Best Lawyers in Ohio, United States for Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
James M. Zimmerman is a partner in Taft’s Business and Finance Group and co-chair of the firm’s private equity and venture capital practice. He represents businesses, entrepreneurs and investors on a range of matters, including financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, technology licensing agreements, and stock options/executive compensation. James serves as outside counsel for numerous startups and growth companies, and represents private equity and ...
Kwame Christian joined Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP in August 2020, serving as Of Counsel. His practice focuses on representing closely held businesses and their owners in a broad scope of legal needs, including business formation and structuring, finance, transactions (including acquisitions and contract preparation and analysis), employment and general business, and legal counseling. Kwame is also the CEO of the American Negotiation Institute . Under Kwame’s leadership, ANI has co...
Joseph M. Patchen is a Partner at Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP, representing businesses, financial institutions, owners, and professionals in business and real estate matters. His business law practice emphasizes corporation and limited liability company formation, mergers, and succession planning. His commercial real estate representation focuses on finance, construction, leasing, and acquisition. Joe joined CPM in June 1987. He serves as Chair of CPM’s Real Estate Practice Group.
TOSHIO NAKAO is a native of Japan and has been a partner of the law firm of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP since 1991. Mr. Nakao received his B.A. from the International Christian University in Tokyo and Juris Doctor degree from Duke University School of Law. He is admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia and the State of Ohio. After graduating from college and prior to joining the firm, Mr. Nakao worked for Kobe Steel, Ltd. in Japan for 11 years. He also practiced law in Was...
Don Rafferty combines his experience in the areas of business restructuring, commercial finance, corporate law, and litigation to provide legal and strategic advice to the firm’s business clients on a wide range of issues. Don frequently counsels clients who either are experiencing financial stress or are dealing with distressed companies. He has advised on sales, acquisitions, and restructurings for numerous middle-market companies. Don has significant experience in transactions, dispu...
Graham A. Bluhm concentrates his practice in the areas of transactional law, commercial law, general corporate and business law. Mr. Bluhm has served as counsel in multiple business organizations, mergers, asset and stock acquisitions, and business succession plans. He frequently represents clients before the Ohio Department of Taxation. In addition, he has presented seminars on sales and use tax and the legal concerns of operating a business. He obtained his juris doctorate degree from the U...
James J. Chester is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Law and Real Estate Law. James J., who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2008. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Alan Fershtman represents entrepreneurs in the acquisition, financing and sale of multi-family, affordable housing. In addition, Alan represents closely-held companies, particularly entrepreneurs, in equity and private venture transactions, ongoing operations and divestitures, corporate mergers and acquisitions, taxation, estate planning and real estate. He has considerable experience in corporate issues unique to entrepreneurial organizations. In addition, Alan has represented corporate clie...
Lisa M. Rammes is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships). Lisa M., 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 Lisa M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Kelley Brandstetter Tracy is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Commercial Finance Law, Corporate Law and Equipment Finance Law. Kelley Brandstetter, who practices law in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kelley Brandstetter is held by other top lawyers in the same...
Caryn A. Boyer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Health Care Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Caryn A., who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Caryn A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Michael Smith practices business law and securities law at Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP. He concentrates on business, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, technology transactions, technology licensing, and banking and securities. Mike joined CPM in February 1991. He currently serves as Chairman of CPM’s Business Law Practice Group.
Matthew R. Hull is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Matthew R., who practices law in Canton, Ohio, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matthew R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Alex Brown is a member of Dickinson Wright in Columbus, Ohio. He practices business transactional law, with an emphasis on advising privately-held and venture-capital backed companies in capital raising, mergers & acquisitions, and transactions involving technology, software, outsourcing, electronic commerce and intellectual property. He serves as outside counsel to a number of companies, from startup software businesses to national healthcare technology companies. Other areas of his prac...
Terry A. Moore is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Real Estate Law. Terry A., who practices law in Canton, Ohio, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Terry A. is held by other top lawyers ...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.