Focus Areas
- Received the Catholic Lawyers Guild’s “St. Thomas Moore Award,” 2018
- Received The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland’s “Legacy of Justice Award,” 2017
- Judge John M. Manos Inn of Court, Master Bencher
- AV® Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2014 to 2022 for Commercial Litigation, Litigation and Controversy-Tax, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions-Defendants, Mediation, and Professional Malpractice Law-Defendants; named the Best Lawyers® 2018 Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions-Defendants, and 2022 Professional Malpractice Law-Defendants “Lawyer of the Year” in Cleveland
- Listed as a Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation, 2014 to 2022
- Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
- Received the Cuyahoga County Bar Association’s President’s Award for Outstanding Service, 1993
- Selected to the Ohio Super Lawyers list, 2006-2021 (Ranked in the Top 100 in Ohio and Top 50 in Cleveland, 2015)
- Awarded 2009 William K. Thomas Professionalism Award for enhancing professionalism and ethics in the greater Cleveland legal community
Professional Associations
- American Bar Association
- Ohio State Bar Association
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
Community Activities
- Law and Leadership Institute, Board of Directors, 2018
- Children and Family Advocates of Cuyahoga County, Board of Directors, 2017 to present
- St. Mary’s Seminary, Board of Trustees, 2015 to present
- Jesuit Retreat House, Board of Trustees, 2009 to 2016
- The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, Board of Directors, president 2015
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation, president 2010
- Bellflower Center for Prevention of Child Abuse, Board of Trustees, president, 2007 to 2009
- The Lawyers Guild, Executive Committee, 2005 to 2010; president 2007 to 2009
- Cuyahoga County Bar Foundation, president, 2001 to 2008
- St. John Vianney Catholic Church, Parish Pastoral Counsel, 1995 to 1999 (vice president, 1996 to 1999); New Church Design and Construction Committee, 1999 to 2002
- Hospice of The Western Reserve, volunteer attorney
Professional Activities
- Cuyahoga County Bar Association, president, 1997 to 1998; Executive Committee, 1994 to 2002; Board of Trustees, 1994 to 2002
- Advisory Board for Juvenile Court Mediation Project, president, 1999 to 2002
- Judicial Conference of Eighth Judicial District, life member
- Ohio State Bar Foundation, fellow
- Appointed by the Supreme Court of Ohio as a member of the Board of Commissioners on the Unauthorized Practice of Law, 2004 to 2006, and 2007 to 2009; appointed chairman of Board of Commissioners, 2008 and 2009
Education
- Gonzaga University School of Law, J.D., 1979, magna cum laude
- Gannon University, M.B.A., 1977
- Mercyhurst College, B.A., 1973
Bar Admissions
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania (inactive)
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Tax Court
- Eleven Thompson Hine Lawyers Named Best Lawyers 2022 Lawyers of the Year,
Thompson Hine LLP
, August 19, 2021 - Benchmark Litigation Recognizes Thompson Hine’s Litigation and Labor & Employment Practices and 24 Firm Litigators,
Thompson Hine LLP
, December 1, 2020