Michael G. "Mike" VanBuren

James P. Smith is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. James P., 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 James P. 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...

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.

Jeffrey A. Brauer is a trial attorney and partner who focuses his practice on commercial litigation and construction law. For more than 30 years, he has handled his clients’ most complex financial, construction and commercial disputes from development through discovery, mediation, trial, and appeal. He succeeds by diving into the details, embracing the complexity, and engineering outcomes that accomplish his clients’ business and legal objectives. He works across the U.S. on his c...

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

Michael D. Goler is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law and Real Estate Law. Michael D., who practices law in Cleveland, Ohio, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Hayley Williams is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law. Hayley, 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 Hayley is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

With more than 40 years of experience as a trial attorney, William (Bill) S. Jacobson has a reputation for providing compassionate representation to the families of birth injury victims. Bill Jacobson devotes his legal practice at Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy to helping the victims of catastrophic injuries with an emphasis on birth trauma and medical malpractice claims. Bill is a member of the Birth Trauma Litigation Group, a national organization of attorneys devoted to representi...

Galen L. Schuerlein is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Government Relations Practice. Galen L., who practices law in Cleveland, Ohio, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Galen L. 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...