Rob focuses his practice on estate planning (including clients with special needs), guardianships, probate and trust administration. He also provides support to non-profit organizations and has been active in drafting legislation at the city, county, and state levels.
Principal practice areas
- Estate planning
- Estate administration
- Trust administration
- Guardianships
- Special Needs Planning
- Non-profit organizations
- State and local legislative advocacy
Bar admissions
- Ohio Supreme Court (2001)
Career and education
- Case Western Reserve University School of Law (JD, 2000)
- Canada-United States Law Journal (Publisher, 1999-2000)
- Case Western Reserve University (BA, history and political science, summa cum laude, 1997)
Professional and civic memberships and activities
- Member, Ohio State Bar Association
- Member, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
- Member, William K. Thomas American Inn of Court
- Member, Equality Ohio Attorney Referral Network
- Senior Volunteer Attorney, Equitas Health Name and Gender Marker Change Pro Bono Clinics
Publications
“Whither the A-B Trust? Is There Still A Use for this Estate Planning Workhorse in a World of Portability and Sky-High Tax Exclusions?” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal, December 2018
Speaking engagements and interviews
- “Irrevocable Trusts in Medicaid Planning” and “Legal Ethics,” National Business Institute CLE Seminars, “Medicaid Lookback Rules and Planning” (December 5, 2019)
- “Will Strategies to Prevent Conflict and Confusion,” “Special Needs Trusts (SNTs) and ABLE Account Strategies” and “Advance Directive Tips: Making Healthcare Wishes Explicit,” National Business Institute CLE Seminars, “Estate Planning: Top 8 Tools to Know” (October 29, 2019)
- “Determining if Spouse’s Elective Share is a Reasonable Option” and “Maintaining an Ethical Balance in Probate Practice,” National Business Institute CLE Seminars, “The Probate Process from Start to Finish” (October 10, 2019)
- “Key Elements of Effective Wills” and “Trusts as Alternatives to Wills,” National Business Institute CLE Seminars, “Step by Step Guide to Drafting Wills & Trusts” (September 25, 2019)
- “Common Trust Structures and When They’re Used” and “Transfers During Life and Inter-Vivos Trusts,” National Business Institute CLE Seminars, “Estate Planning and Administration: The Complete Guide” (August 26, 2019)
- “Handling Estate Administration Tax Issues,” “Distribution and Closing of the Estate,” and “Ethics and Estate Administration,” National Business Institute CLE Seminars, “Estate Administration From Start to Finish” (July 10, 2019)
- “Durable Financial Powers of Attorney Insights” and “Advance Directive Tips: Making Healthcare Wishes Explicit,” National Business Institute CLE Seminars, “Estate Planning: Top 7 Tools to Know” (April 5, 2019)
- “Maintaining the Estate and Preparing Assets for Distribution” and “Tax Deadlines and Preparing, Coordinating and Filing Returns,” National Business Institute CLE Seminars, “The Ultimate Guide to Probate” (March 7, 2019)
- “Asset Protection Trusts: Maximizing the Effectiveness” and “Tax Planning with Trusts,” National Business Institute CLE Seminars, “Using Trusts in Estate Planning and Asset Protection” (December 18, 2018)
- “Eligibility for Public Benefits” and “Trust Funding Strategies, Administration and Termination,” National Business Institute CLE Seminars, “Special Needs Trusts: Planning for Persons with a Disability” (December 5, 2018)
- “Planning for Unmarried and Remarried Couples,” “Business Succession Planning,” and “Ethical Considerations,” National Business Institute CLE Seminars, “Estate Planning: Top Challenges” (November 15, 2018)
- “Being Thorough to Close the Estate Without a Hitch” and “Ethical Challenges in Estate Administration,” National Business Institute CLE Seminars, “Estate Administration Procedures: Why Each Step Is Important” (August 23, 2018)
- “Wills: Proving Validity, Petitioning and Top Problems,” “Trust Traps in Probate,” and “Handling Distributions and Closing the Estate Without a Hitch,” National Business Institute CLE Seminars, “Probate: Everything You Need to Know” (July 25-26, 2018)
- “Trust Basics and Choice of Trust Dilemmas” and “Revocable Living Trust Problems,” National Business Institute CLE Seminars, “Trusts: Top Challenges” (June 13, 2018)
- “Wills: Proving Validity, Petitioning and Top Problems,” “Trust Traps in Probate,” and “Handling Distributions and Closing the Estate Without a Hitch,” National Business Institute CLE Seminars, “Probate: Everything You Need to Know” (March 8, 2018)
- “What Are Trusts? Main Trust Principles” and “Simple Testamentary Trusts and Revocable Living Trusts,” National Business Institute CLE Seminars, “Trusts From A to Z” (December 20, 2017)
- “Transfers During Life and Inter-Vivos Trusts” and “Post-Mortem Tax Planning Options,” National Business Institute CLE Seminars, “Estate Planning and Administration: The Complete Guide” (September 27-28, 2017)
Legislative Testimony
- Opponent testimony, House Bill 8, Ohio Senate Education Committee (December 10, 2024)
- Opponent testimony, House Bill 68, Ohio Senate Government Oversight Committee (December 6, 2023)
- Opponent testimony, House Bill 183, Ohio House of Representatives Higher Education Committee (October 11, 2023)
- Opponent testimony, House Bill 68, Ohio House of Representatives Public Health Policy Committee (June 14, 2023)
- Opponent testimony, House Bill 11, Ohio House of Representatives Primary and Secondary Education Committee (April 25, 2023)
- Opponent testimony, House Bill 454, Ohio House of Representatives Families, Aging and Human Services Committee (November 16, 2022)
- Proponent testimony, Ordinance O2018-0009, Cuyahoga County Council (September 25, 2018)
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