Stephen Lerner

Dan Demmerle is a seasoned Cincinnati business attorney with decades of experience advising corporations, family-owned businesses, and privately held entities across Ohio and Northern Kentucky. His practice spans general business law, real estate transactions, commercial financing, and development matters. Dan is particularly well known for his long-standing work in the hospitality industry, with over 40 years representing hotel owners and operators in management and franchise agreements, acq...

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

Brian G. Dershaw is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Brian G., who practices law in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brian G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John Meisenhelder has extensive experience providing counsel to large companies with respect to all employee benefits, executive compensation and privacy matters for both tax-exempt and for-profit entities. This includes: (1) Code §401(a) qualified retirement plan design and compliance, including issues specifically affecting cash-balance and hybrid plans; (2) Code §403(b) plan design and compliance and other issues specifically affecting tax-exempt organizations and hospitals, incl...

Richard D. Herndon is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Commercial Transactions / UCC Law and Real Estate Law. Richard D., who practices law in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been recognized since 2010. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Richard D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ann Gerwin is an experienced Cincinnati corporate attorney who represents closely held businesses and their owners across Ohio and Northern Kentucky. Her practice focuses on business and corporate law, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, venture capital, financing, shareholder disputes, and succession planning. Ann regularly advises clients on complex transactions such as stock and asset purchases, overseeing all phases of due diligence, negotiation, and documentation. In addi...

CONSTRUCTION Earl has substantial experience handling complex, multi-party delay and defect claims, disputes over insurance coverage and defense, and claims against sureties. He has represented owners, contractors, subcontractors and sureties. He is listed in the 2014 edition of The Best Lawyers in America for his work in the area of construction law. REAL ESTATE Earl also has substantial experience with real estate litigation, including commercial foreclosures on office buildings, hotels, ma...

John E. Christopher is a partner at Manley Burke, LPA. He primarily practices in the areas of nonprofit organizations, business organizations, tax, and estate planning. John’s tax focused education and his years of experience in working with a broad variety of nonprofit organizations (both charities and non-charities) allow him to provide focused, relevant and usable legal advice to his nonprofit clients in all phases of their operations, from creation and start up through termination. ...

Nicolas A. Zuccarelli is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Nicolas A., who practices law in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nicolas A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Step into Bob Pitcairn’s office, and you will be greeted by classical music, an uncluttered desk, and a sense of calm not normally associated with litigation (or a litigator’s office). But make no mistake, the business litigation Bob performs with surgical precision often has the highest stakes for his corporate and individual clients. Just as a surgeon would, Bob operates in these cases with a studied approach, a deliberate pace, a steady hand, and no fear of getting a little blo...