Brouse McDowell Welcomes Five New Attorneys and Promotes Four to Partner

Akron, Ohio (January 14, 2016) - Brouse McDowell, a leading regional business law firm, is pleased to announce that Julie E. Firestone, Jeffrey S. Moeller and Daniel K. Wright joined the firm as a partners while JoZeff W. Gebolys and Christopher G. Hawley joined as associates, all in the firm’s Cleveland office. The firm also elected attorneys Bridget A. Franklin, S. Scot Harvey, Gabrielle E. Kelly and Kate B. Wexler as partners in the firm.

Firestone joins the Estate Planning and Probate Administration practice group in the Cleveland office. She counsels medium to high-net worth individuals and families on a wide-range of wealth management matters, including federal wealth transfer taxation, estate and trust administration, fiduciary income taxation, estate planning and probate administration and business succession planning. Firestone has extensive experience in administering large and complex decedents’ estates and advising clients on the corresponding estate and income tax planning and compliance obligations. She earned her Juris Doctorate from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and a Bachelor of Science from Miami University.

Moeller joins the Real Estate & Construction practice group in the Cleveland office. He has experience in drafting and negotiation of numerous commercial contracts, which includes vendor agreements, customer service agreements, supply chain agreements, real estate leases, employment agreements with key employees, employee manual revisions, financing arrangements, and complex intellectual property licenses. He also has experience with corporate entity selection and formation for numerous small businesses. Moeller earned his Juris Doctorate, in the top 5% of his class, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law, where he spent two years on N.C. J. Int’l L. & Comm. Reg. He earned a Bachelor of Science from Miami University, magna cum laude.

Wright is a nationally recognized transactional lawyer who has represented major clients across the country. With over 30 years of experience in business, real estate, leasing, financing, construction and related transactions, he is frequently involved in large and high-profile matters, and adds significant depth to our practice. Wright is an authority on the development of shopping centers, office buildings, hotels and urban mixed-use projects, and frequently lectures at national and regional conferences on such topics. AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review- Rated through Martindale-Hubbell, he earned his Juris Doctorate from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and a Bachelor's Degree in History from Hillsdale College, magna cum laude. He is a four-time Ohio Super Lawyer through a peer-and-achievement-based review conducted by the research team at Super Lawyers, a service of Thomson Reuters legal division.

Gebolys previously worked as a summer associate at Brouse where he gained valuable litigation experience in various fields. Prior to joining the firm, he worked as a law clerk for the City of Akron Law Department where he assisted in drafting pleadings, motions and briefs to both state and federal courts, including the Ohio Supreme Court. Gebolys is a recent graduate; earning his Juris Doctorate from The Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from The Ohio State University, magna cum laude.

Hawley was a previous legal intern at The Ohio State University Purchasing Department where he worked closely with the staff and director to review submitted agreements and advise suppliers of contractual rights and obligations. He was also a summer associate at a local firm, where he provided recommendations based on research summaries involving contract law, securities law, professional responsibility, and fraud. Hawley is a recent graduate; earning his Juris Doctorate from The Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from The Ohio State University.

The firm is also pleased to congratulate Bridget A. Franklin, R. Scot Harvey, Gabrielle T. Kelly and Kate B. Wexler as newly elected partners in the firm.

Franklin practices in the area of Business Restructuring, Bankruptcy & Commercial Law. In her commercial law practice, she represents debtors, creditors, and creditors' committees in numerous federal and state-court reorganization, liquidation, and insolvency proceedings. She advises clients on various commercial disputes and collection matters. Franklin also has experience representing and advising clients in insurance recovery actions as well as in title insurance disputes. Franklin was previously named a Rising Star through a peer-and-achievement-based review conducted by the research team at Super Lawyers, a service of Thomson Reuters legal division. She earned her Juris Doctorate from The Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law, cum laude and earned a Bachelor of Arts from Case Western Reserve University.

Harvey focuses his practice in all areas of labor & employment law including employment litigation; state and federal administrative proceedings; collective bargaining; labor arbitrations; non-compete and trade secret litigation; preparation of employment policies, employee handbooks, and confidentiality and non-compete agreements; and day-to-day counseling of clients on personnel issues with an eye toward litigation avoidance. He also has experience representing companies in general civil litigation, including business and commercial litigation. Harvey has over 20 years of experience representing companies and public sector employers. He was previously named a Rising Star through a peer-and-achievement-based review conducted by the research team at Super Lawyers, a service of Thomson Reuters legal division. Harvey earned his Juris Doctorate from The Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law. He earned both a Master of Arts and a Bachelor of Arts from Syracuse University.

Kelly is a certified Insurance Coverage Law Specialist and member of the Insurance Recovery and Litigation practice groups. She counsels and represents policyholders in various disputes, including bad faith claims, mass tort, environmental, property, director and officer, and advertising injury liabilities. Further, Kelly has represented clients at all stages of litigation in various matters, including construction, premises and product liability cases, and complex business disputes. Kelly was named a 2016 Rising Star through a peer-and-achievement-based review conducted by the research team at Super Lawyers, a service of Thomson Reuters legal division. She earned her Juris Doctorate from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from Boston University, cum laude.

Wexler is a member of the Corporate & Securities practice group. Her practice includes mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, securities and general corporate matters. She has experience drafting a broad range of agreements, negotiating complex acquisitions and divestitures, and advising executive teams and operational managers on a wide variety of strategic and business matters, including mergers and acquisitions, securities filings, regulatory compliance, dispute resolution and general contract law. Wexler earned her Juris Doctorate from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, cum laude. She earned a Masters of Business Administration from St. John’s University and a Bachelor of Arts from Vassar College.