Representative Matters
Below are listed examples of cases or matters handled by NGC attorneys organized by Practice Area. Click on any Practice Area to jump to that part of the list or scroll through the entire list
Business and Corporate
- Represented large, publicly-held company in its acquisition and disposition of operating divisions.
- Represented corporation in sale of substantially all of its assets, including the negotiation of all documents.
- Represented purchaser of franchise in negotiations with franchisor.
- Represented many businesses in obtaining bank financing.
- Represented corporation in the design, documentation and implementation of a restricted stock plan and stock option plan for certain key employees.
- Organized corporations and limited liability companies in various states.
- Represented technology company in connection with significant equity investment and business alliance with large strategic partner.
- Represented corporations in connection with the design, documentation and implementation of corporate succession plans.
- Represented shareholders of insurance agency in sale of all shares of stock, including the negotiation of all documents.
- Represented officer of liquidating corporation regarding creditor protection.
- Represented doctors in purchase of shares in professional corporation from retiring doctors.
- Represented physician group in acquisition of assets of competitive practice.
- Represented printing company in connection with obtaining tax abatement and low interest loans through municipality in financing acquisition and construction of new corporate headquarters.
- Represented publicly held company in drafting and negotiating commercial real estate leases.
Employment Law
- Developed Employee Handbooks for corporate clients.
- Presented multi-media sexual harassment training seminars to client's management personnel.
- Created and implemented a random drug testing policy for client's employees.
- Successfully defended an employer in an EEOC discrimination claim.
- Resolved employment dispute involving potential age and sex discrimination claims.
- Represented former management employee in negotiations for enhanced severance package.
- Settled claims for Violation of Specific Safety Requirements (VSSR).
- Represented executives and employers in negotiation and documentation of all phases of their employment relationships.
- Represented employee in pursuing unpaid compensation from former employer.
- Successfully defended an employer-client in a race and sex discrimination case filed with Ohio Civil Rights Commission.
- Assisted client and coordinated large-scale layoff of employees, including advising on severance packages, unemployment compensation and COBRA issues.
- Represented plaintiff-physician in pursing claims for substantial unpaid bonuses. Jury trial resulted in six figure verdict for plaintiff-physician.
- Represented former employee on claims for unpaid salary and commissions, settled prior to filing suit.
- Creation of Non-Solicitation and Non-Competition Agreement for employer.
- Successfully defended a client in an unemployment compensation appeal.
Construction Law
- Assisted clients with filing and foreclosing upon mechanics' liens in connection with both public and private construction projects.
- Defended general contractor against negligence, breach of implied warranty and delay claims.
- Prepared and/or revised numerous contracts by and between owners, general contractors, subcontractors and architects.
- Represented architect against claim of professional negligence.
- Represented contractor against claims by OSHA.
- Represented contractor against claims by the Ohio Department of Health.
- Represented subcontractors in pursuing Prompt Payment Act claims against general contractors.
- Assisted contractors in filing bond claims.
Sports and Entertainment Law
- Represented professional baseball teams in negotiations for stadium leases and transfers.
- Advised baseball team in connection with ballpark construction.
- Represented baseball teams in obtaining approvals from Minor League baseball and the Office of the Commissioner of Major League Baseball.
- Established operating and ownership entities for professional baseball teams.
- Drafted recording agreements for musicians.
- Established entities for recording and management companies.
- Negotiated artist contracts and performance agreements.
Real Estate Law
- Represented commercial landlord in breach of lease action against former tenant and in counterclaim filed by tenant.
- Defended property owner in connection with breach of residential lease action brought by tenant.
- Represented commercial property owners in an effort to lower real property tax valuations.
- Representation of property owners in zoning disputes.
- Represented publicly held company in negotiating and drafting commercial real estate leases and amendments.
- Represented buyers and sellers of residential real estate.
Litigation
Commercial and Business Litigation
- Represented plaintiff-physician in pursuing claims for substantial unpaid bonuses. Jury trial resulted in six figure verdict for plaintiff-physician.
- Represented a foreign company in connection with a breach of agency contract claim against a local corporation.
- Represented commercial landlord in breach of lease action against former tenant and in counterclaim filed by tenant.
- Defended property owner in connection with breach of residential lease action brought by tenant.
- Represented commercial property owners in an effort to lower real property tax valuations.
- Defended out of state defendant from fraud claim relating to the sale of a business.
- Defended Fortune 500 company in dispute with potential franchise.
- Pursued claims arising from the breach of a franchise agreement.
- Resolved multi-million dollar lawsuit involving implied warranty of merchantability and claims for rejected product.
- Represented foreign manufacturer against claims of interference with contractual relations and alter-ego claims.
Professional Malpractice Litigation
- Represented architect in negligence claims related to the planning and design of commercial building.
- Defended doctor in malpractice case and in coverage dispute with malpractice insurance company.
- Defended many CPA firms in claims alleging negligent tax, audit, or business advice.
- Represented law firm in malpractice claim alleging deficient advice related to estate planning.
- Defended physical therapist against claims of negligent treatment.
- Defended malpractice claim against accountant by physician over the valuation of his medical practice. Verdict for accountant.
Corporate Litigation
- Consulted with a client in connection with possible claims of breach of fiduciary duty arising out of client's ownership interest of a limited liability company.
- Represented shareholder of a closely held corporation in breach of fiduciary duty claim against the majority shareholder.
- Defended company and its majority shareholders from breach of fiduciary duty claim brought by minority shareholder.
Bankruptcy Litigation
- Successfully defended creditors against preference claims.
- Successfully obtained relief from all automatic stay to prosecute arbitration against debtor.
- Obtained a dismissal of fraudulent transfer allegations brought by a bankruptcy trustee against a registered representative.
- Resolved bankruptcy adversary actions involving Trustee's challenge to the validity of refinanced residential mortgages.
- Defended small computer hardware distributor against claims brought by bankruptcy trustee seeking recovery of sums paid to distributor by bankrupt company shortly before filing for bankruptcy.
- Assisted companies in filing reclamation claims against bankrupt entities which received goods shortly before bankruptcy.
Employment Litigation
- Represented former employee on claims for unpaid salary and commissions.
- Successfully defended an employer in an EEOC discrimination claim.
- Settled claims for Violation of Specific Safety Requirements (VSSR).
- Successfully defended an employer-client in a race and sex discrimination case filed with Ohio Civil Rights Commission.
- Represented plaintiff-physician in pursing claims for substantial unpaid bonuses. Jury trial resulted in six figure verdict for plaintiff-physician.
- Represented former employee on claims for unpaid salary and commissions. Settle prior to filing suit.
- Successfully defended a client in an unemployment compensation appeal.
Construction Litigation
- Recently obtained confirmation by the Lake County Court of Appeals of an $820,000 arbitration award by subcontractor against general contractor, including award of Prompt Pay Interest and attorneys’ fees.
- Represented various contractors with bond and/or mechanics’ lien claims arising out of the construction of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s headquarters.
- Defended owners in mechanics’ liens actions.
- Foreclosed upon mechanics’ liens for subcontractors
- Defended general contractors against negligence, breach of implied warranty and delay claims.
- Defended architects against claims of professional negligence.
- Defended contractors against claims by OSHA.
- Defended contractors against claims by the Ohio Department of Health.
- Represented subcontractors in pursuing Prompt Pay claims against general contractors.
- Defended owners from delay and or additional cost claims by contractors.
Trust, Estate and Probate Litigation
- Advised trust beneficiary in dispute with trustee.
- Advised trust beneficiary in obtaining a copy of trust and accounting from unrelated individual serving as trustee.
- Represented adult children from previous marriage in dispute with their stepmother over loss of inheritance due to inadequate funding of trust.
- Represented sisters in dispute with deceased brother's ex-wife who attempted to claim ex-husband's 401(k) and IRA benefits because ex-husband did not change beneficiary designation following the divorce.
- Successfully represented beneficiaries in will contest arising out of changes to will which benefited stepmother.
Public Sector Practice
- Serve as law director for various local governments.
- Defense of civil rights and other claims brought against local governments.
- Prosecution of misdemeanors on behalf of local governments.
- Advise local governments regarding development and zoning issues.
- Representation of local school district.
- Extensive experience representing local government entities in administrative, civil and criminal law matters.
- Prosecuting Attorneys for the City of Lyndhurst and Villages of Gates Mills, Hunting Valley, and Mayfield. Advise police departments on day-today basis, develop policies and procedures, and attend to all prosecutorial duties at trial and appellate levels.
- Our attorneys also provide aggressive defense to government entities in Section 1983 civil rights, employment, zoning, and personal injury claims in both Ohio state and federal courts, at administrative, trial and appellate levels. We have successfully represented municipalities in claims involving wrongful death, zoning and housing issues, eminent domain, roadway maintenance, repair and signage, and claims involving parks, sidewalks, sewers, and other public property. We have also successfully defended law enforcement and municipalities against claims of excessive force, search and seizure, discrimination, Second Amendment, Public sector labor and other procedural and substantive issues.
- Responsible for civil litigation and labor issues for 45,000 residental suburb.
School Law
- Prepared start-up documents for new charter schools including articles of incorporation and by-laws.
- Negotiated community school contracts with sponsors.
- Negotiated contracts with management company and other key vendors.
- Prepared school policies for Board review.
- Attended and documented Board meetings, including the preparation of Board Books containing agendas, resolutions, minutes and back up materials.
- Prepared IRS Form 1023, application for Tax Exempt Status, for new charter schools.
- Represented charter schools in IRS disputes over tax exempt status.
- Conducted Board training.
- Advised community schools on disciplinary issues with students, including expulsion hearings.
- Advised community schools on employment issues.
- Prepared student/parent handbooks.
- Created organizational documents for Parent Teacher Association.
- Prepared meeting notices and Board minutes in accordance with Ohio Sunshine Laws.
- Assisted with sponsor audits and financial audits by State Auditor.
- Represented charter schools in various types of litigation.
- Represented students, parents and schools with transportation issues.
- Represented students in disciplinary hearings.
Family Law
- Experienced in handling Collaborative Divorce.
- Representation of clients in family law matters including divorce, dissolution, annulment, child support, and alimony issues.
- Represented client in divorce matter involving valuation of closely held business.
- Represented recently married woman in dissolution of marriage.
- Represented small business owner in complex recalculation of child support.
- Successfully sought appointment of spouse as guardian of her husband after adult child from previous marriage sought appointment as guardian.
Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits
- Represented corporation in the design, documentation and implementation of a restricted stock plan and stock option plan for certain key employees.
- Represented corporation in the design, documentation and implementation of deferred compensation and supplemental retirement arrangements for certain key employees.
- Represented corporation in the development and documentation of employment agreements for certain key employees.
- Represented key executive employees in the development and documentation of employment agreements.
Estate Planning and Business Succession Planning
- Represented individuals in the development and documentation of estate plans; including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, living wills, irrevocable trusts and family entities.
- Represented clients in the design, documentation and implementation of Irrevocable Life Insurance and other Trusts.
- Represented clients in the preparation of a Testamentary Trust and new estate planning documents following client's second marriage.
- Represented a couple in the creation of a Qualified Personal Residence Trust to reduce estate taxes on the value of Ohio and Florida homes.
- Represented clients in establishing family limited partnerships and other vehicles to reduce estate tax exposure.
- Represented clients in the transfer of a family business using intentionally defective grantor trusts and other strategies.
- Represented clients in developing late stage planning strategies to minimize estate taxes.
- Represented business owners in the design and documentation of corporate succession plan.
- Represented company president in negotiations with company owner and father-in-law over corporate succession, including interim buy-sell agreement funded with life insurance.
- Consulted with numerous business owners on corporate successions issues including the design and implementation of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOP).
Trust and Probate Administration, Guardianships
- Represented numerous executors and administrators in the probate administration of estates.
- Represented fiduciaries in connection with the defense and settlement of probate disputes.
- Advised trust beneficiary in dispute with family member serving as trustee.
- Completed administrations of multi-million dollar estates and trusts.
- Defended executors in will contest.
- Represented beneficiaries in claims brought by illegitimate heirs.
- Represented out-of-state parent in federal and state court proceedings related to the payment of life insurance proceeds to minor following the death of the ex-spouse.
- Successfully sought appointment of spouse as guardian of her husband after adult child from previous marriage sought appointment as guardian.
