Benjamin J. Ockner

Jim Vail joined the Firm in 1979 and has been a Partner since 1986. He served as the Firm's Managing Partner from 1996 through 2019. Jim primarily counsels businesses, nonprofit and health care organizations in all aspects of their operations, including formations, mergers and organizations, joint ventures, contracting, and succession planning. Jim argued a case before the United States Supreme Court where he obtained a unanimous favorable decision. Spectrum Sports, Inc. v. McQuillan, 506 U.S...

Patrick J. Krebs is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Real Estate Law. Patrick J., who practices law in Cleveland, Ohio, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Patrick J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Tatyana is a key member of the firm’s Corporate and Business Services group, focusing her practice in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, commercial contracting, franchising , healthcare, and finance and banking. With extensive experience in corporate and transactional law, Tatyana leads mergers and acquisitions across various industries, particularly within the medical and dental sectors. Her proficiency extends to start-ups, restructuring, and reorganizations, representing both deb...

Rich Millisor is a partner in the firm’s Cleveland office. His practice focuses on representing employers and consumer reporting agencies in complex litigation, including claims asserted under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Title VII and other federal and state employment laws. He has developed strong experience litigating collective and class actions asserted under the FLSA, the FCRA and other employment laws. Rich also has extensive experien...

Tom Connick has established a reputation of handling complex and high-stakes litigation. His experience includes Insurance law, Catastrophic Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Medical Malpractice, Class Actions, Commercial and Business Litigation, Appellate Advocacy, Mass Torts, Construction law, Consumer Fraud, Shareholder Litigation, Employment Law, and appeals throughout the State of Ohio and federal court, including the Ohio Supreme Court, where he has argued three times. Tom is also licens...

Kyle Gee is Co-Chair of the Trusts & Estates Practice Group. As an elected Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), Kyle has years of experience counseling multi-generational families, business owners, fiduciaries, entities, family offices and beneficiaries regarding: Administration of estates and trusts (including tax compliance, selection of investment counsel, discretionary distributions and fiduciary accountings) Asset protection and titling Beneficiary repr...

Donald Switzer (Of Counsel) is one of the founders of the firm. He has devoted his practice almost exclusively to the defense of physicians, hospitals and other healthcare professionals for over thirty years. Mr. Switzer’s caseload frequently consists of many high profile and high exposure lawsuits, including wrongful death, quadriplegia and other neurological impairments and cases involving significant economic damages. He has successfully defended physicians and hospitals in many coun...

Thomas W. Coffey is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. Thomas W., who practices law in Cleveland, Ohio, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thomas W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Christopher B. Wick chairs the firm’s Commercial Services & Restructuring Practice Group. Chris specializes in corporate restructuring and bankruptcy and focuses his practice on corporate reorganizations, workouts, debtors’ and creditors’ rights and corporate transactions across the United States. He has represented parties in the restructuring, reorganization or sale of complex business in various industries, including energy, automotive, agriculture, telecommunications...

Pamela Pantages has more than 31 years of experience as a trial attorney. Having earned a master’s degree in speech pathology/audiology, she successfully pursued a medical career before going to law school. Her current law practice includes all areas of medical negligence, but with particular expertise in obstetric and pediatric malpractice. Board Certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, Pamela is also an invited member of the distinguished Melvin M...