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Kegler Brown Continues to Build On Previous Chambers USA Rankings

Kegler, Brown, Hill + Ritter has once again been honored by Chambers & Partners, one of the world’s premier guides to legal resources. This year, Chambers recognized construction chair Don Gregory as one of only four “Band 1” attorneys in the state of Ohio. Litigator Thomas W. Hill maintains his prestigious “Band 1” ranking.

Along with several practice areas that continues to receive accolades from the publication, the firm’s growing intellectual property practice area became ranked for the first time.

Chambers & Partners is an independent company that awards rankings to practice areas and attorneys in Ohio, nationally and internationally. The objective process follows three steps: submissions put forward by legal practices, interviews during the course of research, and Chambers’ own database resources. Only select attorneys and practice areas are ranked in bands from 1-6, with 1 being the best. Complete rankings for Kegler Brown are outlined below (quotations used when they "sum up the prevailing opinion in the market" as offered by Chambers).

The following attorneys have received a ranking of“Band 1” by Chambers USA 2013:

Don Gregory
Don Gregory heads up the construction practice group. He acts as general counsel to the American Subcontractors Association. Sources praise his capabilities as an "excellent trial lawyer," and his "always responsive and timely" approach.

Thomas W. Hill
The highly respected Thomas Hill is called a "great business lawyer" by sources, who unanimously agree that he is deserving of top-tier recognition. Recent matters include securities litigation arising from claims of breach of contract and fraud.

The following attorneys have received a ranking of“Band 2” by Chambers USA 2013:

Richard C. Brahm
Richard Brahm - A substantial part of his practice is given over to advising on land use and zoning matters.

Lawrence Feheley
Firm director Lawrence Feheley heads up the dedicated labor and employee relations practice from the Columbus office, and "does a fine job," according to sources. He is active in traditional labor issues, but is also a proficient and respected employment counselor and litigator. His key clients include the Catholic Diocese of Columbus.

Allen L. Handlan (Banking & Finance)
Columbus-based firm director Allen Handlan heads the banking and commercial lending practice. His practice also includes associated real estate lending work. Sources describe him as "a pro-business deal-maker who is very easy to work with."

Chuck Kegler
Charles Kegler is a well-known and senior deal lawyer in the Columbus market. He chairs the business and tax practice and enjoys a high profile in estate planning. Clients are "very satisfied" with his exemplary service and communication skills: "He communicates very well and clearly, and is very concise and easily understandable."

Martijn Steger
Martijn Steger heads up the dedicated international commercial practice. He is recognized for his skill and effectiveness when working on domestic as well as cross-border matters,and clients speak of his keen communication and "great service." He recently advised a global services provider on structuring issues in Europe.

The following attorneys have received a ranking of Band 3 by Chambers USA 2013:

Scott Doran
Scott Doran wins plaudits for the quality of his wetlands expertise. He has "thorough knowledge of Ohio's environmental regulatory programs and extensive hands-on experience," say sources.

Allen L. Handlan (Real Estate)
The "very solid" Allen Handlan heads up the firm's real estate practice. He recently advised The Catholic Diocese of Columbus on a number of transactional real estate matters. Sources particularly note his communication skills: "He explains very clearly what the options and the results will be."

Todd M. Kegler
Todd Kegler is a "young, talented lawyer" and chairs the firms M+A practice. He is a lead relationship lawyer for CareFusion. Sources speak favorably of his legal skills and note that he is also extremely cost-effective.

Larry J. McClatchey
Larry McClatchey co-heads the creditors' rights and bankruptcy group. He plays a key role in the Cardinal Health collection work, and is recognized as "a talented attorney" by sources. He is also highlighted for his trustee work in respect of Chapter 7 cases.

James J. Pingor
James Pingor's areas of influence include patent preparation, processing and prosecution. Clients appreciate his direct, communicative manner, with one source noting that "he can communicate in layman's terms, and is very detailed and approachable when I have a concern or question."

Roger P. Sugarman
Roger Sugarman is a reliable and effective choice of counsel for litigation and trial work, according to interviewees. His practice has a particular slant toward professional liability matters, and his highlights include advising the CEO of a Fortune 500 company in a shareholder class action.

The following attorneys have received a ranking of “Band 4” by Chambers USA 2013:

John P. Brody
John Brody co-chairs the practice with McClatchey. His practice covers contentious work arising from bankruptcy as well as associated insurance matters. He advised United Bank on a loan default and surrender agreement with LA Pipeline Construction.

Attorneys – Up + Coming

Steve Barsotti
Steve Barsotti focuses on transactional advice related to the IP arena. Sources highlight his "calm demeanor," and state that he is "easy to work with and very responsive." Recent highlights include advising restaurant chain The Piada Group.

Loriann E. Fuhrer
Loriann Fuhrer is quickly establishing a fine reputation in the state Bar. Sources describe her as "smart, extremely diligent and hard-working," and note that "she is good with witnesses and in the courtroom."

The following practice areas received rankings from Chambers USA 2013:

Corporate M+A
THE FIRM: The Columbus office is the focus for this firm's undoubted transactional capabilities. Interviewees underline the impressive level of serviceoffered by the team, which is also particularly noted for its ability to handle healthcare-related matters. Highlights for the practice include advising Ignite Health in an asset purchase. Other key clients include Cardinal Health, Commercial Vehicle Group and Logtec. In addition to its strong regional work, the firm also has significant cross-border expertise in Asia, Europe and Latin America.

SOURCES SAY: "Switched-on and good to deal with."

Banking + Finance
THE FIRM: This local Ohio firm is well known for its prominence in the Columbus market. It acts for a broad client base, and its well-rounded skills make it an expedient adviser on both the lender and borrower sides of transactions. Key clients include WD Partners, Huntington National Bank and Wells Fargo.

Bankruptcy/Restructuring
THE FIRM: This firm has a strong reputation for its involvement in bankruptcy and restructuring, and related litigation. It acts for a range of trustees and financial institutions, including Ohio State Bank and CFBank. In other highlights, the team acts for Cardinal Health on its collection cases nationwide.

SOURCES SAY: "They have extensive experience in this area."

Construction
THE FIRM: Interviewees respect this firm for its prowess in the construction area. Its enviable client base includes the American Subcontractors Association and Baker Concrete. Its recent highlights include advising a contractor on a high-value claim concerning the Ohio School Facilities Commission.

SOURCES SAY: "The team was picked because of its expertise in construction, business and employment law."

Labor + Employment
THE FIRM: This quality labor and employment practice group is a noted presence in the Columbus market. A number of employers rely on its counsel, including the Catholic Diocese of Columbus, Crescent Manufacturing and Donatos Pizzeria. The team's expertise covers a broad range of issues, including FMLA compliance, noncompetition and OSHA matters.

Litigation
THE FIRM: The 35-strong litigation team at this Columbus firm has a rising profile for antitrust litigation, in addition to its recognized skills in broader commercial disputes work. Key matters of late include shareholder litigation and insurance disputes. Clients include Alliance Data Systems, Cardinal Health and the Catholic Diocese of Columbus.

Intellectual Property
THE FIRM: This firm's growing IP practice has a strong presence, acting on copyright disputes, trade secrets and patent prosecution from its offices in Columbus and Cleveland. The team is experienced in working across a range of sectors, including manufacturing, financial services, healthcare and software, and its impressive client roster includes WellsFargo and NASA Glenn Research.

Real Estate
THE FIRM: This real estate practice acts for prominent clients and has worked on some notable matters. Key clients include The Catholic Diocese of Columbus, Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority and Huntington National Bank.

SOURCES SAY: "It offers us a complete range of services related to real estate law."

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