Matthew D. Smith

Passionate about real estate and development, John has dedicated his over 30-year career to protecting clients’ property rights and achieving their goals. Practicing in all facets of real estate – including acquisition, disposition, leasing, finance, construction, eminent domain, and real property tax – John represents national and regional clients in industry sectors including commercial, office, retail, industrial, and residential. Notably, John devotes a significant part ...

Mark Demian is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law and Litigation - Insurance. Mark, 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 Mark is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael Quinlan is an experienced trial and litigation attorney with a background in criminal prosecution and civil litigation . His practice areas encompass insurance defense , products liability, probate litigation, criminal defense, toxic tort, state and federal civil litigation, and estate planning . He holds the position of co-chair of the estate planning and probate group. Mr. Quinlan is licensed in the State of Ohio and is admitted to the U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Dist...

Wade Fricke has practiced management-side labor and employment law since 1989. He was one of three attorneys who founded the Cleveland office of the firm. Prior to joining the firm, Wade was a partner in Cleveland’s oldest law firm, and before that, he worked for the Cleveland office of a national full-service law firm.Wade represents companies of all sizes across the country in virtually all aspects of employee relations in union and non-union settings. In both settings, Wade’s p...

Margo Meola joined the firm as a Shareholder in July of 2015. Prior to joining BSPP, she was a partner with Davis & Young. Ms. Meola began her career as an Attorney Clerk for the Honorable Joseph J. Vukovich in the Seventh District Court of Appeals. She has extensive civil trial and appellate experience and has handled complex and mass tort litigation, as well as medical malpractice and insurance coverage matters. Mrs Meloa is licensed to practice in both Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Benjamin Cooke is a partner in Hahn Loeser’s Business Practice Area. He has a wide range of experience representing both private sellers and buyers in M&A transactions and has advised numerous buyers in management group buyouts, corporate divestitures, and spin-offs. Benjamin represents private equity and independent deal sponsors and serves as outside general counsel to private companies both in Ohio and nationally, where he handles all contract and transactional matters including ...

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

As chair of the firm’s Business Practice Area, Rocco I. Debitetto counsels businesses and individuals in connection with a variety of matters pertinent to all phases of business operations. He has been involved in a variety of commercial transactions from all sides of the table, including asset sales and acquisitions, business start-ups, significant contract negotiations, and commercial and asset-based financings. Several businesses further look to Rocco on a regular basis as their outs...

DOMINIC DIPUCCIO's practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and debt financings, public offerings and public company regulatory compliance. He represents entrepreneurs, emerging-growth and seasoned companies (public and private), as well as private investors, venture capital and other private equity funds, and investment banking firms in a wide variety of corporate finance transactions. Mr. DiPuccio has counseled buyers and sellers on all aspects of the merger and acquisit...

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...