Brouse McDowell Announces 2014 Ohio Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars

Brouse McDowell, a leading regional legal professional association, is proud to announce that 23 Brouse attorneys have been selected as 2014 Ohio Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars.

Super Lawyers®, published by Law and Politics Media, Inc., represents only 5% of Ohio attorneys while Rising Stars represents less than 2.5% of attorneys under 40, or who have been practicing law ten years or less.  The selection process includes an extensive nomination process, a comprehensive evaluation, and a peer review survey.

Brouse McDowell attorneys listed in the 2014 Edition of Super Lawyers® are, Kate M. Bradley, Christopher J. Carney, Keven Drummond Eiber, John C. Fairweather, Richard H. Harris, Jeffrey T. Heintz, David M. Hunter, Christopher M. Huryn, Suzana K. Koch, Amanda M. Leffler, Marc B. Merklin, Paul A. Rose, Linda L. Stepan, Irving B. Sugerman and Thomas J. Wiencek. 2014 Rising Stars from Brouse McDowell are Todd C. Baumgartner, Kerri L. Keller, Caroline M. Marks, Michael P. O’Donnell, NiCole Swearingen-Hilker, Susan P. Taylor, Michael G. VanBuren, and Anastasia J. Wade.

Kate M. Bradley – is co-chair of Brouse McDowell’s Business Restructuring, Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Practice Group. Kate focuses her practice on representing corporate debtors, official creditors’ committees and trade creditors in all aspects of commercial bankruptcy and out of court debt restructuring. She is a graduate of The University of Akron (BA, 1997, magna cum laude) and Case Western Reserve University School of Law (JD, 2001, cum laude).

Christopher J. Carney – is partner-in-charge of Brouse McDowell’s Cleveland Office and serves as chair of the Labor and Employment Practice Group. He represents private and public clients in civil rights litigation in both federal and state courts, such as employment discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims. Chris has expanded his practice to include business and product liability defense litigation, including class action defense of product liability matters. Chris represents a number of consumer product manufacturers in both state and federal courts throughout the U.S. He is a graduate of John Carroll University (BA, 1983) and Case Western Reserve University School of Law (JD, 1986).

Keven Drummond Eiber – is co-chair of Brouse McDowell’s Litigation Practice Group and focuses her practice primarily in the area of insurance litigation – insurance coverage disputes for business clients, negotiating insurance recoveries and advising clients on insurance coverage issues in both claims and policy acquisition and renewal. A significant part of Keven’s experience and practice involves complex environmental insurance claims, as well as environmental litigation, environmental compliance and risk counseling on behalf of corporate and business clients. Keven is a graduate of the University of Illinois (BA, 1980) and the American University Washington College of Law (JD, 1983).

John C. Fairweather – is a partner in Brouse McDowell’s Litigation Practice Group. John represents clients in complex business litigation, principally in the areas of breach of contract, fraud, deceptive trade practices and tortious conduct in the commercial setting. He has litigated controversies in state and federal courts around the country and has conducted extensive discovery overseas in Japan and Belgium. John routinely represents or litigates against national and international corporations. John is a graduate of the University of Colorado (BA, 1974, with distinction) and Case Western Reserve University School of Law (JD, 1977).

Richard H. Harris – is chair of Brouse McDowell’s Estate, Succession Planning and Probate Administration Practice Group. He has significant experience counseling clients in business succession planning, trust and estate administration, estate planning, and charitable gift planning. Richard’s practice includes Medicaid planning, and representing fiduciaries in the probate administration of estates and trusts. He is an experienced preparer of estate, gift tax, and fiduciary income tax returns. He has also been involved in probate litigation matters involving the construction of wills and/or trust documents, contested guardianships, and will contest actions. Richard was elected to membership in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) in 2007. He is a graduate of Kenyon College (BA, 1977, cum laude) and The University of Akron School of Law (JD, 1980).

Jeffrey T. Heintz – is a partner in Brouse McDowell’s Business Restructuring, Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Practice Group. Jeff's practice includes corporate counseling, commercial transactions and litigation, bankruptcy and creditors' rights, and real estate. He represents clients in the manufacturing, construction and real estate industries. In addition, he serves as counsel for several public agencies. Jeff is a partner on Brouse McDowell’s Creditors’ Rights, Real Estate and Pension Investment Committees and served as Managing Partner of the firm from 2004-2011. He is a graduate of Ohio University (BA, 1972, summa cum laude) and The University of Akron School of Law (JD, 1975).

David M. Hunter – is a partner in Brouse McDowell’s Business Restructuring, Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Practice Group. David's legal career represents a dynamic private practice that spans over 35 years. He advises clients in the area of corporate business planning, and represents parties in reorganization and insolvency proceedings under federal bankruptcy law. He has orchestrated many successful commercial and residential real estate development projects, including the development and sale of over 600 residential condominiums. David is a graduate of Princeton University (AB, 1972), The University of Akron School of Law (JD, 1975) and New York University School of Law (LLM, 1976).

Christopher M. Huryn – is a partner in Brouse McDowell’s Health Care Practice Group. Chris represents and counsels numerous hospitals, health systems, physicians, physician practice groups, and other businesses on a variety of health care matters such as joint ventures; integration strategies and models; medical practice transactions and acquisitions; professional services; lease and employment agreements and federal and state fraud and abuse laws. He is a graduate of Miami University (BS, 1989, cum laude) and The University of Akron School of Law (JD, 1993, cum laude).

Suzana K. Koch – is a partner in Brouse McDowell’s Business Restructuring, Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Practice Group. She focuses her practice on commercial law and business reorganizations. In bankruptcy, Suzana has represented corporate debtors, financial institutions, official creditor committees, trustees, and trade creditors in all aspects of commercial bankruptcy cases. As a workout attorney, Suzana frequently negotiates and documents revised loan terms and forbearance agreements that allow debtors and creditors to continue their financing arrangement, and she represents clients in court when litigation is unavoidable. She also has experience protecting creditors’ rights using Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code. Suzana is a graduate of Walsh University (BA, 1998, summa cum laude) and The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law (JD, 2001).

Amanda M. Leffler – is co-chair of Brouse McDowell’s Litigation Practice Group. As a member of one of the most experienced coverage firms in the nation, Amanda is routinely successful in compelling insurers to honor their coverage obligations. She has substantial experience in both negotiating claim resolution prior to litigation and prosecuting coverage cases against insurers who have denied claims. Amanda has assisted in recovering over one hundred million dollars for policyholders and has expertise in numerous types of coverage disputes, including general liability, construction, directors & officers, property, asbestos, and environmental liability. She is a graduate of The University of Toledo (BA, 1999) and The University of Akron School of Law (JD, 2002, summa cum laude).

Marc B. Merklin – is managing partner of Brouse McDowell. He focuses on business counseling, commercial law and business bankruptcy. Marc represents businesses dealing with customers, vendors and lenders. He also represents creditors, debtors, committees and trustees in bankruptcy reorganizations and liquidations. In addition, Marc works on the sale and acquisition of distressed companies. Marc is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University (JD, 1984, Order of the Coif) and (BA, 1981, magna cum laude). In addition to his inclusion in Super Lawyers since 2007, this year, Marc will be recognized in both the Top 100 Super Lawyers and the Top 50 Cleveland Super Lawyers lists.

Paul A. Rose – is chair of Brouse McDowell’s Insurance Recovery Practice Group and has more than 30 years of experience as a business litigator focusing on cases concerning complex insurance coverage disputes. He has practiced in trial and appellate courts throughout Ohio and in the Ohio Supreme Court. He also has appeared in various federal courts, including the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. He is a past chair of the firm’s Environmental Practice Group. Paul is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma (BA, 1979, with special distinction) and The Ohio State University Mortiz College of Law (JD, 1982, with honors)

Linda L. Stepan – is a partner in Brouse McDowell’s Labor & Employment Practice Group. As an Ohio State Bar Association Certified Specialist in Workers' Compensation Law, Linda’s expertise lies in the area of Workers' Compensation defense, representing employers before the Ohio Industrial Commission as well as state courts in Ohio. Linda is a graduate of Cleveland State University (BA, 1982, magna cum laude) and Cleveland-Marshall College of Law (JD, 1991, cum laude).

Irving B. Sugerman - is a partner in Brouse McDowell’s Real Estate and Litigation Practice Groups. Irv’s practice includes all facets of land use planning, zoning, economic development, real estate, and business litigation. Through his years of litigation and trial practice, Irv has become a leader in governmental law and litigation, as well as mediation and alternative dispute resolution. In addition, he serves as the law director/solicitor for five political subdivisions and regularly represents property owners and developers in Board of Revision tax appeals, eminent domain proceedings and other real estate matters. Irv is a graduate of Marietta College (BA, 1978) and The University of Akron School of Law (JD, 1982).

Thomas J. Wiencek – is of-counsel in Brouse McDowell’s Labor and Employment Practice Group. Tom is certified by the Ohio State Bar Association as a specialist in Labor and Employment Law, an area in which he is noted for his passion, his unparalleled client service and his proven track record of consistent successful results. He has been recognized for significant contributions to the advancement of the law as contributing editor for Developing Labor Law. Tom is a graduate of Colgate University (BA, 1978), Michigan State University (MILR, 1979) and Michigan State University College of Law (JD, 1985, cum laude).

Todd C. Baumgartner – is a partner in Brouse McDowell’s Corporate and Securities Practice Group. He focuses his practice in business and real estate law, representing clients in new business start-ups, general corporate matters and mergers and acquisitions. Also, he has handled a diverse range of real estate transactions for both private and public sector clients. Todd is a graduate of Grove City College, (BS, 1999) and Capital University Law School (JD, 2002).

Kerri L. Keller – is a partner in the Brouse McDowell’s Litigation Practice Group. Kerri focuses her practice in the area of business and commercial litigation, which includes contractual disputes, business torts, employment and benefits law, and insurance recovery. She serves as both lead and local counsel in a wide variety of litigation matters. Kerri is a graduate of Cleveland State University (BA, 1998) and The University of Akron School of Law (JD, 2002, cum laude).

Caroline L. Marks – is a partner in Brouse McDowell’s Insurance Recovery Practice Group. Caroline devotes her practice to complex insurance recovery litigation involving underlying asbestos and environmental liabilities and first party property damage claims, complex business litigation matters, and appellate proceedings. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia (BA, 1996) and Case Western Reserve University School of Law (JD, 1999).

Michael P. O’Donnell – is a partner in Brouse McDowell’s Litigation and Business Restructuring, Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Practice Groups. He has a wide variety of complex litigation experience primarily for sophisticated corporate clients with respect to product liability, contract disputes, premises liability, employment, trade secrets and real estate. Michael is a graduate of John Carroll University (BSBA, 2001) and Cleveland-Marshall College of Law (JD, 2004, summa cum laude).

NiCole Swearingen-Hilker – is a partner in Brouse McDowell’s Estate, Succession Planning and Probate Administration Practice Group. She focuses her practice on various types of estate, succession and probate issues, including the preparation of comprehensive estate planning documents, probate administration, estate administration, and tax issues. NiCole is a graduate of The University of Akron (BA, 2000, summa cum laude) and The University of Akron School of Law (JD, 2003, summa cum laude).

Susan P. Taylor – is an associate in Brouse McDowell’s Estate, Succession Planning and Probate Administration Practice Group. Susan focuses her practice on various types of estate planning, probate and business succession issues. She also has experience in commercial and tax matters including commercial bankruptcy matters and related tax issues and has represented clients in federal and state tax examinations, audits, appeals and collections matters. Susan is a graduate of The Ohio State University (BA, 1996) and Cleveland-Marshall College of Law (JD, 2004).

Michael G. VanBuren – is an associate in Brouse McDowell’s Health Care Practice Group. He represents non-profit hospitals, specialty hospitals, health systems, long-term care facilities, physician groups, and physicians in private practice in corporate, business, and regulatory matters. He also counsels medical device manufacturers and durable medical equipment suppliers. Michael is a graduate of Vanderbilt University (BA, 2002, cum laude) George Washington University School of Political Management (MA, 2004) and Case Western Reserve University School of Law (JD, 2007, cum laude).

Anastasia J. Wade – is an associate in Brouse McDowell’s Litigation Practice Group. She is focusing her practice in the areas of intellectual property litigation, products liability litigation, general litigation and appellate practice. Anastasia is a graduate of Kent State University (BA, 2004, summa cum laude) and Duke University School of Law (JD, 2007).