George S. Crisci

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...

Over 40+ years representing municipalities defending cases, including class actions, on behalf of police and public entities alleging violations of civil rights as guaranteed by the First, Fourth, Fifth, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. Cases include claims of jail suicide, jail denial of medical care for serious medical needs, police pursuit, false arrest, wrongful conviction and malicious prosecution, excessive force by police officers including officer in...

David M. Paris, senior partner at Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy, started with the firm as a law clerk while attending the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. Over the past 40 years, he has appeared in more than 50 jury trials and has represented thousands of injured victims as well as 700,000 consumers in class actions. He has achieved in excess of 50 seven-figure and eight-figure settlements and verdicts for his clients with more than $250 million in total recoveries. Many of the ca...

Edmund G. Kauntz is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Edmund G. practices law in Cleveland, Ohio Best Lawyers has recognized Edmund G. Kauntz since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Edmund G. Kauntz is held by other lawyers.

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...

Jeff Smith is a partner in the Cleveland office and a member of the firm's Employee Benefits Practice Group. He works with clients to create, implement and maintain their retirement and health plans. He also advises employers on the impact of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), as well as Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements (MEWAs) and Voluntary Employer Beneficiary Associations (VEBAs). While in la...

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...

Thomas A. FitzSimmons is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Real Estate Law. Thomas A. practices law in Cleveland, Ohio Best Lawyers has recognized Thomas A. FitzSimmons since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Thomas A. FitzSimmons is held by other lawyers.

Jeffrey A. Brauer is a trial attorney and partner who focuses his practice on commercial litigation and construction law. For more than 30 years, he has handled his clients’ most complex financial, construction and commercial disputes from development through discovery, mediation, trial, and appeal. He succeeds by diving into the details, embracing the complexity, and engineering outcomes that accomplish his clients’ business and legal objectives. He works across the U.S. on his c...

Paul joined the Firm in 1996 and became a Partner in 2003. He works with individuals, businesses, and foundations, and his practice emphasizes estate planning and administration; trust administration; income taxation of estates, trusts, and individuals; planning for charitable gifts and foundations; and business succession planning. Paul is a frequent speaker and author on a wide range of estate planning topics. In particular, he has a strong expertise in qualified retirement plans and IRAs, ...