Westlake Lawyers

I am dual certified as an Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation, and as a Specialist in Elder Law by the Ohio State Bar Association. I am one of twenty-seven attorneys with this dual certification. I devote my practice to those issues uniquely affecting the elderly, the disabled and their families. Having been raised by a parent with early onset Parkinson's Disease, and having witnessed a grandparent spend over sixteen years in a nursing facility suffering from Alzheimer's, I gravitated early in my career towards the practice of elder and disability law. I established my Law...

I am an experienced professional bankruptcy attorney in Cleveland and Westlake, Ohio. I focus on consumer bankruptcy and small business bankruptcy, with an emphasis on putting my clients first. Since finishing law school in 2004, I've represented over 2,000 people in Cleveland bankruptcy cases. I'm passionate about practicing law, giving fair representation, and helping people to get a fresh start. I understand the complexity of all forms of bankruptcy law and I'm not afraid to dig in and look at all the provisions to find out the best way for my clients to benefit. I'll find all the provisions that...

Attended the Ohio State University receiving a B.A. in Political Science. Graduated with a J.D. from the University of Akron School of Law in 2003. Admitted to the Ohio Bar in 2003 and licensed in the Northern and Southern Federal District Courts of Ohio, the Sixth Circuit Federal Appellate Court and the United States Supreme Court. Worked primarily in the areas of bankruptcy, civil litigation, appellate and both Federal and State creditor/debtor rights law.

Mr. Hunt has been a trial attorney in Ohio for over forty-four years. He has appeared before the Ohio Supreme Court, numerous Ohio courts of appeals, and trial courts at the county and municipal level throughout the state of Ohio as well as before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. Mr. Hunt’s litigation experience extends to commercial, construction, personal injury, wrongful death, domestic relations (family law), collections, contracts, probate litigation and public utility matters. As the developing area of collaborative law has grown as an alternative to litigated divorce, Mr. Hunt has re-focused his divorce/family law practice...

I have over 25 years of experience in representing individuals and families in serious personal injury, wrongful death, and workplace injury cases. Please call me today at 216-771-8188 to see if I can help you. I have an office in suburban Westlake, convenient to I-90 and I-480 with free parking and an office in downtown Cleveland, near the courts and other law firms.

Cara Santosuosso is an accomplished lawyer with a strong courtroom presence and excellent litigation skills in the areas of family law, especially custody disputes, employment issues and other civil and criminal matters. Previously, Ms. Santosuosso was associated with another prominent area litigation firm, after serving as a judicial attorney in the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals where she worked on cases dealing with administrative law, torts, labor and employment, product liability, medical malpractice, criminal law and a host of other legal matters. Ms. Santosuosso also served four years as an assistant prosecuting attorney with the Office of the...

William Balena is an experienced bankruptcy and traffic trial attorney. Bill is an active member of NACBA. He attends annual workshops and continuing education in the area of advanced consumer bankruptcy issues. He represents consumers in chapter 7 and chapter 13. Bill is also a former city prosecutor and is well versed in traffic defense including Ohio drunk driving (OVI, DWI, DUI) and speeding tickets.

John J. Ready is a Certified Specialist in Family Relations Law, a charter member of The Center for Principled Family Advocacy, a member of the Cuyahoga County Guardian Ad Litem Program, and a frequent lecturer on continuing legal education topics. John J. Ready & Associates is a result-oriented firm that understands the nature of the financial, emotional, and relationship issues that arise during, and after, the termination of the marriage and offers a variety of services, including mediation, collaborative divorce, parent coordination, arbitration, and litigation to achieve realistic and optimal goals for their clients. Mr. Ready is admitted...

We are a comprehensive Consumer Debt Relief Firm with four (4) area offices for your related convenience. Our practice focuses in Breach of Contract Defense/Debt Settlement, Foreclosure Defense, Loan Modification and Liquidation Work-Outs and both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

We offer a free Initial Consultation, typically assess flat fees for most cases, and offer Payment Plans. While Evening and Saturday Appointments are also available.

David J. Michalski spent nearly 20 years as a commercial litigation attorney and partner at one of Cleveland's largest and most-respected law firms before forming his own firm, The Michalski Law Firm, LLC. David represents individuals and companies in all types of business, employment, real estate and investment-related disputes.

With over 25 years of experience in representing businesses and individuals before all types of Internal Revenue Service proceedings, whether it be administrative or before the United States Bankruptcy Court, the United States Tax Court, one of the United States District Courts or a U.S. Court of Appeals, Robert J. Fedor leads this 8 member firm with his expertise in tax and tax-related matters. Mr. Fedor's experience has provided him with a vast understanding of tax related issues, spanning from tax litigation, IRS collections, criminal tax defense, as well as other tax controversy and bankruptcy related matters. Mr. Fedor...

Mr. Smith is a highly experienced attorney with a longstanding reputation for delivering exceptional results. With an extensive background in trial advocacy and negotiation, he offers a full spectrum of legal services tailored to meet the needs of diverse clients. Mr. Smith’s practice areas include criminal defense, unemployment appeals, and DUI/OVI defense, where he is deeply committed to safeguarding the rights of individuals navigating complex legal situations. Beyond his individual client work, Mr. Smith serves as a trusted advocate for labor unions, providing representation in matters such as contract negotiations, arbitration, and litigation in both federal and state courts. He frequently represents...

Christopher Mellino is the owner and founder of The Mellino Law Firm. He has been representing Ohioans in serious personal injury, wrongful death, and medical malpractice claims for almost 40 years. His work on landmark cases, such as Moskovitz v. Mt. Sinai Medical Center (1994) and Watkins v. Cleveland Clinic Foundation (1998), has been instrumental in changing state law regarding medical malpractice and negligence. Chris has successfully recovered million- and multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts on behalf of his clients and, with every case he takes on, he strives to hold negligent parties accountable. Call our office today for a free...

A highly experienced attorney with a broad spectrum of legal expertise and extensive track record of success in Securities, Corporate, Business, Real Estate, and Construction Law. Strengths include specialized knowledge of broker-dealers, investment managers, investment companies, insurance securities, investment advisers. Extensive experience with private placements, entrepreneurial ventures, venture capital, and private equity. Helps starts-ups to $Billion dollar entities with financing rounds, offerings, and planning. Additional qualifications include accounting investigations and related securities investigations and litigation. Corporate Law skills in M & A, financing transactions. Extensive real estate skills as counsel and as owner, in the acquisition, development, construction,...

With more than twenty years experience as a trial lawyer representing plaintiffs who have been injured by the misconduct or negligence of another, or who suffered a workplace injury, Mr. Sivinski concentrates his practice in personal injury, wrongful death, criminal defense, products liability, asbestos-related injuries and labor law and has tried in excess of 100 cases to verdict, including five multi-million dollar verdicts. Mr. Sivinski's reputation as a skilled and sophisticated litigator has enabled him to negotiate settlements in excess of $100 Million Dollars for injured clients. Mr. Sivinski has also achieved national recognition for his widespread work on...

As an Ohio attorney, I know the legal system is large, complex, and intimidating. I understand that interaction with government agencies is disorienting and the rules are unclear. If you, a family member, or a friend have been arrested, charged with a crime, are the subject of an investigation, or involved in a dispute with the government, it is in the accused person's best interest to obtain legal representation. As an attorney, my job is to defend your interests, freedom, dignity and reputation and to make sure you understand your rights, the process, and the consequences of your...

Meghan Lewallen is a partner at The Mellino Law Firm. She focuses on medical malpractice and wrongful death claims and has been a dedicated advocate for our clients since 2013. In 2016, and every year since, Meghan was selected as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in medical malpractice. She was also nominated to serve on the Board of Directors of the Cleveland Academy of Trial Attorneys in May of 2019. With rich educational experience and a background in business, Meghan is able to strategize and speak up for her clients. She is passionate about holding those in power responsible for...

George N. Wukovich is an attorney licensed to practice before all Federal and State courts and agencies exercising jurisdiction within the State of Ohio. Since 1985, Attorney Wukovich has been in private practice as a small firm litigation associate (1985-1997) and as a sole practitioner (1997-present). He successfully represents the interests of individuals, families and small businesses. Attorney Wukovich is also presently active in several professional or legal organizations and other unique special interest groups.

“An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.” – M. Gandhi

I was 23, uninsured, and injured on my stagehand job. To fight for getting my hospital bills paid, I hired a lawyer. He inspired me, and for the next seven years, I worked and saved for law school.

When I graduated, a big law firm hired me to fight for businesses in court. But I wanted to fight for employees, and eight years later, I opened my own firm and became a small business owner myself. I learned, however, that lawsuits rarely have real “winners.” Real...

We are located in Avon, Ohio - just 10 minutes west of Cleveland. Se habla espanol.

Frances Fitzgerald Allington, Esq. is an Ohio attorney who, having been a licensed real estate broker for twenty-two years prior to forming her law practice, deals largely with real estate law and litigation. This is not to the exclusion, however, of family law, business law and and general civil litigation. While best known for complex real estate litigation, Frances Allington presents her clients with a wide array of services and options for representation, and is always welcoming new clients. Ms. Allington has been a member of the Ohio Bar and in private practice since 1997, and earned her...

Providing comprehensive legal services to individuals and small businesses in the greater Cleveland area. Areas of practice include divorce and dissolution, small business, probate and estate planning, personal injury, and general civil law

Law practice representing primarily business entities and small business owners (dba's, sole proprietors, subcontractors). Legal solutions to problems involving business disputes, construction matters, real estate title issues, contract disputes, payment issues, liens, collections and litigation. Personal attention and timely communications, keeping you informed and involved every step of the way with your legal matter.

Jeff has represented individuals and business entities ranging from sole proprietorships to multi-national corporations.

Jeff held a number of positions as an attorney in both the public and the private sector including positions with small, mid-sized, and large law firms. Jeff’s practice areas cover a wide-ranging spectrum, but he primarily focuses on real estate law, commercial law, business and civil litigation matters.

Jeff was raised in Summit County, Ohio and he and his wife have resided in Strongsville, Ohio since 1992. They have four children and three grandchildren. He is an avid football fan and a...

A Lorain County resident, James has filed over five thousand bankruptcy cases for Lorain County residents over the last two decades. He will be the only attorney you deal with from the initial interview through your court appearance. James will also educate you on how to rebuild your credit score, getting you back to a very good credit score only two years after the filing of your case.

John maintains the preeminent Martindale Hubble AV ratings. His practice also includes Probate, Real Estate, Business and Personal Injury.

Described by his clients as a natural-born problem-solver, Attorney Matthew A. Mishak is the best choice for helping you through your legal issues in Lorain County.

After graduating summa cum laude, in the top ten percent of his class from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 2006, Attorney Mishak served as an assistant Lorain County Prosecutor (LCPO) (Dennis P. Will) for six years before becoming the Chief Prosecutor for the City of Elyria.

Former Prosecutor
As an Assistant County Prosecutor, Attorney Mishak represented various County entities, including the Lorain County Commissioners, Lorain County Job and Family Services (LCJFS), the Lorain County Health Department,...