Independence Lawyers

Rachel Sabo Friedmann is a founding partner of The Friedmann Firm LLC. Rachel practices all aspects of employment law throughout the state of Ohio. A Cleveland native, Rachel attended Cleveland State University where she received her Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Promotional Communication before attending Capital University Law School, where she received her J.D. In her spare time, Rachel enjoys traveling, fitness and spending time with friends and family. Rachel manages a large docket of cases and assists clients with claims involving discrimination, wage and hour issues, unpaid overtime, FMLA issues and harassment. Rachel is...

I always knew I wanted to do something in consumer protection. I started my first career out of graduate school as a policy analyst in the Office Of Public Safety for The Mayor of The City Of Los Angeles. I helped increase the quality of life of 12 million Angelenos and did not know any of them. So, I decided to move back to Cleveland to help the people I grew up with, saw on a daily basis, shared interests and cares with, and came to know and call friend.

II went to law school to do just...

Ian Friedman is a partner at the law firm of Friedman & Nemecek, L.L.C., based in Cleveland, Ohio. He has earned a fierce reputation for successfully defending individuals and organizations in complex criminal and white collar matters. He is a frequent author and lecturer on matters related to criminal justice. He represents individuals and entities across the United States and has served as counsel in Europe, Asia, and South America.

Ian is the current President of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, and past-President of the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He was the first lawyer to...

For more than fifteen years, Kristina has protected and counseled clients during the most difficult periods in their lives. She has developed a sophisticated federal and state practice with a particular focus on internet-based crimes. Her experience is regularly enlisted for complex cases involving allegations of sexual assault, and she has worked on national defense teams representing students and executives facing prosecution in the United States and abroad. Kristina is also extremely adept at working with families and defending juveniles facing prosecution, particularly when the child has a physical or mental disability.

Kristina has achieved great success protecting students and...

Michael Hill has been described as a generational attorney for consistently obtaining 7 and 8 figure trial verdicts and settlements, including the largest verdict against a nursing home in Ohio History—a $26 million verdict in May 2023. Michael has met the stringent Super Lawyers standard, voted by his peers as one of the top 2.5% of attorneys in 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. Michael has been rated by the National Trial Lawyers Association as a Top 40 Under 40 trial lawyer in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 and one of the Top 100 lawyers...

A resident of Wadsworth, Ohio, Attorney Alexander L. Pal concentrates his entire practice on representing individuals who have been injured through the negligent actions of another. He is honored to serve his community by protecting the rights of its citizens and treats his clients as members of his family by providing the highest level of legal representation. He has represented victims of negligence in cases involving automobile and truck accidents, traumatic brain injuries, medical malpractice, workplace injuries and families of victims of wrongful death.

Kamal H. Dari is an attorney from Ann Arbor, Michigan. He currently serves as Of-Counsel to Herman Legal Group in Dearborn, Michigan. In addition, Kamal maintains his own practice (Dari Law, PLLC) in Ann Arbor. His areas of practice are Immigration and Business Law. Kamal received his JD, cum laude, from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, and a bachelor’s degree in sport management (BA) from the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor. He is fluent in English and Arabic.

Patrick J. Perotti is recognized for outstanding achievements in consumer class actions and employment discrimination, locally and nationally. He is the architect of the firm’s Ohio Lawyers Give Back initiative to distribute unclaimed class action funds to charities. As an award-winning national leader in the fields of consumer class actions, employment discrimination, and wage and hour litigation; with verdicts and settlements exceeding $1 billion dollars, he is regularly selected to lead class suits in Ohio and around the country. His reputation developed from a demand for outcomes which not only offered compensation to class members but also stopped unlawful government...

David M. Benson is a long-time resident of Cleveland Heights and a practicing attorney since 1993. He has represented hundreds of Ohioans, most of them in bankruptcies on behalf of consumers and small businesses. He has extensive experience in counseling clients on the most advantageous alternatives relating to debt issues, including mortgage foreclosure defense, loan modifications, deeds in lieu of foreclosure and short sales. In addition to bankruptcy and foreclosure issues, Mr. Benson’s practice has included civil litigation arising from small business disputes, debt collection abuse, workplace injuries, disability, motor vehicle accidents and real estate matters. Mr. Benson is...

Mr. Doucet is a consumer and consumer finance attorney who solves complex legal problems with clear communication and creative strategies for his clients. He has deep experience in UDAAP regulations, including TILA, RESPA, EFTA, SCRA, FDCPA, ECOA, RICO, and FHA Regulations, plus some experience with CCPA, among others. He is most known for his defense of foreclosure to help people stay in their homes. His legal interests include contract drafting, FinTech, consumer-facing regulations, and strategic planning with a focus on meeting client’s objectives. He has published books including “Regulation Z of the Truth in Lending Act (integrated...

I was elected in November 2012 and was seated on January 1, 2013. A lifelong resident of the Cuyahoga County area, growing up in Maple Heights until the age of 12, and moving to Lyndhurst where I reside today. I attended public school, graduating from Brush High School in 1975.
I have a daughter, Michelle, and understands how difficult raising a child can be as a single parent.
After Michelle graduated from college, I pursued a degree at Baldwin Wallace University and earned a degree in Human Services while working as a private investigator and a freelance designer in advertising.
I worked as...

Jarman is an attorney in Cleveland, Ohio practicing in the areas of Cybersecurity & Data Privacy, Corporate Transactions, and Intellectual Property. Jarman has extensive research experience in several other areas of the law as well, and provides support on trademark litigation matters.

Ken is the Managing Partner of Knabe Law Firm and Greater Cleveland’s Bicycle Attorney. A Cleveland native, he has over 40 years of experience serving his community as both a prosecutor and civil litigator. He helps injured cyclists from the ground, up! An avid cyclist, Ken is a co-chair on a Vision Zero Cleveland Sub-committee, serves on the boards of the Ohio Bicycle Federation and the Ohio to Erie Trail and is a regular expert legal contributor for Bike Cleveland. Ken strengthens the local cycling community and its advocacy efforts through sponsorship of organizations like Bike Cleveland and several local...

Susan’s life work is to help students in crisis and to meet their legal needs. She handles matter ranging from special education issues, student disciplinary matters and Title IX investigations. Susan has the knowledge and experience required to navigate due process complaints and shaping of 504 Plans and Individualized Education Programs. She also handles student matters involving hazing, bullying and social media.

Susan has gained a national reputation for representing student and professors in Title IX cases. She is routinely hired as a student advisor for the campus investigation and hearing phase of proceedings and also subsequent university...

Jeff has represented individuals and business entities ranging from sole proprietorships to multi-national corporations.

Jeff held a number of positions as an attorney in both the public and the private sector including positions with small, mid-sized, and large law firms. Jeff’s practice areas cover a wide-ranging spectrum, but he primarily focuses on real estate law, commercial law, business and civil litigation matters.

Jeff was raised in Summit County, Ohio and he and his wife have resided in Strongsville, Ohio since 1992. They have four children and three grandchildren. He is an avid football fan and a...

Daniel Romaine is the Co-Managing Partner and Personal Injury Department Head of the law firm of Nager, Romaine & Schneiberg Co., LPA. (aka NRS Injury Law). Dan has been the head of the firm's personal injury and automobile accident litigation departments since 2001. NRS Injury Law has offices in Cleveland, Euclid, Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati and Toledo. Dan graduated magna cum laude from Kent State University in 1993 where he was a proud member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Dan received the dean's scholarship to attend Cleveland Marshall College of Law and graduated in 1996. In...

Peter Friedmann is an employment attorney, who represents clients in state and federal courts. Pete is licensed to practice in all Ohio state courts, as well as the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. A 2008 graduate of Ohio University’s College of Business, Pete obtained his law degree from Capital University Law School in 2012.

Christopher Mellino is the owner and founder of The Mellino Law Firm. He has been representing Ohioans in serious personal injury, wrongful death, and medical malpractice claims for almost 40 years. His work on landmark cases, such as Moskovitz v. Mt. Sinai Medical Center (1994) and Watkins v. Cleveland Clinic Foundation (1998), has been instrumental in changing state law regarding medical malpractice and negligence. Chris has successfully recovered million- and multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts on behalf of his clients and, with every case he takes on, he strives to hold negligent parties accountable. Call our office today for a free...

Charmaine Rozario is an Employment Immigration Lawyer in Cleveland, Ohio who practiced law in the High Court of Bombay prior to immigrating to the United States. Charmaine has led Herman Legal Group’s Business Immigration Department since 2002, representing some of the Midwest’s fastest growing and dynamic employers. Prior to joining our firm, Charmaine served as immigration counsel to one of the top 20 software companies in the U.S.

I am a trial attorney in Cleveland, Ohio. I primarily focus on real estate litigation and business litigation. I have experience with contract dispute resolution for companies large and small, and I have represented both landlords and tenants in housing matters. I have litigated cases at the trial court and appellate court levels on the State of Ohio, as well as both the Northern and Southern District Courts of Ohio and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. I have successfully moved to deny certiori before the Supreme Court of Ohio. I am focused on dispute resolution and resolving client matters as quickly...

Brenden Kelley, a seasoned litigator and dedicated attorney, is committed to delivering the highest caliber of legal representation to his clients, marked by honesty and affordability. Behind his boyish grin lies a remarkable journey that has shaped him into the lawyer he is today. Brenden’s legal lineage runs deep. Born into a family of legal professionals, he was groomed from a young age to follow in his parents’ footsteps. His father, Michael V. Kelley, was a distinguished trial lawyer known for championing the rights of Ohio Steelworkers. His mother, Lynn Arko Kelley, served as a former Cleveland Heights Municipal Court Judge...

I began practicing law in 2002. I spent over 13 years with the Cleveland firm of Gallagher Sharp, primarily as a litigator, before venturing on my own and then landing at The Gertsburg Law Firm in 2017 before choosing to restart my own practice in 2020. Before becoming an attorney, I worked as a financial manager for a small business after earning his MBA. My experience allows me to understands the challenges facing small business owners, allowing me to advise, as well as provide valuable legal information. With over 20 years’ experience in the business and legal worlds, I strive...

Jathniel Shao is a lawyer in New York, Chicago, Cleveland, and Manila. Originally from Binondo, the world’s oldest Chinatown, Jath grew up bouncing between Asia and America and speaks Hokkien, Mandarin, and Tagalog fluently. Jath received his BA from Beloit College in Wisconsin, and his JD from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where he was a founding board member of the Asian Law Student Association (ALSA) and the Filipino American Lawyers Association of Ohio (FALA Ohio). At the same time, he was a law clerk here at Herman Legal Group. Prior to rejoining Herman Legal Group as Of...

As the first member of my immigrant family to go to law school or even college, I chose to come to Cleveland from Brooklyn, New York because Cleveland has always been a diverse city of hard-working folks from all backgrounds. My father and my grandfather both knew what it meant to have their freedom and even their lives threatened by the Nazis in Germany and I have devoted my career to representing the " little guy," the working man or woman, the injured and the disabled against government, big business and corporations. My goal has always been to be the...

Jay H. Salamon is a Principal at McCarthy Lebit. Mr. Salamon’s practice is primarily concentrated in the area of securities litigation and arbitration. His typical clients are investors who have been injured by the fraud or negligence of stockbrokers, investment advisors, life insurance agents, and other sellers of financial products and services. Mr. Salamon’s arbitration work is nationwide in scope. Mr. Salamon is also the author and regular commentator of stockmarketloss.com, the firm’s comprehensive securities arbitration website and blog.

Allen Tittle’s passion for personal injury law, including cases involving car accidents and medical malpractice, comes from a deeply rooted belief in justice – his success on behalf of clients is the result of a good, old-fashioned hard work ethic. “I come from a working class family where my dad was a union worker,” he says. “Nothing has ever been handed to me. I was the first person in my family to graduate from college.” In 2015, Mr. Tittle decided to branch out on his own and he opened Tittle Law, LLC. “I started my own...

If you are charged with a criminal offense and require aggressive representation, please contact Charlotte, North Carolina Criminal Defense Attorney Ron Frey of The Frey Law Firm, PLLC at (844) 766-3739 for a free consultation. Please visit us on the web at http://www.FreyLegal.com

Erik L. Walter is a bold advocate for business clients in the areas of environmental law, oil and gas, commercial transactions, zoning and litigation for both individuals and corporations. He sits on numerous nonprofit boards in the community. Prior to joining Dworken & Bernstein Co., L.P.A., Erik was a shareholder with the law firm of Knaggs, Harter, Brake & Schneider, P.C. located in Lansing, Michigan. Prior to joining Knaggs, Harter, Brake & Schneider, P.C. in 1999, Erik served for nearly three years as the law clerk for the Honorable William E. Collette in the Ingham County Circuit Court located...

For over 29 years, Mr. Jordan has dedicated his practice to defending individuals who have been charged with misdemeanor and felony crimes. He has represented clients charged with a felony in Cuyahoga County, Portage County, Geauga County, Lake County, Lorain County, Ashtabula County, Summit County, Erie County and other counties across the State of Ohio. Mr. Jordan also represents individuals accused of Federal Law violations such as: drug trafficking, conspiracy, tax evasion, theft, bank robbery and failure to report as a sex offender. He has practiced in the United States District Court Northern District of Ohio, United States District...

Matthew S. Flemming joined the Hoffman Legal Group in December 2013 after passing the Ohio State Bar Examination in November 2013. Due to his recognition within the legal community, Matthew was named an Ohio Rising Star in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 which is an award issued to only the top 2.5% of attorneys under the age of 40 in Ohio.

Matthew was born and raised in Northeast Ohio, graduating from Solon High School in 2005. In order to prepare himself for the challenges of guiding clients through the legal system, Matt enrolled in the University of Akron's School...

With over seventeen years of intensive courtroom experience, Attorney Dyer has the expertise necessary to confidently and effectively represent Northeast Ohio clients in all aspects of family law including, divorce, dissolution, child custody, visitation, child support, spousal support, adoptions, modifications and restraining orders. She served as a Guardian ad Litem for minors in hundreds of cases, advocating for their best interest in custody matters. Attorney Dyer is one of a handful of lawyers certified by the Ohio State Bar Association as a Family Law Specialist. Attorney Dyer strives to meet her clients’ goals in an efficient and cost-effective manner, providing personalized...

I am an experienced professional bankruptcy attorney in Cleveland and Westlake, Ohio. I focus on consumer bankruptcy and small business bankruptcy, with an emphasis on putting my clients first. Since finishing law school in 2004, I've represented over 2,000 people in Cleveland bankruptcy cases. I'm passionate about practicing law, giving fair representation, and helping people to get a fresh start. I understand the complexity of all forms of bankruptcy law and I'm not afraid to dig in and look at all the provisions to find out the best way for my clients to benefit. I'll find all the provisions that...

The Nickolls Law Firm, LLC is a Northeast Ohio Family Law Firm dedicated to advocating for families and resolving complicated and unique family issues, including divorce, child custody, alimony, property division, child support, prenuptial agreements, guardian ad litem services, mediation services, and post decree litigation.

We represent the rights of consumers in all forms of consumer rights litigation, including lemon law, breach of warranty, debt collection violations, credit reporting issues, unauthorized robocalls and telemarketing calls, consumer fraud and related issues. We also handle employment litigation, including wage and hour cases, overtime pay issues, wrongful termination, discrimination and sexual harassment. Many of the firm's cases are brought as class actions and we handle personal injury cases as well.

While many attorneys will state that they practice law throughout the State of Ohio, Attorney Hux is likely part of a much smaller amount of attorneys who have actually lived in the Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland areas. This means that Attorney Hux actually knows the people of Southwestern Ohio, Central Ohio, and Northeast Ohio, in addition to the unique challenges each region brings.

Attorney Hux’s desire to help those in need has always been a cornerstone of his identity. That desire to help people, coupled with an innate ability to connect with people from all walks of life, has led...

Richard Selby heads our Commercial Litigation Department. He has extensive trial experience with Dworken & Bernstein in both state and federal court. In addition to his litigation experience, Ric regularly consults with clients on employment related issues and is called in to assist at trial with the Class Action department when those matters go to trial. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star and was selected to be included in the 2019 edition of Best Lawyers in America. In addition, he is a Contributing Editor to Attorney At Law Magazine featuring articles on Employment Law.

Ric joined Dworken...

With more than two decades of experience practicing law in both the private and public sectors, Michele McBride Simonelli has the knowledge necessary to handle highly personal client matters with honesty, discretion, and zealous advocacy. Her background as a Judicial Staff Attorney for the Ohio District Courts of Appeals for both the Eleventh and Seventh Districts as well as managing her solo practice has provided her with unique experience and insight into the administration and practice of law in a broad scope of matters. Michele’s experience includes researching, analyzing, and drafting judicial opinions for a three-judge panel in a variety of...