Smita Gautam

John Polito (Of Counsel) is one of the founders of the firm. His practice is devoted to the defense of medical malpractice claims against physicians and hospitals. Mr. Polito has been the lead trial attorney in excess of seventy-five jury trials. His trial experience has covered almost all of the recognized medical specialties. Mr. Polito has been a frequent lecturer to medical residents on the subject of medical malpractice litigation. In addition, he has presented several continuing educati...

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

Doug focuses his practice on employment litigation and counseling on human resource issues. His employment litigation experience includes representing employers before state and federal courts and administrative agencies in Ohio and throughout the region in wrongful termination, retaliation and discrimination matters arising under the Ohio Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the Fam...

Daniel H. Bryan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Daniel H., 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 Daniel H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jeffrey B. Keiper is a principal in the Cleveland, Ohio, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Throughout his career, Jeff has devoted his practice exclusively to several areas of management side employment and labor law. Jeff has successfully defended complex single- and multi-plaintiff employment litigation matters for large manufacturing and service companies, both in court and in arbitrations, and has also handled countless labor arbitrations. He has represented employers before multiple state and...

Ann E. Knuth focuses her legal practice in labor and employment law. With over 25 years of experience, Ann guides employers through the entire employment relationship, from recruitment to termination. She counsels businesses of all sizes, from start-up companies to international corporations, to help them manage their human capital and meet their business goals. Ann leverages her deep understanding of labor and employment law to assist clients in building policies and adopting proactive compl...

Kevin R. Keogh is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law and Trusts and Estates. Kevin R., 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 Kevin R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael J. Bertsch is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Michael J., 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 Michael J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Matthew K. Grashoff focuses his practice on construction law and commercial litigation and has experience in the areas of insurance coverage and appellate practice. Matt manages cases at all stages of the construction process, from bid disputes through project correspondence, scope disputes, change order disputes, alternative-dispute-resolution mechanisms such as dispute review boards and the ODOT step process, and lien and bond claims. He represents clients through all stages of litigation b...