Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP (Calfee) has once again been recognized as a top Ohio law firm by Chambers & Partners in the 2012 Chambers USA Guide, a well-known legal resource used by general counsel and other purchasers of legal services in search of qualified, experienced legal counsel.

Chambers recognized the 150-plus-attorney firm in the following areas of law and quotes Calfee clients as saying:

Banking and Finance: “They have performed flawlessly.”

Bankruptcy/Restructuring: “Its client service is high and its commercial awareness and general operations are strong.”

Construction: “Very diligent. They worked through several issues we had to come up with an extensive document.”

Corporate/M&A: “They take the time to really understand the business and the people.”

Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation: “Their practice is staffed with many good, smart, hard-working lawyers.”

Intellectual Property: “They are able to bring a unique perspective and strategy while remaining cost-effective.”

Litigation: “Calfee’s attentiveness is top to bottom. They take an interest in learning our business, and add value.”

In addition to the firm rankings, 19 of the firm’s attorneys were ranked individually as leaders in their respective fields. Chambers quotes Calfee clients as saying:

• Karl S. Beus, banking & finance,is “easy to get along with and very pragmatic.”
• Mitchell G. Blair, general commercial litigation, is “prepared, thoughtful and unflappable.”
• Thomas A. Cicarella, banking & finance, is “terrific” and “super-easy to work with.”
• John S. Cipolla, intellectual property,leads the IP group and advises on strategy, enforcement and defense of patents and trademarks.
• Wade Clark, employee benefits & executive compensation, is recognized for his active presence in the Ohio legal market with clients that include Nestlé USA and FirstEnergy.
• Peter J. Comodeca, construction,is “a problem-solver from the get-go.”
• Anthea R. Daniels, healthcare, has “a great understanding of the healthcare environment.”
• Stanley J. Dobrowski, public law and finance, is recommended for his experience in representing public owners.
• William E. Coughlin, natural resources and environment, is lauded for “strong environmental legal knowledge, his character and his direct approach.”
• Richard J. Hauer, employee benefits & executive compensation, “has extensive experience and a wide breadth of knowledge in the field.”
• John J. Jenkins, corporate/M&A, is “a very good technical lawyer.”
• Christopher Jones, natural resources & environment, is recognized for his broad knowledge, which “makes him a valuable resource.”
• James M. Lawniczak, bankruptcy/restructuring, is “a master of the law.”
• Charles B. Lyon, intellectual property, is a senior statesman in his practice and has a wealth of experience in IP and technology matters.
• Michael F. Marhofer, corporate/M&A, “very practical, very persuasive and has a good business head.”
• Thomas F. McKee, corporate/M&A,  is honored this year as a “senior statesman” in his practice. His practice is focused on corporate and securities law and he is particularly well-regarded as an underwriters’ counsel.
• Jean R. Robertson, bankruptcy/restructuring, “understands the full limits of the bankruptcy court rules and predicts likelihoods well.”
• Karla M. Rogers, real estate, is “extremely responsive and a great advocate; she wants to get it done right.”
• Nathan Wheatley, bankruptcy/restructuring, “superb understanding of what judges want to see.”

2012 Chambers USA Research

Research into the strengths and reputations of U.S. attorneys is carried out using a methodology approved by the British Market Research Bureau, which audits the research annually. In-depth telephone interviews with clients and attorneys are conducted. A team of 50 full-time researchers carries out thousands of these interviews over a period of six months. 

2012 Chambers USA Rankings

Law firms and individual attorneys are ranked on a scale of 1-6. The qualities on which rankings are assigned include technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial awareness/astuteness, diligence, commitment and other qualities most valued by clients. Rankings are independent and objective; inclusion in this section of the guide is based solely on the research team’s findings.