Dennis R. Wilcox

Dennis Wilcox has practiced in the areas of public finance, governmental law, bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, securities and real estate transactions, and commercial litigation for over 40 years.

In the area of bonds and finance, he has participated as bond, underwriter’s or issuer’s counsel in over $10 billion in financings. Mr. Wilcox has served as outside general counsel to the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, Gateway Economic Development Corporation of Greater Cleveland and the Blanchard Valley Port Authority. He was substantially involved in the Gateway Sports Complex, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Cleveland Browns Stadium, Flats East, The 9 and Eaton Corporation development projects.

Mr. Wilcox is admitted to the bars of the State of Ohio and the District of Columbia.

He received his Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from The Ohio State University in 1974. Mr. Wilcox is a 1977 graduate of Case Western Reserve University School of Law where he was awarded the Order of the Coif.  He is a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers since 1979. He was a long-time principal of Climaco, Wilcox, Peca & Garofoli Co., L.P.A. and served as Managing Principal for many years. From 2000 until 2015, Mr. Wilcox served as a Member of Council in the City of Cleveland Heights including acting as President of Council and Mayor.

Scott Simpkins has over 25 years of legal experience with a practice that began with representing clients in complex commercial litigation matters and has evolved to include general counsel and transactional services. Scott’s litigation practice includes contract dispute, labor and employment, municipal/public entity, construction, real estate, and general commercial litigation. His practice in these areas has ranged from client consultation and pre-suit negotiation, to prosecuting the claims and defenses at trial and appellate levels including representation before the Ohio Supreme Court and federal appeals courts. Scott has also represented clients before various federal, state, and local administrative and legislative bodies.

Scott’s general counsel and transactional experience includes representation, counseling and negotiation in general business and corporate matters including employment, construction, real estate and leasing, and corporate and public body compliance requirements.

He is currently a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association and serves as an assistant arbitrator for the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. He is admitted to practice in the State of Ohio and before the Sixth Circuit and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States District Courts for the Northern District of Ohio, Southern District of Ohio and Eastern District of Michigan.

Patricia Ritzert has over 40 years of legal experience with an extensive background in Governmental Law, Public Finance, and Business Law. She is a member of the firm’s Corporate Business and Business Law group.

Having served as an assistant law director for the cities of Akron and Cuyahoga Falls, and a handful of Ohio port authorities, Ms. Ritzert’s experience includes local government issues comprised of employment, land use, taxation and finance, claims for and against townships and municipalities, and matters pertaining to non-profit organizations. Another area of concentration has been property rights and real estate development, which resulted in two cases litigated to the Ohio Supreme Court. On several occasions, she has served as independent outside counsel in the investigation or prosecution of alleged misconduct by municipal employees.

Ms. Ritzert is admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court, the United States Tax Court, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the Ohio Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, and the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. She has carried business, financial, tax, property and employment issues through litigation in a wide variety of situations. She also practices before the Internal Revenue Service and the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals, the Ohio State Employment Relations Board, and other administrative agencies.

In addition to earning a Bachelor of Arts in economics, magna cum laude, and Juris Doctorate from the University of Akron, Ms. Ritzert has obtained two post-juris doctor degrees: a Master of Taxation from the University of Akron and an LL.M. in Taxation from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, magna cum laude. Ms. Ritzert has been a presenter at the Cleveland Tax Institute and for 17 years and was an adjunct professor of individual, corporate, and partnership taxation at Cleveland State University School of Law.

In 2023, she was named a “Woman of Distinction” by her Akron high school, Our Lady of the Elms, which honored graduates from the school’s 100-year history.

Pat is an avid reader, landscaper, hiker, and bicyclist. She and her husband Robert Bulford (U.S. Attorney’s Office, NDO, retired) and their five children are mainstays in the Akron Highland Square neighborhood. Since 2003 she has served, with 15 years as Chair, on the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland Review Board. Having played women’s community soccer and coached youth sports for 20 years, she maintains an interest in outdoor activities for children. Pat and her husband have nine grandchildren in Ohio, Maryland, and the Philippines.

Natalie Browning practices in the areas of estate planning and probate and real estate law. Prior to joining the firm as an associate, she gained invaluable experience working as a law clerk at the firm for over a year.

Natalie holds a B.A. in political science from the University of Akron and a J.D. from the University of Akron School of Law, graduating magna cum laude. She was a recipient of the Board of Trustees Scholarship, recognized as an Honors Scholar, and received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in UCC Sales. During her time in law school, Natalie served as the Executive Editor of Production for the Akron Law Review and worked as a summer associate for the Community Legal Aid Services in Akron. Prior to attending law school, she interned for the Ohio Judicial Conference.

Originally from Columbus, Natalie now calls Akron home. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, lifting, playing tennis, and baking.

Adam Uth is an associate in the firm’s litigation group focusing on real estate matters. He has considerable experience representing businesses in various types of litigation and has secured favorable outcomes at both the trial and appellate levels. Adam also has experience providing compliance analysis, both in the private sector and for the City of Shaker Heights.

Adam earned his J.D. from the University of Michigan School of Law and a B.A. from York University. He was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 2017.

Before attending law school, Adam lived in northeast Japan for several years. He speaks and writes Japanese fluently. He is a member of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association.

Katie Epperson focuses her practice on civil litigation, insurance defense, and labor and employment law. She has a proven track record of successfully defending clients in various courts throughout Ohio including the Northern and Southern Federal District Courts of Ohio, the Court of Appeals, county courts throughout Ohio, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Katie has investigated claims of harassment, wrongful termination, discrimination, and retaliation on behalf of employers and takes great pride in her solutions-oriented approach. Katie also represents large retailers in Ohio in a wide range of issues including Ohio Civil Rights Commission investigations and premises liability matters.

Katie employs a strategic approach in litigating claims on behalf of correctional facilities, particularly in U.S.C. 1985 actions. She utilizes a dynamic approach that ensures fairness for offenders while achieving optimal outcomes for her clients. Katie’s experience encompasses handling a wide range of litigation matters for the private prison system, including appeals up to the Ohio Supreme Court.

Prior to joining Mansour Gavin, Katie gained valuable experience at an employment law firm where in addition to investigating employment discrimination allegations, she provided guidance to managers, senior executives, and clients on effective management practices to optimize defense strategies to ensure workplace compliance.

Ms. Epperson contributed to Cleveland-Marshall’s School of Law’s “Day of Giving” by participating in fundraising efforts for scholarships for deserving law students. During her time in law school, she was a member of an award-winning moot court team. Additionally, Katie completed an externship with the United States Attorney’s office, further enriching her legal experience.

Katie holds a J.D. from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and is admitted to the Ohio State Bar as well as the United States District Court for both the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio.

 

Diane Calta is a member of the firm’s litigation and real estate practice groups. She possesses over 20 years of legal experience in a variety of disciplines including municipal law, litigation, real estate, and probate and estate planning.

Ms. Calta currently serves as the Director of Law for Mayfield Village and as special legal counsel for the City of Independence. She is the former Director of Law for the City of Beachwood where she led the law department in advising the city on how to navigate the legal challenges presented by the pandemic. Diane’s previous experience in the public sector includes serving as the Director of Law for the City of Green and as Assistant Director of Law for several other Northeast Ohio communities, including Mayfield Village, Pepper Pike, Chagrin Falls, and Bentleyville. She also worked as an assistant prosecutor for the Village of Bratenahl and provided legal counsel for economic development for Mayfield Village.

In addition to serving on the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee, Diane participates in the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association’s “Racial Equity and the Law” via a group titled Interrupting the Legal Profession’s Systemic Inequities.

Ms. Calta is licensed to practice in the State of Ohio and has been admitted to the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Diane resides in Cleveland Heights with her family and enjoys gardening and cycling in her free time.

Tatyana is a member of the firm’s business and corporate services group where she focuses her practice in the areas of Mergers and Acquisitions, Franchising, Commercial Contracting, Healthcare, and Finance and Banking. She has extensive experience in purchases and sales of professional practices as well as consulting doctors and other professionals on various employment law issues.

Tatyana advises clients on general corporate matters, such as corporate entity selection and formation and also provides advice to global corporations on commercial agreements and day-to-day corporate governance.

Prior to joining Mansour Gavin, Tatyana was a transactional attorney leading sales and purchases of professional practices.

She is a graduate of Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.

Mr. McGuire brings a wealth of experience to his role as a trusts and estates attorney, where he specializes in crafting tailored solutions for clients based on their individual needs, concerns, and goals. Dan has represented clients across the entire wealth spectrum and is adept at advising clients in addressing changing circumstances that require planning for the future.

Dan holds licenses to practice law in Ohio and Florida. Prior to joining Mansour Gavin, he played a crucial role in the administrative aspects of trusts, ensuring the goals and intentions outlined by trust grantors were accurately interpreted and executed.  Dan also served as a mentor to emerging trust officers, imparting practical knowledge, and facilitating their growth in the field of trust administration.

Outside of practicing law, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, extended family, and friends. In his leisure time, he enjoys reading and harbors a love for golf, even if it remains unrequited.

Kathryn Weber focuses her practice on real estate and land use issues. She handles both real estate transactions and real estate litigation. She has experience representing clients in commercial and residential leasing, acquisitions and sales, landlord-tenant disputes, and development projects.

She enjoys representing clients both inside and outside of the courtroom. Kathryn completed law school with a concentration in business and transactional law and was also a member of the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Mock Trial Team.

Kathryn resides in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood of Cleveland. She enjoys checking out local bars and restaurants in Cleveland and spending time with her friends and family.