Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP (Calfee) is establishing an office in Cincinnati led by two prominent local leaders, former Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken and former state Senator Richard Finan. The new location gives the law firm a physical presence in Ohio’s three largest metropolitan areas: Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati.

 

“Establishing a presence in Cincinnati makes us even more accessible to our clients here and gives us a base from which to expand,” said Brent Ballard, Calfee managing partner. “Calfee is fortunate to have two such widely known and respected individuals, Charlie Luken and Senator Finan, leading this effort.”

 

“We appreciate the support of our clients, which has provided us this opportunity, and we are confident that the business climate will continue its improvement in Ohio and elsewhere,” Ballard said.

 

Charlie Luken and Senator Finan advise clients on a range of issues, including government relations. Both attorneys had been based out of Calfee’s Columbus office and will continue to serve their clients there and elsewhere while working out of the new location. The focus of the Cincinnati office initially will be government relations, and it will expand as necessary to serve the needs of Calfee clients.

 

“Our Cincinnati office is opening with a strong government relations base and we look forward to expanding, particularly in the area of intellectual property,” Luken said.

 

“As a lifelong resident of Greater Cincinnati, I am strongly committed to the city and look forward to being part of Calfee’s operations here,” Finan said. “The new office will bring us even closer to the Cincinnati business community and help strengthen our relationships with our clients here.”

 

Charlie Luken is Cincinnati’s longest-serving mayor, leading the city for 14 years from 1983-1991 and 1999-2005.

As mayor, Charlie Luken oversaw the expansion of the Cincinnati Convention Center and the formation of the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation and Calfee, Cincinnati Community Action Now (CAN). He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for one term and served as Chairman of the Ohio State Racing Commission from 2006-08. He also served as statewide Chairman for Issue 3, which brought casinos to Ohio’s four largest cities, including Cincinnati.

 

Active in a number of southwest Ohio community organizations, Charlie Luken has served on the boards of the Cincinnati Art Museum, CincyTech USA Leadership and was chairman of Downtown Cincinnati, Inc. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and a law degree from the University of Cincinnati.

 

Senator Finan served as a state legislator for nearly three decades, including six years as Ohio Senate president following his tenure as mayor of Evendale. A graduate of the University of Dayton and University of Cincinnati Law School, Senator Finan has been active in southwest Ohio throughout his career.

 

Among other community activities, he is a member of the CET Public Television Board of Directors, and is chairman of the board of both Planning Partners of Hamilton County and the Capital Square Review and Advisory Board.