John Patrick

As an elected Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), Kyle has years of experience counseling multi-generational families, business owners, fiduciaries, entities, family offices and beneficiaries regarding: Administration of estates and trusts (including tax compliance, selection of investment counsel, discretionary distributions and fiduciary accountings) Asset protection and titling Beneficiary representation Business succession Charitable giving (including priva...

Kenneth Smith is a dedicated attorney practicing in civil litigation, advocating for companies and employers across a broad spectrum of their business needs. His practice areas include insurance defense , general civil litigation , labor and employment , and intellectual property law. Licensed in Ohio and all federal courts within the state, Mr. Smith has successfully represented clients in various legal settings including trials, arbitrations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission proceedi...

Gregory J. O'Brien is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Insurance and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Gregory J., who practices law in Cleveland, Ohio, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Gregory J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jeffrey W. Van Wagner is the Managing Shareholder of BSPH. His career as a litigator and trial attorney has now spanned three decades. He is a 1979 graduate of Case Western Reserve School of Law and has extensive litigation and trial experience in the areas of nursing home liability, medical malpractice defense of physicians and institutions, and product liability. He has extensive experience in defending physicians and institutions where opioid prescription practices are at issue and is well...

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...

Jeffrey A. Gorski is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Jeffrey A., 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 Jeffrey A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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.

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, ...

Bonnie L. Kristan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Bonnie L., 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 Bonnie L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Edward (Ed) Patton is a seasoned trial attorney with a focus on corporate and business law , civil litigation , insurance defense , toxic tort, and asbestos defense. He offers strategic counsel to clients on international import and export activities, including establishing corporate compliance programs for international trade and NAFTA initiatives. Ed boasts significant knowledge and experience in governmental compliance, encompassing licensing procedures for international exports, product m...