Benesch is pleased to announce that attorneys Isaac J. Eddington, Joel R. Pentz, Jonathan Todd, Robert E. Haffke, Kathleen M. Vlasek and Jeffrey Niemczura have joined Benesch.
Isaac J. Eddington is of counsel in Benesch’s Litigation Practice Group. He practices in a variety of litigation areas, including complex commercial litigation, employment disputes, and banking and financial institution litigation. He has also been an effective participant in securities law cases and other disputes involving financial institutions, and has participated in the defense of multiple consumer class actions and public law cases. Mr. Eddington is listed as an Ohio Super Lawyer Rising Star. He received his J.D. from Harvard Law School, cum laude, in 2000 and his B.A. from Brigham Young University.
Joel R. Pentz is of counsel in the firm’s Real Estate and Environmental Practice Group and Transportation and Logistics Practice Group, with his practice centered on commercial real estate matters, including general development, acquisition, divestiture, leasing, financing and joint venture execution, and an emphasis on industrial, logistics, intermodal and infrastructure assets. He represents, advises and counsels a broad range of clients including manufacturers, distributors, developers, owners, investors and private equity companies in all aspects of commercial real estate and industrial and logistics assets. Mr. Pentz is a strategically focused, results based business advisor and legal counselor, possessing a unique background with substantial industry knowledge and breadth of business, corporate and real estate experience, both in-house and in private practice as well as in the public and private sectors. In addition to his private practice background, Mr. Pentz has public sector experience as a former port authority in-house General Counsel where during his tenure he had regular and significant interaction with local, state and federal elected officials and governmental agencies, engineers, trade organizations, port customers, logistics professionals and other interested stakeholder groups related to policy and advocacy, public relations, project planning, construction, environmental, funding and economic development incentives, industrial development, public private partnerships and general business development efforts. Mr. Pentz received his J.D. from Case Western Reserve University, cum laude, in 1999 and his B.A. from Mercyhurst College in 1995.
Jonathan Todd is of counsel* in Benesch’s Transportation & Logistics Practice Group. Mr. Todd was previously Senior Corporate Counsel with a Transport Topics Top 20 motor carrier where he served the company’s domestic motor carriage, domestic and international forwarding, customs brokerage and global mobility business lines. His experience includes a broad range of corporate, transactional, regulatory compliance, international trade, intellectual property, business operations, and strategic planning matters. He brings a deep understanding of the goals, objectives and risk tolerances of the in-house counsel, management and executives driving transportation and logistics business today. He is also a licensed U.S. Customs Broker and an APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP). Mr. Todd received his J.D. from Saint Louis University in 2008 and his M.B.A. from Saint Louis University in 2013.
*Not admitted to practice before the courts of the State of Ohio. Admitted to practice only in Missouri.
Robert E. Haffke is an associate in Benesch’s Litigation Practice Group. His practice is concentrated in complex civil litigation involving product liability, business tort, and commercial matters. He has experience in all aspects of discovery and trial preparation, evidentiary and privilege issues, briefing and motion practice, and appellate practice in state and federal courts. Mr. Haffke received his J.D. from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law, magna cum laude, in 2007, his M.A. from the University of Chicago in 2001 and B.A. from Amherst College in 1998.
Kathleen M. Vlasek is an associate in Benesch's Real Estate & Environmental Practice Group. She has experience drafting, negotiating, and reviewing retail leases up to 10,000 square feet and amendments, assignments, extensions, and other related documents for tenants of all sizes, including assisting with due diligence for and drafting anchor tenant documents related to big box leases with national tenants. She also manages and assists with real property purchases and sales, including title, survey, and environmental review and recording of documents. Ms. Vlasek has experience analyzing real estate issues and counseling clients on their options and how best to proceed with respect to those issues. Ms. Vlasek received her J.D. from the Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall of Law, cum laude, in 2008 and her B.A. from the University of Dayton, cum laude, in 2004.
Jeffrey Niemczura is an eDiscovery attorney in Benesch’s Litigation Practice Group. With a practice focused on complex litigation, Mr. Niemczura has represented clients in a wide array of matters in state and federal courts, arbitrations, and government investigations. Mr. Niemczura is responsible for analyzing, advising, and coordinating all aspects of electronic discovery, and has vast experience in developing strategy, controlling cost, and managing discovery and electronic evidence through the life of a case. Mr. Niemczura received his J.D. from Case Western University School of Law in 2010 and his M.A. from John Carroll University in 2006.