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.
Joshua Berggrun
Rob Boroff
Hugh Berkson
Age: 34
Law firm: Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP
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
essential for young lawyers entering the field: 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
SUPER ATTORNEYS
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.
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
SUPER ATTORNEYS
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
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.
SUPER ATTORNEYS
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
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
SUPER ATTORNEYS
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
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
SUPER ATTORNEYS
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.
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.
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.
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 Hess
SUPER ATTORNEYS
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
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.
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
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
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
SUPER ATTORNEYS
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.
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).
SUPER ATTORNEYS
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
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
SUPER ATTORNEYS
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
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.
SUPER ATTORNEYS
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.
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
SUPER ATTORNEYS
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
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.
