Local Lawyers – Super Attorneys | A Columbus Jewish News Special Section

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28 | COLUMBUS JEWISH NEWS | ColumbusJewishNews.com

MARCH 18, 2021

LOCAL LAWYERS - SUPER ATTORNEYS A COLUMBUS JEWISH NEWS SPECIAL SECTION

LAW THROUGH GENERATIONS From women’s inclusion to tech boom to COVID-19, attorneys describe field transformations MIRIAM SEGALOFF | CONTRIBUTOR columbuseditorial@cjn.org

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embers of three downtown Columbus law firms say the way law is practiced today has been shaped by many influences over the

years. The degree to which they are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, new technologies, and advancements in women’s inclusion and progress depends on their

Robert H. Cohen, Partner

Firm: Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP Age: 69 Law school: University of Cincinnati College of Law Practice area: Corporate immigration law Hometown: Berwick neighborhood of Columbus Synagogue: Congregation Tifereth Israel For Robert Cohen, the meteoric rise of computing technology and its applications over the last 45 years created one of the most significant changes in the way he practices law. Email and texting have created an environment in which clients expect 24hour access to attorneys, he said. And, “we no longer have a library. We have an

Michael Schottenstein, Director

Firm: Kegler Brown Hill + Ritter Age: 34 Law school: OSU Moritz College of Law Practice area: Commercial real estate development law Hometown: Bexley Synagogue: Congregation Tifereth Israel The days of attorneys hard at work in the office until all hours of the night seem to be fading fast, said Michael Schottenstein. Law firms, he said, have fully embraced the stay-at-home culture at the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Firms were starting to get more flexible, even before COVID, with what they are

Beatrice K. Sowald, Founding Partner

Firm: Sowald Sowald Anderson Hawley & Johnson Law school: OSU Moritz College of Law Practice area: Family and estate law Hometown: Eastmoor neighborhood of Columbus Synagogue: Beth Jacob Congregation Beatrice K. Sowald was one of two women to graduate from The Ohio State University College of Law in 1966, the same year the National Organization for Women was founded. The incoming law school class that year included 10 women. “I can tell you that when I started, it was the same as the Ruth Bader Ginsburg story – firms did not hire women,” Sowald said. “Aside from the fact

perspectives and how long they have been in the legal field, the lawyers explained to the Columbus Jewish News. Here is what they had to say.

information resource center – it was changed to reflect the nature of what librarians do and the nature of the way we do the things we do. “I watched them take truckloads of books out to take to the dump. It was heartbreaking. It’s a whole different way of operating.” Cohen said the first time he had a computer on his desk was in 1988. “We are much closer to a paperless system than I thought we would ever be,” he said. “I still like to pick up a file and go through it, but now it’s all electronic. “A law student came to see me about a year or two ago. She was preparing for the bar exam and asked if I used a laptop when I took the bar exam. I had to tell her the personal computer was not invented until five years after I took the bar exam, and the laptop probably didn’t come along for another 10 years after that. But we did have ballpoint pens.”

willing to allow people to do in terms of setting up a home office,” Schottenstein said. “I am curious to see what’s going to happen when we open up and are able to go back to the office.” Schottenstein, who spends most of his time working from his Bexley home, said he believes the movement toward doing business online will significantly benefit clients. Those clients will no longer need to pay for their attorney’s travel time and can view meetings and hearings first-hand remotely. “There are a lot of benefits to clients,” Schottenstein said. “It could potentially cut down on some of the profitability of the industry, but on the flip side, you can take on more work than before. It is going to be interesting to see how the profession comes out of it.”

that there weren’t lawyers that were women, there definitely weren’t any judges who were women.” Sowald recalled being in a courtroom and being mistaken for a secretary on more than one occasion. “In reality, I did not feel like a trailblazer,” she said. “I felt awfully alone.” The world has undoubtedly changed for the better, Sowald said. “You just don’t have things like that happening anymore.” But, she added, it didn’t happen overnight. “It happened gradually, over time,” Sowald said. “But all things change over time. And it really isn’t a shock or oddity that a woman is doing things now. I don’t think anybody even questions that there are female attorneys and female judges and female justices of the Supreme Court.”

Miriam Segaloff is a freelance writer from Gahanna.


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ATTORNEY BARRY WOLINETZ The Face of Family Law OBTAINING POSITIVE RESULTS!

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Madeline P. Fleisher Dickinson Wright PLLC AMANDA KOEHN | LIFESTYLES EDITOR akoehn@cjn.org | @AmandaKoehnCJN

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ntering college as a pre-med student aiming to follow in her parents’ footsteps, Madeline P. Fleisher was struck by a health subfield: how a person’s environment can affect their physical well-being. While one’s environment and its pollutants can directly impact individuals, large issues like climate change also play a role and usually more adversely for exploited communities. Fleisher attended law school to focus further on how environmental policy is implemented in the real world. And after working on environmental litigation and regulatory issues for the federal government after law school, she moved to Ohio in 2014 and worked at a regional environmental nonprofit, the Environmental Law & Policy Center. “As I worked on environmental issues in Ohio and the Midwest, I saw how central the business community is to achieving sustainability goals, whether through robust compliance or in the form of the growing range of companies offering clean

energy and environmental products and services,” she told the Columbus Jewish News in an email. In 2019, she transitioned to her current role as of counsel at Dickinson Wright PLLC in downtown Columbus, where she said she works to achieve positive environmental outcomes for her clients. CJN: Where do you think the environmental law field is headed in the next 10 or so years? Where do you hope it is headed? Fleisher: To some extent, environmental law is going to keep grappling with the same problem we faced when the field really emerged in the United States over 50 years ago: The task of making sure people sensibly manage the waste we create and protect ourselves and our natural resources from its impacts. There are sometimes new contaminants to deal with – some people may have heard about recent concerns regarding “forever” chemicals like PFAS, but the tools for our clients will remain the same, mainly working with regulators to determine the scope of any environmental problem and come up with a plan to address it. The two new issues I see becoming more

For over 50 years, the attorneys at Kegler Brown have represented the interests of individuals, associations, small businesses and multinational corporations. We’ve served as

LOCAL LAWYERS About Madeline

prominent and hope continue to be a focus, are climate change and environmental justice. At this point, there’s fairly broad recognition of the need to do something to address the adverse impacts of climate change, but the next 10 years will be key to determining what that is. There’s a lot more work to do to deal with the uneven impact of environmental problems on socioeconomically and historically disadvantaged groups, but that’s becoming a more prominent topic of conversation, which will hopefully lead to effective action in the next decade. CJN: What do people often misinterpret about making Ohio more sustainable and how that meshes with business and the economy? Fleisher: One of the common conceptions that comes up in Ohio and elsewhere is that there has to be a trade-off between sustainability and jobs. Fortunately, there are a range of sustainability efforts that can go hand-in-hand with job creation. For years, energy efficiency investments have helped support tens of thousands of jobs statewide in manufacturing, construction and HVAC. Another good example is the electric transportation field, where you can see companies like Lordstown Motors helping to reinvigorate Ohio’s auto industry by manufacturing electric trucks that will hopefully one day be powered by clean energy. CJN: Are there any especially interesting projects you are working on? Fleisher: Recently I’ve started representing a nonprofit, Clean Fuels Ohio,

Age: 38 Hometown: Upper Arlington Synagogue: Congregation Tifereth Israel Family: Husband, Matthew McKenzie; children, Henry, 7, and Jane, 4 Undergraduate: Yale University Law school: Harvard Law School First job out of law school: Working for a federal trial court judge in Massachusetts If I weren’t an attorney: I would go into finance/economics probably, but still working in the environmental field. Making the dollars and cents pencil out for sustainability efforts is just as important as having a solid regulatory framework.

My favorites...

Favorite Jewish-themed movie: “A Serious Man” Favorite Jewish celebrity: Leonard Nimoy Favorite Jewish food: Challah Favorite Jewish holiday: Passover Favorite Jewish tradition: Apples and honey on Rosh Hashanah on regulatory efforts in support of utility programs that promote electric vehicle adoption and smart charging. It’s really quite fun to use my “boring” knowledge about utility regulation and electric rate design to help a client make progress in an exciting new area as electric transportation is becoming more economically viable for wide-scale adoption. CJN: How does your Jewish background inform your work? Fleisher: One of my principle connections with my Jewish faith has always been with the idea of tikkun olam. For me, it’s spiritually rejuvenating to work on environmental and non-environmental efforts to leave the world a better place than it started. I feel very lucky to get to do that both in my day job and as co-chair of Congregation Tifereth Israel’s social action committee.

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LOCAL LAWYERS

Scott N. Friedman Friedman & Mirman Co., L.P.A. STEPHEN LANGEL | BUREAU CHIEF slangel@cjn.org

ZACKS LAW GROUP LLC

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Counselors & Practitioners at Law

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cott N. Friedman, a partner at Friedman & Mirman Co., L.P.A., has been a litigator focusing on family law matters for more than 20 years. But, after years of litigating such potentially contentious issues as spousal support and child custody agreements, he is now focusing on a different path – mediation. To this end, Friedman has started Friedman & Mirman Civil Solutions to provide alternate dispute resolution, such as mediation and arbitration services. CJN: Why did you decide to become an attorney? Friedman: My father was an attorney. I grew up watching him and working in his office in the summers. So I had that role model. I was not sure I wanted to be an attorney until I started law school and found the education to be very interesting. I also knew I wanted to help people and I think practicing law – especially family law – does that. CJN: What drew you to alternate dispute resolution? Friedman: I have litigated my entire career and then became trained in mediation. I actually like to litigate, but I think in most instances, ADR is better for my clients. CJN: What do you see as the benefits of this approach as opposed to litigation? Friedman: Clients can control their own destiny much better with ADR. It is generally less adversarial. CJN: What are the possible drawbacks to this approach?

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Friedman: The parties could spend a lot of time and money on ADR and not resolve their differences and then be forced to litigate. CJN: What has your experience been so far in establishing Friedman & Mirman Civil Solutions? What has been challenging and how did you overcome it? Friedman: ADR and mediation is still a mystery to many clients and attorneys. So, making people aware of that option is a challenge. We are working to overcome the awareness part and make ADR a bigger part of our court system. CJN: What are your goals? Friedman: Grow Friedman & Mirman Civil Solutions much like we have grown Friedman & Mirman Co., L.P.A. CJN: How do your Jewish beliefs and values play a role in your legal work? Friedman: I am not sure my Jewish beliefs and values play a role independent of just normal beliefs and values. I want to do the right thing for our clients – help them overcome a very difficult personal process in their lives and give our clients the best we can give with our effort.

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About Scott

Age: 49 Hometown: New Albany Synagogue: Temple Israel Family: Wife, Kerstin; children, Davis, Lena and Miles, 16; two stepchildren, Will and Riley, 17; and dog, Lincoln Undergraduate: Miami University Law school: Capital University Law School First job out of law school: Associate at Schottenstein, Zox & Dunn If I weren’t an attorney, I would: Be in business, perhaps an entrepreneur

My favorites ...

Favorite Jewish-themed movie: Two come to mind. “Schindler’s List,” although very sad, it was very well made and told an important part of our history, and “The Frisco Kid” – Gene Wilder was great. Favorite Jewish celebrity: Adam Sandler Favorite Jewish food: Potato latkes and corned beef on rye with dark mustard Favorite Jewish holiday: Rosh Hashanah Favorite Jewish tradition: Lighting the menorah candles and making homemade latkes and Chanukah dinner with our children.


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MARCH 18, 2021

Rachel Friedman Gold

About Rachel

Age: 31 Hometown: German Village Synagogue: Beth Jacob Congregation and Temple Israel Family: Husband, Matt Undergraduate: Indiana University Law school: OSU Moritz College of Law First job out of law school: Associate attorney at Kegler Brown Hill + Ritter If I weren’t an attorney: I would be working at a yoga studio

Kegler Brown Hill + Ritter, L.P.A. STEPHEN LANGEL | BUREAU CHIEF slangel@cjn.org

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rawn to law by her desire to help others and inspired by her father, Rachel Friedman Gold is using her legal skills to help establish the nascent medical marijuana field by helping businesses obtain state licenses. Gold, an associate at Kegler Brown Hill + Ritter in Columbus and a member of the firm’s medical marijuana team, works to provide medical marijuana businesses everything they need to operate. According to her law firm’s profile, Gold’s work includes “assisting with all three of Ohio’s Medical Marijuana Control Program application types from start to cleanup, to handling continued compliance after submission, appeals and requests” from the Ohio Board of Pharmacy. Gold said the work is meaningful and has taught her so much. “The successes our clients saw in winning licenses were incredibly rewarding, but the lessons I learned about becoming a better lawyer will always stay with me,” she said in an email to the Columbus Jewish News.

CJN: Why did you decide to become an attorney? Gold: I wanted to become an attorney because I like helping people and I was also interested in real estate and business. This intersection was a natural choice for me. CJN: Did you have anyone in particular who inspired you towards this path early on? Gold: Yes, my dad is an attorney. I feel so lucky that I get to work with my dad on a regular basis. I am also lucky to have him as a built-in mentor and teacher. CJN: How did you begin to work with cannabis legal issues? Gold: A client approached the firm asking if we did cannabis work. After careful consideration, myself and a few colleagues jumped at the opportunity to step into this new space. This was very exciting because of the new laws and regulations we needed to master in a short period of time. We were definitely challenged by this “trial-byfire” method, but I think I was lucky to have this opportunity to become very proficient in a new field of law so early in my career.

My favorites ... CJN: What interests you about this type of law? Gold: The ever evolving and changing rules and regulations. It is exciting to navigate this new space and help be a part of the foundations of the cannabis market in Ohio. CJN What are the biggest challenges in this area and what possible solutions do you see on the horizon? Gold: Banking for the cannabis industry is one of the biggest issues we consistently run into in this area. We are hopeful that this challenge will be addressed by the new administration. CJN: How do your Jewish beliefs and values play a role in your legal work? Gold: My Jewish values and beliefs

Favorite Jewish-themed movie: “Fiddler on the Roof” Favorite Jewish celebrity: Gal Gadot Favorite Jewish food: Kugel or my mom’s matzo ball soup Favorite Jewish holiday: Rosh Hashanah Favorite Jewish tradition: I absolutely love that on the second night of Passover my family gets together and does a 40-plus person seder. I have the best memories from it and I look forward to it every year. are my “north star” when guiding my clients. The law is grounded and based in Judeo-Christian ideology, as such, it’s not difficult to use these beliefs in everyday practice.

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MARCH 18, 2021

Laura L. Hult Benesch

About Laura

Age: 37 Hometown: Dublin Family: Husband Charlie, daughter Lyla, stepdaughter Maddie, stepson Austin, huskimo Loki, pug George, cat Nala Undergraduate: University of Michigan Law school: OSU Moritz College of Law First job out of law school: Schottenstein Zox & Dunn If I weren’t an attorney: I would be heading a small business incubator

STEPHEN LANGEL | BUREAU CHIEF slangel@cjn.org

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aura Hult, a partner at Benesch in Columbus, has used her passion for advocacy, the example her father set, and the inspiration she derives from movies and books to help small businesses and others thrive even during difficult economic times. CJN: Why did you decide to become an attorney? Hult: I saw “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “The Godfather” in the same year and became fascinated with the idea of advocacy and serving as a consigliere. CJN: Did you have anyone in particular who inspired you toward this path early on? Hult: Atticus Finch and Tom Hagen, obviously. My father was a CEO and I saw how much he respected his attorneys and found their counsel to be valuable, so I’m sure that made an impact as well. CJN: What do you find rewarding about law? Hult: Working with and for people that are the best at what they do. I truly value my relationships with my clients and my team at Benesch. CJN: What is most challenging about the issues you cover? Hult: Right now, it is difficult to see the amount of businesses that are struggling in this environment. A lot of these middle-market companies have been so innovative and resilient, and yet are still struggling with economic visibility.

LOCAL LAWYERS

My favorites ...

CJN: What changes to this type of law do you foresee in the near future? Why are those changes needed and/or significant? Hult: I think diversity and inclusion is going be prioritized in big law. Clients are demanding it and it is long overdue. In order to provide top tier advice, you need a diverse and dynamic team. CJN: How do your Jewish beliefs and values play a role, if at all, in your legal work? Hult: The emphasis on ethics and community in Judaism absolutely plays a role in my practice. As an attorney you must be discrete, egoless and highly ethical. I serve on nonprofit boards in order to give back to the community and offer the skills and network I have developed as resources to those boards.

Favorite Jewish-themed movie: Anything by Mel Brooks Favorite Jewish celebrity: Notorious RBG (Ruth Bader Ginsburg) and Jerry Stiller Favorite Jewish food: Babka Favorite Jewish holiday: Purim and Pesach Favorite Jewish tradition: The way we handle death, burial and mourning. Sitting shiva is such a beautiful, empathetic and powerful ritual.

Lawyers, firms recognized

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he Columbus Jewish News asked local firms to submit their lawyers who received recognition from the 2021 Super Lawyers magazine.

BENESCH FRIEDLANDER COPLAN & ARONOFF LLP

CONGRATULATIONS

Super Lawyers: Marc S. Blubaugh Rising Stars: Kari D. Hehmeyer, Mark T. Keaney and Michael J. Mozes

Super Lawyers List | 2021 Deanna DiPetta, Drew Piersall, Christopher Reynolds, Jonathan Rich, Patrick Watts, 10 YEARS: Jon Dileno, Michele Jakubs, David Posner, Jeffrey Wedel, Stephen Zashin, 15 YEARS: George Crisci, Jonathan Downes, Andrew Zashin OHIO TOP 100 | CLEVELAND TOP 50: Andrew Zashin Amy Keating, David Vance, Kyleigh Weinfurtner

Best Lawyers | 2021 Christopher Reynolds, Kyleigh Weinfurtner, 5 YEARS: Jon Dileno, Deanna DiPetta, Amy Keating, David Posner, Jonathan Rich, Stephen Zashin, 10 YEARS: George Crisci, Jonathan Downes, 15 YEARS: Jeffrey Wedel, Andrew Zashin

Best Lawyers Top Listed Firm | 2021 workplace & family law

Super Lawyers: Andrew S. Grossman, Jeffrey A. Grossman, Anthony R. Auten, Jodi R. Smilack and John H. Cousins IV

KEGLER BROWN HILL + RITTER

Rising Stars List | 2021

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Super Lawyers: John Brody, Rob Cohen, Catherine Cunningham, Larry Feheley, Lori Fuhrer, Don Gregory, Tom Hill, Todd Kegler, Dave McCarty, Larry McClatchey, Tim Tullis, Chris Weber and Mike Zatezalo Rising Stars: Jane Gleaves, Tim Kelley, Michael Schottenstein, Steven Umaña and Molly Werhan

STRIP HOPPERS LEITHART MCGRATH & TERLECKY CO., LPA

The Top Listed Family Law Firm in Ohio & Cleveland for 6 years

Super Lawyers: Myron N. Terlecky

Chambers and Partners | 2020 Ranked Band 1, Family/Matrimonial: High Net Worth in The Chambers HNW 2020 Guide:

-Compiled by Amanda Koehn

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Inna Simakovsky Simakovsky Law

About Inna

Age: 50 Hometown: Bexley Family: Husband, David; children, Simon, 17, Isaac, 15, and Avi, 13 Undergraduate: University of Cincinnati Law school: OSU Moritz College of Law First job out of law school: Legal Aid in Spokane, Wash. If I weren’t an attorney: I would be an asylum officer or going abroad, working in a refugee camp. There’s something about easing suffering that’s always attracted me.

STEPHEN LANGEL | BUREAU CHIEF slangel@cjn.org

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nna Simakovsky has a passion for helping immigrants based upon her experience as a child emigrating from Russia. Simakovsky came to the United States by way of Italy in 1976 to escape anti-Semitism and was able to find both freedom and success here. She wants the same for her clients. Simakovsky and the other attorneys at her firm, Simakovsky Law, advocate for immigrants from all over the world to ensure they get the same chance in America that she did, she said. Not only does she advocate for her clients in court, many times representing children facing deportation, but she supports them in the community. Simakovsky goes to bus stops to meet immigrant families and comfort them. She also provides food, shelter and supplies, including using her law offices as a distribution center, she explained. Simakovsky was also selected as a member of the inaugural Columbus Jewish News 18 Difference Makers class in 2019. CJN: Did you have anyone in particular who inspired you early on? Simakovsky: I think my parents are probably my biggest supporters, my biggest mentors, because they provide stability and, if you fall, there’s someone that will catch you. And I think, as an example, that they were those adventurers that left Mother Russia and came to (somewhere) that they didn’t know or didn’t understand. And they thrived ... they worked hard. And to see those actions in front of me daily, that’s quite an inspiration. CJN: Why did you decide to become an immigration attorney? Simakovsky: I think I decided to become an immigration attorney because as a refugee immigrant kid growing up in the refugee and immigrant community, and just being a little bit different and having a harder path, I wanted to bring a voice and bring my advocacy skills and sense of humor and experiences to others going through that same process. CJN: How do your Jewish beliefs and values play a role in your legal work and your commitment to activism? Simakovsky: Activism “is an obligation, not a choice,” she said, likening obligation to help immigrants to the Torah’s commandment – “You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were

Scan this QR code with your smartphone camera or tablet or visit columbusjewishnews.com/ 2019differencemakers to read more about Inna Simakovsky.

My favorites ...

strangers in the land of Egypt.” “Representing individual clients is my personal passion,” she said. CJN: What is the biggest challenge your clients face? Simakovsky: I think education; educating communities, educating people that don’t understand. I’m so tired of people saying, “Well, they just need to come legally.” Simakovsky said many immigrant groups came to the United States in ways that were not legal at the time, either according to U.S. law or the laws of their origin countries. For instance, her family and other Jewish immigrants were prohibited by Russia from coming to America, with that seen as an act of treason. But they did so anyway because of the freedom and

Favorite Jewish-themed movie: “Fiddler on the Roof” Favorite Jewish celebrity: I wish Idris Elba was Jewish. So, let’s say Idris Elba and I’ll pretend he’s Jewish. Favorite Jewish food: Liver Favorite Jewish holiday: Laughs ... Ramadan Favorite Jewish tradition: Family. My parents are “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” When I got married, my father offered to buy me and my husband a house next door to theirs. My husband was taken aback, responding, “How about down the street?” They come over every day. opportunities here, she said. It really takes one-onone conversations to get this across by, for example, relating current immigrants’ plight to the challenges Jewish immigrants have faced in the past, Simakovsky said.

The principals of FRIEDMAN & MIRMAN are fellows of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and are listed in Best Lawyers in America in Family Law. They provide clients with a combination of integrity and compassion, blended with finely-honed legal skills and solid judgment. Both Denise Mirman and Scott Friedman are active supporters of many non-profit organizations in the Central Ohio community.

It’s all in the Principals. 1320 Dublin Road, Suite 101, Columbus, OH 43215 PH: (614) 221-0090 • FX: (614) 221-7213 • www.friedmanmirman.com


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MARCH 18, 2021

LOCAL LAWYERS

Susan C. Stone Kohrman Jackson & Krantz STEPHEN LANGEL | BUREAU CHIEF slangel@cjn.org

S

usan Stone, a partner at Kohrman Jackson & Krantz in Columbus, has gained a national reputation for representing students and professors in Title IX discrimination cases. She represents students involved with sexual assault allegations on college campuses nationwide. She has tried numerous cases in Columbus and has “represented students faced with allegations from colleges based in Columbus.” Specifically, Stone deals with issues surrounding consent and whether students were too incapacitated to provide or ascertain meaningful consent. She said she believes students need better training on issues surrounding consent. Stone, co-chair of the firm’s student and athlete defense/Title IX practice group, is routinely hired as a student adviser for the campus investigation and hearing phase of proceedings, and is also retained to handle subsequent university level appeals. Her work includes student matters involving hazing, bullying and social media. Stone also handles due process complaints and shaping of 504 plans and individualized education programs for students with disabilities. Her clients also include students with mental health and neurological disorders, particularly those with autism spectrum disorder. CJN: Why did you decide to become an attorney? Stone: I was on the high school debate team and loved the experience. Arguing is in my DNA. CJN: Did you have anyone in particular who inspired you towards this path early on? Stone: My high school debate coach went to law school, and I wanted to follow in his foot steps. CJN: How do you approach working with students on their legal issues? How do you, for example, begin to engage them and learn their story? Stone: We take a family-centered approach when working with students that starts with an extensive intake process. We try to include the parents in the decision-making process rather than present just a boiler plate legal defense. Many times, we encourage the entire family to seek therapy rather than place blame on the accused student. CJN: What are the biggest legal issues that students face now? Stone: It’s hard for students to make a mistake in the age of “cancel culture.” We find that most errors are caught on

About Susan

Age: 54 Hometown: Cleveland Synagogue: Jewish Family Experience in Cleveland Family: Three children and “one adorable fiancé” Undergraduate school: Miami University Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law First job out of law school: Law clerk If I weren’t an attorney: I would be an actress.

My favorites ...

Favorite Jewish-themed movie: “Exodus” Favorite Jewish celebrity: Pink Favorite Jewish food: Challah (mishmosh) Favorite Jewish holiday: Purim Favorite Jewish tradition: Blessing my children Friday night. social media. Nothing seems private or sacred anymore. Don’t post anything you wouldn’t want your bubbe to see. CJN: What are the biggest legal issues that children with special needs, including autism spectrum disorder, face now? Stone: Students with ASD struggle the most after they leave high school and no longer have an integrated support system between home and school. We say that it’s like falling off of a cliff with no net once that student graduates from high school. CJN: How do your Jewish beliefs and Jewish values play a role, if at all, in your legal work? Stone: My Torah values inspire my work every day. Don’t judge, view others favorably and try to help students know that they are a gift from God even if a large mistake is made or they feel different or “other” from peers.


SUPER ATTORNEYS

ColumbusJewishNews.com | COLUMBUS JEWISH NEWS | 37

MARCH 18, 2021

Inside look at some of Ohio’s law schools Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law

University of Cincinnati College of Law

Tilton Hall of Law 415 S. Gilbert St., Ada, OH 45810 Dean: Charles H. Rose III Enrollment in 2020-21: 148 Student-Faculty Ratio: 6:1

WHAT MAKES YOUR LAW SCHOOL DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS? ONU Law is truly student-centered, providing the best environment for the transformative magic of becoming a lawyer. We feed the mind, the body and the spirit by relentlessly focusing on supporting our students throughout the educational process. We have updated classrooms, created online materials and come through the pandemic a better place to learn.

Rose

HOW HAS COVID-19 IMPACTED YOUR LAW SCHOOL? We find the excellence residing within each student, empowering them to create their own pathway to not only success, but significance in the law. Our history and location allows us to focus on the student experience, both now and during the time of COVID-19. Every decision at ONU ensures our students not only survive, but thrive, even during times such as these. We are excited for the future, from here you truly can go anywhere.

Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University

1801 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44115 Dean: Lee Fisher, Joseph C. Hostetler-BakerHostetler Chair in Law Enrollment in 2020-21: 481 Student-faculty ratio: 6:1

WHAT MAKES YOUR LAW SCHOOL DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS? • Because of our deep, historic connection to the community, students have the opportunity to engage in hands-on, real life legal work. • We prepare students to make a difference in the world and to become not only successful professionals, but also leaders, change makers and Fisher advocates of justice. • 24-point increase in U.S. News national rankings, second-largest increase of any law school in the nation

2540 Clifton Ave., Cincinnati 45221 Assistant Dean for Admission & Financial Aid: Cassandra B. Jeter-Bailey Enrollment in 2020-21: 393 Student-faculty ratio: 8:1

Jeter-Bailey WHAT MAKES YOUR LAW SCHOOL DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS? • The University of Cincinnati College of Law remains a driving force of innovation and access to the legal profession. Cincinnati Law is one of the nation’s top social justice law schools. Whether you are interested in working to exonerate the wrongfully convicted, defending human rights worldwide, combating economic inequalities and violence against women, or lifting members of underserved communities, you will find your opportunity here. We have established an international reputation by bridging theory and practice, forging relationships with local, national and global communities, and preparing our students to take the lead in advancing justice.

• Nationally ranked in 11 specialty areas • Top-ranked public law school in Northeast Ohio • Consistently high bar passage and employment rates • Nationally recognized leadership and law program • Nationally recognized centers for: cybersecurity and privacy protection; global space law; health law and policy; and criminal justice • Named a top law school for health law and business law by PreLaw Magazine • Named a best value law school by PreLaw Magazine HOW HAS COVID-19 IMPACTED YOUR LAW SCHOOL? • We quickly transitioned to a blend of online, hybrid learning and in-person learning. All students have been given the option to learn remotely even if a course is taught in-person • We created a student emergency assistance fund to assist students in financial need as well as a wellness fund to promote and support the well-being of all our students, staff and faculty • We focused on the overall well-being of our

Case Western Reserve University School of Law

11075 East Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44106 Co-Deans: Jessica Berg and Michael Scharf Enrollment in 2020-21: 412 Student-faculty ratio: 6:1

Berg

Scharf

WHAT MAKES YOUR LAW SCHOOL DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS? • Established 128 years ago, CWRU School of Law is a national law school where more than 60% of the students are

HOW HAS COVID-19 IMPACTED YOUR LAW SCHOOL? • Although we are unable to return to campus, faculty and staff remain firmly committed to providing a quality educational experience for Cincinnati Law students. • Our faculty continues to draw from best practices in online learning to develop excellent online courses. We are proud of our resolve and determination to excel under these challenging circumstances and how we have worked together to navigate an extraordinarily challenging situation. WHAT SHOULD A PROSPECTIVE STUDENT KNOW ABOUT YOUR LAW SCHOOL? • We provide an elite law school experience that inspires you to pursue justice and advance the role of law in a 21st-century society. • Our Juris Doctor program features nine areas of study, student fellowships and real-world learning with Cincinnati’s legal community. Among the reasons to attend Cincinnati Law is our dedication to supporting students. From the admissions process through enrollment and graduation, our staff and faculty are committed to providing you the exceptional education that we’re nationally recognized for. We are preparing the next generation of lawyers and leaders at Cincinnati Law.

students, from offering increased support through our academic success program to socially-distanced fun activities and emailed care packages and messages of support from faculty WHAT SHOULD A PROSPECTIVE STUDENT KNOW ABOUT YOUR LAW SCHOOL? • We are a school that fosters a collaborative, student-centered culture with strong emphasis on academic support and faculty access • We are an iconic law school that was the first Ohio law school to admit women and one of the first in the country to admit minorities • Our graduates include three current Ohio Supreme Court justices, including the chief justice; the new U.S. secretary of housing and urban development; the mayor of Cleveland, the president of Cleveland City Council, and the Cuyahoga County prosecutor • We have a strong ethos of social justice. Our mission is: Learn law. Live justice.

from out of state and more than 60% of the alumni live outside of Ohio. • Faculty is ranked 30th best in the nation in scholarly impact, its graduates have the highest first time bar pass rate in the state of Ohio. • Ranked as a best law school in nine specialty areas according to PreLaw Magazine.

HOW HAS COVID-19 IMPACTED YOUR LAW SCHOOL? • During the pandemic, CWRU School of Law transitioned to a hybrid model, where students may elect to take all classes remotely, while some classes are offered inperson consistent with testing, distancing and face mask requirements. CWRU has continued to offer its hallmark experiential programs both remotely and in-person.

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38 | COLUMBUS JEWISH NEWS | ColumbusJewishNews.com

MARCH 18, 2021

LOCAL LAWYERS The ever-increasing role of ‘revenge porn’ ANDREW ZASHIN

zrlaw.com

As technology continues to progress, access to our everyday lives continues to increase.

(The most important thing we can do is listen. Something we imagine you might not be used to in your marriage.)

Divorce + Family Law

Ready. When you are. 614-221-7711 • grossmanlawoffices.com

The more accessible we become, the more potential pitfalls grow. It is unlikely that a clearer example of this trend exists than in the realm of divorce. Our technological footprints follow us everywhere we go. When a divorce turns contentious, our former spouses and partners may have access to what was left behind, and the malicious intent to use it for their advantage. Unsurprisingly, a common scenario is disseminating intimate content, like photographs, videos or messages between once intimate partners. Today, every person carries a cellphone, and every cellphone has a camera. Far too often, images that were meant for the original recipient are malevolently shown to others or published on social media. Law progresses too, and fortunately, there are several areas of Ohio law that help corral this problem. In Ohio, before 2019, disseminating nude or explicit photos of an adult without their consent was not a crime. Thankfully, House Bill 497 and Ohio Revised Code 2917.211, Dissemination of image of another person, changed all of that. Now, “revenge porn” is illegal regardless of an individual’s age. A conviction for a violation of R.C. 2917.211 – a misdemeanor of the third degree on your first offense – could result in a sentence of up to 60 days in jail and up to a $500.00 fine. Subsequent convictions would increase the potential penalties. R.C. 2717.211 is not the only criminal consequence for such actions. As you can imagine, perpetrators seldom send a single explicit photo. Instead, it is far more likely that someone so inclined would send a series of messages/ Facebook posts/Instagram posts and direct messages, etc., to harm another person. The individual could very well be charged with a violation of R.C. 2917.21, telecommunications harassment. A conviction of this charge is a misdemeanor of the first degree and could result in up to 180 days in jail, and a fine not to exceed $1,000. Further, any subsequent charges following your first conviction for telecommunications harassment will be charged with a felony. R.C. 2917.21 is not limited to explicit content. For example, calling, texting or messaging a former spouse an excessive number of times could result in charges if a prosecutor believes the actions indicate it was only done to harass. The frequency, nature and content of the communications would play a large role in this determination. To some, these scenarios may seem far-fetched. They are not. Instead, examples of this behavior are sadly growing. Sending explicit images to your spouse’s new significant other is relatively common. Extreme examples include a scorned individual inundating their former spouse’s place of business with explicit content, ranging from posting nude photographs on the business’ social media accounts to messaging the former spouse’s co-workers explicit content to calling the business several hundred times daily. In this last scenario, the matter was turned over to the FBI by local law enforcement. Regardless of how contentious a divorce becomes, it is never appropriate nor beneficial to go down the road of disseminating another’s personal information. What may seem cathartic at the time, could quickly land someone in serious criminal peril.

Andrew Zashin writes about law for the Columbus Jewish News. He is a co-managing partner with Zashin & Rich, with offices in Cleveland and Columbus.

DISCLAIMER Letters, commentaries and opinions appearing in the Columbus Jewish News do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Columbus Jewish Publication Company, its board, officers or staff.


NEWS

ColumbusJewishNews.com | COLUMBUS JEWISH NEWS | 39

MARCH 18, 2021

Local Lawyers / Super Attorneys Name: Alan S. Acker Firm: Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP Practice area: Estate planning and probate Undergraduate: University of Illinois Law school: ChicagoKent College of Law (1977) Synagogue: Temple Israel In five words or less, how would your coworkers describe you? Good humored, knowledgeable, straight-shooter How do you unwind after a long day at work? Relax on my sofa What was your first concert, and whom did you go with? Paul Revere & the Raiders; went with my best friend (I was 12 at the time) What is your favorite comfort food? Ice cream What book are you reading for pleasure right now? “The Napoleonic Wars: A Global History” by Alexander Mikaberidze Name: Mitchell J. Adel Firm: Cooper, Adel, Vu & Associates Practice area: Estate planning & elder law Undergraduate: Ithaca College Law school: Capital University Law School (2000) What one item can always be found in your briefcase or laptop bag? Hand sanitizer (pre-COVID-19 as well) What electronic gadget makes your work life easier? iPad Pro and Apple Pencil How do you unwind after a long day at work? Hit a bucket of balls at the local driving range What was your first concert, and whom did you go with? Billy Joel with my sister, after our mom won us tickets on a local radio show What is your favorite comfort food? Chicken noodle soup Name: Rachel Bloomekatz Firm: Bloomekatz Law LLC Practice area: Public interest appeals and complex litigation Undergraduate: Harvard University Law school: UCLA (2008) Synagogue: Temple Israel In five words or less, how would your co-workers describe you? Empathetic, passionate, nerdy, friendly, diligent What one item can always be found in your briefcase or laptop bag? Post-it flags

What electronic gadget makes your work life easier? Second screen How do you unwind after a long day at work? Trampoline with my kids What is your favorite TV show to bingewatch? “The Wire” Name: David A. Bressman Firm: Bressman Law Practice area: Solely represent injury victims Undergraduate: University of Dayton Law school: OSU Moritz College of Law (1990) Synagogue: Congregation Beth Tikvah In five words or less, how would your co-workers describe you? Dad. And Husband. Would your significant other agree? (with the above answers): My wife is my paralegal, so yes What was your first concert, and whom did you go with? Los Lobos with friends What is your favorite comfort food? Chicken wings What book are you reading for pleasure right now? “Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques” by Steve Nison Name: Robert Cohen Firm: Porter Wright Morris & Arthur Practice area: Immigration Undergraduate: Miami University Law school: University of Cincinnati (1976) Synagogue: Congregation Tifereth Israel What one item can always be found in your briefcase or laptop bag? iPad How do you unwind after a long day at work? Catching up with news on television or the papers What is your favorite comfort food? Mac & cheese What is your favorite TV show to bingewatch? Right now, “The Crown” What book are you reading for pleasure right now? “The Lost Girls of Paris” by Pam Jenoff Name: Robert G. Cohen Firm: Kegler, Brown, Hill + Ritter LPA Practice area: Litigation Undergraduate: University of Michigan Law school: OSU Moritz College of Law (1988) In five words or less, how would your

co-workers describe you? Reliable, aggressive, direct What one item can always be found in your briefcase or laptop bag? Dental floss How do you unwind after a long day at work? Read by the pool What was your first concert, and whom did you go with? Foreigner and Bob Welch at Hara Arena with Danny Lieberman What is your favorite comfort food? Steak Name: Shana DeMooy Firm: Kegler Brown Hill + Ritter Practice area: Litigation Undergraduate: OSU Law school: OSU Moritz College of Law (2019) Synagogue: Congregation Tifereth Israel In five words or less, how would your co-workers describe you? Responsive, detail-oriented, practical and funny What electronic gadget makes your work life easier? Wireless headphones How do you unwind after a long day at work? Go to the gym or play with my cats

Adam Fried Practice Group Co-Chair afried@reminger.com 216.430.2193

What was your first concert, and whom did you go with? Linkin Park with a friend in eighth grade What book are you reading for pleasure right now? Restarting the “Harry Potter” series Name: Jacob Dobres Firm: Poling Practice area: Workers’ compensation, labor and employment defense Undergraduate: OSU Law school: OSU Moritz College of Law (1999) Synagogue: Temple Beth Shalom In five words or less, how would your co-workers describe you? Hard-working, determined, positive What electronic gadget makes your work life easier? Dual computer monitors How do you unwind after a long day at work? Reading or watching hockey What is your favorite TV show to bingewatch? “Somebody Feed Phil” What book are you reading for pleasure right now? “How to Be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi

Franklin Malemud Practice Group Co-Chair fmalemud@reminger.com 216.430.2225

Adriann McGee Partner amcgee@reminger.com 614.232.2442


40 | COLUMBUS JEWISH NEWS | ColumbusJewishNews.com Name: Carol Ann Fey Firm: Artz, Dewhirst & Wheeler, LLP Practice area: Family law, wills and trusts Undergraduate: Miami University Law school: OSU Moritz College of Law (1984) Synagogue: Temple Beth Shalom In five words or less, how would your co-workers describe you? Smart, ethical, trustworthy, creative, artistic What electronic gadget makes your work life easier? iPhone How do you unwind after a long day at work? Cooking healthy dinner What was your first concert, and whom did you go with? Simon & Garfunkel, with my spouse What is your favorite TV show to binge-watch? “Bridgerton” Name: Jeffrey Fish Firm: Buck & Fish Ltd. Practice area: Family law Undergraduate: OSU Law school: Capital University Law School (1991) In five words or less, how would your coworkers describe you? Compassionate and knowledgeable How do you unwind after a long day at work? Cooking, golfing or with a cigar and glass of bourbon What was your first concert, and whom did you go with? Foreigner with a group of friends What is your favorite comfort food? Fried chicken What book are you reading for pleasure right now? “Five Families: The Rise, Decline and Resurgence of America’s Most Powerful Mafia Empires” by Selwyn Raab Name: Madeline Fleisher Firm: Dickinson Wright PLLC Practice area: Environmental and energy Undergraduate: Yale University Law school: Harvard Law School (2007) Synagogue: Congregation Tifereth Israel In five words or less, how would your co-workers describe you? Passionately nerdy, collaborative and energetic What one item can always be found in your briefcase or laptop bag? ChapStick How do you unwind after a long day at work? Play with the kiddos What was your first concert, and whom did you go with? Indigo Girls with high school best friend What is your favorite comfort food? Cheese and crackers

Name: Scott N. Friedman Firm: Friedman & Mirman Co., LPA Practice area: Family relations law Undergraduate: Miami University Law school: Capital University Law School (1998) Synagogue: Temple Israel In five words or less, how would your co-workers describe you? Dedicated, passionate, competitive, fair What electronic gadget makes your work life easier? AirPods How do you unwind after a long day at work? Walk, Peloton bike, visit with family What was your first concert, and whom did you go with? Adam Ant with Adam Robins What book are you reading for pleasure right now? “The Go-Giver” by Bob Burg Name: Rachel Friedman Gold Firm: Kegler, Brown, Hill + Ritter LPA Practice area: Real estate and cannabis Undergraduate: Indiana University Law school: OSU Moritz College of Law (2015) Synagogue: Temple Israel and Beth Jacob Congregation What one item can always be found in your briefcase or laptop bag? Snacks What electronic gadget makes your work life easier? My ergonomic mouse How do you unwind after a long day at work? I use the Peloton bike What was your first concert, and whom did you go with? Spice Girls with my dad What is your favorite TV show to bingewatch? “Top Chef” Name: Nelson E. Genshaft Firm: Strip, Hoppers, Leithart, McGrath & Terlecky Co., LPA Practice area: Business litigation, professional responsibility, regulatory matters and administrative agency law Undergraduate: University of Pennsylvania Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law (1973) Name: Ken Goldberg Practice area: State court receiverships, family relations law, estate planning, business and personal insolvency, business formation and planning, and

MARCH 18, 2021 general civil litigation Undergraduate: College of William and Mary Law school: Capital University Law School (1992) Name: Keith E. Golden Firm: Golden & Meizlish Co., LPA Practice area: General practice Undergraduate: OSU Law school: Capital University (1982) Synagogue: Temple Beth Shalom In five words or less, how would your co-workers describe you? Effective and aggressive advocate What electronic gadget makes your work life easier? Desktop computer How do you unwind after a long day at work? Read the newspaper What was your first concert, and whom did you go with? The Young Rascals with Sandy Wishnowski What is your favorite comfort food? Fried flounder Name: Andrew S. Grossman Firm: Grossman Law Offices Practice area: Family Law Undergraduate: University of Kansas Law school: Capital University (1996) Synagogue: Congregation Torat Emet What one item can always be found in your briefcase or laptop bag? These days, Grossman Law Offices standard-issue face masks What electronic gadget makes your work life easier? My Surface Pro allows me to connect to our case management programs wherever and whenever. How do you unwind after a long day at work? Listening to Jimmy Buffett on the drive home is a good start. What is your favorite comfort food? Hard to beat Rubino’s... What is your favorite TV show to bingewatch? Anything written by Aaron Sorkin Name: Eric Hoffman Firm: Eric Hoffman Law Offices Practice area: Criminal defense, domestic relations, personal injury Undergraduate: OSU Law school: Capital University (1984) Synagogue: Beth Jacob Congregation In five words or less, how would your co-workers describe you? Determined to get the job done How do you unwind after a long day at work? A good craft beer and a quick

NEWS D’var Torah What was your first concert? Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young What is your favorite comfort food? Meatloaf and mashed potatoes What is your favorite TV show to bingewatch? “Seinfeld” Name: David Leland Firm: Carpenter Lipps & Leland Practice area: Litigation Undergraduate: OSU Law school: Capital University (1978) What one item can always be found in your briefcase or laptop bag? Hand sanitizer How do you unwind after a long day at work? A long neighborhood walk with my wife (weather permitting) What is your favorite comfort food? Fried chicken What is your favorite TV show to bingewatch? “Curb Your Enthusiasm” What book are you reading for pleasure right now? “Coffeeland: One Man’s Dark Empire and the Making of Our Favorite Drug”by Augustine Sedgewick Name: Joseph Lipps Firm: Bailey Cavalieri LLC Practice area: Directors and officers liability/insurance coverage Undergraduate: University of Michigan Law school: OSU Moritz College of Law (2011) Synagogue: Temple Israel What one item can always be found in your briefcase or laptop bag? Used travel mugs How do you unwind after a long day at work? We have two kids under 4, so there’s not a lot of unwinding... What was your first concert, and whom did you go with? Bob Dylan, with dad What is your favorite comfort food? Lasagna What is your favorite TV show to bingewatch? “Schitt’s Creek” Name: Harlan S. Louis Firm: Bailey Cavalieri LLC Practice area: Taxation, estate planning, wills, trusts and probate Undergraduate: Miami University Law school: University of Dayton (1994) Synagogue: Temple Beth Shalom In five words or less, how would your coworkers describe you? Brilliant, dynamic, insightful, beautiful, sarcastic


NEWS

MARCH 18, 2021

Would your significant other agree?: No, no, no, hopefully, absolutely What one item can always be found in your briefcase or laptop bag? The wrong power cord What was your first concert, and whom did you go with? Charlie Daniels Band with Mom and Dad. It’s memorable for all the wrong reasons What book are you reading for pleasure right now? Rereading “The Chase” by Bill Rabinowitz Name: Pamela Maggied Firm: Pamela N. Maggied CO., LPA Practice area: Consumer bankruptcy Undergraduate: Ohio University Law school: OSU Moritz College of Law (1979) Synagogue: Congregation Tifereth Israel What one item can always be found in your briefcase or laptop bag? A novel How do you unwind after a long day at work? Walking home and reading What was your first concert, and whom did you go with? A music festival at Ohio University – I went with my now-ex husband What is your favorite comfort food? Popcorn What is your favorite TV show to bingewatch? “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Six Feet Under” Name: Sandra Mendel Furman Firm: Sandra Mendel Furman Field of specialty: ADR only Undergraduate: Brandeis University Law school: Capital University Law school (1979) How do you unwind after a long day at work? Walk the dog What was your first concert, and whom did you go with? The Temptations (with) Marcia Smith What is your favorite comfort food? Noodles – any size or shape What is your favorite TV show to bingewatch? “Line of Duty” this week What book are you reading for pleasure right now? “Friends and Enemies: A Life in Vogue, Prison, and Park Avenue” by Barbara Amiel

Name: Ronald R. Petroff Firm: Petroff Law Offices, LLC Practice area: Family law Undergraduate: Vanderbilt University Law school: OSU Moritz College of Law (2006) Synagogue: Temple Beth Shalom In five words or less, how would your coworkers describe you? Direct, efficient, pragmatic, sarcastic and bold What one item can always be found in your briefcase or laptop bag? The Federal Rules of Evidence How do you unwind after a long day at work? Playing tennis What was your first concert, and whom did you go with? Milli Vanilli with my childhood best friend, Justin Bain What book are you reading for pleasure right now? “The King of Torts” by John Grisham Name: Larry Pliskin Firm: Law Office of Larry Pliskin Practice area: Small business law Undergraduate: University of Pennsylvania Law school: Boston University School of Law (1991) Synagogue: Temple Israel What one item can always be found in your briefcase or laptop bag? KIND bar (dark chocolate cherry cashew) How do you unwind after a long day at work? Take my dog for a walk around the block What was your first concert, and whom did you go with? Molly Hatchet, with Les Lifter What is your favorite comfort food? Cornbread What is your favorite TV show to bingewatch? “The Goldbergs” Name: Sarah Pollyea Firm: Sarah Pollyea Law LLC Practice area: Real estate title and transactions; landlord/ tenant; small business setup and planning; simple estate planning Undergraduate: Indiana University Law school: CWRU School of Law (2000) Synagogue: Congregation Tifereth Israel What one item can always be found in your briefcase or laptop bag? My black leather Filofax planner that I have had and used since 1997. When it comes to my calendar, I’m old school and don’t

ColumbusJewishNews.com | COLUMBUS JEWISH NEWS | 41 like to use any of the calendar apps on my phone. I like to be able to write in my appointments each day and be able to look at my day or week ahead just with one glance without having to open an app on my phone. As long as Filofax keeps making the inserts that I buy each year, I will continue to use it! What electronic gadget makes your work life easier? My Apple Watch. I love being able to glance at it to see messages or calls that come in so that I don’t need to answer my phone or return text messages during meetings or while doing important work. Being able to glance at my wrist and not having to pull out my phone is very convenient. How do you unwind after a long day at work? Normally watching a show on my DVR or one on of my streaming devices with a glass of my favorite wine. What is your favorite comfort food? I like anything creamy and/or cheesy and preferably in casserole form. During COVID-19 lockdown, I got pretty good at trying different kinds of recipes. I also love Mexican food! What is your favorite TV show to bingewatch? I recently binged “Game of Thrones,” which I had never seen when it was airing live. Literally one of the best shows ever made. If you have not seen it, you are definitely missing out! Name: Frederic A. Portman Firm: Agee, Clymer, Mitchell & Portman Law Practice area: Workers’ compensation and personal injury Undergraduate: OSU Law school: OSU Moritz College of Law (1973) Synagogue: Temple Israel In five words or less, how would your coworkers describe you? Obsessive Would your significant other agree? (with the above answers): Yes What one item can always be found in your briefcase or laptop bag? Instructions on how to use laptop What electronic gadget makes your work life easier? Light bulb How do you unwind after a long day at work? Walk miles Name: Harlan W. Robins Firm: Dickinson Wright PLLC Practice area: Commercial real estate Undergraduate: University of Michigan Law school: Emory University (1988)

In five words or less, how would your co-workers describe you? Energetic, efficient, forceful and effective Would your significant other agree? (with the above answers): Yes What electronic gadget makes your work life easier? iPhone 12 What was your first concert, and whom did you go with? Monsters of Rock with my mother What is your favorite TV show to bingewatch? “Dexter” Name: Lee S. Rosenthal Firm: Goldman & Rosenthal Practice area: Family law, probate, civil litigation Undergraduate: OSU Law school: OSU Moritz College of Law (1982) Synagogue: Congregation Tifereth Israel What one item can always be found in your briefcase or laptop bag? Chocolate What electronic gadget makes your work life easier? iPad for Zoom conferences How do you unwind after a long day at work? Work out What is your favorite TV show to bingewatch? “The Office” What book are you reading for pleasure right now? “The Greatest Beer Run Ever: A Memoir of Friendship, Loyalty and War” by Chick Donohue and J.T. Molloy Name: Kenneth Rubin Firm: Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP Practice area: Antitrust litigation and counseling Undergraduate: Northeastern University Law school: OSU Moritz College of Law (2004) Synagogue: Congregation Agudas Achim In five words or less, how would your co-workers describe you? Innovative, creative, appropriately aggressive Would your significant other agree? (with the above answers): Yes What one item can always be found in your briefcase or laptop bag? Not sure with work-from-home I know where my briefcase is! What electronic gadget makes your work life easier? Web cam How do you unwind after a long day at work? Bourbon


42 | COLUMBUS JEWISH NEWS | ColumbusJewishNews.com Name: Joshua R. Sanders Firm: Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP Practice area: Government relations Undergraduate: Ohio Wesleyan University Law school: Capital University Law School (2003) Synagogue: Temple Israel In five words or less, how would your co-workers describe you? Dedicated, thoughtful and fun How do you unwind after a long day at work? Taking a walk with my wife and our dog, Lucky What was your first concert, and whom did you go with? Def Leppard with my best friends, Adam and Aaron What is your favorite TV show to bingewatch? “The Mandalorian” What book are you reading for pleasure right now? “What Israel Means To Me” by Alan Dershowitz Name: Zachary L. Schiff Firm: Schiff & Associates Co., LPA Practice area: Personal injury Undergraduate: OSU Law school: Capital University Law School (2016) Synagogue: Beth Jacob Congregation How do you unwind after a long day at work? My wife and I play with our son What was your first concert, and whom did you go with? Elton John with my parents What is your favorite comfort food? Pizza What is your favorite TV show to bingewatch? “Curb Your Enthusiasm” What book are you reading for pleasure right now? “Wherever You Go, There You Are” by Jon Kabat-Zinn Name: Michael L. Schottenstein Firm: Kegler Brown Hill + Ritter Practice area: Real estate Undergraduate: Syracuse University Law school: OSU Moritz College of Law (2012) Synagogue: Congregetion Tifereth Israel In five words or less, how would your co-workers describe you? Sociable, goal oriented, community minded What was your first concert, and whom did you go with? Debbie Friedman with my mom What is your favorite comfort food? Mashed potatoes What is your favorite TV show to bingewatch? “The Office” What book are you reading for pleasure right now? Not in the middle of a book now, but just finished up the “American

Elections: Wicked Game” podcast. There was an episode on every presidential election in history. Name: Gwen Silverberg Callender Firm: Fraternal Order of Police, Ohio Labor Council, Inc. Practice area: Labor law Undergraduate: University of Wisconsin – Madison Law school: OSU Moritz College of Law (1991) In five words or less, how would your co-workers describe you? Organized, impatient and driven How do you unwind after a long day at work? Spin class What was your first concert, and whom did you go with? The J. Geils Band at the former Cleveland (Richfield) Coliseum with friends What is your favorite comfort food? French fries What book are you reading for pleasure right now? “The Things We Cannot Say” by Kelly Rimmer Name: Jodi R. Smilack Firm: Grossman Law Offices Practice area: Family law Undergraduate: University of Michigan Law school: UIC John Marshall Law School (2009) What electronic gadget makes your work life easier? Apple AirPods How do you unwind after a long day at work? Running, cycling or yoga What is your favorite comfort food? Pad thai What is your favorite TV show to bingewatch? “Succession” Name: Lee Smith Firm: Lee M. Smith & Associates Co., L.P.A. Practice area: Workers’ compensation, civil litigation, equine law Undergraduate: Ohio University Law school: University of Dayton School of Law (1978) Synagogue: Congregation Tifereth Israel Name: Heather Sowald Firm: Sowald, Sowald, Anderson, Hawley & Johnson Practice area: Domestic relations Undergraduate: CWRU Law school: Capital University Law School (1979)

MARCH 18, 2021 Name: Stanley R. Stein Firm: Stanley R. Stein, Attorney at Law Practice area: Social security, disability and workers’ compensation Undergraduate: Ohio University Law school: Cleveland State University (1971) Synagogue: Lori Schottenstein Chabad Center In five words or less, how would your co-workers describe you? Dedicated to the interests of his clients What electronic gadget makes your work life easier? Dictaphone How do you unwind after a long day at work? Swimming What is your favorite comfort food? Chinese What book are you reading for pleasure right now? “Promises to Keep” by Joe Biden Name: A.C. Strip Firm: Strip, Hoppers, Leithart, McGrath & Terlecky Co., LPA Practice area: Receiverships and business insolvency Undergraduate: OSU Law school: OSU Moritz College of Law (1960) Name: Barry H. Wolinetz Firm: Wolinetz, Horvath & Brown, LLC Practice area: Family law, litigation and general practice Undergraduate: OSU Law school: OSU Moritz College of Law (1971) Synagogue: Temple Israel In five words or less, how would your co-workers describe you? Dedicated, great boss Would your significant other agree? (with the above answers): Yes What one item can always be found in your briefcase or laptop bag? Colored highlighters How do you unwind after a long day at work? Walk my dog What book are you reading for pleasure right now? “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” by Charlie Mackesy Name: Beatrice Wolper Firm: Emens Wolper Jacobs & Jasin Law Firm Practice area: Family business and estate planning/acquisitions Undergraduate: University of Cincinnati

NEWS Law school: Chase College of Law (1978) In five words or less, how would your co-workers describe you? Ethical, strongwilled, not shy Would your significant other agree? (with the above answers): Yes How do you unwind after a long day at work? Television and books What was your first concert, and whom did you go with? Bob Dylan, myself What is your favorite TV show to bingewatch? “Shark Tank” Name: Benjamin S. Zacks Firm: Zacks Law LLC Practice area: Business, development and capital; real estate and land use; taxation; technology; constitutional rights; special family needs, elder care and professional health care in complex litigation and transactional matters for individuals, families and companies Undergraduate: OSU Law school: Capital University Law School (1988) Synagogue: Congregation Tifereth Israel and Congregation Beth Tikvah In five words or less, how would your coworkers describe you? Thoughtful, strategic, practical, demanding, thorough What one item can always be found in your briefcase or laptop bag? Business cards and mask How do you unwind after a long day at work? Time with family and friends on Zoom What was your first concert, and whom did you go with? Steely Dan, The Beach Boys and James Gang with brother Randy and his friends, Ralph Z. and Bruce B. What book are you reading for pleasure right now? “Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst” by Robert Sapolsky Name: Andrew Zashin Firm: Zashin & Rich Practice area: Family law Undergraduate: Brown University Law school: CWRU School of Law (1993) Synagogue: Chabad In five words or less, how would your co-workers describe you? Relentless How do you unwind after a long day at work? Hang out with my dog, Hugo the boerboel What was your first concert, and whom did you go with? John Denver, with my family What is your favorite comfort food? Steak tartare and fries What book are you reading for pleasure right now? “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat” by Samin Nosrat

- Local lawyers were asked to submit information for the law listings.


SUPER ATTORNEYS

ColumbusJewishNews.com | COLUMBUS JEWISH NEWS | 43

MARCH 18, 2021

DEANS | 37

The University of Akron School of Law

WHAT SHOULD A PROSPECTIVE STUDENT KNOW ABOUT YOUR LAW SCHOOL? • Ranked ninth in the nation in practical training, CWRU School of Law is a national leader in experiential education, where students get to work with clients during all three years including an intensive capstone clinic or externship experience in their third year. • With its scholarships and placements, CWRU School of Law has the second-best debt-to-income ratio of any Ohio law school. • And with its small class size, CWRU School of Law has the feel of a small college with the curricular and extracurricular breadth of a national law school.

160 University Ave., Akron, OH 44325 Dean: Christopher J. (C.J.) Peters Enrollment in 2020-21: 428 Student-faculty ratio: 9:4 WHAT MAKES YOUR LAW SCHOOL DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS? • U.S. News and other publications rank Akron Law’s intellectual property law, trial advocacy and part-time studies Peters programs among the best in the country. • We are nationally recognized for experiential learning. Our trial advocacy teams are consistently among the best in the country, with 23 national and regional titles. • We work to instill a strong sense of

justice and social responsibility in our students. We promote inclusion, diversity and equality through our admissions policies, social justice fellows program, student organizations and community involvement. • Our recently renovated Law Center features the latest classroom technology, plentiful study space and a beautiful commons area. HOW HAS COVID-19 IMPACTED YOUR LAW SCHOOL? For the 2020-21 academic year, Akron Law is delivering a hybrid blend of online and in-person learning, with students and faculty given the option to participate all-online during the pandemic. Our policies require masking and social distancing in our Law Center, and we frequently sanitize our classrooms and public spaces. Our specific approach for fall 2021 will depend on public health requirements, but we are committed to prioritizing safety and student engagement. During 2020, our faculty, staff,

alumni, and fellow students donated almost $20,000 to support students in need as a result of COVID-19 and other challenges. WHAT SHOULD A PROSPECTIVE STUDENT KNOW ABOUT YOUR LAW SCHOOL? • Our annual tuition and fees are under $25,000 for all students. Eighty five percent of our most recent entering JD class received scholarships. • Our graduate employment outcomes consistently exceed national averages. We provide students with a cutting-edge, wrap-around bar exam preparation and academic success program, included in their tuition. • Experiential learning: our students represent real clients, appear in court, draft agreements, advise startups and hone their skills in competitions. Students can walk from our state-of-the-art building to downtown courthouses and law offices. • With spring and summer start options, Akron Law students can begin their degree program in January, May or August.

Law schools in Ohio were asked to complete a questionnaire to be included. Some schools opted not to answer all the questions or to participate.

Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys elects officers, board

T

he Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys elected new officers and trustees for 2021 during its annual meeting in November 2020. New officers are: president, Natalie M. E. Wais, Young & Alexander Co., L.P.A., Cincinnati; vice president, Benjamin C. Sassé, Tucker Ellis LLP, Cleveland; treasurer, David W. Orlandini, Collins, Roche, Utley & Garner, LLC, Dublin; secretary, Paul W. McCartney, Bonezzi Switzer Polito & Hupp Co. L.P.A., Cincinnati; and immediate past president, Jamey T. Pregon, American Family Insurance, Columbus. Trustees elected are: Anthony E. Brown, Milligan Pusateri Co., LPA, Canton; Steven G. Carlino, Weston Hurd LLP, Columbus; Timothy J. Fitzgerald, Koehler Fitzgerald LLC, Cleveland; Thomas F. Glassman, Bonezzi Switzer Polito & Hupp Co. LPA, Cincinnati; Stu Harris, Nationwide Insurance, Columbus; Melanie Irvin, Branch, Columbus; Jill K. Mercer, Nationwide Insurance, Columbus; Michael M. Neltner, Staff Counsel for the Cincinnati Insurance Company, Cincinnati; David J. Oberly, Blank Rome, LLP, Cincinnati; Daniel A. Richards, Weston Hurd LLP, Cleveland; and Elizabeth T. Smith, Vorys Sater Seymour & Pease, Columbus. The Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys is an organization of attorneys, corporate executives and managers who devote a substantial portion of their time to the defense of civil lawsuits and the management of claims against individuals, corporations and governmental entities. The OACTA mission is to promote fairness, excellence, and integrity in the civil justice system by providing resources and education to attorneys and others dedicated to the defense of civil actions. AWARDS PRESENTED The OACTA also presented several awards during its legal excellence awards presentation and annual business meeting Nov. 12, 2020. The awards recognize attorneys for their service to OACTA, the profession and the community. • The Lifetime Achievement Award: Stephen V. Freeze of Dayton. • Outstanding Advocacy Award: Richard M. Garner of Collins, Roche, Utley & Garner LLC in Columbus • The Outstanding Young Lawyer Award: Christopher F. Mars of Bonezzi, Switzer, Polito & Hupp Co., L.P.A. in Cleveland • The Committee Chair of the Year Award: Brigid E. Heid of Eastman & Smith, Ltd. in Columbus • The Frank Seth Hurd Member of the Year: Jamey T. Pregon of American Family in Columbus

EDUCATION SERIES The JewishColumbus Israel 614 Education Series will provide attendees with a dynamic, interactive, virtual experience with incredible Israeli speakers. Speakers and dates are still in formation, but we hope to bring you a wide range with a focus on Israeli government, technology, culinary arts, photography, and many other interesting subjects. Our first session, features Maj. Gen. (ret.) Amos Yadlin, Executive Director of Tel Aviv University’s Institute for National Security Studies (INSS). The focus of this session will be on US-Israel relations with the new elections and peace agreements in the region.

Speaker MAJ. GEN. (RET.) AMOS YADLIN, Executive Director of Tel Aviv University’s Institute for National Security Studies (INSS)

Sunday, March 21 @ 11 AM We are grateful to the Diamond Family Foundation for their support of this series. To register please visit: https://bit.ly/Israel614 Questions? Please contact Michal Avera Samuel at michal@jewishcolumbus.org


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