Grafton Lawyers

Ben Calkins is an honors graduate of Harvard College and the University of Michigan Law School.After law school, Mr. Calkins clerked for a Federal Judge before joining one of the World's largest law firms, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey.Mr. Calkins has also worked at and been a partner in several of the other most prominent old style law firms.

Ben Calkins started listening to the clients and to their many complaints about old style law firms.Mr. Calkins was committed to complete and total client satisfaction from the start of his legal career and recalls, with some pride, a client at his first...

Chris Crull was born and raised in Indiana. After graduating from high school, Chris enlisted and served in the US Navy from 1986 – 1990, achieving the rank of E-5.

After the Navy, Chris attended Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, and earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Philosophy. From there, Chris attended Kent State University and earned a Master’s Degree in philosophy.

After earning his Master’s Degree, Chris spent several years teaching introductory philosophy classes at Kent State University and at the University of Connecticut. During those years, he also worked as a cabinet...

Erik L. Walter is a bold advocate for business clients in the areas of environmental law, oil and gas, commercial transactions, zoning and litigation for both individuals and corporations. He sits on numerous nonprofit boards in the community. Prior to joining Dworken & Bernstein Co., L.P.A., Erik was a shareholder with the law firm of Knaggs, Harter, Brake & Schneider, P.C. located in Lansing, Michigan. Prior to joining Knaggs, Harter, Brake & Schneider, P.C. in 1999, Erik served for nearly three years as the law clerk for the Honorable William E. Collette in the Ingham County Circuit Court located...

Ryan R. McNeil owns and operates McNeil Law Firm, LLC in downtown Akron, Ohio. McNeil Law Firm, LLC specializes in representing individuals and small business across Northeast Ohio in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases.

Jo A.Tatarko focuses on Commercial Litigation, representing clients in the areas of breach of contract, lease disputes, construction disputes, business disputes, and all other aspects of business litigation. Jo devotes 90% of her practice to litigation. In 2007 when Jo first joined Dworken & Bernstein, she was as a member of our Workers’ Compensation practice group. She represented individuals who were injured at work, both at administrative hearings before the Industrial Commission of Ohio and in Common Pleas courts in Ohio.

Howard Rabb concentrates on estate, general business and bankruptcy matters. He regularly advises clients on business, estate and debt strategies. A lifelong Clevelander, he has a “Superb” AVVO rating.

Estate Planning: Howard’s practice involves an analysis of the goals of the client, an understanding of all relevant family relationships, and a comprehensive list of all of the clients assets. After obtaining this information, he will advise his clients as to whether a living trust or testamentary trust makes sense in order to address probate, distribution, or tax concerns. Typically, the estate planning will include wills, health-care power of attorney, living...

Richard Selby heads our Commercial Litigation Department. He has extensive trial experience with Dworken & Bernstein in both state and federal court. In addition to his litigation experience, Ric regularly consults with clients on employment related issues and is called in to assist at trial with the Class Action department when those matters go to trial. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star and was selected to be included in the 2019 edition of Best Lawyers in America. In addition, he is a Contributing Editor to Attorney At Law Magazine featuring articles on Employment Law.

Ric joined Dworken...

Grant Keating is a partner practicing in the firm’s Business and Commercial Litigation department. He employs a pragmatic approach to litigation and has successfully represented a wide variety of businesses and individuals at trial, appeal and in ADR. Grant has extensive experience in the following areas of law: banking and loan restructuring, breach of contract, Clean Water Act, commercial lease disputes, construction disputes, creditor’s rights, defamation, director and officer liability, e-commerce, employment disputes, environmental litigation, foreclosures, international discovery assistance pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1782, mechanic’s liens, minority shareholder rights, Ohio’s Consumer Sales Practices Act R.C. 1345.01 et. seq., professional negligence,...

Joshua J. Strickland’s practices primarily in real estate and business transactions. He represents small and medium size businesses, real estate developers, landlords and non-profits in all of their business needs. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star. Josh focuses his practice in the areas of general business including formation, mergers and acquisitions, financing, employee relations, commercial transactions, intellectual property, construction development, and sales. His residential and commercial real estate practice includes sales, leasing, zoning, land use, oil and gas, environmental law and real estate, eminent domain and taxation.

Kristen M. Kraus has extensive experience in handling civil jury trials in both state and federal court. She has litigated cases in nearly every county in Northeast Ohio, as well as the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

Kristen joined Dworken & Bernstein upon graduation from law school in 2001. Since joining the firm, she has been representing victims of personal injury, as well as those injured in workplace accidents. A significant portion of her current practice is devoted to representing injured workers in workers’ compensation matters both at the Industrial Commission of Ohio and at the...

Joseph T. Joseph, Jr. is the founder and principal personal injury attorney for Joseph Law Group in Cleveland, Ohio. His legal experience focuses on litigating and successfully negotiating settlements for those affected by a personal injury or wrongful death. Joe has earned thousands of victories for personal injury victims throughout his career. He is also well-versed in appellate court, including involvement in a major insurance coverage victory decided by the Supreme Court of Ohio. He is authorized to practice law in Ohio and the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Southern District of Ohio and recently admitted to practice...

I believe deeply in the promise of America as a nation of immigrants. Throughout our history, immigrants and refugees from all corners of the world have come to the United States, determined to improve their lives through hard work. In the process, they have made this country a h2 and great nation. We must continue to attract the best and brightest from across the globe for our nation to flourish. Our firm, Hammond Law Group, is dedicated to continuing that dream by diligently representing immigrants and temporary workers from across the globe. In addition to my work at...

At Spitz, The Employee's Law Firm, Patricia A. Brandt serves as a Partner, specializing in employment law. Her unique background includes a distinguished career in law enforcement prior to entering the legal profession. In Louisiana, Patricia broke ground as the first woman to join the parish SWAT team during her tenure at the sheriff's office. Her expertise led to her selection for the FBI Instructor Development Course, granting her the authority to teach any subject within the state's police training curriculum. Her responsibilities encompassed maintaining interior perimeters during operations and instructing officers in various disciplines, including firearms, less-lethal weapons, and...

Vania Stefanova is the head of the Immigration Litigation Division at Herman Legal Group, providing services in removal/deportation defense and appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals. An immigrant from Bulgaria, Vania has over 20 years of experience in immigration law. Throughout her successful career, she has handled matters in all areas of immigration law. From family-based immigration such as relative and fiancé petitions – to business/employment and investment immigration (e.g. E, L, R visas, EB1/2 immigrant petitions) – to naturalization, Vania works tirelessly to give our clients the best advice and outcomes possible.

Attorney Rachel Lynn Smick is a family law litigator, as well as an experienced trial lawyer in matters of personal injury, probate law, and real estate matters.

Rachel first joined the prior named firm of Joseph A. Kacyon & Associates in 2015. Now, at Hoover Kacyon, LLC, Rachel focuses extensively on Domestic Relations matters. In this role, Rachel counsels clients through high asset divorce cases, complex domestic custody and visitation matters, out-of-state and foreign custody disputes, and has successfully both brought and defended contempt actions. Rachel has handled high asset divorce cases, high conflict custody and visitation matters, and post-decree matters...

Michael Pelagalli is highly skilled in the area of Internet defamation. His work is on the technological forefront of removing damaging content from the Internet, combatting cyber-attacks, and uncovering the identity of anonymous Internet users. Michael assists clients in securing the removal of damaging content from hundreds of websites across the Internet.

Since beginning my legal career in Akron Ohio, over 28 years ago, I have dedicated my practice to representing individuals and families that have been victimized by wrongful conduct, including auto accidents, malpractice, dangerous products and discrimination or other wrongful conduct in the workplace. I have represented clients in the trial and appellate courts throughout the State of Ohio and Florida. My goal is to place my clients in a position to allow them to make informed decisions on their legal matters, which in some cases will have a major impact on their lives. I aggressively pursue litigation on...

Bridget tirelessly advocates for her clients, ensuring that the law is accessible to them. Hailing from Hudson, Ohio, she focuses her practice in the areas of family law, real estate, and employment law. She has a passion for juvenile custody disputes and regularly litigates cases in juvenile court. When she isn't litigating, she spends her time with her golden retrievers, Finn and Stella.

I have over twenty years experience in criminal law, both as a prosecutor and a defense attorney. My office is in Akron, Ohio but I travel all around the Akron-Canton area representing good people who for whatever reason find themselves facing down the government in a criminal charge. I handle everything from drunk driving cases (OVI/DUI) to Capital Murder. I'm very good at my job because I work very hard to obtain the best results for my clients. If you have have court in Akron, Barberton, Stow, Ravenna, Kent, Massilon, Canton, Wadsworth or anywhere else in Northeast Ohio,...

Simon W. Johnson operates a full service, general practice law firm where he continually strives to provide premier service to satisfied clients at affordable rates.

A LEGACY OF SUCCESS DAVID A. CORRADO is a seasoned trial attorney and litigator with over 30 years of client success, who is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell and has achieved a 10.0 AVVO rating, located in Orange Village, Ohio. Only hire the lawyer who has been rated one of the best by professional organizations and his peers. Mr. Corrado is dedicated to solving your legal problems with personalized representation on a variety of matters, including Litigation, Wrongful Death, Probate/Estate issues; Real Estate/Construction issues; Foreclosure Defense; and Contract/Business issues, all down to the last detail. Call now for...

My focus is on problem solving and I've been doing it for 25 years now. By this, I mean getting results by doing whatever it takes, whether by negotiation, settlement, jury trial, or appeal all the way up to the Supreme Court.

Jamie Schneier is a small business attorney practicing primarily in the areas of Business Startups, Corporate, Transactional Business and Business Sales and Acquisitions. Jamie works with numerous small to medium size closely held businesses in the Cleveland and Akron areas. Clients are generally start-up businesses, serial entrepreneurs, small closely held businesses, family owned businesses and mid-sized companies.

Matt Besser is a discrimination lawyer in Cleveland, representing employees in employment discrimination, harassment, whistleblower, and wrongful termination cases. In addition to his work at Bolek Besser Glesius LLC, Matt is the General Counsel of the ACLU of Ohio. Matt holds the prestigious “AV Preeminent”® rating from attorney rating service Martindale-Hubbell. U.S. News' Best Lawyers Magazine has repeatedly named him one of the “Best Lawyers” in Cleveland for employment law, and named him the 2022 Cleveland Employment "Lawyer of the Year" for his work representing employees in discrimination cases. For its part, Super Lawyers Magazine has named him to its Cleveland...

Jerry is a partner with Nager, Romaine & Schneiberg Co., L.P.A. and focuses his practice on the administration and litigation of workers’ compensation matters. Jerry has represented injured workers on thousands of matters before the Industrial Commission of Ohio. He also regularly is involved in the litigation and trial of workers’ compensation cases in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas as well as surrounding counties. In his fifteen years of practice, Jerry has successfully represented clients before the Tenth District and Eighth District Courts of Appeals. Jerry and his wife Kim have four children between the ages of thirteen...

Neal E. Shapero is the managing shareholder of the law firm of Shapero | Roloff Co., L.P.A. and has over 30 years of experience representing injured persons and their families throughout Ohio and across the country. Neal is an experienced litigator and has conducted numerous trials with a high rate of success. His reputation and experience have led to frequent requests by colleagues, throughout the country, to serve as co-counsel in complex and sophisticated matters such as medical malpractice, nursing home abuse and neglect, railroad injury cases, products liability, wrongful death, civil rights violations and commercial litigation. ...

Douglas D. Jones Co., LPA was established in July, 1998 by its founder and owner, Douglas D. Jones, who has had over 34 years of experience in the northeastern Ohio region in a major law firm as well as in private practice.

Our firm's mission is to provide affordable, quality legal services in a timely manner to individuals, families and small businesses with a personal caring approach to their unique legal concerns. With this goal foremost in mind, we are committed to providing the best possible service to meet a wide variety of our clients' most common legal situations. ...

I am a civil litigation attorney focusing in the defense of contractors, architects, engineers and other business professionals, as well as insurance carriers in coverage disputes and individual defendants in automobile accident cases. I also represent plaintiffs in personal injury cases, provided there is no conflict, and do some transactional and legal drafting work. Prior to my current position, I was a judicial staff attorney for Judge Michael Jackson in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. Before that position, for over nine years, I owned and managed a solo practice. At that time, I focused my practice in...

More than 20 years experience finding solutions to legal problems.

Jason Cox is an Associate Attorney in the Litigation Department, concentrating his practice in the areas of personal injury, medical malpractice, product liability and premises liability. Mr. Cox also practices employment law, primarily focusing on Wage and Hour/Overtime violations under the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and applicable Ohio laws.

Mr. Cox is an Ohio native and attended law school in Columbus, Ohio. While in law school, Mr. Cox worked full time as a law clerk for Barkan Meizlish in their Litigation Department, as well as the Social Security and Workers’ Compensation departments.

Mr. Cox graduated from The Ohio State University...

Since 2005, Nicole Fiorelli has successfully represented numerous clients in consumer class action and wage and hour litigation. She has taken on the government and large national corporations in cases in Ohio and throughout the United States. She handles a wide range of claims including minimum wage and overtime violations, consumer fraud and statutory violations, breach of contract, and unjust enrichment.

A few of Nicole Fiorelli’s career highlights include:

Obtained a six-figure verdict against a national fitness club chain that failed to pay overtime to some of its employees and ultimately negotiated a favorable settlement for the class;
Defeated summary judgment...

Jessica Doogan is an Associate in the Labor and Employment practice area concentrating primarily on Wage and Hour/Overtime violations under the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and applicable Ohio law, Employment Law, and violations of the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

I am a civil litigation attorney from Northeast Ohio practicing all over the state and into other states. I practice in all facets of civil litigation, with a heavy emphasis in construction law.

I also act as a private mediator and am adept at solving all types of civil disputes.

I have maintained an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell since 2019 indicating the highest level of legal ability and ethical standards.

I am Brian Spitz, the founder and managing attorney at Spitz, The Employee's Law Firm. My journey in law began after graduating with honors from Case Western Reserve University in 1997. Following my graduation, I honed my skills in trial and litigation at some of Cleveland's most respected law firms. My dedication to advocating for my clients led me to establish The Spitz, The Employee's Law Firm in 2007, where I currently serve as the Managing Attorney. My academic credentials include a law degree from Case Western Reserve University Law School in Cleveland, Ohio, where I graduated with honors in 1997....

Daniel S. Dubow's educational journey culminated in 2016 when he earned his Juris Doctor from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, following his undergraduate studies at the same institution, where he obtained his bachelor's degree in 2013. During his time as a law student, Danny demonstrated a strong commitment to public service and social justice. He gained valuable experience by interning at the Franklin County Public Defender's office and participating in a Criminal Defense Clinic, both of which allowed him to assist those in need of legal representation. In addition to his focus on criminal law, Danny expanded his...

After being admitted to the bar in 1989, Patrick DiChiro began his practice primarily in the areas of Criminal Defense, Domestic Relations, Civil Litigation, and Probate Law where he has obtained favorable verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients. Over the years, Patrick DiChiro has expanded services to his private practice, and is recognized as a reputable Trial Lawyer.

As a Trial Lawyer, Patrick DiChiro has used his extensive experience to establish favorable outcomes within the Trial Court and throughout various Appellate Courts, on behalf of clients and other attorneys in need of assistance with their complex cases.

Patrick...

Ryan is a partner in the firm Lowe Eklund Wakefield & Mulvihill Co. LPA. He has been a trial attorney for 21 years limiting his practice to plaintiff personal injury litigation. He has tried cases throughout Ohio in both state and federal courts and has successfully argued before the Ohio Supreme Court. Mr. Fisher has obtained millions of dollars in compensation for victims injured or killed in automobile, truck and motorcycle accidents, as well as in medical negligence, product liability and premises liability cases. Ryan was born and raised in Greater Cleveland, having graduated from the Cleveland Marshall College of Law...