Benesch is pleased to announce that partners W. Eric Baisden, Robert Ross, H. Alan Rothenbuecher, Joseph P. Yonadi and associates Jennifer L. Katzakis and Kelly C. Morgan have joined the firm.
All six attorneys are based in the Cleveland office. Their additions complement the 48 other attorneys who have joined the firm in the last 18 months and represent a continuing influx of great talent in accordance with the firm’s strategic plan.
W. Eric Baisden is Co-Chair of and a partner in Benesch’s Labor & Employment Practice Group. He maintains a national labor and employment practice which includes representing employers in all areas of employment and labor relations, as well as related employment litigation, before federal and state administrative agencies and in trial and appellate courts in 45 states. Eric also has significant first chair experience in trade secret and non-compete litigation. He is ranked in the 2013-16 editions of The Best Lawyers in America, the 2015-16 editions of Ohio Super Lawyers, as well as in the 2014-16 editions of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. In the latter, his clients enthuse, “Eric is one of the best attorneys I have ever worked with. He is a reliable business partner who is supportive yet appropriately challenging.” Eric received his B.S. from Ashland University, magna cum laude, in 1986 and his J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, cum laude, in 1991.
Robert Ross is a partner in Benesch’s Corporate & Security Practice Group and Chair of the firm’s International Mergers and Acquisitions Group. He provides counsel to public and private companies involved in complex acquisitions, mergers and divestitures throughout the United States and worldwide. Bob has led multiple, complex domestic and international acquisitions for several, high profile manufacturing clients as well as serving as outside counsel for a series of complex refinancings of a privately held manufacturer based in Ohio. He regularly counsels companies in choice of entity, tax law issues and business succession planning involving partnerships, limited liability companies and joint ventures. As a recognized authority in the international transactions arena, Bob is frequently called upon to assist clients facing legal issues across the Pacific Rim, India, in Central and South America, and throughout Europe. He is listed in the 2007-09 and 2013-16 editions of Ohio Super Lawyers, in the 2012-16 editions of The Best Lawyers in America and in the 2015 and 2016 editions of Chambers USA. Bob received his B.S. from Miami University, magna cum laude, in 1982 and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, magna cum laude in 1985.
H. Alan Rothenbuecher is a partner in Benesch’s Litigation Practice Group. Building assets and business, and then protecting them from capture by others, is Alan’s specialty. He has developed a particular expertise in the plastics industry (in general) and additive manufacturing (in particular), enabling him to assess business trends and needs and provide services via alternative fee arrangements. His industry expertise has led to Alan being selected to act as general counsel for and serve on the board of industry trade associations, such as the Manufacturers Association of Plastic Processors, the American Mold Builders Association, and the Rubber Manufacturers Association. Alan is listed in the 2012-16 editions of Ohio Super Lawyers for intellectual property litigation. He received his A.B. in German from the University of Michigan in 1985 and his J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 1989.
Joseph P. Yonadi is a partner in the Executive Compensation and Benefits Practice Group with a primary focus on matters involving qualified plans (both defined benefit and defined contribution), health and welfare plans, and non-qualified retirement plans. He assists clients in all aspects of their employee benefit programs, including plan design and drafting, operations, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rulings and corrections, Department of Labor (DOL) audits and inquiries, participant communications, and mergers and acquisitions. Joe also has extensive experience addressing Code section 409A issues in the design and operation of non-qualified plans and executive compensation arrangements, as well as, assisting clients with compliance and design issues under HIPAA and The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Joe received his B.S. from The Ohio State University in 1997 and his J.D. and LL.M. with honors in benefits law from The John Marshall Law School in 2002 and 2003 respectively.
“The addition of these four partners enhances our core practice groups and more importantly, helps us to continue to deliver quality service to our clients,” said Gregg Eisenberg, Managing Partner. He added, “we continue to evaluate strategic recruiting opportunities throughout our office locations. This is a very exciting time for the firm. The addition of these new nationally-recognized partners is a huge advantage to our clients and bolsters our bench strength significantly. We also anticipate growing our Chicago office in the very near future, and are looking into adding other offices to better service our clients.”
The firm continues to add to its associates’ ranks with the additions of Katzakis in the real estate department and Morgan in Corporate & Securities. Benesch’s real estate group has continued to grow over the last two years, almost doubling the size of its national practice.
Jennifer L. Katzakis is an associate in Benesch’s Real Estate & Environmental Practice Group. Jennifer has experience analyzing title commitments and survey documents. She also has experience drafting contracts including leases, amendments, loan documents, easements, escrow agreements and estoppels. She coordinates closings for acquisitions and dispositions and reviews due diligence documents as needed. Jennifer received her B.S.B.A from The Ohio State University, summa cum laude, in 2010 and her J.D. from Cleveland State University, summa cum laude, in 2013.
Kelly C. Morgan is an associate in Benesch’s Corporate & Securities Practice Group. Kelly is experienced with legal planning, due diligence, drafting and execution for internal corporate transactions and external acquisitions, divistitures and formation of joing ventures. She also has experience drafting incillary agreements for acquisitions, including Employment Agreements, Intellectual Property Assignments, Bills of Sale, Guaranties and Restrictive Covenant Agreements. Jennifer received her B.S. in Businiess Statistics, cum laude, from Miami University, Richard T. Farmer School of Business Administration in 1999, her M.B.A. from the Cleveland State University, College of Business Administration, in 2006 and her J.D. from the Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, summa cum laude, in 2014.
