Christopher Hawley

Howard Bobrow is chair of Taft's Venture Capital and Emerging Companies practice. His practice is primarily devoted to mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and venture capital. Howard is a trusted advisor to private equity funds, venture capital funds, and emerging growth companies. He counsels private equity and venture capital funds and other institutional investors, as well as angel investors, on all aspects of acquisitions, dispositions, capital formation, and private placements. How...

James P. Smith is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. James P., who practices law in Cleveland, Ohio, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Joe Gibbons joined the Firm in May 2005 and became a Partner in January 2006. Prior to joining the Firm, Joe spent the majority of his career with McGinty, Gibbons, Hilow & Spellacy Co., LPA, and Carney & Broadbent, both located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. Over the years, Joe has represented a variety of individuals, businesses, institutions, and governmental entities. His primary practice areas include estate planning, estate and trust administration and related litigation, real est...

Andrew J. Wolf specializes in all aspects of labor and employment law. He defends employers in employment-based litigation, including allegations of wrongful termination under state law, employment discrimination under state and federal law, allegations of violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act, allegations of minimum wage and overtime violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Andrew also represents parties in litigation regarding non-competition agreements and trade secret viola...

With 20 years of experience representing clients both inside and outside of the courtroom, Sean provides targeted, creative, and assertive legal strategy. He has represented clients both large and small, such as one of the top tier health insurers in the country, one of the most recognized hospital systems in the world, North America’s largest flat-rolled steel producer and supplier of iron ore pellets, a fortune 500 company that provides title insurance and settlement services to the r...

Edward (Ed) Patton is a seasoned trial attorney with a focus on corporate and business law , civil litigation , insurance defense , toxic tort, and asbestos defense. He offers strategic counsel to clients on international import and export activities, including establishing corporate compliance programs for international trade and NAFTA initiatives. Ed boasts significant knowledge and experience in governmental compliance, encompassing licensing procedures for international exports, product m...

Gary S. Desberg is a Principal in the Cleveland law firm of Singerman, Mills, Desberg & Kauntz Co., L.P.A., where he practices primarily in the areas of real estate law, business law and secured lending. Mr. Desberg has extensive experience in commercial real estate transactions through his representation of several national and regional chain store tenants, as well as his work for lenders, owners, and managers of office, retail, and multi-family residential properties. Mr. Desberg’...

Mr. Teplitzky has extensive experience in documenting commercial loan transactions and general business law. He represents numerous financial institutions in connection with the documentation and restructuring of commercial lending transactions. He also represents corporate clients in mergers and acquisitions as well as general business matters. Mr. Teplitzky also has extensive experience in business divorces involving closely held businesses. Mr. Teplitzky is a member of the Cleveland Metrop...

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...

Meghan P. Connolly is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Meghan P., who practices law in Willoughby Hills, Ohio, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Meghan P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.