Insights
Western Pennsylvania-Based Law Firm Ekker, Kuster, McCall and Epstein and Brouse McDowell Announce Plans to Join Together
November 3, 2022
November 3, 2022 (Akron, Ohio): Brouse McDowell (Brouse) and Ekker, Kuster, McCall and Epstein (EKME) today announced that the lawyers of EKME will be joining Brouse McDowell effective January 1, 2023.
The combined firm will operate under the name Brouse McDowell LPA and will add eight attorneys, including Partners Russell Adkins, Richard Epstein, Wade Fisher, Ronald McCall and Brett Stedman, Counsel Sarah Kellogg, and Of Counsels Ruthanne Beighley and Mark Longietti. The firm will have nearly 90 attorneys in six offices, four in Ohio – Akron, Cleveland, Toledo, and Youngstown – and Sharon, Pennsylvania and Naples, Florida locations.
This transaction joins two firms with complementary practices, similar firm cultures, and a shared emphasis on exceptional client service. Ekker, Kuster, McCall and Epstein has roots in the community dating back to the 1950s and long-standing ties to the people and businesses of the Shenango Valley and greater Mercer County, while Brouse McDowell is a business law firm with more than 100 years of history based in northern Ohio.
EKME’s managing partner, Richard Epstein mentions “we are excited to join a firm with a rich history, long-standing client relationships and deep-rooted community ties.” He goes on to say “Brouse McDowell demonstrates a commitment to excellence, professional responsibility, and community involvement. EKME shares these same values.”
Brouse McDowell handles significant matters for corporations, governmental entities, individuals and other clients throughout the United States. The firm is able to provide great value to clients delivering the personal touch of a small firm with the multidisciplinary capabilities of a large firm. Richard Epstein notes “this is a great opportunity to enhance our services, providing clients with broader offerings, including specialty legal services in areas such as cybersecurity, estate planning and administration, business and succession planning, employment, ERISA, healthcare, and insurance coverage, among others.” In addition to specialty areas, this transaction expands the firm’s coverage in commercial litigation to include a wider variety of matters arising out of contract disputes, business tort claims, and corporate control issues, and it adds an experienced litigation/discovery management practice.
Ekker, Kuster, McCall and Epstein is a full-service law firm, serving individuals and businesses in the Shenango Valley, Mercer and Lawrence counties, and throughout Western Pennsylvania, and a cornerstone of the Mercer County legal community. This combination strengthens ties with Brouse’s existing Youngstown office, connecting Ohio and Pennsylvania communities to offer expanded geographical support for clients in the area and a greater depth of legal services. It also creates efficiencies in technology, matter management and other professional support areas.
The two firms share similar commitments to the community equal to their passion for client service. Attorneys and staff at both firms have participated as board members and volunteers in more than 150 professional, civic and community organizations, earning distinguished reputations as corporate citizens.
Brouse’s managing partner Daniel Glessner, believes growth into Pennsylvania will not only enhance the firm’s geographical reach but will also add additional depth in several practice areas, including corporate transactions and commercial litigation, among others. He notes “we are excited to combine with a firm that shares a similar commitment to community and client service and look forward to serving as a resource for continued growth in the region.”
This announcement follows the joining of attorneys from Canfield-based Nadler Nadler and Burdman Co., LPA, in late 2016, which expanded the firm’s coverage in the greater Youngstown area, and the joining of attorneys from Thacker Robinson Zinz in July 2018, expanding the firm’s presence in Toledo, Cleveland, and Naples, FL.
About Brouse McDowell
Brouse McDowell is an established, full-service business law firm based in northern Ohio. With 80+ attorneys across offices in Akron, Cleveland, Toledo, and Youngstown, Ohio as well as Naples, Florida, the firm serves clients across the region and far beyond. The firm has more than 100 years of history and continues a long tradition of delivering sophisticated legal counsel to clients that range from sole proprietorships to the nation’s largest corporations. Practice areas include business restructuring, business bankruptcy and commercial law; business transactions and corporate counseling; cybersecurity and data privacy; environmental; health care law; insurance recovery; labor and employment; litigation; litigation and information management; real estate and construction; tax; trademark, copyright and trade secrets; and trusts and estates. The firm is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, and values the perspectives that professionals of diverse backgrounds bring to the work and workplace. The firm routinely taps the skills and experience of attorneys and staff for meaningful leadership roles, with approximately one third of the firm’s partners being women.
About Ekker, Kuster, McCall and Epstein
Ekker, Kuster, McCall and Epstein, LLP is a full-service law firm that provides comprehensive legal services to individuals and businesses in the Shenango Valley, Mercer and Lawrence counties, and throughout Western Pennsylvania. EKME attorneys have the skills and experience needed to address a broad range of legal issues faced by individuals and businesses. The firm assembles a team of attorneys with the experience to meet clients’ legal needs as they evolve over time and approaches problems from a legal and practical standpoint to identify strategies designed to reach timely, effective, and efficient solutions. Practice areas include civil litigation; corporate & transactional law; elder law; estate planning & administration; family law; litigation & dispute resolution; municipal & government law; real estate; and tax law; among others.
For Press Inquiries Contact:
Danielle Lopez
Director of Marketing & Business Development
Brouse McDowell LPA
330.434.7115
dlopez@brouse.com
The combined firm will operate under the name Brouse McDowell LPA and will add eight attorneys, including Partners Russell Adkins, Richard Epstein, Wade Fisher, Ronald McCall and Brett Stedman, Counsel Sarah Kellogg, and Of Counsels Ruthanne Beighley and Mark Longietti. The firm will have nearly 90 attorneys in six offices, four in Ohio – Akron, Cleveland, Toledo, and Youngstown – and Sharon, Pennsylvania and Naples, Florida locations.
This transaction joins two firms with complementary practices, similar firm cultures, and a shared emphasis on exceptional client service. Ekker, Kuster, McCall and Epstein has roots in the community dating back to the 1950s and long-standing ties to the people and businesses of the Shenango Valley and greater Mercer County, while Brouse McDowell is a business law firm with more than 100 years of history based in northern Ohio.
EKME’s managing partner, Richard Epstein mentions “we are excited to join a firm with a rich history, long-standing client relationships and deep-rooted community ties.” He goes on to say “Brouse McDowell demonstrates a commitment to excellence, professional responsibility, and community involvement. EKME shares these same values.”
Brouse McDowell handles significant matters for corporations, governmental entities, individuals and other clients throughout the United States. The firm is able to provide great value to clients delivering the personal touch of a small firm with the multidisciplinary capabilities of a large firm. Richard Epstein notes “this is a great opportunity to enhance our services, providing clients with broader offerings, including specialty legal services in areas such as cybersecurity, estate planning and administration, business and succession planning, employment, ERISA, healthcare, and insurance coverage, among others.” In addition to specialty areas, this transaction expands the firm’s coverage in commercial litigation to include a wider variety of matters arising out of contract disputes, business tort claims, and corporate control issues, and it adds an experienced litigation/discovery management practice.
Ekker, Kuster, McCall and Epstein is a full-service law firm, serving individuals and businesses in the Shenango Valley, Mercer and Lawrence counties, and throughout Western Pennsylvania, and a cornerstone of the Mercer County legal community. This combination strengthens ties with Brouse’s existing Youngstown office, connecting Ohio and Pennsylvania communities to offer expanded geographical support for clients in the area and a greater depth of legal services. It also creates efficiencies in technology, matter management and other professional support areas.
The two firms share similar commitments to the community equal to their passion for client service. Attorneys and staff at both firms have participated as board members and volunteers in more than 150 professional, civic and community organizations, earning distinguished reputations as corporate citizens.
Brouse’s managing partner Daniel Glessner, believes growth into Pennsylvania will not only enhance the firm’s geographical reach but will also add additional depth in several practice areas, including corporate transactions and commercial litigation, among others. He notes “we are excited to combine with a firm that shares a similar commitment to community and client service and look forward to serving as a resource for continued growth in the region.”
This announcement follows the joining of attorneys from Canfield-based Nadler Nadler and Burdman Co., LPA, in late 2016, which expanded the firm’s coverage in the greater Youngstown area, and the joining of attorneys from Thacker Robinson Zinz in July 2018, expanding the firm’s presence in Toledo, Cleveland, and Naples, FL.
About Brouse McDowell
Brouse McDowell is an established, full-service business law firm based in northern Ohio. With 80+ attorneys across offices in Akron, Cleveland, Toledo, and Youngstown, Ohio as well as Naples, Florida, the firm serves clients across the region and far beyond. The firm has more than 100 years of history and continues a long tradition of delivering sophisticated legal counsel to clients that range from sole proprietorships to the nation’s largest corporations. Practice areas include business restructuring, business bankruptcy and commercial law; business transactions and corporate counseling; cybersecurity and data privacy; environmental; health care law; insurance recovery; labor and employment; litigation; litigation and information management; real estate and construction; tax; trademark, copyright and trade secrets; and trusts and estates. The firm is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, and values the perspectives that professionals of diverse backgrounds bring to the work and workplace. The firm routinely taps the skills and experience of attorneys and staff for meaningful leadership roles, with approximately one third of the firm’s partners being women.
About Ekker, Kuster, McCall and Epstein
Ekker, Kuster, McCall and Epstein, LLP is a full-service law firm that provides comprehensive legal services to individuals and businesses in the Shenango Valley, Mercer and Lawrence counties, and throughout Western Pennsylvania. EKME attorneys have the skills and experience needed to address a broad range of legal issues faced by individuals and businesses. The firm assembles a team of attorneys with the experience to meet clients’ legal needs as they evolve over time and approaches problems from a legal and practical standpoint to identify strategies designed to reach timely, effective, and efficient solutions. Practice areas include civil litigation; corporate & transactional law; elder law; estate planning & administration; family law; litigation & dispute resolution; municipal & government law; real estate; and tax law; among others.
For Press Inquiries Contact:
Danielle Lopez
Director of Marketing & Business Development
Brouse McDowell LPA
330.434.7115
dlopez@brouse.com
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