Class Notes Michael C. Zellers ’80, a partner in the Los Angeles office of Tucker Ellis LLP, was recognized as a leading lawyer in the area of product liability litigation for defendants in The Best Lawyers in America 2014. He has tried to verdict numerous cases in the areas of antitrust, business, insurance, medical device, pharmaceutical, professional liability, trade secret, and unfair competition. Philip J. Halley ’81, a shareholder with Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C. in Milwaukee, was named “Lawyer of the Year” in the area of trusts and estates by The Best Lawyers in America 2014. He co-leads his firm’s trusts and estates and trust, estate, and fiduciary litigation teams.
Daniel J. Minor ’81, a partner in the Columbus office of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, was recognized as a leader in the area of real estate law in The Best Lawyers in America 2014. Minor represents developers and lenders in mortgage loan financing transactions and is a member of the finance, energy, and real estate group. Richard D. Schuster ’81, a partner in the Columbus office of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, was recognized as a leader in the area of commercial litigation in The Best Lawyers in America 2014. He chairs the toxic tort practice group, and his practice includes serving as national coordinating counsel to several Fortune 500 companies.
Linda R. Mendel ’81, of counsel in the Columbus office of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, was recognized as a leading lawyer in the areas of employee benefits and executive compensation by Chambers USA in 2013 and leader in the area of employee benefits (ERISA) law in The Best Lawyers in America 2014. She works with employers and multi-employer plans on health and welfare benefit plan issues.
John F. Stock ’81 has been named partnerin-charge of Benesch’s Columbus office. He will serve a three-year term, overseeing the operation and growth of the 29-attorney office while maintaining his legal practice, in which he focuses on business litigation, including disputes pertaining to labor and employment, intellectual property, software licensing, land use regulation, and ERISA/fiduciary liability. Stock also is vice chair of the firm’s litigation practice group.
Brett L. Miller ’81, a partner in Dinsmore & Shohl LLP’s Columbus office, has been recognized as a leader in the area of workers’ compensation law for employers in The Best Lawyers in America 2014. He represents major manufacturing companies, interstate trucking companies, food processing, retail, and institutional clients.
Susan Tobin ’81 accepted a position at JP Morgan Chase in September to assist the company with compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Tobin previously spent 32 years as an attorney with Ohio’s Protection and Advocacy System for people with disabilities.
James P. Botti ’82, a partner in the Columbus office of Porter Wright, was recognized as a leading lawyer in the area of bankruptcy and restructuring by Chambers USA in 2013. He chairs the firm’s bankruptcy and reorganization practice group. Benita A. Kahn ’82, partner in the Columbus office of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, was recognized as a leading lawyer in the area of national privacy by Chambers USA in 2013 and in the area of energy law in The Best Lawyers in America 2014. She chairs the firm’s technology and intellectual property group and is a member of the public utilities group.
u
Robert “Bob” S. Kiss ’82 has been appointed as cabinet secretary of the West Virginia Department of Revenue by West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin. Kiss represented Raleigh and Summers counties from 1989 to 2006 in the West Virginia House of Representatives and held several leadership positions, including finance chair from 1993 to 1996 and speaker from 1997 to 2006. During his service in the House, Kiss was instrumental in major economic and fiscal legislation including state tax policy, workers’ compensation, PEIA and Medicaid, and the state’s Tax Increment Financing legislation. He most recently worked as partner at Bowles Rice Attorneys at Law in Charleston, W.Va., practicing in the areas of tax, estate planning, and commercial law. He lives in Charleston with his wife, Melinda.
v
Are you at least 70½? Would you like to help the law school?
Those who are 70½ or older are eligible to transfer up to $100,000 directly from an IRA to The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law without paying income tax on the distribution. This opportunity is available for a limited time! Contributions must be made by Dec. 31, 2013. For more information, contact Senior Director of Development Erin Neal at (614) 247-2538 or neal.277@osu.edu.
w
x
Moritz College of Law | W I N T E R 2 0 1 4
67