Top best Business Lawyers Near me in ZIP 44114

With more than two decades of experience practicing law in both the private and public sectors, Michele Simonelli has the knowledge necessary to handle highly personal client matters with honesty, discretion, and zealous advocacy. Her background as a Judicial Staff Attorney for the Ohio District Courts of Appeals for both the Eleventh and Seventh Districts as well as managing her private practice has provided her with unique experience and insight into the administration and practice of law in a broad scope of matters.. Michele’s experience includes researching, analyzing, and drafting judicial opinions for a three-judge panel in a variety of legal matters such as defamation, criminal menacing, and breach of contract disputes, which required her not only knowing the current law in these areas but where they may be headed. With the quickly changing laws and judgments addressing internet defamation, the ability to pivot quickly and cautiously anticipate future trends has been an invaluable skill. In her private practice, Michele has ten years of experience handling highly sensitive and emotionally charged matters including online defamation, revenge porn, highly contested divorces, custody matters as well as LGBTQIA issues.. Michele handles each client matter with careful skill and experience without judgment. She understands that her clients come to her during what may be a highly sensitive moment in their lives. Her background in psychology and counseling help her to effectively communicate with clients as well as with those whose harmful conduct has caused her clients emotional distress, financial burden, and issues with job and family relationships. In addition to practicing law, Michele teaches courses on First Amendment and Privacy Law at Kent State University.. Michele’s outside interests include cycling, kayaking, hiking and urban exploring.. Civic Involvement. League of Women Voters of Greater Youngstown, President. The Legal Creative, Board of Directors. Henry H. Stambaugh Auditorium, Board of Directors. Youngstown Film Festival, Founder & President. Kent State Poynter Media Symposium, Coordinator. Presentations. NPR: All Things Considered: “Man sues 27 women in an “are we dating the same guy” Facebook group”. facebook-group. • Unauthorized Use of Name or Likeness: Can I Sue if Someone Uses My Name?, Minc Law (Dec. 29,. 2022),. likeness [://. name-likeness].. • Landmark Supreme Court Decisions on Privacy and Free Speech, Grey House Publishing,. Contributing author. • Landmark Supreme Court Decisions on Privacy and LGBTQ Issues, Grey House Publishing,. Contributing author. • A Scammer is Threatening to Post Pictures of Me: What Should I Do (Mar 2024). • How to Stop Blackmail Online (Mar 2024). • When Can You Sue For Defamation of Character? (Dec 2023). • What to Do If You Are the Target of Twitch Defamation (Sept 2023). • How to Get Your Personal Information Off the Internet (May 2023). • How to Spot Fake Sugar Baby Scams (March 2023). • Unauthorized Use of Name or Likeness: Can I Sue if Someone Uses My Name? (Dec 2022). Publications. Landmark Supreme Court Decisions on Privacy and Free Speech, Grey House Publishing, Contributing author. Landmark Supreme Court Decisions on Privacy and LGBTQ Issues, Grey House Publishing, Contributing author. Bar Admissions. Ohio. Education. Notre Dame College (B.A. in Psychology). Cleveland Marshall College of Law (J.D.). Editor, Cleveland State Law ReviewAwarded Outstanding Student in the Law of Evidence

Tim is a litigation attorney who focuses his practice on employment discrimination, civil rights litigation, governmental liability, eminent domain matters and professional negligence. He has substantial trial experience in race discrimination cases, sex discrimination cases, and wrongful termination cases. Tim also has extensive experience representing clients before the EEOC and the OCRC. Tim received his B.A. in 1987 from The Ohio State University and his J.D. in 1991 from the University of Toledo. He received his Ohio Bar admission in 1991 and also has admission before the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Tim is a member of the Defense Research Institute and has been honored with selection for membership in The Judge John M. Manos Inn of Court. In addition to his legal practice, Tim has written several articles for various publications and has presented seminars on employment issues to numerous public officials and agencies including the County Commissioners Association of Ohio and participating members of the County Risk Sharing Authority.  Tim also served as a past instructor and supervising attorney for Cleveland-Marshall College of Law’s Housing Law Clinic Program which represents indigent tenants in the Cleveland Housing Court.

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My core practice is business civil litigation. I focus on representing businesses and professionals in court. I counsel and assist businesses on start up issues, risk avoidance, and adherence to applicable laws and regulations. I also represent individuals in meritorious claims against bad businesses when necessary.

Steve Petras practices international business transactions as a partner in the Business Practice Group.  He has facilitated commercial and corporate transactions in most countries throughout the world. When representing companies seeking to expand operations in foreign jurisdictions or in business transactions with parties from different countries, Steve seeks to create effective and efficient corporate and tax structures and enforceable agreements in the multiple jurisdictions involved. Furthermore, he advises on the compliance of the business activities and the parties with the applicable U.S. and foreign laws and regulations. Steve has deep experience representing clients in the manufacturing and technology industries, where his technical background and interest enables him to better fit the transaction with the underlying technology of his clients’ businesses.. Steve has led BakerHostetler’s International Industry Team since 1998. He is actively engaged in the international community of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio having served as the President of the Greater Cleveland International Lawyers Group, Chair of the International Section of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Chair of the Board of the Cleveland Council on World Affairs, and President of the Cleveland World Trade Association.  He is an Adjunct Professor in the International LL.M program of Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Dedicated to increasing international business in the United States and Ohio, Steve has been appointed by the US Secretary of Commerce as a member the Northern Ohio District Export Council and by Governor Voinovich as an Ohio Commodore.  He is a member of the Board of Directors of the World Affairs Councils of America.. Experience. -      On behalf of The Clinton Foundation’s HIV/AIDS Initiative, negotiated agreements for supply of antiretroviral medicines to treat adults and children suffering from or living with HIV/AIDS in the numerous developing countries of that program. These agreements covered the supply of drugs by pharmaceutical companies as well as the supply of testing equipment and supplies by the biomedical equipment manufacturers.  These agreements and the infrastructure created enabled millions of people to receive life-saving treatment.. -      Involved in structuring working capital financing transactions for the mining and delivery of natural resources using innovative security and payments methods.  This structure enabled the client to provide working capital on trade-by-trade basis at very low risk but significant revenue.. -      Numerous international mergers and acquisitions spanning the transaction value range from nominal to over US$ Billion.. -      Prepared major sourcing and outsourcing agreements enabling expansion of operations to India, the Philippines and other countries.. -      Prepared numerous international joint venture agreements for manufacturing, software development, marketing, research and other purposes for client business expansion into China, Brazil and other countries.  These projects cover various technologies, products, and services including automobile parts, appliance components, food products, machinery, environmental remediation equipment, and others.. -      Established U.S. operations for foreign companies through new entities, startup operations, joint ventures, and other arrangements, including selection of available incentives.. -      Performed international coverage analysis of reinsurance and insurance issues concerning large losses caused by such things as legal compliance failures and product defects.. -      Prepared product representation and distribution agreements across the world for technology-based clients, including the auto, medical, life sciences, machinery, gearing, software, housing, plumbing supply, aviation, and numerous other industries.. Recognitions. -      Alpha Kappa Epsilon International Business Honor Society (2005 to present). Memberships. -      . Law Institute: Executive Committee. -      Ohio Commodore: Appointed by Governor Voinovich (1996). -      Cleveland Council on World Affairs: immediate past Chair of the Board. -      Cleveland World Trade Association: past president. o   World Trade Center of Cleveland: Advisory Board. -      Greater Cleveland International Lawyers Group: past president. -      Northeast Ohio International Business Network: Founding Board Member. -      United States Department of Commerce: Northern Ohio District Export Council member. -      American Bar Association: International Law Section. -      Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association: International Law Section, past Chair. Community. -      Cleveland State University James J. Nance College of Business Administration International TRADE Program: Advisory Board. -      Case Western Reserve University School of Law: Society of Benchers, Member. -      MetroWest Kiwanis Charitable Foundation: Chairman

Serving as the Ohio Regional Coordinating Partner, Larry works closely with the firm’s leadership when contributing to the oversight of offices in Cleveland and Columbus. He was managing partner and CEO of Hahn Loeser for more than eight years. He feels privileged to work with 300+ talented people who are committed to client success. He especially enjoys working with the firm’s younger attorneys, guiding them as they begin to navigate their careers.. Larry serves as a key advisor to executive management at NYSE and Fortune 1000 companies, providing counsel for a wide range of situations and issues, including debtors’ and creditors’ rights, reorganization and bankruptcy, as well as for overall business strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and political developments.. Larry has the ability to get to the essential issues of a situation, achieving exceptional results for clients facing financial distress. He advises clients as if he has a personal stake in the matter, allowing him to diagnose the critical paths to meeting client goals and excelling in debtors’ and creditors’ rights, reorganization and bankruptcy. Clients view him not only as their attorney but as their trusted business advisor, and Larry takes great pride in those relationships.

Over her 33 years in practice, Sarah has earned a reputation as a domestic relations attorney who serves clients compassionately and effectively.. Her expertise in family law includes a broad range of issues in divorce and dissolution of marriage proceedings including valuing businesses and business interests, dividing retirement assets, determining support and designing and parenting plans. She is also experienced in post-divorce matters such as the modification and enforcement of support and parenting agreements and relocation. Her legal work for same-sex couples includes structuring parental rights agreements and dissolving unions and marriages.. Sarah’s approach is to explore whether certain dispute resolution strategies can achieve her clients’ goals through alternatives to litigation, but she also has extensive experience with complex litigation for businesses and families. She has advanced training in interest-based negotiation processes of Cooperative and Collaborative Law and is a qualified divorce mediator.. Sarah is regarded by her clients as an attorney who is compassionate but also a tough competitor, a characteristic she demonstrates outside her legal work as an ice hockey player. She is married with one grown son.

Mr. Viola focuses his practice on business transactions, including serving as outside general counsel to entities and individuals who provide services and products.. Mr. Viola’s practice involves real estate law, including construction, contracting and development.  He has significant experience in projects encompassing the sale, purchase and/or development of commercial/retail, residential, office and industrial properties.  His involvement includes all phases of negotiation, acquisition, construction, financing and disposition.  He has drafted various real estate documents, including purchase agreements, leases, easements, construction documents (including all AIA forms), homeowner association (HOA) declarations and related documents. Mr. Viola also advises his clients in determining the feasibility of real estate projects, including reviewing construction issues, title commitments, surveys and application of governmental regulations.. Mr. Viola counsels numerous privately held businesses with regard to everyday matters. For example, he advises businesses on entity selection, buy/sells, vendor contracts, partnerships and joint ventures.

Mr. Kunselman has proven himself a steady, thoughtful, and responsive client advocate.  As a litigator, he has briefed and argued in Ohio Common Pleas and Appellate Courts as well as in Federal District Courts and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and he has worked on complex litigation on behalf of a wide range of corporate clients.  His transactional experiences include intellectual property protection, lease and operative agreement formation, public and private offerings, asset sales, and creditor's rights.  Combining a strong academic foundation in economics and business with proven success in corporate law, he provides valued insight and sound strategies to clients at every stage of the legal process.  He joined Miller Goler Faeges Lapine LLP in 2001.

Matt is national bankruptcy counsel for a Fortune 500 company and serves as general counsel to two Northeast Ohio manufacturers. Working with the various practice groups at the firm, Matt is able to counsel clients on the full spectrum of legal issues, from employment matters to sales, construction or commercial litigation issues.. Mattbegan his legal career as a law clerk for the Honorable Marilyn Shea-Stonum, at the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Ohio and has extensive experience representing creditors in bankruptcy proceedings throughout the country.. Prior to the practice of law, Matt served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and was called to active duty in support of Operation Desert Storm in 1991. In his spare time, Matt likes running, cooking, drawing, traveling and studying military history.

I specialize in business transactions, business consulting, intellectual property, sports, media and entertainment, labor and employment matters, and much more. My practice involves representing and counseling clients in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, commercial and residential real estate transactions, sports, media, and entertainment law, banking and finance (lenders and borrowers), intellectual property, business start-ups, franchise law, construction law, and business formation.

Greetings from Cleveland, Ohio! I am the founder and principal member of a boutique law firm Lougovskaia Boop LLC. We are a full-service firm for small and medium-sized businesses. We represent clients in areas of business and construction disputes, product liability, general business law and immigration law. Feel free to browse our website at or drop me a message at We are also available to meet with clients worldwide via Skype technology.

Erika Molnar brings a wealth of experience to her practice as an attorney, having originally joined Raslan Pla & Company, LLC as a paralegal. This foundational role equipped her with an in-depth understanding of legal processes and client needs. While attending law school, Erika further honed her skills as a judicial extern for the Honorable Melody J. Stewart at the Court of Appeals of Ohio, Eighth Appellate District. Now as an attorney, she is especially passionate about representing immigrants who have faced deception or misconduct from their immigration attorneys. Erika is dedicated to seeking justice and appropriate compensation for those who have suffered harm. Her engagement in the legal community includes memberships in the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association, Federal Bar Association, and the Hungarian American Chamber of Commerce of Ohio. These associations allow her to stay connected with developments in the legal field and to advocate effectively for her clients.

Dennis R. Lansdowne joined Spangenberg Shibley & Liber in 1985. Five years later, he made partner.. Dennis has represented individuals in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases; he has also represented large corporations.. "My background and training have allowed me to pursue cases for both people and businesses that have suffered harm. It is an interesting and exciting practice," he says.. Dennis graduated summa cum laude from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review. Cleveland-Marshall will recognize Dennis as Alumnus of the Year in 2013.. After graduating from C-M, he served as law clerk to the Honorable Robert B. Krupansky at both the Northern District of Ohio and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.. "Working in both the trial and appellate courts gave me a unique opportunity to see the litigation process, and I was fortunate to observe many fine lawyers from Ohio and other parts of the country. I knew I wanted to devote myself to that process and practice at the highest level," Dennis says.. After his clerkships, Dennis joined Jones Day as an associate. While there, he concentrated on commercial litigation, representing corporations in insurance, product liability, securities, and contract disputes.. At Spangenberg, Dennis has represented hundreds of people who were seriously injured or lost a loved one due to the negligence of a doctor, nurse, nursing home or other healthcare provider. He is well-known for being able to make complex medicine easy for a jury to understand.. His passion about medical negligence led him to create and teach a course on the subject for several years at Cleveland-Marshall.

Carrying On a Family Legacy—And Forging His Own Path. From a Childhood Steeped in Law to a Practice Built on Empathy. Brenden Kelley’s first lessons in justice came early. Growing up in a household of legal professionals, he saw firsthand how law could be a powerful force for good—or a devastating weapon of exploitation. His father, a distinguished trial lawyer, championed the rights of Ohio Steelworkers. His mother, a former Cleveland Heights Municipal Court Judge, dedicated her career to standing up for those unable to protect themselves. Their example taught him that the law isn’t just a set of rules—it’s a promise to safeguard people and their futures.. Witnessing the Dark Side of the System. When Brenden was just sixteen, that promise nearly broke. He and his family found themselves entangled in a situation where lawyers pursued their own interests rather than justice. The experience opened his eyes to the very real damage legal malpractice can cause, and it sparked a lifelong commitment to make things right for people who’ve been let down by the system.. Early Career & Founding His Own Firm. After honing his litigation skills at a boutique law firm, Brenden launched his own practice in 2022 with a clear mission: to bring empathetic, high-caliber representation to small business owners, entrepreneurs, and victims of legal malpractice—all at a fair and transparent cost. He set out to create a legal experience where clients feel heard, respected, and truly protected.. Recognized for Excellence. Despite humble beginnings—in an apartment with little more than a laptop and a P.O. Box—Brenden grew his practice into a firm now serving clients across Ohio and Pennsylvania. Along the way, he built a reputation for treating each client with the empathy, respect, and unwavering support that define his approach to law.. Credibility & Community Engagement. Brenden’s dedication to ethical, client-focused advocacy quickly gained attention. He has been recognized by numerous organizations for his leadership, skill, and commitment to justice, earning accolades such as “Best Lawyers in America, Ones to Watch,” “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers, and “Litigation Lawyer of the Year” by Lawyers Monthly. Beyond the courtroom, he pours his passion into community involvement—serving on multiple bar association committees that uphold professional ethics, improve access to justice, and focus on mental health and wellness for attorneys. He also dedicates time to his alma maters through advisory boards and councils, helping future generations navigate both the opportunities and challenges of legal practice.. Why It Matters. To Brenden, the law is more than case files and court dates; it’s the difference between despair and hope, between injustice and real change. He aims to be the advocate he once wished for, ensuring that every client is treated with dignity and supported by someone who genuinely cares about their future. By blending his family’s legacy of service with his own personal resolve to right the wrongs he witnessed, Brenden offers clients not just a lawyer, but a devoted ally who fights tirelessly for what’s right.. “My family taught me that truly great lawyers shoulder the burdens of their clients. I’ve seen how the system can fail, and I’ve made it my mission to help people trust in legal representation again. I’m here to stand by you, fight for you, and deliver the justice you deserve.”. Through compassionate counsel and steadfast dedication, Brenden Kelley ensures that every client’s voice is heard—and every fight is won with integrity.

Brian Roof is the Chair of Sutter O’Connell’s Insurance Coverage practice with over 14 years of experience working in insurance coverage and commercial litigation. His insurance coverage practice is devoted to first-party and third-party coverage disputes involving property, casualty, personal lines and liability insurance, including CGL, professional liability, D&O and E&O policies. Known for his ability to work with corporate leadership, Brian has obtained favorable outcomes in insurance coverage disputes, business disputes and fiduciary litigation.