Ohio Bar certifies 18 new attorney specialists
The Ohio State Bar Association has newly certified 18 lawyers as specialists in five legal practice areas. They join the more than 900 attorneys certified as specialists by the Ohio Bar since 1998.
The new specialists include:
• Steven Auerbach – Certified Specialist in Labor and Employment Law
Law Office of Steven T. Auerbach, Merion Station, Pa.
• Michael Bryan – Certified Specialist in Elder Law
Stubbins, Watson, Bryan & Witucky Co. LPA, Zanesville
• B. Nicole Bush – Certified Specialist in Family Relations Law
The Family Law Group Co. LPA, Cleveland
• Kelly Coady – Certified Specialist in Family Relations Law
Trolinger Law Offices LLC, Columbus
• Kimberly Conklin – Certified Specialist in Labor and Employment Law Robison, Curphey & O'Connell, Toledo
• Lauren Drabic – Certified Specialist in Labor and Employment Law
Zashin and Rich Co. LPA, Cleveland
• Eric Flagg – Certified Specialist in Labor and Employment Law
Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP, Cleveland
• Megan Gaskin – Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law
Gudorf Law Group LLC, Dayton
• Ryan Gordon – Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law
The Law Office of Ryan A. Gordon, Columbus
• Brian Kelso – Certified Specialist in Appellate Law
10th District Court of Appeals, Columbus
• Amanda Lewis – Certified Specialist in Family Relations Law
Paoloni & Lewis, Kent
• Diana Link – Certified Specialist in Family Relations Law
Link Nestheide Family Law, Cincinnati
• Maggie Nestheide – Certified Specialist in Family Relations Law
Link Nestheide Family Law, Cincinnati
• Cara Santosuosso – Certified Specialist in Family Relations Law
Law Offices of Cara L. Santosuosso, Westlake
• Matthew Sorg – Certified Specialist in Family Relations Law
Dungan & LeFevre Co. LPA, Troy
• Shannon Wahl – Certified Specialist in Labor and Employment Law
Martin Browne Hull and Harper PLL, Springfield
• Ann Watts – Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law
Practice With Purpose LLC, Dayton
• Jessica Wood – Certified Specialist in Family Relations Law
Wood & Long LLC, Columbus.
All attorneys licensed to practice law in Ohio must have graduated from an accredited law school, passed an intensive examination and must attend continuing legal education courses as required by the Supreme Court of Ohio. Some attorneys who devote a large part of their practices to a particular area of the law choose to go beyond these requirements to earn specialty certification.
“Congratulations to our newest Ohio Bar certified specialists,” said Ohio Bar 2024-25 President Dan Griffith. “Earning this credential requires intense study and dedication on top of a busy day-to-day practice. These lawyers have shown a commitment to excellence and high-caliber legal service that they can be proud of and that their clients and colleagues can count on.”
Attorneys seeking certification must satisfy several criteria: demonstrate substantial and continuing involvement in a particular field of law, meaning they must devote at least 25 percent of their practice to that area of law; submit five professional references attesting to their competency in the specialty area; have earned a minimum of 36 hours of intermediate or advanced continuing legal education (CLE) credits in the specialty area during the past three years as part of the CLE hours required of all attorneys; pass a written examination; prove financial responsibility by maintaining minimum professional liability insurance coverage and remain in good standing with the Supreme Court of Ohio.
Each certified specialist must file annual reports attesting to compliance with program requirements and must be recertified every six years by meeting all of the original requirements for certification excepting the written examination.
The Ohio Bar currently certifies specialists in 11 areas of law, including administrative agency; appellate; elder; estate planning, trust and probate; family relations; federal taxation; insurance coverage; labor and employment; business; commercial and industrial real property; residential real property and workers’ compensation. More information on the bar’s certification programs can be found at https://www.ohiobar.org/cle-certification/certification/Attorney-Certif…. Users can search for certified specialists via the Ohio Bar attorney directory.
Attorneys who wish to become certified can apply online through the bar’s website at ohiobar.org/certification between January and June.
Founded in 1880, the Ohio Bar is the state’s largest legal network, representing attorneys, judges, legal professionals and law students who are committed to the highest standards in the practice of law. The Ohio Bar proudly serves its members and the public through its continued work to promote justice and advance the legal profession.
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