In Loving Memory of Dennis Wilcox

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our friend and colleague, Dennis R. Wilcox.  Dennis earned his Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from The Ohio State University in 1974 and remained a proud Buckeye and active alumnus throughout the course of his life. In 1977, Dennis graduated from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where he was awarded the Order of the Coif.

After graduating law school, Dennis embarked on a long and illustrious career in the legal profession, practicing primarily in the areas of public finance, governmental law, bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, securities and real estate transactions, and commercial litigation. Over the course of his over 40-year career, he served as outside legal counsel to the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, Gateway Economic Development Corporation of Greater Cleveland, and the Blanchard Valley Port Authority. In the public finance sector, Dennis acted as bond, underwriter’s, or issuer’s counsel in over $10 billion in financings. The impact of his work can be seen throughout Northeast Ohio, including such iconic facilities as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the Gateway Sports Complex including Progressive Field and the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the Cleveland Browns Stadium, The 9 Hotel, and the Flats East Bank development projects.

Dennis’ devotion to his clients was only exceeded by his devotion to his wife Shelley and his two children, that he raised in his adopted home of Cleveland Heights, where he served as a member of City Council for 15 years including acting as President of Council and Mayor. His commitment to community was further demonstrated by his active participation in the Democratic Party, including sitting on the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party Executive Committee.

Dennis’ wise counsel will be missed throughout the Northeast Ohio legal community. What we will miss the most, however, is the friendship and mentorship he provided to anyone fortunate enough to know him. On behalf of the firm and all those who knew Dennis, we thank him for his unparalleled devotion to making the world a better place, whether for his clients, his community, or his friends and family. Dennis’ legacy will live on through those he knew and loved over the years.

Mansour Gavin LPA has been awarded a 2024 Top Workplaces honor by cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. This list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC. The confidential survey uniquely measures the employee experience and its component themes, including employees feeling Respected & Supported, Enabled to Grow, and Empowered to Execute, to name a few.

“We are honored to be recognized as a Northeast Ohio Top Workplace for the third consecutive year. This achievement is particularly meaningful given the competitive field and only 212 companies selected as winners. It reflects the dedication and hard work of our entire team and we are committed to continuing to foster a supportive and dynamic workplace environment,” said Tony Coyne, Mansour Gavin President and Managing Partner.

“Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees,” said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. “That’s something to be proud of. In today’s market, leaders must ensure they’re allowing employees to have a voice and be heard. That’s paramount. Top Workplaces do this, and it pays dividends.”

About

Mansour Gavin LPA is an established law firm founded in 1954 with offices in Cleveland and Independence, Ohio. The firm provides a wide range of legal services to individuals and many successful privately held and publicly traded corporations.

Mansour Gavin is delighted to welcome Mary George, Dennis Robinson, and Lauren Osborne as they join our summer legal program. The program presents first and second-year law students with the opportunity to apply their legal education in a real-world environment. Candidates are chosen based on their exceptional academic performance, exemplary character, demonstrated leadership and interpersonal skills, dedicated cultivation of advocacy and legal skills, and passionate commitment to both the legal profession and community.

Throughout the program, law clerks engage in activities to enhance their litigation and transactional skills and are encouraged to explore assignments across multiple practice groups. These assignments may include conducting legal research, drafting various legal documents such as motions, memoranda of law, opinions, and correspondence, attending court proceedings, participating in depositions, and preparing for and observing trials. The program is structured to expose law students to the multifaceted challenges of law firm work, offering them substantive legal assignments across a spectrum of disciplines.

Ken Smith, shareholder and co-chair of the firm’s Summer Law Program, expressed his excitement: “We are delighted to welcome this exceptional group of law students to our firm. As we teach the next generation of legal professionals, we are committed to providing them with immersive experiences in our day-to-day practice, engaging them in meaningful legal work.”

We are excited to welcome:

• Mary George, Cleveland State University College of Law, 2L
• Dennis Robinson, Cleveland State University College of Law, 2L
• Lauren Osborne, Case Western Reserve University School of Law, 1L

Mansour Gavin LPA is an established law firm founded in 1954 with offices in Cleveland and Independence, Ohio. The firm provides a wide range of legal services to individuals and many successful privately held and publicly traded corporations.

On March 6, 2024, the Ohio Supreme Court issued a decision in a lawsuit filed on behalf of a putative class of students from The Ohio State University. The suit alleged breach of contract and unjust enrichment against the University, seeking refunds for a portion of the tuition and fees paid during the spring of 2020 when the University suspended in-person instruction due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a 4-3 ruling, the Supreme Court instructed the Tenth District Court of Appeals to ascertain if the University is “immune from suit in the Court of Claims regarding its decisions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic including to suspend in-person instruction, transition to virtual learning, restrict access to its campus, and provide pro rata refunds to students only for the recreational fee and for room and board.”

At the trial court level, the Ohio Court of Claims granted class certification on behalf of a class that included “all undergraduate students enrolled in classes at the Columbus campus of The Ohio State University during the spring of 2020 who paid tuition, the general fee, student activity fee, learning technology fee, course fees, program fees, and/or COTA bus fees.” The University appealed this decision, contending that the plaintiff’s claims were barred by the doctrine of discretionary immunity, which they raised for the first time on appeal. The plaintiff argued that discretionary immunity is an affirmative defense that cannot be raised for the first time on appeal and doesn’t apply to the case’s facts. The Court of Appeals acknowledged discretionary immunity as an affirmative defense but concluded that the trial court hadn’t conducted the necessary “rigorous analysis” before granting class certification.

The University appealed the Court of Appeals’ decision regarding discretionary immunity to the Ohio Supreme Court, which agreed to hear the case on appeal. The Ohio Supreme Court ruled that discretionary immunity was not an affirmative defense but a matter of subject matter jurisdiction that can be raised by a party at any stage, including the Court of Appeals. Consequently, the Ohio Supreme Court remanded the matter to the Tenth District Court of Appeals for a determination as to whether discretionary immunity applied to the University’s decision to suspend in-person instruction and only provide refunds for certain fees, excluding tuition refunds to students.

Mansour Gavin attorney Scott Simpkins is co-counsel for the putative class and presented oral argument in the matter before the Ohio Supreme Court. Scott’s litigation practice includes contract dispute, labor and employment, municipal/public entity, construction, real estate, and general commercial litigation.

Mansour Gavin LPA is an established law firm founded in 1954 with offices in Cleveland and Independence, Ohio. The firm provides a wide range of legal services to individuals and many successful privately held and publicly traded corporations.

Tatyana Pishnyak has been elected to the Board of Directors of Global Cleveland, a non-profit organization dedicated to growing Northeast Ohio’s economy by welcoming and connecting international people to opportunities and fostering a more inclusive community for those seeking a place to call home.

Born in Ukraine and fluent in Ukrainian, Tatyana actively participates in legal clinics, including Global Cleveland’s Ukrainian Legal Clinic and Resource Fair in 2023, which provided free legal advice and resources to Ukrainians affected by the war. Additionally, she serves as a class of 2023-24 mentor for Global Cleveland’s Global Rising program. The nine-month development program was created to assist professional newcomers in learning to network and expand their social circles, become acclimated to the city, and strengthen their economic opportunities in Northeast Ohio.

Tatyana is a member of Mansour Gavin’s Corporate and Business Services group, where she focuses her practice in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, franchising, commercial contracting, healthcare, and finance and banking.

Mansour Gavin LPA is an established law firm founded in 1954 with offices in Cleveland and Independence, Ohio. The firm provides a wide range of legal services to individuals and many successful privately held and publicly traded corporations.

We previously advised on the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) beneficial owner information reporting requirements for applicable companies under the Corporate Transparency Act. FinCEN is now accepting beneficial ownership information reports and has launched an online portal for companies to file their mandated reports. Reports can be printed and filled out or completed online here.

Companies are reminded that they will need to provide several categories of information for both the corporate entity and any beneficial owners, including:

• Addresses
• Tax Identification Information
• Registration Information
• Corporate and Individual Identification Documentation

The Corporate and Business Services attorneys at Mansour Gavin are prepared to assist with these mandatory filings. Those companies that are required to report that were in existence as of 12/31/2023 must file their BOI report no later than 12/31/2024. If a reporting company was formed between 1/1/2024 and 12/31/2024, you have ninety days from formation to file your BOI report. Companies formed 1/1/2025 and thereafter must file within 30 days of formation.

Mansour Gavin LPA is an established law firm founded in 1954 with offices in Cleveland and Independence, Ohio. The firm provides a wide range of legal services to individuals and many successful privately held and publicly traded corporations.

Brendon Friesen has received the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review rating. It is the highest rating in legal ability and ethical standards and demonstrates the highest level of professional excellence an individual can receive from Martindale-Hubbell.

Brendon is a Shareholder, Executive Committee Member, and Chair of the Corporate and Business Law Group. This rating reflects Brendon’s in-depth experience on business transactions and related litigation.

Martindale-Hubbell conducts a thorough review of attorneys for their Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™, through a secure online peer review survey where a lawyer’s ethical standards and legal ability in a specific area of practice is assessed by their peers. AV Preeminent® is the highest peer rating standard and is given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers.

Mansour Gavin LPA is an established law firm founded in 1954 with offices in Cleveland and Independence, Ohio. The firm provides a wide range of legal services to individuals and many successful privately held and publicly traded corporations.

Mansour Gavin is pleased to announce Diane Calta and Tatyana Pishnyak have been named the firm’s newest shareholders effective January 1, 2024.

Diane Calta is a member of the firm’s Litigation and Real Estate practice groups, possessing over 20 years of legal experience across various fields including municipal law, litigation, real estate, and probate and estate planning. Ms. Calta serves as the Director of Law for Mayfield Village and was recently appointed as special legal counsel for the City of Independence. She previously served as Director of Law for the cities of Green and Beachwood.

Tatyana Pishnyak is a member of the firm’s Corporate and Business Services group, where she focuses her practice in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, franchising, commercial contracting, healthcare, and finance and banking. With extensive experience in the purchase and sale of professional healthcare practices, Tatyana also offers valuable counsel to doctors and other professionals on employment law matters. She advises clients on general corporate matters, including corporate entity selection and formation, and provides guidance to global corporations on commercial agreements and day-to-day corporate governance.

“I am proud to welcome Diane and Tatyana as shareholders of our firm. They are both exceptional lawyers with profound industry knowledge and excel at devising effective strategies to help clients achieve success” said Tony Coyne, Mansour Gavin President.

Mansour Gavin LPA is an established law firm founded in 1954 with offices in Cleveland and Independence, Ohio. The firm provides a wide range of legal services to individuals and many successful privately held and publicly traded corporations.

Brendon P. Friesen, Mansour Gavin Shareholder, Executive Committee Member, and Chair of the Corporate and Business Services Group, has been elected U.S. President of Legal Netlink Alliance (LNA) effective January 1, 2024.  Brendon has served as LNA’s Vice-President since 2022 and as a Director since 2015.

Mansour Gavin President Tony Coyne stated “Brendon’s commitment to LNA’s leadership team is commendable and his efforts have been recognized, leading him to the position of President. We are incredibly proud of Brendon’s achievements and look forward to seeing what he will accomplish in this role.”

Through LNA, our offerings as a full-service law firm allow us to extend our reach worldwide and provide additional resources to our clients.

About LNA

Legal Netlink Alliance (LNA) is a global association of small and medium-sized, independent law firms that offers members and their clients access to top-notch legal representation around the world. The network’s membership consists of over 1500 lawyers throughout 35 countries.

Mansour Gavin LPA is an established law firm founded in 1954 with offices in Cleveland and Independence, Ohio. The firm provides a wide range of legal services to individuals and many successful privately held and publicly traded corporations.

Cleveland, OH – Mansour Gavin LPA and Climaco, Wilcox, Peca & Garofoli Co., LPA are proud to announce that Climaco Wilcox attorneys Dennis R. Wilcox, Patricia M. Ritzert, and Scott D. Simpkins are joining Mansour Gavin effective as of December 29, 2023. The Climaco Wilcox firm was founded in Cleveland, OH in 1967.

With the Climaco Wilcox attorneys joining Mansour Gavin, the firm is expanding its range of client service offerings including enhanced public sector and public finance, real estate, tax planning and commercial litigation. “The combination of the two firms seemed a natural fit based on the complementary practice areas and the relationship and culture of the firms and attorneys involved,” said Mansour Gavin’s President Anthony Coyne.

Mansour Gavin is a full-service business law firm, calling Northeast Ohio its home for over sixty years. For more information on the firm and its attorneys, please visit mansourgavin.com.