JD Journal » Ohio

‘White Only’ Pool Sign Ruled Discriminatory

jim — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:18:26 +0000

A landlord’s claim has been dismissed by the Ohio Civil Rights Commission that a ‘white only’ pool sign was an historical antique sign and ruled that it was discriminatory.

“At this point, it means that we believe that it’s probable that discrimination has occurred,” commission spokeswoman Brandi Martin said.

Cincinnati landlord Jamie Hein had been accused of discriminating against an African-American girl back in December with a ‘white only’ sign posted at her swimming pool. Hein said that the sign was an antique and a decoration.

“I’m not a bad person,” said Jamie Hein. “I don’t have any problem with race at all. It’s a historical sign.”

The sign from the case says: “Public Swimming Pool, White Only.” The sign as the date 1931 on it and it is from Alabama.

The discrimination charge was filed by Micheal Gunn, who took offense to the sign. He filed the complaint with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.

“At every step, we try to resolve the matter. We will attempt conciliation,” Martin said. “The goal is to resolve the matter, to find a means by which both parties would be satisfied in some sort of resolution or settlement.”

Neither Hein nor her attorney appeared in court, which Martin claims was unexpected, since Hein was asking that the original ruling be reconsidered by the commission.

Should a compromise not be met, and if Hein appeals the decision again, the issue will hit the state’s attorney general and both of the parties involved will be deposed.

Hein did not express any apologies for the racist origins of the sign that was displayed at the entrance to her pool. Hein claims she collects antiques and was given the sign as a gift. She also said in an interview that her pool is on private property and everyone getting in her pool must ask for permission first even though the sign appears to be about a public pool.

Gunn told the court that his family previously “had unrestricted access to the pool area.” Hein disputed this claim, saying that everyone, even her father, must ask permission before swimming in the pool.

“We invited my daughter, who is African-American, to visit and swim in the pool for the Memorial Day weekend,” Gunn wrote in the complaint. “The owner, Jamie Hein, accused my daughter of making the pool ‘cloudy’ because she used chemicals in her hair. Days later, she posted a sign on the gate to the pool which reads, ‘Public Swimming Pool, White Only.’”

Hein claims that the sign was not related to Gunn’s daughter being in the pool and that the sign had already been posted when the party occurred. She also said that the sign cannot be seen when the gate to the fence is open.

Gunn wrote in the complaint that he moved out of the property Hein owns back in June “in order to not expose my daughter to the sign and the humiliation of the message.”

It was found on September 29 by the Ohio Civil Rights Commission that Hein violated the Ohio Civil Rights Act by putting the sign up at the pool. Hein then asked to have the decision reconsidered. Since then, the sign has been stolen.

“I’ve never said anything to that child,” Hein said. “If I have to stick up for my white rights, I have to stick up for my white rights. It goes both ways.”

Merger Craze Continues As Ohio Firms Unite

chelsei — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:40:30 +0000

According to a report issued last month by legal consultancy Atlman Weil, the law firm merger mania that led to 14 tie-ups being announced in the third quarter is showing no sign of slowing in the waning months of the year as a stagnant economy and a desire among regionally focused shops to expand close to home help fuel the trend.

Taft Stenttinius & Hollister, which is one of Ohio’s largest firms, announced on Tuesday that it is acquiring 30-lawyer Columbus shop Chester Willcox & Saxbe. According to the Dayton Business Journal, once the firms officially combine operations–an event expected to occur by January 2–the newly merged entity will have roughly 330 lawyers in four offices in Ohio, as well as outposts in Covington, Kentucky; Indianapolis; and Phoenix. Founded in 1885, Taft Stettinius’s partners have, over time, included two sons of former President William Howard Taft.

Meanwhile, according to sibling production The Recorder, McKenna Long & Aldridge and California form Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps are discussing a possible combination of their own.

The Recorder reports that Luce Forward chairman Kurt Kicklighter confirmed to The Recorder that his firm is in merger talks with McKenna Long, whose roots are in Atlanta and Washington D.C. also that no agreement has been reached and the partnerships of either firm have yet to vote on such accord.

Kicklighter also told The Recorder that his firm is reconsidering its strategy to become a California-wide firm after finding national firms interested in their operations. Luce Forward also held merger talks with Nixon Peabody over the summer, followed by discussions with Cozen O’Connor (those talks ended last month), reported The Recorder. Kicklighter declined to comment on the merger discussions held with any of the firms other than McKenna Long.

According to the most recent Am Law 200 financial data, Luce Forward’s gross revenues rose 3.6 percent to $101.5 million in 2010, while the profits per partner soared 33.7 percent to $675,000. However, the real estate downturn in the Golden State has nonetheless hurt the 145-lawyer firm’s bottom line. Kicklighter told The Reporter that Luce Forward’s 2011 revenue is likely to fall short of the 2010 figure.

McKenna Long chairman Jeff Haidet said in a statement to The Reporter that his firm shares ”similar cultures and strategic plans” with Luce Forward and that both of the firms are ”interested in exploring opportunities to bolster our practices and services.”

McKenna Long is the product of a 2002 merger between Atlanta-based Long Aldridge & Norman and D.C. -based McKenna & Cuneo. According to the most recent Am Law 100 financial survey, the 425-lawyers firm’s gross revenues rose 2.4 percent to $276.5 million in 2010, while profits per partner jumped 11.4 percent to $925,000.

Elsewhere, Holme Roberts & Owen managing partner Randall Miller spoke with the Denver Business Journal on Friday about conversations he has been having with the possible suitors.

An Ohio Attorney Sues Over Misleading Emails Even Though He Technically Was Not Misled

chelsei — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 20:25:43 +0000

Its not like the general public needs any more reason to dislike attorneys, right? Well, unfortunately, there will always be more fuel for the fire.

If you’ve ever watched the news, I’m sure you could call attorneys boozers, they are extremely arrogant, and they are big tools. Now, the cynics get to add ”cherry-pickers” to their list of reason to not like attorneys.

The attorney in the following case acted like a total nut, like the idiots in Call of Duty who just hide in the bushes the entire game, waiting for people to turn the corner straight into a face full of fire.

But, luckily, an Ohio appeals court called shenanigans…

Christopher T. Cicero, who is an Ohio attorney, collected 85 emails from a marketing company call American Satellite, which was advertising DISH Network and DirectTV television. He had apparently thought that the emails were misleading for not fully explaining the terms and conditions of the ”free” services that were being offered to him.

To be very clear, Cicero himself was not misled, but he had thought the omission of applicable terms and services violated the Ohio Consumer Sales Protection Act. He waited a few months, building up his collection of emails, until he finally decided that there was enough for a lawsuit.

Of course, Cicero v. American Satellite didn’t get very far in court. The defense actually used Cicero’s own deposition against him. And according to the court, he testified that ”at the time, he received the emails that are the subject of this litigation, not only was he not deceived by them, but because he believed they violated the OCSPA, he began saving the emails specifically for litigation purposes.” The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the American Satellite.

Yet, on September 27, the Ohio Court of Appeals denied Cicero’s appeal, and the whole court wrote that the key issue was whether Cicero could recover damages, even though he was not all misled.

Last week, Venkat Balasubramani at the Technology and Marketing Blog had a really good analysis on the case:

”Another court that’s less than sympathetic towards a lawyer-plaintiff. Quel dommange. (Woods v. Google was the most recent example of this, but there are many others.) Courts are also not sympathetic to claims which they perceive as manufactured. This lawsuit combined both of these elements — a lawyer-plaintiff, who saved up allegedly misleading emails so he could file suit — so its hardly surprising that the court gives him the boot.”

So, there’s really no need to put Cicero down anymore than he is. He has obviously been through enough, and this just isn’t his week. He thought that he could win the suit he filed on American Satellite because they misled him, or because they didn’t follow the right laws, or whatever it was that Cicero was actually filing against, but he got denied by the court. Maybe if he could just get his story straight on what it is that he’s actually filing a law suit about, then the court would take him seriously.

Two Prestigious Leaders Open Large Law Firm in Cincinnati

jim — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 23:05:51 +0000

A former state senator and a former mayor are coming together to open up a large law firm office, Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP, in Cincinnati. While the law firm office will be located in Cincinnati, it will be large enough to take on projects from other areas of Ohio which will include the Cleveland and Columbus areas.

“Establishing a presence in Cincinnati makes us even more accessible to our clients here and gives us a base from which to expand,” said Brent Ballard who is the managing partner at Calfee. Ballard has also said, “Calfee is fortunate to have two such widely known and respected individuals, Charlie Luken and Senator Finan, leading this effort.” Because the former senator and mayor are both respected leaders and are widely recognized in the community of Cincinnati and surrounding areas, the law firm will continue to expand and improve greatly within the next few years.

Charlie Luken was the mayor of Cincinnati for fourteen years. Luken was the mayor of Cincinnati longer than any other mayor before him in the city of Cincinnati. He served as mayor in 1983 until 1991 and then again from 1999 until 2005. Luken says, “Our Cincinnati office is opening with a strong government relations base and we look forward to expanding, particularly in the area of intellectual property.” While the office will open with a strong government relations base, the office will also work with private and public clients on other issues.

Senator Richard Finan will be working alongside of Charlie Luken to lead the Calfee office in the Cincinnati area. Richard Finan has been a stage legislator for almost thirty years and has spent the majority of his career in the area of Ohio. Finan has said, “As a lifelong resident of Greater Cincinnati, I am strongly committed to the city and look forward to being part of Calfee’s operations here.” He has also said, “The new office will bring us even closer to the Cincinnati business community and help strengthen our relationships with our clients here.” Luken and Senator Finan will be working together to help clients with a number of different issues. Their commitment to the city and the state of Ohio will help make this office even more successful than before.

The Calfee firm is one of the largest law firms in the Ohio area and is composed of over one hundred legal professionals. The law firm works with both private clients and public clients. The Calfee firm has earned an outstanding reputation for their services and for having some of the best attorneys.

The firm plans to keep up with the outstanding reputation and expects that it will only get better now that there are two prestigious leaders who will be leading the firm in Cincinnati. Calfee and its attorneys have received high rankings from the U.S. News & World Report, Best Lawyers, and Chambers USA.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 13:15:22 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Wednesday, October 27th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

Four litigators from medical malpractice firm Duffy & Duffy were named top attorneys by Super Lawyers magazine…

Seven partners at national litigation firm Milberg were named by Super Lawyers as top lawyers in the New York metro area…

Eighty-one lawyers from Thompson Hine LLP were selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2011…

Veteran federal tax attorneys, Daniel A. Dumezich and Gary S. Colton, Jr., joined Winston & Strawn LLP’s office in Chicago office as partners….

Milberg LLP was named to the National Law Journal’s 2010 Plaintiffs’ Hot List…

Thompson Hine is Well-Represented on ‘Best Lawyers’ List

joshua — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 22:20:53 +0000

Eighty-one lawyers from Thompson Hine LLP were selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2011.

More than 39,000 attorneys participated in this year’s survey. Lawyers are selected for the list based on votes received in a survey of their peers.

Thompson Hine is the top-listed firm in Ohio in construction law, and is one of the top Ohio firms in employee benefits law and tax law. Additionally, 25 Thompson Hine partners have now been included on the Best Lawyers list for 10 years or longer, which is indicated below.

The Thompson Hine lawyers included in 2011 are:

Atlanta
Joseph M. Rigot

Cincinnati
Paul Allaer
Christopher M. Bechhold
Timothy R. Brown*
Stephen J. Butler
Louis K. Ebling
Stephen M. King
Andrew L. Kolesar
Earle Jay Maiman
Robert A. Selak
Patricia Mann Smitson
Louis F. Solimine*
Keith P. Spiller
J. Shane Starkey
David J. Willbrand

Cleveland
Thomas A. Aldrich
Jeffrey R. Appelbaum*
James B. Aronoff
Heather Aley Austin
Mal Bank*
Richard C. Binzley*
Stephen L. Buescher*
Thomas J. Callahan
Dianne S. Coscarelli
Thomas J. Coyne
Andrew L. Fabens, III*
Robert C. Folland
Robert B. Ford*
Heidi B. Goldstein
Michael L. Hardy*
Harold W. Henderson
David J. Hooker
Leslie W. Jacobs
Steven S. Kaufman
James C. Koenig
Brian J. Lamb
Alan R. Lepene*
Craig R. Martahus*
Donald H. Messinger*
Leslee W. Miraldi
David J. Naftzinger
Deborah Z. Read
James D. Robenalt
Robyn Minter Smyers
Linda A. Striefsky*
Patrick J. Sweeney
Elizabeth B. Wright
Karen D. Youngstrom
Thomas F. Zych

Columbus
Jim Balthaser
Michael W. Currie
Daniel F. Edwards
O. Judson Scheaf, III
John T. Sunderland
Peter D. Welin
Anthony C. White
William C. Wilkinson

Dayton
Stephen J. Axtell
Wray Blattner*
Robert J. Brown*
Lawrence T. Burick*
Richard F. Carlile*
Mark A. Conway
Robert M. Curry*
Thomas E. DeBrosse*
Francesco A. Ferrante
John L. Green
Timothy J. Hackert*
J. Michael Herr*
Teresa D. Jones
Mark P. Levy*
Theodore D. Lienesch
Crofford J. Macklin, Jr.*
David A. Neuhardt*
Sharen Swartz Neuhardt
Joan H. Roddy*
Arik A. Sherk*

New York
Norman A. Bloch
Douglas E. Grover
Mario J. Suarez

Washington, D.C.
Nicholas J. DiMichael

*Included on the Best Lawyers in America list for 10 years or longer

Established in 1911, Thompson Hine is a business law firm with offices in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, New York and Washington D.C.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 12:32:21 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Monday, October 11th. Here’s a quick look back at Friday’s stories.

Bernstein Liebhard was named to the National Law Journal’s Plaintiffs’ Hot List for the eighth consecutive year…

Greenberg Traurig’s Galli will lead the Urban Land Institute Panel in Washington, D.C., on October 13-15…

Duane Morris is set to announce its joint venture with a leading Singapore firm Arfat Selvam Alliance…

Lemon law firm Kimmel & Silverman began offering services in four additional states…

Lemon Law Firm Kimmel & Silverman Expands to Four New States

joshua — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 13:08:35 +0000

The oldest and largest automobile lemon law firm in the Northeast, Kimmel & Silverman has announced its expansion into Wyoming, Tennessee, Michigan and Washington D.C.

Craig Kimmel and Robert Silverman started the firm in 1991 to fight for the rights of consumers dealing with the automobile industry.

Mr. Kimmel has been credited with rewriting the Pennsylvania Lemon Law in 2002 to include leased vehicles and tighter title branding for used cars, as well as writing the first Computer Lemon Law bill which has served as a model in several states.

Mr. Silverman is a well-respected consumer rights attorney who is credited with teaching arbitrators and mediators the fundamentals of the New Jersey Lemon Law.

Both have been featured in the media across the country as experts in warranty litigation in publications such as Kiplinger’s, Consumer Reports, and Black Enterprise and on programs such as ABC’s Good Morning America, Extra, and CBS’s The Early Show. Their dedicated staff members have decades of experience dealing with auto lemon law warranty claims.

Since their inception in 1991 covering Pennsylvania and New Jersey Lemon Law, Kimmel & Silverman has become the Northeast’s oldest and largest automotive consumer advocacy firm and now also covers Massachusetts, Maryland, Ohio, Connecticut, Delaware, New York, New Hampshire, Michigan, Wyoming, Washington D.C. and Tennessee. The firm has provided cost-free lemon law and breach of warranty help to more than 55,000 consumers, recovering over $150 million for their clients.

Dickie McCamey Expands into Ohio With Merger

joshua — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 20:34:24 +0000

Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C., one of Pittsburgh’s largest law firms, has expanded into Columbus, Ohio, through a merger with Golian McCaffrey, LLC.

With this acquisition, Dickie McCamey now has offices in Columbus, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Delaware, New Jersey, Charlotte, Steubenville, and West Virginia, along with the firm’s headquarters in Pittsburgh.

Jeffrey T. Wiley, managing director of Dickie McCamey, said joining an established firm like Golian McCaffrey “will allow us to expand in Ohio immediately because our practices are complimentary.”

Joe Golian and Pat McCaffrey, principals in Golian McCaffrey LLC since 1995, will be shareholders in Dickie McCamey. Also joining the firm is Audrey E. Varwig as an associate.

Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C. is a nationally recognized litigation firm providing comprehensive legal expertise, as well as non-litigation services, in a multitude of practice areas. It is headquartered in Pittsburgh and was founded more than 100 years ago.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 12:56:42 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Monday, September 27th. Here’s a quick look back at Friday’s stories.

Dinsmore & Shohl Welcomes New Partner Michael DiSanto to Corporate Department…

The publisher of The American Lawyer, Corporate Counsel and other legal and business titles, is consolidating its legal research functions into a single organization…

Butzel Long Shareholder was named a recipient of the 2^nd Annual International Mergers & Acquisitions Advisor Award…

London-based firm Kennedy’s opened an office in Miami…

Poll conducted earlier this week by the New York State Bar Association revealed guarded optimism about hiring trends and demand for legal services in 2011…

Dinsmore & Shohl Welcomes New Partner Michael DiSanto to Corporate Department

ashley — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 01:18:26 +0000

Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP is welcoming yet another partner to their steadily growing firm. Michael DiSanto will be will be joining Dinsmore & Shohl’s Corporate Department as a partner and will be a member of the Securities Practice Group at the firm’s office in Cincinnati, Ohio.

With more than 450 attorneys practicing all over the Midwest, Dinsmore & Shohl serves small and large businesses, government offices, and individuals from their 10 offices. They practice in Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Michael DiSanto is one of the founding partners of the Silicon Valley office of Reed Smith, LLP, one of the 15 largest law firms in the world. There he had a corporate practice where he provided council for companies as well as pro bono work for non-profit groups. Before going to Reed Smith, DiSanto had his hands full as founder, CEO and General Counsel of an Internet company that provided personal training solutions to the health and fitness industry in San Francisco. He also attended Santa Clara University School of Law and Vanderbilt University.

Chair of Dinsmore & Shohl’s Corporate Department Susan Zaunbrecher is pleased with the new hire, “We are very excited to have an attorney of Mike’s caliber join the firm. Mike brings a depth of knowledge in corporate transactions and private equity that will enhance and expand our current capabilities across all of our markets.”

Morning Roundup

joshua — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:19:41 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Wednesday, September 22nd. Here’s a quick recap of yesterday’s stories.

Dinsmore & Shohl welcomed former Deputy General Counsel for EPA…

A former Kennedy Chief of Staff Returned to WilmerHale…

A Thompson Hine Partner was reappointed to the Cincinnati State Technical and Community College board of trustees…

A Greenberg Traurig partner was named co-chair of the ABA Committee…

Cadwalader announced the launch of the Cadwalader International Law and Litigation Center…

48 Winstead PC Attorneys were selected as Texas Super Lawyers…

Dinsmore & Shohl Welcomes Former Deputy General Counsel for EPA Mary Ann Poirier

ashley — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 01:01:32 +0000

The Dayton, Ohio office of Dinsmore & Shohl LLP will be welcoming Mary Ann Poirier as of Counsel in the Litigation Department and Environmental Practice Group. Poirier is formerly Deputy General Counsel for the United States Environmental Protection Agency where she advised White House officials and presented legal advice to the EPA Administrator.

Dinsmore & Shohl’s 450 attorneys are spread out across the Midwest at 10 offices. The firm provides services to both large and small businesses, the government, and individuals. Chair of Dinsmore & Shohl’s Environmental Practice Group Tim Hoffman is pleased with the new hire, “As Deputy General Counsel at USEPA, one of Mary Ann’s many responsibilities was coordinating the Agency’s climate change legal framework during the Bush Administration. She will bring valuable insight to our clients in connection with high level environmental policy issues that impact their business.”

Poirier attended Vanderbilt University Law School and the University of Dayton. She was with Baker Botts LLP‘s D.C. office early in her career practicing energy-based law. She largely worked with natural gas pipeline companies, gas distributors, gas and oil producers, and large industrial energy consumers. Poirier’s most recent work with the EPA’s response to hot-button issues such as climate change will be a boon to Dinsmore & Shohl, says Hoffman, “We feel very fortunate that Mary Ann decided to join us. She adds a level of experience to our environmental practice that we have not had before.”

Thompson Hine Partner Appointed to College Board

joshua — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 20:50:58 +0000

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland has reappointed Thompson Hine partner Michael R. Oestreicher to a second six-year term on the Cincinnati State Technical and Community College board of trustees. Oestreicher currently serves as board chair.

Oestreicher, a partner in Thompson Hine’s Corporate Transactions & Securities and International Trade & Customs practice groups, counsels numerous companies concerning their domestic and international transactional activities. He is a former member of the firm’s Executive Committee and former partner-in-charge of the firm’s Cincinnati office.

In February 2006, Oestreicher was appointed by President George W. Bush as a member of the President’s Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations. His term was extended for an additional two years in 2008.

Oestreicher serves the Greater Cincinnati community in many ways, according to a firm press release. He serves on the board of trustees for the Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati, as a member of the Executive Committee of the Cincinnati USA Partnership of the Cincinnati U.S.A. Chamber of Commerce, as ex-officio board member and past president of the Isaac M. Wise Temple and as emeritus trustee of Hebrew Union College.

Thompson Hine is a business law firm, established in 1911, with approximately 400 attorneys.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:35:44 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Friday, September 3rd. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

Dinsmore & Shohl added two new partners in its Columbus, Ohio office…

Grant & Eisenhofer added three attorneys to its antitrust practice…

Sidley Austin’s Thomas Cole was honored by the National Association of Corporate Directors…

Steptoe & Johnson opened an office, and acquired the energy practice group from Culbertson, Weiss, Schetroma and Schug…

Columbus Office of Dinsmore & Shohl to Add Two New Partners

ashley — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:00:08 +0000

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP welcome Charles Freiburger and Boyd Moehring to the firm’s Columbus office in the Corporate Department and Securities Practice Group. Formerly, Freiburger and Moehring were partners with Thompson Hine LLP.

Founded in 1908 in Cincinatti, Ohio, Dinsmore & Shohl is becoming more and more influential in the state. Now, with 48 lawyers, the firm is the tenth largest in Central Ohio and second largest in Dayton. With 450 attorneys overall, branches can also be found in Kentuky, Pennsylvania and West Virginia as well.

With more than 50 years experience between the two, adding Freiburger and Moehring can only be a boon to the firm. Managing partner of the Columbus office of Dinsmore & Shohl, Don Leach, says, “We are thrilled to have two such high quality and well established attorneys joining us.”

Since 1972, Freiburger has gained much experience working on environmental law, including with the Ohio EPA. He has also Conversely, Moehring has focused on business matters and real estate with clients from California, Florida, Las Vegas, New York, and others.

Leach says, “We continue to be excited about the opportunities in Columbus, and adding Chuck and Boyd is a huge step in continuing our growth here.”

Ulmer & Berne Boosts Ohio Offices

joshua — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:09:47 +0000

Ulmer & Berne LLP has added a three-person team to its three Ohio offices. The trio is led by partner Frederick M. Erny, who joins the firm’s product liability practice in Cincinnati.

Erny’s practice focuses on product liability litigation with an emphasis on the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, as well as a wide range of civil, trust and mass tort litigation. He was formerly a partner with Dinsmore & Shohl.

Erny will be joined at the 150-attorney strong Ulmer & Berne by associates Alyson A. Terrell in Columbus and Corey N. Thrush in Cleveland.

“These additions demonstrate Ulmer & Berne’s continued commitment to growth throughout the Midwest and enhance our ability to provide clients with superior legal counsel and the highest level of service and value,” states Kip Reader, managing partner of Ulmer & Berne.

Ulmer & Berne was established in 1908 and is one of Ohio’s largest law firms. The full-service firm has approximately 175 attorneys with offices in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Chicago.

Morning Roundup

sara — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:21:09 +0000

Good Morning! Today is March 16, and here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s news…

Krugliak, Wilkins, Griffiths & Dougherty open a new office in Akron, Ohio…

Cozen O’Connor is named No. 2 Bond Counsel in PA and No. 1 Underwriter’s Counsel in NJ…

Former Justice Department prosecutor Kirk Ogrosky joins Arnold & Porter…

Goulston & Storrs adds five partners to their land use and zoning practice…

Bryan Cave adds two partners and four counsel to it’s securities litigation practice…

W. Kam Quarles joins McDermott, Will & Emery as the firm’s director of legislative affairs…

Revenue and profits decline at Stroock…

Page Firm to Hire 5 in Ohio

Erik Even — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:58:26 +0000

Gregory Page, formerly of Pickrel Schaeffer & Ebeling, is launching his own practice in Springboro, Ohio, and will hire two attorneys and three staff before the end of the year.

Gregory S. Page Co. LPA will focus on commercial and residential real estate, construction and business litigation.

Page spent over a decade years at Pickrel Schaeffer, and was previously at Faruki Ireland & Cox. His JD is from the University of Toledo College of Law.

Dinsmore & Shohl Merges with Woodward Hobson & Fulton

Erik Even — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:28:48 +0000

Cincinnati’s Dinsmore & Shohl and Louisville’s Woodward, Hobson & Fulton have merged, and will operate as Dinsmore & Shohl starting in September.

Founded in 1917, Woodward is a large corporate, litigation and labor & employment law practice with 54 practicing attorneys.

Dinsmore & Shohl, established in 1908, is now one of the largest law firms in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, with 450 attorneys. It has offices in Lexington, Louisville and Frankfort, Kentucky; Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton, Ohio; Charleston, Morgantown and Wheeling, West Virginia; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Gudorf Law Hires 3 Lawyers

Erik Even — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:25:49 +0000

Dayton, Ohio lawyer Ted Gudorf has founded the Gudorf Law Group, bringing on three new attorneys.

Gudorf, who has practiced law in Dayton for 23 years, specializes in estate planning, estate administration and asset protection planning. He is board certified by the Ohio State Bar Association as a specialist in the areas of estate planning, trust and probate law. His JD is from the University of Dayton School of Law.

Anne Thompson was previously a clerk for former Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Jeffrey Froelich, and a corporate tax attorney for NCR Corp. She will head the firm’s estate administration and business succession planning departments.

Russell Golowin joins as a contract lawyer, focusing on Medicaid crisis planning and veterans’ benefits planning.

Kelie Niswonger also joins.

Obama Nominates 6 for US Attorney

Erik Even — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:56:46 +0000

President Barack Obama announced Friday his intent to nominate six individuals as United States Attorneys.

Dennis Burke is nominated for US Attorney for the District of Arizona, He is a Senior Advisor to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. He graduated the University of Arizona College of Law.

Steven Dettelbach is nominated for US Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. He is a partner at Baker & Hostettler in Cleveland Ohio; he also currently serves as a Commissioner on the Ohio Ethics Commission. Dettelbach graduated from Harvard Law School.

Brendan Johnson is nominated for US Attorney for the District of South Dakota. He is a partner at Johnson, Heidepriem, Abdallah & Johnson in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Johnson graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Karen Loeffler is nominated for US Attorney for the District of Alaska. She has been an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Alaska for twenty years, and currently is its interim United States Attorney. Loeffler graduated from Harvard Law School.

Florence T. Nakakuni is nominated for US Attorney for the District of Hawaii. She has been an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Hawaii for the past 24 years. She presently serves as Chief of the Drug and Organized Crime Section. Nakakuni graduated from the University of Hawaii’s William S. Richardson School of Law.

Carter M. Stewart is nominated for US Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. She is a lawyer at Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP in Columbus, Ohio. Stewart graduated from Harvard Law School.

Shumaker Loop Brings on 69 from Defunct Abel Band

Erik Even — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:34:34 +0000

Ohio’s Shumaker Loop & Kendrick is launching a Sarasota, Florida office in August. The new location will be staffed by 29 attorneys and 40 staff members from Sarasota’s now-defunct Abel Band.

Abel Band was one of Southwest Florida’s premier law firms. Earlier this year, Abel Band partner David Band left the firm over disagreements with other partners and troubled real estate deals.

Shumaker Loop also employs 60 attorneys at its Tampa outpost.

Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Shumaker Loop & Kendrick employs 215 attorneys across offices in Columbus, Ohio, Tampa and Sarasota, Florida, and Charlotte, North Carolina. It was founded in 1925.

Reminger Launching Kentucky Office

Erik Even — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:19:45 +0000

Cleveland, Ohio’s Reminger law firm will open an office in Louisville, Kentucky on July 1st.

Managing partner Donald L. Miller II and partner Paul A. Dzenitis will oversee the new office. Another 14 lawyers will the firm’s clients.

It will be Reminger’s third office in the state, and the firm’s tenth office overall.

Reminger Company, LPA is a full service law firm with offices located throughout Ohio and Kentucky.

Porter Wright Expands Corporate Practice

Erik Even — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 17:21:49 +0000

Porter Wright has hired on two partners for its corporate practice in Cincinnati.

T. Stephen Phillips joins from Frost Brown Todd. He has taught Federal Estate & Gift Taxation and Estate Planning at Northern Kentucky University Chase College of Law.

Marilyn Maag joins from Strauss & Troy. She was included among the “Top 50 Woman Lawyers” by Ohio Super Lawyers.

Both are experts in estate planning and wealth preservation.

Porter Wright Morris & Arthur has six offices in Ohio, Florida and Washington DC.

Frost Brown Todd Cuts Incoming Associate Salaries

Erik Even — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:38:49 +0000

Incoming associates at Cincinnati’s Frost Brown Todd will get a lower salary, although specific numbers have not been released.

In addition, the new associates will spend their first 1,000 hours in an “apprenticeship program.” Clients will be billed at a lower rate for work done by “apprentices.”

I keep putting the word “apprentice” in quotes because an apprentice is a 16-year-old learning to swap out a transmission, not a professional with a college degree and a law degree.

Those who complete the apprenticeship program can earn a merit-based bonus, and the opportunity to get on the regular lock-step pay track after one year.

The firm’s most famous former associates are Jerry Springer and Kenneth Starr. So, way to contribute to America, guys.

Frost Brown Todd LLC is one of the largest law firms based in the Midwestern United States. It resulted from the 2000 merger of Frost & Jacobs LLP, a Cincinnati-based firm, with Brown Todd & Heyburn PLLC, a Louisville-based firm. It presently has 370 attorneys working in nine offices throughout Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and West Virginia.

Crosby & Associates Merging with Licata & Toerek

Erik Even — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:11:42 +0000

The three-lawyer employment law firm Elizabeth A. Crosby & Associates is merging with Licata & Toerek.

Crosby was formerly a partner with Lou Licata, but they split after a disagreement. The merger reunites the two.

The ten member Licata & Toerek, also an employment law boutique, is based in Independence, Ohio.

Chester Willcox Partners to Form New Firm

Erik Even — Fri, 08 May 2009 23:23:52 +0000

Columbus, Ohio-based lawyers J. Richard Emens and Beatrice Wolper, until recently partners at Chester Willcox & Saxbe, are founding their own family business law firm.

Emens & Wolper was launched in April. Emens, 74, and Wolper, 63, are married and worked together at Chester Willcox for 12 years.

In 1998, Emens and Wolper co-founded the Conway Family Business Center, a family entrepreneur and education center. They teach courses on entrepreneurship and business succession.

Dinsmore & Shohl Expands in Kentucky

Erik Even — Tue, 05 May 2009 21:35:33 +0000

Cincinnati, Ohio-based Dinsmore & Shohl has launched an office in Frankfort, Kentucky’s capital.

The firm has two other Kentucky footprints, in Lexington and Louisville.

Carl Breeding, formerly of Louisville’s Greenebaum Doll & McDonald, will run the office. He brings with him Rusty Cress Jr. and Bert May.

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP is a large law firm based in Cincinnati, Ohio. According to the National Law Journal’s 2008 rankings, it was the 134th largest law firm in the US, and the largest in Cincinnati. It employs 400 attorneys across 11 offices.

Day Ketterer Expands into New Ohio Office

Erik Even — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:38:28 +0000

Ohio law firm Day Ketterer has added a Hudson office, its third in the state after Canton and Cleveland.

The 136-year-old firm has 34 attorneys and specializes in resolving litigation disputes.

Day Ketterer’s Hudson and Canton offices are linked by a technologically advanced intranet system. The office will be led by estate planning and business law attorney David G. Umbaugh.

Day Ketterer Ltd. has the distinction of being the oldest law firm in Stark County, Ohio and is one of its largest. The firm was founded in 1872 by William R. Day, personal legal adviser to President William McKinley.

Jones Day Opens Dubai Office

Erik Even — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:12:09 +0000

Jones Day opened an office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates this week.

The office is the 32nd location of the biglaw firm, which has been doing work in the Middle East more than 20 years. The six-lawyer office will focus on energy, finance, arbitration and merger-and-acquisition work.

The partner in charge will come from London, as will two other attorneys. Others will come from Washington, DC, and local Dubai firms.

Jones Day also opened an office in Mexico City earlier this year.

Jones Day is an international law firm headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. It was founded in 1893 by Judge Edwin J. Blandin and William Lowe Rice. Jones Day is the 8th largest law firm in the world by revenue. It is currently the second largest law firm in the United States, with approximately 2,400 lawyers and gross annual revenue in excess of US$1.5 billion.

Jones Day is also famous for not understanding how the Internet works.

Roetzel & Andress “Regretfully Releases” 13 Associates

Erik Even — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 18:00:33 +0000

Roetzel & Andress has “regretfully released” 13 associates and 18 non-lawyers, firm President Jeffrey Casto has announced.

Three of the lawyers were at its headquarters in Akron, Ohio, and three were in Cleveland.

The layoffs leave Roetzel & Andress with 223 attorneys at 10 offices in Ohio, Florida and the District of Columbia.

Calfee, Halter Dismisses Four Lawyers

Erik Even — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 17:44:42 +0000

Cleveland’s Calfee, Halter & Griswold dismissed four lawyers, a paralegal and another staffer. All were among Calfee’s 160 lawyers in Cleveland except one, a lawyer in the 15-lawyer Columbus office.

Calfee, a general business firm, has large practices in intellectual property law, capital markets and litigation.

“Their departures are a direct result of matching our head count with projected business,” Philip Dawson, the firm’s COO, said.

Taft Stettinius & Hollister Adds 8 to Dayton Office

Erik Even — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 17:00:36 +0000

The Dayton, Ohio office of Taft Stettinius & Hollister has added eight new lawyers.

The firm is bringing on all four lawyers from Crew & Buchanan in Dayton, effectively moving Crew & Buchanan to practice out of Taft’s local offices.

The new lawyers from Crew & Buchanan include partners Joseph Buchanan, Jennifer Hann Harrison, Jeffrey Swillinger and associate Andrew Tahler.

The firm also is adding partners Barbara Duncombe, Suzanne Sumner and Tom Menza, who come to Taft from Dayton-based Sebaly, Shillito and Dyer, to create a new focus on government contract law.

An additional lawyer will start at the firm next week.

The Dayton office will now have more than 30 lawyers, moving it from the ninth largest law firm in the Dayton area to the sixth.

Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP is a corporate law firm with headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio.

ATL: Thompson Hine Cuts Jobs, Salaries

Erik Even — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:17:56 +0000

Tipsters to Above the Law report that “at least 50″ lawyers and staffers have been laid off from Thompson Hine.

The sources claim that 12 lawyers, 5 paralegals, and 29 secretaries have been laid off from the firm’s Ohio offices.

There is also the claim that the firm has cut every associate’s salary by $20,000 per year.

Founded in 1911, Thompson Hine employs more than 400 lawyers in eight offices in Ohio, Washington DC, New York, and Belgium.

Via ATL.