Dealing with the law is often complicated, and many situations require the expertise of an attorney. It is often said that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” and that definitely applies in legal situations. Hiring an attorney in many instances can help you avoid potential legal headaches down the road, and it could also save you money.
Whether you need an attorney for yourself, your family or your company, it’s good to know that a qualified attorney is just a phone call away. Sometimes a settlement is the best option, and other times it makes sense to see the case through to trial.
With an attorney at your side, you will be able to navigate through tough situations to find the best possible outcome. Meet some of the top attorneys in Columbus and learn what makes them unique and authorities in their respective fields.
Michele Shuster
Compliance Law
When did you begin practicing law?
I began my career 25 years ago in private practice before joining the Ohio Attorney General’s Office under former AG Betty Montgomery. In 2007, I partnered with Helen Mac Murray, focusing on consumer protection regulatory compliance and defense. Mac Murray & Shuster has grown to a dozen attorneys who serve businesses of all sizes across the country and internationally.
What drove you to become a lawyer and choose your specialty?
I’ve wanted to be a lawyer for as long as I can remember. As Consumer Protection Chief in the AG’s office, I drafted and implemented a number of laws, including Ohio’s Do Not Call regulation, and worked closely with other state AGs and federal agencies like the FCC and FTC. I came to realize that while a few bad eggs make the headlines, most businesses are genuinely trying to do the right thing. Our firm helps these businesses understand and comply with complex laws, defends them in enforcement matters, and works with regulators to productively resolve issues.
What makes you and your practice unique?
We believe quality of life leads to quality of work. We are committed to balancing personal lives and careers in a way that deliver the best results for our clients. It hasn’t always been easy, but we’ve come to appreciate the value of our culture even more as we’ve grown.
What do you enjoy most about practicing law?
I love giving peace of mind to my clients. When they are up at night worried about lawsuits, government investigations, or other stressful issues with the potential to devastate their businesses, I want them to know I’ve got their backs and will resolve their issues in the best way possible for them.
What advice can you share with a client who might need your services?
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Proactively take steps to understand what’s allowed when marketing or selling to consumers, especially if you are doing business in multiple states, as these laws vary greatly. Know the regulators who oversee your business and industry. They’re interested in your concerns and want to see you succeed.
Michele Shuster
Mac Murray & Shuster LLP
6525 West Campus Oval
Suite 210
New Albany, Ohio 43054
614.939.9955
http://www.mslawgroup.com
Miranda Morgan
Estate Planning
When did you begin practicing law? I joined Ice Miller LLP after graduating from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 2005. I started as an associate in the trusts and estates
practice group and became a partner in 2013. While practicing, I earned my LLM in taxation from Capital University.
What drove you to become a lawyer and choose your specialty?
Like many others, I was driven to become a lawyer because I like helping people and solving problems. I chose my specialty because I liked the idea of working closely with individuals and their families, and I enjoy the technical nature of the practice.
What makes you and your practice unique?
My skills in implementing and guiding a complex estate plan through multiple generations. There are few young estate planning attorneys who have the amount of sophisticated experience that I have. Clients like the fact that I will be around to help the next generation with the implementation of their plans. My practice is also unique because of my tax background, which allows me to design estate plans and business transition plans focused on minimizing taxes.
What do you enjoy most about practicing law?
The most rewarding aspects of being a trusts and estates attorney is the gratitude I receive from my clients for guiding them through the estate planning process and the peace of mind they experience once they have a plan in place and know their families and their wealth are protected.
What advice can you share with a client who might need your services?
Start the process sooner rather than later so your family is protected. After completing the process, many people feel a sense of relief and report that the process was understandable and easier than anticipated. I also represent fiduciaries. My advice to any individual serving in a fiduciary capacity, such as executor or trustee, is to make sure they understand their responsibilities and fiduciary duties to mitigate the risk of litigation.
Miranda Morgan
Ice Miller LLP
250 West Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
614.462.1064
Miranda.Morgan@icemiller.com
Rex H. Elliott
Corporate Litigation
When did you begin practicing law?
I graduated from the Syracuse University College of Law in 1988 and began with the Wall Street law firm, Sullivan & Cromwell. I returned to central Ohio in 1992 with Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur before deciding to join Chip Cooper in the formation of Cooper & Elliott in 1995. We built a firm to represent individuals and small businesses in matters involving enormous harm.
What drove you to become a lawyer and choose your specialty?
I wanted to use my license in a way that made a difference in people’s lives. We have helped scores of families who have lost loved ones or suffered catastrophic harm, and businesses that have experienced substantial losses. Our practice spans everything from wrongful death and serious injury to medical and legal malpractice, civil rights cases, business disputes, mass torts and other matters involving massive losses. We have been able to balance the harm and provoke change so others don’t experience the same life-altering events.
What makes you and your practice unique?
We listen to our clients so that we can achieve their objectives. They truly become a part of our family as we fight to bring them the absolute best resolution and justice for their situation that the law allows.
What do you enjoy most about practicing law?
I love protecting and helping people who can’t possibly navigate a very difficult process. While we have the best legal system in the world, it is imperfect, and a great lawyer can make a major difference. We do our level best to make a difference in the lives of people every day!
What advice can you share with a client who might need your services?
Choose a lawyer who will listen to you and will take on your legal matter as if you were a member of his or her family. Make sure your lawyer has a track record of large jury verdicts, which both demonstrates the lawyer’s skill, but also drives up the value of your case because insurance companies and corporate America will do their homework. Finally, we put a team of lawyers on your case because we believe many great brains are always better than one great legal mind.
Rex H. Elliott
Cooper & Elliott
2175 Riverside Drive
Columbus, Ohio 43221
614.481.6000
www.cooperelliott.com
LeeAnn M. Massucci
Family Law
When did you begin practicing law?
I began practicing law on May 9, 2003.
What drove you to become a lawyer and choose your specialty?
When my first chosen profession (head coach of the Ohio State University’s women’s tennis team) started to become physically impossible due to recurring knee injuries, I decided to look for other professions. I have always wanted to be an advocate for persons who are victims of unfairness and injustice. I chose family law because it allows me to have the most contact with my clients. I am representing great people who are experiencing the worst times in their lives. Family is important to me and I know family is important to my clients so helping families is very meaningful to me.
What makes you and your practice unique?
Our firm believes that every client is different and that no two cases or families are the same. We want all clients to feel like they are receiving our attention and our professional best. In addition, I am committed to advocating for the LGBTQ community in the ever-emerging area of family law.
What do you enjoy most about practicing law?
There is always a new challenge and a new chance to help change someone’s life for the better. I truly enjoy the day-to-day contact with my clients, working with them as a team, and advocating for them in court.
What advice can you share with a client who might need your services?
I believe that everyone experiencing the break-up or formation of a family unit needs the guidance of a lawyer on some level. There are many laws that govern this area of our lives, and everyone affected needs to be aware of those laws before making life-changing decisions. Information is power, and I believe everyone should have as much accurate information as possible to help them develop their best course of action. Taking the time and spending the money to consult with a lawyer will always be worth the effort.
LeeAnn M. Massucci
Massucci Law Group
250 Civic Center Drive
Suite 600
Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 357-4488
massuccilawgroup.com
Joyce Edelman
Corporate Litigation
When did you begin practicing law?
I graduated from West Virginia University College of Law in 1982 and immediately started practicing at what became Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP.
What drove you to become a lawyer and choose your specialty?
I chose to be a lawyer because I wanted an intellectually rewarding career. And, I chose product liability law because I love the life sciences. I also wanted to make a difference in the lives of women and girls. I’m a founding member of the Ohio Women’s Bar Association and former chair of the OSBA’s Section on Women in the Profession. In my role as chair of Porter Wright’s Women’s Leadership Initiative, I work to promote and advance opportunities for women lawyers and champion our firm’s diversity and inclusion efforts.
What makes you and your practice unique?
Over the course of my 36 years of practice, I have successfully defended complex product liability litigation, including medical devices, pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements, consumer products and chemicals. I also have extensive experience defending blood banks and plasmapheresis centers in donor injury and transfusion-related litigation. I have defended single plaintiff cases, multi-plaintiff cases, multi-district litigation and class actions as local, regional and national counsel in state and federal courts throughout the United States.
What do you enjoy most about practicing law?
I love collaborating with my clients to help them solve their problems and achieve their business objectives. I love being a trusted partner to my clients and my colleagues. I am equally passionate about making the legal industry more diverse and inclusive, and I love mentoring younger lawyers.
What advice can you share with a client who might need your services?
I think all clients should feel comfortable with the lawyers and the firms they retain. Communication and collaboration are the keys to success. Porter Wright has been my home my entire career because we provide top-notch legal service to our clients while maintaining a supportive environment.
Joyce Edelman
Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP
41 S. High St.
Suite 2900
Columbus, Ohio 43215
614.227.2083
www.porterwright.com
Dmitriy Borshchak
Divorce/Custody Law
When did you begin practicing law?
I began practicing law in 2016 after graduating from Capital University Law School. Prior to that I obtained my bachelor’s degree at Ohio University in Athens.
What drove you to become a lawyer and select your specialty?
From a very young age, I was fascinated with those who advocate for others. When I was about four, a young attorney helped my mother navigate the process that allowed our family to relocate from Eastern Europe to the United States. The barriers and hurdles that my mother encountered would not have been possible to overcome if not for the help of this woman. From that point, I knew that I was destined to become a lawyer. The family law specialty chose me. The stakes in family law cases are very high, and the emotions involved are even higher. The opportunity to navigate and advocate for those going through a tough time in their lives is something that I never take for granted.
What makes you and your practice unique?
I am passionate about what I do and listen very closely to get to the bottom of the conflict. I approach every case to resolve the underlying issues and to ensure that my client’s financial and legal exposure to risk is diminished, not only in the present, but years down the road, so my clients may come out unscathed from the consequential effects of litigation. All this is especially important in cases involving children. Settlements are preferred, but I am willing to fight aggressively for my client’s interests in court if required.
What do you enjoy most about practicing law?
I enjoy passionately advocating resolution. Being able to turn a high-conflict, emotionally-driven situation where parents/spouses can peacefully coexist is a gratifying feeling.
What advice can you share with a client who might need your services?
Seek an attorney as soon as you believe you might be exposed to risk. Always have your children’s best interest in mind first. Resolving the issues without court intervention is possible and can be accomplished.
Dmitriy Borshchak
Law Office of Dmitriy Borshchak
1650 Lake Shore Drive
Suite 150
Columbus, Ohio 43204
614-334-6851
www.dlbcounsel.com
Erika L. Haupt
Estate Planning
When did you begin practicing law?
I started practicing in Canton, Ohio in August 1994.
What drove you to become a lawyer and choose your specialty?
My dad is an attorney and still practices, so life in private practice was what I knew growing up. I chose estate planning at the suggestion of my dad. It involves a number of areas of law—tax, corporate, contracts and real estate. I started in estate planning on day one, and I have enjoyed it every day since. Thanks for the advice, Dad!
What makes you and your practice unique?
My job is to create a plan out of a general idea and to solve problems. I am lucky to have a broad client base that allows me to tackle a variety of estate planning, tax and corporate issues. On any given day, I delve into sophisticated tax planning to save families hundreds to millions of dollars. I work hard to relate to my clients, listen, ask lots of questions and work with them to develop a plan before I put pen to paper.
What do you enjoy most about practicing law?
I have the best clients, some of whom have been with me for nearly my entire career. I am honored when they choose me as their advisor. I practice in an area that is constantly changing and challenges me intellectually. I have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of my clients.
What advice can you share with a client who might need your services?
Clients should always start formulating big picture concepts before their first attorney meeting—it is my job to hammer out the details and to provide guidance. Too many people do not have a basic estate plan, and the lack of a plan can lead to unnecessary costs, time delays and feuding.
Take action now so that your beneficiaries—not lawyers cleaning up a mess or settling disputes—are the ones sharing your estate after you pass. Everyone should have a will, a financial power of attorney and health care directives. Anyone passing assets to minor children needs a trust. When it comes to transfer taxes, you can take steps now to limit taxes or cut the bill.
Erika L. Haupt
Roetzel & Andress, LPA
41 S. High Street, Huntington Center
21st Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
614.723.2037
www.ralaw.com
Jacqueline L. Kemp
Family Law
When did you begin practicing law?
I was a law clerk for the late Harold R. Kemp, Esq. and served as an intern for the Honorable Yvette McGee Brown when she was a domestic relations judge in Franklin County. I graduated cum laude from The Ohio State University with a B.S.B.A. in 1993 and received my J.D., cum laude, from Capital University Law School in 1996.
What drove you to become a lawyer and choose your specialty?
I always had an interest in the law, even from a young age. I loved school and learning, so when I was accepted into law school, I knew that I had to take advantage of that opportunity. My law clerk and internship positions were both in the area of domestic relations. I fell in love with family law early because I saw that the practice involved extensive contact with clients and the court. The work was fast-paced, rewarding and made a real difference in clients’ lives.
What makes you and your practice unique?
I have practiced domestic relations law exclusively for over 20 years. I am settlement-oriented and strive to create customized strategies for my clients’ success. I also have extensive litigation/courtroom experience. I am dedicated to staying on the cutting edge within the family law field. I am very active in local, state and national family law organizations. I am honored to be a fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers; only 49 domestic relations attorneys in the state of Ohio have achieved this status. Although I primarily represent families in Franklin County, I also practice in other county courts throughout central Ohio.
What do you enjoy most about practicing law?
There is nothing I enjoy more than bringing cases to a successful conclusion and seeing positive changes in my clients’ lives.
What advice can you share with a client who might need your services?
Knowledge is power. Even if clients are undecided about pursuing a family law matter, they should know their rights and what to realistically expect should they decide to move forward. Making an informed decision is a necessary first step toward achieving a favorable result.
Jacqueline L. Kemp
Kemp Law Group, LLC
555 Metro Place North
Suite 300
Dublin, Ohio 43017
614.389.1991
Jacqueline@kemplawgroup.com
www.kemplawgroup.com
