News

We are pleased to share that, as of May 1, Mansour Gavin’s Independence office has relocated to a new location:

6133 Rockside Road, Suite 301
Independence, Ohio 44131

Please note that our phone and fax numbers remain unchanged. Our downtown Cleveland office is unaffected by this move.

We look forward to continuing to serve our clients from this updated space.

Should you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

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.

 

Diane A. Calta has been elected Secretary to the Board of the Northeast Ohio Law Directors Association. Diane is a key member of the firm’s civil litigation and real estate and land use practice groups, bringing over 25 years of legal experience in municipal law, economic development, litigation, real estate, eminent domain, and probate and estate planning.

Diane currently serves as Director of Law for Mayfield Village and special legal counsel for the City of Independence. Previously, she was Director of Law for the City of Beachwood and the City of Green. Diane has also held public sector roles as Assistant Director of Law for several Northeast Ohio communities, including Pepper Pike, Chagrin Falls, and Bentleyville. Additionally, she has served as an assistant prosecutor for the Village of Bratenahl.

The Northeast Ohio Law Directors Association is a professional organization that brings together municipal law directors, legal counsel, and attorneys from Northeast Ohio who specialize in representing local governments. The association focuses on providing continuing legal education (CLE) opportunities, facilitating networking among municipal legal professionals, and addressing legal issues pertinent to municipal governance. Members often include city solicitors, law directors, and attorneys engaged in public sector law. The association frequently collaborates with other legal organizations, such as the Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association, to host seminars and presentations on topics relevant to municipal law.

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.”

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.

The County Fiscal Officer is responsible under Ohio law for the valuation of all real estate within their respective county. Property revaluations occur in two cycles, the sexennial reappraisal (conducted every six years) and the triennial update (performed every three years between reappraisals). The key difference between these two reevaluation cycles is the scope and methodology. Although both use an analysis of recent comparable sales to determine property values on a parcel-by-parcel basis, the sexennial reappraisal requires all properties to be personally viewed.

Cuyahoga County’s 2024 sexennial reappraisals were released a few months ago and Proposed Value Notices were sent to property owners. It is being reported that property values increased by an average of 32% countywide. Proposed Value Notices provide a “Market Value” and an “Assessed Value.”

• “Market Value” is defined as the price your property would likely sell for in an open and competitive market between a willing buyer and seller.
• “Assessed Value” is set by the State of Ohio at 35% of market value. Assessed Value is the value of taxable property to which the tax rate is applied to compute property taxes.

Property owners are entitled to challenge their property tax valuations through the formal appeal process with the Cuyahoga County Board of Revisions. Tax Evaluation Complaints for the 2024 sexennial reappraisals will only be accepted between January 1, 2025 and March 31, 2025.

To successfully challenge an increased property valuation, owners must provide evidence showing the reevaluation is incorrect. This could include a recent sale below the appraised value or proof of damage or destruction that impacts the property’s value. Otherwise, obtaining a professional appraisal of the property may be necessary to successfully challenge the reevaluation. Additional information can be found on the county’s website.

Mansour Gavin’s Real Estate attorneys are ready to assist with all your real estate needs. If you have any questions or need further clarification on this or other real estate matters, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Mansour Gavin LPA is pleased to announce that Kathryn (Katie) Weber has been elected as a shareholder with the firm, effective January 1, 2025. Since joining Mansour Gavin, Katie has demonstrated exceptional knowledge and dedication in real estate and land use law, excelling in both transactions and litigation matters. Her experience encompasses commercial and residential leasing, property acquisitions and sales, landlord-tenant disputes, entitlements, development projects, and eminent domain litigation.

In addition to her real estate practice, Katie serves as an Assistant Law Director for Mayfield Village, providing legal guidance on zoning code revisions, development agreements, moratoriums, and legislation. Her combined experience in municipal law and real estate development projects equips her to offer clients a unique perspective and innovative solutions to complex challenges.

Katie is an active member of the legal community, serving on the Gender Equity in the Legal Industry (GELI) Committee and the Mansour Gavin Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Her commitment to professional development and advocacy is further demonstrated by her recognition in 2025 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America.

“Katie’s promotion to shareholder is a testament to her exceptional talent, work ethic, and leadership,” said Tony Coyne, President of Mansour Gavin LPA. “Her knowledge of real estate and land use law, combined with her dedication to our clients and the legal community, makes her an invaluable asset to the firm. We look forward to her continued leadership in shaping our future.”

Katie earned her Juris Doctor from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ohio University.

We recently informed you that the nationwide injunction blocking enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) had been lifted. However, following that alert, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order in Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc. et al. v. Garland, vacating the stay of the preliminary injunction.

On December 27, FinCEN issued an Alert indicating that reporting companies are currently not required to file beneficial ownership information with FinCEN and will not face liability for failing to do so while the order remains in effect. Companies may, however, continue to voluntarily submit beneficial ownership reports.

We will continue to monitor this evolving situation and provide updates as necessary. If you have questions about how this may impact your compliance obligations, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Mansour Gavin LPA is thrilled to announce that 12 of our lawyers have been included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® and 3 have been recognized as 2025 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America. Since its inception in 1983, Best Lawyers has been universally recognized as the definitive guide to legal excellence.

“For more than 40 years, the rigorous methodology of Best Lawyers has ensured the integrity and esteem of our legal recognitions,” said Phillip Greer, CEO of Best Lawyers. “We are proud to continue offering potential clients the highest standard of credibility through our Best Lawyers awards as they seek legal counsel.”

Tony Coyne, President and Managing Partner of Mansour Gavin LPA, added, “We are incredibly proud of our attorneys who have been honored this year. Their dedication and expertise exemplify the high standards of excellence our firm strives to uphold.”

Mansour Gavin congratulates the following lawyers named to the 2025 The Best Lawyers in America list:

Timothy A. Boyko – Corporate Law, Elder Law, Real Estate Law, and Trusts and Estates

Charles T. Brown – Litigation – Trusts and Estates

James A. Budzik – Litigation – Labor and Employment

Diane A. Calta – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Real Estate, and Real Estate Law

Anthony J. Coyne – Corporate Law, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, and Real Estate Law

Brendon P. Friesen – Corporate Law

Daniel J. McGuire – Trusts and Estates

John W. Monroe – Corporate Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Real Estate, and Real Estate Law

Edward O. Patton – Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law, and Litigation – Insurance

Tatyana Pishnyak – Corporate Law

Michael P. Quinlan – Trusts and Estates

Bruce G. Rinker – Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law

We would like to congratulate the following lawyers recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America.

Katie Epperson – Insurance Law

Kenneth E. Smith – Corporate Law and Insurance Law

Kathryn E. Weber – Corporate Law, Litigation – Real Estate, and Real Estate Law

About Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected lawyer ranking service in the world. For 40 years, Best Lawyers has assisted those in need of legal services to identify the lawyers best qualified to represent them in distant jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties. Best Lawyers awards are published in leading local, regional and national publications across the globe.

About Mansour Gavin

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 December 23, 2024, the U.S Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reinstated enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), lifting the injunction issued by a U.S. district court in Texas on December 3, 2024, in Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc. et al. v. Garland.

The appellate court found that the U.S. Department of Justice demonstrated the constitutionality of the CTA, allowing enforcement to resume while the case proceeds in the district court. Although the court of appeals’ decision does not represent a final ruling on the merits of the challenges to the CTA, the injunction that had previously halted its enforcement has been lifted. FinCEN has extended the deadlines for reporting companies to file Beneficial Ownership Information Reports (BOIR) as follows:

• Reporting companies created or registered prior to January 1, 2024: new reporting deadline of January 13, 2025 (would otherwise have been required to report by January 1, 2025).
• Reporting companies created or registered in the U.S. on or after September 4, 2024, that had a filing deadline between December 3, 2024, and December 23, 2024: new reporting deadline of January 13, 2025.
• Reporting companies created or registered in the U.S. on or after December 3, 2024, and on or before December 23, 2024: reporting deadline extended an additional 21 days from their original filing deadline.
• Reporting companies created or registered in the U.S. on or after January 1, 2025: reporting deadline is 30 days after receiving actual or public notice that their creation or registration is effective.

For assistance with BOIR filings or compliance questions, please contact our Business Services Group.

On December 3, 2024, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued a preliminary injunction in Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc. et al. v. Garland, halting FinCEN’s enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) and its requirement for non-exempt entities to file Beneficial Ownership Interest Reports (BOIRs) by certain deadlines.

The CTA was found unconstitutional in a March 2024 ruling by a federal court in Alabama in National Small Business United v. Yellen, but the decision only applied to the specific plaintiffs that brought the lawsuit. The Texas court’s decision in Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc., applies nationally, explicitly enjoining the CTA’s enforcement, suspending its reporting requirements, and staying compliance deadlines for all reporting companies. [A copy of the Court’s opinion can be found here.]

The U.S. government has indicated it will appeal the Texas decision, as it did in the Alabama case, leaving the final outcome uncertain. However, based on the Texas decision, reporting companies need not take further action on the CTA and BOIRs until the injunction is modified or the stay is lifted through the appeal process.

If you have any questions about this update or how it may impact your compliance obligations, please contact Mansour Gavin’s Corporate and Business Services Group.

Mansour Gavin LPA is proud to announce its recognition in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®, a distinguished honor that underscores our commitment to legal excellence. Ranked regionally in eight practice areas, this accolade reflects our dedication to delivering exceptional legal services and upholding the highest standards in the profession.

“Recognition by Best Law Firms is a testament to our team’s consistent hard work, dedication, and the strong relationships we build with our clients,” said Tony Coyne, President of Mansour Gavin. “We are honored to be acknowledged alongside the most respected firms in the industry.”

Inclusion in the Best Law Firms list highlights professional excellence, supported by peer and client reviews that affirm our credibility and the trust we have earned. To be eligible, a law firm must have at least one attorney recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. In August, we announced that 12 of our lawyers were included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® and 3 were recognized as 2025 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America.

Ranked firms are recognized in three tiers, both nationally and regionally, based on the scope of their practice and geographic influence. The 2025 edition of Best Law Firms features 75 national practice areas and 127 metropolitan practice areas, determined through a comprehensive evaluation process combining peer and client insights, backed by proprietary research technology.

Receiving this ranking affirms Mansour Gavin’s reputation for integrity, depth of legal skill, and unwavering commitment to excellence.

Mansour Gavin LPA received the following rankings by 2025 Best Law Firms:

Regional Tier 1
Cleveland
-Commercial Litigation
-Corporate Law
-Land Use and Zoning Law
-Litigation – Labor and Employment
-Real Estate Law

Regional Tier 2
Cleveland
-Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
-Trusts and Estates

Regional Tier 3
Cleveland
-Litigation – Trusts and Estates

Best Law Firms^®, ranked by Best Lawyers^® and respected for over 14 years, is the most credible ranking of exceptional law firms globally. It is rooted in a rigorous, peer-to-peer, industry-driven evaluation. A ranking from Best Law Firms signifies a high-quality practice and a breadth of legal expertise. Ranked firms, presented in three tiers, are recognized on a national and metropolitan scale, providing legal professionals with an elevated stature from the Best Law Firms recognition. For more information, visit www.bestlawfirms.com.

Mansour Gavin LPA, founded in 1954, is a well-established law firm with offices in Cleveland and Independence, Ohio, providing a wide array of legal services to individuals and successful corporations, both privately held and publicly traded.