Tyler M. Berry

Tyler Berry concentrates his practice on real estate law, business transactions, and litigation, including general commercial litigation. As a member of Mansour Gavin’s real estate group, Tyler has significant experience in business and real estate transactional drafting, eviction defense litigation, and commercial lease drafting and negotiation.

Tyler earned his Juris Doctor from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and holds a Master’s degree in Urban Planning and Design from Cleveland State University. He also has dual Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Sustainability from Miami University.

In his free time, Tyler enjoys exploring the shores and islands of Lake Erie, where he often spends his weekends boating. He is also a dedicated supporter of Cleveland’s vibrant arts scene and is a season ticket holder at Playhouse Square, where he regularly attends performances.

Scott Simpkins brings over 25 years of legal experience to his practice, which began with representing clients in complex commercial litigation and has since evolved to include general counsel and transactional services. His litigation experience encompasses contract disputes, labor and employment issues, municipal and public entity matters, construction, real estate, and general commercial litigation. Scott’s work in these areas spans from client consultations and pre-suit negotiations to prosecuting claims and defenses at both trial and appellate levels, including appearances before the Ohio Supreme Court and federal appeals courts. Additionally, he has represented clients before a variety of federal, state, and local administrative and legislative bodies.

Scott’s general counsel and transactional experience encompasses representation, counseling, and negotiation in various business and corporate matters, including employment, construction, real estate and leasing, as well as compliance requirements for corporate entities and public bodies.

Mr. Simpkins is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association. He serves as an assistant arbitrator for the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas.

He is admitted to practice in Ohio and before the Sixth and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeals, as well as the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio and the Eastern District of Michigan.

With over 40 years of legal experience, Patricia Ritzert focuses on governmental law, public finance, and business law as a member of the firm’s Corporate and Business Law group. Her extensive background includes serving as an assistant law director for the cities of Akron and Cuyahoga Falls, as well as various Ohio port authorities.

Ms. Ritzert’s experience spans a wide range of local government issues, including employment, land use, taxation, finance, claims for and against townships and municipalities, and matters concerning non-profit organizations. She has litigated property rights and real estate development cases, successfully taking two cases to the Ohio Supreme Court. Additionally, she has acted as independent outside counsel in investigations involving alleged misconduct by municipal employees. Her litigation experience covers business, financial, tax, property, and employment issues, with representation before administrative agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service, the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals, and the Ohio State Employment Relations Board.

Patricia 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.

In addition to her legal credentials, Ms. Ritzert holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of Akron. She also earned 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.

Patricia has contributed to legal education as a presenter at the Cleveland Tax Institute and as an adjunct professor at Cleveland State University School of Law, teaching individual, corporate, and partnership taxation. Recognized for her accomplishments, she was named a “Woman of Distinction” by her Akron high school, Our Lady of the Elms, in 2023.

Outside of her legal career, she enjoys reading, landscaping, hiking, and bicycling. Pat and her husband, Robert Bulford (U.S. Attorney’s Office, NDO, retired), along with their five children, are active members of the Akron Highland Square neighborhood. She has served on the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland Review Board since 2003, including 15 years as Chair, and has been involved in women’s community soccer and coaching youth sports for two decades. With a passion for outdoor activities, Ms. Ritzert and her husband are proud grandparents to 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.

Natalie is admitted to practice law in the states of Ohio and Florida.

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. 1983 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 was selected for the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association 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. Katie 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 key member of the firm’s civil litigation and real estate and land use practice groups, bringing over 25 years of 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 the 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.

Actively involved in promoting diversity and inclusion, Diane serves on the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee and participates in the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association’s “Racial Equity and the Law” initiative, focusing on challenging systemic inequities within the legal profession.

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 key member of the firm’s Corporate and Business Services group, focusing her practice in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, commercial contracting, franchising, healthcare, and finance and banking.

With extensive experience in corporate and transactional law, Tatyana leads mergers and acquisitions across various industries, particularly within the medical and dental sectors. Her proficiency extends to start-ups, restructuring, and reorganizations, representing both debtors and creditors in asset-based loan agreements and secured transactions. Additionally, Tatyana serves as general counsel to numerous businesses, advising clients on day-to-day corporate governance.

Beyond her legal practice, Tatyana is actively engaged within the community, serving as a Board Member of Global Cleveland and participating as a mentor in Global Cleveland’s Global Rising Mentoring Program.

In her leisure time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and crafting with her daughter. Tatyana and her family reside in Hudson.

 

 

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, handling both transactions and litigation in this field. Her experience extends to commercial and residential leasing, acquisitions and sales, landlord-tenant disputes, entitlements, development projects, and eminent domain litigation.

Kathryn is also well-versed in municipal law and currently serves as an Assistant Law Director for Mayfield Village. She has provided legal guidance to numerous municipalities on a variety of matters including zoning code revisions, development agreements, moratoriums, and legislation. Having experience on both sides of development projects provides her with a unique perspective and the ability to overcome challenges.

In April 2024, Kathryn participated in a presentation titled “Achieving Mixed-use, Walkable Development with Your Current Zoning Code” at the Ohio Chapter of the American Planning Association’s Planning and Zoning Conference. During this session, she shared insights into the legal considerations of revising zoning codes. Furthermore, Kathryn spoke about public contracts and bidding processes at the Northeast Ohio Municipal Clerk Association meeting.

Driven by her commitment to advocate for her clients, Kathryn finds fulfillment both in and out of the courtroom. She graduated from law school with a focus on business and transactional law and actively engaged in the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Mock Trial Team, where she honed her skills in legal advocacy and litigation.

Kathryn resides in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood of Cleveland, where she enjoys exploring local bars and restaurants and spending time with her friends and family.