State and Local

Joseph Bogdan is a registered pharmacist and an attorney. He received his Pharmaceutical Doctorate degree from the University of Illinois College of Pharmacy at Chicago and his law degree while attending night school at John Marshall Law School in Chicago. He has his own law practice which handles healthcare and other law cases. His legal focus is representing healthcare professionals to state boards and federal agencies. He is also an expert witness in many different pharmaceutical cases including cases dealing with controlled substances. To schedule a free initial consultation with Attorney Bogdan, visit his website, or call 630-310-1267.

Attorney Robert R. Simons began his legal career as a prosecutor for the Camden County Prosecutor's Office. While working in the Camden County Prosecutor's Office, he tried complex criminal cases, including one of the first homicides in South Jersey utilizing DNA evidence, a serial rapist case, and multiple drug and weapons cases. After leaving the Camden County Prosecutor's Office, he switched sides and opened The Law Offices of Robert R. Simons, focusing on criminal defense. Over the years, our firm has aggressively represented hundreds of clients in New Jersey and Pennsylvania against criminal charges. We also handle personal injury matters such as traffic accidents, product liability and dog bites. We are experienced at protecting our clients' rights and negotiating positive outcomes in high-stakes situations. In more than 25 years of practicing law, Robert R. Simons has acquired a vast knowledge of criminal law and procedure. This extensive trial experience and knowledge, coupled with high ethics, have earned a certification by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Criminal Trial Attorney, which is something only given to the top 5 percent of attorneys who have demonstrated the highest level of proficiency in the criminal law field. Mr. Simons has also had the honor of being admitted to the United States Supreme Court. Only a small number of practicing attorneys receive such an admission.

Michael Bonvolanta earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 2011 from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. He earned his Juris Doctor degree in 2015 from the University of Detroit – Mercy School of Law where he graduated magna cum laude. He was admitted to the Frank Murphy Honor Society and served as a member of UDM’s Moot Court Board of Advocates. Bonvolanta is admitted to practice law in the State of Michigan, the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Michigan, the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, and the United States District Court for the Western District of New York. Bonvolanta joined the firm in January 2020, and focuses primarily on medical malpractice, nursing home neglect, birth injury, civil rights and governmental claims. Prior to joining Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C., Bonvolanta served as an associate at a full-service litigation firm in metro Detroit with a focus on municipal law, land use and zoning, medical malpractice defense and legal malpractice defense. He represented various national clients throughout the state of Michigan. Call (888) 797-8787 for a free case review and speak to Michael J. Bonvolanta about your case today.

Mr. Guttman is AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®, the highest recognition possible in the legal industry, for his professionalism and ethics. Consistent with the concentration of the firm, Mr. Guttman continues to focus his law practice in the areas of real estate assessments, property tax incentives and tax exemptions. He has extensive experience with representing a variety of property owners including multi-unit residential, commercial and industrial properties, as well as downtown Chicago office buildings. Mr. Guttman has considerable experience with litigation including acting as associate counsel before the Circuit Court of Cook County on a number of cases that challenged the constitutionality of the assessment methodology applied by taxing officials. His trial experience includes one of the first tax objection cases to be heard in the Circuit Court under the amended 1995 Revenue Act, which abolished the antiquated constructive fraud standard. Mr. Guttman co-authored two chapters, “Tax Objection Complaints” in the book, “Real Estate Taxation” and “Real Estate Tax Considerations” in the book “Residential Real Estate Transactions” for the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education. He also co-authored the article “Five Things Every Attorney Should Know About Appealing Their Client’s Real Estate Taxes” appearing in the January, 2004 edition of the “CBA Record.” He was the former Chairman of the main committee, Legislative Liaison, and Chairman of the Assessment and Appeals Sub-committee of the Chicago Bar Association’s Real Estate Taxation Committee. He currently acts as Treasurer of the Illinois Property Tax Lawyer’s Association – an advocacy and lobbying group established to inform, educate and promote tax policies and legislative efforts affecting tax payers throughout the State of Illinois. Mr. Guttman lectured before the Chicago Bar Association’s continuing legal education seminar entitled, “Real Estate Taxation: An Overview for the Non-Specialist” in 2005 and acted as Special Assistant State’s Attorney on behalf of Maria Pappas, Cook County Treasurer, as Trustee of the Indemnity Fund in the defense of a claim against the Indemnity Fund. He also served on the Cook County Treasurer, Maria Pappas’ Joint Committee for the automation of the Illinois Transfer Tax Form.

Je’Nell B. Blum is a Shareholder of Dukes, Dukes, Keating & Faneca, P.A. Je’Nell attended San Diego State University, where she was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta. She graduated in 1990, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree, with a major in Criminal Justice Administration and minor in Sociology. Je’Nell attended Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, where she received her J.D. in December of 1994. During Law School, Je’Nell was a member of law review, serving as a writer and an editor for the San Diego Justice Journal. She was recognized in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities for 1993-1994 and 1994-1995. After Practicing Law for five years in California as Corporate Counsel for Innovia Health, Inc. and as an associate attorney with The Law office of Richard A. Thomas, Je’Nell relocated to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and joined Dukes, Dukes, Keating & Faneca in 2001. Je’Nell and her husband, Mike Blum, are the proud parents of six children. They attend Mosaic Church in Ocean Springs.

Eric started Jones Law Group in 2007 right after he graduated from law school. He has extensive legal experience with Social Security Disability and the healthcare industry. Eric also served as Special Counsel to the Ohio Attorney for 12 consecutive years. Prior to attending law school Eric served as Vice President ofr an Ohio hospital where he was responsible for physician contracting, recruitment and relations. During law school Eric was the Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Managed Care for O.D.J.F.S. where his responsibilities included designing, implementing, and regulating the statewide expansion of Medicaid Managed Care. Eric also served as legal assistant to the General Counsel of the Ohio State Medical Association. Currently, Eric devotes much of his practice Social Security disability, civil litigation and representing health care providers. Eric is a recipient of the Capital University Law School G.O.L.D. award. The G.O.L.D Award is given annually to a Capital University Law School JD “Graduate of the Last Decade” who has made significant achievements as an attorney and has made notable contributions to the legal profession and/or the Law School. Eric has proudly to served as a Board Member of the OhioHealth Foundation and as a member of the Community Board of COSI. Eric earned his bachelor degree from Ohio University (B.S., 1995) and continued his higher education by receiving both his Master of Business Administration and his law degree from Capital University.

Zachary (“Zach”) W. Lombardo is a partner at Woodward, Pires & Lombardo, P.A. He is a Board Certified Specialist in City, County & Local Government Law by The Florida Bar and is the City Attorney for Everglades City. Zach’s primary focus is helping public and private clients in a wide variety of land use and local government matters, including strategizing both advocacy for as well as opposition to: comprehensive plan amendments, re-zoning, and planned unit development (PUD) zoning and amendments, conditional uses and comparable use determinations, variances and non-conforming uses, land development code amendments, official interpretations and zoning verification letters, building code appeals, floodplain determinations, code enforcement, utility conveyance, right-of-way permits and vacations, easement use agreements and vacations, and litigation related to the above. He frequently appears before the Marco Island Planning Board, the Marco Island City Council, the Collier County Planning Commission, the Collier County Hearing Examiner, and the Board of County Commissioners of Collier County. Beyond land use, Zach helps public and private clients navigate various local government and environmental matters such as: public records, property tax appeals, agricultural tax exemptions, bid protests and public contracts, interlocal agreements, environmental resource permits, sovereignty land leases, and litigation related to the above He is an experienced litigator in state and federal court both at a trial court level and on appeal. In his business matters and contract drafting, Zach focuses on practical solutions. Active in the community, Zach is a lifelong environmentalist and an Eagle Scout. He is committed to doing what he can to improve the quality of the environment in the Western Everglades. A Southwest Florida native, he enjoys canoeing the waterways of Collier and Lee Counties with his family and playing the harmonica.

Anthony (“Tony”) P. Pires, Jr. is a partner at Woodward, Pires & Lombardo, P.A. in the Naples office. He provides legal services to clients throughout Collier and Lee Counties in Local Government Law, Municipal Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, Land Use Applications, Rezonings, Bond Validation, and Administrative Law. His decades of experience and extensive knowledge of the history and development of Collier County enable him to use his unique insight to solve problems elegantly and efficiently. Tony serves as long-standing general counsel to various Florida community development districts (CDDs) and as special counsel to various county constitutional officers. His exceptional knowledge of Southwest Florida’s growth and development and his legal expertise allow him to guide public and private clients through complicated land use, local government, and real estate matters. Tony’s law practice showcases his tireless dedication to public service and client relationships. Tony has been a Board Certified Specialist (B.C.S.) in City, County and Local Government Law by The Florida Bar for over 25 years since 1998. He is rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™, a rating given to only attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers. Previously, Tony was Assistant County Attorney, 1979-1981; Assistant State Attorney, Twentieth Judicial Circuit, 1975-1979 & 1981 – 1983; and with Westinghouse Communities of Naples, Inc., 1983 – 1986.

James P. Logan and his brother, William E. Logan (deceased), were founding partners in 1961 of Logan and Logan, Attorneys at Law, located in Englewood, New Jersey. The firm’s name was changed in 1993 to Logan, Logan and Lindsay when Robyn Lindsay became a partner. The firm merged with Harwood Lloyd, LLP. in 2006 where Mr. Logan is now Of Counsel. Throughout his career Mr. Logan represented several Bergen County municipalities as municipal attorney, planning board attorney, board of adjustment attorney, board of education attorney and sewerage authority attorney. He also was appointed and served as a municipal judge. Practice areas of his law firm included wills, trusts and estates, real estate law, municipal law, litigation and business law. With regard to community service, Mr. Logan was a member and President of the Tenafly Board of Education, a member and Chairman of the Board of the Englewood Hospital and Medical Center and President of the Tenafly Presbyterian Church Board of Trustees. Mr. Logan received his B.A. from Trinity College in 1954. Upon graduation he served as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force where he was a navigator in the Material Air Transport Service. He received his J.D. from the University of Virginia Law School in 1960. Mr. Logan is admitted to practice before the courts of the State of New Jersey (1960), the United States Court of Claims, (1989) and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (1990).

David E. Maitlin is a graduate of Rutgers College and Boston University School of Law. He is admitted to practice before the New Jersey courts and the New York courts. He is also admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and for the Southern District of New York. He is a member of the New Jersey and New York State Bars, and a member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. He served a judicial clerkship with New Jersey Appellate Division Judge Irwin I. Kimmelman. He is presently Vice Chair of the Essex County Ethics Committee. He concentrates his practice in real estate transactions as well as insurance, commercial and real estate related litigation.