Susan L. Racey

Kathryn E. Hickner is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law. Kathryn E., who practices law in Cleveland, Ohio, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kathryn E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Eugene Roytberg is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law. Eugene, 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 Eugene is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David Lenz joined the Firm in 2006, became a Partner in 2013, and was elected to serve as Managing Partner in 2020. His practice focuses primarily on planning for and administering wealth transfer for individuals and families, in addition to counseling charitable organizations. David considers each client’s unique estate planning needs, creating comprehensive plans and helping families communicate their purpose and goals to the next generation. This often includes complex charitable, re...

Ken Laino began his career in 1978 in New York City, specializing in corporate and securities law. A few years later, he moved to Ohio, and he has now been practicing law in Cleveland for more than forty years. While his practice is diverse, Ken focuses principally on asset protection planning, business law, real estate, and estate planning. In addition to Ohio, he is also licensed to practice law in Florida and New York. Ken counsels both individuals and business entities with respect to ass...

Attorney Janet L. Lowder has devoted her career to defining, promoting, and protecting the legal rights of the elderly and of persons with mental and physical disabilities. Janet's activities have encompassed individual representation, litigation on a local and state-wide scale, representation of agencies and county programs serving people with disabilities and the elderly, legislation, and publication in professional journals. Janet is a recognized authority on Medicaid issues and estate pla...

Steven J. Miller is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Steven J., who practices law in Cleveland, Ohio, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Steven J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jim Bright has been practicing law since 1976. He applies his considerable expertise to advising individuals and families on estate planning, tax planning (including income and estate, gift, and generation-skipping taxes), and charitable gift planning. He also provides counsel to trustees of private foundations on administration, initial formation, and tax qualification. Prior to the formation of SSSB, he served as President of Spieth, Bell, McCurdy & Newell Co., L.P.A. Jim is a Fellow of...

Christopher S.W. Blake focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, recapitalizations, and financings for a wide range of industries, including food and beverage, gaming, and real estate. Chris is a co-chair of Hahn Loeser’s International Practice Group and Corporate Transactions Group. He works on deals in the U.S. and around the world. He has worked with clients in countries in Eastern Europe, Africa, Central and South America, and Southeast Asia. Chris regularly us...

Jeff Smith is a partner in the Cleveland office and a member of the firm's Employee Benefits Practice Group. He works with clients to create, implement and maintain their retirement and health plans. He also advises employers on the impact of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), as well as Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements (MEWAs) and Voluntary Employer Beneficiary Associations (VEBAs). While in la...

Tal Young has practiced trust and estate law for more than 45 years. He had been a Director and Shareholder of Spieth, Bell, McCurdy & Newell for a decade when it combined with Schneider, Smeltz, Ranney & Lafond in 2016 to form SSSB. Prior to that, he had been a Founding Partner of Young and Dietsch for 11 years, which followed 19 years as an Associate and Partner with Squire Sanders & Dempsey. He applies his years of expertise to handling a wide range of probate, trust, and estat...