James E. "Jim" Yavorcik

PERSONAL INJURY & CONSUMER PROTECTION No different than most kids, I dreamt of being a hero as a child and there was no bigger hero in my life than my father. He often told us stories about the people who were relying on him to resolve their tragedies. I always knew that was the kind of person I wanted to be. After earning my law degree from the University of Dayton in 1991, I joined the firm and began helping those who had been harmed with no place to go for justice. Areas of Practice: P...

PERSONAL INJURY & CONSUMER PROTECTION After 50+ years of practicing law, I still remember my first class action lawsuit for the civil rights of women and persons of color. Even though I had just graduated from the University of Michigan Law School, I knew that I wanted a career dedicated to civil litigation. I only wanted to engage in litigation for which fees were contingent upon winning, because hourly work required that my time and efforts be reasonable. I knew that what I wanted to do...

James B. Yates represents public and private sector employers in all facets of labor and employment law. He is a Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). A member of Eastman & Smith, Mr. Yates's practice encompasses collective bargaining, general personnel planning and counseling, equal employment opportunity matters, workers' compensation and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Fair ...

Kevin D. Devaney, a registered pharmacist and an attorney, brings his perspective as a health care provider, as well as over thirty years of legal experience, to his role in assisting health care clients with peer review matters, compliance issues and health care-related business transactions (including mergers and acquisitions). He is a member of Eastman & Smith. Mr. Devaney earned a bachelor of science in pharmacy and masters of business administration from the University of Buffalo, an...

With nearly 25 years of experience as a business lawyer, professional negotiator, and former professor of organizational behavior and change, Fadi V. Nahhas is recognized for bringing a strategic, business-minded perspective to complex transactions and client counseling. His sophisticated practice and client service have earned recognition in Mergers and Acquisitions in both Chambers USA and The Legal 500 , reflecting his reputation as a trusted advisor to middle-market and closely held busin...

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...

Gregg A. Peppel is a seasoned trial attorney and business advisor with more than 25 years of experience representing clients in complex litigation, risk management, and commercial transactions. His practice focuses on medical malpractice defense, healthcare litigation, commercial and business litigation, construction law, insurance coverage disputes, real estate matters, contract disputes, and alternative dispute resolution. Mr. Peppel regularly counsels hospitals, physicians, healthcare prov...

“Investing in client relationships enables a profit center approach to legal and financial services.” A transactional tax lawyer with regular involvement in tax controversies for over 35 years, Gary M. Harden partners with clients and collaborating professionals on a national platform, designing and implementing value added business - tax strategy. His practice areas include mergers and acquisitions (M&A), syndications, finance and insurance; with niche areas in intellectual p...

Stu Goldberg is a member of Eastman & Smith, concentrating his practice in the areas of product liability, fire, personal injury, commercial litigation, fraud investigations, insurance coverage and health care litigation. Mr. Goldberg has represented large and small manufacturers, retailers, contractors, nursing homes, physicians, trucking and other transportation companies, school districts, auto service centers, individuals, employers and employees, and insurance companies, in a wide va...

During his 38 years of practice, David L. Kuhl has represented public and private companies in all phases of their development. He counsels numerous family and closely held businesses and sits on several corporate boards. He also practices in the health law area and represents numerous health care clients including hospitals, joint ventures, physician group practices, imaging centers, outpatient surgery centers and other providers. Mr. Kuhl is the author of the "Business Law and Practice" cha...