Jordan Bennett Berns

Diane Calta is a key member of the firm’s civil litigation and real estate and land use practice groups, bringing over 25 years of legal experience in municipal law, economic development, litigation, real estate, eminent domain, and probate and estate planning. She currently serves as Director of Law for Mayfield Village and as special legal counsel for the City of Independence. Her previous roles include serving as Director of Law for the cities of Beachwood and Green. Diane has also h...

Joe Gibbons joined the Firm in May 2005 and became a Partner in January 2006. Prior to joining the Firm, Joe spent the majority of his career with McGinty, Gibbons, Hilow & Spellacy Co., LPA, and Carney & Broadbent, both located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. Over the years, Joe has represented a variety of individuals, businesses, institutions, and governmental entities. His primary practice areas include estate planning, estate and trust administration and related litigation, real est...

John Gerak routinely advises employers on all aspects of the employment relationship. John has developed a reputation as a true business partner, assisting employers to avoid litigation through highly focused custom training, human resource policy and process improvement and legal compliance. In the event litigation cannot be avoided, John has extensive experience litigation sing-plaintiff employment cases as well as class action discrimination and wage and hour cases.

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...

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...

Patrick J. Krebs is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Real Estate Law. Patrick J., 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 Patrick J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Anthony Coyne is President and Managing Partner of Mansour Gavin, where his legal practice centers on business law , municipal law, zoning and planning, eminent domain, real propert y, and litigation . Well-versed in urban affairs, Coyne has authored several papers and held significant positions, including Executive Assistant to the Director of Transition for Cleveland Mayor Michael R. White. Additionally, he served as a Judicial Extern for Judge Alice M. Batchelder, who is now senior status ...

Richard T. (“Ted”) Prasse has represented private and public sector employers in NLRB and SERB matters, labor negotiations, arbitrations, wage and hour issues (including employment class actions), equal employment litigation, employer counseling, OSHA, and Ohio Workers’ Compensation. His work has included representation of schools in constitutional and statutory issues in public, student and employee matters.

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

JILL FRIEDMAN HELFMAN is a partner in the Cleveland office of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP. She concentrates her practice in the area of family law. Ms. Helfman's experience includes both analysis and litigation of complex business valuation issues, treatment of retirement assets in divorce, tax considerations involved in the payment and receipt of spousal support, and custody issues. She is a frequent presenter at continuing legal education programs. Ms. Helfman received her undergrad...