Juris Doctor (JD)
Case Western Reserve University
1973
I am the current President of the Columbus Bar Association, serving in 2007-2008. I was elected to the organization's Board of Governors in 2001 after many years of involvement.

Columbus Bar Association
Ohio State Bar Association
All Ohio courts
Southern District of Ohio Federal Court
Sixth Circuit Court
U.S. Supreme Court
My required continuing education is current.
President, Columbus Bar Board of Governors

11/1973
0011023
OH
6-10

I've built my 30-year career around resolving complex business issues. I will work closely with you to get the best legal result.
My first assignments as a lawyer came in the public sector, as a staff attorney for the Ohio Division of Securities, then as an Assistant Attorney General serving Ohio’s pension and commerce divisions. The insight I gained about how government actually works continues to inform my legal work to this day. My next step lasted twenty years, at the former firm of Schwartz, Warren & Ramirez. As a partner I helped this small business litigation firm expand over the years into a bustling mid-size concern of nearly 50 lawyers specializing in small to medium- sized public companies, securities and business transactions. In 1996, like many entrepreneurs, I enjoyed the excitement and challenge of starting my own firm, but ultimately decided it was smarter to build a business practice in a more established law firm. That’s why I am delighted to be a partner at the 9-person firm Strip, Hoppers, Leithart, McGrath & Terlecky, which I joined in 2004. In addition to my 30 years of business litigation experience, I’ve also added legal ethics and disciplinary cases to my roster.
Many significant cases settle, which most of the time is the best result for a client. However, see Mulchin v ZZZ Anesthesia, Inc. (Ohio 6th Judicial App Dist; No. 2006-Ohio-5773) where the Court of Appeals confirmed a trial court decision based on a 4 day trial to a judge.

I have always been proud to be a lawyer. I probably got that from my father. He attended a YMCA law school in Canton, Ohio at night while working at a meat packing plant by day. My father earned his law degree, but never got to practice law because of family and business responsibilities. Early on the message to me was clear - practicing the law is a privilege. I also liked the idea of being consulted by people to advise them on the law, since compliance with the law affects all people and all aspects of society.
I have learned from many older lawyers who have been mentors to me, making me realize how important it is to listen to a client and understand what they are experiencing. I have also learned from my three children. My son, his wife, and my oldest daughter are lawyers, while my youngest daughter is a paralegal. It is inspiring to see the next generation take up the law. Their idealism and enthusiasm renews my own.
I always knew that I wanted a career that combined business and law. That’s why as an undergraduate I went to the Wharton School of business at the University of Pennsylvania, earning a degree in finance. Then I returned to Ohio for law school at Case Western Reserve University.
Attention to detail and personal service. Clients of mine will always get their phone calls and emails answered within 24 hours.
Intelligent, well-informed, understanding. I enjoy partnering closely with clients as we work toward a positive result.
I love to ski, having learned on the slopes in Northeastern Ohio. I even took my wife on a ski trip for our honeymoon. Now I’m very lucky that my son lives in Colorado, so we can combine ski trips with visits to my granddaughter. I used to run marathons, and still enjoy running and working out at the gym. I also love to read books about history.
In addition to my involvement in the bar association, I have a longstanding commitment to the Jewish community. I have served on the board of the Jewish Federation and am currently a board member of the Jewish Community Center. I was President of Ohio Jewish Communities, and served as Chair of the Anti-Defamation League for the Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky region.

Normally, I want to talk or meet with a client to make sure that I can help. Once the client and I determine that I can be useful, I begin to track my time for billing the client.
$1,000 to $4,000

$250/hr