Fred Wendel III

Robert C. Petrulis is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Robert C., 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 Robert C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jennifer is a partner at Schneider Smeltz Spieth Bell LLP. She serves as a high net worth family counselor with knowledge and understanding of sophisticated estate planning techniques and the broader needs of high net worth families. Her strength lies in communicating complex matters in plain terms and working collaboratively as part of an advisor team to provide practical counsel to multigenerational families consistent with their risk tolerance, goals, family dynamics, and desire for comple...

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

Christopher Mellino is the owner and founder of The Mellino Law Firm. He has been representing Ohioans in serious personal injury , wrongful death , and medical malpractice claims for more than 30 years. His work on landmark cases, such as Moskovitz v. Mt. Sinai Medical Center (1994) and Watkins v. Cleveland Clinic Foundation (1998), has been instrumental in changing state law regarding medical malpractice and negligence. Chris has successfully recovered million- and multimillion-dollar settl...

Irene M. MacDougall is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law, Economic Development Law and Real Estate Law. Irene M., who practices law in Cleveland, Ohio, has been recognized since 2015. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Irene M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Diane Calta is a key member of the firm’s civil litigation and real estate and land use practice groups, bringing over 25 years of legal experience in municipal law, economic development, litigation, real estate, eminent domain, and probate and estate planning. She currently serves as Director of Law for Mayfield Village and as special legal counsel for the City of Independence. Her previous roles include serving as Director of Law for the cities of Beachwood and Green. Diane has also h...

Stephanie E. Harley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Stephanie E., 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 Stephanie E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Lisa Monihan is a Partner in the Trusts & Estates Practice Group, and she also serves as a practice group co- coordinator. Her practice is focused on wealth transfer planning for individuals and fiduciaries, including income, gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer tax planning; trust and estate administration; multi-generational family issues; retirement planning; succession planning for closely-held businesses; and charitable planning. A client once told Lisa that the decision to...

Publications: City of Cleveland v. Deusche Bank Trust Co., et al. , LexisNexis Expert Commentaries (February 2008). Consumer Credit: Law, Transactions and Forms , author, Matthew Bender & Company, six volumes (1984-present). Banking Law , contributing principal author, Matthew Bender & Company, four volumes, part of a 13-volume treatise (1980-present). Rabkin & Johnson Current Legal Forms , contributing author, Matthew Bender & Company (1979-1999). Credit Union Law Service , c...

James is a nationally recognized trial lawyer in products liability, automobile product safety, and other complex cases. He is the author of multiple texts and treatises and frequent national and international lecturer on products liability and motor vehicle defect cases. He has successfully tried cases in state and federal courts throughout the country, resulting in numerous million-dollar verdicts and has recovered tens of millions of dollars for his clients. Most recently, along with his p...