Brandon Franklin

Pete Smith is a seasoned Northern Kentucky real estate and project finance attorney based in Strauss Troy’s Covington office. With decades of experience representing lenders, developers, and business owners, Pete focuses his practice on real estate development, construction finance, deal structuring, and corporate law. He serves as a title agent for First American Title Insurance Company and has performed hundreds of title examinations throughout the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky reg...

R. Daniel Fales is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law. R. Daniel, who practices law in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which R. Daniel is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Lisa Wintersheimer Michel's practice is concentrated in the employee benefits (ERISA) and executive compensation areas. Her practice primarily involves all aspects of qualified retirement plans, including profit sharing plans, 401(k) plans, employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) and defined benefit plans, executive compensation matters and welfare benefit plans. This includes compliance with laws including tax, labor, COBRA, HIPAA and other applicable laws, and administration and operation of...

Blake T. Johnson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Governance Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Securities / Capital Markets Law. Blake T., who practices law in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Blake T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Nicolas A. Zuccarelli is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Nicolas A., who practices law in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nicolas A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

RUSSELL S. SAYRE is a partner in the Cincinnati, Ohio office of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, where he serves as co-chair of the firm's litigation practice group, concentrating his practice on litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution. Since 1990, Mr. Sayre has represented corporate, business and individual clients in federal and state courts, in arbitrations, and before state administrative boards. Mr. Sayre is admitted to practice in all Ohio courts, in the United States Distric...

Dan Demmerle is a seasoned Cincinnati business attorney with decades of experience advising corporations, family-owned businesses, and privately held entities across Ohio and Northern Kentucky. His practice spans general business law, real estate transactions, commercial financing, and development matters. Dan is particularly well known for his long-standing work in the hospitality industry, with over 40 years representing hotel owners and operators in management and franchise agreements, acq...

Nicholas L. Simon is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Nicholas L., who practices law in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nicholas L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

James (“Jim”) J. Chalfie specializes in the areas of estate and tax planning for individual clients, succession planning for small businesses, estate and trust administration, and litigation involving trusts, estates, fiduciaries, and guardianships. Mr. Chalfie is admitted to practice in Ohio, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and U.S. Supreme Court. He graduated with an undergraduate degree in Economics from Brandei...

Paul M. De Marco is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Paul M., who practices law in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Paul M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.