News

We are proud to share that Tim Boyko has been elected Chairman of the University Hospitals (UH) West Market Board of Directors, overseeing UH Elyria Medical Center, UH Parma Medical Center, and UH St. John Medical Center. Additionally, Tim has been appointed to the University Hospitals Board of Directors, the governing board of University Hospitals.

Tim focuses on business and real estate law, as well as probate and estate planning. He joined Mansour Gavin in 2016 after serving as managing partner of Boyko, Dobeck & Weaver. Tim is licensed to practice in Ohio and Florida and represents individuals, businesses, and nonprofits in a variety of legal matters, including Florida probate and estate planning. He is an active member of several bar associations and is deeply involved in his community, including fundraising for The Patty Boyko Foundation in memory of his late wife.

Please join us in congratulating Tim on these well-deserved appointments and recognizing his leadership and ongoing commitment to supporting the health and well-being of our region.

About Mansour Gavin
Founded in 1954, Mansour Gavin LPA is a full-service law firm with offices in Cleveland and Independence, Ohio. The firm provides trusted counsel to individuals and privately held and publicly traded companies across corporate, litigation, real estate, labor and employment, environmental, estate planning, and related areas of law.

Mansour Gavin LPA has once again been recognized as a Top Workplace by cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer, earning the honor for the fourth consecutive year. This recognition is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by Energage LLC, which measures key aspects of workplace culture, including feeling respected, supported, and empowered.

“We are honored to be named a 2025 Northeast Ohio Top Workplace,” said Tony Coyne, Mansour Gavin President and Managing Partner. “This recognition, earned in a highly competitive field and shared with only 188 organizations, is a testament to our team’s dedication and the culture we’ve built together. We remain committed to fostering a positive and inclusive work environment.”

“Top Workplaces awards are especially meaningful because they come from employees,” added Eric Rubino, CEO of Energage. “It shows these companies are listening and responding to what their people need to thrive.”

About Mansour Gavin
Founded in 1954, Mansour Gavin LPA is a full-service law firm with offices in Cleveland and Independence, Ohio. The firm provides trusted counsel to individuals and privately held and publicly traded companies across corporate, litigation, real estate, labor and employment, environmental, estate planning, and related areas of law.

We are pleased to welcome Samantha Papagna to Mansour Gavin as a paralegal, where she supports our attorneys with legal research, document preparation, and client communication.

Samantha is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati, where she earned a BBA in Business Economics and a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Law and Paralegal Studies. She also holds a Legal Technology Certificate from the National Society for Legal Technology.

With a background that blends business insight with a passion for social justice, Samantha brings valuable experience as a paralegal, legal intern, and volunteer advocate. Her work with the Hope and Healing Resource Center reflects her commitment to meaningful community engagement and advocacy.

We’re excited to have Samantha on our team and look forward to the contributions she will bring to the firm and the clients we serve.

About Mansour Gavin
Founded in 1954, Mansour Gavin LPA is a full-service law firm with offices in Cleveland and Independence, Ohio. The firm provides trusted counsel to individuals and privately held and publicly traded companies across corporate, litigation, real estate, labor and employment, environmental, estate planning, and related areas of law.

Mansour Gavin is pleased to welcome Katie Epperson* to the firm! Katie is an associate focusing her practice on civil litigation, insurance defense, and labor and employment law. Prior to joining Mansour Gavin, Katie worked for an employment law firm where in addition to investigating employment discrimination allegations, she coached managers, senior executives and clients on best management practices to optimize defense strategies and promote compliance within the workplace.

Katie earned her J.D. from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and is admitted to the Ohio State Bar and the United States District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio.

About Mansour Gavin
Founded in 1954, Mansour Gavin LPA is a full-service law firm with offices in Cleveland and Independence, Ohio. The firm provides trusted counsel to individuals and privately held and publicly traded companies across corporate, litigation, real estate, labor and employment, environmental, estate planning, and related areas of law.

*Katie Epperson is now known as Katie Tinnel.

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 edition of The Best Lawyers in America:

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
Founded in 1954, Mansour Gavin LPA is a full-service law firm with offices in Cleveland and Independence, Ohio. The firm provides trusted counsel to individuals and privately held and publicly traded companies across corporate, litigation, real estate, labor and employment, environmental, estate planning, and related areas of law.

*Katie Epperson is now known as Katie Tinnel.

Katie Epperson* has been selected for the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association’s 2024-25 Leadership Academy, a highly regarded and selective program offering leadership and professional development programming. The program features leadership assessments, coaching, and opportunities for community engagement with legal and civic leaders.

The Leadership Academy, now in its 8th year, is a 10-month program that offers attorneys with at least five years of experience the chance to enhance their leadership skills. Candidates must demonstrate a passion for the legal profession and civic engagement, a commitment to leadership development, and enthusiasm for building connections with legal and community leaders in Greater Cleveland. The program includes partnerships with top professional development firms, offering participants tailored consultations and group sessions with leading legal minds.

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.

*Katie Epperson is now known as Katie Tinnel.

We are proud to announce that Katie Epperson* has been appointed to the Cleveland Society for Human Resource Management (CSHRM) Board of Directors as Legal and Compliance Chair for the 2025–2027 term, effective July 1, 2025. CSHRM is the local affiliate chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), an international organization comprised of over 300,000 human resource professionals in over 165 countries.

In this role, Katie will be responsible for keeping members informed of key changes in employment law and employee relations regulations, hosting a variety of CLE programming for HR professionals, and monitoring legislative developments that impact the HR community. She recently attended the SHRM Leadership Conference in Columbus to prepare for her new role and is excited to contribute to the organization’s mission.

Katie focuses her legal practice on civil litigation, insurance defense, and labor and employment law, with a strong track record of defending clients in courts throughout Ohio, including the Northern and Southern Federal District Courts, the Court of Appeals, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, and the EEOC. She brings significant experience investigating claims of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination on behalf of employers and is known for her solutions-oriented, strategic approach.

Katie’s professional involvement includes selection to the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association’s 2024–2025 Leadership Academy, where she participates in leadership development and civic engagement programming.

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.

*Katie Epperson is now known as Katie Tinnel.

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.