Sarah Otte Graber

Ronald A. Bell is a Director in the Cincinnati Office of Coats Rose, P.C. He maintains a multidisciplinary practice that encompasses capital markets (public finance, asset securitization, and other capital raising transactions), tax credits, and employee benefits/ERISA, executive compensation, and affordable housing. Ron was named to the Best Lawyers in America list 2018-2020, published by Woodward White Inc., for the areas of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and Tax Law. Capital Markets Ron mai...

Aimee L. Keller is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Aimee L., who practices law in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been recognized since 2017. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Aimee L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Seth Alan Schwartz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Seth Alan, who practices law in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Seth Alan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

James Kezele practices in the firm's Real Estate and Environmental Groups where he represents public and private companies and municipalities to ensure their compliance with state and federal environmental laws and regulations.James routinely counsels clients through transactions involving the purchase and sale of contaminated properties, and has significant experience evaluating environmental due diligence investigations including Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, and othe...

Rich Creighton is an AV rated trial attorney. His current practice is concentrated in general civil litigation, with particular emphasis on complex commercial, antitrust and tort litigation, including class actions. Over the past 20 years, he has served as lead plaintiffs class counsel in several class action cases, including antitrust price-fixing, fraud and consumer rights actions. In the business law arena, he has successfully represented a wide variety of clients in business tort, contrac...

Lisa Wintersheimer Michel's practice is concentrated in the employee benefits (ERISA) and executive compensation areas. Her practice primarily involves all aspects of qualified retirement plans, including profit sharing plans, 401(k) plans, employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) and defined benefit plans, executive compensation matters and welfare benefit plans. This includes compliance with laws including tax, labor, COBRA, HIPAA and other applicable laws, and administration and operation of...

Melanie S. Bailey is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Melanie S., who practices law in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Melanie S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

TRACEY A. PUTHOFF, a partner in the Business and Finance Department, graduated from Chase College of Law, where she was Order of the Curia and a research editor of the Northern Kentucky Law Review . Ms. Puthoff received her undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Missouri and worked as an engineer for McDonnell Aircraft Company and GE Aircraft Engines. Her practice includes all aspects of general corporate law, primarily focusing on mergers and acquisitions and co...

Brian J. Augustine is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Brian J., who practices law in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been recognized since 2012. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brian J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

As the second oldest of nine children, Bill began resolving family disputes at an early age. His childhood also gave him insights as to how children may perceive fairness and equity differently than do the parents. While some wealth strategists may believe that tax avoidance is the major objective of wealth planning, Bill believes that wealth planning is ultimately about family planning: how to devolve wealth without creating acrimony or bitterness among family members, and all the while pres...