Ryan J. Williams

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 ...

Robert C. Petrulis is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Robert C., 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 Robert C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Joan M. Gross is Senior Counsel to the firm’s Estate Planning, Wealth Transfer and Preservation Section, working out of the Cleveland office. For over 40 years, Joan has assisted clients in transferring their wealth, in a tax efficient manner, to the individuals and charities they wish to benefit. Joan is an OSBA Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law. She is also listed in the 2005-20 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and the 2008-20 editions of...

As a nationally-ranked master swimmer, Harry knows the importance of setting goals and the preparation and tenacity necessary to meet those goals. Harry approaches each matter with zeal and a fresh perspective. He can mastermind a plan and follow it through to success. On behalf of both corporate debtors and creditors, including commercial lessors, financial institutions, financially-distressed businesses, financing companies, lessees, Official Creditors' Committees, secured lenders, and Trus...

Kathleen J. St. John brings more than 30 years’ experience to Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy. A vital part of our legal team, Kathleen is the head of the firm’s Appellate Department; and has been a partner of this firm since 2001. Focusing her practice on Appellate Law, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, and Medical Malpractice Law, Class Actions, and Complex Tort Litigation. “In working on any case, I focus on three things: the quality of the briefing, the integrity ...

John Slivka, an attorney and certified public accountant, has a practice that consists in large part of providing advice with regard to tax, business, and succession planning and consulting for privately-owned businesses and their owners. Since being admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1981, he has handled matters involving mergers and acquisitions, C and S corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, passive activities, ownership succession, estate/gift issues, other individual tax matte...

Ashton Bizzarri is a Partner in the Firm’s Trusts & Estates Practice Group. She focuses her practice in the areas of estate planning and trust and estate administration, while also representing clients in trust and estate litigation. Prior to joining the Firm, Ashton was an Associate Attorney at two Akron law firms, focusing exclusively on estate planning and trust and estate administration. She was also a Trust Officer at Key Private Bank, where she handled trust administrations, w...

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.

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...

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...