Born in the tiny coal-mining community of Williamson and raised in Parkersburg, West Virginia, by blue-collar working-class parents who placed a premium on hard work, honesty, and personal integrity, Bernie Layne of Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC learned from an early age that his path to success would have to be paved with over achievement. While both of his parents grew up in abject poverty that can only be understood or imagined by those who have experienced day-to-day life in ‘coal camp’ housing in southern West Virginia, they became acutely aware of the value and necessity of education and sweat equity as a means of rising above their circumstance. It is from this culture and environment that Bernie’s parents instilled in him, and his two sisters, to never forget where they have come from and to always use their God-given talents and abilities to help people around them who are disadvantaged, hurting, disabled, destitute, or who are being abused by those in a more powerful position than themselves in society. Growing up in Parkersburg, just across the river from Marietta and Belpre, Ohio, he gained a deep, abiding respect for the hardworking people on both sides of the border. Rising from the social position of an ‘underdog,’ it isn’t hard to understand how Bernie has come to embrace these roots by becoming a highly successful legal advocate and defender of the rights of injured working-class West Virginians and Ohioans. A Strong Competitive Spirit As you can imagine, it takes tremendous family support and lots of competitive spirit to become one of only a few college graduates in his family and to become the first lawyer in his immediate or extended family. That love for competition was introduced to him as a child, by his father, an accomplished sportswriter at the Williamson Daily News. Bernie developed a love for the game of basketball and baseball and eventually earned a baseball scholarship to attend the University of Charleston in Charleston, West Virginia. As a college student-athlete, Bernie was introduced to the importance of academic and athletic discipline, teamwork, handling success and overcoming failure. As his dream of playing professional baseball faded, his commitment to personal development and higher education strengthened. Before leaving UC, Bernie was named the Ivor F. Boiarsky Award Winner, which annually recognizes the top Political Science Student in the graduating class, won a statewide award for his senior thesis, in the area of Public Law Policy, on the pitfalls and environmental evils associated with an inadequate and corrupt strip mine permitting system in West Virginia, was voted by his peers as the Student Body President and was chosen by the administration to deliver the commencement address on behalf of his graduating class, while sharing the stage with the late Senator Robert C. Byrd. Inspired to help the disadvantaged Using his undergraduate success as a springboard, Bernie went on to attend graduate school at The Ohio University, where he received a Master of Arts Degree in Sociology. After graduate school, Bernie returned to Appalachia where he worked with elderly and disabled individuals through the Title 19 Medicaid Waiver Program in Southern West Virginia. The year spent working with catastrophically injured people through Title 19 firmed his resolve and commitment to make a difference in the lives of the hardworking citizens of this state. This experience made Bernie aware of the obstacles that face disabled and poverty-stricken individuals and the myriad of statutory and legal hurdles they face, while unable to afford adequate legal assistance to address their needs. Bernie’s disappointment in the legal system and its treatment of handicapped, disabled, and elderly individuals led him to attend law school at The University of Dayton School of Law where he graduated with his Juris Doctor in the Spring of 1999. After finishing law school, Bernie remained in Dayton as a judicial extern for The Honorable Barbara Gorman, the first female judge of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas. In the years following his law school graduation, Bernie has remained committed to preserving the rights of injured and disadvantaged citizens of our state and has limited his practice to cases which involve people who have been injured due to the negligence of another person, corporation or governmental body. Throughout his career, he has successfully taken on big corporate asbestos producers who exposed plant workers and pipefitters to deadly and cancer-causing asbestos fibers. He has successfully confronted coal mining companies that deliberately injured workers through a neglect of OSHA regulations and state laws designed to protect this state’s workers. Further, Bernie has successfully resolved wrongful death cases involving children, medical malpractice and poorly designed products by large corporate interests who chose to place profits as a priority over the safety of our citizens. In 2021, Mani, Ellis & Layne, PLLC expanded to a new office in Columbus, OH. For Bernie, who earned both of his graduate degrees in Ohio and has many close family members in Columbus and the surrounding towns, this was a homecoming of sorts, an opportunity to advocate for hardworking people throughout both Ohio and West Virginia. Recognized by his peers Bernie’s success and achievement have been greatly rewarded as he and his partners have built an accomplished law firm at Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC. His professional attributes and success have also been noticed by his trial lawyer peers. In 2005, he was given the Distinguished Service Award by the West Virginia Association for Justice (WVAJ), which is a group that represents the interests of the injured and disabled in West Virginia. Attorney Layne has been a member of WVAJ and the American Association for Justice for more than a decade. He is past president of WVAJ, serving from June 2013 to June 2014. He has also served on the WVAJ Executive Committee (nine years), the WVAJ Board of Governors and as a member of the LAWPAC organization. He was recently invited to join the prestigious, Southern Trial Lawyers organization and has been apponted to The Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center where he serves on its Executive and Building & Grounds Committees. Additionally, he served a two-year stint as a member of the West Virginia Bar Association’s Judicial Campaign Advertising Committee, which sought to regulate unfair, unethical and untruthful advertising during judicial campaign election cycles. In 2013, he was appointed to the University of Charleston Board of Trustees and served on the Executive and Outreach Committees within that board. He is now serving his twelfth year on the board. In 2014, he was named Alumnus of the Year at the University of Charleston. In 2017, he was appointed chairman of the Welch Challenge Campaign, an $8 million fund-raising initiative at the school. Also in 2013, Mr. Layne received an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest rating attorneys can achieve from that organization. Only 2% of all practitioners nationwide earn that rating. In 2018, Bernie was selected to the West Virginia Super Lawyers list by his peers. Bernie has obtained several significant verdicts and settlements and has been granted membership in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. On a community level, Bernie recently completed a seven-year term on the Putnam County Career and Technical Center’s Healthcare Advisory Board, on which he worked with other community leaders to design, implement and guide the LPN Nursing Program at the school. His efforts in this area are consistent with his desire to work toward broad based community and rural health care initiatives which support healthcare for the underprivileged throughout our state’s communities.

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Ben is an attorney who brings a social work background and legal expertise to Ritter & Randolph, where he practices in the areas of real estate, civil litigation, probate/estate/trust administration, and business and corporate law. He strives to make clients feel comfortable in the most difficult situations, leaning on his experience in mental health. He has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Yeshiva University in New York City and a master’s degree in social work from The Ohio State University. As a Ritter & Randolph attorney, Ben focuses on effectively resolving clients’ legal issues, guiding them through the process while helping them make tough decisions. He graduated cum laude from Capital University Law School, where he served as an ad hoc member on the university’s board of trustees and Law Council of Capital University Law School. Off-hours, you’ll find Ben hiking nature trails in the Cincinnati area, rollerblading along the Ohio River or playing ice hockey on a rec team.

Attorney Barbara Rogachefsky and her team provide quality legal representation in the Akron, OH area in fields including Family Law (dissolution, divorce, custody, visitation, paternity, and child support), Juvenile Court, and Criminal Defense. We offer a full range of legal services, including limited scope and full representation. Family Law cases can be the most challenging because of the complex emotions involved and the extremely serious consequences to the client's children, family, finances, and future if the case is not handled correctly. A good family law attorney will have both the technical skill and experience to successfully represent their client and exhibit the compassion and understanding to make the process as painless as possible. Contact the office of Barbara Rogachefsky to retain an attorney who will work diligently to solve your problem. We look forward to meeting you and helping you with your case. Give us a call at 330-294-1032 extension 100 to complete your questionnaire and set up your consultation.

Committed to DUI defense for about 22 years, a graduate of Xavier University with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. Juris Doctorate at the University of Cincinnati. Named leading lawyer in the field of DUI defense by Cincy Magazine every year since 2006, one of the longest-running honors bestowed by the magazine.

Mr. Nelson has tried well over a hundred juries, including high profile felonious assault, rape, murder, robbery, arson and insurance fraud cases. After obtaining his undergraduate degree from Wittenberg University and his JD from the University of Cincinnati, Mr. Nelson spent the better part of 23 years at the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office where he served as an Assistant Chief Prosecuting attorney. Suhre & Associates is a premier DUI and criminal defense firm serving Dayton, OH and the surrounding areas. We handle all criminal law matters including DUI, domestic violence, theft crimes, sex crimes, drug crimes, and more. Call today for a free consultation.

Andrea entered the legal profession knowing that whatever path she chose, helping people would be the focus of her career. Personal experience gave her insight into how disruptive and life-changing an accident can be. Andrea knew her career would involve advocating for injured people who want to reclaim their lives. As a native of the area, Andrea grew up in West Toledo and graduated from Roy. C. Start High School. After high school, Andrea attended the University of Toledo and, in 2010, graduated magna cum laude, earning her Bachelor of Science in Paralegal studies. Once Andrea graduated, she began working as a paralegal for local attorneys, which enhanced her desire to attend law school. After a few years working as a paralegal, Andrea returned to the University of Toledo to pursue her Juris Doctorate Degree. During law school, Andrea attended night classes while raising her children and working as a paralegal during the day. Today she applies the same hard work and passion that she learned during those challenging times. During law school, Andrea participated in the Student Bar Association which included co-chairing the Pro Bono Committee where she put on social and community service events. During the 2014-2015 school year Andrea held numerous fundraising activities to raise money for Lucas County CASA. She also participated in the Intellectual Property Moot Court team, which competed in the Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition in Chicago, Illinois. The competition is known to introduce law students to important issues arising in U.S. trademark and unfair competition law. Students developed brief writing and oral advocacy skills in a mock courtroom experience. In 2016 she earned her Juris Doctorate Degree, graduating with Magna Cum Laude distinction. Due to graduating in the top ten percent of her class, she earned membership in The University of Toledo College of Law Chapter of The Order of the Coif. After law school, Andrea received her license to practice law in Ohio and began working at a Mass Tort firm that handled multidistrict litigation. In 2019, Andrea joined Charles Boyk Law and handles personal injury cases, approaching each with empathy, passion, and the desire to turn her client’s circumstances around and improve their situation. In 2021 Andrea expanded her practice outside of Ohio, and received her license to practice law in Michigan. During her time at Boyk Law, she was awarded Super Lawyer for the years 2022 and 2023. Andrea enjoys anything new, whether it involves visiting a different city, a new show, or trying a new restaurant with her family. Making time for physical activity, she can be found working out on her Peloton and rollerblading. Andrea spends her time supporting her three children at their sporting events which include football, wrestling, lacrosse, and track. When college football starts, her family enjoys cheering for Notre Dame football. Go Irish!

Zac Shaffer was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio. Growing up, Zac’s parents, a nurse and a police officer instilled in him a desire to help people and a love for the law. In 2007, Zac and his family moved to the peaceful town of Pemberville, where he graduated in 2012 from Eastwood High School. After graduating, he attended the University of Toledo and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Law and Social Thought and his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2016. Zac worked his way through law school in various positions, including as a law clerk for Cincinnati Insurance Company and Kisling, Nestico, and Redick. He graduated from the University of Toledo College of Law in 2019 with a concentration in Health Care Law. Following his admittance into the Ohio State Bar, Zac became employed as an Associate Attorney at a boutique law firm focusing on employment law. During the height of the pandemic, Zac was fortunate to return to his hometown and began working at the Law Offices of Levy and Levy, where he helped his clients with family law, criminal, and civil matters. In 2022, he returned to personal injury as a Pre-Litigation Attorney with Kisling, Nestico, and Redick, where he continued to learn and grow as a personal injury attorney before joining our office. Zac has successfully helped hundreds of clients injured and in need of help. In 2023, Zac received the Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Attorney award from the National Trial Lawyers. Since 2021, Zac has been an active member of the Toledo Bar Association and the Toledo Junior Bar Association. He is a Co-Chair of the Toledo Bar Association Young Lawyers Committee and the Social Engagement Committee with Attorney Andrea Young. In his free time, Zac enjoys playing softball and spending time with friends and family. He is also a lifelong fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Joshua Gurwell was born and raised in Bryan, Ohio, a small town in the northwest corner of the state. He graduated from Bryan High School in 2014. As early as fourth grade, Joshua knew he wanted to be an attorney. He was heavily influenced by his grandmother, a guidance counselor, who instilled in him the desire to help others, which would eventually lead him to personal injury law. After high school, Joshua attended Eastern Michigan University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2018. Following a gap year and the desire to be somewhere warmer, he moved to Charleston, South Carolina, to attend the Charleston School of Law. During law school, he interned at the Heist Law Firm, a personal injury firm in Charleston. Upon graduation from the Charleston School of Law in 2022 and the passing of the bar, Joshua was hired as an attorney at the Heist Law Firm, where he practiced until the summer of 2025. A desire to be closer to family led him back to Northwest Ohio. Joshua is happy to be a member of the Charles E. Boyk Law Offices. Similar to his previous firm, he enjoys the fun and friendly environment of the Boyk Law Office while still keeping it professional. He relishes the opportunity to meet and help new people. In his free time, Joshua enjoys spending time with friends and family and attending sporting events. He is an avid fan of the Michigan Wolverines, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Detroit Red Wings.

My name is Christopher Orr, and I am the founder of the Law Offices of Christopher R. Orr. My firm is dedicated to helping clients with all aspects of estate and trust matters, and we focus on providing the attention and clear communication required. At Law Offices of Christopher R. Orr, we work closely with individuals and families to understand their goals, navigate complex legal issues, and develop strategies that protect their interests. We pride ourselves on being responsive, straightforward, and committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for everyone. I would welcome the opportunity to learn more about your situation and discuss how my firm may be able to assist you.