In 1991, I earned a Juris Doctorate Degree (law degree) from the University of Dayton School of Law. While attending law school, I received the American Jurisprudence Award from my Insurance Law professor for obtaining the highest grade in the class. I was licensed to practice law in Ohio that same year (1991) and immediately established a private law practice in downtown Dayton, Ohio across the street from the courts. I have been in the same office building for over 32 years! I also proudly served as a Magistrate in the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court from 1992 until 2000 for The Honorable Judge George Gounaris. During my 32 year career, I have focused my law practice on Divorce, Criminal Defense, OVI/DUI Defense, Traffic Law and Personal Injury cases so that I could become proficient in these areas and provide the best possible legal services. I received the Appointed Counsel Award from the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court for my representation of indigent defendants, and the Top 10 Attorney Award (for Ohio) from the National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys. I have been interviewed by local and national news media, including The Associated Press, and had the distinct privilege of arguing in the Supreme Court of Ohio. Some of my cases set legal precedent, which means they impacted the status of the law in Ohio. I was invited into the prestigious National Trial Lawyers, Top 100, and Ohio Super Lawyers which is only attainable by a small percentage of attorneys in Ohio. I am rated "Distinguished" by Martindale Hubbell, and "Superb" by Avvo.com which is the highest rating for attorneys. I am rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau, and listed in Who's Who in American Law. I have earned the respect of my peers in the legal community, and have built long-lasting, professional relationships with judges, prosecutors, attorneys and other individuals that serve in our system of justice. My MISSION has always been, and will always be, to make sure my clients are treated fairly no matter their race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age or any other trait that sets them apart from others. I certainly have the experience and success that my clients need, and I am very happy to help them through difficult times.

Life can throw you a curveball. You need someone in your corner that understands good people can make mistakes. Michael also understands that good people are also often accused of something they simply did not do. Michael J. Hayes, Esq. knows all too well there are two sides to every story. Let Michael J. Hayes, Esq. represent your side and fight for your rights.

Matthew Ernst, Attorney at Law offers the services of a tough, smart attorney who gets results for his criminal defense clients through forceful advocacy. He graduated from the University of Toledo College of Law and began practicing in 1996. He is admitted to practice before Ohio state and federal courts including the US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. To be able to provide personal service to each client and to focus his efforts on criminal defense, he heads his own firm conveniently located in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio.

Stephenie Lape is the quintessential attorney. She is intelligent, extremely hardworking, and brutally honest. Stephenie comes from a long line of attorneys and has an unmatched pedigree. Honesty, hard work, and integrity are a few of the traits instilled in Stephenie by her family.

Jerry P. Purcel is a general practice attorney who has extensive experience in bankruptcy, personal injury, family law, and criminal defense cases. Whether you’re facing foreclosure of your Ohio home or garnishment of your paycheck, or you’ve been injured in a motorcycle, truck, or auto accident in Toledo or the entire Northwest Ohio region, our law office offers aggressive representation and supportive guidance to get you the relief, compensation and peace of mind that you deserve. Jerry is a United States Marine, and was a Toledo police officer and firefighter before becoming an attorney more than 30 years ago. His experience and expertise alongside his honesty and integrity are what make him one of the most hard-fighting, cost effective, and successful attorneys in the state.

Sean Logue is a diligent attorney who excels at representing people who have been charged with criminal and traffic offenses in Pennsylvania. He constantly strives to defend his clients in the state and the federal court as well as before other administrative agencies. He has been given the bar admission in Pennsylvania (since 2008), West Virginia (since 2009), and has the license to practice in the U.S. District Court of Pennsylvania (since 2009), the U.S. District Court Western District of Pennsylvania, the U.S. District Court Northern District of West Virginia, and the U.S. District Court Southern District of West Virginia. He received his undergraduate degree from Washington and Jefferson College in 2004 with honors in Political Science. Sean went on to earn his law degree at West Virginia University where he was the Student Bar Association Treasurer. His name was mentioned under the top 40 trial lawyers of 2012-2014. He is also a Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, Rising Star since 2014. Sean achieved his dream of starting his own practice in 2008. He has represented many people in various kinds of criminal cases, such as traffic offenses, sexual assault, homicides, DUI and drug crimes, and other white-collar crimes. He has successfully represented defendants all across western Pennsylvania and the tri-state area. He represents several national trucking companies and drivers associations for all of their complex traffic ticket needs. The Governor has appointed him to be a member of the council of trustees of the California University of Pennsylvania. He is associated with the National College for DUI Defense since 2009. He is an active member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers since 2008. He is also an eminent member of several other associations such as the Pennsylvania Bar Association, West Virginia Bar Association, Allegheny County Bar Association, and Washington County Bar Association. He has also been a proficient clerk at the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General from 2007 to 2008, where he was involved in preparing organized crime and sex cases for trial. He has been a former member of the Federal Criminal Justice Act panel in the Northern District of West Virginia, where he handled complex federal drug cases as well as prisoner litigation. He is a proficient legal advocate who is highly professional and immensely knowledgeable. Consistently updated on the recent changes in DUI law, he has also won many DUI trials. He has in-depth knowledge about every aspect of criminal defense and has handled several cases in many district courts too. He is also known to have made professional relationships with judges, prosecutors and magistrates. He believes that trusting your attorney is extremely critical for a case. Therefore, he values honest and frank communication with all his clients. He immediately discusses any information he gathers on the case with his client. He makes sure you are aware of every minute detail regarding the case at every stage of the legal proceedings. When you are looking for an esteemed lawyer in Pennsylvania, it can be difficult to find the best one. Sean Logue is strongly committed to meeting the growing needs of his clients and provides them with the best possible defense.

The Meranda Law Firm LTD was created in 2008 by Zachuary Meranda. In 2009, Zach took on a partner - his wife, Rossia Meranda, who contributed greatly to expanding the areas of law in which the firm would practice. Rossia's expertise lies in Juvenile and Domestic Relations affairs, including, but not limited to Child Custody / Visitation, Divorce / Dissolution, and Delinquency cases. Shortly thereafter, the husband-wife team recruited Edward Itayim, a former classmate from Thomas M. Cooley Law School, to join the firm. Ed would also contribute in the areas of Juvenile and Domestic Relations, as well as Criminal Defense.

James A. Dearie has been a practicing attorney since 1993. He has represented clients in civil, criminal, and traffic cases at all levels of the Ohio court system, including the Ohio Supreme Court. He is an active member of the Warren County Criminal Justice Board and the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He currently serves as a Member of the City Council of Lebanon, Ohio Jim was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1990, he graduated with honors from the University of Notre Dame, with a BA in Economics. In 1993, he graduated with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law. After graduating law school, Jim served a one-year clerkship with a U.S. District Court Judge in Montgomery, Alabama. He then served four years in the U.S. Army as a Captain in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Upon leaving the Army in 1999, Jim went into private practice, representing business and individual clients throughout southwestern Ohio. He currently serves on the executive committee of the Warren County Criminal Justice Board, and on the respective board of directors for the Elizabeth’s New Life Center and the Mary, Seat of Wisdom, High School Studies Group, Inc. "I built a successful law practice by ensuring that I am always available to answer my clients' questions about their cases. I am available during the business day, and clients who call my practice during nonbusiness hours will be forwarded to my cell phone so that I can be reached at all times. I am always happy to consult with potential new clients free of charge. One thing that differentiates me from other lawyers in my community is my four years of active service in the United States Army. While in the Army, I graduated from the Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia, and I represented countless soldiers at courts-martial and administrative separation boards at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. I am very involved in my community outside of my law practice. I am a member of the City Council of Lebanon, Ohio. I sit on the executive committee of the Warren County Criminal Justice Board. I am active in my local church, my local crisis pregnancy center, my children's homeschool group, and I coach many of my children's soccer teams. I still pay soccer myself at the Lebanon YMCA."

Cincinnati native Bradley J. Groene is a compassionate and industrious legal advocate who has been practicing law in the greater Cincinnati metropolitan area for five years. Brad’s sole practice areas comprise criminal defense, OVI / DUI, and traffic offenses. He has successfully represented clients charged with a wide range of offenses ranging from minor misdemeanors to the most serious felony cases. Brad received his bachelor of science in Business from Miami University in 2005 and his juris doctor from the Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University in 2008. Brad is a selfless and compassionate Cincinnati defense attorney who practices law because he truly believes in making a difference in the lives of his clients. He passionately believes in the importance of providing stellar, highly effective legal representation for all of his clients so that the charges and penalties they face will not have dire, life changing consequences on their jobs, families, and futures. He is committed to fighting vigorously and tirelessly for every aspect of a client’s case in order to provide each client the justice that they deserve. For Brad, clients come first. It is of paramount importance that each client has a personalized experience rather than feel like a number. He gives his personal cell phone number to clients and makes himself available on a 24/7 basis so that they are able to reach him whenever they need. He understands the urgency of answering questions quickly and promptly, as it is understandable a client’s liberties and privileges are at stake. Brad’s interest in becoming an attorney was initially piqued in college when he took a business law class. This class opened his eyes to the law, as he enjoyed learning about the finer details as well as bigger picture of the legal profession. Little did he know that his interest in business law would develop into a criminal law career. After college Brad attended law school, where he continued to broaden his legal, intellectual, as well as practical skills. It was during law school where his experience in the criminal system began, while interning full time at the Hamilton County Public Defender’s office. He learned the complexities of the criminal justice system and handled actual cases in Hamilton County. Following law school, Brad continued to gain more experience in the criminal arena. He has successfully defended clients facing all kinds of criminal charges from drug offenses to OVIs to domestic violence. Specifically, he has won numerous bench trials in front of judges, argued cases in front of all of the local prosecutors, and has truly gained an understanding for effectively handling a criminal defense case. Brad is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and is licensed to practice law in Ohio as well as Kentucky. He is certified and trained by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration to perform field sobriety tests that law enforcement typically conduct. He also participates in speaking engagements at the Wellness Certified Driver Intervention Program to discuss OVI and DUI law. In his spare time, Brad enjoys spending time with his wife and newborn daughter, watching and attending Cincinnati Reds and Bengals games, playing softball, golfing, spending time with friends, and playing board games with his family.

Attorney Issa Elkhatib was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, a city that shaped his values of hard work, loyalty, and resilience. These qualities are at the heart of his approach to law. He is a trial lawyer with a proven track record of defending clients facing serious charges, including murder, rape, aggravated robbery, felonious assault, and drug offenses. He has successfully secured not-guilty verdicts and case dismissals in high-stakes cases where everything was on the line. His practice also extends to white-collar criminal defense, with experience in handling complex cases involving theft, fraud, and embezzlement. Attorney Elkhatib’s ability to navigate these difficult cases has earned him a reputation as a skilled and determined advocate. What sets Attorney Elkhatib apart is his personal commitment to each case. He believes that every client deserves honest counsel, personalized attention, and the best possible representation. He is deeply invested in ensuring that the truth prevails and works tirelessly to protect his clients' rights and futures. Attorney Issa Elkhatib, managing partner of The Elkhatib Law Office, is known for his fierce advocacy and his unwavering dedication to his clients. No matter the complexity of the case, he fights with passion and determination to achieve the best possible outcome.