John F. Kostelnik

Donald J. Richardson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Donald J., who practices law in Cleveland, Ohio, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Donald J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

With over 40 years of legal experience, Patricia Ritzert focuses on governmental law, public finance, and business law as a member of the firm’s Corporate and Business Law group. Her extensive background includes serving as an assistant law director for the cities of Akron and Cuyahoga Falls, as well as various Ohio port authorities. Ms. Ritzert’s experience spans a wide range of local government issues, including employment, land use, taxation, finance, claims for and against tow...

Christopher B. Ermisch is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Christopher B., 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 Christopher B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Brumett Legal LLC provides legal representation in employment and workers' compensation matters for businesses of all sizes throughout Ohio.

With compassion, dedication, and years of aviation litigation experience, Jamie R. Lebovitz has focused his practice on helping families who have lost loved ones in aviation disasters. Jamie is a senior partner at Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy. He practices in the areas of personal injury and wrongful death litigation with a concentration in aviation, railroad, and trucking calamities. Jamie has more than 35 years of experience as a trial attorney, and he has recovered numerous mult...

Mr. McGuire brings a wealth of experience to his role as a trusts and estates attorney, where he specializes in crafting tailored solutions for clients based on their individual needs, concerns, and goals. Dan has represented clients across the entire wealth spectrum and is adept at advising clients in addressing changing circumstances that require planning for the future. Dan holds licenses to practice law in Ohio and Florida. Prior to joining Mansour Gavin, he played a crucial role in the a...

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...

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...

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...