue to provide seamless, cohesive service and client transition support throughout this process. Leadership is committed to working together, under the guidance of our consultants and counsel, to ensure that our people have a smooth transition and that all matters are handled with care.”

In light of the closing, Womble Bond Dickinson, a transatlantic law rm, announced it will be opening a Cleveland o ce with 11 attorneys, eight of which are coming from McGlinchey. e location will be led by former McGlinchey partner Mark Edelman and include Kelly Lipinski, Robert Savoie, Jason Bichsel and Aaron Kouhoupt along with three lawyers already working for Womble. e rm will not take over the former

McGlinchey space on Tuttle Road and it has yet to be announced where the o ce will be located.

Womble will have 36 total people, 19 of which are lawyers, as part of its consumer nancial services team, which is made up of sta members from the former McGlinchey o ces in Cleveland; Albany, N.Y.; Houston; Irvine, Calif.; and Washington, D.C. It has a U.S. headquarter in Winston-Salem, N.C., and an international headquarter in London.

“We were looking for a platform with depth in adjacent transactional and litigation practices and the institutional commitment to support a nationally focused consumer nancial services team,” Edelman said in a release posted on Womble’s website. “Womble o ers the scale and resources that will enhance the ability of our attorneys and licensing professionals to provide a full suite of services for our clients in an integrated way.”

Womble’s expansion to Cleveland grows its reach to 31 o ces in the United States and 39 globally, and it employs over 1,300 lawyers. It is best known for its corporate and nancial services work, and the rm was created in 2017 after a merger between US-based Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice UK-based Bond Dickinson, a UK rm.

Buckingham, Doolittle and Burroughs to return to Akron

Buckingham, Doolittle and Burroughs, LLC headquarters will relocate to the Advanced Elastomer Systems Building in Akron by the fall.

e move will support the law rm’s Akron connection and its vision for sustainable growth, according to a news release. “We’re excited to be a part of the city’s rebirth and to work in a beautiful, modern space that re ects our vision for the next chapter,” Steve Dimengo, managing partner of Buckingham, said in the release.

Dimengo said Buckingham’s executive committee unanimously agreed that returning to Akron would be a good decision for the rm.

e company’s desire to continue growing and further expansion plans prompted the Akron return, according to the release.

As a part of the company’s move from Fairlawn to Akron, 70 employees will transition to its new headquarters. is then supports Akron Mayor Shammas Malik’s Working Together Strategy for the city’s revitalization, growth and business

attraction, according to the release.

“ is move means bringing at least 70 jobs back into our city and our downtown core and is a vote of con dence in all that Akron has to o er,” Malik said in the release. “We’re excited to kick o 2026 with a win like this.”

Downtown stakeholders like Christopher Hardesty, executive director of the Downtown Akron Development Corporation, said in the release the increase of workers downtown is the “catalyst” they needed to support businesses and help establish new ones.

“We look forward to working with Buckingham through their transition and are con dent that sets the tone for 2026,” he said.

Steve Millard, president and CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber, said decisions like Buckingham’s move is critical to the city’s long-term success.

“By continuing to maintain their headquarters in Summit County and bringing their team to downtown Akron, Buckingham will capitalize on a growing number of new investments being made in downtown, its amenities and opportunities,” he said in the release.

Kimberly Beckett, president and CEO of Downtown Akron Partnership, is also looking forward to the law rm utilizing the city’s amenities while also acquainting themselves with the culture, recreational and residential possibilities.

Beckett also shared how her organizations and others like Elevate Greater Akron, a collaboration between Summit County, city of Akron, Greater Akron Chamber and Galen and Ruth Roush Foundation to prompt economic development, look forward to working with the law rm.

“ e decision to relocate to South Main Street re ects their con dence in the district’s value,” she said in the release. “And it a rms the collaborative work of the city of Akron, DAP and other members of Elevate Greater Akron to build a strong downtown in support of a strong region.”

E ective Feb. 1, rm veteran Dustin Vrabel will become president and managing partner. He will success Dimengo, who has led the rm since 2018.

IAN

Selected

ESQ.

IAN N. FRIEDMAN, ESQ.

Selected

IAN N. FRIEDMAN, ESQ.

Friedman

Selected to Super Lawyers

Friedman

IAN N. FRIEDMAN, ESQ.

Selected to Super Lawyers

TOP 10 RANKED #3

Ian N. Friedman

ERIC NEMECEK, ESQ.

ERIC F. LONG, ESQ.

ERIC NEMECEK, ESQ.

Selected to Super Lawyers

ERIC NEMECEK, ESQ.

Selected to Super Lawyers

ERIC NEMECEK, ESQ.

Selected to Super Lawyers

ERIC F. LONG, ESQ.

Selected to Super Lawyers

Selected

ERIC F. LONG, ESQ.

Selected to Super Lawyers

Friedman Nemecek Long & Grant, LLC is frequently called upon by individuals and organizations across the United States and abroad to render superior legal representation in the most sensitive and highproﬁle criminal defense matters. From the investigative to trial stages of the criminal justice process, their creative and driven approaches regularly earn their clients the greatest successes.

ERIC F. LONG, ESQ.

Selected to Super Lawyers

MADELYN GRANT, ESQ.

Selected

MADELYN GRANT, ESQ.

Selected

GRANT, ESQ.

Selected to Super Lawyers TYLER WALCHANOWICZ, ESQ.

Selected to Rising Stars

GRANT, ESQ.

Selected

ESQ.

TYLER WALCHANOWICZ, ESQ.

Selected to Rising Stars

LUCAS D. TROTT, ESQ.

Selected

LUCAS D. TROTT, ESQ.

Selected to Rising Stars

LUCAS D. TROTT, ESQ.

Selected to Rising Stars

Unlocking public records through FOIA, OPRA

STEVE MARK

People have the right to certain information, whether it’s about a person, or a corporate, or government entity. Perhaps you’ve heard of the acronym FOIA, which stands for Freedom of Information Act, which became law in 1967. Making a FOIA request comes under the legal rights one has to acquire speci c documents pertaining to government business.

e state of Ohio has its own version of that – the Ohio Public Records Act.

R. Todd Hunt of Roetzel & Andress in Cleveland and law director for the city of Beachwood explained the distinction and addressed what recourse an Ohioan has if a records request is not addressed promptly.

“Ohio governmental entities are not subject to the federal FOIA statute, but instead are governed by the Ohio Public Records Act,” Hunt said. “Under Ohio Revised Code 149.43, an Ohio local government and a state governmental entity has a reasonable period of time to respond to a public records request. “ e reasonableness of the time to respond depends on the circumstances surrounding the requested record(s). ose circumstances may be, for example, the volume of records requested, the breadth or narrowness of the request, whether a review of legal counsel is needed to determine any exemptions from disclosure and/or needed redactions to records based on the exemptions. e remedies open to a requester whose request may have taken an unreasonable amount of time are under ORD 149.43 as follows: (1) ling a lawsuit with the Ohio Court of Claims; or (2) ling complaint for what is known as a ‘mandamus action’ with either the common pleas court, the court of appeals, or the Supreme Court in Ohio.”

Subodh Chandra of the Chandra Law Firm in Cleveland expands on what may or may not be considered “reasonable” time for an OPRA request:

“Ohio law requires a public entity to produce records promptly,’ Chandra said. “ at term isn’t de ned, but there’s a point in which delays, especially for narrow, targeted requests, become unreasonable. At that point, the best practice for a requester would be to follow up in writing and to also make a phone call. Recent changes to the Public Records Act also mandate that requesters le a complaint form, available through the Court of Claims, with the public entity and then wait for three days. At that point, the requester may le a mandamus action.

“ e downside of any court other than the Ohio Supreme Court is that if the public entity resists, contests and appeals, you may not get a nal answer. e Ohio Supreme Court usually refers public records cases to its internal mediators, who usually resolve the disputes. But that can still take months. And if that fails, the case then proceeds to brie ng in the Supreme Court, which, at that level, can take over a year. Time is often of the essence to public

records requesters, so delay bene ts only those trying to withhold documents. We recommend that people study the Ohio Attorney General’s Sunshine Manual, which is freely available on the internet and updated annually, for a legal overview of public records law.”

As is the case with any laws, changes occur as administrations and/or legislative majorities come and go.

Brian Bardwell of Speech Law LLC in Cleveland said the “last several years have been a continuation of almost two decades of bipartisan hostility to our freedom of information.

“With every session, the General Assembly enacts new laws barring the public from more and more records, and making it harder to get access to the few records that are still theoretically open to us. ey are approving new rules to increase the cost of records, require pointless new paperwork before going to court and even special procedures to prohibit re-questers from even asking for records without getting permission from a judge rst.

“Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is systematically chipping away at any incentive to enforce the law, ignoring the Ohio Public Records Act’s fee-shifting provisions and simply inventing its own reasons for refusing to pay the lawyers who seek to protect the public’s right to know. Overall, the trend should be clear to anyone who’s paying attention: Democrats and Republicans in the General Assembly and on the Supreme Court are working hard and working together to protect each other from public accountability, and they’re getting away with it. Anyone who cares about good government should be raising hell with their elected representatives.”

Steve Mark is a freelance journalist.

What employers need to know when ICE arrives

ELLIE EVANS

eevans@cjn.org

As the Trump administration continually seeks to enforce U.S. immigration laws in stricter ways than administrations in the past, there are some things to know and ways to prepare if your workplace should receive a visit from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

By order of President Donald Trump, ICE has already been deployed to several large U.S. cities, including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis and Charlotte, N.C., according to Rick Hepp, labor, employment and business immigration attorney and partner at Meyers, Roman, Friedberg & Lewis in

Woodmere. Hepp said he has read ICE agents are actuated to nd those who are not complying to U.S. immigration law by a quota of 3,000 individuals per day – 15,000 people in the average work week.

“Once they’ve gone through (the larger cities), they’re going to continue into smaller cities, like Cleveland,” Hepp said. “I know Cleveland has an active investigations unit for ICE, and active DOJ and FBI presences, and they have priorities that include immigration as well as other labor violations.”

Hepp said local o ces have ramped up investigations into immigration- and forced labor-related crimes over the last several years, even without the push by the Trump administration. He said there are two enforcement actions employers can expect if ICE comes to their workplace – I-9 audits and worksite investigations.

“If ICE conducts an I-9 audit at a workplace, the employer would receive a subpoena, or request, to provide the I-9

forms and any supporting documents of their employees, as well as a roster of their employees, usually within three days,” he said. “ICE uses databases, like E-Verify, to check the employee roster to see if the employees have legitimate identities and authorization to work in the U.S.”

Hepp said to prepare for this type of enforcement action, he recommends employers perform a complete self-audit, which can be done through the workplace’s human resources department, by outside vendors or by legal counsel.

“I recommend someone outside the company perform, if not an initial self-audit, a review audit, to make sure the HR person has done it correctly,” he said. “Typically, the HR person who is doing the audit oversaw the I-9 process during orientation, and if they made errors in the beginning, they may not identify errors during the audit process.”

Hepp said the other type of enforcement action, worksite investigations, are conducted when ICE is looking for a certain

individual, or have reason to believe there are one or more unauthorized workers at the worksite. In this case, what employers don’t want, Hepp said, is for an ICE agent to show up and be given free reign of the worksite.

“Employers should develop an internal team that would respond when an ICE agent shows up at the front desk either presenting a subpoena or asking to look around,” he said. “ at team is typically made up of the HR manager, the operations manager, maybe someone in nance and the people at the front desk.”

Hepp said his rst piece of advice to employers undergoing a worksite investigation is not to panic.

“Ask the agent to wait in the lobby while the trained response team decides how to handle the situation, ”he said. “Check what the subpoena actually authorizes agents to do, because they’re not allowed to search outside of its parameters. Don’t invite them in, because once you do, they’re going to go wherever they want to go.”

Bardwell Chandra Hunt

Hepp

We, the attorneys of Zukerman Lear Murray & Brown Co., L.P.A., are relentless in defending our clients. From federal and state felonies to white-collar crimes, misdemeanors, and OVI cases, we take immediate action to prevent charges and prepare for trial with the goal of dismissal or acquittal. We also ﬁght for our clients in custody disputes, personal injury claims, and civil litigation. Since 1993, ZLM's clients have known that they have a team of attorneys on their side who will never rest!

Attorneys find purpose in giving back to community

SHANNON MORTLAND

The season of giving typically starts around anksgiving and lasts through the end of the year, as people are feeling gratitude for all they have and are inspired to give to others. However, many support the community in a variety of ways year-round.

Many attorneys in Northeast Ohio start with the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, which represents and provides services to people who cannot a ord counsel.

Joshua Bass, a partner in Taft’s Cleveland o ce, said he tries to give back in ways that are consistent with his values.

“As a lawyer at Taft, that means using my skills where they can have real impact, including participating in the Cleveland Cavaliers Legal Aid Clinic with the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland,” he said. “Helping someone navigate a legal issue that a ects their stability or livelihood is a concrete way to practice tikkun olam.”

Art Hall, partner-in-charge of Calfee’s Cleveland o ce, said the rm has been a longtime supporter of the Legal Aid Society, both nancially and as volunteers. However, volunteerism is encouraged beyond providing legal assistance.

“We really encourage participation in the nonpro t world … and to nd a nonpro t they have a passion for,” which can include providing their expertise as board members, for example, he said. “It’s important that people can add some skills and give back to the community.”

As a sole practitioner and experienced attorney at Rumizen Weisman Attorneys, Je rey Leikin said he is grateful for the time he has to perform pro bono work for clients in need.

“ e prospect of helping people is why I went to law school in the rst place,” he said. “Pro bono work is the best way to achieve that objective.”

In addition, Leikin is a member of the Orange City Schools Board of Education, a 12-year experience in which he has learned a lot.

ere are only so many hours in a day, so all three encouraged others to manage their skills and time wisely.

“Lawyers have a unique skillset to play in chaos,” Hall said. “ e challenge becomes not to over extend yourself. Make sure you have the time and the interest to do it well.”

Bass said he is “intentional about focusing on causes that

strengthen the community and foster learning. I’m drawn to organizations that support people at critical moments and that think long-term about leadership and continuity. Strong values, growth opportunities, meeting new people and thoughtful stewardship matter to me.”

For Leikin, it’s all about helping kids.

He spends time with children “not to in uence who they are or what to be, just to give them direction and promote good values in deciding what is right and wrong,” he said. “It is so important that our kids have the right foundation to become productive adults.”

Leikin once ran into the mother of a child he had helped with mock trials in high school. e mother said that, without Leikin’s help, her son would never have chosen to be a lawyer and had been admitted to Harvard Law School.

For those wondering how they can give back, Hall advised them to “ nd something you have a passion for, and you will nd the time. You will relish the opportunity to make a di erence and you will perform at your best level.”

Bass said that they should “start where you are and with what you know. Giving back doesn’t require a big platform, it requires consistency, humility and showing up. Investing locally and staying engaged over time is how community is built and sustained.”

Shannon Mortland is a freelance journalist.

Emotional factors may influence legal decisions

A. KEVIN CORVO

While the study of law for a bar examination focuses on mastering legal principles and doctrine, legal matters almost always involve a signi cant emotional component as well. Estate planning is no exception, whether in the creation of an estate plan or in carrying out the terms of a will or administering an estate.

“No one wants to think about their mortality and that is why a lot of people put it o for as long as possible and sometimes die without a will,” Bradley Greene, an attorney with e Life Care Planning Law O ces of Bradley L. Greene in Lyndhurst, said.

But at the heart of estate planning is the concept of legacy, according to Adam Fried, an attorney with the Fried Law Group in Beachwood.

“It is about the client’s goals (and) the concept of having some control after the grave,” Fried said.

Estate planning can include the typical

matters of inheritance and the transfer of real property and assets, but it can also include “precatory” considerations which are not always or easily enforceable, sometimes subject to how the words are interpreted, and can sometime lead to litigation, he said.

Precatory language usually includes that it is the wish or desire of a decedent that an administrator, an executor, or surviving family members act or behave in a certain manner, or consider the needs or wants of other surviving family members, according to Fried.

When it comes to tangible considerations such as monetary or physical assets, he said e ective estate planning should include conversations with everyone who could potentially be a ected.

Doing so can reduce the chances of disputes and emotional confrontations when a will is executed or an estate is probated, Fried said.

In the absence of a will, a decedent’s estate and assets are subject to probate and that act itself it often wrought with emotion, Greene said.

It is sometimes publicly witnessed when a high-pro le celebrity such as Bob Marley or Prince dies without a will or a trust, often leading to years of litigation, emotional turmoil and signi cant legal fees that could have otherwise been avoided, he said.

“People don’t want to think about writing a will (but dying without one can) leave a big mess to clean up,” Greene said.

In addition to an aversion to contemplating death, some people avoid writing a will or creating a trust because they believe it to be expensive or they simply do

not have enough assets to warrant it.

“But the process (of creating a will or a trust) is relatively painless and a ordable,” Greene said.

Most people own a car and have more assets then they realize, he said.

A will or a trust will allow you to direct the ownership of those assets rather than a probate court following established protocols of succession and other actions, Greene said.

“When children are grieving the loss of a parent that last thing they need is to also have to clean up a mess made when there is no will,” he said.

While there are do-it-yourself and online mechanisms to create a will or a trust, Greene suggested legal assistance to avoid the possibility of the document being legally awed.

“You are better o seeing a lawyer to do it,” Greene said. “It’s a matter of paying hundreds (to create a will or trust) or thousands in probate court.”

Bass Hall Leikin

A. Kevin Corvo is a freelance journalist.

Fried Greene

12 Elk + Elk Attorneys Recognized Among Ohio’s Best

Super Lawyers + Rising Stars Honors for 2026

Elk + Elk is proud to announce that 12 attorneys have been named to the 2026 Ohio Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars lists.

Managing Partner Jay Kelley was named a Top 5 Personal Injury Plaintiff Super Lawyer in Ohio.

Kelley and William Price were also recognized among the Top 100 Ohio and Top 50 Cleveland Super Lawyers lists.

Super Lawyers recognizes no more than 5 percent of attorneys statewide. Rising Stars recognizes no more than 2.5 percent.

TOP 5 PERSONAL INJURY PLAINTIFF OHIO;

TOP 100 OHIO & TOP 50 CLEVELAND; * RISING STARS

Jay Kel ley‡†, John O’Neil, Ph ill ip Kuri, R. Craig McL au gh l in , Ga ry Cowan,

Ma tthew Ca rt y, Wi ll iam Price†, W ill iam Campbell, Kevi n Lenson, Curtis Fif ne r, Ian Fijalkovich*, Katherine Laney*

The growing role of AI in the legal field

NOELL WOLFGRAM EVANS

It is di cult to nd an industry that is not testing how arti cial intelligence tools can help, at the very least, make the work day more e cient.

Some doctors are using AI assistants to capture notes during a patient visit, while banks are looking to AI to route and catalog customer inquiries. e legal profession is nding ways to incorporate this technology as well.

“ ere are an endless variety of tasks which lawyers do on a daily basis,” Susan L. Friedman, shareholder at Roetzel & Andress in Cleveland, told the Cleveland Jewish News. “And there are so many di erent legal practice areas that tasks vary greatly. But generally, with

human oversight and review, AI can be used for administrative tasks, legal research, document review, contract drafting and management, and legal drafting of memos and motions.”

While there are e ciencies that can be found with AI, there are cautions that come with those. For lawyers, that means enjoying the bene ts that AI can provide without compromising the con dentiality of clients.

Friedman said.

“I would never include the client’s name or business name in any kind of search,” she said.

Friedman explained how she merges the focus on con dentiality with the desired outputs from AI.

“I might use a tool such as Microsoft Copilot to summarize a Word document or analyze emails in Outlook. Copilot is an AI tool to aid my work product within my rm accounts that I have my own speci c sign in information. e nal work product will be

saved in my rm les only – which are highly secure. Con dential client information won’t be disseminated anywhere.”

People enter into an agreement with a professional based on a mutual goal of what they want to achieve. at goal alignment is particularly critical with lawyers and their clients. But Friedman noted that it’s important that lawyers help clients to understand the steps being taken along the way, especially when those intentionally involve AI.

“An attorney should discuss with their clients that they have used AI,” Friedman said. “Attorneys who bill their time prepare descriptions for each task which can include the process used. ese descriptions are included in the attorney’s invoice.”

A question anyone using AI must contemplate is should they incorporate it into their work. Lawyers have to consider that just because they can use an AIpowered tool in a situation doesn’t always

mean that they should. While everyone is promoting AI as the future, it’s important for lawyers to be methodical about how and where they will use it in their daily practice.

Friedman said she believes that “when utilized carefully and properly, AI can be an excellent tool to help automate legal tasks such as research, document review and analysis.”

“AI can help an attorney save time and ultimately bill less on a task for the client,” she said. “Attorneys should be able to boost their productivity and increase e ciency (with AI).

“Ideally, AI should enable attorneys to spend more time strategizing and analyzing complex issues with faster turnaround times, and potentially reduced costs for the client.”

Noell Wolfgram Evans is a freelance journalist.

Friedman

Enforcement cameras for parking may be clicking in Cleveland

SHANNON MORTLAND

The city of Cleveland recently announced it will install cameras in parts of downtown and Ohio City to better enforce parking laws and to eliminate issues such as double parking by delivery drivers and ride-share drivers.

e goal is to reduce and eliminate illegal parking and stopping in areas such as crosswalks and to shift such stopping to approved areas where people can load and unload legally and safely, according to Matt Moss, senior strategist for thriving communities in the city of Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb’s o ce.

“(Delivery drivers) don’t have much of a choice right now, so they go where they can,” he said. “When there is no space available, people park in crosswalks or intersections. at creates a blind spot, so people can’t see oncoming vehicles.”

e cameras are being installed on Euclid Avenue, Huron Road, Prospect Avenue, Public Square and near the West Side Market in Ohio City. ey will initially be used to gather data on how and where people park illegally, which will help the city redesign parking and loading across the city, Moss said.

Cleveland City Council is introducing legislation and once it passes, cameras will be used to enforce parking laws, according to Lucas Reeve, a senior adviser in the mayor’s o ce.

e cameras are part of a larger plan to address parking and travel needs on streets. Cleveland is following the lead of cities such as Miami, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, which already have programs to better manage short-term curb usage, Moss said. In 2022, the city rolled out Vision Zero Cleveland, which aims to eliminate tra c deaths and serious injuries from crashes on Cleveland streets by 2030.

Are the cameras legal?

e law states that a government entity cannot operate tra c cameras on its own behalf, according to Tyler Walchanowicz, associate attorney with Friedman Nemecek

Long & Grant LLC in Cleveland. However, Cleveland Police Department can operate them, with some caveats, he said.

“If CPD uses a camera, an o cer has to be there and present with the device when it’s operating,” Walchanowicz said. “ ey have to be there to personally witness the violator for the ticket to be enforceable.”

To issue tickets based on the tra c cameras that will monitor parking, the city will need to pass speci c legislation, Moss said.

Walchanowicz said the city will also need to hang signs that warn drivers there are tra c cameras being used and enforced within the rst 300 feet of the boundary in which the camera is being used.

To install the cameras, the city “is supposed to conduct safety tests and have a real basis for why the camera is being placed in this speci c area,” he added.

So far, research has been done manually, Moss said.

New on-street parking rates will also be introduced in the next 90 days, making all rates uniform, according to Lucas Reeve.

For example, the base hourly rate for

metered parking will be $1.50 per hour for the rst two hours. e third hour will cost $3 and the fourth hour will cost $4.50.

“We want to have on-street spaces be more predictable and available where people need them,” Reeve said. “We want to encourage greater turnover so when folks go there to support small businesses, the likelihood of nding parking next to where they need it is greatly increased.”

e city is working on legislation to create a special fund that would allow it to reinvest parking revenue in neighborhoods for safety and mobility with installations such as speed tables, better lighting and bike lanes, according to Reeve.

e bottom line is that people will have to change their habits when parking downtown, he said.

“As a city endeavoring to understand and come up with solutions that work for everyone, we know we’re not going to get it perfect, but it’s a great opportunity to get it as great as possible.”

Shannon Mortland is a freelance journalist.

Reintegration, accountability needed for former prisoners

LISA MATKOWSKY

When prisoners in the United States are released, they face an environment that can be challenging and often actively deters them from becoming productive members of society.

“One of the most signi cant challenges is that a past conviction often follows someone long after they have completed their sentence and satis ed every requirement imposed by the court,” Morgan R. Caruso of Caruso Law O ces, LLC in May eld Heights, told the Cleveland Jewish News.

“Employment is the most immediate barrier, as many employers screen out applicants based solely on a record, regardless of how old the case is or how much the person has changed. Another major hurdle is housing access, with background checks limiting where

individuals can live, which in turn a ects stability for families. And nally, a less visible but equally powerful challenge: stigma. Many people face constant judgment or assumptions about their character, which can impact their con dence, mental health, and willingness to pursue opportunities that would help them move forward.”

Caruso explained how these challenges restrict their ability to re-establish themselves in society.

“When employment and housing are di cult to secure, it becomes harder to maintain stability, support a family or fully participate in the community,” she said. “ ese barriers can create a cycle where people are willing and able to do better but lack access to the tools that make success possible. e justice system should not create permanent obstacles for people who have taken responsibility, complied with court orders and demonstrated growth. Without meaningful pathways forward, rehabilitation becomes far more di cult, not because of unwillingness, but because of systemic limitations.”

What can people with past convictions do?

“Northeast Ohio has several strong

organizations working to help individuals rebuild their lives after involvement with the justice system,” Caruso said. “Programs such as EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute focus on job training and placement, particularly in the hospitality industry. Towards Employment provides comprehensive workforce development services, including career coaching and employer connections, and Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry o ers reentry services, housing support and advocacy. Greater Cleveland Works connects individuals to job training, education and employer partnerships across the region. ese organizations provide a combination of practical and long-term support. at includes job training, resume development, interview preparation and direct employment placement. Many also o er mentorship, case management and connections to supportive services such as housing assistance, transportation resources and counseling.

e most e ective programs understand that successful reentry requires more than a job – it requires stability, accountability and sustained support while someone rebuilds their life.”

Caruso said she believes public safety is best served when the justice system promotes both accountability and successful reintegration.

“When individuals are given the structure, support and legal clarity needed to rebuild their lives, communities are safer overall,” she said. “Stable employment, secure housing and access to treatment reduce the likelihood of reo ending far more e ectively than long-term exclusion or instability.”

From a public safety standpoint, it is critical that court decisions are thoughtful and individualized. Holding people accountable at the outset of a case – while also considering long-term consequences –helps ensure that resolutions are fair, lawful and realistic. When someone has demonstrated responsibility over time, mechanisms like record sealing or expungement are not about erasing accountability; they are about recognizing rehabilitation and encouraging continued compliance with the law.

Walchanowicz

Lisa Matkowsky is a freelance journalist.

Caruso

Lakeside Place | 323 Lakeside Ave. West, Suite 450 Cleveland, OH 44113 | Phone: 216-696-4514 www.michaeljgoldberg.net

MICHAEL J. GOLDBERG, ESQ

Training and technology: A daily imperative for attorneys

A. KEVIN CORVO

Most lawyers study and learn many of the same principals, codes and case law on the way to earning a law degree, but there is still more to learn even after adding “esq.” after your name.

New attorneys and even experienced sta attorneys that choose to chart a new career path and establish their own rm have to adjust and develop skills not necessarily practiced while preparing for a bar examination.

Ryan Fisher, managing partner at Lowe Trial Lawyers in May eld Heights, has been a practicing attorney for nearly four decades and o ers some simple advice for new attorneys: Make technology your friend.

“Embrace the technology,” Fisher, who practices what he preaches while learning new technology on the job that did not exist when he graduated from the Cleveland State University College of Law, said. “AI (arti cial intelligence) was of course not even a thought (when I graduated). But AI has changed the way the law is practiced.”

ChatGPT and similar models to generate text, speech, and images is also broadly used, according to Fisher.

For example, such programs can be used to distill medical records in a personal injury case or to collect data sets or precedents on an array of subject matter and previous litigation, Fisher said.

“Once upon a time, you had to spend hours and hours at a library looking at dozens of books (but) now you can knock these things out without even leaving the o ce,” Fisher said. Being adept in such manners is also a distinct advantage when job seeking, according to Fisher.

“If I am hiring, I expect the attorney I am hiring to know (how to use emerging technology) and even how to teach it to me,” Fisher said.

But with the use of such technology comes responsibility and while new technology provides the means to be more

productive and e cient than ever before, it cannot be allowed to completely replace the human component, according to Fisher.

“AI can get it about 90% right but it does make mistakes,” Fisher said. “You need to review (the results and the products) and be aware at all times about the con dentiality of the information being used.”

Other attorneys shared similar views about the role of technology.

“Leveraging technology is important,” especially for small practices, according to Bill Price, an attorney in the Cleveland o ce of Elk and Elk.

e use of programs such as Microsoft O ce and many others to support it can provide an attorney the option to work from home rather than leasing a brick-and-mortar o ce, he said.

Andrew Zashin, founder of Zashin Law in May eld Heights, said the importance of technology is second only to sta ng when beginning a law career or launching a private practice.

“Almost as important to a edgling practice as its people are its technology and hardware,” he said. “It is true that lawyers, law rms and courts are slow to adopt new technologies. Nonetheless, starting a rm o ers a lawyer the opportunity to make a leap forward with regard to computer systems and

related technology. Investing in this technology from the outset is both more e cient and less expensive than playing catch-up later.”

In addition to embracing technology, communication is equally important, according to Price.

“Communicate with your clients,” he said. “Call them before they expect it. Call them more often than the next (attorney).”

Fisher also suggested new attorneys become an expert in one particular facet of the law.

“Learn a part of the law like the back of your hand,” he said. “Find a niche and become a specialist, an expert, in that one singular area,” whether it is assisted-living male cence or commercial trucking accidents.

“Become an authority in that arena, the person anyone else goes to for answers,” Fisher said.

But don’t lose sight that each case matters most to the client.

“Remember, it isn’t your case, it’s your client’s case,” Fisher said. “You might have 100 cases, but they have only one. Call them often to let them know what’s going on.”

Lastly, for attorneys whose practice is beginning to grow, Zashin said it is important to assemble a team of people who are trustworthy and compatible.

“Every lawyer, and his or her employees, especially in a small start-up practice, will interact frequently with clients,” he said. “All employees of that practice must be both trustworthy and dependable. In a start-up or small practice any mistake is ampli ed. But if you like the people with whom you work the product and results will be better.

“ e practice of law is hard. ere is no way around that. Try from the beginning to make the rm fun, or at least, a pleasant place to spend work time. From the rm’s choice of space, interior and culture try to include, when possible, employees’ perspectives. Creating the right culture matters because even clients know when the vibe is not quite right.”

Siegal Lifelong Learning class explores libel of public figures

CASEY COUCH

ccouch@cjn.org

As a part of the Siegal Lifelong Learning program at Case Western Reserve University, the class “Public Figures, Libel, and the Media” has been held every Tuesday afternoon since Jan. 13 through Feb. 3 at the Landmark Center Building at 25700 Science Park Drive in Beachwood.

Instructed by Barbara Greenberg, magistrate for Bedford Municipal Court, the course has been examining the “historical and legal events that led to the landmark decision that established the legal test for libel regarding public gures and the media,” according to the course description. e class has been reading, “Actual Malice: Civil Rights and Freedom of the Press in New York Times v. Sullivan” by

Samantha Barbas, which tells the story of New York Times v. Sullivan, the 1964 First Amendment ruling by the Supreme Court that grew out of segregationists’ attempts to quash reporting on the civil rights movement.

“ e book is fabulous to read,” Greenberg told the Cleveland Jewish News. “It’s about 220 pages and it’s wonderfully written. She’s a brilliant author and has done a tremendous amount of background research that makes it easy to read and such a good book.” rough the course, the class has been studying the court’s decision that established that public gures must prove “actual malice” or reckless disregard for the truth to win a libel suit, a standard that has protected free speech and freedom of the press for decades. e course is a follow up to a six-week course that she taught in fall 2025, titled “Freedom of the Press.”

At a time when Sullivan faces renewed scrutiny, according to the description, “Actual Malice” o ers a “timely and powerful reminder” of the case’s enduring signi cance and the vital role it continues to play in protecting free speech in American democracy. To further study these e ects, Greenberg said she has been exploring current relevant court cases, such as Donald Trump’s $20 billion lawsuit against the BBC.

“It gives me, as a teacher, the opportunity to talk about lawsuits and public gures,” Greenberg said. “We will take the four weeks of this class to identify words that are important legally, like defamation, libel and slander. We will take a week to talk about the case that is brought by the plainti s’ side, the case that is brought by the defense’s side, and then talk about the fallout in our last week of class.”

Greenberg, who has years of experience

in adult education at Case Western Reserve University’s Siegal Lifelong Learning program, received a Bachelor of Science degree in education from e Ohio State University in Columbus and a Juris Doctor from Cleveland State University. She serves as a magistrate in the division of small claims for the Bedford Municipal Court and a magistrate for the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court community division program. According to Siegal Lifelong Learning, the program aims to improve and enrich lives by “providing access and lowering barriers to educational opportunities for adult learners and skill seekers, connecting CWRU faculty and the broader world of higher education to lifelong learners both locally and around the globe.”

For more information and to register for the Feb. 3 nal class, visit case.edu/ lifelonglearning.

A. Kevin Corvo is a freelance journalist.

Fisher Price Zashin

Progress continues for women in the legal profession

ELLEN BRAUNSTEIN

For decades, the legal profession was de ned by a familiar image: men lling courtrooms, conference rooms and rm leadership. While women have made signi cant inroads –today, they account for about half of U.S. law school graduates –progress toward parity in senior roles has been slower, particularly in private practice.

Patricia Shlonsky, partner in charge of the Cleveland o ce of UB Greensfelder LLP, traces her motivation to childhood.

“I just always wanted to be a lawyer,” she said, recalling that her junior high school yearbook listed “lawyer” as her career goal. “I don’t think I really knew what that meant at the time, but it was something I always wanted to do.”

Shlonsky graduated from e Ohio

State University Moritz College of Law in Columbus in 1984, entering a profession that was beginning to see more women in classrooms, but far fewer in leadership roles. When she joined her rm in the mid-1980s, there were no women partners and relatively few women attorneys, she said.

Still, Shlonsky said gender was not something she focused on early in her career.

“I never thought of it as, ‘How can I do this when there are no women?’” she said.

“I always thought of it as, ‘How can I do this well?’ How can I learn this area, help clients and become a good lawyer?”

Over time, credibility followed competence, she explained. Con dence developed with experience and a growing comfort in her own professional style.

“Some of it just comes with age,” Shlonsky said. “And some of it comes from realizing that you shouldn’t try to turn yourself inside out to be like someone else.”

While law rms have made e orts to retain women attorneys, challenges remain, particularly during early career years

that often coincide with starting families. Shlonsky noted that time away from practice can slow professional momentum.

“For anybody, if you take time o early in your career, it just takes longer,” she pointed out. “If it takes one person 10 years, it might take someone else 11.”

Mentorship played an important role in her development. Early in her career, she bene ted from a strong male mentor and later from relationships with senior women in the profession. She described forming a lasting connection with Janet Burnside, a now retired common pleas judge who introduced her to professional networks and opportunities.

Shlonsky served in a supporting role connected to Burnside’s judicial campaign.

“She took me under her wing,” Shlonsky said. “ at relationship started when I was a very young lawyer and continues to this day.”

Rather than pointing to a single breakthrough moment, Shlonsky described professional growth as cumulative. She said her con dence and visibility developed

Immigration attorneys facing new challenges

NOELL WOLFGRAM EVANS

Most people wake up and have a general sense of what their workday will consist of. Immigration lawyers are not most people. Over the past 12 months, immigration lawyers have not enjoyed anything even remotely close to what could be a “predictable” workday.

“We are in uncharted waters,” attorney David Leopold with ompson Hine LLP in Cleveland, said. “ ings are changing dayby-day. You can get whiplash.”

Margaret Wong, an attorney at Margaret W. Wong & Associates, LLC in Cleveland, said, “I have never seen something like this.” e constant stream of executive orders being delivered by President Donald Trump on a seemingly weekly basis has shifted how an immigration lawyer works, and in some respects, what the work is that they do.

“Since February of 2025 to now, my role in the law rm is very much to push federal actions,” Wong said.

She explained that since federal judges

serve lifetime appointments they don’t need to worry about “making decisions that can help them get reelected.”

Leopold said that immigration lawyers have had to quickly learn to be creative in their practice.

“In our current environment, the facts, the laws governing immigration change nearly every day so you have to be creative with your responses,” he said. ese executive orders and the policies surrounding them have had a deep reach into society.

“People (immigrants) have always

been fearful, but that fear has spread from personal representation to areas like healthcare and corporations,” Leopold pointed out.

Leopold said he’s talked with a number of concerned business leaders wondering about things like how they manage personal protected information when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents comes in or what their rights are as a company.

Keeping up with the nearly nonstop cavalcade of policy changes on the federal level can perhaps feel like an impossible task, but seasoned lawyers have found that there is knowledge and strength in community and connections.

Wong said her team meets every Monday to review new policy announcements and then make any needed adjustments to plans for their clients.

“Being an immigration lawyer is not for people who want to be complacent,” Leopold said.

He cautioned that while immigration may be the “trending topic,” there is a larger

gradually, shaped by preparation and experience.

“Every day I know something I didn’t know yesterday,” she said. “It’s a continuum.”

Shlonsky was recognized by the Ohio State Bar Association with the 2025 Ramey Award for Distinguished Community Service.

Asked what advice she would o er women entering law today, Shlonsky emphasized focus, independence and longterm perspective. She encouraged young lawyers to set goals, concentrate on doing their work well and avoid becoming overly reliant on more senior attorneys.

“At some point, you want to be dependent on yourself,” she said. “Work hard, keep your head down, do your job well, be a good person – and create your opportunities and pursue them.”

Ellen Braunstein is a freelance journalist.

concern at stake.

“Immigrants are the tip of the spear which is aimed at due process,” Leopold said. “Permanent residents look to be a new focus and there are new attacks on naturalized citizens.

“ ere are so many emails that come in, from U.S. citizens who are concerned. ey want to travel and are afraid they won’t be let back in. People are living in fear that their rights have been abridged.”

Wong said, “We (immigration lawyers) have been playing a lot of defense. It’s a powerless, humbling time but it’s important for us to take the time to be kind and helpful and think of the ways that we’re helping families.”

She sees the e ects of the recent federal immigration policy not just on people, but on the system itself.

“Young people do not want to be judges anymore, just because it is so partisan,” she said.

Noell Wolfgram Evans is a freelance journalist.

Shlonsky

Leopold Wong

Senate funding vote to benefit Legal Aid Society of Cleveland

JIMMY OSWALD joswald@cjn.org

Despite threats from the Trump administration about cutting funding and eliminating the Legal Services Corporation in 2026, the U.S. Senate voted to pass a bipartisan minibus on Jan. 8 that will provide $540 million for the LCS this year as part of the commerce, justice, science and related agencies portion of the package.

at’s good news for the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, which receives 15% of its budget from the LCS and was facing the potential of having to change how it goes about serving its clients without the funds.

“Had the cuts come to fruition, it would have been really challenging for many legal aides, and many of them would have had to potentially look at making some very big decisions.” ea Cerra, director of development and communications for the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, told the Cleveland Jewish News.

“ e Legal Aid Society of Cleveland just celebrated in 2025 our 120th anniversary. So, throughout all the uncertainty, our executive director (Colleen Cotter) would constantly remind us, rightfully so, that we have been around for 120 years, and we will continue to be around for another 120 years.”

In May 2025, the White House proposed eliminating LSC in 2026. e House Appropriations Committee had proposed a 46% cut to LSC while the Senate Appropriations Committee voted to increase LSC funding by $6 million. Ultimately, the passage cuts the funding by 3.6%, decreasing the yearly amount from $560 million, as it was in 2025 and 2024, by $20 million.

“It’s really exciting news for all legal aids across the country because, in light of today’s climate, to have funding passed with just a 3.6% cut is pretty incredible,” Cerra said.

According to LSC, it is the largest funder of civil legal services in the U.S. In 2025, more than 94% of LSC’s congressional appropriation was distributed as grants to 130 independent nonpro t civil legal organizations with o ces in every congressional district throughout the country.

“We appreciate the strong, bipartisan support for civil legal services in this appropriation,” LSC President Ron Flagg said in a statement. “While we’re grateful that proposals for more signi cant cuts have not prevailed, any cut threatens the stability and safety of American families, seniors and veterans who rely on already under-resourced legal services.” ese organizations deliver no-cost direct legal representation, education and resources to help those who cannot a ord a lawyer with their journey through the legal system.

“We represent ve counties, Cuyahoga County being our largest,” Cerra said. “We also serve Lake, Geauga, Ashtabula, and Lorain counties, and we have a sta of about 80 attorneys. We represent clients and also provide brief advice to individuals who might be facing eviction or have some other civil legal issues they’re trying to work out.”

When the Legal Aid Society caught wind that one of their sources of funding may dry up Cerra said the organization started thinking “strategically and creatively” about how it would continue to help its clients. It’s a battle it already faces

as the amount of money it receives still isn’t enough to allow them to help the large number of individuals who need free civil legal help.

“We did a lot of scenario planning last year on if the funding were to get cut, where have we gained e ciencies in our practice and where we can possibly implement some of those e ciencies so that we can serve more clients? Are there more brief advice clinics that we could o er? Not necessarily providing that one-on-one attorney client service but advice we could give individuals having to go to court or address an issue,” Cerra said.

Prioritization of clients also became a route that the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland thought about if funding were to

become tighter, according to Cerra. For example, in a housing case, putting a large amount of e ort into helping someone who truly had nowhere else to go if they were evicted and had a child in the house.

But Cerra stressed that the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland receives funding from other streams. ose come from state dollars and local dollars from the counties and cities they work out of.

“Foundations are also a big supporter of our work,” she said. “Corporations, law rms and individuals also help us. We feel really lucky because we have several di erent buckets that make up our revenue. A diverse makeup helps in times like these when one funder might get cut.”

WE GET RESULTS

“They are excellent: the go-to for prenups and divorce. They’re zealous advocates.”

“Zashin has a deep bench in terms of partners and staff.They have dealt with complex matters... know the law and have been very successful for their clients. I think they are one of the best.” – 2025 Chambers & Partners, Reviews Chambers & Partners Ranked Band 1 in High Net Worth 2025 Family/Matrimonial

Cerra

Monroe’s echo

Does the U.S. capture of Venezuela’s president revive the Monroe Doctrine under modern international law?

LARRY W. ZUKERMAN AND ADAM M. BROWN Special to the CJN

Iregion. Some experts point out that while the doctrine holds strong historical and symbolic meaning for American policy, it does not serve as a legal justi cation today. Modern rules of international conduct, mainly set out in the U.N. Charter, generally forbid the use of force against another country’s territory except in cases of selfdefense or with approval from the U.N. Security Council.

e background to the operation involves years of tension. Venezuela has faced a major political crisis since the disputed 2024 presidential election, where Maduro claimed victory despite widespread claims of fraud. e United States and several other countries did not recognize the result.

n the field of U.S. foreign policy and international law, few recent events have stirred as much discussion as the military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. On Jan. 3, U.S. special forces, supported by airstrikes, conducted a raid in Caracas codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve. This action resulted in the apprehension of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were then flown to the United States to face federal charges related to narcoterrorism and drug trafficking. President Donald Trump described the operation as a success and referenced the Monroe Doctrine – calling it the “Donroe Doctrine” – to explain America’s role in protecting its interests in the Western Hemisphere, according to “PBS News” on Jan. 6. e Monroe Doctrine dates back to 1823, when President James Monroe declared that the Americas should be free from further European colonization or interference. Over time, the doctrine has been used to support various U.S. actions in Latin America, though it is not a formal treaty or part of binding international law. A notable historical example occurred in 1989, when the United States invoked the Monroe Doctrine, among other justi cations, to support the military invasion of Panama and the subsequent capture and extradition of Gen. Manuel Noriega to face federal drug tra cking charges in the United States. In this case, Trump invoked it to frame the capture as a defense of U.S. security, particularly against threats like drug tra cking and foreign in uence in the

A 2020 U.S. indictment accused Maduro of leading a drug-tra cking network,

and the recent operation brought those charges forward. e raid included strikes on military sites to clear the way for the capture team, leading to reported casualties on the Venezuelan side, including military personnel and others.

e U.S. government has presented the action as a law-enforcement e ort backed by military support, relying on the president’s authority to address national security threats. Maduro and Flores pleaded not guilty in a New York federal court on Jan. 5, with Maduro describing himself as a “prisoner of war.” Internationally, the event has drawn sharp reactions: some nations condemned it as a violation of sovereignty, while others welcomed Maduro’s removal. e United Nations has discussed the matter, with concerns raised about respect for international norms.

is situation highlights how older foreign policy ideas can resurface in today’s world of global rules and treaties. e legal

community, along with policymakers and scholars, continues to study the implications for issues like head-of-state immunity, the limits of unilateral actions and the balance between national security and international cooperation.

As developments unfold in Venezuela and Maduro’s legal proceedings continue, the episode encourages thoughtful examination of long-standing principles. In a time when international agreements aim to promote stability and mutual respect among nations, how e ectively can historical policies like the Monroe Doctrine guide actions without challenging the established framework of global law?

For more information about Larry Zukerman, Adam Brown and the law firm of Zukerman, Lear, Murray & Brown, Co., LPA, visit the firm’s website at zukerman-law.com.

Content provided by advertising partner.

DISCLAIMER

The Cleveland Jewish News does not make endorsements of political candidates and/or political or other ballot issues on any level. Letters, commentaries, opinions, advertisements and online posts appearing in the Cleveland Jewish News, on cjn.org or our social media pages reflect the views and thoughts of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, its board, officers or staff or any other organization unless explicitly stated.

Advice from attorneys for first-year colleagues

SHANNON MORTLAND

The rst year in any profession or job often di ers from expectations, yet is lled with learning opportunities. e same applies for attorneys early in their careers.

Kaitlyn Posta, an associate attorney with Reminger Co., L.P.A. in Cleveland, said her rst year at the rm was challenging but rewarding. She joined the rm as a law clerk in 2023. “ ankfully, I had a great experience clerking at Reminger prior to becoming an attorney, so I had an idea of what to expect. I was able to take depositions, argue at small claims trials, at-tend mediations and more,” she said.

Doug Eppler, who joined Brennan Manna Diamond last May from another rm, said his expectations in the rst year have mostly matched his expectations because he had worked with several on this team before. He has over 10 years in the eld.

“ e rm is very committed to developing and growing our presence in Cleveland, in a way that has exceeded my expectations given that the rm is headquartered in Akron,” he said.

Eppler said he is looking forward to building relationships with colleagues and clients, while doing interesting and challenging work.

Likewise, Posta said she learns something new every day, but that isn’t just because she is new.

“My colleagues who have decades more experience than I do would say the same thing,” she added.

For those who come up behind them, Posta and Eppler have some advice.

“Going into any new situation, including a law rm, it is important to demonstrate (through words but especially actions) that you are willing to work hard and be part of the team,” Eppler said.

Posta assured that it is OK to ask questions. “Part of the luxury of rm life is having a wealth of knowledge and advice at your ngertips through the more experienced attorneys,” she said. “I decided it was better to ask questions at the risk of pestering a partner if it meant doing a task the right way the rst time rather than pretending I knew it all and failing miserably.”

Shannon Mortland is a freelance journalist.

Zukerman Brown

Eppler Posta

Property tax disputes: The clash between owners, school districts

KIP DANZINGER

Special to the CJN

The state of Ohio requires counties to reappraise both commercial and residential properties every six years. In the interim three years, the counties update those values based primarily on market data.

In Cuyahoga County, the values are determined by the scal o cer, and the last reappraisal was completed for tax year 2024 (payable in 2025).

Importantly, property taxes are calculated based on these values (the higher the value, the higher the taxes).

While there is a presumption that the county values are correct and lawful, Ohio law provides a process for which property own-ers may challenge the value. Pursuant to the statutory process, a property owner can le a complaint with the county board of revision.

e board of revision (comprised of representatives from the scal o ce, the treasurer’s o ce and the commissioner’s o ce) conducts a hearing where the property owner must present evidence that supports a lower value than

established by the county. Such evidence may include an appraisal report, evidence of a recent arm’s-length sale, or construction costs for a new property. e board of revision then issues a decision in which it either maintains or modi es the county’s value. If dissatis ed with the decision, the property owner may appeal to the Ohio State Board of Tax Appeals or the court of common pleas.

Critically, a property owner challenging the county’s value must understand the role of the school districts in this process. Because school districts receive approximately 70% of the property taxes for their funding, Ohio is one of the few states in which school districts can participate in the tax complaint process. e school districts, through their attorneys, will oppose a property owner’s complaint, and in some instances, seek to increase the value of the property and related tax obligation. In other words, the school districts become the property owner’s main adversary. Although recent changes to Ohio law (HB 126 and

HB 96) place limits on a school district’s ability to initiate complaints and le appeals, the school districts remain extremely active. erefore, a property owner must consider the potential risks of initiating a tax complaint.

With the recent changes in Ohio law, and the continuing challenges between property owners and school districts, a careful review of your property value is critical in determining whether to le a tax complaint. e deadline is March 31.

Content provided by advertising partner

DISCLAIMER

Kip Danzinger is a partner and co-president of Sleggs, Danzinger & Gill Co. LPA in Cleveland.

Danzinger

The duty of ‘no’: The rule of law in 50 films

BRUCE M. HENNES

Special to the CJN

LOPINION

awyers do not swear an oath to a client, a partner, or a paycheck. They swear an oath to the Constitution, to the courts, and to the law itself. That promise is easy to recite in a packed, ceremonial courtroom on a celebratory day and much harder to honor when keeping it means lost business, angry colleagues or the quiet exile that comes with saying “no” when everyone else is saying “go.”

e lms attached to this article are not about perfect heroes in tidy circumstances. is list avoids tales of perfect heroes in tidy circumstances. Instead, it highlights people standing at the edge of that precipice, confronted with unlawful orders, corrupt customs or convenient evasions, and choosing, at great cost, to do what is right rather than what is easy.

Every lawyer understands, at least in the abstract, that soldiers are not merely permitted, but obliged to disobey illegal commands. at principle is now so ingrained in military ethics that it is taught as a basic tenet of professional identity and military service. Less comfortably, the same is true of lawyers. A lawyer asked to help conceal evidence, to le a pleading known to be false, to manipulate process to punish a critic, or to lend a bar card to a plainly unlawful scheme is not just allowed but instead, permitted to refuse and, when necessary, to withdraw or report. e excuse that “I was only following instructions” has no more legitimacy in a law o ce than it does on a battle eld.

ese lms, viewed together, form a kind of uno cial ethics casebook. In courtrooms from “To Kill a Mockingbird” to “Michael Clayton” and “ e Verdict,” lawyers and would-be lawyers face the moment when their professional skills could be used either to vindicate the law or to weaponize it. In stories like “Serpico,” “Dark Waters,” “A Civil Action” and “ e Insider,” non-lawyer professionals face their own versions of the same choice: remain silent and safe inside a powerful institution, or speak up and risk career, fortune and physical safety. For members of the bar, these narratives are more than entertainment; they mirror the pressure points of practice, as when a superior suggests “we all know how this is supposed to come out,” when a client insists “everyone else does it,” or when political power signals that legality is an obstacle, not

a boundary.

None of the protagonists in these lms is asked to make a hard decision in a vacuum. ey operate in organizations that reward loyalty, defer to power and whisper that the larger “cause” justi es the shortcut. at is what makes these stories so useful for lawyers today. A senator in “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” a judge in “Judgment at Nuremberg,” a publisher in “ e Post,” a whistleblower in “Silkwood” or “Dark Waters”: each is surrounded by colleagues who urge accommodation, delay or silence. Each must decide whether professional identity is primarily about serving the powerful or about preserving the conditions under which law can remain something more than a set of tools for the already strong. Lawyers occupy a special position in this landscape. e law does not merely regulate lawyers; it speaks through them. When lawyers bless an unlawful scheme with clever drafting, or remain mute in the face of obvious illegality, the damage extends beyond a single matter or client. It teaches executives, o ceholders and citizens that “the law” is in nitely malleable, that there is always a workaround if one hires the right counsel. Conversely, when lawyers refuse, withdraw, advise against or resign rather than cross a clear line, they send the opposite message: that there is a bedrock of legality beneath politics and personality that cannot be bought, bullied, or spun away.

Taken together, the 50 lms in this list invite members of the bar to imagine themselves not as passive technicians but as constitutional actors whose choices shape whether the Rule of Law remains a governing principle or degenerates into a slogan. Some of the characters succeed; others fail. Some pay dearly for their integrity; others evade consequences after betraying it. But in every case, the story turns on a recognizably professional decision: Will I lend my skills to this? Will I stand up in this room, at this moment, and say that what is being demanded violates law and cannot be done in my name?

Lawyers do not need a speech about current events to feel the force of those questions. ey need only remember the

oath they took, and admit that, like the characters on screen, they may one day have to keep it when keeping it hurts.

FIFTY FLICKS TO WATCH

Here is a list of 50 American lms centered on protagonists who must make hard moral choices at grave personal, nancial, or reputational risk, with a brief note on why each suits a legal audience – as well as a nonlegal audience, too. e list and synopses were generated using arti cial intelligence.

LEGAL DRAMAS AND THE RULE OF LAW

1. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

Atticus Finch knowingly endangers his safety and standing in a racist community by defending an innocent Black man, embodying courage in applying law against in amed public opinion and mob pressure.

2. 12 Angry Men (1957)

Juror No. 8 risks alienation and scorn from the entire panel by insisting on genuine deliberation and testing the evidence, reminding us that the Rule of Law is only as strong as the individual’s willingness to give “reasonable doubt” real meaning, not mere rhetoric.

3. A Few Good Men (1992)

Lt. Ka ee chooses to pursue the chain of command up to a powerful colonel, risking his career to expose unlawful orders and the abuse of “national security” as a shield against accountability.

4. …And Justice for All (1979)

Arthur Kirkland must decide whether to sabotage his own client – the very judge who previously warped procedure – to reveal systemic injustice, dramatizing the collision between client loyalty and a lawyer’s obligation to the integrity of the system.

5. Michael Clayton (2007)

A law rm xer confronts his complicity in corporate wrongdoing and risks his life and livelihood by turning on a client whose resources vastly outstrip his own, demonstrating that there is no “safe” middle ground when “practical” compromises slide into ethical collapse.

6. e Verdict (1982)

A broken plainti ’s lawyer rejects an easy settlement and chooses a risky trial in a medical malpractice case, gambling his remaining professional capital on telling the truth about institutional negligence.

7. A Time to Kill (1996)

Jake Brigance defends a man who killed his daughter’s assailants in a racially explosive Mississippi town, risking his family’s safety and his own future to insist that the jury see the humanity of both client and victim.

8. e Lincoln Lawyer (2011)

Mickey Haller discovers his wealthy client is guilty and tied to an old wrongful conviction, forcing him to navigate privilege, con dentiality, and justice in ways that push the limits of professional responsibility doctrine.

9. e Rainmaker (1997)

A young solo practitioner takes on a powerful insurer that denied coverage to a dying client, choosing to ght despite procedural disadvantages and personal risk in order to expose systemic bad faith practices.

10. Erin Brockovich (2000)

A non-lawyer legal assistant pushes a law rm to confront industrial pollution by a major utility, risking nancial ruin and burnout in pursuit of redress for an entire town poisoned by toxic water.

11. My Cousin Vinny (1992)

An inexperienced lawyer refuses to plead out his cousins’ capital case despite local hostility, challenging small town norms and judicial impatience to insist on evidentiary rigor and genuine adversarial testing.

12. Philadelphia (1993)

A homophobic attorney overcomes his own bias to represent a wrongfully terminated partner with AIDS, risking his reputation and client base to vindicate anti discrimination principles in the face of stigma and fear.

13. e Client (1994)

A solo lawyer defends a vulnerable child against both federal prosecutors and organized crime, risking her own safety and professional standing to preserve the client’s agency and con dentiality.

14. e Conspirator (2010)

A Union lawyer defends Mary Surratt in the Lincoln assassination trials, accepting professional ostracism to challenge the use of military tribunals and the erosion of due process in times of national trauma.

15. Bridge of Spies (2015)

An insurance lawyer accepts appointment to represent an accused Soviet spy, enduring public hostility and o cial pressure to deliver only a “token defense,” and later risks his life negotiating a prisoner swap grounded in legal principle, proving that the Rule of Law must apply even to those the public hates most.

16. Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)

An American judge tries Nazi jurists and must resist political pressure to soften accountability for the sake of Cold War alliances, dramatizing the idea that judges cannot outsource conscience to “orders” or geopolitical expedience.

Hennes

17. e Insider (1999)

A corporate scientist whistleblower and a journalist confront legal intimidation and con dentiality constraints to expose tobacco industry fraud, highlighting lawyers’ roles either as silencers or enablers of public truth.

18. A Civil Action (1998)

A plainti s’ attorney stakes his rm’s nances and his own solvency on a toxic tort case against deep pocketed defendants, forcing a reckoning between litigation as business and litigation as moral calling.

19. e Judge (2014)

A big city defense attorney returns home to defend his estranged father, a judge accused of murder, and must decide whether to expose exculpatory but reputation destroying truths to meet his ethical duties.

20. Reasonable Doubt (2014)

A prosecutor involved in a hit and run confronts the moral and professional consequences when another man is charged with the crime, forcing a choice between protecting a career and correcting a wrongful prosecution.

PUBLIC

SERVICE, OFFICE AND CONSCIENCE

21. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

A naive senator refuses to yield to party bosses and corrupt interests, risking expulsion and national humiliation through a libuster to defend the integrity of democratic institutions.

22. All the President’s Men (1976)

Two reporters, backed by lawyers and editors, persist in investigating Watergate despite legal threats and career risks, emphasizing the symbiotic roles of a free press and a legal order grounded in accountability.

23. Spotlight (2015)

An investigative team confronts their publication’s own past complicity while exposing systemic abuse by a powerful church, balancing defamation risk and institutional self-interest against the imperative of public justice.

24. Serpico (1973)

An honest New York Police Department o cer exposes endemic corruption, su ering ostracism and mortal danger for refusing to participate in unlawful practices, mirroring the lonely path of whistleblowers inside legal systems.

25. On the Waterfront (1954)

A dockworker must decide whether to testify against corrupt union bosses who can destroy him, highlighting witness intimidation dynamics that lawyers confront when seeking truthful testimony.

26. High Noon (1952)

A town marshal is abandoned by citizens he protected and must decide whether to face returning killers alone or ee, illustrating how rule of law institutions fail when courage is outsourced to “someone else.”

27. Lincoln (2012)

Abraham Lincoln and his allies weigh procedural shortcuts and political horse trading against the necessity of enacting the 13th Amendment, foregrounding tensions between moral ends and legal means.

28. e Post (2017)

e publisher and lawyers of a major newspaper decide whether to publish the Pentagon Papers in de ance of government pressure, risking injunctions, criminal exposure, and corporate ruin to defend First Amendment values. Lawyers and leaders risk corporate ruin to defend the principle that the law is a boundary for the government, not a tool for its convenience.

29. irteen Days (2000)

Civilian leaders and advisers confront military pressure during the Cuban Missile Crisis, choosing precarious diplomacy over seemingly “clean” military options, underscoring civilian control and legality in national security decisions.

30. e Contender (2000)

A vice presidential nominee refuses to defend herself with compromising disclosures that would violate others’

privacy, risking con rmation to preserve principle in the face of a scorched earth con rmation process.

CORPORATE, FINANCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

31. Margin Call (2011)

A junior risk analyst and senior executives discover a catastrophic exposure in a nancial rm and must decide whether to dump toxic assets on unsuspecting counterparties, dramatizing collective responsibility for systemic harm.

32. Wall Street (1987)

An ambitious young broker is seduced by insider trading and must choose between loyalty to a mentor and loyalty to the law, illustrating how professional culture can normalize fraud until individuals draw their own ethical line.

33. e Big Short (2015)

Outsiders who see the housing bubble’s collapse wrestle with whether to merely pro t from it or also warn institutions and the public, forcing re ection on exploitation versus stewardship when one understands systemic risk.

34. Boiler Room (2000)

A college dropout entangled in a pump and dump brokerage must decide whether to cooperate with regulators at the cost of

HENNES | CONTINUED ON PAGE A20

personal freedom and family expectations, highlighting the personal consequences of white-collar whistleblowing.

35. ank You for Smoking (2005)

A charismatic lobbyist defends tobacco in public while grappling with the example he sets for his son, embodying tensions between client advocacy, spin and truth in a First Amendment rich but ethically fraught profession.

36. Up in the Air (2009)

A corporate downsizing consultant starts questioning his role in terminating workers on behalf of distant executives, illustrating how “just doing my job” can erode empathy and moral agency.

37. Silkwood (1983)

A nuclear plant worker investigates safety violations and faces harassment, legal pressure, and lethal danger, exemplifying how individuals in regulated industries bear the burden when institutions fail to police themselves.

38. Dark Waters (2019)

A defense side environmental lawyer turns against a major chemical client after discovering decades of contamination, sacri cing career and nancial stability to pursue a grueling, years long mass tort case.

39. Norma Rae (1979)

A textile worker becomes a union organizer despite employer retaliation and community backlash, centering the

moral choice to organize and assert rights even when law is weak and enforcement captured.

40. e China Syndrome (1979)

A TV reporter and plant insiders expose a near meltdown at a nuclear facility, confronting legal threats and corporate pressure that encourage silence over safety and truth.

WAR, SECURITY AND PERSONAL SACRIFICE

41. Paths of Glory (1957)

A French o cer de es superiors to defend soldiers charged with cowardice, confronting a sham court martial process that uses executions to mask command failures, raising questions about obedience versus justice in wartime law.

42. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

A squad is ordered to risk many lives for one man, and the commanding o cer must continually weigh the legality and morality of sacri cial orders where human life is reduced to strategic calculus.

43. e Hurt Locker (2008)

An explosive ordnance technician repeatedly chooses extreme personal risk in Iraq, forcing viewers to ask whether courage, addiction to danger, or institutional expectations drive decisions under the laws of armed con ict.

44. Rules of Engagement (2000)

A Marine colonel faces court martial over

a deadly embassy incident, and his defense counsel must parse con icting evidence and political pressures to draw a line between lawful orders and war crimes.

45. Glory (1989)

O cers and soldiers in the rst all-Black Union regiment confront unequal pay and suicidal missions, deciding whether to accept unjust conditions or demand lawful equality even at extreme peril.

PERSONAL CONSCIENCE, COMMUNITY AND CRIMINAL LAW

46. Do the Right ing (1989)

A Brooklyn neighborhood erupts in racial tension, and a central character faces a decision that will de ne his moral legacy in the community, foregrounding questions of lawful protest, property and life.

47. Mystic River (2003)

A former convict and a local police detective navigate a murder investigation shaped by childhood trauma, culminating in vigilante “justice” that raises hard questions about proof, vengeance and irreversible choices.

48. e Shawshank Redemption (1994)

An innocent man in prison maintains hope and dignity, ultimately choosing an audacious escape that exposes institutional corruption, prompting lawyers to re ect on what happens when legal avenues fail utterly.

At UB Greensfelder, our clients are the focal point of everything we do. With nationally recognized practices led by strong, strategic, and effective attorneys, we solve the most complex and demanding legal and business challenges for global clients. Let us put our winning business and litigation strategies to work for you.

49. Dead Man Walking (1995)

A nun serves as spiritual counselor to a condemned murderer and must advocate for his humanity without denying his crimes, paralleling the defense lawyer’s task of upholding dignity within a system of retribution.

50. Winter’s Bone (2010)

A teenage girl in the Ozarks must either betray her criminal relatives to the law or lose her family home, embodying the brutal con ict between kinship loyalty, survival and cooperation with legal authorities.

Bruce M. Hennes is CEO of Hennes Communications, a Chambers-ranked crisis firm. He has been a member of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association’s board of directors for 19 years, including 17 years as a member of the executive committee, and twice a recipient of that bar association’s Presidents Award. He is a past board chair of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company. He is not an attorney.

DISCLAIMER

DDigital assets and divorce: Protecting your online life during separation

ANDREW ZASHIN aaz@zashinlaw.com

ivorce has always involved identifying and dividing property. Today, that property increasingly includes assets and accounts that exist only in digital form. From cryptocurrency and online businesses to cloud-stored family photos and social media profiles, digital assets can hold significant financial value or represent deeply personal parts of a person’s identity. As digital life continues to expand, ensuring that these assets are properly managed during divorce has become an essential part of protecting one’s financial and emotional wellbeing.

DIGITAL PROPERTY YOU MIGHT OVERLOOK

Many households now own valuable or sentimental digital assets without realizing it. ese can include cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens, online payment app balances, monetized social-media accounts, domain names, digital creative works, or even loyalty program rewards. In Ohio, all property owned by either spouse, tangible or intangible, may be considered marital property if acquired during the marriage. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3105.171, divorcing spouses must make full disclosure of all assets, and courts must divide marital

property equitably. Digital holdings fall squarely within that framework, even if their value is hard to measure or easily concealed. When a spouse fails to disclose assets, Section 3105.171(E) authorizes courts to impose penalties for “ nancial misconduct,” including concealment or nondisclosure. is can apply just as readily to a hidden cryptocurrency wallet or unreported online revenue stream as to a traditional bank account. Sophisticated attorneys increasingly see digital concealment as a growing challenge, which is why a detailed inventory and transparent disclosure are so important from the start.

UNDERSTANDING OHIO’S RECOGNITION OF DIGITAL ASSETS

Ohio law already acknowledges that digital property has real legal value. In 2017, the state adopted the Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, which allows designated individuals to man-age or transfer someone’s digital accounts much like physical property. is law de nes a digital asset broadly, covering anything of value stored electronically, from investment accounts and cryptocurrency to online businesses and personal photos.

While that law mainly applies in estate planning, its logic extends to divorce. Because Ohio’s domestic relations statute requires spouses to disclose and divide all property acquired during the marriage, digital assets fall under the same rules. Hidden crypto wallets, monetized social media accounts, or online income streams must be reported and valued just like bank accounts or real es-tate. Failing to do so can lead to serious nancial penalties if a court views the omission as con-cealment or misconduct.

In short, Ohio law treats digital property as genuine property, and divorcing spouses should too.

VALUATION, PRIVACY AND SECURITY CHALLENGES

Digital assets can be di cult to value and even harder to control. Cryptocurrency prices change rapidly, online businesses may depend on uctuating tra c or algorithms, and creative content often carries both market and emotional worth. Lawyers sometimes collaborate with nancial analysts or forensic accountants to determine an appropriate valuation.

Privacy and security present additional complications. Spouses commonly share devices and passwords during marriage. Once a separation begins, that shared access can become a risk. Without clear boundaries, one spouse might lock the other out of accounts, delete shared content, or misuse private communications. Establishing clear digital access rules early in the process protects both parties and prevents unintentional misconduct.

ZASHIN | CONTINUED ON PAGE A22

Judge orders OSU to revoke student’s expulsion over anti-Israel videos

JNS

Adistrict judge issued a preliminary injunction last week, ordering e Ohio State University to revoke its expulsion of a student who made anti-Israel videos.

Edmund Sargus Jr., a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, stated the student, Guy Christensen, was expelled from the university on the grounds that his videos were incitement and risked disrupting the campus.

According to Sargus, Christensen had said in a May 2025 video that he retracted his earlier condemnation of the shooting deaths of two Israeli embassy sta ers in Washington, D.C., stating, “I take it back. I do not condemn the elimination of those two Zionist o cials, who worked at the Israeli embassy last night.”

He also said in that video, “Israel has murdered thousands of Palestinian civilians in cold blood without any shame, with pride, rejoicing in the streets of Israel over this, and they get no attention

in this country, while this attack is being used to weaponize violence against the movement.”

Christensen added that “we will meet it with our own greater resistance and escalation.”

In a separate May video responding to a comment by Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., that Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza, Christensen stated that “screenshots are forever, and what you’ve said and done will haunt your family for eternity as you will eventually, if you’re still alive, end up in a Nuremberg trials for all the elected o cials in America who facilitated and protected this genocide.”

Sargus said Christensen’s videos did not constitute incitement because in past ones, he advocated for nonviolence and in subsequent ones, he stated that he is nonviolent. In the judge’s view, Christensen’s use of the words “resistance” and “escalation” was meant in a nonviolent manner, and that his videos had “no speci c call to action” and “were unlikely to result in the

imminent use of violence or lawless action.”

As for the university’s claims that Christensen’s presence could disrupt campus activities, Sargus stated this would be unlikely given that Christensen was on summer break at the time of the videos and did not identify himself as an OSU student, nor did any students express concern to the university about it.

Sargus said Christensen’s lawsuit is “likely to succeed on the merits” and ordered the school to remove his expulsion from his academic record.

Benjamin Johnson, the university’s assistant vice president of media and public relations, told JNS that “we’re disappointed in the ruling.”

David Carey, managing legal director of ACLU Ohio, said the ruling vindicates “a student’s right to free expression” and that “universities must and should stand against e orts to silence or punish dissenting ideas, not facilitate those e orts at the expense of their students.”

Officials allow suspect in $100M jewelry heist to self deport, avoiding trial

HANNAH SCHOENBAUM

AND JAIMIE DING | ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES – Federal immigration authorities allowed a suspect in a $100 million jewelry heist believed to be the largest in U.S. history to deport himself to South America in December, a move that stunned and upset prosecutors who were planning to try the case and send him to prison.

Jeson Nelon Presilla Flores was one of seven people charged last year with stalking an armored truck to a rural freeway rest stop north of Los Angeles and stealing millions worth of diamonds, emeralds, gold, rubies and designer watches in 2022.

Flores faced up to 15 years in federal prison if convicted on charges of conspiracy to commit theft from interstate and foreign shipment and theft from interstate and foreign shipment. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported Flores in late December after he requested voluntary departure, prosecutors said in court lings.

ICE did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Flores’ attorney, John D. Robertson, motioned to dismiss the indictment against his client, asking for the charges to be permanently dropped and the case closed.

Federal prosecutors oppose the motion and say they still hope to bring Flores to trial, asking for charges to be dropped “without prejudice” to keep the door open for criminal prosecution in the future.

Despite Flores being a lawful permanent resident and released on bail, he was taken into ICE custody in September, according to court lings from his defense attorneys. Federal prosecutors say they were unaware Flores had an immigration detainer.

is was a violation of his criminal prosecution rights and warrants his case getting dismissed, Robertson said in his motion.

Flores opted for deportation to Chile during a Dec. 16 immigration hearing, according to

court documents. e judge denied his voluntary departure application but issued a nal order of removal, and he was sent to Ecuador.

“Prosecutors are supposed to allow the civil immigration process to play out independently while criminal charges are pending,” federal prosecutors wrote in their motion opposing the case dismissal. “ at is exactly what they did in this case – unwittingly to defendant’s bene t in that he will now avoid trial, and any potential conviction and sentence, unless and until he returns to the United States.”

What happened to Flores is extremely unusual, especially in a case of this signi cance, former federal prosecutor Laurie Levenson said.

Ordinarily, if a criminal defendant had immigration proceedings against them – which is common – immigration o cials would inform prosecutors what was happening. In minor cases, a defendant can sometimes choose to self-deport in lieu of prosecution.

“It’s just beyond me how they would deport him without the prosecutors … being in on the conversation,” Levenson said. “ is really was the

left hand not knowing what the right hand was doing.”

e jewelers who were stolen from are also demanding answers.

“When a defendant in a major federal theft case leaves the country before trial, victims are left without answers, without a verdict, and without closure,” Jerry Kroll, an attorney for some of the jewelry companies, told the Los Angeles Times.

e infamous jewelry heist unfolded in July 2022 after the suspects scouted the Brink’s tractor-trailer leaving an international jewelry show near San Francisco with dozens of bags of jewels, according to the indictment. While the victims reported more than $100 million in losses, Brink’s said the stolen items were worth less than $10 million.

A lawsuit led by the Brink’s security company said one of the drivers was asleep inside the big rig and the other was getting food inside the rest stop when the thieves broke in.

EVIDENCE AND CHILDREN’S ONLINE PRESENCE

Digital information can also become evidence in a case. Text messages, metadata, account logs and nancial app histories may be relevant to support or rebut claims of conduct, income, or asset ownership. It is important that such materials be preserved properly as deleting or altering them can have legal consequences.

Divorce today also involves decisions about children’s digital lives. Parents may need to agree on who manages a child’s social media accounts, how online photos are shared and what digital boundaries exist in co-parenting arrangements. As more of family life moves online, these considerations should be part of every parenting plan.

PROTECTING YOURSELF THROUGH PROACTIVE PLANNING

Clients preparing for divorce should consider a digital asset review that includes:

• A complete inventory of online accounts and digital property

• Secure documentation of logins and access methods

• Professional valuation of signi cant digital holdings

• Updated privacy settings and device security

• Clear agreements in the divorce decree about digital-asset control

• Post-divorce updates to digital-estate planning documents

MOVING FORWARD

Digital assets are now a routine part of everyday life. ey re ect how people communicate, work and store value. As technology continues to evolve, these assets will play an even larger role in divorce cases. Ohio law already provides the foundation for treating them seriously and careful legal guidance ensures they are handled properly.

Andrew Zashin writes about law for the Cleveland Jewish News. He is the founding partner of Zashin Law in Mayfield Heights.

DISCLAIMER

ZASHIN | CONTINUED FROM PAGE A21

Know your colleges

Publisher’s Note: The Cleveland Jewish News invited all Ohio law schools to share information about their programs and provided them the opportunity to submit content of their choosing. While all schools were contacted, some did not respond to multiple requests or chose not to participate.

Experiential learning at CWRU Law: Preparing next generation of practice-ready advocates

PAUL ROSE

Special to the CJN

At Case Western R’eserve University School of Law, experiential education is a de ning strength of the curriculum that prepares students to practice law with con dence from day one. By drawing students into real-world legal environments, CWRU Law complements traditional academic study with rigorous, practice-oriented experiences that sharpen courtroom skills, advocacy instincts and professional judgment long before graduation.

A standout example of this philosophy in action is the Steven S. Kaufman Family Anatomy of a Trial Lecture Series, launched in 2025 through a generous $500,000 gift from alumnus Steve Kaufman (JD, class of 1975). is innovative series brings nationally renowned trial lawyers to Cleveland to share what distinguishes outstanding trial advocacy. rough sessions on trial strategy, persuasion, storytelling, direct and crossexamination, and e ective closing arguments, students gain rare insight into the craft of litigation directly from leading courtroom practitioners.

Speakers this fall included visionary trial attorney W. Mark Lanier, who unpacked the art of crafting compelling narratives jurors will remember; John K. Villa of Williams & Connolly LLP, who explored the “mosaic theory” in litigation; and Luke Dauchot, who focused on mastering closing argument techniques. ese programs, which award continuing legal education credits and culminate in networking events, translate theory into courtroom-ready skills.

Experiential learning at CWRU is anchored in immersive, hands-on opportunities across the curriculum. In the Milton A. Kramer Law Clinic Center, students work side by side with faculty directors to represent real clients in real legal matters. Among these clinics, the Environmental Law Clinic, led by Director Randi Leppla, stands out as a powerful example of student engagement with pressing public policy and environmental justice issues.

Opened in fall 2022, the clinic places students at the front lines of environmental and energy law, where they collaborate on litigation, policy development, and advocacy on behalf of nonpro ts, community groups, and impacted residents. Students have organized and co-hosted free legal clinics in East Palestine following the 2023 train derailment, helping residents understand legal options, distinguish between individual and class action claims, and document environmental and property concerns.

Under Leppla’s guidance, drawing on her experience as lead energy counsel at the Ohio Environmental Council and as a seasoned litigator, students gain authentic courtroom and advocacy experience while advancing outcomes that matter in communities across Northeast Ohio. Her leadership ensures that students do not merely study environmental law in the abstract but apply it meaningfully on behalf of those who might otherwise lack access to legal representation.

Another vital pillar of experiential education at CWRU Law is clinical work in appellate and litigation practice, led by faculty such as professor Andrew S. Pollis, director of the Appellate Litigation Clinic. rough this clinic, students receive hands-on coaching in brief writing, argument strategy, and appellate procedure, crafting persuasive arguments essential to e ective advocacy in higher courts. Students and alumni have collaborated on complex appellate matters, including securing

a signi cant victory for a client in the Supreme Court of Ohio, where the clinic successfully argued that a defendant should be permitted to withdraw a guilty plea after the state withheld exculpatory evidence.

Together, these experiential opportunities position CWRU Law students to transition seamlessly from law school to law

Rose

Innovation Is a verb

BRIAN RAY AND CAROLYN BROERING-JACOBS

Special to the CJN

Innovation is one of those words that can go soft with overuse, like “excellence” or “impact.” Say it often enough, and it starts to mean “new” instead of “better,” “ ashy” instead of “true.” But in legal education, innovation isn’t a branding exercise. It’s a responsibility.

At Cleveland State University College of Law, we read innovation as a verb: to build, to test, to revise, to serve. It’s the daily practice of asking a stubborn question –what will our students need to know to be useful on day one, and successful every day after that? It’s also looking squarely at what’s changing and responding with seriousness, not slogans.

e legal profession is changing. e tools are changing. e tempo is changing. e expectations are changing. But the profession’s core values – serving your clients and your community with care and integrity – remain the same and have never

been more important.

A law school’s job isn’t to chase every novelty. We teach students to recognize what matters when that novelty arrives. at means grounding them in doctrine and training them in judgment. It means insisting they learn the di erence between speed and care, between output and accuracy, between appearance and understanding.

at’s why CSU|LAW has built a lawand-technology foundation that is not ornamental, but structural. Our students don’t study technology as a specialty. ey study it as the setting of modern legal life.

ere’s no clearer demonstration of this than generative AI. AI arrives branded with human names and metaphors like “Copilot,” “Claude,” and “Chat” that promise creativity and skill. But the truth is simpler: it’s just a tool that ampli es the user’s own competence or carelessness.

at’s why our AI strategy begins with a plain premise: if the work is faster, the responsibility is heavier. If drafting is easy, veri cation becomes essential. If the machine is con dent, the lawyer must be skeptical. rough our newly launched GenAI training course, students learn not just how to prompt, but how to think, test, document and explain. In short, how to keep faith with the profession’s values that no software can replace or maintain.

Innovation is not primarily about new tools. It’s about adapting the lawyer’s craft

to new conditions. It’s faculty who refuse to teach yesterday’s practice as if it were tomorrow’s. Its sta committed to preparing students to succeed with the steady message that competence is earned through hard work, not easy access to tech. It’s students who learn that law is not an idea, but a promise made to someone who is counting on you.

We come back, then, to innovation as a verb. It’s refusing to let tradition become inertia. It’s treating our profession as a craft and a calling, renewed in every era, with the tools of that era, but grounded in the same commitments that make the law worthy of public trust.

It’s what we stand for at CSU|Law: Learn Law. Live Justice. We are your law school for life.

Brian Ray and Carolyn Broering-Jacobs are co-interim deans at Cleveland State University College of Law.

Leading from the front: How ONU Law Is expanding access to justice through its online JD

CHARLES H. ROSE III

Special to the CJN

In an era when access to legal education often depends on geography and circumstance, Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law is proving that innovation and mission can move hand in hand. rough its carefully designed online Juris Doctor program, ONU Law has made meaningful strides in expanding opportunity – particularly for students across rural America who have long been underserved by traditional legal education models.

At the heart of ONU Law’s online JD program is a simple but powerful idea: talent is evenly distributed, opportunity is not. Many aspiring lawyers live far from major metropolitan centers or cannot uproot families, careers, or community commitments to attend law school full-time on campus. ONU Law’s four-year online JD program meets those students where they are, without compromising rigor, integrity, or outcomes. e program is intentionally structured over four years to balance academic intensity with real-life responsibilities.

Students engage in live, interactive classes led by full-time faculty, participate in meaningful discussions, and develop the same analytical, ethical and advocacy skills expected of any ONU Law graduate. Far from being a shortcut, the program re ects a belief that exibility and excellence are not mutually exclusive.

at belief is being validated by demand. e online JD program is currently oversubscribed, attracting applicants from across Ohio and throughout rural communities nationwide. Prospective students are drawn not only by the program’s accessibility, but also by its growing reputation for quality, faculty engagement and strong student support. In a competitive legal education landscape, oversubscription is a clear signal that ONU Law is doing something right.

e program’s success is grounded in ONU Law’s longstanding mission of service and community engagement. From its founding, the law school has emphasized producing lawyers who give back –professionals who see the law not just as a career, but as a calling. e online JD extends that mission outward, empowering students to remain embedded in their home communities while preparing to serve them as attorneys, advocates, prosecutors, public defenders and civic leaders. is “learn where you serve” model has profound implications for access to justice. Rural America faces

persistent shortages of legal professionals, particularly in areas such as family law, housing, elder law and small business representation. By training students who are already rooted in these communities, ONU Law is helping to address those gaps directly – leading from the front rather than waiting for others to act.

In many ways, the online JD program re ects the best of Ohio’s legal tradition: practical, principled and communityfocused. It honors the values of hard work, service, and opportunity while embracing modern tools to meet modern needs. As Ohio and the nation confront evolving challenges in legal access and education, ONU Law’s example stands as a reminder that progress is possible when institutions stay true to their mission.

Charles H. Rose III is dean of Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law.

Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law Tilton Hall of Law 415 S. Gilbert St. Ada, OH 45810 c-rose5@onu.edu law.onu.edu

Rose

Ray Broering-Jacobs

Bridging the gap: How the Moritz MSL empowers non-lawyers

BEN KITCHEN

Special to the CJN

Law ripples through every workplace, embedded in policies, contracts and regulations. Yet for many professionals, legal knowledge can feel distant or opaque. e Master in the Study of Law program at e Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in Columbus exists to close that gap. e MSL o ers non-lawyers the insight they need to work more con dently within their elds. Instead of focusing on courtroom procedure or bar exam preparation, the program emphasizes practicality – how laws are written, interpreted and applied across industries.

For Audra Jordan, a social worker supporting pregnant women with substance abuse disorders, the legal landscape was often a source of confusion. She admitted she was often “googling a lot” to nd the best path forward for her patients.

Armed with the MSL, Jordan says she now advocates for her patients with authority. In one instance, her new expertise helped a client address outstanding legal issues without serving jail time.

Lauren Lutman, a Medicaid analyst, joined the program seeking clarity in a regulatory landscape that shifts constantly. rough coursework in health law, compliance and legal writing, she gained critical background for her role.

“I wanted to learn more of the legal language, help translate legal stu we might not need a lawyer for, and be that contact or go-to person in my job,” she said.

e program’s structure re ects the realities of working professionals. e degree can be completed within a year, and courses are available online or on Ohio State’s Columbus campus, allowing students to balance school with career and personal commitments.

“Being able to complete coursework from my father’s bedside while he was in the hospital was huge,” Jordan said. “I couldn’t have done it without that exibility.”

Classes are taught by Moritz faculty and seasoned practitioners, helping students tie coursework directly to their day-to-day responsibilities.

“ e professors made it really easy,” Matt Busser, a human resources consultant and program graduate, said. “ ey have this real-world experience, and they’re able to relate to things that I’ve experienced.”

| CONTINUED FROM PAGE A23

practice. ey re ect a forward-looking legal education that blends academic excellence with real-world experience, ensuring that graduates are practice-ready on the day they enter the profession.

Paul Rose is dean and professor of law of Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

Case Western Reserve University School of Law 11075 East Blvd. Cleveland, OH 44106 216-368-8700 paul.rose2@case.edu case.edu/law

For those seeking targeted expertise without a full master’s commitment, Ohio State also launched new online graduate certi cates in business law, health law, and compliance this semester. Students can eventually stack those credits toward the master’s degree if they choose.

e ability to choose from di erent concentrations or elective courses is another incentive for students.

“I got to pick what was important to me and what helped in my career,” Liz Kooi, also a human resources consultant, said. “It was work, but it didn’t feel like hard work. When you truly like something, it doesn’t feel as daunting.”

Whether managing people, shaping policy, or serving communities, graduates leave the program better equipped to

ask the right questions and engage more thoughtfully with legal counsel, e next application deadline for the MSL program is April 15. For more information, visit go.osu.edu/MSLinfo.

Ben Kitchen is online marketing manager for The Ohio State University in Columbus.

The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law 55 W. 12th Ave., Drinko Hall Columbus, OH 43210-1391 lawadmissions@osu.edu

Dean: Kent Barnett

SUPER LAWYERS AND RISING STARS

Kitchen

*JONATHAN D. MESTER

JORDAN

LEBOVITZ BENJAMIN P. WIBORG BRENDA M. JOHNSON *DAVID M. PARIS KYRA E. WIEBER

MOLLY A. EBRAHEIM

DANA M. PARIS

KATHLEEN J. ST. JOHN

JEFFREY M. HELLER JAMIE R. LEBOVITZ

PAYNE

Experiential learning a crucial element of academic program for Akron Law students

EMILY M. JANOSKI-HAEHLEN

Special to the CJN

For law students, time spent in classrooms with faculty and other legal minds is incalculably valuable in the development of young lawyers. However, e University of Akron School of Law’s robust hands-on learning opportunities give students a chance to take their classroom learning into the real world.

Akron Law’s clinical programs are recognized regionally and nationally for both their impact on students and service to the community. Students come away with experience in real situations with real clients. at level of preparation allows Akron Law students and graduates to immediately contribute to their legal workplace and makes Akron Law students attractive and highly sought-after job candidates. Among the best-known clinical programs in which Akron Law students participate is the Ohio Governor’s Expedited Pardon Project. A collaboration with the State of Ohio and other law schools around the state, the Expedited Pardon Project gives qualifying applicants one-on-one assistance and allows them to bypass the waitlist for pardon

consideration. Akron Law is one of the key partners in this program.

Akron Law students also work with clients through the Reentry Clinic, which seeks remedies to ameliorate the impact of convictions including pardons, court sealings, human tra cking expungement and Certi cate of Quali cation for Employment. e clinic provides valuable experience for Akron Law students seeking to make a di erence in society, whether they intend to pursue a career in the public or private sector. Since its creation in 2013, the clinic has served an estimated 7,000 clients.

e Reentry Clinic has been recognized by the Association of American Law Schools as an “Innovative and Outstanding Program” and recently by e Ohio Supreme Court Reentry Task Force as an Ohio Promising Practice.

Other clinics o er similar opportunities for both Akron Law students and clients in the community.

Akron Law’s Trademark Clinic assists businesses and individuals in protecting their trademark rights. Students in this clinic conduct trademark searches, interview clients, le trademark applications, and respond to O ce Actions. e Trademark Clinic is one of 60 clinics designed by the U.S. Patent and Trademark O ce to o er patent and trademark applicants access to pro bono services.

rough a partnership with Community Legal Services, the Civil Practice Clinic assists low-income clients who are

experiencing housing problems. e Civil Practice Clinic has been recognized by Community Legal Services as “Law Firm of the Year.”

e Small Entrepreneur and Economic Development Clinic provides legal and business assistance to small emerging businesses in the local community. Assistance can include business planning, operating agreements and contract/lease issues. e SEED Clinic has been recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration as a “Legal Services Champion.”

e opportunity to work in these clinical settings, along with Akron Law’s other experiential learning options such as externships in public, private and nonpro t settings, is crucial for students who are graduating and eager to start their careers in the legal eld.

Emily M. Janoski-Haehlen is dean of The University of Akron School of Law.

The University of Akron School of Law 150 University Ave. Akron, OH 44325 800-425-7668 lawadmissions@uakron.edu Uakron.edu/law

Students at the center – The University of Cincinnati College of Law

HAIDER ALA HAMOUDI Special to the CJN

Iam often asked what makes the University of Cincinnati College of Law distinctive, and why it represents a particularly compelling opportunity for students considering a legal education in Ohio and beyond. While there are many ways to answer that question, three commitments stand out: an unwavering focus on student success, a deep integration of experiential learning into the curriculum, and nationally recognized centers of excellence that allow students to engage meaningfully with the law while still in school.

Student success is our guiding principle. We think of it broadly and holistically, beginning before students ever set foot in a classroom and continuing well after graduation. From orientation forward, we invest heavily in academic support, skills development, and mentoring designed to help students adjust to the demands of law school and thrive within it. Our academic success and bar preparation programs are integrated across all three years, ensuring that students are supported not only in mastering doctrine, but in developing the habits, skills, and con dence necessary for

professional success.

Equally important, we understand that academic achievement cannot be separated from a sense of belonging and well-being. We take seriously the responsibility to foster an environment in which students feel supported as people as well as future professionals. To that end, we o er a range of wellness programming and individualized support, including an embedded mental health counselor who is available to students, multiple days each week. is presence allows us to respond proactively to challenges as they arise and re ects our belief that student success depends on both academic and personal well-being.

Our emphasis on experiential learning is another de ning feature. While nearly every law school today recognizes the importance of practice-based education, we have made it a core expectation rather than an optional enhancement. More than 95% of our students complete a clinic or an externship before graduating, an extraordinary gure by national standards. rough placements with law rms, courts, public service organizations, corporations, and judges, students gain rsthand experience applying legal principles in real-world settings. ese experiences are carefully integrated with classroom instruction, re ecting the University of Cincinnati’s longstanding tradition of cooperative education and ensuring that theory and practice reinforce one another.

Finally, our centers of excellence set Cincinnati Law

apart. Rather than attempting to be everything to everyone, we have invested deeply in diverse areas where we can achieve national distinction and meaningful impact. e Corporate Law Center, the Urban Morgan Institute for Human Rights, the Ohio Innocence Project, and the Jones Center for the Global Practice of Law provide students with opportunities to develop subject-matter expertise while engaging in scholarship, advocacy, and practice that matter beyond the classroom.

Taken together, these commitments re ect who we are and what we value. We are focused on preparing students to become capable, ethical, and engaged lawyers from the moment they graduate. It is a mission that continues to place our law school on a strong upward trajectory and to guide our work every day.

Haider Ala Hamoudi is the dean and Nippert Professor of Law of the University of Cincinnati College of Law.

University of Cincinnati College of Law 2925 Campus Green Drive, Room 610A Cincinnati, OH 45221

513-556-0080 hamoudha@ucmail.uc.edu law.uc.edu

Hamoudi

Janoski-Haehlen

University of Dayton School of Law touts high bar numbers

CHRISTOPHER ROEDERER

Special to the CJN

We are a law school on the rise. Our students join a community that supports them from day one and throughout their legal careers. We strive to educate the whole person and to equip our students for lifelong learning. We are graduating well-rounded lawyers who are prepared to distinguish themselves in their careers while making an impact on the world. But don’t just take our word for it. Look at our bar passage numbers, employment statistics, and do a quick search to see what our alumni are doing in the legal community, and how engaged they remain with the law school years after graduation. We o er a three-year residential J.D. and a four-year part-time, online, hybrid J.D. Our part-time online hybrid program, launched in 2019, was among the rst ABAaccredited programs. e rst-time bar passage rate in that program has been at or above 90% since the beginning. Overall, we were tied for third place in Ohio on the July 2025

exam. Among UDSL graduates who sat in other jurisdictions, nearly all (94%) passed the July 2025 bar exam on their rst attempt.

Our success can be directly attributed to the community support provided to our students through our Road to Bar Passage program. e program is available to all students, residential and online. Not only do faculty and sta help with the program, but more than 30 attorneys and judges, many of them UDSL alumni, assist by grading essays and mentoring bar takers. We provide one-on-one coaching, individualized feedback, and data-driven check-ins. We also provide access to wellness programming and, when needed, on-campus summer housing to enable focused study. More than 94% of the graduates who participated in the program for the July 2025 exam passed on the rst attempt.

We are committed to continuous improvement in preparing students for the study and practice of law. Starting in fall 2025, all of our rst-year students participate in an AI Micro-Credential program that teaches them how AI-powered tools can aid in both the study and practice of law. Hands-on exercises include critically evaluating AI system outputs, understanding the ethical considerations surrounding their use, and developing strategies for integrating these tools into existing legal research and

writing work ows.

We nished second out of 10 law schools in the Ohio area in job numbers for the class of 2024, for full-time, long-term, bar-required, or J.D. advantage jobs in the 10 months after graduation. is is the fth time in six years the School of Law has been in the top two in Ohio on that metric. Our career services o ce is dedicated to providing students and alumni with comprehensive career planning and counseling. Alumni support for our students and graduates through workshops and mock interviews is also an enormous asset, resulting in employment rates that place us among the top quarter of law schools nationally in this category.

Christopher Roederer serves as interim dean of the University of Dayton School of Law, where he is also a professor of law.

University of Dayton School of Law Keller Hall, 300 College Park Dayton, OH 45469 937-229-3391

Croederer1@udayton.edu lawinfo@udayton.edu

Roedeerer

Pacific Life seeks to dismiss Busch’s $8.5M lawsuit over insurance policies

JENNA FRYER | AP AUTO RACING WRITER

Paci c Life Insurance Company on Jan. 2 asked a federal court to dismiss the $8.5 million lawsuit led by NASCAR champion Kyle Busch and his wife over policies the Buschs claim were sold to them under false and negligent representations as tax-free income for retirement.

e ling in the Western District of North Carolina – the same court that just heard the Michael Jordan-led antitrust suit against NASCAR – alleges the Buschs purchased ve separate Indexed Universal Life policies between 2018 and 2022 to provide more than $90 million in insurance protection for the two-time NASCAR champion.

e IUL policies were intended to provide immediate death bene t protection and “the opportunity to accumulate cash values when the policies are held for the long term.”

Paci c Life claims Busch failed to fully fund the policies, let some lapse and surrendered the others. Busch has claimed he is out $10.4 million and led suit in October alleging Paci c Life failed to reveal the true risks of the policies.

Paci c Life countered in its request to

have the suit dismissed that both Buschs signed multiple documents acknowledging they understood the policies, including one that indicated the couple would pay planned premiums and hold the policies over 30 years through age 70 and beyond.

“Instead of keeping the policies long enough to capitalize on their growth potential, Plainti s failed to timely pay planned premiums, failed to monitor allocation of their policy values between indexed and xed accounts and surrendered the policies or allowed them to lapse,”

Paci c Life wrote in the ling. “Rather than accept responsibility for their own decisions, Plainti s now attempt to blame their negative outcome on the IUL product.”

An IUL is a combination life insurance policy that provides a death bene t with a cash value component. e cash value growth is tied to a stock market index, supposedly with built-in protections against market downturns.

When he led the suit last year, Busch said he was told that if he paid $1 million for ve years, he would be able to take out $800,000 a year once he turned 52. Busch claims when he received a sixth premium notice he began asking questions and discovered almost all of his money was gone.

Paci c Life has countered that the Buschs acknowledged understanding the policies, but also that his claims for breach of duciary and negligent misrepresentation come seven years after he began purchasing the policies and are therefore outside the three-year statute of limitations.

“A plainti cannot avoid the statute of limitations by remaining ‘willfully blind’: A man should not be allowed to close his eyes to the facts readily observable by ordinary attention, and maintain for his own advantage the position of ignorance,” Paci c Life wrote. “Such a principle would enable a careless man, and by reason of his carelessness, to extend his right to recover for an inde nite length of time.”

Paci c Life also maintains that all of the Buschs claims on misrepresentation are false due to the “express, repeated disclosures” they signed. Additionally, all ve policies come with a cover letter that in bold capitalized letters says “READ YOUR POLICY CAREFULLY” and o ered a 20-day cancelation window in which premiums would be refunded.

Both Buschs signed a form that certi ed they had received the policies and understood they must carefully review them, Paci c Life said.

e Buschs also named agent Rodney A. Smith in their lawsuit for steering the Buschs into an unsustainable, high-risk product, along with charging an up-front 35% commission they were unaware of.

PRACTICE AREAS

Kyle Busch smiles prior to a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 5, 2025, in Concord, N.C. | AP Photo / Matt Kelley / File

S. Klein

Federal judge grants sweeping immigration protections to plaintiffs in anti-Israel protest case

ANDREW BERNARD | JNS

Afederal judge ruled on Jan. 22 that academic groups suing the Trump administration to halt the deportations of students and faculty who engaged in anti-Israel protests will be granted a blanket presumption that their activity is protected free speech under the First Amendment. e ruling from judge William Young, a Reagan appointee to the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, shifts the burden to the government to prove that any change in the immigration status of members of the American Association of University Professors and the Middle East Studies Association is justi ed.

“It shall be presumed that the alteration in immigration status is in retribution for the exercise during the course of the present case of their First Amendment rights,” Young wrote. e groups sued the Trump administration in March over its “ideological-deportation policy” after the arrest and attempt to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a leader of the anti-Israel protest movement at Columbia University.

“While President Trump and other administration o cials have described pro-Palestinian campus protests as ‘pro-Hamas,’ they have stretched that label beyond the breaking point to encompass any speech supportive of Palestinian human rights or critical of Israel’s military actions in Gaza,” the plainti s wrote. “ ey have left no doubt that their new policy entails the

arrest, detention and deportation of noncitizen students and faculty for constitutionally protected speech and association,” they added in the complaint.

Young ruled in favor of the plainti s in September.

At a hearing earlier this month, Young described the actions of the Trump administration as “an unconstitutional conspiracy to pick o certain people” for their protests, Politico reported.

“I nd it breathtaking that I have been compelled on the evidence to nd the conduct of such high-level o cers of our government – cabinet secretaries – conspired to infringe the First Amendment rights of people with such rights here in the United States,” Young said. “ ese cabinet secretaries have failed in their sworn duty to uphold the Constitution.”

Young’s rulings in the case have raised eyebrows over his unusual commentary and suggestions.

In September, Young attached a hand-written postcard from an anonymous sender asking, “Trump has pardons and tanks … what do you have?” to the top of his ruling.

“Alone I have nothing but my sense of duty,” Young wrote in reply, in a space above the listed plainti s that is usually left blank. “Together, we the people of the United States – you and me – have our magni cent Constitution.”

Young’s ruling on Jan. 22 includes more unusual remedies and commentary on the case.

“ e court recommends that an advisory jury be empaneled to assist the court in deciding factual issues,” Young wrote. “ e

moral e ect of a jury verdict cannot be overstated. e American jury is the most robust and vital expression of direct democracy extent in the world today.”

“ e people’s participation in this act of government is long overdue,” he added.

e protections extended to the plainti s include only noncitizens, who were members of AAUP or MESA between the time the plainti s brought suit and Young’s decision on the case in September. ey do not apply to any such members who were convicted of a crime or whose immigration status expired.

In an appendix to ursday’s ruling, Young mused about potential applications of his decision involving situations not directly related to the case, including the hypothetical revocation of temporary protected immigration status to Venezuelans and comments about the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

“If it’s just speech – it may be repulsive speech or disgusting speech, but if it’s just speech, well the Department of State can’t do that,” Young wrote. “Again this is a hypothetical. But let’s say that happened, we’ll assume that happened. And then the person comes in and says, ‘I’m a member of this class. You can’t do that to me.’”

“Well again, the government’s going to have to prove that their reason was not in fact in retribution,” he said, “and in addition, my second, that it’s an appropriate exercise of governmental power.”

e Trump administration can appeal Young’s ruling.

The Modern Law Firm.

Local law firms announce promotions

Several Cleveland-area law rms recently announced attorney promotions and new titles. e announcements were made through news releases or social media posts.

BUCKINGHAM, DOOLITTLE & BURROUGHS LLC

Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs LLC announced Dustin Vrabel is the firm’s newest president and managing partner, effective Feb. 1. Vrabel succeeds Steve Dimengo, who has led the firm since 2018.

FRANTZ WARD LLP

Frantz Ward LLP announced five attorneys, Mia L. Garcia, Andrew M. Hanna, Meghan C. Lewallen, Bradley N. Ouambo and Jonathan M. Scandling, have all been promoted to firm partners as of Jan. 1, according to a news release.

All five newly appointed partners in Frantz Ward have been recognized on the Ohio Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers’ lists, according to the firm’s website.

HAHN

LOESER & PARKS LLP

Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP announced John D. Drdek, Rachel E. Kolecky and Katie L. Steiner were elected to the firm’s partnership, effective Jan. 1. Kolecky and Steiner are based in the firm’s Cleveland office, while Drdek is based in San Diego, Calif., according to a news release.

Kolecky’s practice focuses on trucking and transportation law, Steiner is a member of the firm’s nonprofit and art law group and Drdek is a member

of both the firm’s litigation team and labor and employment group.

“We look forward to a bright future with the appointment of John, Rachel and Katie to partnership,” Stanley R. Gorom III, CEO and managing partner of the firm, said in the release. “They will help carry on Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP’s tradition of exceptional client service. Each is a talented, hardworking and thoughtful lawyer. Their steadfast dedication to serving our clients and supporting multiple teams across the firm has been exemplary. All of them bring unique skills to our practices that prove they are well-deserving of partnership.”

MCCARTHY, LEBIT, CRYSTAL & LIFFMAN CO., LPA

McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Liffman Co., LPA announced the promotion of Jenna C. Sholk to a principal attorney of the firm, effective Jan. 1. Sholk first joined the firm in 2023 as an associate in the family group, according to a news release.

Sholk counsels her clients in the areas of divorce, dissolution, establishment of child support and custody, post-decree matter and prenuptial agreements.

“I am incredibly grateful for the trust my clients and colleagues have placed in me, and I’m excited to take this next step as a principal of McCarthy Lebit,” Sholk said in the release. “I’m proud to continue advocating for my clients through some of the most challenging and pivotal moments in their lives.”

Sholk is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association and the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association. She

Area attorneys recognized with awards

Several Cleveland-area law rms recently announced individual or rm awards of distinction. e announcements were made through news releases.

KISLING, NESTICO & REDICK

Six attorneys at Ohio-based personal injury law firm Kisling, Nestico & Redick were selected for inclusion on the Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists for 2026, according to a news release.

Three of KNR’s attorneys – John J. Reagan, managing partner of the Akron office, Nomiki P. Tsarnas, senior partner of the Youngstown office, and Michael J. Maillis, partner of the Youngstown office –

were named Super Lawyers, a distinction only 5% of attorneys in each state receive.

Three more of KNR’s attorneys – Thomas J. Walsh II of the Toledo office, Kaitlyn R. Vasvari of the Youngstown office and Tom D. Vasvari of the Youngstown office – were recognized as Rising Stars, an award only 2.5% of eligible lawyers receive, according to the release. Eligibility is comprised of those 40 years or older with 10 or less years of experience practicing law.

“These recognitions speak to the strength of our entire team,” John J. Reagan, managing partner at KNR, said in the release. “Our attorneys bring exceptional skill, compassion and dedication to every

has been honored on the Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Stars list since 2024.

“Jenna is an exceptional individual with a unique legal talent for objectivity, enabling her to serve as both a skilled problem-solver and a thoughtful advocate who can reframe issues to better appreciate the matters at hand,” Richard Rabb, a principal at McCarthy Lebit and head of the firm’s family law group, said in the release. “I am incredibly excited for her, for our practice group and for the firm that she has been nominated to be my partner. We are all fortunate to have her.”

UB GREENSFELDER LLP

UB Greensfelder LLP announced attorneys Emmanuel I. Sanders and Peter C. Palumbo have been elevated to partners in the firm as of Jan. 1. Sanders is based in the firm’s Cleveland office, while Palumbo is based in St. Louis, Mo., according to a news release.

Sanders centers his practice around product liability defense, particularly in pharmaceutical, medical device and mass tort litigation. Palumbo counsels both individuals and businesses on estate, trust, business and tax planning matters.

“UBG is committed to developing and recognizing exceptional talent across our practice areas and offices,” Kevin T. McLaughlin, co-managing partner of the firm, said in the release. “Emmanuel and Pete distinguish themselves each day by demonstrating the client service and forward-thinking approach that define our firm, and we are proud to call them our partners.”

– Compiled by Ellie Evans

case, but none of this work happens in isolation. It’s the collaboration between our attorneys and our staff that allows us to serve injured individuals and families across Ohio at the highest level. I’m proud of the collective commitment behind this honor.”

ROETZEL & ANDRESS

Twenty-four attorneys at Roetzel & Andress combined have earned recognition on the 2026 Ohio Super Lawyers lists and Rising Stars lists – 19 were named Super Lawyers and five were selected as Rising Stars, according to a news release. Roetzel & Andress 2026 Super Lawyers honorees are Karen D. Adinolfi, Megan Faust, Terrence S. Finn,

Stephen W. Funk, Richard H. Harris, III, Christopher M. Huryn, Marc B. Merklin and Bradley A. Wright from Akron, Robert E. Blackham, Christopher J. Carney, Anna Moore Carulas, James T. Dixon, Barry Y. Freeman, Susan L. Friedman, Donald S. Scherzer, Douglas Spiker and E. Mark Young from Cleveland and Shane A. Farolino and Thomas L. Rosenberg from Columbus.

The firm’s Rising Star honorees are Jeremy D. Martin, Stephanie Olivera Mittica and Phillip M. Sarnowski from Akron and Ildiko A. Szucs and Teresa G. Santin from Cleveland.

– Compiled by Ellie Evans

Kentucky bill requires contacting Chabad before cremating unclaimed Jewish bodies

JESSICA RUSSAK-HOFFMAN | JNS

AKentucky state bill would require local government and coroners to contact Chabad of Bluegrass before approving cremation for an unclaimed body known to be of Jewish descent, part of a broader proposal that shortens the waiting period that coroners must take to locate next of kin.

SB 27, introduced by Republican state Sen. Greg Elkins, dictates that “if the dead body or a part thereof is known to be of Jewish descent, contact the Chabad of the Bluegrass or any successor entity to inquire if it wants to pay for the burial expense.”

A similar provision applies to other religious groups that have provided written notice of willingness to cover burial costs for their members.

Rabbi Shlomo Litvin of the Chabad of Bluegrass in Lexington told JNS that “cremation is now almost 50% of burial plans in America.” He said that coroners face signi cant costs when someone dies without family to claim the body.

“From a scal standpoint, I understand the bill completely,” Litvin said, though warned it could be harmful to Jews because “being cremated is a tremendous a ront to our religion.”

He told JNS that Chabad and the Kentucky Jewish Council reached out with an o er to prevent unintended cremation. “We don’t only have a problem, we have a solution,” he said, adding that Chabad “would be happy to pay for an internment for any such person.”

“As a preemptive move, we have already reached out to every single coroner in Kentucky,” he said. “And o ered if they ever have

such a situation, we are willing to step in and pay for all costs, for transport, for internment, for funeral services, etc., to ensure members of the Jewish community, regardless of their religiosity, regardless of their synagogue a liation, are able to have a Jewish burial.”

Litvin advises Jewish leaders in other states to take similar preemptive action.

“I absolutely would encourage Jewish leaders to get involved beforehand because doing it afterwards is far more work,” he said.

He noted that the chairman of the Senate committee made the same point at the Jan. 21 hearing.

“He said: ank you, rabbi, for reaching out – not after the fact, being like, hey, we don’t like this, but getting involved right away.”

Trump sues JPMorgan for $5 billion, alleges bank closed his accounts for political reasons

KEN SWEET | AP BUSINESS WRITER

NEW YORK – President Donald Trump sued banking giant JPMorgan Chase and its CEO Jamie Dimon for $5 billion on Jan. 22 over allegations that JPMorgan stopped providing banking services to him and his businesses for political reasons after he left o ce in January 2021. e lawsuit, led in Miami-Dade County court in Florida, alleges that JPMorgan abruptly closed multiple accounts in February 2021 with just 60 days notice and no explanation. By doing so, Trump claims JPMorgan and Dimon cut the president and his businesses o from millions of dollars, disrupted their operations and forced Trump and the businesses to urgently open bank accounts elsewhere.

“JPMC debanked (Trump and his businesses) because it believed that the political tide at the moment favored doing so,” the lawsuit alleges.

In the lawsuit, Trump alleges he tried to raise the issue personally with Dimon after the bank started to close his accounts, and that Dimon assured Trump he would gure out what was happening. e lawsuit alleges Dimon failed to follow up with Trump. Further, Trump’s lawyers allege that JPMorgan placed the president and his companies on a reputational “blacklist” that both JPMorgan and other banks use to keep clients from opening accounts with them in the future.

In a statement, JPMorgan said it believes the suit has no merit.

Trump threatened to sue JPMorgan Chase last week at a time of heightened tensions between the White House and Wall Street. e president said he wanted to cap interest rates on credit cards at 10% to help lower costs for consumers. Chase is one of the largest issuers of credit cards in the country and a bank o cial told reporters that it would ght any e ort by the White House or Congress to implement a rate cap on credit cards. Bank industry executives have also bristled at Trump’s attacks on the independence of the Federal Reserve.

Debanking occurs when a bank closes the accounts of a customer or refuses to do business with a customer in the form of loans or other services. Once a relatively obscure issue in nance, debanking has become a politically charged issue in recent years, with conservative politicians arguing that banks have discriminated against them and their a liated interests.

Debanking rst became a national issue when conservatives accused the Obama administration of pressuring banks to stop extending services to gun stores and payday lenders under “Operation Choke Point.”

Trump and other conservative gures have alleged that banks cut them o from their accounts under the umbrella term of “reputational risk” after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Since Trump came back into o ce, the president’s banking regulators have moved to stop any banks from using “reputational risk” as a reason for denying service to customers.

“JPMC’s conduct ... is a key indicator of a systemic, subversive industry practice that aims to coerce the public to shift and re-align their political views,” Trumps lawyers wrote in the lawsuit.

Trump accuses the bank of trade libel and accuses Dimon himself of violating Florida’s Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

In its statement, JPMorgan said that it “regrets” that Trump sued the bank but insisted it did not close the

accounts for political reasons.

“JPMC does not close accounts for political or religious reasons,” a bank spokesperson said. “We do close accounts because they create legal or regulatory risk for the company.” is is not the rst lawsuit Trump has led against a big bank alleging that he was debanked. e Trump Organization sued credit card giant Capital One in March 2025 for similar reasons and allegations. at lawsuit is still winding its way through the court system.

WE WORK WITH YOU TO HELP CRAFT

SOLUTIONS

Whether it is a divestiture, a roll-up of several companies, cross-border agreements, tax planning or estate planning, Hahn Loeser can assist you with implementing steps to make 2026 a productive year.

Lawmakers can sue to ensure release of Epstein files, but not as part of Maxwell case, judge says

MICHAEL R. SISAK AND LARRY NEUMEISTER | ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK – Congressional cosponsors of a law forcing the Justice Department to release its les on Je rey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell can le a lawsuit seeking a courtappointed observer to ensure compliance, but they lack the legal right to append their demand to her criminal case, a judge ruled on Jan. 21.

Judge Paul A. Engelmayer blocked U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Rep. omas Massie, R-Ky. from intervening in Maxwell’s sex tra cking case. e lawmakers, whose Epstein Files Transparency Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump in November, petitioned the judge last week in a bid to speed the public disclosure of les related to investigations into the late nancier and Maxwell, his longtime con dant.

Engelmayer largely agreed with the Justice Department’s insistence that he, as the judge overseeing Maxwell’s case, had no authority to grant Khanna and Massie’s request for an independent monitor to ensure the immediate release of more than 2 million documents that the government has identi ed as investigative materials.

Khanna and Massie said the slow disclosure of the documents violated the law and had caused “serious trauma to survivors.”

Aside from the possibility of ling a lawsuit, the lawmakers are at liberty to use their legislative tools to improve oversight of the Justice Department, Engelmayer wrote. e Epstein law, passed after months of public and political pressure, contains no mechanisms or penalties to ensure compliance.

“We appreciate Judge Engelmayer’s timely response and attention to our request, and we respect his decision,” Khanna said in a statement. “He said that we raised ‘legitimate concerns’ about whether DOJ is complying with the law. We will continue to use every legal option to ensure the les are released and the survivors see justice.”

After missing a Dec. 19 deadline set by Congress to release all of the les, the Justice Department said it has had hundreds of lawyers reviewing yet-to-be-disclosed records to determine what needs to be redacted, or blacked out, to protect the identities of hundreds of sex abuse victims. So far, only about 12,000 documents have been made public.

Engelmayer said questions raised by Khanna and Massie raised about whether the department was complying with the law were “undeniably important and timely.” But, he said, the way in which the members of Congress were trying to intervene was not permitted.

Engelmayer inherited Maxwell’s case after the trial judge, Alison Nathan, was appointed to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. He ruled that has no authority to supervise the department’s compliance with the new law, and that Massie and Khanna have no standing, or legal right, to insinuate themselves into Maxwell’s case.

Engelmayer said he has received letters and emails from Epstein abuse survivors in support of the lawmakers’ request for appointment of a neutral overseer.

“ ese express concern that DOJ otherwise will not comply with the Act,” wrote the judge, who was nominated by Democratic President Barack Obama.

e department has been “paying ‘lip service’ to the victims” and “failing to treat us ‘with the solicitude’ we deserve,” survivors wrote, according to Engelmayer.

Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence after her December 2021 sex tra cking conviction. She recently petitioned the federal court for her release, maintaining that new information has emerged that warrants her release. A jury found that she had helped to recruit girls for Epstein to abuse over the past quarter-century and had also participated in some of the abuse.

Epstein died in a federal jail in New York in August 2019 as he awaited trial on sex tra cking charges. e death was ruled a suicide.

Super Lawyers Recognizes WALTER HAVERFIELD ATTORNEYS IN 2026 EDITION

Founded in 1932, Walter Haverfield is a leading business law firm located in Cleveland and Columbus. The firm is continually recognized for providing sophisticated transactional and litigation guidance to publicly traded companies and privately held businesses, as well as financial institutions, private equity sponsors, executives, and individuals.

Oklahoma board to vote on application for religious Jewish charter school, teeing up potential battle

ASAF ELIA-SHALEV | JTA

AJewish education group seeking to create the nation’s rst publicly funded religious Jewish charter school took its case to Oklahoma’s charter school board on Jan. 12, reviving a highstakes constitutional battle over whether government money can be used to run faithbased public schools.

e National Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School Foundation, founded by Peter Deutsch, a former Florida Democratic congressmember known for endorsing Donald Trump in 2024, has applied to open a statewide virtual Jewish charter school serving grades K-12 beginning in the 202627 school year.

e proposal would integrate Oklahoma academic standards with daily Jewish religious instruction, including Hebrew, Jewish texts, holidays and religious practice.

e Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board did not vote on Jan. 12, but is expected to decide as early as next month

whether the school can move forward.

Supporters say approval would give families a religious values-based option within the public school system. Critics argue it would violate the legal principle separating church and state and set a precedent that could reshape public education nationwide.

e proposal comes months after the U.S. Supreme Court deadlocked 4-4 in a case involving another Oklahoma religious charter school, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. at tie left in place an Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling that charter schools – which are publicly funded but privately run – are “state actors” and therefore must remain secular. e deadlock resulted from a recusal by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who had ties to the Catholic charter school.

Ben Gamla and its lawyers at Becket, a conservative religious-liberty rm, are seeking to reopen that ght.

“ e opportunity is probably the best in Oklahoma of any state in the United States of

America today,” Deutsch, who was wearing a kippah, told board members Monday. “And that’s really related to your statute and the implementation of that statute.”

Becket said in a statement after the meeting that Oklahoma is wrongly excluding religious schools from its charter program.

“Religious schools cannot be shut out of state programs just because they are religious,” said Eric Baxter, a senior counsel at Becket who represents Ben Gamla.

Deutsch, who founded a network of Hebrew-English charter schools in Florida nearly two decades ago, told the board that his schools have consistently ranked among the top public schools in that state. ose Florida schools, however, operate as strictly secular charters, teaching Hebrew language and Jewish culture without religious instruction.

e Oklahoma proposal is di erent.

Ben Gamla’s application describes the school as being organized “for educational, charitable, and religious purposes” and calls for daily Jewish religious studies

Do you spend time regularly helping a loved one pay bills, manage medications, shop, and prepare meals? Are you also driving them to and from doctor appointments? People who provide this kind of assistance to family members don’t often think of themselves as caregivers, but when it comes to Life Care Planning - taking care of the caregiver is an important part of everything we do.

When a client’s family and support system are involved in planning, this helps alleviate the stress and anxiety that often accompanies health care and ﬁnancial decision making. As one client recalls:

“I was totally unprepared to deal with my parents’ declining health and was worried about how we would pay for all their needs and the increased challenges I could only imagine were coming. Brad and Heather explained there are services to help and programs available to help pay for the immense cost of care. I can’t and don’t want to imagine going through this experience without Brad and Heather.”

Without adequate support, caregivers have an increased risk of emotional burnout and chronic illness. By providing emotional and spiritual care when a loved one is faced with permanent disability, terminal illness or end of life issues, we can help take the burden off the caregiver - who can then focus their energy enjoying quality time with their loved one.

alongside secular coursework. Teachers and sta would be expected to uphold Jewish religious standards in their professional conduct, with an additional expectation placed on those who are Jewish.

“Employees who are Jewish are expected to be faithful to the Jewish community and adhere to the teachings of the people and to the Torah in their lives,” the application submitted by Ben Gamla says.

Deutsch said that while Oklahoma has a relatively small Jewish population, many families – Jewish and non-Jewish – are seeking a values-based education.

“ ere are a lot of parents that are looking for a sort of a faith-based, rigorous academic program,” he told the board. “But there was nothing there.”

He said he had previously explored opening a physical Jewish charter school in Oklahoma but concluded that the numbers would not work. A virtual model, he said, would allow the school to operate with as

OKLAHOMA | CONTINUED ON PAGE A34

few as 30 or 40 students and reach families across the state.

Board members asked Deutsch how the new Oklahoma nonpro t would relate to his Florida charter network. Deutsch said the two entities are legally separate but linked through him.

“ ey are separate corporations. ey’re separate 501(c)(3)s,” he said. “ e link is me.”

Deutsch, who his is one of the three directors currently serving on the board of Ben Gamla. e other two are Brett Farley, who was a member of St. Isidore’s board of directors, and Ezra Husney, a New York lawyer.

He also said a nonpro t backer has committed to cover any startup de cits and that he plans to seek federal charter-school startup grants.

He didn’t name the nonpro t, but Ben Gamla’s application includes a letter pledging nancial support signed by Rabbi Raphael Butler, president of the A kim Foundation, a New York based nonpro t aiming to “innovate and implement high impact global Jewish projects.” Butler is also president of Olami, a global Orthodox Jewish outreach group.

In a press release issued after the meeting, Becket framed the case as one of religious discrimination, saying the state is required under the U.S. Constitution to treat religious and secular schools equally in public programs.

Last year’s Supreme Court deadlock in the Catholic case left the constitutional question unresolved. Conservative justices have signaled sympathy for the idea that states may not exclude religious organizations from generally available

public bene ts – a line of reasoning Becket hopes to extend to charter schools.

“Our goal is to win here at the board, and if that doesn’t happen, we will bring a case in federal court,” Baxter told local media after the meeting.

Church-state separation advocates say the plan would cross a clear constitutional line.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which led the legal ght against the Catholic school, has already led public-records requests seeking communications between Ben Gamla and the charter board and has signaled it is prepared to sue.

“Despite their loss earlier this year in the U.S. Supreme Court, religious extremists once again are trying to undermine our country’s promise of church-state separation by forcing Oklahoma taxpayers to fund a religious public school. Not on our watch,” Rachel Laser, the group’s president, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in November.

In Oklahoma, home to fewer than 9,000 Jews, the proposal has drawn skepticism from local Jewish leaders, some of whom say they learned about it from reporters rather than organizers. Rabbi Daniel Kaiman of Congregation B’nai Emunah in Tulsa told JTA last month that no one in the community had been consulted. “I was surprised to be learning about it through a reporter,” he said.

Kaiman said he worries about a national legal ght being waged through a tiny Jewish community with delicate interfaith and political relationships. Oklahoma already has Jewish day schools and synagogue programs, he added. “I don’t know who this new proposal is for,” he said.

School district settles with Zionist Organization of America in federal suit over Jew-hatred on campus

AARON BANDLER | JNS

The Zionist Organization of America said earlier last week that it reached a settlement with Cherry Hill Public Schools, a New Jersey district in the Philadelphia area with a large Jewish population, over the latter’s handling of antisemitism.

“Hopefully, the Cherry Hill school district will now think more carefully about how it responds to antisemitism,”

Susan Tuchman, director of ZOA’s Center for Law and Justice, told JNS. “Hopefully it’ll more e ectively live up to its legal and moral obligation to protect Jewish students from threats and intimidation.”

e parties signed the agreement, which JNS viewed, in May 2025. But a dispute followed about “how the settlement terms should be interpreted,” Tuchman told JNS.

e district, which operates 18 schools and says that it has 10,715 students, allegedly discriminated against a Cherry Hill High School East student identi ed in the June 2024 suit as L.B. e suit was led in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

e student told the school that he faced threats and was “nearly physically assaulted” after posting on social media about anti-Israel statements that fellow students had made. e school and the district responded “harshly” and “undeservedly,” and “outrageously punished him in violation of their own rules and policies, while ignoring and downplaying the conduct of his attackers,” according to ZOA.

A term of the agreement requires the district to remove the disciplinary action against the Jewish student from his record, including the “harassment, intimidation and bullying conviction” and a related suspension.

Tuchman told JNS that “the district had to remove not only the disciplinary measures but also everything in the record that was related to them” as part of the agreement.

e agreement does not require monetary compensation and notes that the district continues to “deny any and all liability.”

It requires the district to commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day annually and for district libraries to provide “a table of books commemorating Jewish history and survival through the centuries during the week of April 21, 2025,” the week of Holocaust Remembrance Day last year.

e agreement also required the district to issue a statement addressing antisemitism as part of its commemoration of Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Jew-hatred. One di erence is that the IHRA de nition notes that “claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor” amounts to “denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination,” while the district’s de nition omits the example of saying Israel is fundamentally racist.

Tuchman told JNS that ZOA complained to the district about “where and how it posted the statement, as well as about the district’s failure to also issue the statement to the community.” She referred, in an op-ed that she coauthored, to the district having “buried” the statement in “an obscure section of the district’s website.”

“It would have been easy for the district to send it out in an email blast to students and families, as it’s done on a

variety of other issues,” she told JNS. “Simply posting it on the district’s website wouldn’t give meaning to all the words in the agreement we reached.”

JNS sought comment from the district.

ZOA brought the matter to court in June. On Jan. 9, Sharon King, the magistrate judge, wrote that the district’s decision to post the statement on its website ts “with a fair reading of the settlement agreement.”

Tuchman said that “it’s troubling that the district would balk at giving a much-needed statement about antisemitism as much exposure in the community as possible.”

Still, “we’re so pleased to have gotten our clients the relief they were looking for,” she told JNS.

e attached PDF le notes that “Jews continue to be victims of hate and bigotry today” and that “antisemitism has reached alarming levels in New Jersey as re ected by data from the Anti-Defamation League, revealing a 103% increase in antisemitic incidents in 2023, totaling 830 reported incidents.”

“ is was the highest number ever recorded by the ADL in the state and the third-highest number recorded in any state across the country in 2023,” the page states.

A page on the website of Cherry Hill Public Schools titled “Every story belongs” links to a statement on Holocaust Remembrance Day. Tuchman told JNS that the district posted the statement in April 2025.

There is no substitute for decades of experience spent winning multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts in medical malpractice cases. At The Eisen Law Firm, we have done exactly that by focusing exclusively on cases involving medical negligence and wrongful death.

It also shares a text that is very similar to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working de nition of

Fred Arnoff Weston Hurd

LLP

JIMMY OSWALD joswald@cjn.org

Law school doesn’t teach aspiring students how to practice law, it teaches them how to think like a lawyer, according to Fred Arnoff.

Instead, it is those you encounter early in your career that help guide you through your journey that end up being the most influential.

“While learning to think like a lawyer is very instrumental and critical, when you get out of law school and put a shingle out or join a firm, most young lawyers don’t have a clue what it takes to practice law,” Arnoff told the Cleveland Jewish News. “I was very fortunate early in my career to have senior colleagues that were wonderful mentors to me.”

Arnoff, chair of Weston Hurd’s business practice group, which has an office in downtown Cleveland and downtown Columbus, is in his 51st year practicing law. He graduated from Miami University in Oxford in 1972 and The University of Akron School of Law in 1975.

“When I was in undergraduate school, I had no idea what my career path was going to be,” Arnoff said. “My parents suggested that I take stock of my strong points and to choose a career that would both use those talents and that I would find rewarding and fulfilling.”

About Fred Age: 75

Residence: Highland Heights and Bonita Springs, Fla.

Undergraduate: Miami University Law School: The University of Akron School of Law

How do you like to spend a rare free day: Reading, walking and watching sports. How do you stay connected to the Jewish community: Through my synagogue and various Jewish organizations. Is there a quote or mantra you try to live by: Bring your A game every single day. What’s the best career advice you’ve ever been given: Do something that you’re passionate about and that you find rewarding and fulfilling.

During his long tenure, Arnoff, who also has admission before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, received plenty of accolades for his work. He is an AV Preeminentrated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell and, since 2010, he has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America for real estate law.

“What helped me become a good attorney was giving my best professional and personal effort into every client regardless of the stakes or amount of money involved,” he said.

What’s one thing every client should know before hiring an attorney: His or her reputation in the legal community and experience in the practice area required.

What Jewish value most influences how you approach your work: Tikkun olam.

“There’s great satisfaction when you are able to assist people and make their lives better,” he said.

With half a century worth of experience working, Arnoff represents the second and third generation of several families.

Arnoff, a congregant of Park Synagogue in Pepper Pike, represents businesses and individuals in matters involving general business, commercial and corporate issues, as well as debtor creditor rights, bankruptcy, employment, labor and real estate, among other fields.

Having a willingness to learn every day has helped Arnoff be able to thrive and work in so many different specialized areas, he said, along with having strict discipline and a hard work ethic.

“The practice of law is not a 9 to 5 job,” he said. “And what always fascinated and enticed me was that every day was different and brought different kinds of clients with different kinds of problems. I never did the same thing two days in-a-row. Never.”

Helping people solve their problems is what originally drew Arnoff to law, and it is still a factor of the profession that sticks with him to this day.

“Over the years, clients become much more than clients,” he said. “They become friends as well. You become a trusted advisor to each generation.” Arnoff said that it is crucial for one considering law as their chosen profession to understand the expectations that come with it, both personally and professionally.

“In a law practice, it’s important that you determine what your personal strengths are and how those can be used,” he said. “And in establishing your practice, you have to determine how you’re going to create new relationships and opportunities so that you can grow your practice.”

Charles Daroff

Walter Haverﬁeld

ELLIE EVANS eevans@cjn.org

Charles Daroff, partner in Walter Haverfield’s real estate group, earned his undergraduate degree in English at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, where his love for reading, writing and watching and analyzing films shone through. With a passion for language and a father who had already pursued and achieved medical excellence, Daroff decided to take his particular set of skills to law school.

“My father (Dr. Robert Daroff) was a worldrenowned doctor – his were too big of footsteps for me to try and fall into,” Daroff told the Cleveland Jewish News. “I knew with my analytical and critical reading and writing skills, law school would be a good place for me to venture.”

Daroff graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 1988. Since then, he has returned as an adjunct law professor.

“Somebody I had in class asked me why I keep coming back and teaching,” Daroff said. “And the answer is because I had such a great experience in law school, and it turned out so well for me, that I want to give back. I want to be able to share my skills and experience with a new generation.”

Daroff said he commends the Jewish value l’dor v’dor (from generation to generation) - it came full circle for him recently after his first granddaughter was born just several weeks before the first yahrzeit of his father.

“It gave me a great appreciation for how Judaism values the past and future,” Daroff said. He said this is consistent with the thread of paying it forward he weaves through all aspects of his life.

Daroff also said he finds it “very rewarding” to teach and watch students learn using “practical and

hands-on” tactics.

“I try to teach students in my class how to begin to be a transactional commercial real estate lawyer with actual day-to-day experience and going through actual contracts rather than by reading law books and old cases,” Daroff said.

Daroff said when his students ask for his best advice to younger lawyers, he says, “Be prepared; I never thought I was the smartest guy in any negotiation room, but I often felt I was the most prepared.”

He also said he suggests they find a mentor and “become a sponge,” because that’s what he did – “in my case, the mentor I had when I was a first-year lawyer at Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP in 1988 has been my partner ever since.” Now, he has the experience and expertise to mentor future lawyers himself.

Daroff said when clients hire him, they can expect complete understanding of the issues at hand, and that everything will be thought through carefully with no surprises. He said in the spirit of thoroughness, his own goals are to continue learning and doing the best job he can.

“All I know is I’ve been doing this since 1988, and I work as hard as I ever did. I love what I do as much as anybody I know,” Daroff said.

About Charles Age: 64

Residence: Orange

Undergraduate: Case Western Reserve University

Law School: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What has been the most meaningful or defining moment of your career so far: When Ed Hurtuk and I left Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP and opened up our own firm in 1997.

How do you like to spend a rare free day: I watch TV series’ with my fiance.

What’s something colleagues might be surprised to learn about you: In 1980, I was a security specialist in the U.S. Air Force Reserves at an Air Force base in Florida, and I was in a simulated war, in a deployment called ‘Team Spirit,’ at Sachon Air Base in South Korea.

What’s your ultimate comfort food (Jewish or otherwise): Sea Salt Caramel Yasso Frozen Greek Yogurt Bars.

How do you stay connected to the Jewish community: Jewish values and wanting to give back to the community motivated me when I was younger to take leadership roles in Jewish organizations. I was on the board for the Joseph and Florence Mandel Jewish Day School and for my synagogue, B’nai Jeshurun Congregation. I also represented the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, Mandel Jewish Community Center of Cleveland and other Jewish organizations in many real estate transactions.

Is there a quote or mantra you try to live by: Pay it forward.

What’s the best career advice you’ve ever been given: Look past a client’s stated position and try to identify what’s really driving it; this perspective strengthened my ability to analyze issues clearly, communicate effectively and come up with solutions that best serve clients’ long-term objectives.

What’s one thing every client should know before hiring an attorney: Their commitment, motivation, ability to work in a team and whether they’re willing to do everything necessary to get the deal done on a timely and cost-effective basis.

What Jewish value most influences how you approach your work: Kindness. Trying to be a good person and help other people, even if they’re not going to be able to do anything for me in return.

if Dissolution, Mediation, or Collaborative Divorce is right for

As a resolution-oriented attorney and mediator, I can help you, or both you and your spouse, make thoughtful, well-informed decisions about your family and finances—without the costs, delays, and emotional toll of litigation. Through respectful, private negotiations, we can create practical, durable agreements that work best for you and your children, --now and into the future. Experience more control, more compassion, less cost, less stress, and less hostility.

Ian Friedman

Friedman Nemecek Long & Grant, LLC

JIMMY OSWALD joswald@cjn.org

The top story on the front page of the Douglas County News-Press in Castle Rock, Colo., on Feb. 10, 1983, read “Sedalia students tackle tough capital punishment.” Accompanied was a photo where Ian Friedman, at the time a sixth grader at Sedalia Elementary School, was debating with his classmates on imposing the death penalty during a classroom exercise.

Fast forward nearly 43 years later, and not much has changed for Friedman. He still carries a fierce commitment to justice, a value he is able to demonstrate every day as the founding and managing partner at Friedman Nemecek Long & Grant, LLC, which has offices in downtown Cleveland and downtown Columbus.

Athens in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in legal communications. In 1997, he graduated from Cleveland State University School of Law with his Juris Doctorate. He is a member of the CSU Law Hall of Fame.

Friedman, a congregant of Congregation Mishkan Or in Beachwood, set out on his own from the get-go, opening the original iteration of his firm in 1998, just about a year after he graduated law school.

“Federal Civil Rights Liability of Local Governments and Their Employees Under Section 1983,” OHIO MUNICIPAL LAW, Chap. 41A, Gotherman and Babbit, ed. 1986 (co-author)

“Liability of Council Members Under 42 U.S.C. 1983,” The Practical Lawyer 83-88 (Mar. 1987)

“I put in the work and the time,” he said. “I made a lot of mistakes, got a lot of bumps and bruises along the way. The first five years were really spent learning, and then a different level of lawyering, that next step, came at the five-year mark. The firm has grown over the years, not just in size, but in geographical reach and the complexity and issues of the cases.”

Contributor: ANTITRUST CONSENT DECREE MANUAL, American Bar Association (1980)

Expert Witness Engagements

“I was called to law at a very early age,” Friedman told the Cleveland Jewish News. “I was shadowing prosecuting attorneys and other people involved in the criminal justice system when I was very young. This is always where I was called to be.”

meeting each facet of the organization that was needed whether it was an appellate lawyer, trial lawyer or pretrial motions lawyer. Everyone has helped make it a well-rounded machine.”

Friedman is a fellow of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers and served as president in 2018. He was elected president of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association for 2019-20.

As president of the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, he was the driving force behind the overhaul of Ohio’s Criminal Rule 16, which ensured that all state criminal cases are operated with greater transparency with the open discovery system. Rule 16 ensures both the prosecution and defense exchange information, like witness lists, laboratory and hospital documents and investigative reports, to secure a fair and impartial trial.

While running your own firm is a lot of work, Friedman said that the priority has always stayed focused on one aspect: the client.

Standards of Professional Care for Lawyers and Law Firms:

Friedman graduated from Ohio University in

Resolution Trust Corporation v. Alexander and Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs , U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Case No. 5:93-cv-00832.

“Operating the firm so as not to stand in the way of that priority is the greatest art,” he said. “The firm was really built one person at a time,

Estate of Jason Scribben v. Jonathan W. Winer, et al., Court of Common Pleas for Ashtabula County, Ohio, Case No. 2001 CV 00671

“I’ve been lucky enough to lead a number of organizations, but that certainly was very special,” Friedman said. “Being at the helm of the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers allowed me to really utilize the power and strength of that organization in helping shape what is today Ohio’s criminal justice discovery rules. It reshaped how we practice criminal law in the state of Ohio, and it has

shaped how we’ve practiced law. It has helped to ensure greater fairness to the system for all parties involved.

“The old system was more of one of ambush, surprise and unfairness. It’s neat to see all these years later how it’s affected countless defendants in the system and how, even long after I’m gone, it’s going to continue on that way. It’s a legacy I’m proud to leave.”

Joseph H. Weiss v. Albert Dattilo, Court of Common Pleas for Geauga County, Ohio, Case No. 01 M 0638

A-Best Products, Inc. v. Brian Dunbar, Court of Common Pleas for Cuyahoga County, Ohio

Ervin L. Smith v. Joseph P. Kearns, Jr., et al., Court of Common Pleas for Ashland County, Ohio, Case No. 05-CIV-273

Watson v. Chapin Logic Solutions, Inc. v. James Aussem, Brouse & McDowell, LPA, et al., Court of Common Pleas for Lorain County, Ohio, Case No. 06CV147451

Standards and Requirements for Class Certification:

Mel Murphy v. Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, Court of Common Pleas for Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Case No. CV 13 814862

About Ian Age: 55

Residence: Bainbridge Township

Undergraduate: Ohio University

Law School: Cleveland State University School of Law

What has been the most meaningful or defining moment of your legal career so far: Every day that’s been built upon the prior, which brings me to today.

How do you like to spend a rare free day: Taking a restful walk and looking at the scenery, whether it’s cityscape or nature, to get my mind aired.

Impact of Environmental Laws, Statutes and Regulations on Rights of Lower Riparian Property Owners:

Attorneys’ Fees in Complex or Class Action Litigation:

Bettis v. Ruetgers-Nease Chemical Corp., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Case No. 4:90-cv-0502

Estate of Carrie Sue Foster, Debtor v. Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Ohio, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Case No. 94-cv-52856

Brookover v. Flexmag Industries, Inc., Court of Common Pleas for Washington County, Ohio, Case No. 98 TR 277

Landis v. Grange Mutual Insurance Co., Court of Common Pleas for Erie County, Ohio, Case No. 88-CV-360

Eric Zagrans is an experienced trial and appellate advocate handling complex business, securities, corporate and professional liability cases and class actions as well as sophisticated business, commercial and real estate transactions. He has been involved in numerous “bet the company” litigation matters in over 35 federal and state courts nationwide involving the nancial services, accounting, capital markets, health care, legal, insurance, technology and manufacturing industries, among others. He has also served as an expert witness more than a dozen times.

Holman v. Keegan and West American Insurance Co., Court of Common Pleas for Erie County, Ohio, Case No. 97-CV-696

What’s your ultimate comfort food: New York-style pizza if I decide to cheat with my gluten allergy.

How do you stay connected to the Jewish community: I stay connected to my Jewish friends, I try to stay involved with the shul and I also operate a Jewish-based shooting club.

Is there a quote or mantra you try to live by: The greatest crime is wasted time.

What’s the best career advice you’ve ever been given: Find what is unique to me and use it to help sell my client’s position.

What’s one thing every client should know before hiring an attorney: They just really need to do their research to make sure that there is substance behind the superficial representations that can be made.

What Jewish value most influences how you approach your work: The pursuit of justice.

Michele Radzdrh, Guardian, etc. vs. Mary Ann Brown, Trustee of the William Brown Trust, et al., Lorain County Probate Court, Case No. 2005 PC 00022

Joseph L. Pikas v. The Williams Companies, Inc., et al., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Case No. 4:08-cv-0101-GKF-PJC

Eric H. Zagrans Managing Partner

1640 Roundwyck ln., Columbus, OH 43065 440-452-7100 • Eric@zagrans.com • Zagrans.com

William J Schumacher v. AK Steel Corporation etc., U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Case No. 1:09-cv-794-SB

Arthur Lavin, M.D. v. Jon Husted, etc., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Case No. 1:10-cv-01986-DCN-NAV and Case No. 1:10-cv-01986-BYP-NAV

Nathaniel Goldﬁnger

BakerHostetler

CASEY COUCH ccouch@cjn.org

Following a promotion, attorney Nathaniel Goldfinger began his new position as partner at BakerHostetler’s Cleveland office on Jan. 1, where he represents public and private companies and private equity firms on mergers and acquisitions, minority equity investments and general corporate matters.

Goldfinger, whose father is from Los Angeles and mother is from Chicago, said that his father’s work in health care as a pediatric anesthesiologist is what brought his family to eventually settle in Cleveland where he was raised. The Cleveland Jewish community played a “big part” in his upbringing, he said.

“We didn’t have strong connections to Cleveland before that, but I grew up here because of that job,” Goldfinger, 35, told the Cleveland Jewish News. “I went to Hebrew Academy of Cleveland for elementary school and my family went to Young Israel (of Greater Cleveland) on (South) Green Road

About Nathaniel

Age: 35

Residence: Shaker Heights

Undergraduate: The Ohio State University Law School: University of Chicago Law School

for synagogue, back when it was in a house and before they built the current building.”

After attending The Ohio State University in Columbus as a political science major, Goldfinger said his father and grandfather encouraged him to pursue law school, which he completed in 2015 at the University of Chicago before joining BakerHostetler as a full-time associate.

In 2019, Goldfinger moved to Miami for four years while his wife attended a Ph.D. program for clinical psychology at the University of Miami in Coral Gables. When she graduated, Goldfinger said that they were faced with a choice.

“A little over two years ago, when my wife finished her Ph.D. program and graduated, we got the opportunity to go anywhere we wanted, and we decided to move back to Cleveland,” Goldfinger, who still had family in Beachwood, said. “At that time, I called my old bosses and colleagues at BakerHostetler and they were kind enough to take me back.”

Now a resident of Shaker Heights with his wife and two children, Goldfinger said he enjoys

exploring Cleveland’s Metroparks with his family and taking in live music at Blossom Music Center. He is also excited, he shared, about the new opportunity to serve as partner at his firm.

“It means a lot to have the trust and confidence of the firm’s leadership and all my colleagues that honored me with the promotion,” Goldfinger said. “It feels good to have worked towards something over a number of years and achieving that.”

Through his practice, Goldfinger has gained experience working on acquisition financings, corporate credit facilities, venture and growth equity financings, general partner stakes transactions and financial advisory matters. He also represents domestic and international companies of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, and across all industries and business sectors.

Among his accomplishments, Goldfinger has been placed on The Best Lawyers in America Ones to Watch list in Ohio for corporate law from 2021 to 2026. He also serves on the board of Jewish Community Housing in affiliation with the Jewish Federation of Cleveland.

While he heads into his first year as partner at

BakerHostetler, Goldfinger said that he is greatly influenced by the Jewish value of treating others with respect – a value that he hopes will guide him through the daily trials of his position.

“It can’t be underestimated how our ability to communicate well with each other makes such a big difference in the workplace,” Goldfinger said, “and in life in general.”

What has been the most meaningful or defining moment of your legal career so far: Being elected partner at my firm, which was effective Jan. 1 of this year, was the most meaningful part of my career so far. It means a lot to have the trust and confidence of the firm’s leadership and all my colleagues that honored me with the promotion. It feels good to have worked toward something over a number of years and achieving that. How do you like to spend a rare free day: I have a two and a half year old daughter and a three month old son, and I like to take my daughter to different activities around town, like the trampoline park.

What’s something colleagues might be surprised to learn about you: A family trait is unicycling. My father and aunt do it and passed it along to me and my brother and a cousin or two when we were young. We used to ride our unicycles around the neighborhood. What’s your ultimate comfort food (Jewish or otherwise): My mom’s cooking. Growing up, everyone on the block knew that my mom made the best potato kugel. She still makes us – me, my wife and kids – food that she’ll come drop off on Thursdays or Fridays.

How do you stay connected to the Jewish community: I enjoy going to federation events, and last year I was asked to start serving on the board of Jewish Community Housing, which is an affiliate of the federation, and I’m looking forward to diving into that this year. My kids also go to the JCC childhood daycare program, so we’re at the J everyday.

Is there a quote or mantra you try to live by: I like the Ralph Waldo Emerson line, “To be great is to be misunderstood.” That resonates with me.

What’s the best career advice you’ve ever been given: To follow your interests – genuine curiosity and authenticity go a long way. Don’t try to fit a round peg into a square hole. What Jewish value most influences how you approach your work: To treat others well and to respect other people. I think a lot about making associates’ lives easier by letting them know when work isn’t urgent or forecasting deadlines for them. We have to work hard and late at times, but sharing as much information as we can about expectations with them is important, and that’s all based on the Jewish value of just treating other people well.

Andy Goldwasser

Ciano & Goldwasser, LLP

JIMMY OSWALD joswald@cjn.org

Lawyers are often referred to as sharks because the public can view them as ruthless and bloodthirsty, willing to strike the moment an opportunity presents itself.

But Andy Goldwasser, a founding partner of Ciano & Goldwasser, LLP, in Beachwood and downtown Cleveland, said he already sees the justice process as a hard undertaking for anyone to go through, especially if the victim has gone through a serious trauma.

That’s why Goldwasser hasn’t just built his career around representing those clients in cases involving catastrophic injuries, wrongful death and holds businesses and organizations responsible for failing to protect victims from violent crimes like sex abuse, sex trafficking and assault, but leads a private charitable foundation dedicated to supporting children and families, where he donates a portion of his attorney’s fees to fund private grants and meaningful community initiatives.

“I started representing victims of sexual assault 15 or 20 years ago,” Goldwasser told the Cleveland Jewish News. “What I discovered through the process is that it’s very difficult for a survivor to go through the legal process because it’s as if they’re being revictimized. But, there is such a feeling of exoneration when they’re done with the process because they finally feel as if their voice was heard and they’re no longer victims.”

Both Goldwasser’s father and brother went down the law route, but he studied to become a teacher. In between graduating from The University of Akron and starting his master’s program, he worked at a law firm. The experience left such an impact on him that he changed his path to focus on the practice of law.

“One of the things that I love about practicing law is that you’re always learning something new,” Goldwasser said. “Whatever type of matter that you’re handling, you end up having to become an expert in that field. In the area of law in which I practice, there is a feeling that I’m helping people and developing a connection with my clients. And

I love the entrepreneurial aspect of what I do: the ability to pick and choose what cases I want to handle. And then of course, working with a fantastic team at the law firm in which I am the managing partner.”

Goldwasser said it was “trial by error” early on in the process. One of his first cases involved a young girl who was deaf and was sexually assaulted on a school bus. He worked through the entire process and from there the more cases he handled, the more he grew as a lawyer.

“I’ve learned how important it is to really be somewhat of a specialist in that field because it takes such a unique set of communication when you’re talking to a victim of sexual assault as opposed to just a traditional injured client,” he said.

Goldwasser serves on the board of directors of Cleveland Rape Crisis Center and his partner, Phil Ciano, is on the board of the American Cancer Society.

“Our law firm is incredibly charitable,” Goldwasser said. “We believe in giving back to the

About Andy Age: 57

Residence: Solon

community. We have quarterly charitable initiatives at our firm where our lawyers and staff get to choose the charity of their choice, and then we as a firm contribute or participate in a charitable event. We do that four times a year as a firm, so it’s wonderful.”

Undergraduate: The University of Akron and The Ohio State University Law School: Cleveland State University School of Law

What has been the most meaningful or defining moment of your legal career so far: Trying a three-and-a-half week trial in the Eastern District of New York Federal court on behalf of a sexual assault victim.

How do you like to spend a rare free day: I like to spend the day on Lake Erie in Marblehead, Ohio, where we do a lot of boating.

What’s your ultimate comfort food: Pasta.

How do you stay connected to the Jewish community: I’m surrounded by a lot of Jewish friends and family, and we celebrate the Jewish holidays together.

Is there a quote or mantra you try to live by: Don’t let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision. That’s really important doing what I do as a lawyer. Another one that I try to follow is to remain calm and be kind. And the last one is get mad, then get over it. What’s the best career advice you’ve ever been given: Work hard. Don’t be afraid to do the things that you might feel are beneath you, because it is that foundation that will help build you up and build your career.

What’s one thing every client should know before hiring an attorney: Hire an attorney that they are comfortable with. Hiring a lawyer is like hiring a doctor. You better make sure that you’re comfortable with whoever you choose so that you can follow that person’s

and counsel.

Jennifer Gray

Jennifer L. Gray Law, LLC

ADRIANA GASIEWSKI agasiewski@cjn.org

From having conversations about her father’s work as a Shaker Heights police officer and other issues at the dinner table while growing up, Jennifer Gray, founder of Jennifer L. Gray Law, LLC, knew she wanted to be an attorney. After she received a voice scholarship from the Berklee College of Music in Boston and talked to her parents, she thought it best to pursue music business management and voice there.

Yet her lessons about the impromptu nature of jazz and performance prepared her to examine

About Jennifer

Age: 44

Residence: Ohio City

Undergraduate: Berklee College of Music

witnesses.

“Being cognizant about investigative techniques and sort of how you are presenting, how you’re presenting your evidence, how you are presenting yourself on stage and how you are presenting the things you prepared with your band,” she told the Cleveland Jewish News. “I think that no passion play is waste of effort ever.”

This “passion play” led her to being a student assistant district attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney’s office in 2006, while studying law school at Yeshiva University’s Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.

During her time as student assistant district

Law School: Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law of Yeshiva University

What has been the most meaningful or defining moment of your legal career so far: I represented a person on an OVI, an intoxicated driving allegation, and the police did not conduct a lawful stop of this person. And so, the judge actually wrote a pretty scathing decision after we held a hearing and I was able to cross-examine the officer, the highway patrolman on the stand. The prosecutor conceded that it was clear that the officer had a misunderstanding of what constituted crossing the fog line, which is the outer white line when you’re driving down the road – just a misunderstanding of the law.

How do you like to spend a rare free day: With my dog, Charles. I love to explore –the park system in the Nearwest is so great. We love to go back to, I think it’s called, the Red Line (Greenway) Park, over here in Ohio City, and explore over by the train tracks. We like to go to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and explore the trails over there.

What’s something colleagues might be surprised to learn about you: I really think that people, here in Cleveland, would honestly be surprised to know about my music background and the fact that I can sing jazz and the fact that I was a singer in the cabaret at Pickwick and Frolic. I’m like a hard-hitting Bronx DA, but I could really charm a crowd with a microphone.

What’s your ultimate comfort food (Jewish or otherwise): Natso fries from Yours Truly. No bacon. Extra sour cream.

How do you stay connected to the Jewish community: I’m connected to the Jewish community a lot through my mom and my aunt, Joan Rubinstein. And I am also in National Council of Jewish Women.

Is there a quote or mantras you try to live by: Keep calm and be efficient. What’s the best career advice you’ve ever been given: I think it’s that passion play. I think that’s pursue your passions, pursue your dreams and pursue what interests you, and the career will reveal itself to you, like your path on this career will reveal itself to you.

What’s one thing every client should know before hiring an attorney: I would say every client should know that they are entitled to communication and that their attorney owes them communication. Their attorney owes them honesty and effectiveness in terms of communicating what is happening.

What Jewish value most influences how you approach your work: I would say service to the community and the concept that but for the grace of God, go we, if we think we could not end up in the position of any of the people that I’m serving, of any of the clients that I’m having. And it is important to remember, with humility, we serve the community.

attorney, her passion for criminal justice and the justice system was born.

“I always felt like the Constitution needs to be defended and needs to be upheld, and so I really do focus very strongly on defending people,” Gray said.

After graduating law school, she worked in the Bronx District Attorney’s office for 12 years, handling cases pertaining to domestic violence, homicide, gangs, wire-tapping and long-term investigations.

Then in September 2022, she had the opportunity to return to downtown Cleveland and served as Magistrate Judge James E. Grimes’ law clerk.

Having been a lawyer in the Bronx, Gray said her homecoming was a bit challenging as she created relationships and built trust with judges and others in the Bronx’s legal system.

“To come to Cleveland, it’s been humbling and incredible, but it has been very new,” she said. “The system is very different here than it is in New York City, and so it’s been a journey.”

While making a reputation for herself as an attorney in Cleveland, Gray worked at Flannery Georgalis from July 2024 to July 2025 and as an attorney for Botnick Law Firm from July 2025 to

December 2025.

From these experiences, she realized her experiences gave her a unique edge as an attorney, so she decided to found Jennifer L. Gray, LLC.

“I really sort of love being able to work one-onone with clients and also be able to appear in court every day,” Gray said. “And when you work for a larger firm, you don’t necessarily get that hands-on, holistic experience.”

After creating her firm in December 2025, she looks forward to helping prospective clients.

Having family as congregants of B’nai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike and being a congregant of the former The Temple-Tifereth Israel while she was growing up, Gray incorporates the Jewish value of tikkun olam into her work, ensuring her clients form a trusted relationship with her, she said.

Riley Hardacre

Sleggs, Danzinger & Gill

Co., LPA

Sleggs, Danzinger & Gill Co., LPA

Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLC

care facilities, hotels or any other type of commercial property, the attorneys at Sleggs, Danzinger & Gill will ensure that you receive the best counsel, legal advice and litigation expertise. Here for you then... ...Here for you now

Reducing Real Property Tax Assessments Across The United States

We formed SDG in 2005. Since that time, we have assisted our clients in navigating the 2008 Financial Crisis, the

We love what we do. We have been there for you in the past and we will be here in the years ahead. We provide property tax counsel throughout Ohio and across the United States.

Whether the valuation relates to large industrial buildings,

ELLIE EVANS eevans@cjn.org

Fresh on the Cleveland law scene, Riley Hardacre joined Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLC in Cleveland as an associate in the health and medicine practice group in October 2025. Hardacre told the Cleveland Jewish News he wasn’t always 100% sure he wanted to be a lawyer, but he is now reaping the rewards, having already had some standout experiences in his short career.

Hardacre said even as he was getting through his undergraduate education at The Ohio State University in Columbus, he didn’t solidify his decision to go to law school until his sophomore year. But, having grown up the son of Lynn Lebit Hardacre, vice president and deputy general counsel of claims and litigation at University Hospitals in Cleveland, Hardacre said he drew inspiration from his mother as he narrowed his interests.

“My biggest inspiration is my mom, who has been an attorney my whole life,” Hardacre said. “Her father was also an attorney, and I never got to meet him, but I believe he’s one of the reasons she became a lawyer.”

Hardacre said “my mother, her father and all the people surrounding her” were the main influences that drew him to law, but that he was also fortunate to have mentors who gave him a glimpse of the profession’s ebb and flow while he was still in school.

Hardacre also said in her job, his mother always worked with doctors, which gave him “a lot of reverence” for the medical profession.

“Having the opportunity to work with doctors at all the Cleveland hospitals and medical practices I do is a privilege,” Hardacre said. “I enjoy defending them.”

As a law professional just getting his foot in the door, Hardacre said what helped him be successful in law school was “treating it like it was a job.” He said his advice to law students is to develop the kind of routine they can expect to need when the classroom becomes an office or a firm.

“Go from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or later,” Hardacre said. “Put in more hours than you’re required to.”

About Riley Age: 27

Residence: Lakewood

Undergraduate: The Ohio State University Law School: Cleveland State University College of Law

What has been the most meaningful or defining moment of your legal career so far: The mentorship opportunities I’ve had. I have gotten to be mentored by some very good judges and attorneys in Cleveland, and they have helped me get to where I am today and, hopefully, to go further.

How do you like to spend a rare free day: In the winter, I like to go to a concert or a Cleveland Browns game. In the summer, I like to go golfing and visit bars and restaurants around Cleveland.

What’s your ultimate comfort food (Jewish or otherwise): Chicken wings from The Tavern Company in Cleveland Heights What’s the best career advice you’ve ever been given: Be very attentive to detail, even if you’re in a rush, because the little things matter. Also, know your audience. What’s one thing every client should know before hiring an attorney: Their level of experience and their responsiveness. What Jewish value most influences how you approach your work: Honesty and self-accountability.

Todd W. Sleggs, Esq tsleggs@sdglegal.net

Robert K. Danzinger, Esq rdanzinger@sdglegal.net

Steven R. Gill, Esq sgill@sdglegal.net

820 West Superior Avenue, 7th Floor Cleveland, Ohio 44113 (216) 771-8990 www.sdglegal.net

Sleggs, Danzinger & Gill

He also said connections with other practicing lawyers are important, and making them in Cleveland is easier than many people think.

“Don’t be nervous to reach out and talk to people in the Cleveland legal community,” Hardacre said. “They want to help you. They want to support young lawyers.”

Hardacre said above all else, young lawyers should find ways to avoid becoming discouraged. He said his mentors, who were once in his shoes, have helped him envision a future where, through time and effort, he is confident in his ability to do the job.

“The beginning of everything is always hard,”

Hardacre said. “When you’re trying to gain a new skill set, you’re not going to be good at everything. Over time, you always figure it out.”

As Hardacre continues pushing toward the one-year mark of his time at Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLC, he said he just wants to keep learning.

“I’m looking forward to hopefully being a person who, when someone has a problem they need solved, they reach out to first,” he said.

Ari H. Jaffe

Kohrman Jackson & Krantz

ELLIE EVANS eevans@cjn.org

Ari H. Jaffe, of counsel at Kohrman Jackson Krantz in Cleveland, has been practicing law for 40 years, but has been serving his community in countless other ways even longer, boasting an extensive resume of volunteer and nonprofit experience predating his decision to go to law school.

“I started as a nonprofit volunteer as a sophomore in high school, making phone calls to other kids my age to raise money for the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s annual campaign,” Jaffe told the Cleveland Jewish News.

Jaffe said he remembers being 16 years old and sitting at the old Jewish Community Center on Mayfield Road in Cleveland Heights, making the same call three times before his intended recipient’s mother answered the phone. The woman, who

About Ari

Age: 65

Residence: University Heights

Undergraduate: Brandeis University

happened to be the wife of former U.S. Sen. Howard Metzenbaum, said, “My daughter isn’t here right now, but I know she wants to support this cause, so I’m comfortable renewing her pledge for this year on her behalf.”

Jaffe said that phone call was all it took to get him hooked on volunteering.

“I loved everything about that call,” Jaffe said. “I loved that a mother knew her daughter’s priorities, that a senator’s wife answered the phone, that the woman’s daughter was already engaged in the Jewish community as a young person and that I was surrounded by other Jewish volunteers.”

Since then, Jaffe said he has donated his time and efforts to over a dozen nonprofit organizations, including American Friends of Ogen, the Cleveland Hillel Foundation, Fuchs Mizrachi School, the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, Green Road Synagogue and the Wexner Foundation’s Wexner Heritage Program, to name just a few. He is also on his “second round

Law School: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What has been the most meaningful or defining moment of your legal career so far: I can’t say there’s a singular moment. I’ve been practicing law 40 years, and I find I’m able to learn new things and have new experiences every single day.

How do you like to spend a rare free day: With my family. I am very fortunate to have married my next-door neighbor, and we just celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary. We are blessed with three married children and seven grandchildren. Family is extremely important to us.

What’s something colleagues might be surprised to learn about you: I’m a pretty open book with my colleagues, so hopefully there are no surprises. One thing I’ve been focusing a great deal on recently is mentoring younger attorneys and working with as many of my colleagues as possible.

What’s your ultimate comfort food (Jewish or otherwise): Fish and chips at the “Shuk” (Mahaneh Yehuda Market) in Jerusalem.

How do you stay connected to the Jewish community: I attended Hebrew Academy of Cleveland, I married my neighbor in Shaker Heights and we have raised our family in Cleveland. We have been blessed beneficiaries of so many opportunities created by the Jewish institutions of Cleveland, including the schools, nursing homes, hospitals, social services programs, the JCC and so many others. I’ve had a lifelong connection to Cleveland and the Jewish community with a lot of engagement and involvement.

Is there a quote or mantra you try to live by: “One for the other guy,” - Harry Chapin; “The end of the thing is better than the beginning” - Kohelet.

What’s the best career advice you’ve ever been given: Practicing law is a public service. We have a responsibility as lawyers, not only to our clients, but also to the court, to the legal structure of the United States and even to opposing counsel. Recognizing it is a profession with fiduciary duties to best serve the interests of our clients is extremely important.

What’s one thing every client should know before hiring an attorney: We don’t have a crystal ball. We can’t make any guarantees, and we can’t fix everything. But if we share information, client to lawyer and lawyer to client, and if we’re honest and candid with judges and parties on the other side, we can achieve amazing things. Collaboration is key. What Jewish value most influences how you approach your work: My view of the practice of law is it is a responsibility to be of service. Lawyers have the benefit of good education, and the privilege of having a license to practice law in one or multiple states, or in Israel. We therefore have a responsibility to use our education to serve the world. The practice of law and engagement in nonprofit work are both making the world a better place.

of membership” on the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company’s Board of Directors.

“I learned about volunteerism from my parents, who were very active in the Cleveland Jewish community,” Jaffe said. “I grew up knowing that playing an active role in the Jewish community was just as important as giving tzedakah, or as any other mitzvah in Judaism.”

While it may seem like a lot to juggle alongside a career in law, Jaffe said in his eyes, practicing law and working for nonprofits are “very similar,” which he learned while participating in a civil practice clinic as a student at Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Jaffe said collaboration is most important to him, both as a lawyer and as a volunteer.

“What you learn both as a lawyer and as a volunteer is there’s the role of the individual, and then of coordinating like-minded individuals to do bigger and more effective things,” Jaffe said. “This coordination is the most challenging part of each process, but it’s also the most fun.”

Jaffe said he is working with Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., to build its first Hillel building on campus, and also with Green Road Synagogue in

Beachwood on expanding the roles of its volunteers and staff. Overall, though, he said he “just wants to continue to serve.”

“My biggest goal is to have the time, energy and health to continue serving our wonderful Jewish community,” Jaffe said.

Publisher’s Note: Ari H. Ja e is a member of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company board of directors.

Representing the injured and their families for over 55 years

David Steiger

The lawyers at Karp Steiger have been representing injured individuals throughout Ohio for over 55 years. The mission of the ﬁrm has been consistent from day one: to pursue justice for injury victims and those who get hurt at work with care and tenacity. We are fully committed to providing a comfortable environment for our clients, through 24-7 direct attorney support, 365 days a year. Since 1969 Karp Steiger has been leveling the playing ﬁeld against insurance companies, employers, and the State of Ohio through knowledgeable and laser focused representation.

Rachel Kabb-Effron

The Kabb Law Firm

ADRIANA GASIEWSKI agasiewski@cjn.org

Growing up, Rachel Kabb-Effron, elder law attorney and owner of The Kabb Law Firm in Beachwood, often negotiated with her family, making following in her father’s shoes to become an attorney a natural fit. Her father, Kenneth S. Kabb, struggled determining what nursing home would provide the best care to his mother, causing him to look into elder law to prevent his mother from experiencing mistreatment.

As her grandmother aged and her father started looking for a nursing home for her grandmother, one day he brought home a brochure for an elder law seminar, which got Kabb-Effron’s attention.

“I really loved older people, and my grandma had been really important to me and the fact that my dad was so smart and couldn’t figure that whole situation out,” she told the Cleveland Jewish News. “I really decided at that point I would go into that and went to one of the seminars that were being

held by one of these brochures and I decided that was totally for me.”

From practicing elder law, Kabb-Effron said she enjoys helping families who are in complete crisis be able to find peace.

“I have a lot of clients where they come into the conference room and then they leave like literally able to breathe again,” she said. “And so, for me, any day that happens, which is most, I feel like, ‘Wow, I had some knowledge that helped them find some peace.’”

In addition to owning her own firm for nearly 28 years, Kabb-Effron has served on committees and has been active a number of local and national organizations.

This includes being a part of the Jewish community housing committee of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, former president of the Ohio chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, member of the Ohio and Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Associations and member of the William K. Thomas American Inn of Court.

Since September 2014, she has taught as an adjunct professor at her law school alma mater, Cleveland State University College of Law.

To balance these commitments, Kabb-Effron chooses to take on obligations that bring her joy or enable her to give back.

“I think it’s important to teach people what you know, and whether that’s continuing legal education or community groups,” she said.

Since her daughter, Trudie Effron, passed the bar exam in November 2025, Kabb-Effron is looking forward to mentoring her and working alongside her, having three generations of attorneys at her office.

“My dad is 86 years old; he’s been practicing since 1969. So, he and I have always practiced sort of next to each other, like he’s of counsel,” she said.

“Having the three of us in the office, to run things by each other has been really great.”

About Rachel

Age: 52

Residence: Woodmere

Undergraduate: University of Cincinnati

Law School: Cleveland State University College of Law

What has been the most meaningful or defining moment of your legal career so far: Right now, it’s the fact that my daughter is working with me and so being able to teach her the things that I know and to help her become an entrepreneurial lawyer.

How do you like to spend a rare free day: I’m on the board of this choir, and I sing with a choir. I love doing improv at the Imposters Theater. I love just sailing.

What’s something colleagues might be surprised to learn about you: I love stand-up comedy like I’ve done it. I love Broadway like I’ve gone for like lots of shows in New York. I did go to a Broadway camp for a few years, so I just love being involved in anything performance related.

What’s your ultimate comfort food (Jewish or otherwise): Chicken noodle soup that’s probably the biggest one, but anything with noodles, like pasta.

How do you stay connected to the Jewish community: We’re members of Park Synagogue. My husband is on the board of Hillel Kent, so we go to a lot of Shabbat dinners out there because my daughter’s there. ... I’m on the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s community housing committee, so I try to give back where I can. But I also work with Jewish organizations whenever I can, like Jewish Family Services.

Is there a quote or mantra you try to live by: My dad always said, ‘Don’t put an asterisk next to your name,’ and, for me, that means like don’t be someone that someone’s going to remember you because you were not nice.

What’s the best career advice you’ve ever been given: Again, things my dad would say, but it’s if you can make money for someone else, you can make money for yourself. And if you can’t make money for someone else, you’re not going to be successful. Basically, the main thing is if you could make money for someone, you can do it for you. So, you shouldn’t just sell yourself short.

What’s one thing every client should know before hiring an attorney: The lawyer went to school a lot longer and knows things that you don’t know, so don’t go in assuming that you’re telling the lawyer what you need. Listen to the lawyer and ask good questions, but don’t assume that you know everything.

What Jewish value most influences how you approach your work: I have to say tikkun olam, like you’re trying to make the world a better place and whether that’s for one person because they’re in a really stressful place or whether it’s a whole community making a nursing home better by checking on things or being an advocate. Either way, you’re making the world a much better place.

Matthew F. Kadish

Frantz Ward LLP

ELLIE EVANS eevans@cjn.org

Tired of watching big businesses get all the attention, Matthew F. Kadish, partner at Frantz Ward LLP in Cleveland, joined a group of other professional advisers in the Small Business Council of America to try to “champion issues” affecting their small business clients within the realm of taxes, estate planning, health care and benefits. As the council’s current president, Kadish told the Cleveland Jewish News they have had some “astonishing successes.”

“We go out mostly on our own time,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot about how Washington, D.C., really works.”

With his practical knowledge of D.C.’s “nuts and bolts,” Kadish has taken to speaking publicly in Cleveland and elsewhere with a goal to educate – to help people learn how they can “get active and

About Matthew

Age: 63

Residence: Hudson

Undergraduate: Williams College

make a difference,” he said.

“People really don’t understand why laws are made, and what’s really going on,” Kadish said. “I’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback about (my public speaking) being meaningful.”

Kadish said he hasn’t been a stranger to the world of public speaking for some time now, and that it’s taught him the importance of continuing to learn in all aspects of life, even when there are no more final exams to take.

“If you’re going to get in front of a bunch of people (to speak), some of whom might actually know what they’re doing, you’re too scared to remain ignorant,” Kadish said. “So you become an expert on your speech’s topic.”

Kadish said the same goes for being an attorney –if you’re not developing a portfolio that will help you to “eventually know something,” then you’re “stuck just doing what clients want you to do.”

Kadish said over the years, public speaking has

Law School: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What has been the most meaningful or defining moment of your legal career so far: Getting to work with and learn from my father; I think a good part of the reason I got into the practice of law was to find a way to connect with and understand him better, and vice versa. It was common grounds, something to talk about and do together. How do you like to spend a rare free day: Playing guitar

What’s something colleagues might be surprised to learn about you: I first practiced law in Hawaii; I also studied in France and am fluent in French. I am the head of a national small business lobbying group. . . . I think many of my colleagues know some of these things; I try to be transparent.

What’s your ultimate comfort food (Jewish or otherwise): A sausage galette or Mitchell’s Bing cherry chocolate chunk ice cream

How do you stay connected to the Jewish community: I’m the head of the Donor Advised Funds Committee at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland; my involvement in their Endowment Committee, in particular, has given me a real window into a lot of the great work they do.

What’s the best career advice you’ve ever been given: The most valuable time is your non-billable time. You get the most out of it.

What’s one thing every client should know before hiring an attorney: Always get a referral to ensure suitability and responsiveness; you need somebody who understands you as a potential client and has a connection to the lawyer.

opened him up to great opportunities, like when he testified on C-SPAN and in person before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee in 2007.

“I’m not afraid of cameras,” Kadish said. “And I’m not afraid of people. It’s a chance to connect.”

When Kadish received a career recognition award from the Estate Planning Council of Cleveland at 48 years old, he said he felt a bit more “awkward” and “deflated” than he could have anticipated.

“(The award) felt like something you get at the end of your career,” Kadish said. “I asked myself, ‘What happens if this is the peak? What do I do then?’”

Kadish said he found solace in the message of a commencement speech given by writer Neil Gaiman.

“When you get to a high point in your career or life, take a moment to be grateful for it,” Kadish said, summarizing the speech. “It’s not always about what you have left to accomplish; sometimes, it’s just about being grateful for what you have done, and for getting to know the people you know.”

Kadish said he feels he is “so far into the bonus round” of his career, and is at a stage where he just aims to continue making a difference.

“I enjoy what I do,” Kadish said. “I’m happy to help good people.”

Joshua Klarfeld

Ice Miller CASEY COUCH ccouch@cjn.org

“My mother likes to say that I’ve been litigating cases since I was about 2 years old,” Joshua Klarfeld, a litigator at Ice Miller in Cleveland, told the Cleveland Jewish News when asked when he first got involved in practicing law. “In the first case that I ever won, my mother was the prosecutor and the judge.”

After getting in trouble for crossing the street by himself, Klarfeld was sent to his room. Later, he appealed to his father, who rejected his plea. While the family jury may still be in deliberation on who the guilty party was in that story, Klarfeld said that his childhood antics certainly foreshadowed his future career in law.

“I really got involved in the law because I loved arguing,” Klarfeld said. “I like the reading, analytical thinking and the strategy involved with it, so it seemed like a good role for me.”

As a litigator, Klarfeld’s practice focuses primarily on business disputes and complex litigation, in addition to defense for manufacturers

and distributors in product liability litigation, such as the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. Whether in the context of multidistrict or mass tort litigation or in individual cases, Klarfeld has routinely served as a member of litigation teams in high-profile cases.

In April 2025, Ice Miller opened a newly relocated Cleveland office and offered Klarfeld the opportunity to take on a leadership role as office managing partner – a role that he said was never a specific goal of his, but a position that he is grateful to hold.

“My goal is to practice law at as high a level as possible and do a great job for my clients,” Klarfeld said. “In terms of having a leadership role, the opportunity was presented to me and I’ve really enjoyed it.”

While Ice Miller’s Cleveland office is not quite a year old, Klarfeld said that operations have been going great and that the relocation process has been “about as seamless as a relocation could be” with the firm’s support.

Alongside his promotion, Klarfeld’s recent accomplishments include being named on The Best Lawyers in America for product liability litigation –

defendants from 2021 to 2023 and for commercial litigation in 2025 and 2026. He has also appeared in Ohio Super Lawyers from 2014 to 2026, among other recognitions.

According to Klarfeld, much of his non-billable time that he spends practicing law is dedicated to assisting Jewish organizations and causes, including advocating as counsel for a group of amici in the U.S. Supreme Court and in the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals and working on aguna and cremation matters.

While he admits that he doesn’t have much downtime, Klarfeld said that he enjoys reading and, when given a chance for a getaway, enjoys traveling to Israel to visit family.

About Joshua Age: 45

Residence: Beachwood

Undergraduate: Yeshiva University

Law School: Cleveland State University College of Law

What has been the most meaningful or defining moment of your legal career so far: The day two of my clients were placed with foster families in the Jewish community and were spared from out-ofstate adoptions.

What’s something colleagues might be surprised to learn about you: There is a trial transcript floating around where I got a witness to testify on crossexamination that I could make it in the NBA - note that I’m 5-feet-1-inch and not particularly athletic. What’s your ultimate comfort food (Jewish or otherwise): Pizza.

How do you stay connected to the Jewish community: Being part of the Jewish community has always been a big part of my life. I’m a member of two shuls, my kids go to Jewish schools, I was the gabbai of one of my shuls for 14 years, and I am a legal liaison for the Cleveland Bais Din. Much of my pro bono time is also spent on Jewish communal issues, which has included advocating for Jewish organizations (as counsel for a group of amici) in the U.S. Supreme Court and in the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals and working on aguna and cremation matters.

Is there a quote or mantra you try to live by: “Write like you’re running out of time,” from “Hamilton.” What’s the best career advice you’ve ever been given: Don’t become an economist. You don’t know anything about economics. - My father-in-law.

Sarah Kolick

Minc Law

ADRIANA GASIEWSKI agasiewski@cjn.org

After interning at the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center in Washington, D.C., from August 2020 to May 2021, Sarah Kolick realized she didn’t want to be a traditional attorney.

During her internship, Kolick found it most rewarding when representing low-income domestic violence and elder abuse victims – those who “need more support that legal aid could not offer.” This prompted her to turn to Minc Law in February 2024 to represent those who have been affected by revenge porn and child pornography.

“I was asked if I was comfortable looking at ‘not safe for work’ content in the office. I said, ‘Sure, I’ve seen clients that have been maimed and brutalized by partners, so porn won’t bother me,’” she said. Kolick, an attorney and self-labeled “porn

lawyer,” said her work aligns with her passion to advocate for those who have experienced sexual exploitation and domestic abuse, except now her career has taken her into the digital realm.

With the different environment, comes a different set of challenges for these cases including consent to these images being shared online and privacy.

“For my generation, it’s standard to send pictures to folks,” Kolick said. “People trust that their partner is going to keep those pictures private. So, when that trust is violated and a partner posts an intimate photo without consent, it’s very traumatizing.”

Kolick said it’s not always partners sharing these intimate photos, but also hackers.

As a result of these photos being shared, she said these individuals often receive harassing calls, accusations of engaging in sex work and experience sexual harassment.

“Explaining that harm to people, especially people of an older generation can be challenging at times, and even explaining it to a judge that, ‘Yes, my client consented to sending pictures to one person, but not the entire world,’ can oppose challenges, too,” Kolick said.

Kolick works with her clients to remove those photos from the internet, negotiate settlements and file lawsuits to hold the people who posted those pictures accountable.

Sometimes these cases involve suing John Does, which requires Kolick to issue subpoenas to help identify the individual.

She is a congregant of B’nai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike and her faith often encourages her to continue her work.

Believing that everyone is created in the image and likeness of God, Kolick is motivated to preventing her clients from feeling further

“dehumanized” from websites selling their images.

“Their body isn’t for our consumption or entertainment, they’re a living human being with feelings that were created in divine image,” she said.

About Sarah

Age: 28

Residence: Westlake

Undergraduate: Smith College

Law School: The George Washington School of Law

What has been the most meaningful or defining moment of your legal career so far: It’s being able to hear clients express gratitude in a sense of safety that they haven’t felt before that gives my work meaning.

How do you like to spend a rare free day: You can see me playing my harp or at a protest, standing up against tyranny in the U.S.

What’s something colleagues might be surprised to learn about you: A lot of people are surprised with how religiously observant I am. Just given the nature of my work being a porn (revenge porn and child pornography) attorney who is very left leaning in my political activism. People are surprised that I try to be observant. I attend daily minyan. I try to regularly attend Shabbat services that tends to take people by surprise.

What’s your ultimate comfort food: I’ll always go for a homemade gnocchi.

How do you stay connected to the Jewish community: I daven at the B’nai Jeshurun Congregation in the morning minyan almost every morning.

Is there a quote or mantra you try to live by: Don’t let the bastards grind you down.

What’s the best career advice you’ve ever been given: Not to take advice from other attorneys.

What’s one thing every client should know before hiring an attorney: I would encourage clients to always question their attorneys, to do their own research, to be engaged in their case and to know their rights. They deserve to be treated with respect and involvement in all stages of their case. What Jewish value most influences how you approach your work: That we’re all created in the image and likeness of God.

Rebecca Kopp Levine

Porter Wright Morris and Arthur LLP

ADRIANA

GASIEWSKI agasiewski@cjn.org

When Rebecca Kopp Levine, partner at Porter Wright Morris and Arthur LLC in Cleveland and workplace safety group chair, studied chemical engineering at Purdue University, she realized she would not be fulfilled as an engineer. This prompted her to switch career paths and pursue law school. While in law school, Kopp Levine recognized how her engineering background, with its focus on logic, helped prepare her to make the transition to pursue being an attorney.

“The great thing about engineering is that it teaches you how to think and process, and it’s very logic-based, which is also similar to the practice of law,” she said.

While working in worker’s compensation cases, Kopp Levine has noticed how her knowledge of manufacturing workplaces helped her understand clients’ cases better.

“Often times, my clients may have, in a manufacturing environment, they may have engineering degrees,” she said. “When they understand that I also have an engineering degree,

they take my advice maybe more willing than if it wasn’t coming from somebody they knew understood the mechanics of how things operate.”

Creating trust with her clients has become a driving force in her practice as she has found it rewarding to get to know them.

While reflecting on a fraud case she worked on, Kopp Levine shared how she visited the homes of key witnesses, trying to convince them to testify, and looked at their family photos to ensure that they were comfortable with her.

“It had the personal element of just having met really good people who knew that what mattered was to do the right and to be able to look at themselves in the mirror, even though they didn’t have any skin in the game,” she said.

In addition to her work, Kopp Levine also looks to inspire the next generation of legal leaders, especially women as she described the workers’ compensation field as being male dominated.

To do so, she is the state ambassador for the Alliance of Women in Workers’ Compensation and organizes programs to help other women in worker’s compensation network and gain skills.

She also mentors a law student through the

Leadership Council on Legal Diversity program.

For her practice, Kopp Levine said it’s important, to her, to prioritize knowing the culture of her clients to provide them with tailored advice.

“Truly be a strategic partner, not just somebody who’s just handling one incident or responding to one incident,” she said. “But really be a strategic partner to help create a safe workplace.”

About Rebecca Age: 50

Residence: Westlake

Undergraduate: Purdue University

Law School: Temple University Beasley School of Law

What has been the most meaningful or defining moment of your legal career so far: We had a case that was a fraud case, and I was able to locate key witnesses, and go and visit them in their homes and convince them to testify in trial. And we won the case and we were able to prove that there was workers’ comp fraud. I think that was the most meaningful in that I got to meet really interesting people who’s only concern was doing the right thing, even though they weren’t a party to the case.

How do you like to spend a rare free day: They are rare. I enjoy going to see Broadway shows, I enjoy riding my bike, spending time with my son and my husband, reading.

What’s something colleagues might be surprised to learn about you: I have stood on the launch pad of the space shuttle. It was pre-9/11. Ohio used to have this program through the state where the governor would select the 50 best science students in the state and sent us on a trip to Florida where we went behind the scenes at Kennedy Space Center and EPCOT and Sea World. So, in that behind-the-scenes tour, we got to stand on the launch pad of a space shuttle, which was super cool and maybe the coolest experience I’ve ever had.

What’s your ultimate comfort food (Jewish or otherwise): Ice cream.

How do you stay connected to the Jewish community: We belong to Suburban Temple-Kol Ami, and my son is in Hebrew school there. So, that’s probably our main connection right now, going to events and being involved with the temple. We also belong to the West Side Chabad and jHub. Is there a quote or mantra you try to live by: Be the change you wish to see in the world. What’s the best career advice you’ve ever been given: I think the best career advice I was ever given was to have a plan, and to map out what I wanted to happen and how to make it happen and have concrete steps to be taken. But it definitely requires having a champion or a mentor and enlisting other people to help support your career growth.

What’s one thing every client should know before hiring an attorney: I think they should come with an open mind, be prepared to listen and engage. Because lawyers can provide advice, but if it’s not followed, it’s not worth as much.

What Jewish value most influences how you approach your work: I think we overall have a responsibility to help others.

Franklin Malemud

McDonald Hopkins LLC

CASEY COUCH ccouch@cjn.org

For Franklin Malemud, a member of the litigation department at McDonald Hopkins in Cleveland and Columbus, the decision to go to law school was not unexpected.

“At an early age, I succeeded with powers of persuasion, and that led me to want to go to law school to become a trial attorney,” he told the Cleveland Jewish News.

As the chair of the trust and estate litigation practice group, Malemud focuses on disputes and problem solving involving family wealth transfer, wills, trusts, guardianship, conservatorship, powers of attorney and living wills.

Additionally, he has experience in professional liability defense litigation focused on lawyer negligence.

“My practice focuses primarily on handling inheritance claim disputes and all matters of litigation that take place in the probate courts,” Malemud said.

A Solon resident, Malemud obtained his undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University and earned his Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

With many recognitions, Malemud has been listed in Best Lawyers in America for Lawyer of The Year in Cleveland in 2021, 2023, 2025 and 2026 for litigation –trusts and estates.

Additionally, he was featured in Crain’s Cleveland Business notable litigators and trial attorneys in 2025 and was selected for inclusion in Ohio Super Lawyers for Top 100: Ohio Super Lawyers from 2023 through 2026 and Top 50: Cleveland Super Lawyers from 2023 through 2026.

Through his community involvement, Malemud, a congregant of Kol HaLev, said he strives to portray the value of tikkun olam by serving on the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Professional Advisory Council steering committee.

According to Malemud, a defining moment of his legal career was assisting in the creation of a new law in Ohio that has since been adopted by courts and through statute. In his winning case,

Malemud’s client, a bank, handed over trust assets to a beneficiary. The family sued the bank, after accepting the money from the bank, forcing the bank to front the attorney fees and expenses to defend themselves. Typically, these fees are paid out of the trust period, which were already turned over to the beneficiaries.

“We ended up winning the case, where the judge said, ‘Yeah, that’s not fair. The beneficiaries owe the trustee the money for their legal fees,’” Malemud said.

At McDonald Hopkins, founded in 1930, Malemud is part of a team of over 270 attorneys, paralegals and professionals in six primarily midwestern cities.

About Franklin Age: 53

Residence: Solon

Undergraduate: The Ohio State University Law School: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What has been the most meaningful or defining moment of your legal career so far: Helping make new law in Ohio that has been adopted by courts and through statute.

How do you like to spend a rare free day:

Outdoor hiking with my kids.

What’s something colleagues might be surprised to learn about you: I have a deep knowledge of soul and funk music and was a soul and funk and rare groove

DJ on WRUW FM for 15 years.

What’s your ultimate comfort food (Jewish or otherwise): Chicken wings

How do you stay connected to the Jewish community: Through my peer groups and their various connections to the community, as well as my synagogue Kol HaLev.

Is there a quote or mantra you try to live by: Have a good time, all the time. (In memory of Marty DiBergi)

What is the best career advice you’d ever been given: It’s not that big of a legal community, people have long memories. What Jewish value most influences how you approach your work: Tikkun olam.

From Vision To Value.

Kathy M. Poldneff

UB Greensfelder LLP

BECKY RASPE braspe@cjn.org

As someone who self-identifies as an introvert, Kathy M. Poldneff realized early in her law career that the conflict in litigation “wasn’t hers.” The idea of confrontation – both in and out of

About Kathy

Age: 46

Residence: Broadview Heights

Undergraduate: Vanderbilt University

Law school: New York University School of Law

the courtroom – didn’t come naturally at first, she told the Cleveland Jewish News.

“When you’re younger, that can be quite hard,” she said. “But what I have found is as you get older and you’ve done this for a while, and as you age in general, it is just a lot easier to become more comfortable with it. You become a lot less

What has been the most meaningful or defining moment of your legal career so far: I don’t judge my career in terms of outcomes of cases, but my most significant one happened recently. It was a higher profile, stressful case and we obtained an over $300 million judgment for our client. It was confirmed in federal court in New York. It’s more significant because of the amount of money, as well as how long and complicated the case was. But also, our clients were seriously good people and they were wronged. They had been litigating for many, many years. So, I think you’re always happy when justice is served and the good guys win and you can be part of it. How do you like to spend a rare free day: Hiking outside with my dog, Bentley, and my parents’ dog, Belle, in the national park. They’re best friends. I also like spending time with friends and family, and reading.

What’s something colleagues might be surprised to learn about you: When I was younger, I practiced karate for many years and earned a black belt. I’ve also been skydiving – and did it from the highest altitude they allow you to go.

What’s your ultimate comfort food: Fresh pasta.

How do you stay so connected to the Jewish community: Mostly through gatherings for holidays with friends and family.

Is there a quote or mantra you try to live by: What’s really resonated with me over the past 10 years is you never know what someone is going through. Everyone is dealing with something all of the time. I don’t always do this, but I try. It never costs you to be kind if you can and to give someone else the benefit of the doubt.

What’s the best career advice you’ve ever been given: Someone once told me to not put limitations on yourself, and that you’re capable of more than you know.

What’s one thing every client should know before hiring an attorney: My contracts professor in law school used to say this: Litigation is costly and time consuming. Everyone should be aware of that before they hire someone, especially a litigator.

What Jewish values most influences how you approach your work: Justice, in itself, is a Jewish value. Within that, pursuing fairness and equality. There is a lot of that in our job.

concerned with what people think about you and how they see you if you’re taking a hard line on something.”

Over time, Poldneff said her perspective shifted. She learned a litigator’s role is not to stand in opposition, but to step in on behalf of someone else. After that, her work shifted from personal conflict to problem-solving, advocacy and clarity.

“You’re helping negotiate someone else’s conflict,” Poldneff, a partner at UB Greensfelder in Cleveland, said. “Your client has a conflict with someone, and you’re stepping in to try and negotiate that conflict for them so they don’t have to do it themselves. Once you change your thinking and look at it from that perspective, for me, it’s a lot less stressful and daunting. It’s not your conflict. Your job is to help resolve it.”

Poldneff is an experienced litigator, first with Kaufman & Company in 2011 until it merged with Ulmer & Berne LLP in 2020. In February 2024, Ulmer & Berne merged with St. Louis-based Greensfelder Hemker & Gale PC to create UB Greensfelder.

Promoted to partner in 2021, she focuses on complex commercial litigation and professional liability matters, including commercial contract disputes, trade secrets and non-compete agreements, professional liability disputes, the False Claims Act, pharmaceutical pricing, fraud and breach of fiduciary duty in the health care receivables industry, and defamation.

“I made the decision to become a lawyer back in college,” she said. “I think you start to look at what you like to do and what your skillset is. I was an English and communications major, and realized late in college that writing and language were my strengths. So, becoming a lawyer and advocate became a very obvious way to utilize those strengths in a career.”

The daughter of Russian Jewish immigrants,

Poldneff said the importance of education and hard work became clear from a young age. She is associated with Temple Israel in Akron.

“You have to take the time to educate yourself, and then you learn everything you can (about something),” she said. “You have to work hard every day for your clients because this is something that really matters to them.”

While she doesn’t typically judge her career by case outcomes, Poldneff recalled a recent result in a “higher profile, stressful case,” where she achieved an over $300M judgment for a client. Cases like that, she said, reinforce a detail-oriented approach.

“Any time you have something like that, it can feel really, really overwhelming,” she said. “But the way you deal with it is the way you have to deal with everything else. You put your head down, get the work done and know you’re doing this for someone else. It is your responsibility to do that. From a more granular perspective, you have to break it down into much smaller parts. Create a plan for everything that needs to be done. You have to be organized and break it up into manageable parts. Just take one (part) and start there.”

Heidi Gorovitz Robertson

Cleveland State University College of Law

BECKY RASPE braspe@cjn.org

As Heidi Gorovitz Robertson wandered through the fields outside London with her children while she was teaching at the University of Westminster in London, a simple turnstile sparked her interest.

Their guide described a new law allowing walkers to roam freely across private land, Robertson told the Cleveland Jewish News.

“Much to the embarrassment of the kids,” she stopped their guide in his tracks, she said.

“‘Wait,’” she recalled saying. “‘Your legislature just used their legislative power to take away landowners’ rights to exclude non-owners, and everyone is OK with that?’ I dug deeper into legislation.”

Later, her husband’s Swedish cousin visited them in London, sharing with him the “crazy idea” she was learning about. Robertson said he shrugged, saying it was similar in Sweden – that people can walk or even camp on other people’s land without permission.

“American mind blown,” Robertson said. “I’ve been interested in the rights of access ever since and have written several articles about it.”

Now the Steven W. Percy Professor of Law and Environmental Studies at Cleveland State University College of Law, Robertson has spent decades exploring questions of who bears environmental risk, who has access to land and how law shapes the way communities interact with the spaces around them, both at home in Ohio and abroad.

But her path to environmental law wasn’t exactly straight, Robertson said.

“I taught social studies to seventh and eighth graders when I was just out of college and I was interested in legal issues pertaining to children,” she said. “Then, in law school, I took a great environmental law course.”

Taught by two adjunct professors who, at the time, were opposing each other in a case before the Supreme Court of Wisconsin, “they were wonderful in class together, often presenting opposing views or perspectives,” she said. By the end of the semester, one of them asked her to come work for him at the Wisconsin Department of Justice, helping to write the Petition for Certiorari of the same case, Wisconsin v. Mortimer, which was ultimately heard at the U.S. Supreme Court, she said.

“I definitely developed some interest there,” she said, going on to intern as a summer associate at what is now Pillsbury Winthrop in San Francisco in

the environmental, health and safety law practice group.

Learning “a ton” in San Francisco, including working on transit expansions for the Bay Area Rapid Transit and on issues at the San Francisco International Airport, Robertson said those experiences were “incredible.”

“Honestly, many people leave big law practice because they are unhappy or working too hard,” she said. “That was not at all the case for me. ... I am a teacher and a writer at heart. The move to academia was more like a positive choice to do something different.”

Robertson said much of her Jewish heritage is directly related to her career.

“Environmental law is like a version of tikkun olam – our duty to make the world a better place,” she said. “I hope that my role in training new lawyers and writing about environmental issues is playing my part.”

Looking back on her career so far, Robertson said there is a clear through line – teaching and learning.

“Even as a brand new lawyer, I was the one writing case summaries and analyses for the California Environmental Reporter and teaching CLE’s (Continuing Legal Education) for client groups,” she said. “That love of teaching, learning (and) writing is what led me to branch away from law practice for myself and towards preparing others for rewarding careers.”

About Heidi

Age: 61

Residence: Cleveland Heights

Undergraduate: Tufts University

Law School: University of Wisconsin Law School, Columbia Law School

What has been the most meaningful or defining moment of your legal career so far: Although I practiced law for several years, as a teacher, the most meaningful moments are when my students really understand a concept for the first time, and when they succeed in the real world.

How do you like to spend a rare free day: I love to spend time with my husband and grown children, our dog, plants, birds, etc. If I could ever learn to play the guitar or banjo, I’d be doing that, too.

What’s something colleagues might be surprised to learn about you: I’m a Bruce Springsteen fanatic. I was on my college sailing team. I spent most of my time in my first couple of decades in ballet studios, rehearsals, and performances.

What’s your ultimate comfort food (Jewish or otherwise): If I’m sick, hot and sour soup, or any flavor of Mitchell’s Ice Cream – which is the best ever, anywhere. I also, of course, love potato latkes, brisket and hamentaschen (especially when made with my kids).

How do you stay connected to the Jewish community: We love our congregation, Kol HaLev, and our rabbi, Rabbi Steve Segar.

Is there a quote or mantra you try to live by: Polite, positive, persistence pays.

What’s the best career advice you’ve ever been given: Be yourself and do your best.

What’s one thing every client should know before hiring an attorney: I think it’s important to understand who your attorney is and what motivates them.

What Jewish value most influences how you approach your work: The Jewish importance of education has always been important to me and to my family and to how we raised our children. And, of course, it’s important to me everyday as I teach my students. 34305

E: kate@katewilliamslaw.com www.katewilliamslaw.com

Scott Rumizen

Rumizen Weisman Attorneys

JIMMY OSWALD joswald@cjn.org

Scott Rumizen remembers sitting around the dinner table, a home-cooked meal served on the plate in front of him, and listening intently to his father’s work stories.

Law is in the Rumizen blood. Arthur Rumizen, Scott’s father, was a lawyer. Arthur’s father was an attorney as well and Scott’s sister, Lori Friedman, is too as she practices as an attorney in Shaker Heights.

“I watched my dad try cases when he was a young lawyer, and I was interested just by watching how the legal system worked,” Rumizen told the Cleveland Jewish News. “He did not push me to be a lawyer, he really left it up to me. I soon realized it was what I wanted to do.”

Rumizen was raised in Buffalo, N.Y., and went to college at The Ohio State University in Columbus. Similar to his father and grandfather, by his senior year he had chosen to go down a similar path and help those who had been wrongfully injured in an incident out of their control.

Rumizen graduated from The University

of Toledo College of Law in 1991 and moved to Cleveland, where he got his start as a law clerk at what was then Weisman Goldberg.

“Fred Weisman was one of the best medical malpractice lawyers in the country,” Rumizen said. “And his son, Mitch Weisman, who I worked with and who just recently retired, was his right-hand man.”

Rumizen became partners with Mitch Weisman in 2014, which he described as a “pretty cool” experience, and now helps run Rumizen Weisman Attorneys, which has an office in Beachwood and one in downtown Cleveland.

“It takes a long time to learn the craft,” Rumizen said. “A lawyer has to be patient and has to really understand what the client’s needs are. There’s a lot of pitfalls in our business, and you really need to understand the business to perform. You also have to want to do this. If you really don’t have the desire to do injury work, you’re not going to succeed.”

Good results are another factor that plays a big part in being a strong attorney. Rumizen said that not properly representing those who you are trying to help will spell the end of your time in the law world.

“Performance matters,” he said. “If you’re

not doing well for your clients, you’re not going to continue on in this business or do very well. Personal injury is mostly referral, and we get a lot of repeat clients that come to us through referrals.”

A worthy lawyer should also be able to understand what it is their client wants and have the ability to put cases together in the proper manner and present them the right way in front of the courtroom, Rumizen said.

“I really like to correct the wrong the best way I can,” he said. “And the only way to do that is through the civil justice system. For example, I handle a lot of cases involving nursing home neglect. I see how the big corporations are mistreating those who are usually infirm or poor or both.”

Rumizen is a past club president of Beechmont Country Club in Orange.

About Scott

Age: 60

Residence: Solon

Undergraduate: The Ohio State University Law School: The University of Toledo College of Law

What has been the most meaningful or defining moment of your legal career so far: My dad passed away six years ago but before he did I was able to try a case with him in Buffalo. It was just a lot of fun seeing him in action and working with him. And we got a really good verdict.

How do you like to spend a rare free day: Either playing golf, being with my family or both. I am also an avid Buffalo Bills fan and a big sports fan.

What’s something colleagues might be surprised to learn about you: One thing people may not know because I’ve been in Cleveland so long is that I grew up in Buffalo.

What’s your ultimate comfort food: Anyone who knows me would know I love pizza from New York City. If a family member or friend visits from the City, they better bring me a pie.

Is there a quote or mantra you try to live by: It’s the old one: work hard, play hard, have fun and enjoy your family.

What’s the best career advice you’ve ever been given: You will not get anything out of practicing law if you don’t work hard. The first job I had, I worked for a guy that was a crazy hard worker, and I saw how he worked and emulated myself upon that. My father was a lawyer in Buffalo, and he worked his butt off as well. And it doesn’t just come to you, you have to work hard at your craft and also at the business.

What’s one thing every client should know before hiring an attorney: Make sure the attorney has before handled the type of case that they’re there for. Someone that has a lot of experience, in my case, in trying cases and a long history and record handling cases for clients that are injured.

Ronald J. Teplitzky

Singerman, Mills, Desberg & Kauntz Co., LPA

ELLIE EVANS eevans@cjn.org

Since he was 9 years old, Ronald J. Teplitzky, principal at Singerman, Mills, Desberg & Kauntz Co., LPA in Beachwood, knew he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his older brother and become a lawyer. With his sights set on law school, Teplitzky earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science/pre-law at Ohio University in Athens before going to Case Western Reserve University School of Law. For the first 25 years of his law career, Teplitzky worked for a large firm in downtown Cleveland.

But one of the most pivotal points of his career

About Ron Age: 64

Residence: Bainbridge Township

Undergraduate: Ohio University

occurred when, around the age of 50, Teplitzky decided to scale down and work in a smaller law firm on Cleveland’s east side, bringing him to where he is today, he told the Cleveland Jewish News.

“I loved my time at the big law firm, but making the decision to go to a smaller one was a fantastic choice for me,” Teplitzky said. “I’m a huge fan of working on the east side as opposed to downtown.

I’d argue it’s somewhat life changing. You can run errands at lunchtime, and you never have to pay for parking. And we also have an amazing group of clients here, many of whom are ‘under the radar,’ but are superb businesspeople.”

Teplitzky said he is Cleveland born and bred, and among some of his peers and colleagues, he has

Law School: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

How do you like to spend a rare free day: I love spending time with my four grandkids, who are all in Cleveland. I’m a huge Cleveland sports fan (which is trying at times...), so I like to watch games on TV or attend in person. My wife and I very much enjoy the KeyBank Broadway Series at Playhouse Square, as well, and we love exploring restaurants in and around Northeast Ohio. What’s something colleagues might be surprised to learn about you: I attended the Cleveland Guardians Fantasy Camp in 2007 and was able to bat against Bob Feller. I also hit a ground out ball to (former Cleveland third baseman) Brook Jacoby. What’s your ultimate comfort food (Jewish or otherwise): I love a great grilled cheese sandwich. How do you stay connected to the Jewish community: I’m a past chair of the Cleveland Jewish News Foundation, and I currently sit on the Board of Directors of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company. I also like to stay connected to Hillel and Chabad at Ohio University. Is there a quote or mantra you try to live by: “If you do what’s right for the client, everything will take care of itself.”

What’s the best career advice you’ve ever been given: Same as above. What’s one thing every client should know before hiring an attorney: Responsiveness is the key attribute.

What Jewish value most influences how you approach your work: Tikkun olam, repairing the world; I’m trying to leave this world a better place than I found it. I also certainly try to live the maxim of treating others the way you’d like to be treated.

Sign up for the free Canvas e-newsletter for biweekly updates about upcoming arts and culture openings, performances, festivals and other events throughout Northeast Ohio and periodic updates about new issues of Canvas magazine.

managed to keep a rather uniquely short commute to work, frequenting a route that stays within 8 miles of his home.

“I tend to know a lot of people in Cleveland just because we’ve lived our whole lives here,” Teplitzky said. “If I have to make a referral for a client, I typically know a really good place for them to land.”

Having had his eyes on the prize since he was just a young boy in grade school, Teplitzky said that hard work and dedication to one’s craft are “the bedrock of a professional” and are essential in other areas of life as well.

“Every day of your career, every day of your life, you have the ability to prove people right or prove people wrong,” Teplitzky said. “The practice of law is not just about showing up – it’s about caring, and being committed to your clients’ best interests.”

Teplitzky, who is a member of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company Board of Directors and is an emeritus director and immediate past board chair of the Cleveland Jewish News Foundation Board of Directors, said he knows when clients are seeking his help, they are in a time of a need, often confused and maybe even a little scared.

When it comes to helping them find the light

at the end of the tunnel, “I’m a huge fan of deep breaths,” he said.

“All decisions should be made after careful thought and many deep breaths,” Teplitzky said. He also said before clients hire him, they should know he views himself as being able to reach compromise.

“Scorched earth is not my specialty,” Teplitzky said. “That’s not in my makeup. If a client comes to me, it’s in the spirit of agreeing on a fair deal.”

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 cjn.org and was included in the Boker Tov e-newsletter. Some opted not to 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. Compiled by Ellie Evans.

Fred J. Arnoff

Law firm: Weston Hurd LLP

Undergraduate university: Miami University

Law school: The University of Akron School of Law

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: A career as a lawyer is a special calling. As lawyers, we are in an extraordinary position to assist individuals and business organizations and promote the public good. Over 45 years of practice, my clients have constantly challenged me with problems that are almost always different, intellectually stimulating and never boring.

Jennifer Martinez Atzberger

Law firm: Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc.

Age: 53

Residence: Bay Village

Undergraduate university: Occidental College

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Treat people the way you would want to be treated. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I always thought I wanted to be a writer or an editor. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Education law is a pretty unknown area. It’s really just an extension of disability and civil rights law, but most people do not realize there is so much overlap.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Empathy. The whole world could use more of it right now.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way your practice law: Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Anything related to immigrant rights and due process is very under attack right now. My family escaped from Ukraine and survived because they could seek asylum in the U.S. I am so sad that we are treating our fellow humans so cruelly right now.

Immigrants are what makes America great. How do you relax: Yog and dog walks. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/ family custom: I have always loved the tradition of throwing bread crumbs in water for Yom Kippur. I love the symbolism of a clean slate.

Rachel Bagnolo

Law firm: Pepper Pike Capital Partners, LLC Age: 33

Residence: Westlake

Undergraduate university: West Liberty University

Law school: The University of Akron School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: You can disagree without being disagreeable. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Passover.

Joshua Bass

Law firm: Taft Stettinius & Hollister

Age: 32

Residence: Cleveland

Synagogue: Solon Chabad

Undergraduate university: University of Michigan

Law school: Chicago-Kent College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Never confuse activity with impact. It pushed me to stop measuring my day by how busy I felt and start measuring it by the results I created. Now, whether I’m in a meeting, drafting a document or leading one of my deals, I always ask what moves the needle and adjust my priorities so my time matters.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: General manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: You can ask any lawyer about any area of the law. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: The most essential trait for young lawyers today is adaptability with sound judgment. The legal landscape, technology and client expectations all move quickly, so the lawyers who stand out are the ones who can pivot with the facts, embrace new tools and still deliver clear, steady advice that clients can

rely on.

What is a community cause/organization you care about deeply: I am involved in or attend many Jewish causes, including Solon Chabad, American Jewish Committee, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces and the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. I know this is a critical time for the Jewish people and efforts should be spread anywhere and everywhere we can. How do you relax: Family, wine and Michigan football.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: My favorite is Simchat Torah. Any holiday that celebrates finishing an entire book by immediately starting it over again feels very on brand for a lawyer. Plus, there aren’t many days where dancing with the scroll counts as participating in the service.

Todd Behrens

Law firm: Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP

Age: 47

Residence: Solon

Synagogue: Congregation Mishkan Or Undergraduate university: Duke University

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: The best professional advice I’ve received is to never lose sight of the client’s perspective. In patent law, success depends on understanding both the technology and the business behind it. That advice has guided my career, helping me translate complex innovations into strong, practical patent strategies that service our clients’ long-term goals.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: If I weren’t practicing law, I could see myself working in a technology focused role that bridges engineering, strategy and business. I’ve always enjoyed understanding how complex systems work and helping teams think through practical solutions, whether in product development, innovation management or advising technology driven organizations.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: A common misconception is that patent law is purely legal and abstract. In reality, it is deeply technical and highly practical. Effective patent counsel requires a thorough understanding of how an invention works, how it fits into a competitive landscape and how to protect it in a way that

supports our client’s real-world business objectives.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Intellectual curiosity is essential. Young lawyers need to be eager to learn, not just the law, but the technology and industries their clients work in. In patent practice especially, the ability to ask good questions, master complex subject matter and translate it into clear, strategic advice is what builds trust and long-term client relationships.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Cloud computing has most changed how I practice law over my career. The ability to securely access and share large technical documents, collaborate with clients and colleagues across the world in real time and manage complex patent portfolios from anywhere has made my work far more efficient. It allows me to focus on strategic analysis and client service rather than logistics, helping me deliver precise advice while staying connected across multiple projects and teams.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: I care deeply about giving back to the community, particularly through organizations like the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland and the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. Supporting Legal Aid helps ensure access to justice for those who need it most, while the Jewish Federation helps sustain and enrich the social and cultural fabric of our Jewish community. Contributing to these causes aligns with my values of service, justice and helping others thrive.

How do you relax: I relax by baking cookies for friends using recipes I developed during the pandemic. The tradition is as much about sharing as it is about enjoying a few treats. To balance the indulgence, I work out at Orangetheory, which gives me a great boost and keeps me moving. It’s a fun mix of creativity, community and a little healthy discipline.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: My favorite Jewish holiday tradition is celebrating the Passover seder. As a child, I loved going to my grandparents’ house and celebrating with our extended family. It was always lively and full of stories, laughter and connection. My wife and I now host Passover, continuing the tradition and bringing our family and friends together. It’s a meaningful way to honor our roots while creating our own memories and strengthening family bonds.

SUPER ATTORNEYS

Joshua Berggrun

Hugh Berkson

Rob Boroff

essential for young lawyers entering the field:

Law firm: Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP

Age: 34

Residence: Cleveland

Law firm: McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Liffman

Age: 57

Residence: Shaker Heights

Synagogue: Congregation Mishkan Or Undergraduate university: The University of Texas at Austin Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Read everything and be the best prepared person in the room. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I’d be a struggling voiceover actor.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Most folks don’t know that my area even exists, so there’s no chance to build a misconception. The fact is financial professionals are held to a standard of care, and are responsible when they fail to meet that standard. In short: investment losses might be recoverable.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Flexibility, the law continues to evolve, and the practice is changing rapidly as new forms of technology are developed and take hold. And young lawyers need to remember that their clients are likely unfamiliar with any of these changes, and need their lawyers to meet them where they are, not where the lawyer wants them to be.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Electronic discovery tools have been game-changers. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: BBYO. It was instrumental in my development as a young person. How do you relax: Exercise is my best decompression tool. Listening to music helps, too. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Gathering with biological and family by choice for the holidays.

Law firm: Amundsen Davis, LLC

Age: 45

Residence: Orange

Synagogue: Park

Synagogue

Undergraduate university: Miami University

Law school: School of Law Loyola University Chicago

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Failure teaches, success confirms.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Teacher or a coach. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That every day is like an episode of “Suits.”

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Taking initiative and a willingness to learn.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Remote access into our firm’s systems.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Allison Rose Foundation. This foundation was established in honor of my niece who passed away from a food allergy exposure. What my sister and brother-in-law have done through the foundation is beyond incredible. I couldn’t be more proud. How do you relax: There’s nothing more relaxing to me than coaching my kids in their respective sports.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Passover seder.

Abby Botnick

Law firm: The Botnick Law Firm, LLC

Age: 46

Residence: Shaker Heights

Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation

Undergraduate university: Case Western Reserve University

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Be good to the court staff.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I would love to work for a nature preserve or own a bookstore. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That people are as bad as the crimes they are accused of committing. People are complex and multifaceted, and many good people make a snap decision or a mistake that leads to a criminal charge. What skill/trait do you believe is most

Critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Being willing to put thought into solutions and come to the table with ideas, even if they need tweaking, is an important way to stand out and become indispensable to clients and firm colleagues. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Google translate and other language interpreting apps. Communication with clients is key, and it has never been easier to conduct consultations or discuss complex issues with clients in their language of origin at a moment’s notice. This leads to greater understanding and allows the client to feel comfortable and confident when communicating.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: All libraries. I believe that a community is as strong as the library systems it keeps, and I am always happy to dedicate my time and dollars to supporting libraries.

How do you relax: Being in nature, especially around trees.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/ family custom: I love having a seder together.

Bobby Botnick

Law firm: The Botnick Law Firm, LLC Age: 48 Residence: Shaker Heights Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation Undergraduate university: Miami University

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Professor of ancient Jewish history.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: People often assume because we represent individuals accused of crimes, they must be bad or that my morals are lacking. It’s rather the opposite. Most of the people we represent are decent folks who find themselves on the wrong side of the law and need someone to guide them through a confusing time in their life when the odds are stacked against them. It’s an honor to defend our clients in court.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field: Having the ability to speak with clients. Young people, including lawyers, are often quick to rely on text for communicating, but having the ability to hold a conversation is a much needed skill that is often lacking. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Having access to case management software that allows our team to communicate in real time with our clients and their loved ones ensures that clients aren’t left in the dark with the status on their cases. It’s been a real game

changer for us and our clients love us for it. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: The Shaker Sports Boosters is a nonprofit organization that ensures the student-athletes at Shaker Heights High School and middle school have the support and tools required for success on and off the field. The is my second year serving as the boosters secretary.

How do you relax: Trimming up a brisket, dressing it and setting it to smoke on my Masterbuilt. It’s an awesome way to spend the day on my patio with some music, a hot or cold beverage and my family.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Preparing for Passover seder. I get a kick out of planning the menu with a theme and then spending the day in the kitchen whipping up the dishes.

James Mitchell Brown

Law firm: James Mitchell Brown, Attorney at Law Age: 79

Residence: Shaker Heights

Synagogue: Central Synagogue

Undergraduate university: Ohio University Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: The difference between being average and excellent is your creativity. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Retired. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That undeserving people receive Social Security Disability Insurance.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Practice with passion.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Computers. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Social justice.

How do you relax: Reading.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Breakfast with my whole family.

Danielle Buchinsky

Law firm: Walter

Haverfield

Age: 28

Residence: Cleveland

Synagogue: Park Synagogue

Undergraduate university: Washington University Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: My father always tells me to “be the turtle” – a turtle only moves forward when it sticks its neck out. In other words, growth in your career comes from taking risks, speaking up and stepping outside your shell. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: If I weren’t practicing law, I could see myself on the business side of a consumer brand. I’ve always been interested in how brands and companies are built, positioned and scaled, and I’d enjoy a role that combines strategy with creative direction. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: People often think practicing corporate law looks like the TV show, “Suits,” (myself included before law school), but in reality, corporate law is not nearly as dramatic or entertaining as Harvey Specter and Mike Ross make it seem.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Attention to detail, strong communication and organizational skills are essential for young lawyers. These traits help navigate complex matters, work efficiently and communicate effectively with clients while building reliability and trust in the legal field. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: AI has had the biggest impact. The ability to synthesize research, organize information and simplify complex concepts allows for more strategic thinking, analyzing and problem-solving. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: An organization I care about is Dress for Success Cleveland. I admire their mission to empower women by providing professional attire, career development and mentorship, helping them build confidence, independence and the skills to succeed. How do you relax: I like doing pilates and yoga, reading and spending time with friends and family. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: My favorite Jewish holiday tradition is making my grandmother’s latkes with my mom and sister. Preparing her recipe is a special way for us to honor tradition, celebrate family and enjoy the warmth and light of the holiday together.

Morgan Raye Caruso

Law firm: Caruso Law Offices, LLC

Age: 40

Residence: Pepper Pike

Synagogue: Solon Chabad

Undergraduate university: Ohio University

Law school: Case Western Reserve University

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Do the work the right way, even when no one is watching. Your reputation is built quietly through

consistency, preparation and integrity. That advice has guided every stage of my career and is something I try to model for my children. Integrity is not situational – it is a habit. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I could see myself in public service or education – roles focused on problem-solving, fairness and helping people navigate difficult moments. I also love travel and scuba diving, so anything that combines leadership, learning and exploration would be especially fulfilling.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Many people think criminal defense is about excusing bad behavior. In reality, it is about protecting constitutional rights, ensuring fairness and making sure the system works as intended. Accountability and compassion can and should exist together. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Judgment. Legal knowledge matters, but the ability to listen carefully, think critically and exercise sound judgment under pressure is what truly sets lawyers apart. Empathy and professionalism are essential to building trust. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Digital filings, remote access to court records and secure communication tools have dramatically improved efficiency. Technology allows me to spend less time tracking paperwork and more time preparing cases and focusing on clients. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Public safety and community service. With a firefighter paramedic husband and children growing up around those values, supporting first responders and programs that strengthen families and neighborhoods is especially meaningful to me.

How do you relax: Spending time with my husband and kids, traveling when possible and scuba diving whenever I can. Being underwater forces you to slow down, focus and gain perspective, which is grounding in both life and law.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/ family custom: Gathering for Passover and the High Holy Days, where reflection, gratitude and family are central. Sharing those traditions with my children helps teach responsibility, history and values that extend beyond ourselves.

Marleni Chavana

Law firm: UB Greensfelder LLP

Age: 28

Residence: Lakewood

Undergraduate

university: Smith College

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: I am a member of the Junior League of Cleveland

chapter. I really enjoy participating in their community service initiatives, as I’m very passionate about engaging with my community. I am also on the executive council of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association’s young lawyer section. This has enabled me to greater engage with my professional community and create opportunities for connection through diverse programming and service opportunities. How do you relax: I enjoy painting, ceramic work and ice skating.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/ family custom: The concept of tikkun olam is something that is important to me as I believe that it’s important to give back to the world and serve those in need. I am very involved in pro bono work through the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association and the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. I believe that it is our responsibility as professionals to use our skills to help others in need and contribute to our community.

David R. Cohen

Law firm: David R. Cohen Co., LPA

Age: 66

Residence: Beachwood

Synagogue: Suburban Temple-Kol Ami

Undergraduate

university: University of Michigan

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Keep it short. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Tu b’Shevat.

Jessica Cohen

Law firm: Verizon Age: 40

Residence: Cleveland Heights

Synagogue: Congregation Shomre Shabbos

Undergraduate university: Harvard University

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: If you don’t feel like you are a fit for an organization’s culture, it could be the organization, not you. Look for an organizational culture that meets your personality and professional objectives. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Law is actually my second career after spending more than 12 years in the public and nonprofit sectors. If I wasn’t practicing law, I would be doing more public policy work.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Most people think that my role is purely compliance. However,

as a policy lawyer, I’m focused on assessing potential impacts to the business and then driving our state advocacy work. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: A willingness to explore new technology and embrace evolving ways of working. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way your practice law: Generative artificial intelligence has transformed how I practice law and how I do my everyday work.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: The Jewish Federation of Cleveland is an organization I care deeply about. In today’s environment, I’m passionate about ensuring the safety and vitality of the Jewish people in the United States. How do you relax: I love working out with my Peloton, reading or having a steaming hot cup of tea.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: My favorite Jewish holiday tradition is chol hamoed on Sukkos and Pesach. It’s pure family time where we can relax, eat yummy food and have fun on family trips.

Brandon Collier

Law firm: Collier & McBride Co., LPA Age: 53

Residence: Shaker Heights

Synagogue: Congregation Mishkan Or Undergraduate university: University of Pennsylvania Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law, New York University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: More important than the deal is the person in the deal.

How do you relax: By playing pickleball, tennis, guitar and spenging time with family.

Sharon Comet-Epstein

Law firm: Comet-Epstein

Law & Mediatioon

Residence: Beachwood

Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation

Undergraduate university: The Ohio State University Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: This adage is magical: “Do what you love and you won’t have to work a day in your life.” I love helping people in conflict come to peaceful, satisfying resolutions without the animosity of fighting in court. So, it doesn’t feel like work. It feels like a mitzvah.

SUPER ATTORNEYS

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I enjoy teaching and taught on the professional education level for years. I could see myself teaching at a university again and returning to my favorite avocation – community theater.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Sadly, I hear people often think divorce lawyers cause increased hostility between divorcing spouses just to increase their legal fees. In fact, my like-minded colleagues and I work diligently with clients to create acceptable out-of-court resolutions without the stress and high cost of litigation. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field: Good judgment and a moral compass. The ability to discern and understand what matters. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: My Zoom meetings from anywhere with clients/ professionals everywhere, legal research tools and ethical use of ChatGPT have really helped me save my clients time and money. How do you relax: I love playing pickleball, binging on a good streaming series, going to the movie theater and hanging out with hubby, family and friends.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Our children live outof-state in earlier time zones. FaceTime helps keep us close. We FaceTime Shabbos blessings to them and our grandchildren every Friday. I love being able to bless them before we light our Shabbos candles. Also, we usually spend Pesach together with our extended family – so good food, fun and frolic ensue in town or at a Pesach program in a sunny locale.

Gary Cowan

Law firm: Elk & Elk Co., Ltd.

Residence: Shaker Heights

Undergraduate university: University of Ottowa

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

Law firm: The Dann Law Firm

Age: 63

Residence: Lakewood

Synagogue: Beth IsraelThe West Temple

Undergraduate university: University of Michigan

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Find something no one else wants to do and do it well.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Improv. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That there is nothing consumers can do to protect themselves. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Work ethic.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: AI. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland.

How do you relax: I perform improv at Imposters Theater.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Breaking the fast.

Robert “Kip” Danzinger

Law firm: Sleggs, Danzinger & Gill, Co., LPA

Age: 59

Residence: Bainbridge Township

Synagogue: Congregation Mishkan Or Undergraduate university: The Ohio State University Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Mistakes happen. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: GQ model. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Non-attorneys can navigate through the appellate process. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Learning how to effectively network. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: The ability to virtually appear at local board of revision hearings through Zoom or Microsoft Teams. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Jewish Big Brother Big Sister Association. I met my “little” 30 years ago. He’s been a part of my life ever since, extremely special and rewarding. How do you relax: Participating or competing in any sport activity. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Passover dinner.

Charles Daroff

Law firm: Walter Haverfield

Age: 64

Residence: Orange

Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation

Undergraduate university: Case Western Reserve University Law school: Case Western

Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: The best professional advice I received as a young lawyer was to look past a client’s stated position and identify the real interests driving it. That perspective strengthened my ability to analyze issues clearly, communicate effectively and craft solutions that best serve their long-term objectives.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: If I weren’t practicing law, I would be a film critic. I’ve always had a deep appreciation for movies, and I enjoy analyzing how storytelling, performance and direction come together. It’s a natural fit for my analytical instincts.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: A common misconception about transactional real estate leasing law is that it’s mostly routine paperwork. In reality, each matter requires careful analysis and strategic judgment. Commercial leases often involve complex issues and long-term risk allocation. Even seemingly standard provisions can carry significant consequences for a client’s business. Much of the work involves anticipating issues, negotiating balanced terms and coordinating details to ensure the transaction protects the client’s interests.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Adaptability is crucial for young lawyers entering real estate law. The field shifts constantly with market cycles, regulatory updates, financing trends and evolving property technologies. Lawyers who adapt quickly can navigate changing zoning rules, new lending structures and emerging issues like sustainability requirements or prop tech tools. This flexibility helps them manage diverse transactions, respond to client needs efficiently and stay ahead of industry developments.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Digital transaction and document management tools have most transformed commercial real estate law. They speed up complex closings, streamline due diligence through virtual data rooms and make collaboration with lenders, brokers and developers far more efficient. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: I care deeply about the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces because their mission goes far beyond supporting soldiers during service. It’s about honoring their humanity and future. They provide scholarships for higher education, helping them build meaningful lives after service, and stand with wounded soldiers and bereaved families of the fallen, offering care and dignity during their most difficult moments. Their work reflects a commitment to compassion, resilience and responsibility that I find profoundly meaningful.

How do you relax: I binge watch TV shows with my fiance. This is a simple and effective way to unwind and relax after a long day. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Yom Kippur is my favorite holiday because it offers a rare sense of clarity and renewal. The quiet, reflective atmosphere creates space to step back from the everyday hustle and bustle and focus on what truly matters. There’s something powerful about joining a community in a shared moment of honesty, forgiveness and intention. The feeling of starting fresh – spiritually and emotionally – is deeply meaningful and invigorating.

Gary S. Desberg

Law firm: Singerman, Mills, Desberg & Kauntz Co., LPA

Age: 65

Residence: Orange

Synagogue: Congregation Mishkan Or Undergraduate university: University of Michigan Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Return phone calls and emails as promptly as possible.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Some type of naturalist.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: They believe it primarily focuses on residential real estate transactions.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: The ability to listen to clients and fully understand their goals.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Email. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: ORT America. How do you relax: Golf and nature walks. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Potato latkes on Chanukah.

Michael H. Diamant

Law firm: Taft Stettinius & Hollister

Age: 79

Residence: Shaker Heights

Synagogue: Park

Synagogue

Undergraduate university: Case Western Reserve University

Law school: Harvard Law School

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Read the documents and

Marc Dann

read the cases.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Probably a naturalist or geologist.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Good litigators would rather fight than amicably resolve problems. In fact, a good lawyer tries to actually solve the client’s problem.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Problem-solving and the ability to see and understand what is truly important and controlling in a legal issue and avoid distractions to irrelevant issues.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Desktop/ laptop computer which allows faster drafting and editing, provides access to the internet and legal data bases and enables communication around the world.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Gross Schechter Day School. How do you relax: Reading, watching British streaming television mysteries, hiking, woodworking and furniture refinishing. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Celebrating with family and friends and attending services with a great hazzan.

David Drechsler

Law firm: McDonald Hopkins LLC Age: 62 Residence: Orange Synagogue: Solon Chabad Undergraduate university: The Ohio State University Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Give it your all for all clients regardless of the value of the matter, but make sure you do not treat it as your own personal matter. You will lose objectivity and could lose your way.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Real estate development. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Not so much my area, but that lawyers are looked at as being dishonest or not held in high regard. I find most attorneys are very honest and have high integrity. What we do is very hard and we are needed but often not appreciated. Having said that, I am humbled that many of my clients have been with me for over 25 years, so they must like me and what I do. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: To find an area of law that you love practicing, even if it is hard to find an entry position in that area.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Too many to list, but definitely right now I’d say AI. It has helped streamline tasks and improves efficiency. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Gross Schechter Day School. How do you relax: Being with family, biking, hiking, listening to music and watching streamed shows.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: I love all of the holidays. It’s hard to pick just one.

Stanley M. Dub

Law firm: Law Office of Stanley M. Dub

Residence: Shaker Heights

Synagogue: Suburban Temple-Kol Ami

Undergraduate university: Case Western Reserve University, The Ohio State University Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Specialize in a field that the big firms ignore. I specialize in franchise law. In addition to my private practice, I teach franchise law at Case Western Reserve University School of Law. If a client wants to sell franchises, or buy one, they need expert help. If a franchise owner has a dispute with his franchisor, they need expert help. If the dispute ends up in litigation, they would usually benefit from working with a franchise lawyer. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Wine merchant. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Any business lawyer can do it.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: The ability to listen.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Dictation software.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Holocaust remembrance. How do you relax: I play bridge tournaments and watch sports.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Celebrating Passover.

Marcel Duhamel

Law firm: Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP

Age: 57

Residence: Cleveland Synagogue: Congregation Mishkan Or

Undergraduate university: Case Western Reserve University Law school: University of

Chicago Law School

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Any time a client feels the need to ask about the status of their case represents a lost opportunity to have kept them informed.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Assuming I could never have been a professional road cyclist –were I not a lawyer, perhaps I’d have become a psychologist.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: The idea that effective representation means being an unreasonable jerk. The contrary is true.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Resilience.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: The use of predictive coding and other forms of AI to assist with reviewing, prioritizing and understanding large sets of documents. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Most of my volunteer time is dedicated to Congregation Mishkan Or. How do you relax: Road cycling, playing Dungeons & Dragons and watching good movies.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Our Chanukah observance has always included sock night. Even now that my kids are in their 20s, we all look forward to a gift of silly socks.

Daniel Ehrenreich

Law firm: Ehrenreich & Associates

Age: 52

Residence: Beachwood

Synagogue: Green Road

Synagogue

Undergraduate university: Yeshiva

University

Law school: Cardozo

School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Stick to the truth – it’s easier to remember.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Therapist.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: A wrong done to you equals money for you – incorrect. A wrong done to you plus damages to you equals money. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Time travel to escape AI. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way your practice law: AI, but not for legal research. AI hallucinates cases out of thin air (I promise this is true). AI is best used to help those who know the area they’re inquiring into.

What is a community cause/organization you

care deeply about: The Jewish Federation of Cleveland is a wonderful organization. How do you relax: By answering questionaires posed to super attorneys. I feel this affirms my status as super in ways otherwise unavailable to me.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Najga – The Glazing of the Lentils. The lentils are delicately glazed by the youngest member of the family, while the older members gently chide him (or her) for his shortcomings.

Leonard Ehrenreich

Law firm: Ehrenreich &

Associates

Age: 78

Residence: Beachwood

Synagogue: Green Road

Synagogue

Undergraduate university: The University of Akron

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Go to medical school. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Stand-up comedian. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That anyone who is hurt in any manner is automatically entitled to some recovery. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: The ability to think on your feet and a strong command of the English language. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way your practice law: AI. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Cleveland Kosher Food Pantry.

How do you relax: Gardening. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Eating in my sukkah in Sukkot.

Rochelle Ehrenreich

Law firm: Ehrenreich & Associates

Age: 74

Residence: Beachwood

Synagogue: Green Road

Synagogue

Undergraduate university: Brooklyn College

Law school: Fordham University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Draft and redraft. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Couturier. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That a will alone is the best way to assure one’s final wishes and

SUPER ATTORNEYS

protect one’s assets. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Confidence in their own abilities. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way your practice law: iPhone. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Bikur Cholim of Cleveland. How do you relax: Computer games and reading.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Shabbat.

Brian N. Eisen

Law firm: The Eisen Law Firm

Age: 59

Residence: Shaker Heights

Synagogue: Congregation Mishkan Or Undergraduate university: Harvard College

Law school: Harvard Law School

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Help the little guy. The big guy doesn’t need you. That, and you only have one reputation – don’t screw it up. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: While an undergraduate, I studied zoology for a year at Cambridge University in England. I’d love to go back and teach either zoology or law at Cambridge.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: People often assume all personal injury attorneys are experts in medical malpractice. In fact, medical malpractice is its own unique area of the law, and not all personal injury attorneys have real expertise in medical malpractice. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: The ability to tell a complex story with empathy and in a concise, understandable way is critical to success in medical malpractice work. The medicine is often very complex, and while it is important to understand the medicine, it is just as important to be able to simplify it for a jury while authentically communicating the client’s story. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Artificial intelligence has changed how I practice law. I use AI frequently, mostly to assist in medical and jury research. However, I use it with quite a bit of restraint, and I never submit to a court something written by AI. There are simply too many horror stories of AI hallucinating case citations. For now, AI is a helpful practice tool, but one that must be kept on a short leash. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: I care deeply about Youth Challenge, an organization that empowers children with physical disabilities through

inclusive sports and recreational programs. Their mission reflects the heart of my work as a medical malpractice attorney. Advocating for individuals whose lives have been altered by medical injury and ensuring they have access to appropriate support. Youth Challenge’s commitment to dignity, independence and opportunity mirrors the justice I seek for my clients, making their impact especially meaningful.

How do you relax: This long-bearded, Harley-riding attorney has a soft spot for bird watching.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: My favorite Jewish holiday tradition is lighting the Chanukah candles. There’s something meaningful about gathering with family, watching the menorah glow a little brighter each night and taking a moment to slow down and reflect. The warmth of the candles, the songs and the shared time together create a sense of continuity and gratitude. It’s a simple ritual, but it brings connection, history and joy into the home in a really special way.

Jeffrey G. Eisenstodt

Law firm: Buckley King

Age: 37

Residence: Pepper Pike

Undergraduate university: The Ohio State University Law school: Georgetown University Law Center

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Keep showing up.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Teacher. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Adaptability and resilience. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way your practice law: AI. How do you relax: Spending time with my daughter, Elle.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Shabbat.

Michael L. Eisner

Law firm: The Law Offices of Michael L. Eisner, LLC

Age: 57

Residence: Solon

Synagogue: Park

Synagogue

Undergraduate university: Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Follow your passion, know when to ask for help and stay dedicated to your morals, ethics and the needs of your

client.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I love practicing law and helping people recover from traumas, but I am now running for U.S. Congress in Ohio’s 7th Congressional District.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That plaintiff’s personal injury law is only about money. It is about giving people closure and helping them move on from traumatic events.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: The ability to listen, critically examine evidence and stories and communicate with people who disagree with your position to reach fair resolutions. They also need the courage to fight on when their client is not treated fairly.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Cloudbased technologies make record retrieval and storage more efficient and less expensive to the client. Technology cannot, and should not, replace the experience and knowledge of a skilled attorney.

What is a community cause/organization you care about deeply: Access to quality and affordable health care and education. Too many people don’t have this basic need met, and those who do are having their medical decisions made by insurance executives – not medical providers.

How do you relax: Spending time with my family in nature, reading and yoga. I often reset my nervous system by taking sound baths – led by my wife.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Enjoying my sister’s matzo ball soup at family dinners while we celebrate our holidays and heritage.

Arthur Elk

Law firm: Elk & Elk Co., Ltd.

Residence: Moreland Hills

Synagogue: Park

Synagogue

Undergraduate university: Case Western Reserve University

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: I was taught that can’t is not an option. Problems require solutions, not excuses.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Obstetrics and gynecology, a field focused on high-stakes decision making and patient care.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: People have a hard time understanding that they owe nothing to Elk + Elk unless there is a

successful outcome. We are on equal footing with our clients. People often assume legal representation comes with upfront costs. At Elk + Elk, clients owe nothing unless there is a successful outcome, meaning we succeed together.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: A strong work ethic and a genuine desire to succeed. The lawyers who are willing to put in the work, stay disciplined and take ownership early on are the ones who set themselves apart.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: AI, combined with the explosion of available data from vehicle black boxes and widespread video footage, has reshaped how cases are evaluated. Today’s lawyers need to actively seek out these technologies and understand their relevance. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Hunger centers and organizations working to address food insecurity in our communities.

How do you relax: I relax by motorcycling, jet skiing, listening to my music collection and enjoying my wife playing the piano. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Passover and the opportunity it creates to slow down and enjoy family dinners with my children and grandchildren.

David Elk

Law firm: Elk & Elk Co., Ltd.

Synagogue: Park Synagogue

Undergraduate university: Case Western Reserve University

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

Mindy Elk

Law firm: Elk & Elk Co., Ltd.

Residence: Highland Heights

Undergraduate university: Arizona State University

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: The importance of a healthy work-life balance.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: My college major was accounting, so I would probably be working in the accounting field.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Good communication skills.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Passover seder with family and friends.

Michael A. Ellis

Law firm: Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLC

Age: 72

Residence: Beachwood

Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation

Undergraduate university: University of Pennsylvania

Law school: Duke University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Look to create win-win situations for all parties to a transaction. Do not assume that you are the smartest person in the room, nor expect that your client and you will achieve 100% of what your goals are, if such result materially adversely affect the other party. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Adviser to start-up business.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Not understanding that all practices of the law are not adversarial. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Remember you have two ears, but only one mouth. Learn to listen before you start speaking. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way your practice law: Computer and search engines of databases had the most impact on my career. Today and going forward, I will say AI.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Greater Cleveland Food Bank and Planned Parenthood.

How do you relax: By reading biographies and mystery novels.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Passover.

Aaron S. Evenchik

Law firm: Hahn Loeser & Parks LLC

Age: 49

Residence: University Heights

Synagogue: Bais Dovid Cleveland

Undergraduate university: The Ohio State University Law school: The Ohio State Michael E. Moritz College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Be better prepared than anyone else in the room.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Musician or Disney Imagineers.

What is one misconception people often have

about your area of law: They don’t realize how often disputes lead to a full hearing or trial. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Mastery of facts, law and technology, especially AI.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way your practice law: AI will totally modify the practice of law in the next five to 10 years.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: I am honored to be on the boards of several Jewish, educational, lowerincome housing and industry organizations. How do you relax: Shabbos and holidays. I love a three-day Yom Tov.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: The time from Slichos until Simchat Torah, especially when my children come home.

Josh Farrell

Law firm: Elk & Elk Co., Ltd.

Residence: Highland Heights

Undergraduate university: Cleveland State University Law school: Northern Illinois University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: The best professional advice I’ve ever received is to stay true to yourself and find something that you are passionate about. When you’re genuinely passionate about your work or profession, it shows in the dedication you bring to your clients and the energy you invest in every case. This philosophy has guided my approach to practicing law and has helped me build meaningful relationships with those I represent. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: If I weren’t practicing law, I would probably be a teacher and coach. I’ve always valued the opportunity to mentor others and help them develop their skills and confidence. There are many parallels between teaching and legal practice, which have always appealed to me, including breaking down complex concepts and guiding others through challenges in a competitive or high-stakes enviroment. Working with young people and helping them reach their potential would be incredibly fulfilling.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: A common misconception about personal injury law is that it is driven by aggressive courtroom battles. In reality, much of the work focuses on empathetic client advocacy, careful investigation and strategic negotiation to secure fair compensation. Personal injury attorneys act as trusted advisers during difficult times, helping clients navigate

complex legal and medical systems. The practice requires deep knowledge of medicine, insurance and law, paired with genuine compassion.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Organization and responsiveness are essential traits for young lawyers today. With complex digital records and high client expectations, staying organized helps manage multiple matters, track deadlines and avoid costly mistakes. Strong organization builds confidence and credibility. Responsiveness is equally important. Clients need to know their attorney is accessible and attentive, and timely communication with clients, opposing counsel and courts demonstrates professionalism, respect and reliability, helping cases progress smoothly and building lasting client trust. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Zoom and Microsoft Teams have significantly changed how I practice law. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, depositions, mediations, client meetings, witness preparation and even court appearances are often conducted remotely. This shift has eliminated much of the travel once required, saving time and improving efficiency. It has been especially beneficial for injured clients or those balancing work obligations, allowing participation from home while maintaining effective, client-centered representation.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: I care deeply about organizations that expand access to justice for underserved communities. Many injured individuals face not only physical and emotional hardship but also financial barriers to quality legal representation. Legal aid, pro bono services and educational resources help level the playing field and ensure people can pursue justice regardless of income. Supporting these efforts reflects the core values of the legal profession and strengthens the community as a whole.

How do you relax: I relax by watching sports or enjoying a good movie or television series. There’s something refreshing about disconnecting from work and immersing myself in a game or a compelling story. Whether I’m following my favorite teams or binging a well produced show, these moments allow me to recharge and maintain balance in my life.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: My favorite Jewish holiday tradition is celebrating Chanukah with family. Each evening brings the family together. Whether we’re lighting candles, sharing good food or exchanging gifts, these moments strengthen our bonds and remind us of the values we cherish. Chanukah is a time to gather with loved ones, honor our traditions and pass these meaningful customs to the next generation, ensuring that our cultural identity and shared history continue to shine brightly.

Ryan H. Fisher

Law firm: Lowe Trial

Lawyers

Age: 61

Residence: Bainbridge Township

Undergraduate university: Bowling Green State University

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Stand up for what you think is right for your clients and for yourself. Your clients have chosen you and they depend on you to help them through whatever difficulties they are facing through no fault of their own. It’s an honor to be in a position to actually be of direct help to folks who so desperately need my help.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I have been asked this question before and I can’t envision doing anything else with my life. I am a good communicator so I suppose I would have done something that allowed me to be in contact with the public.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: People like to make fun of personal injury lawyers but when you find yourself in need of one we are oftentimes the only people who will stand up for you and fight. Unfortunately we tend to see people when they are at their worst. This inspires me to do everything I can to help these folks who usually are not in a position to help themselves. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Communication is always most important. Treat your clients with respect and courtesy and respond promptly when they reach out to you. And, in this rapidly changing legal landscape, young lawyers should embrace all the emerging technology available to us. Lastly, always remember that we work for our clients, they do not work for us. Some lawyers tend to forget this. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: COVID-19 introduced us all to Zoom conferencing, which was a big change; it has reduced the amount of wasted time spent traveling. But, more recently, it is the use of AI. While not perfect, it is an incredible tool that cannot be overlooked and should be embraced.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Civil rights, period. The erosion of all Americans’ civil rights is incredibly alarming.

How do you relax: Travel, golf, swim, scuba dive. I love the outside and I love the water. Winters in Cleveland are not at all conducive to my lifestyle. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Getting together for the various holidays. As we get older and as family members move far away, I always

SUPER ATTORNEYS

really enjoy getting together to celebrate the holidays. Enjoying all of the traditional Jewish foods during the High Holy Days always makes me remember my childhood and the relatives that have left us. The storytelling is always something I look forward to.

Mark S. Frank

Law firm: Mark S. Frank, Attorney at Law, LLC

Age: 69

Residence: Solon

Synagogue: Solon Chabad

Undergraduate university: University of Cincinnati

Law school: Cleveland

State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: If you don’t ask, you won’t get it. No one can attack you physically over the phone.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Running a sailing charter company in the U.S. Virgin Islands. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That every case is worth a million dollars. That lady got millions for spilling McDonald’s coffee on herself. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Understanding the handling of clients needs and expectations.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Email. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Equal rights for all Americans, Kol Israel Foundation and Kol Israel Foundation’s Holocaust National Memorial at Zion Memorial Park.

How do you relax: Golf, walking, biking, swimming, listening to music.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Passover.

Dov Frankel

Law firm: Taft Stettinius & Hollister

Residence: Beachwood

Synagogue: Young Israel of Greater Cleveland

Undergraduate university: Ner Israel Rabbinical College, University of Maryland Law school: University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Treat your client’s money as if it was your own.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That parties filing for bankruptcy protection have no money. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field

today: Patience, and the ability to listen and ask thoughtful questions.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: HFLA of Northeast Ohio. Also, an organization that loans out children’s wedding dresses and gowns.

How do you relax: Reading and working in the garden.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: When all of my children come home for Sukkot.

Adam Fried

Law firm: Fried Law Group, LLC

Age: 56

Residence: Solon

Synagogue: Solon Chabad

Undergraduate university: The Ohio

State University Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Focus on being good at what you do and the business will follow. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Marketing. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Young lawyers think probate is boring, when in fact, the work is very exciting. Because of this misconception, they tend to drive themselves into legal careers that are not as financially and emotionally as rewarding.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Grit, drive and common sense. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: We are driving further away from paper files and the technology changes the way we prepare for trial and allows for work to be done most anywhere.

What is a community cause/organization you care about deeply: The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland.

How do you relax: Relaxing is overrated. I do enjoy my time on the golf course and sometimes I zone out to a movie.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Family joining together for a meal over the holidays is my favorite tradition.

Ian N. Friedman

Law firm: Friedman

Nemecek Long & Grant, LLC

Age: 55

Residence: Chagrin Falls

Synagogue: Chabad at the Falls

Undergraduate university: Ohio

University

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Always return your phone calls.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I would be in politics.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That all people charged with a crime actually committed a crime.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Self-awareness and authenticity. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Most of my practice is dealt with from my cell phone.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Lox & Loaded. How do you relax: I take long walks just to look at the scenery. It doesn’t matter if it is a city or forest.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Chanukah. I love watching my kids get so excited.

Josh Friedman

Law firm: Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP

Age: 44

Residence: Shaker Heights

Undergraduate university: The Ohio State University Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Be proactive and take initiative.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Teaching. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: It is often not as expensive or difficult to get and enforce IP rights as people think.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Be open, communicative and willing to accept feedback.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way your practice law: Generative AI tools for case research and writing assistance have changed a lot of how I approach litigation, in both good and bad ways.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: I support the Cleveland arts and sciences (Playhouse Square, The Cleveland Orchestra, museums) and believe they are important to keeping our city strong. How do you relax: Playing games with my family and gardening.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday

tradition/family custom: My sister, Sarah, and her family make a Rosh Hashanah feast. She is an amazing cook.

Joshua A. Friedman

Law firm: Frantz Ward

LLP

Residence: Cleveland

Undergraduate university: University of Cincinnati

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Failure to prepare is preparing to fail. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: The willingness to learn and listen to older, more experienced lawyers. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way your practice law: Online case research tools.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: The Cleveland Arts Education Consortium, which I am proud to be a board member of.

How do you relax: I relax by watching movies and sports.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Getting together with extended family for the Passover seder.

Susan L. Friedman

Law firm: Roetzel & Andress

Age: 57

Residence: Solon

Synagogue: Park

Synagogue

Undergraduate university: Washington University

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Develop positive relationships with colleagues and don’t burn bridges. Good will goes far.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I’d be a lifeguard in the summer and ski instructor in the winter (both past jobs).

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Many people, including other attorneys, believe that estate planning and trust work is easy. They don’t realize the complexity of the practice area. We are often preparing sophisticated tax planning vehicles. Additionally, we work with families and individuals during some of the most difficult times and we need to be empathetic and sensitive to our clients.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field

today: Having strong communication skills and being responsive to senior attorneys and clients. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Currently, since COVID-19, Zoom or Microsoft Teams meetings. I know that the responsible use of AI will likely have a significant impact on the way I practice law in the future.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Jewish Federation of Cleveland and all the needs addressed by the organization.

How do you relax: I love watching movies. Vacation works, too.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Our family (and friends who are family) does “the wave” around the table when we sing the hamotzi and bless the challah.

Joshua Fuchs

Sarah Gabinet

Law firm: The Moskowitz Firm

Synagogue: Park Synagogue

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/ family custom: Shlissel challah, of course.

Law firm: Kohrman Jackson & Krantz

Age: 71

Residence: Shaker Heights

Synagogue: Congregation Mishkan Or Undergraduate university: Oberlin College

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Know what you don’t know.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Therapist. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That it doesn’t take as much intelligence as other practice areas. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: The ability to listen and find out what it is your client really wants to accomplish. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: The internet. You can find out just about anything with a little Google research. What is a community cause/organization you care about deeply: Jewish causes and also Dancing Classrooms, which teaches life skills to children through ballroom dancing. How do you relax: I read, swim, walk, ballroom dance and spend time with my granddaughters.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: I love Pesach and the making of charoset with my mother’s old recipe.

Danielle Garson

Law firm: McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Liffman

Residence: Pepper Pike

Synagogue: Congregation Mishkan Or Undergraduate university: University of Maryland Law school: University of Illinois Chicago School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: You can’t have it all, but you can be intentional about prioritizing what matters most – both professionally and personally. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Strong communication. While our first reaction is often to email or text, knowing when to pick up the phone can save time, reduce conflict and move matters forward. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: ORT America. Its focus on education, innovation and Jewish values aligns deeply with my belief in creating access and opportunity for future generations. How do you relax: Spending time with my family and reading both help me slow down, reset and gain perspective.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: The blessing my father gives over his children and grandchildren is a meaningful moment on every Shabbat.

Anna Gecht

Law firm: Tucker Ellis LLP

Age: 35

Residence: Orange

Synagogue: Solon Chabad

Undergraduate university: The Ohio State University Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: I am physically in court less than one might expect. In a post-COVID-19 world, court status conferences, pre-trial and other court hearings and even depositions can and often are conducted by Zoom. In addition to my business and commercial litigation practice, I also have a niche appellate practice, so I spend a lot of time researching and drafting appellate briefs, often from the comfort of my home office. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: The first few years of practicing law is a grind, but a strong work ethic and motivation to

learn and become a great lawyer will take you far. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: AI, without a doubt.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Jewish Family Service Association of Cleveland.

How do you relax: Relax, ha. We have a toddler and a 9-month-old at home.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Our family does a theatrical rendition of “Chad Gadya” at the Passover seder. Each person is assigned a role, “zuzim,” “goat,” “cat,” “dog,” “stick,” “fire,” “water,” etc., and instead of reading those words, we use sound (and sometimes physical) effects. It makes for an engaging, chaotic and hilarious way to end the seder. One little baaaaaa, one little baaaaaa.

Mitch Gecht

Law firm: Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP

Age: 38

Residence: Orange

Synagogue: Solon Chabad

Undergraduate university: University of Michigan

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Private equity. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Celebrating Shabbat with a home-cooked meal on Friday nights with my wife and kids.

Steven Gill

Law firm: Sleggs, Danzinger & Gill, Co., LPA

Age: 59

Residence: Mayfield Heights

Synagogue: Congregation Mishkan Or

Undergraduate university: The Ohio State University

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Never slow down or your acuity will suffer. Take advantage of opportunities to learn when they are available. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Teaching. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That it is very math-oriented.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Making contacts.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: The

internet, email, Zoom and Microsoft Teams. What is a community cause/organization you care about deeply: Support for Israel. How do you relax: Still working on that... What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Passover seder.

Rob Gilmore

Law firm: Kohrman

Jackson & Krantz

Age: 64

Residence: Pepper Pike

Synagogue: Park

Synagogue

Undergraduate university: University of Cincinnati Law school: The Ohio State Michael E. Moritz College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Perseverance is the key. That will win out in the long run. There will be obstacles along the way, but if you keep at it, success will follow.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Probably a history professor. I love history and would likely have pursued that if I did not go to law school. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: I do labor and employment law, and often deal with non-compete agreements. There are a lot of misconceptions about these. Some believe that non-competes can’t be enforced, while others believe they can’t be revised or rejected. Neither is true; it depends on the reasonableness of the restrictions and many other factors on a case by case basis. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Being a good writer. It is critical to work on that skill to improve your legal writing ability. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: AI is starting to do so.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: I am on the board of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission. The commission works to bring production of movie and television to the Cleveland area. It provides great economic value to the city.

How do you relax: I play tennis as often as I can, and my body permits.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Passover seder.

Adam Glassman

Law firm: McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Liffman

Age: 32

Residence: Cleveland

Undergraduate university: Miami University

Law school: Cleveland State University College

SUPER ATTORNEYS

of Law

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Something in the medical field.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: The most common misconception is that we like to argue. As a transactional attorney, arguing is the last thing I want to do.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Good communication skills.

Understanding legalese and being able to translate it into something simple can be invaluable to clients.

Law firm: McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Liffman

Age: 59

Residence: Pepper Pike

Synagogue: Suburban

Temple-Kol Ami

Undergraduate

university: University of North Carolina

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Learn to think like a businessman, not an attorney.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: History professor. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That to be successful you need to be overly aggressive and combative.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: To be able to tell clients what they need to hear, whether they want to hear it or not. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Zoom and Microsoft Teams. You can now appear at hearings on the same day in different states without ever leaving the office.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Cleveland Clinic Foundation How do you relax: Working out, golfing and having drinks with friends.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Celebrating with family and food.

Law firm: Rolf Martin

Lang LLP Age: 69

Residence: Orange

Synagogue: Park

Synagogue

Undergraduate university: State University of New York at Binghamton

Law school: The University of Toledo College

of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Prepare and prepare some more.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Accounting. I graduated from college with an accounting degree.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Most people think of lawyers as being litigators in court. Health care law is much more transactional and regulatory, and being able to understand the business of your client is most important.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Understanding and learning how to read financial statements as, for many engagements, lawyers are providing business and financial advice.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Email and portable phones. When I started practice in the early 1980s, we had to wait for letters and/ or documents to arrive in the U.S. mail and only had use of landlines. How ancient. Today, everything is instantaneous.

What is a community cause/organization you care about deeply: My synagogue. How do you relax: I love to visit and be with our 11 grandchildren.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Chanukah. We are fortunate to be able to sponsor a Chanukah dinner and service on the Friday night during Chanukah in conjunction with Park Synagogue’s religious school in memory of my wife, Cynthia Goffman. The service is well-attended and we are able to give gifts to all of the children for a joyous celebration.

Michael J. Goldberg

Law firm: Goldberg

Dowell & Associates, LLC

Age: 62

Residence: Pepper Pike

Synagogue: Jewish Family Experience, Congregation

Shaarey Tikvah

Undergraduate university: University of Cincinnati Law school: The Ohio State Michael E. Moritz College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Know what you don’t know.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: High school or college wrestling coach. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That people accussed of awful crimes don’t deserve the same vigorous defense as “regular” people. The rights of all are protected when even the most henious accusations are ethically and

aggressively defended. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Humility and a very strong work ethic. A thick skin helps, too.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: The cellphone.

What is a community cause/organization you care about deeply: Housing, employment and social opportunities for people with special needs. I support organizations like Friendship Circle of Cleveland and Creative Living for Life at Ursuline Sisters.

How do you relax: I watch sports with my son, Noah, or play with my dog.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: I love Sukkot.

Steven M. Goldberg

Law firm: Goldberg Legal Co., LPA Age: 63

Residence: Solon

Synagogue: Solon Chabad

Undergraduate university: Arizona State University

Law school: Capital University Law School

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Listen more than you speak. Whether it’s a jury, a client or a colleague, people tell you what matters if you give them space.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I’d be in advertising. It’s about understanding people, not selling to them. It’s strategy, psychology and storytelling wrapped into one. The goal isn’t noise – it’s clarity.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: A common misconception is that personal injury law is about exaggeration or easy money. It isn’t. It’s about accountability.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Overcoming fear. This job isn’t for spectators – it’s for people willing to step into the arena and own the outcome.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: AI. It didn’t replace trial skills – it raised the bar.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Lox and Loaded.

How do you relax: Spending time with my girls, working out and trap and skeet shooting. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Observing Shabbat with my girls and family on Zoom.

Andy Goldwasser

Law Firm: Ciano & Goldwasser, LLP

Residence: Solon Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Show up with consistency, work hard when no one is watching, stay fully engaged even when the path is uncertain and find joy in the process rather than just the outcome.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Teaching. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That personal injury law is easy. In reality, every case presents unique challenges. We are not a volume law firm, by design. This gives us the opportunity to make a real difference for our clients. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: The most essential trait for young lawyers is the willingness to be present. Show up even when you may not be needed. You learn by seeing how matters unfold, and opportunities come to those who consistently demonstrate interest and reliability. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way your practice law: Without a doubt, AI.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: A significant part of my legal practice is devoted to advocating for survivors of sexual assault and trafficking, which has led me to serve as an active board member of the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center. In addition, I support several organizations dedicated to improving the lives of children battling cancer. These causes reflect both my professional commitments and the values that guide my work in the community. How do you relax: Outdoor activities. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Spending time with family.

Michael D. Goler

Law firm: Buckley King

Residence: Cleveland

Undergraduate university: Union College Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Keep digging. The answer is there if you only look hard enough.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Nonprofit volunteer. What is one misconception people often have

Rob Glickman

Ira S. Goffman

about your area of law: They think it’s simple. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Flexibility.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: The computer and its continuously emerging technologies.

What is a community cause/organization you care about deeply: The Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center.

How do you relax: Reading, walking and practicing classical guitar.

Madelyn Grant

Law firm: Friedman Nemecek Long & Grant, LLC

Age: 33

Residence: Cleveland

Synagogue: Congregation Mishkan Or

Undergraduate university: The Ohio State University

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Find your own style and go with it. Trying to replicate another lawyer’s style will never be authentic to you. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I would love to own a boutique. I am passionate about fashion and love to shop locally and find unique boutiques in any city I visit, so owning my own would be a dream.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: There is a common misconception that clients confess to a crime and then ask us to defend them as if they’ve done nothing wrong. That is simply not the case. We represent many clients that have been wrongfully accused of a crime and desperately need assistance in defending their innocence. We also represent clients that have been inappropriately charged and we work to resolve the case in a manner that more accurately depicts the situation.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Knowing when to stop and ask for help is so important. There is so much you don’t know when you graduate law school and every case you handle, no matter the type of case, touches people’s lives in important ways. Never be afraid to ask questions and recognize that the practice of law takes a village. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: AI has absolutely changed the practice. People can manipulate photos, text messages, videos, social media posts, etc., and in such sophisticated ways that it is almost undetectable. AI has changed how we investigate and defend our cases. Having good

forensic experts that can both explain the technological abilities of AI and also assist with deciphering what’s real from what’s fake is critical.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: I care deeply about reproductive rights and abortion access. There are many local and national organizations working hard to support patient access, medical professionals and the many ongoing legal battles, including but not limited to If/ When/How, Planned Parenthood, the ACLU and Abortion Fund of Ohio.

How do you relax: I love to work out and try to fit one in almost every day. It helps with the stress and keeps me energized throughout the day.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: My husband and I recently celebrated the birth of our daughter and very much enjoyed welcoming her into our Jewish family and giving her a special Hebrew name. The baby naming was such a special day filled with so much love and warmth. It is a tradition/custom I will never forget.

Brian Green

Law firm: Shapero & Green, LLC Age: 56 Residence: Shaker Heights Synagogue: Jewish Family Experience Undergraduate university: Indiana University Law school: Washington University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: The practice of law is like walking down a dark alley – be prepared for anything.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Owning a jet ski rental company on a beach.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That a client’s lawyer has control over the speed in which the legal system works.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Engaging in face-to-face communications to build relationships. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Fantastic innovations in software.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: I care about multiple Jewish causes that support the local community and elsewhere.

How do you relax: Running, cycling and spending time with family.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: At Passover seder, my father sings and plays the spoons as an

instrument. This tradition is prefaced with my mom making sure he does not use the good silverware.

Bradley L. Greene

Law firm: The Life Care Planning Law Offices of Bradley L. Greene

Age: 62

Residence: Beachwood

Synagogue: Jewish Family Experience

Undergraduate university: Bowling Green State University

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Even if you’re in a meeting with a potential new client, if your wife calls, take the call.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I would be a professional pickleball player. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Sometimes, people think we hide assets. With Medicaid planning, that is 100% illegal. We protect assets but everything is above board. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: It’s important to be confident but you have to remain humble. Start investing early and don’t spend more than you make. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Zoom, because you can meet with clients from all over and they don’t necessarily need to come into the office.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: At JFX, we have a real community where people are kind and welcoming and always trying to better themselves. Learning about Judaism has truly made me a better husband, father and friend. How do you relax: I like to read and play competitive board games and mahjong with my wife and kids.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Friday night dinners with family and friends

Todd Gurney

Law firm: The Eisen Law Firm

Age: 46

Residence: Shaker Heights

Synagogue: Park

Synagogue

Undergraduate university: Indiana University

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice

you’ve ever received: There is no substitute for hard work.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I think I could have been a great high school teacher (and coach). What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: One major misconception about medical malpractice is that a lot of cases are frivolous. In reality, the vast majority involve serious, preventable harm supported by clear evidence and expert review. These cases require extensive medical analysis, significant resources and strong legal and factual foundations. Since we only get paid if we win, plaintiff’s attorneys do not take on frivolous cases.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Patience is an essential trait for young lawyers entering medical malpractice work. These cases demand persistence – digging through complex medical records, consulting experts and facing well-resourced opponents. It’s hard work, and it takes a lot of time and patience to learn how to do it right.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Zoom. Instead of traveling all over the country to take expert depositions (navigating connecting flights and hotels, and lugging binders of medical records), I can sit at my computer in my office, with all my files in front of me, saving significant time and resources.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: I care deeply about expanding access to education and workforce development through ORT America. As president of ORT America Ohio region since 2023, I am proud to support ORT’s mission of empowering individuals with the skills, training and education needed to build meaningful careers. Investing in education strengthens communities, creates opportunity and helps ensure long-term economic and social stability. How do you relax: I relax by staying active and then slowing down. Golf and pickleball help me clear my head, while a good nap on the couch in front of the TV lets me fully recharge. I also love unwinding over drinks or dinner with friends – great conversation and laughter are the perfect way to end the day.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: My favorite Jewish holiday is Passover because it brings family together through tradition, storytelling and shared history. Passover’s themes of freedom, resilience and remembrance make it both meaningful and memorable each year.

SUPER ATTORNEYS

Barry Guttman

Law firm: Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP

Age: 39

Residence: Beachwood

Synagogue: Green Road

Synagogue

Undergraduate university: New York University Law school: Cardozo School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Always give your best effort – even if you think you can’t. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Hunger to learn and improve. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: In no particular order: Jewish Federation of Cleveland, Fuchs Mizrachi School, Green Road Synagogue and Camp Stone.

Rubin Guttman

Law firm: Rubin Guttman & Associates, LPA

Residence: Beachwood

Synagogue: Green Road

Synagogue

Undergraduate university: Brooklyn College

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Be the best you can be. There a no shortcuts to excellence or success. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Teaching history. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That most claimants are somehow phoney or exaggerating their claims and that doctors are the victims of the system.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Hard work, clarity of expression and respect for your client.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Computerization of our office and now, AI. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Jewish education, the political health of the U.S. and the restoration of civil discourse.

How do you relax: Model railroading, reading history and biography, studying Judaica, walking and exercise.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: I enjoy Shabbat and each of our holidays, especially with our family and friends.

Jill Friedman Helfman

Law firm: Taft Stettinius & Hollister

Residence: Solon

Synagogue: Park

Synagogue

Undergraduate university: University of Michigan

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: The best professional advice I received was to always remember that behind every case is a client whose personal life will be affected by what I do. Therefore, listening before I speak so my clients feel heard, and being empathetic, makes me a better advocate, counselor and ultimately a better lawyer.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That divorce lawyers are focused on creating conflict. In reality, most of my work is about problem-solving, deescalation and helping people navigate one of the most difficult transitions of their lives with dignity and clarity. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Good judgment is the most essential skill. Knowing the law is critical, but understanding when to push, when to pause and how a decision will affect a client long-term is what ultimately defines an effective lawyer. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: As AI technology shows real promise, it has not yet replaced the need for legal judgment, experience and context. In my practice, involving nuanced facts and human dynamics, there is still important work to be done before AI can meaningfully enhance outcomes. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Friendship Circle of Cleveland, because I believe it’s important to bring companionship to children with special needs and to bring peace of mind to their families.

Law firm: Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy Co., LPA

Age: 42

Residence: Solon

Synagogue: Solon Chabad

Undergraduate university: The Ohio State University Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Make time to think. No computer. No notes. No phone. Sit and think. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Professional golfer.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: For serious cases, it is one of the most legally complicated and sophisticated areas of the law that exists. Only the best know how to walk the tightrope and execute.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Inner drive. External validation amounts to nothing.

How do you relax: Exercise – mainly walking, strength training and golf.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: My core Jewish memories are sitting at the dinner table during Passover singing songs.

Hess

Law firm: T. Hess & Associates, LLC

Age: 52

Residence: Cleveland Heights

Undergraduate university: Kent State University

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Forestry and wildlife management.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: I often get the question, “How can you defend criminals?” The reality is that my job is to protect and defend the rights of those accused of crimes. That also means my job is to make sure the prosecutors follow the rules and make their case legally.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Young lawyers must have the ability to listen to people and to not take their client’s case personally.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Online legal research and, now, AI.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Recovery Court started by Judge Nancy Margaret Russo and strongly supported and in collaboration with Brandon E. Chrostowski, owner of EDWINS Restaurant. How do you relax: I relax by getting out into nature sometimes with my dogs.

Evan Hirsch

Law firm: Singerman, Mills, Desberg & Kauntz Co., LPA Age: 44

Residence: Orange

Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation

Undergraduate university: Boston

University Law school: The Ohio State Michael E. Moritz College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: This is not a 9-to-5 job. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Mayor of a suburban community.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That we do not get paid unless the deal closes.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Contracts are hard to read, but every word is there for a reason. They need to understand why the words are there and what is intended.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Smartphones allow me to work on the go and have more flexibility without skipping a beat on work.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Jewish Federation of Cleveland and the Mandel Jewish Community Center of Cleveland.

How do you relax: Having my kids humble me in Pop-a-Shot.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Enjoying my mom’s matzo ball soup on holidays.

Alan Hochheiser

Law firm: Maurice Wutscher LLP

Age: 62

Residence: Beachwood

Synagogue: Congregation Mishkan Or Undergraduate university: State University of New York at Albany

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: To constantly communicate with people. This includes your clients, your adversaries and your team. If everyone is not on the same page it makes it more difficult to manage expectations.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: An emergency room doctor; being able to help people in a fast-paced environment is something I have always wanted to do.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That although the large Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases get all the press, they make up a very small portion of the total bankruptcy filings in the United States. That the majority of bankruptcies are consumer-related.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Oral communication. With the ever-

Jeff Heller

Tim

changing legal world due to computers and AI, there has seem to be a reliance on written communication. Negotiation and litigation will require picking up the phone or face-to-face communication.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Email. Although it is a very useful tool, at times it is overly utilized.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Causes that feed and clothe the less fortunate, especially children. How do you relax: Playing tennis. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Chanukah is our family’s favorite holiday. No matter where our children are, we light the menorah together over FaceTime or the phone. This has been going on for years.

Jason Hochman Law firm: Dinn, Hochman & Potter, LLC

Age: 45

Residence: Orange

Synagogue: Congregation Mishkan Or

Undergraduate university: University of Michigan Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Be responsive and be reasonable. You don’t need to win every point, but your reputation is built on reliability, preparedness and how you treat people when issues arise.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I could see myself in real estate development or running a small business, or something deal-driven where strategy, relationships and problem-solving matter.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That it’s just paperwork. In reality, good transactional law is risk management, negotiation and anticipating problems before they turn into lawsuits. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Issue-spotting. The ability to see problems before they fully form and to understand how one issue impacts everything else is far more valuable than just knowing the law.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Mobile technology; having constant access to email, documents and calendars allows me to stay responsive and keep matters moving, even when I’m not physically in the office. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Education-focused and Jewish community organizations, including ORT America, as well as other initiatives that

support education, leadership and long-term community strength.

How do you relax: Exercise, traveling, spending time with my wife and kids, going to sporting events and playing sports myself. Anything that gets me out of the office, moving and present. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Passover seders with family

Gary H. Hoffman

Law firm: Gary H. Hoffman Attorney Age: 74

Residence: Beachwood

Synagogue: Park Synagogue

Undergraduate university: University of Pennsylvania

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Never stop learning. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Stand-up comedian. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: I strive to help clients through a stressful time and make sure the system treats them fairly. Some people think this is not always the case with personal injury law. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Good communication. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: The internet (yes, I was practicing before it existed). What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Park Synagogue. How do you relax: Swimming and elliptical. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Breaking Passover at Geraci’s Restaurant.

Mark L. Hoffman

Law firm: The Law Offices of Mark L. Hoffman Age: 73

Residence: Cleveland Heights

Synagogue: Congregation Mishkan Or

Undergraduate university: George Washington University

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Client privacy must be strictly protected.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Professional musician.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That estate planning is

not needed until you are old. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Abstract reasoning. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: AI. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: American Civil Liberties Union.

How do you relax: The outdoors.

Ari H. Jaffe

Law firm: Kohrman

Jackson & Krantz

Age: 65

Residence: University Heights

Synagogue: Green Road

Synagogue

Undergraduate university: Brandeis University

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Treat the judge like you would your grandfather – with patience and respect.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I would love to cook and run a restaurant. It is a real privilege to serve people good food in a welcoming environment.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Many people wrongfully think that the lawyer gets paid first. Ask any lawyer at the end of the year what they really do to accommodate their clients. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Honesty and integrity are the most important values in the practice of law. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: I have come a long way from my first Apple II home computer and IBM 286 work desktop. My iPad is my constant business companion. What is a community cause/organization you care about deeply: I care deeply for the Jewish community and the state of Israel. I am very fortunate to be involved with several great institutions including American Friends of Ogen, Jewish Federation of Cleveland, Brandeis University Hillel, Bikur Cholim of Cleveland, Jewish Funders Network, Green Road Synagogue and the Cleveland Jewish News. How do you relax: Shabbat and chaggim. The phone is off, the computer is off, the car is in the garage and Marlyn and I relax and celebrate with family and friends.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Family and community play the most central role in all of my religious practices. Whether in Cleveland or in Israel, being with those we love enhances all of our traditions.

Rachel Kabb-Effron

Law firm: Kabb Law Firm

Age: 52

Residence: Woodmere

Synagogue: Park

Synagogue

Undergraduate university: University of Cincinnati

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Don’t let anyone put an asterisk next to your name. Be kind and professional in all things.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I would love to be in the culinary field.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: There are so many myths about elder law and how to get a nursing home paid for. People often think there’s nothing they can do to preserve their assets and to get better care.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: I think young lawyers should absolutely be good at listening and speaking without texting.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way your practice law: Our practice management software has really helped us be efficient and accountable as a team. I will also say that AI is becoming more and more helpful.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: As far as Jewish causes, locally, we support Hillel at Kent State. In Israel, I support ZAKA and also United Hatzalah. I also love EDWINS.

How do you relax: We love sailing, hiking and traveling. I do think it’s critical to take care of yourself in the practice of law because it can be really stressful.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Our family comes together for most holidays, but I really love Passover. Everyone pitches in and we have a great, meaningful seder.

Matthew Kadish

Law firm: Frantz Ward LLP

Age: 63

Residence: Hudson

Undergraduate university: Williams College

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Your non-billable time is your most important time.

What is one misconception people often have

SUPER ATTORNEYS

about your area of law: Law is about people, and tax law is no exception. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Empathy.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: People International Inc., a national peer mentoring performing arts organization for ages 12 and up. How do you relax: Playing guitar.

Doron Kalir

Law firm: Cleveland State University College of Law

Appellate Practice Clinic

Residence: Pepper Pike

Synagogue: B’nai

Jeshurun Congregation

Undergraduate university: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Law school: Columbia Law School

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Never give up researching; there is no way the question you’re being presented with hasn’t been asked, in one form or another, during the past two centuries of law.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Professor of philosophy, or Jewish thought. I still dabble with both. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Together with my students, I practice appeals. A frequent misconception of the appellate lawyer is that it’s a men’s game, and a solo game (read: “Rambo”). Nothing could be further from the truth. It takes a group of excellent lawyers to perfect an appeal and, over the years, I have seen many female students who were way superior to their male counterparts. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Today, more than ever, I would suggest that independent, critical thinking is essential. Students nowadays learn to rely on artificial intelligence – read. Not their intelligence. Moreover, they (wrongly) assume that whatever the computer spouts is Torah from heaven. As teachers and mentors, we should disuade them of their wrong ways.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: AI, for good and (as of now) mostly bad; the notion that a machine can think for itself, in a profession known for the ability to think for ourselves, is a game-changer the likes of which the law has not seen since the Romans published their laws on the streets of their empire.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: The notion of the rule of law – that everyone is equal before the law, and that no one is above the law – has become very near and dear to me in recent years. When I first studied law, over 30 years ago, I didn’t

understand what’s the big deal about this concept. Of course everyone’s equal before the law. How naive was I.

How do you relax: Yoga.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Chanukah. Lighting candles with the boys, seeing their faces bright and smiling and sharing the stories that brought light to their lives – best tradition ever.

Charles Kampinski

Law firm: Kampinski & Roberts, LPA Age: 78

Residence: Moreland Hills

Undergraduate university: The Ohio State University Law school: The Ohio State Michael E. Moritz College of Law

Grant J. Keating

Law firm: Dworken & Bernstein Co., LPA Age: 46

Residence: Solon

Undergraduate university: Ithaca College Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Focus on credibility above all else. Judges, clients and opposing counsel may disagree with you, but if they trust your word and your preparation, you start every case with an advantage that can’t be manufactured later. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: My undergraduate degree is in psychology. If I was not a lawyer, I would still be helping people work through their most complex problems, just on a couch instead of a in courtroom.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Many people assume litigation is primarily about courtroom theatrics. In reality, the outcome is usually driven by preparation, strategy and attention to detail long before anyone steps into a courtroom. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Judgment. Knowing the law is essential, but knowing when to push, when to compromise and how to advise clients realistically is what separates good lawyers from effective ones.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Advanced legal research platforms and AI-assisted drafting tools have dramatically increased efficiency, allowing more time to focus on strategy, client counseling and case analysis rather than purely mechanical tasks. What is a community cause/organization

you care deeply about: I have worked with the nonprofit Kinnect for over a decade. Kinnect’s mission is to build and strengthen kinship connections and inclusive support networks for families, young people and children.

How do you relax: Spending quality time with family, sharing meals with friends and traveling What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Passover seder, particularly the The Four Questions. It’s a meaningful opportunity to spend intentional time with family across generations.

James Kendis

Law firm: Kendis, O’Brien & Stanek Co., LPA Age: 84

Residence: Solon

Synagogue: Congregation Mishkan Or Undergraduate university: Case Western Reserve University

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Always be truthful so you have a reputation of honesty.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Author and educator. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Lawyers are too expensive.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Read and know changes in the law, whether by case law or by statute. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Knowing medicine and all safety laws. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Jewish Federation of Cleveland.

How do you relax: Reading, working out, writing.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Family gatherings.

James N. Kline

Law firm: Bonezzi Switzer Polito & Perry Co., LPA Age: 66

Residence: Perry

Synagogue: Congregation Mishkan Or Undergraduate university: University of Michigan

Law school: The Ohio State Michael E. Moritz College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Build trust.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Back in stand-up comedy.

What is one misconception people often have

about your area of law: That lawyers are ethicsadverse. A top priority is, in fact, to act ethically and professionally (at least for most of us). What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: A willingness to ask questions, and not just via email or text, but face to face. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Zoom, a boon and a bane. You can confer from anywhere, but it is still less effective than in-person interactions.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Firearms control. Gun violence prevention (I am member of the Ohio Council of Churches Gun Violence Prevention Team). How do you relax: Being with family and building models (Yep, plastic models – focuses my attention and teaches me history regarding the subject matter).

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Seder – great to be together with the entire family (and the creative ways that we have come up with for answering The Four Questions, like when we filmed my daughter at different Jewish sites around Cleveland as she answered each question on video)

Richard S. Koblentz

Law firm: Koblentz, Penvose & Froning, LLC Age: 75

Residence: Solon

Undergraduate university: The Ohio State University Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: There is no matter or client that will ever be worth sacrificing your honesty and integrity.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: After 50 years of practice, it is hard to say. I would love to be a retired professional baseball player. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Within attorney licensure defense, lawyers are mistaken that only their clients can make a claim of professional misconduct against them. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: The ability to write well has always been the most essential trait.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities

How do you relax: I enjoy watching baseball and reading.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Gathering at Passover.

Sarah Kolick

Law firm: Minc Law

Age: 28

Residence: Westlake

Synagogue: Beth El-The Heights Synagogue, B’nai Jeshurun Congregation

Undergraduate university: Smith College

Law school: The George Washington University Law School

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Trust your gut and never take the advice of another attorney if it doesn’t make sense.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Full-time activist. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Many people do not comprehend the harm caused by intimate image abuse and the adult content industry. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: The ability to have a life and identity outside the legal profession.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: My field exists because the technology has given rise to new forms of gender-based violence, such as revenge pornography and other forms of digital sexual harassment.

What is a community cause/organization you care about deeply: I am a passionate advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and reproductive rights.

How do you relax: Playing my harp. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Eating dinner at midnight on Pesach.

Brett Krantz

Hannah Kraus

Kenneth M. Lapine

Law firm: Buckley King

Age: 83

Residence: Pepper Pike

Synagogue: Suburban Temple-Kol Ami

Undergraduate university: Dartmouth College

Law school: University of Michigan Law School

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Carefully proofread every document that you produce. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Developing real estate, and attracting and satisfying investors. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That representing buyers and sellers of real estate is simple. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Having the skill of patience and civility in dealing with colleagues, clients and opposing counsel.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Using the computer to do research and access forms used in previous transactions. What is a community cause/organization you care about deeply: Suburban Temple-Kol Ami. How do you relax: Reading The Wall Street Journal and watching documentaries on PBS. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Celebrating Rosh Hashanah dinners with family.

Jordan D. Lebovitz

developing better relationships with your clients. How do you relax: Spending time with my family, walking our dog, Stevie, traveling when able and eating great meals.

Jeffrey A. Leikin

Law firm: Jeffrey Leikin, Esq., LLC

Age: 67

Residence: Pepper Pike

Synagogue: Park

Synagogue

Undergraduate university: University of Colorado

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: You must never lose sight of the concept that the lawyer represents the client. It is not the other way around. This is a service industry, and the client must always be taken care of and be your No. 1 priority. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I always thought of being a high school history teacher and coach. The thought of making a difference in the lives of so many young adults was always something that attracted my interest. It’s probably the reason why I decided to get involved with my local school board.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Passover probably is my favorite; our extended family has always gotten together for the holiday Seder, even going back to the days of Executive Caterers on Chagrin Boulevard. There are so many memories from these meals and so many more to come.

Kevin Lenson

Law firm: Elk & Elk Co., Ltd.

Residence: Moreland Hills

Undergraduate university: University of Wisconsin

Law school: The University of Toledo College of Law

Law firm: Kohrman Jackson & Krantz

Undergraduate university: Dartmouth College

Law school: University of Chicago Law School

Law firm: Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy Co., LPA Age: 37

Residence: Moreland Hills

Synagogue: Park Synagogue

Undergraduate university: University of Michigan

Law school: Chicago-Kent College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Treat your clients like you would want to be treated, and you will be successful.

Law firm: Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP

Age: 29

Synagogue: Solon Chabad

Undergraduate university: The Ohio State University

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Too many to count. Personal injury attorneys are the subject of constant discussion among the profession, but what if it were your child or family member who was hurt due to no fault of their own? You would want the most effective, assertive and competent person handling their case. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Patience. Even in such a “need it now” type of environment, having patience will go a long way to being a better attorney and

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: As far as the injury cases are concerned, the fact that you are entitled to compensation just because you were hurt. In reality, no insurance company just gives away money. There are elements of proof to each case which clients sometime have a hard time accepting.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Being a good listener. Listening to their clients in conversation, their witnesses at deposition and what their opposing counsel is telling them. Too often, young lawyers have scripted responses and fail to act upon what is being said. They miss essential points to the case that they later wished they had responded to when reviewing their notes or transcripts. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: The computer and the internet; these tools have turned us all into typists, emailers and researchers and made our lives much easier and our businesses more profitable. What is a community cause/organization you care about deeply: I am currently involved with the Orange City Schools Alumni Association, the Lander Circle Kiwanis Club and Park Synagogue. They all have special meaning to me that generates my desire to give back to these organizations.

How do you relax: The best way is to have my wife and kids at home for a home-cooked dinner on a Friday night and to hang out together afterwards as a family.

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Always communicate with your clients and the telephone is a valuable resource tool. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: American history professor focusing on the Civil War era. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That most injury claims are frivolous. That assertion is totally false and couldn’t be further from the truth. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Being personable and relatable to your clients, showing empathy for people who are going through a difficult ordeal.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: With a cell phone, you can work from anywhere. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Anything related to the treatment of animals.

How do you relax: Play basketball once a week, exercise and read American history books. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Passover, because of the meal and family gathering.

Rebecca Kopp Levine

Law firm: Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP

Residence: Westlake

Synagogue: Suburban Temple-Kol Ami

Undergraduate university: Purdue University

Law school: Temple University Beasley School of Law

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: I believe young attorneys need to take initiative – to learn new practice areas, to grow their skill sets and to craft their career path plan. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: I care deeply about the Cleveland Leadership Center as I

SUPER ATTORNEYS

believe strongly that we must assist the next generation of leaders to ensure our community remains vibrant.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: I love sharing our Chanukah traditions with non-Jewish neighbors.

Kenneth B. Liffman

Law firm: McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Liffman

Residence: Cleveland

Synagogue: Congregation

Mishkan Or Undergraduate university: Miami University

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Understand the needs of the client and utilize the law and your talents to achieve the best possible results.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Any role where I could be personally satisfied and help people. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: To me, no area of law is simple. It takes care, concern, commitment and self-respect to be one of the best. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: One must have a very high level of self-respect and a desire to out-work and outservice competition.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: The smartphone.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: I am a board member of multiple not-for-profit organizations, and I care deeply about the community. Amongst my favorites are the Maltz Museum and InMotion. How do you relax: Spending time with family, exercising and being a sports fan (although it can be difficult in Cleveland).

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Chanukah. You get to sing songs, spend time with family and give out gifts.

Eric F. Long

Law firm: Friedman

Nemecek Long & Grant, LLC

Age: 42

Residence: Rocky River

Synagogue: Suburban Temple-Kol Ami Undergraduate university: Miami University Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice

you’ve ever received: Don’t try to be someone else. Always be yourself.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Anything real estate. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That we represent bad people.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Passion.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: The ability to collect and analyze evidence today. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Youth athletics. How do you relax: Boating and being out on the water.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: My grandfather would always have a glass of scotch to break the fast.

James

A. Lowe

Law firm: Lowe Trial Lawyers

Age: 80

Residence: Lakewood

Synagogue: Congregation Mishkan Or Undergraduate university: University of Pennsylvania

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Be yourself.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Professor. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: People sometimes think we can’t help them, when in fact we can. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Professionalism and collegiality in dealing with other lawyers.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: AI is beginning to dominate our practice. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Hunger should not exist in our community.

How do you relax: Exercise.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Yom Kippur provides a wonderful opportunity for self-reflection and renewal.

Michael Makofsky

Law firm: McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Liffman

Age: 51

Residence: Solon

Undergraduate university: University of Connecticut

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School

of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Understand not only the practice of law, but also the business of law. It is ultimately a service business so you must know how to sell yourself and add value.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Some think that M&A and bank agreements are just forms, but there is a lot of skill and creativity required to draft and negotiate transactions documents. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Having the right mindset is critical in order to handle all of the responsibilities of one’s career and other priorities.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: There are so many meaningful causes. I care a lot for protecting the innocent, victim rights, etc., and taking care of dogs.

How do you relax: Being outside in nature relaxes me, so I’ll go for a walk or a hike in the woods.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Passover seder.

Jack S. Malkin

Law firm: Jack S. Malkin, Esq.

Age: 70

Residence: Solon

Synagogue: Solon Chabad

Undergraduate university: Ohio

University

Law school: The University of Akron School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Listen more, talk less. Always be prepared and always be communicative with your clients. Don’t be the stereotype.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Something sports-related in the management field. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: You only need a lawyer when you have a legal problem. Being proactive will save you potential problems down the road. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Never miss deadlines or court dates. Be punctual and don’t make promises you can’t keep.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Google and/or AI.

What is a community cause/organization you care about deeply: Cleveland Kosher Food Pantry

How do you relax: By playing golf as much as humanly possible.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: The exchanges of

gifts during the eight days of Chanukah with my family, children and grandchildren and, of course, making latkes.

Ellen S. Mandel

Law firm: Law Office of Ellen S. Mandel

Age: 72

Residence: Beachwood

Undergraduate university: Case Western Reserve University Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Don’t make your client’s problems your problem. If you internalize a client’s issues, you cannot focus on a solution. You can be empathetic, but you must stay objective.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Cooking and baking. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That the court will pick winners and losers.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Patience and humility. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: We now do many things online, including virtual hearings and electronic filing. These changes have made for more efficient time management. What is a community cause/organization you care about deeply: I am intensely focused on civil liberties and voting rights.

How do you relax: I do the word games and crossword puzzles by The New York Times. I walk my dog, Teddy. This year, I started playing mahjong (oy) and canasta.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: I love Chanukah because I get to wrack my brain to find the “perfect” gift for my nieces and nephews. I also love donating toys to Toys for Tots and Ronald McDonald House.

Marc B. Merklin

Law firm: Roetzel & Andress

Age: 65

Residence: Fairlawn

Synagogue: Beth El

Congregation

Undergraduate university: Case Western Reserve University

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Treat your client’s problems as though they were yours. Understand their concerns, issues, risk tolerance and goals and be mindful of reaching their goals and solving their problems as

efficiently and with your best professional efforts.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Nonprofit management. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: People associate business bankruptcy/restructuring as getting out of and avoiding paying your debts when the real goals are value preservation, job preservation and emerging as a productive business able to employ its people and contribute to the economy.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: The ability to solve problems and offer practical real-world solutions to clients rather than just being able to recite black letter law and legal analysis.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Smartphones and email, which make the lawyer essentially accessible to clients 24/7.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Greater Akron Chamber and Team NEO. I’ve learned that economic development and job creation in our region fosters the ability to develop the other important aspects of community including philanthropy, arts and culture and reduction of poverty.

How do you relax: Watching sporting events with my family, including my son with whom I share a love of the Cleveland Guardians, Browns and Cavaliers.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: My entire family gathering for the first seder each year.

Daniel Messeloff

Law firm: Ferdinand LLP

Age:

Residence: Heights

Synagogue: Synagogue

Undergraduate university: University

Law school: Fordham University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Never stop learning. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in:

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Entrepreneuralism.

Donald H. Messinger

Law firm: Thompson Hine LLP

Residence: Shaker Heights

Undergraduate university: Colgate University

Law school: Duke University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Pay attention, ask questions and answer your phone on the first ring. Clients and other lawyers will appreciate your genuine interest and respect for their time and concerns. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Basketball coach at Duke.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Being able to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.

How do you relax: Doing laundry on Sundays, while my wife, Sally, is out selling real estate.

Steve Miller

Law firm: Buckley King

Age: 69

Residence: Shaker Heights

Synagogue: Congregation Mishkan Or

Undergraduate university: Brown University

Law school: Vanderbilt

Law School, Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Don’t just do your best, do what’s needed.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Teaching. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That all litigators are good courtroom lawyers.

Adam J. Moss

Law firm: The Belles Group, P.C.

Age: 29

Residence: Chagrin Falls

Synagogue: Park

Synagogue

Undergraduate university: The Ohio State University

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: While I didn’t receive this advice in a professional setting, my parents always told me to check my rearview mirror. Life moves fast and there’s always more to do, so taking a moment to make sure nothing is left behind has been endlessly helpful – and applicable in every area of my life.

Law firm: Buckley King Age: 62

Residence: Cleveland Heights

Undergraduate university: Northwestern University

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Breathe.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Teaching.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Our children have attended and benefited tremendously from the Fuchs Mizrachi School. The community wouldn’t be as great as it is without FMS.

How do you relax: Reading, meditation and spending time with my family

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Spending Shabbat with my family.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: It’s just about the money.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Love of the rule of law and drive to do justice.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Impossible to answer – every innovation has a massive impact.

What is a community cause/organization you care about deeply: Legal Aid Society of Cleveland and Hope For a Cure For Alz. How do you relax: Gardening, reading, cooking for family get-togethers and watching British crime dramas.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Passover.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: As always, confidential, thoughtful, independent strategic analysis and good judgment.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Personal computer, cell phone and now, AI. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Legal Aid Society of Cleveland.

How do you relax: By getting stuff done. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: On each of the eight nights, lighting the Chanukah candles, taking and sending photos of them and appreciating the countless miracles of life.

Aaron Minc

Law firm: Minc Law

Undergraduate university: Miami University

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

Suzann Moskowitz

Law firm: The Moskowitz Firm

Residence: Beachwood

Synagogue: Park Synagogue

Undergraduate university: Cornell University

Law school: Stanford Law School

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: If you do what you love, you’ll never have to work a day in your life.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Education. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Intellectual property can feel like a mystery, which can lead to plenty of misconceptions. I’m happy to help clear things up, so please feel free to reach out. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Always look for the silver lining in every situation. Doing so makes it easier to spot opportunity and, more importantly, to find happiness, and be sure to take pride in your work.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: The world is far more connected these days, and being able to meet with clients face-to-face over platforms like Zoom, even when they are across the country or abroad, is especially important in my line of work. It enables clearer communication and increased efficiency. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: I care deeply about healthcare research, especially communitybased studies that translate evidence into practical support for patients and expand access to better care. Work that improves day-to-day quality of life feels particularly meaningful to me.

How do you relax: Spending time with my spouse, cooking, watching movies, gardening, snowboarding, golfing, keeping fish tanks, playing video games and adventuring. Honestly, I have too many hobbies.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: My favorite tradition is simply that my extended family gathers each holiday and, beyond that, makes a point to spend time together often. Life gets busy and it’s easy to get distracted, but family matters, and you’ll never regret making time for the people you love.

SUPER ATTORNEYS

Richard A. Naegele

Law firm: Wickens Herzer Panza

Age: 74

Residence: Huron

Synagogue: Agudath

B’nai Israel Synagogue

Undergraduate university: Ohio University

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Exercise daily, eat right and try to stay healthy. Without your health, it is difficult to accomplish your personal and professional goals.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: University professor. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That ERISA and tax law are boring.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Honesty and integrity.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Being able to work remotely and attend meetings remotely via Zoom.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: The Lucy Idol Center in Vermilion.

How do you relax: Exercise, travel and reading. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Getting together with family and friends for Passover seder.

Tod Northman

Law firm: Tucker Ellis LLP Age: 59

Residence: Shaker Heights

Synagogue: Green Road

Synagogue

Undergraduate university: Portland State University

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Do your best work, always.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I always dreamed that I’d own a professional sports franchise. Jimmy Haslam is lucky law worked out.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That an aviation lawyer has to be involved in lawsuits. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Honesty. Your reputation is paramount and, if lost, nearly impossible to reclaim. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: The internet.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Green Road Synagogue. How do you relax: Exercise – cycling, running, lifting – and dog walking.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Sukkot; I love building and dwelling in the sukkah.

Jill Okun

Law firm: Porter Wright

Morris & Arthur LLP

Undergraduate university: Tufts University

Law school: Boston College Law School

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: I serve on the board and as treasurer of ORT America’s Northeast Ohio chapter. ORT is a global education organization transforming lives through STEM education and training in more than 40 countries, including Israel, Europe, Latin America and the former Soviet Union. I have seen firsthand how ORT helps children overcome difficult beginnings to become confident, self-sufficient adults.

Brad Ortman

Law firm: Nicola, Gudbranson & Cooper, LLC

Age: 57

Residence: Shaker Heights

Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation

Undergraduate university: University of Michigan

Law school: The George Washington University Law School

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Whatever you do, give it your best effort.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: International development work.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That undocumented people have many routes to legal status, and it is their own failure for not pursuing them. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Resourcefulness.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: I am dating myself with the obvious answer of internet and email. I cannot imagine practicing law without these tools being available. However, more recently the transformative change has come through the ability to have online meetings. AI has not yet profoundly changed how I practice law, but I realize we are just scratching the surface and that it will.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: I passionately care about immigrants rights groups, especially in these times.

How do you relax: Listening to music, playing pickleball, running.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Passover. Celebrating the Exodus, liberation from slavery. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Abbie Pappas

Law firm: UB

Greensfelder LLP

Age: 37

Residence: Beachwood

Synagogue: Beachwood

Kehilla

Undergraduate university: The Ohio State University

Law school: Columbia Law School

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: The one thing the client will recognize in their document is their name. Don’t spell it wrong. (You wouldn’t believe how often junior associates – including myself back in the day – mess this up.)

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Finance, banking, investment management.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That trusts and estates are simple, easy, or form-based; estate planning (especially regarding the gift and estate tax regimes) is extremely technical. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Common sense and critical thinking skills. You can look up whatever legal doctrine you need, but half of your job will be to make judgment calls and handle client relationships. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Really fast, effective work-from-home systems. I spend a ton of time driving around the Cleveland area to meet with my clients at their homes, and being able to work from home (or the library, or a coffeeshop) in between meetings is vital to my practice.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Fuchs Mizrachi School. But seriously – all five of our local Jewish day schools. We are so lucky to have so many amazing educational institutions here for our families to choose from.

How do you relax: I have three boys under the age of 10. What is this relax you speak of?

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Shabbat – the best time of the week.

Joshua Payne

Law firm: Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy

Co., LPA

Residence: Cleveland

Synagogue: Congregation Mishkan Or Undergraduate university: The College of Wooster

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Something involving cars.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Hungry and humble. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: TrialPad. What is a community cause/organization you care about deeply: Adoption Network Cleveland.

How do you relax: Spending time outside and chasing after my 18-month-old.

Scott Perlmuter

Law firm: Tittle & Perlmuter

Age: 43

Residence: Shaker

Heights

Synagogue: Temple emanu El Undergraduate university: University of Wisconsin Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I’ve got no fallback options.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Resilience; the practice of law, particularly for trial lawyers, is a roller coaster. You’re going to have great wins and crushing losses, and it’s your job to keep showing up for your clients even on the hard days. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: AI generally. We have an internal platform that we use for basically every aspect of our practice and I am a heavy ChatGPT user for non-confidential prompts. AI is transforming the way all lawyers practice (or should be practicing).

Katherine Poldneff

Law firm: UB

Greensfelder LLP

Age: 46

Residence: Broadview Heights

Synagogue: Temple Israel

Ner Tamid

Undergraduate university: Vanderbilt University

Law school: New York University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Don’t place too many limitations on yourself. You are fully capable of learning on the job and figuring things out. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Fiction writer. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That we are constantly speaking in court or going to trial. Over 95% of what I do happens out of court – writing correspondence and court submissions, negotiating with opposing counsel or counseling clients.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Adaptability, including the willingness to continue learning new skills; the legal field is changing quickly with the introduction and honing of new technology. The best new lawyers will be able to harness those resources as they develop and apply them to their own practices.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: AI is currently changing the practice of law, and the most productive and efficient lawyers are learning how to use it in a myriad of different ways and yet are still cognizant of and attuned to its current limitations.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: The Center for ArtsInspired Learning, which is an organization that works with local artists as well as youth and educators in Northeast Ohio to bring arts education into schools and communities. How do you relax: Hiking in the national park with Bentley, my dog, or reading a good book. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Making latkes together and lighting the candles for Chanukah, and ordering Chinese food and seeing a movie on Christmas day.

Matthew Pollack

Law firm: McDonald Hopkins LLC

Age: 47

Residence: Highland Heights

Synagogue: Temple Emanu El

Undergraduate university: The Ohio State University

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Find lawyers who practice in areas you are considering and ask candid questions about lifestyle, stress and long-term satisfaction. Their actual experience is more valuable than rankings or marketing materials.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: If I were not a lawyer, I would be working in some capacity with Ohio State football, ideally in coaching or officiating, where teamwork, accountability and high-stakes decision-making intersect. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: While many assume legal work is limited to reading contracts, the reality is far more dynamic. My practice involves extensive client interaction, problem-solving and relationship-building. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: The most essential trait for young lawyers entering the field today is judgment. Technical skills like research, writing and legal knowledge are expected and teachable; what distinguishes strong early-career lawyers is the ability to assess what matters, anticipate risk, communicate clearly and apply legal advice effectively in real-world contexts. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Not a specific tool or innovation, but the flexibility to work between home and the office has been a game changer, particularly during high-volume periods. Time saved commuting is time redirected to client work, where it adds the most value.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: One of the most rewarding aspects of my schedule flexibility is being able to volunteer as a coach for my children’s sports teams.

How do you relax: By watching Cleveland sports (there’s always next year) and Ohio State football, and spending time with my wife and three kids.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Right now, it is helping my daughter get ready for her bat mitzvah. It is our first one, and a very cool experience planning and helping her prepare.

Cynthia K. Port

Law firm: Singerman, Mills, Desberg & Kauntz Co., LPA

Age: 56

Residence: Beachwood Synagogue: Park Synagogue Undergraduate university: University of Maryland Law school: American University Washington

College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Protect your time. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I’ve always wanted to own a pub. Maybe I’d do that if I didn’t practice law.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That it’s something people can DIY or that it’s something you could learn from a half-day seminar. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Attention to detail remains the most important skill for an attorney at every stage. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Document management systems and the ability to collaborate virtually.

How do you relax: Baking, watching TV, reading, coffee with friends.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Purim.

Robert Port

Law firm: Ice Miller LLP

Age: 59

Residence: Beachwood Synagogue: Park Synagogue

Undergraduate university: Drexel University, The Catholic University of America Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: When I was a litigation summer associate, a partner told me to master the Rules of Civil Procedure, which turned out to be excellent advice. It is also important to keep in touch with law school alumni and to develop a large social and professional network. Not only will that enrich your life, but will inure to your benefit on a professional level.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I was a mechanical engineer for twelve years before going to law school, so I can certainly see myself continuing that career. But aside from engineering, I would have liked a career in photography.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: The biggest misconception is that all litigators are nasty and only want to fight with the opposing party instead of looking for practical solutions. While vigorously protecting your client’s interests is critical, when at all possible, I find the best way to do that is to work cooperatively with opposing party to get the best possible result for your client.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: For young attorneys, the most important traits are logical and creative thinking,

problem-solving skills, attention to detail and organizational skills. For litigators, specifically, it is important to have a healthy competitive streak and empathy for our clients. At the end of the day, the most important consideration is to do what’s best for the client, which often involves a range of strategies and potential results.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: When I started as a lawyer, Lexis and Westlaw were taking over legal research. That was sea change in legal practice. AI is the next quantum step in changing the legal practice. But some of the biggest changes during my practice have been advances in technology that changed the way we conduct discovery and allow for a much more sophisticated presentation of evidence and argument to judges and juries. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Lawrence School, which teaches children with learning differences, including dyslexia, attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder, dyscalculia and other challenges. My daughter graduated from Lawrence and the experience changed her life. That’s why I’ve dedicated my time to working on the school’s board of trustees. How do you relax: I have some of my favorite TV shows when I want to enjoy some mindless downtime. But I also enjoy playing guitar and listening to podcasts, generally relating to history or science and particle physics. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: My favorite holiday is Rosh Hashanah, which always brings the hope of renewal and positive change for the coming new year, but my favorite family tradition is Shabbat dinners. No matter what was going on with our busy family work and social schedules, we always had a family Shabbat dinner and my son would always make a fresh challah.

Richard Rabb

Law firm: McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Liffman

Age: 62

Residence: Mayfield Heights

Undergraduate university: The Ohio State University Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Larry Crystal told me to join McCarthy Lebit.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I’d be a park ranger. I would have been retired with a full federal pension after my years of protecting the parks. Or, a landscape architect ... something with nature.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That the cases have to

SUPER ATTORNEYS

be contentious.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: A willingness to learn. That takes patience. Nothing comes fast and the grass is not always greener. Find a lawyer that will mentor you and show you how to practice law and stay with them and learn all that you can and then have them promote your skills to the legal community.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: I am certain the answer is supposed to be AI, but there is no question that it’s the smartphone. I can run my entire practice from there. Truly, though, if you are as fortunate as me to have a great IT professional that can help you when needed, that is irreplaceable.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: I am concerned for the security of the Jewish community in light of the antisemitism, so I support that cause. The pull back by the government of the food subsidies exposed how great that need continues to be. I also support New Directions. Not many know about how much they do for community adolescents and what a fine group of dedicated professionals they are.

How do you relax: Tai chi. In the nice weather, gardening ... interior painting and the gratification that comes with that, or leaving town with my wife to a location where we can appreciate nature.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: The best holiday tradition is food; I can’t get enough breakfast food. I love the latkes on Chanukah and all of the Passover foods. I have also learned that brisket does not need to be dry and chewy but rather can be wonderful. Thank you Lisa.

Julie E. Rabin

Law firm: Rabin & Rabin Co., LPA Age: 69

Residence: Cleveland

Synagogue: Solon Chabad

Undergraduate university: Northwestern University

Law school: New York University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Be direct in setting client expectations. Some client goals cannot be achieved.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Some people oversimplify what is involved in a consumer bankruptcy filing. Many cases are complex. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Diligence is essential. Also, a lawyer at any age needs to have ethical principles and stick to them.

What technological tool/innovation has most

changed the way you practice law: Online filing has saved time and reams of paper. Zoom has also changed the practice of law in a positive way, for the most part. What is a community cause/organization you care about deeply: The work of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland in supporting Israel How do you relax: I like to play the piano and work on my Hebrew.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Passover seder.

Julia German Radefeld

Law firm: The Belles Group, P.C.

Age: 37

Residence: Hudson

Undergraduate university: Case Western Reserve University Law school: The University of Akron School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Never undermine colleagues through negative commentary. Respectful communication is essential to strong professional relationships. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: If I weren’t a lawyer, I’d likely pursue a creative career like party planning or interior design, where I could combine organization with creativity. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Rather than a misconception, there’s often a general lack of understanding about intellectual property and how trademarks, patents and copyrights differ. Education is a big part of effective IP strategy. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field: Adaptability and humility. Never assuming a task is beneath you allows for continuous learning and growth.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: AI tools have been the most impactful innovation in my practice, especially for patentability and clearance searches. They allow us to identify relevant prior art more efficiently and strategically.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: 3 Trackers of Ohio, which provides access to skiing and other recreational sports for people with disabilities. How do you relax: Spending time with my family and friends. We love skiing/ snowboarding, biking and golf.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Rosh Hashanah is my favorite because our entire family gathers to welcome the new year and a fresh start. The tradition of trying new fruits is a fun highlight.

Alan Rauss

Jodi Rich

Law firm: Kohrman

Jackson & Krantz

Undergraduate university: The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania

Law school: University of Michigan Law School

Law firm: UB

Greensfelder LLP

Age: 50

Residence: Beachwood

Synagogue: Park

Synagogue

Undergraduate university: The George Washington University

Law school: Case Western

Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Work-life balance should be looked at over a career, not any one day or even year.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: I think the most important trait has always been and will always be a client-service mindset.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: My favorite Jewish holiday tradition is the reading of the Megillah.

Stephen Dale Richman

Law firm: Kohrman

Jackson & Krantz

Age: 68

Residence: Moreland Hills

Synagogue: Congregation

Mishkan Or

Undergraduate university: University of Miami

Law school: Cleveland

State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: “Kill them with kindness and knowledge.” Robert Quandt, founder of Quandt, Giffels, Buck & Rodgers Co., LPA lived by this mantra and was very successful as a result. He told me that the best lawyers do not need ego or a bullying approach. If you make sure you know everything there is to know about an issue, and deliver it with kind authority, you will usually prevail and gain friends and respect to boot.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: My thoughts of an ideal career have changed over the years. Astronaut was my first choice, but I was never good at math/science and have no military background. Ghandi-like world leader was my second choice, but in hindsight, was a bit too

opportunistic. I could definitely see myself teaching, as I know what a powerful impact good teachers have made on me and my children.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Many believe that real estate law is simply finding the “simple Google form” to ensure success. Rarely does a simple form cover your particular deal, and rarely does it adequately protect you from unbudgeted-for expenses or unwanted liability. Starting with someone else’s form is an OK starting point, but, If a real estate form does not fit, you must alter it. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Attention to detail. Our high school teachers were right. Grammar, math ... are important in the real world. I know of many court decisions that were decided on the basis of a comma (or lack thereof), or the use of “i.e.” (meaning ‘that is’) vs. e.g. (meaning, ‘for example’).

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: AI has not yet substantially changed my practice. However, smartphones have definitely changed the way that I and most lawyers practice law. The ability to almost instantly research, obtain information and contact clients and colleagues is an incredible benefit. The flipside of the record, however, is that the expectation of lawyers to be almost always available and respond as quickly as an email assignment is delivered is certainly challenging at times. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: There are many. I care deeply about organizations dedicated to research, treatment and cure of cancer (having lost my mother and sister to cancer). I also care deeply about youth-based organizations, such as Prevention Action Alliance.

How do you relax: I love to read, collect and listen to vinyl, watch classic comedy movies, travel and spend quality time with the family. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: I can narrow it down to two. I especially like Yom Kippur, and the opportunity to reflect upon God, family and do a little soul searching/cleansing. I also enjoy Chanukah, and the fun family time that goes with it.

Law firm: Cleveland State University College of Law Residence: Cleveland Heights

Synagogue: Kol HaLev

Undergraduate university: Tufts University

Law school: University of Wisconsin Law School, Columbia Law School

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Do what you love.

Heidi Gorovitz Robertson

Although I loved law practice, I was born to teach, so I really love teaching law students. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I would be a middle or high school social studies teacher or a pediatrician.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Many students who believe they are interested in environmental law do not understand, at first, how technical it can be. They can get legitimately excited about a problem, then bogged down in the details of it.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Writing skills and attention to detail are important, as is listening carefully to the client. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Most people will probably say AI, but I’m enamored with a little device called a reMarkable tablet that lets me write on PDFs and do other cool things related to my classes, my writing and conferences.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: I care deeply for the safety and care of our friends and neighbors who were not born in this country but have come here for a better life. They have given a lot, they have a lot to offer and they deserve better than they’re getting these days.

How do you relax: I love going for walks and hanging out with my husband and our dog. I read a ton and couldn’t live without that.

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Important to work smarter, not just harder.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I used to think about being a doctor, but now I could imagine opening a coffee shop and hi-fi audio store. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Need to learn to be practical. Businesses need real solutions.

How do you relax: I love going out to eat and traveling with my young daughters. It’s amazingly fulfilling to sense the world from their joyful perspective.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Lighting the candles together on Chanukah.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: My family loves Passover. We started doing a puppet play when our kids were little to help them see and understand the story. As they grew up, they didn’t want to give that up. They’re full-grown adults, and we still do it. They both love making and eating hamantaschen, too.

Robert Charles Rosenfeld

Law firm: Robert C. Rosenfeld, Attorney at Law

Age: 77

Residence: Beachwood

Undergraduate university: Kent State University

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

Eugene Roytberg

Law firm: Taft Stettinius & Hollister

Residence: Solon

Undergraduate university: Case Western Reserve University

Law school: The Ohio State Michael E. Moritz College of Law

you’ve ever received: It is not the other lawyer that is the bad guy, he/she is just repeating the direction of their client.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Business consulting. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Business transaction clients are reasonable and easy to deal with, only the other side is an issue.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Trying to foresee the consequences of your advice to your client.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: The desktop computer/internet, which did not exist when I started.

Patty Shlonsky

Law firm: UB

Greensfelder LLP

Age: 66

Residence: Shaker Heights

Synagogue: Congregation Mishkan Or Undergraduate university: Miami University

Law school: The Ohio State Michael E. Moritz College of Law

Law Firm: Rutsky Law Age: 68

Residence: Solon

Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation

Undergraduate University: Indiana University

Law school: The Ohio State Michael E. Moritz College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Treat people the way you want to be treated.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Major League Baseball player.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That insurance companies want to help them.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Knowing how to relate and communicate with people.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way your practice law: The internet.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: American Cancer Society

How do you relax: Exercising, travel, reading a good book and being with family and friends. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Passover.

Charles Schaefer

Law firm: Walter Haverfield

Residence: Bainbridge Township

Undergraduate university: Lehigh University

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Seidman Cancer Center. How do you relax: Golf and exercise. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Children/ grandchildren celebrations and achievements.

David A. Schaefer

Law firm: McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Liffman

Residence: Orange

Undergraduate university: Miami University

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: When a judge wants to talk, no matter the subject, listen.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Teaching. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Work ethic.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way your practice law: The internet.

How do you relax: Watching television.

William E. Schonberg

Law firm: Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP Age: 71

Synagogue: Congregation Mishkan Or Undergraduate university: Ohio University

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Great American novelist. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That it is somehow glamorous.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Stay focused and communicate regularly with the people you work for and with. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: AI. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: The public library – no single organization does so much for so many. How do you relax: Reading and tennis.

Brent S. Silverman

Law firm: Ciano & Goldwasser, LLP

Age: 59

Residence: Hudson

Undergraduate university: Miami University

Law school: DePaul University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: As a young attorney, identify mentors who can help you develop your law practice through interactions with clients, gaining practical hands-on skills and learning how to successfully navigate the challenges of law firm life. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Law school or college professor.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: As a business litigation attorney, my goal is to solve my clients’ problems in the most expeditious and cost-effective way possible, not to engage in protracted and expensive litigation, if it is not necessary to do so. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: The ability to collaboratively work with others. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: COVID-19 turned the practice of law on its head in some respects by accelerating the use of Zoom and similar platforms almost overnight for meetings, court appearances, hearings and even trials. While we shouldn’t ignore these efficiencies, there is still no substitute for

SUPER ATTORNEYS

face-to-face meetings.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Our causes and what we care about are often dictated by life experiences we never anticipated. So, over the years I have embraced support for neonatal intensive care units, ALS organizations and causes related to various cancer diagnoses, among others. How do you relax: Spending time with family and friends; I’m still working on developing my hobbies.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Spending time with family and friends and reflecting on what Judaism means to me.

Joseph Simms

Law firm: Reminger Co., LPA

Age: 54

Residence: Sagamore Hills

Undergraduate university: The Ohio State University Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Do not lose sight of the forest for the trees. Details matter, but keep your eye on the prize.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Ideally, I would be a rock star. Realistically? Maybe a teacher. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That litigation takes over your life; it is just like anything else, though. Sometimes you have to put in long, hard hours if you want to succeed and help your clients succeed. Work-life balance is important, but anything worth doing is worth doing well. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Being open to direction, instruction and guidance.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Over the past several years, I have converted to an almost exclusively paperless practice. It is a gamechanger. OneNote and OneDrive have exponentially increased productivity. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Over the years, I have been involved in numerous causes that assist chronically sick children and children with mental health issues in our community. Most recently, I was on the board of LifeAct of Northeast Ohio that provides suicide prevention training to middle school and high school students. How do you relax: I play bass guitar and watch sports.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: I always loved Passover – getting together with family, eating, drinking and enjoying time together.

Eric M. Simon

Law firm: Taft Stettinius & Hollister Residence: Bainbridge Township.

Undergraduate university: Cleveland State University Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Be responsive. No call or email should remain unreturned for more than a day.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Photography. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That it is malpracticerelated; I am a health care lawyer, but I do health care facility transactions. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: To learn that this is not a 9-to-5 job. Get the work done when it is needed, not when it is convenient to do it.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Email. I began practice when, if documents were not mailed, they were faxed. Now, with email, everyone expects a much faster turn-around on all types of our work product.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: We support organizations that fight hunger, as well as animal rescue organizations.

How do you relax: I read or go hiking. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: The observance of Passover, as it provides an opportunity to think about the struggles of our people, and the strength of character that has enabled us to persevere and thrive throughout the centuries.

Jeromy Simonovic

Law firm: 1st All

Investments LLC

Age: 37

Residence: Cleveland

Synagogue: Green Road

Synagogue

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

Paul Joseph Singerman

Law firm: Singerman, Mills, Desberg & Kauntz Co., LPA

Age: 67

Residence: Solon

Synagogue: Temple Israel

Ner Tamid, Solon Chabad

Undergraduate university: Case Western Reserve University

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Always put the interest of your clients ahead of your interest.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Running my own business. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Listening and critical thinking.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: I am old enough to remember when lawyers did not have computers. Computers and the accompanying software have changed the way I practice. I believe AI will continue to evolve and change the way lawyers practice.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: The Cleveland Jewish News and its mission to connect with the Jewish communities it serves.

How do you relax: Exercising and reading. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Passover is my favorite Jewish holiday, and Thanksgiving is my favorite secular holiday since both involve getting family together for celebration.

Robert Somogyi

Law firm: Kuenzi/ Somogyi Age: 58

Residence: Orange

Undergraduate university: The Ohio State University Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Make time for your personal life, as someday, when you are on your “death bed,” you will never think to yourself, “I really wish I worked one more day.”

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Time management is critical to manage the business of small law practice. Compassion and empathy are the key in handling attorneyclient relationships.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Zoom/ video conferencing has made a tremendous impact on the way that I practice today. How do you relax: Golf, any type of competitive sport/game, cooking, home projects and spending time with family.

Loren M. Sonkin

Law firm: Loren M. Sonkin, Attorney at Law

Age: 67

Residence: Pepper Pike

Undergraduate university: Purdue University

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: People think they need to be up to date and completely organized to start the process. It’s not true and most people are surprised how much easier the process is than what they feared. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: The ability to listen.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Everything is online including books, courts, filings, etc. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Passover seder.

Scott Spero

Law firm: Bentoff & Spero Co., LPA Age: 61

Residence: Beachwood

Synagogue: Congregation Mishkan Or

Undergraduate university: Indiana University

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: That one’s reputation is their most valuable asset. You can always recover from a lost case, but you can’t always recover from a damaged reputation.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I’ve always wanted to own an athletic store for triathletes, selling multi-sport equipment, gear and apparel. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That personal injury lawyers are paid whether they win or lose a case; in truth, we take on financial risk and only get paid if our client recovers compensation. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Preparation and trustworthiness go much further than raw intelligence.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Technology that lets me work from anywhere, though I still love the feel and smell of paper files.

How do you relax: Swim, bike, run, eat, read, sleep, repeat.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Friday night Shabbat.

Brian Spitz

Law firm: Spitz, The Employee’s Law Firm

Age: 54

Residence: Independence

Undergraduate university: American University

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Never forget that the individual on the other side of the table –opposing counsel, opposing party, judge, clerk –is a person that goes home to their family at the end of the day. Treat them that way. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Focusing on employee’s rights, most people assume that there is a clear right or wrong answer – there is a claim or there is not a claim. In reality, everyone sees the facts differently and the choice of how to put those facts together makes more of a difference than in most other legal fields. That is lawyering. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: The willingness to work hard to learn and hone skills. Make arguments. Accept losing, but savor that bad taste and let it drive you. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: AI is on the cusp of changing how the practice of law works. How do you relax: Traveling with my family. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Christmas at Hung Paradise Chinese with my family.

David Steiger

Deana Stein

Law firm: Karp Steiger

Residence: Beachwood

Synagogue: B’nai

Jeshurun Congregation

Undergraduate university: The Ohio State University Law school: Capital University Law School

Law firm: Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP

Age: 39

Residence: Beachwood

Synagogue: Congregation

Shaarey Tikvah, B’nai

Jeshurun Congregation

Undergraduate university: Boston University

Law school: Cardozo School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Take ownership of your work. Don’t just wait to be told what to do

next. Instead, figure out next steps, or ask the questions so you can learn the next steps. This shows you are looking forward and will make you an invaluable member of any legal team. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Ideally, music and theater. I have a bachelor’s degree in music performance (voice), and always had ambitions on the Great White Way. But I think things worked out the way they should have. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That it’s a lot of courtroom drama; a lot of commercial litigation involves reading and writing motions (from the comfort of my office) and civil discourse with adversaries to come to a solution. Things do get dramatic, and arguments in front of judges and jury trials are very exciting, but it’s not a daily, or even weekly, occurence. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Be a team player. Lawyers have to work together, even when they are on opposite sides. You rarely work entirely alone, and you will get far more out of the practice of law if you embrace the team aspect. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: AI. For better or for worse; I think it has made me more aware of the pitfalls, particularly watching attorneys get in serious trouble in over-reliance on AI, and has led to serious client discussions about proper utilization. But it has also assisted tremendously in research, allowing initial answers to be found more cost-effectively. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: I have recently joined the Cleveland Pops Orchestra as a board member (and have been singing with the Pops Chorus for a few years). The pops not only enriches Cleveland’s arts and music scene by providing great concert series, but it also offers educational programs for budding musicians, that is incredibly important.

How do you relax: I often retreat into music to unwind – sitting at the piano and singing, or just listening to some of my favorite artists/ musicians. I also find baking pretty relaxing, and it has a tasty result. And, of course, there’s nothing like snuggling on the couch with my family and enjoying a little film and television, or reading a good thriller by the fire!

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Pesach.It’s a lot of work to prepare, but my husband and I host a large family seder every year and it’s always such a wonderful time. Each year, our daughters become more involved in the seder and now tell us how much they look forward to it. In true l’dor vador sentiment, I learned how to prepare all the Seder foods from my own mother, Abbe Stein (z”l), and now I teach my daughters.

Laurel G. Stein

Law firm: Nee Law Firm, LLC

Residence: Solon

Undergraduate university: Washington University

Law school: Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Always be prepared. If you learn all the details of your cases, it does not matter who the opposing counsel is on the case. Preparation beats experience every time. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I would plan parties and events. I am creative and love to see an idea come to life. My attention to detail would be an asset in planning large events.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: People often think that it is better to go to trial in their divorce case. This is a big misconception. It is always better to reach a settlement. You may not be 100% happy, but you know exactly what you are getting.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Time management. It is critical to manage your time and your deadlines. I see far too many attorneys rushing to get things done for court deadlines. This leads to mistakes. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Zoom. We used to have in-person court for every attorney conference, pretrial and hearing. Now, we attend the majority of court dates by Zoom. It saves a lot of time.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Greater Cleveland Food Bank.

How do you relax: Ride the stationary bike, walk on the treadmill and binge watch Netflix shows.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Passover seder.

Talia Stewart

Law firm: Dworken & Bernstein Co., LPA Residence: Downtown Cleveland

Synagogue: Park

Synagogue

Undergraduate university: University of Maryland

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That estate planning is only for the wealthy or the elderly. In reality, it’s about protecting families, honoring people’s wishes and avoiding unnecessary stress and conflict, no matter your age or income.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Emotional intelligence. This is the ability to listen carefully, understand what clients are really afraid of and communicate with empathy and clarity. In estate planning and probate especially, legal knowledge matters, but clients remember how well you made them feel understood during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

How do you relax: Pilates.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Enjoying Rosh Hashanah and Passover meals with all of my extended family.

Susan Stone

Law firm: Kohrman Jackson & Krantz

Residence: Cleveland

Synagogue: Jewish

Family Experience

Undergraduate university: Miami University

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Do excellent work – the rest will come.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I’ve always loved ice cream and chocolate, which led to one of my very first jobs at an ice cream parlor. If I weren’t practicing law, I’d happily go back to that. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: There isn’t always one obvious answer to a problem. Good legal work takes time, consideration and thought. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Young lawyers need to dig into research and spend time learning the law and reading cases beyond reading notes. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: I love running ideas though Microsoft Copilot. It’s been a game-changer for me.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: I am on the board of directors for the Cleveland Institute of Art. Cleveland is so lucky to have this treasure in our city.

How do you relax: Nothing is better than getting on my mat at Yoga Roots for a traditional vinyasa practice.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: When my kids come back into Cleveland, I love cooking a Friday night Shabbat dinner.

SUPER ATTORNEYS

Alexa Stovsky

Law Firm: Brown

Immigration Law Age: 29

Residence: University Heights

Undergraduate University: Syracuse University

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Listen twice as much as you speak. Clients and colleagues will tell you exactly what you need to know if you give them the space to do so. Careful listening leads to better judgment, stronger advocacy and better outcomes.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Many people assume immigration law is straightforward or primarily paperwork-driven, when in reality it is one of the most complex and fast-changing areas of law, with high stakes for individuals and families.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Adaptability. The law is constantly evolving, and successful lawyers need to be comfortable learning new tools, adjusting strategies and responding thoughtfully to change.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Celebrating Passover with family. The themes of freedom, migration and resilience resonate deeply and provide a meaningful opportunity for reflection and connection.

Ronald J. Teplitzky

Law firm: Singerman, Mills, Desberg & Kauntz Co., LPA

Age: 64

Residence: Bainbridge Township

Synagogue: Congregation Mishkan Or Undergraduate university: Ohio University

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Do what is right for your clients, and everything will take care of itself. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I would love to be a law school or university professor. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Responsiveness is an essential skill for all lawyers.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: I believe

that the cell phone has increased lawyers’ availability and responsiveness.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: The Cleveland Jewish Publication Company and the Cleveland Jewish News Foundation. These organizations are vital in keeping our words alive.

How do you relax: I am taking guitar lessons from my son, and my wife and I now love to paint by number.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Our entire family loves Chanukah. We enjoy lighting the candles (and eating the latkes).

Michael Tucker

Law firm: UB

Greensfelder LLP

Age: 64

Residence: Solon

Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation

Undergraduate university: Miami University

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Do your best to be empathetic and keep an open mind. You never know what another person is going through. Be tolerant of others.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Cell phones, definitely cell phones.

How do you relax: I love to play softball, both in the Beachwood Men’s Softball League and in a Mayfield Heights league, where I get to play on a team with my daughter, Betsy, and her friends.

Mark Wallach

Law firm: McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Liffman

Age: 76

Residence: Beachwood

Undergraduate university: Wesleyan University

Law school: Harvard Law School

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: ‘About half the practice of a decent lawyer consists in telling would-be clients that they are damned fools and should stop,’ Elihu Root, one of the giants of the New York bar in the early 20th century, said.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Staffer at environmental protection organization. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: Lots of people think that litigators try to lengthen lawsuits to generate revenue. Only bad lawyers without enough to do would do that. The rest of us just try to juggle the cases we are handling.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Writing clearly. This is an increasingly rare capability among young lawyers, and a highly valued one.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Electronic filing of documents with courts. it gives us until midnight on the days that briefs are due to get them filed.

What is a community cause/organization you care about deeply: The Western Reserve Chorale. A community choral group I sing in. We rehearse once a week, and do three concerts a year. There are more than 100 singers.

How do you relax: Relax?

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Passover seder.

Michael Ward

Law firm: Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP

Age: 40

Residence: Beachwood

Synagogue: The Shul

Undergraduate university: Ohio University Law school: Chicago-Kent College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Have a growth mindset and always strive to improve.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: If I was not practicing law, I would see myself in real estate either as a developer, owner, broker or all three. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That I’m in court. My practice is transactional in nature, and I hope to never see the inside of a court room. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Surround yourself with as many mentors as you can who can help you grow in your career.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Jewish Federation of Cleveland.

How do you relax: By spending time with my family and friends, going to dinner and exploring Cleveland’s food scene, traveling, golfing and seeing live music.

Jake Weinberg

Law firm: McDonald Hopkins LLC

Age: 37

Residence: Solon

Synagogue: Solon Chabad

Undergraduate university: The Ohio State University

Law school: University of Miami School of Law

Dana B. Weiss

Law firm: Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP

Age: 50

Residence: Solon

Undergraduate university: The University of Texas at Austin

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Pet photography. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: People mistakenly think that as a transactional attorney focusing on commercial real estate law, I somehow know a single thing about criminal lawsuits! What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field: Active listening. It is an essential tool for general growth as an attorney, and for understanding your client’s needs so you can create effective solutions.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: ChatGPT; I don’t use AI very often because of the extremely high energy and water usage associated with generating responses, but it provides a great shortcut and saves significant time when handling administrative tasks, whether personal or professional, like meal plans, travel plans and completing attorney profiles.

How do you relax: Relaxing or walking with my dogs and traveling with my family. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: I enjoy lighting the menorah during Chanukah and singing the blessing with my husband and two boys.

Jerry

Weiss

Law firm: Mediation Inc.

Age: 79

Residence: Shaker Heights

Synagogue: Congregation

Shaarey Tikvah

Undergraduate university: Syracuse University

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Be kind, patient and generous with everyone. It is better for them and in the end, better for oneself. Rising tides in all of these areas lift all boats.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I often thought cooking or ornithology. I love both. But lately, having just finished writing a book about my parents and their migration from autocracy to freedom, I think I would like to write and lecture about the virtues of freedom and how

too easily it can become lost. A good part of my book is about that.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: People too often think that a mediator is like a judge who will direct them as to what to do and how to do it when, in fact, good mediators assist disputants in finding for themselves and their opposites resolutions that they can all live with. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Listening, giving, reflecting, being generous and reciprocating. Being kind, putting oneself into another person’s shoes and skin What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Zoom. I can consult with disputants and representatives in every time zone. I sometimes make and receive calls at the strangest hours. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: St. Martin De Porres High School. Some of those kids take four or five RTA and bus transfers a day to get there. They’re super motivated and all get into college.

How do you relax: I listen to or attend as many classical music events as possible. Music has charms to soothe a savage beast. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Shabbat dinner. It gives one an opportunity every week to focus on family and good stuff – a pretty protected island in our home.

Frederick N. Widen

Law firm: UB Greensfelder LLP

Age: 71

Residence: Shaker Heights

Synagogue: Suburban Temple-Kol Ami

Undergraduate university: Cleveland State University Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: No document can protect one from a thief. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Public accounting. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That it is all about math and is boring.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: The drive to learn and the ability to recognize one’s limitations.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: The personal computer and internet.

What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Safety of Jews and Jewish institutions.

How do you relax: Reading, golfing and

exercising.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Passover dinner and family get-togethers.

Scott J. Wilkov

Law firm: Tucker Ellis LLP

Age: 58

Residence: Solon

Synagogue: Congregation Mishkan Or Undergraduate university: American University

Law school: University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Be yourself. The least effective argument I ever wrote was delivered by a co-counsel and it did not present as genuine. We each have our own unique personality and style and we cannot be persuasive when we try to present as someone we are not.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: A college professor. Research, scholarship and mentoring have always been a significant part of my work. I would have enjoyed bringing that to a college campus and influencing the next generation. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: The vast majority of my practice involves the defense of product liability claims. People often assume that companies only design products in the cheapest fashion, but I have found there are many significant considerations that factor into a product’s design, including intellectual property, consumer acceptance, insurability and compliance with regulatory or industry standards, just to name a few. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Young lawyers new to the field should cultivate their communication skills. We don’t write to clients or speak to jurors in the same way that we may text. I believe that professional speaking and writing skills have declined in recent years, especially with the isolation that the pandemic brought and how accustomed people became to remote work. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: The development of remote video conferencing technology has really changed the work of lawyers like myself with a nationwide practice. I used to travel frequently for depositions, meetings with co-counsel and witnesses, mediations and court hearings. Now, we are able to accomplish so much of that through the use of Zoom and Microsoft Teams. We were just learning how to use these tools during the pandemic, but we have perfected them since. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: I am deeply concerned

with veterans’ issues. I served in the U.S. Air Force for 11 years and had a softer landing upon getting out than many military members do. I am accredited by the VA to provide pro bono assistance on veterans disability claims and am the immediate past chair of the Ohio State Bar Association’s military and veterans affairs committee. I appreciate the many sacrifices made by service members and need to give back.

How do you relax: I relax by walking or jogging through the Cleveland Metroparks and watching baseball games.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: The Passover seder is my favorite holiday tradition. We still do many of the things my grandparents, parents and in-laws did, and now watch our children carry forward the traditions. Gathering together family and friends, including often some non-Jews, to share the story of Passover (with a delicious meal) is incredibly meaningful to me. I also find it extremely heartwarming to share the experience l’dor v’dor – from generation to generation.

John Wirtshafter

Law firm: McDonald

Hopkins LLC

Age: 66

Residence: Orange Undergraduate university: Indiana University

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Short and sweet. Your job is to help people.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: College professor. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: People assume that employee benefits and executive compensation are boring areas because they are regulated by the very complicated provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and ERISA. However, there are boundless ways to be creative and achieve objectives.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Curiosity.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Because of advanced technology, I can work from pretty much anywhere and pretty much any time –both a blessing and a curse. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Jewish Family Service Association of Cleveland.

How do you relax: Biking, hiking, laughing, kayaking and being with friends and family.

Melissa Yasinow

Law firm: Balin Law, LLC

Age: 41

Residence: Chagrin Falls

Synagogue: Congregation Mishkan Or Undergraduate university: Mount Holyoke College

Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: It’s important to recognize that what’s normal and routine to you is scary, complex and new to your clients. Treat them accordingly.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Five-year-old me still holds out hope for ballerina astronaut. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: People mistakenly believe that Social Security is one program. It is actually many different programs and people can be eligible for multiple different programs at the same time, depending on their circumstances. It is important to discuss your options with an attorney and not assume your are automatically eligible or ineligible for benefits. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: They need to be flexible and openminded in their career. Many lawyers I know ended up building a career in something that wasn’t even on their radar in law school. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: COVID-19 changed everything and really forced firms to have remote work options with supportive technology. I am able to be as productive at home as in the office, which was unthinkable only a few short years ago. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: I greatly care about organizations focused on providing resources and healthcare to underserved communities, such as Ravenwood Health in Geauga County. A significant portion of my clients are dependent on these organizations for their basic health care needs.

How do you relax: I’m always a fan of a sauna and good book.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Passover seders are the best, hands down.

Eric H. Zagrans

Law firm: Zagrans Law Firm LLC

Age: 72

Residence: Powell

Synagogue: Congregation Mishkan Or Undergraduate university: University of Notre Dame

SUPER ATTORNEYS

Law school: Harvard Law School

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: College offensive coordinator/quarterback coach.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That civil litigation can counteract or provide a remedy for all types of bad behavior or immorality. Spoiler alert, it can’t. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Empathy for and understanding of the ways in which what you are doing will result in real world impacts on your clients and perhaps many others.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Within the next year, AI will make the most changes by far that any technology has ever made in the way in which I practice law.

What is a community cause/organization you care about deeply: Research into better treatments (and hopefully finding cures) for childhood cancers.

How do you relax: Coaching football. What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Passover seder.

Andrew Zashin

Law firm: Zashin Law, LLC

Age: 57

Residence: Pepper Pike

Synagogue: Chabad

Undergraduate university: Brown University Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Go to law school in the city where you want to practice law. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Spycraft. What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: People may believe that family law is simply about dividing assets. Sometimes. it is. Those who have such cases are the lucky ones. Oftentimes, people’s lives become much more complicated, both with regard to their finances and their children. In those cases, their matters can become as, or more, sophisticated than the lives they led previously.

What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: The ability to listen carefully to what a client says they want and to cull from that what a client needs to obtain their goals. This is much harder than it sounds. Oftentimes, clients are confused about what matters and what

does not and they need a lawyer to guide them without making decisions for them. Moreover, a fundamental understanding of basic finance is extremely useful.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Video conferencing; in the recent past, I might have said cell phones or the internet. Those are good answers, but a true revolution has taken place. Families are mobile today, even global. Not long ago, just before COVID-19, people were expected to show up in court for the most routine matters. Today, people appear in court and often meet with their lawyers through video conference. I think this is a good innovation for the client.

How do you relax: Playing with my dog, Hugo the Boerboel.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Getting together with my family in Israel.

Larry Zukerman

Law firm: Zukerman, Lear, Murray & Brown Co., LPA Age: 65

Residence: Beachwood Synagogue: Solon Chabad

Undergraduate university: Washington & Jefferson College Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: Wake up early, review your schedule, exercise, make a plan for the day and work harder and more thorough than anyone else.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I couldn’t see myself working in any other profession.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: People often believe that a person is guilty based solely upon an accusation without hearing all of the evidence and having the veracity of the accuser tested. Often, people wrongly accuse others and this usually comes out in court long after the mere accusation ruins the accused’s reputation. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Hard work, diligence and perseverance are essential traits that young lawyer must possess to effectively represent their clients. Without this determination and commitment, young lawyers won’t succeed in the long run. What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: AI has changed the landscape of the legal profession. Unfortunately, many lawyers rely on this short cut and often miss the opportunity to ensure that the work actually reflects the law. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: I care about Jewish education and the state of Israel. My wife and I

educated our children through Gross Schechter Day School and Fuchs Mizrachi School. All three of our children married Jewish and we have Jewish grandchildren. We also invest in Israel and donate to Israeli organizations. Without Israel and Jewish children, there will be no Judaism.

How do you relax: My wife and I enjoy traveling, spending time in Chautauqua and Florida and spending time with our family and grandchildren.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: My favorite Jewish holiday is Sukkot. We enjoy entertaining our friends and family in our sukkah and celebrating the survival of Judaism.

Ami Zukowsky

Law firm: Zukowsky Law

LLC

Age: 40

Residence: Beachwood

Synagogue: Beachwood Kehilla

Undergraduate university: Yeshiva

University

Law school: Cardozo School of Law

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: When I received this advice, it wasn’t professional advice, it was life advice, but applying it to work has been fruitful. In my youth, a rabbi once told me that you hear all criticism and praise for a reason, and instead of accepting it immediately, or dismissing it immediately, you should think about why you heard it and what you can learn from it.

If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: Making movies, or archeology, or making movies about an archeologist adventurer. Essentially, I would try to either be Indiana Jones or make more movies about Indiana Jones.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: People see divorce and family law as incredibly sad. I don’t. When I was in law school and people fought over a dead relative’s estate, I found that sad. But divorce and family law is about new beginnings and struggling over things that really matter. I liken divorce to a forest fire. You have to burn out the old growth to allow new trees to grow. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Youngins need to learn to think on their own. They know how to use ChatGPT, and how to follow the instructions of older lawyers, but they need to take a beat and think about what they are doing, why they are doing it and really give thought.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: The phone. I never used to talk on the phone. I hated talking on the phone and if you were to ask friends or my wife, they would tell you the

same thing. Now, I have to spend all day on the phone, and I am on the phone because very often it is the best tool for the job. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Camp Stone. I owe a great deal of my life to Camp Stone. I went there as a camper, worked there, met my wife there and send my kids there. Camp Stone is not only a sleepaway camp – it is a Jewish leadership incubator. It gives incredible responsibilities to young Jews. Jewish overnight camping is an essential and necessary component of Jewish life. Now more than ever, Jews should be flocking to Jewish sleepaway camp. How do you relax: My wife and I had our fourth child in November 2025. We do not get to relax. Theoretically, my relaxation would happen in a museum and then on a beach with a book, with lunch and drinks between the two.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: I love the Pesach seder. I love the story, the history, the rules, the songs, the family, the pageantry. I love teaching my kids and having them teach me. I love experiencing the seder as a parent and looking back on how my parents and grandparents must have seen me; what a wonderful tradition and opportunity to connect with our story and our people. Anyone in need of a seder, give me a call.

Gary A. Zwick

Law firm: Walter Haverfield

Age: 71

Residence: Bainbridge Township

Undergraduate university: Kent State University

Law school: Cleveland State University College of Law, Georgetown University Law Center

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received: If you search hard enough, you’ll find a reason to say no. If you weren’t practicing law, what career could you see yourself in: I would be practicing accounting in a CPA firm.

What is one misconception people often have about your area of law: That it is boring and not creative and deals in minutiae. What skill/trait do you believe is most essential for young lawyers entering the field today: Honesty.

What technological tool/innovation has most changed the way you practice law: Email. What is a community cause/organization you care deeply about: Combating antisemitism. How do you relax: I play one of the five guitars I have, but never got any good.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday tradition/family custom: Passover. Believe it or not, I love the food.