Fritz E. Berckmueller

Sonja C. Rice is a partner in the firm’s Business Law Area, member of the firm’s Construction Law Practice Group, chair of the firm’s Women’s Leadership Initiative, and member of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Sonja’s practice focuses on commercial transactions and the development and negotiation of a wide variety of commercial contracts, including master services agreements, supply chain and manufacturing agreements, professional services co...

Aanchal Sharma is a Partner at the Firm and her multifaceted practice combines business and commercial litigation with real estate disputes and trust and estate litigation. These practice areas also make her uniquely suited in the more specialized area of trust, estate and probate litigation, often involving corporate or financial institutions as fiduciaries. In this area, she has experience in fiduciary litigation, during which she often assists in the prosecution and defense of clients invo...

Matthew A. Secrist is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and Tax Law. Matthew A., who practices law in Cleveland, Ohio, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matthew A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John Polito (Of Counsel) is one of the founders of the firm. His practice is devoted to the defense of medical malpractice claims against physicians and hospitals. Mr. Polito has been the lead trial attorney in excess of seventy-five jury trials. His trial experience has covered almost all of the recognized medical specialties. Mr. Polito has been a frequent lecturer to medical residents on the subject of medical malpractice litigation. In addition, he has presented several continuing educati...

Scott is a lifelong Clevelander who loves this city and treasures his ability to represent people across the Greater Cleveland Area. His mother’s parents were Holocaust survivors and his parents instilled in him the value and need to fight for the little guy. He does this every day in his work. Scott enjoys providing people with some measure of comfort during difficult times and works to be a reliable, trustworthy voice and advocate for his clients. When he’s not in the office, Sc...

Gus Kallergis, a Partner and Co-Chair of Calfee's Business Restructuring and Insolvency Practice Group, has significant experience with both large and middle market Chapter 11 and business restructuring and commercial matters. Gus focuses primarily on corporate restructuring, commercial and creditors’ rights, workouts, distressed sales and acquisitions and other insolvency-related matters. He has experience representing borrowers, debtors, directors, creditors, buyers of assets and busi...

Francis Fungsang is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Immigration Law. Francis, who practices law in Cleveland, Ohio, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Francis is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Matthew K. Grashoff focuses his practice on construction law and commercial litigation and has experience in the areas of insurance coverage and appellate practice. Matt manages cases at all stages of the construction process, from bid disputes through project correspondence, scope disputes, change order disputes, alternative-dispute-resolution mechanisms such as dispute review boards and the ODOT step process, and lien and bond claims. He represents clients through all stages of litigation b...

Jay Cusimano is a managing partner with Kaman & Cusimano LLC in Cleveland, Ohio, where his practice focuses on Community Association Law and Real Estate Law. In 2005, Jay became the second attorney from Ohio to be accepted into the national College of Community Association Lawyers. In 2013, he was selected by his peers for inclusion in the 20th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America for his work in Real Estate Law and Community Association Law, and he has received this peer recognition ea...

Thomas A. Barni is Chair of the Litigation & Appeals Practice Group. Tom is a seasoned litigator and skilled negotiator dedicated to successfully advocating for both individual and corporate clients. With extensive experience representing local, regional, national and international clients in state, federal, and local courts, along with being admitted on pro hac vice basis for matters in courts outside of Ohio, Tom handles complex commercial, business, construction, real estate, and gener...