What Brought Me to Practice Law in Willoughby

Why I practice criminal law? For me, law is so much bigger than a day job. It’s bigger than a desk or a courtroom. It’s bigger than paperwork, and it’s even bigger than seeing an innocent client walk away unscathed. It’s a way to bring the community together and right the wrongs that get passed down to people who don’t deserve the deck they’ve been handed. I’m proud to have brought over 12 years of service to Cuyahoga and Lake Counties.  My practice takes me through Painesville, Mentor, Willoughby and Cleveland and the surrounding area in Northeast Ohio, and I take pleasure in the countless smiles of every vindicated and satisfied client I’ve had the pleasure of serving. Everybody makes mistakes, but those mistakes don’t need to follow you for the rest of your life, and if preparing for the rest of your life is your goal, we’ve got you covered there, too.

Together we’ll be able to traverse the often-rocky roads of the legal system and handle your case to your benefit, leaving your future wide open. While it’s hard to imagine today, even for me, the law wasn’t always my profession. Early on in adulthood, I got sucked into the monotony of a desk job. I spent nearly a decade grinding my way through the nine-to-five working world. One day, I finally decided I’d had enough. Whether it was working for insurance companies or spending my days moonlighting as a computer programmer, I could never find that sense of contentment and pride that everyone deserves in their professional lives. I wanted to do something different, so I did.

 After working my way through law school, I served as a prosecutor for a few years, learning both sides of the law and the intricate inner workings of our legal system. Gradually, I was drawn to the other side of the table as a defense attorney. I wanted to fight for the innocent and give a voice to the voiceless. I’ve found defense to be the very glue that holds our legal system together. If each and every person in this country who enters our legal system is not afforded the best possible defense, I believe that a slippery slope of injustice is inevitable. The right to a proper defense is one of the basic tenets of our Constitution, so I take pride in being able to offer my expertise to anyone who needs my help.

In addition to defense, my firm offers a number of services for virtually any area of law. And if we can’t help you, we’ll point you in the direction of someone who can. There’s no greater gift I’d rather give to the county of my roots. While it’s not always easy heading my firm by myself, I find that everything worthwhile in life rarely is easy. To be able to offer my services to the community and contribute to the well- being of the city my family calls home is one of my highest achievements. When I’m not in the courtroom, I live for my family. One of the perks of being in my field is the ability to mold my schedule around my children’s lives so I can help cultivate their interests in whatever path they like — whether it’s video games or trying to understand the nuances of anime. Whatever it is, I’m here for it. My practice doesn’t end at the end of the work day, either. I am an active member on a number of boards in our local community — including Northeast Ohio Board of Advocates for the Ohio Innocence Project (https://www.innocenceproject.org/policy/ohio/)— and I’ve been fortunate enough to advise community members with the expertise that earned me the Rising Star Ohio Super Lawyers Award for four years running.

I find that family means much more than a simple blood relation, and I love seeing my family grow a little bit bigger every time I take on a new client. From DUI defense to divorce proceedings, the field of law doesn’t have to be something you’re afraid of. We look forward to hearing from you soon!