Corporate Lawyers are well known for their aggressive and successful representation of businesses and individuals in both simple and complex litigation. SS&E litigators practice extensively in federal and state courts in Ohio and throughout the continental United States. In addition, the Firm’s trial attorneys routinely handle matters before most state and federal administrative agencies, national and international arbitration tribunals and various alternate dispute forums.

The Firm has extensive experience in handling business tort, commer­cial, securities, fraud, environmental, employment, construction, personal injury, product liability, libel and slander, malpractice, trade secret, patent and trademark infringement, unfair competition, breach of contract, oil and gas, mortgage foreclo­sures, bankruptcy, probate and other specialty litigation.

Less complex cases receive the efficiency of a single experienced trial lawyer while multi-issue matters utilize a team approach frequently headed up by the Firm’s senior litigation partner who possesses nearly twenty five years of trial experience. Other team members are designated for their litigation skills or intimate knowledge of the substantive law at issue.

Lawyers works close with the client to maximize cost controls and efficiency. Experienced paralegals are appropriately utilized to leverage litigation resources. trial attorneys routinely defend employment, workers’ compensa­tion, personal injury and product liability matters. When its time to take the offensive,  trial attorneys are accustomed to achieving large verdicts or settlements in a wide variety of business disputes. SS&E provides litigation services to a number of Fortune 500 companies and numerous smaller and closely held businesses. In handling litigation matters  attorneys and staff work closely with company management, in-house counsel and insurance representa­tives.

Litigation is not a game. It is neither for the inexperienced nor the faint-hearted. Successfully trying law suits is a difficult task requiring the right combina­tion of skill and energy with intense preparation and the will to win. Serious matters belong in the hands of serious professionals who seek a close, long-term relationship that creates a personalized understanding as to procedure, protection, style and the end game.

Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR)

This process, developed to offer an alternative to court trials and reduce crowded court dockets, basically includes:

Negotiation

Arbitration

Mediation

Mini-Trials

Lawyers are knowledgeable and experienced with these methods and is comfortable in utilizing these mechanisms whether court-mandated or agreed upon by both parties in the dispute.

Litigation Groups

Following the general litigation division are details of the some of separate litigation practice groups included in this division:

Construction Litigation Group

Employment Litigation Group

Tort Defense Group

Workers’ Compensation Defense Law Group

The corporate business group provides a number of services regarding various aspects of nonprofit law with particular emphasis on health care associations and related organizations.  Consultation begins with assistance to the client to determine: one, what the client’s intentions are; two, the costs and the advantages and disadvantages of creating a particular form of entity; and three, what form of entity will most appropriately serve the client’s needs.   After this analysis, the firm will prepare and file the necessary documentation with the appropriate governmental agency to implement the chosen form of entity.

Lawyers provides an array of support services to the non-profit health associations; including drafting of conforming by-laws; credentialling of members; guidance in regards to funding the entity by charitable contributions or fund-raising activities; establishment of manuals regarding the rules and regulations of convention related activities; negotiation and drafting of various contracts for convention sites; negotiation and drafting of contracts for exhibitor spaces.

Once the nonprofit organization is formed, Lawyerswill also continue to provide consultation regarding the maintenance of tax-exempt status and representation in audits by the Internal Revenue Service.  Our attorneys also work with the client’s accountants to meet the client’s specific nonprofit purposes and to efficiently handle legal and tax-related matters which may become an issue.

The firm also counsels such organizations in a wide array of legal disciplines including important matters of corporate governance, employment relations, contract review and negotiation, litigation and general taxation.

Policies – Supervised switch from occurrence to claims made and transition of same with reinsurers and various state regulators.

Defended various policy changes including specific sexual activity exclusion, definition of “incident” etc, and pro­vided explanations for policy language to the company’s business groups.

Drafted Surplus Note and Loan Endorsement programs raising $80,000,000 for the company. Obtained ap­proval from various insurance regulators and no-action letters from state agencies responsible for securities regulation.

Rates – Worked with underwriting and actuarial departments on rate filings, and with agents, insureds, underwriters on rate questions on cancellations, reporting endorsements, and discriminatory practices

Agents – interpreted and enforced agency agreements. Worked with regulators regarding alleged unfair and deceptive insurance practices. Advised regarding cancellations, ownership of expiration, and brokerage issues.

Reinsurance – Created Retainer Cover Reinsurance Contract protecting against failure of defense counsel to perform per retainer agreement. Negotiated reinsurance treaties and made reinsurance renewal presentations to Lloyd’s syndicate members and underwriters in London.

Mergers & Acquisitions – Protective review for insurance agencies’ acquisitions including due diligence for master agent agreements, Form A hearings, strategic alliances and securing favorable tax ruling from occurrence to claims made policy forms and loss reserve deductibility.

External Professionals – Worked with regulators, certified public accountants and actuaries on audits, adequacy of loss reserves and compliance issues

Investments – Managed an investment portfolio in excess of $325 million in accordance with statutory requirements and the parameters of the Investment Committee of the Board of Directors.

Rating Agencies – Primary responsibility for filings and dealings with A.M. Best Company and other rating organizations.

Clients in the health care field are third party administrators, national and regional physician associations, private physicians practicing traditional and alternative medicine, nursing homes, home-health providers, medical laboratories, insurance companies and innumerable companies and groups making up the health care industry.

In addition to the organization and formation of health care corporations for profit and not for profit and medical partnerships, Lawyers provides full-business consulting and general legal services in such areas as employment and labor practices, financing, construction, specialty and vendor contracting, premises liability, commercial litigation including collection matters, and case management and utilization review.

Lawyers also provides specialized services to its health care clients including credentialing, billing practices, including defense of physicians and medical boards, federal regulatory agencies including FTC for alleged violations such as misleading advertising, improper billing practices, breaches of confidentiality and ERISA issues.

Lawyers  highly experienced in defending physicians charged with malpractice, fraud and abuse, confidentiality violations and misleading advertising before the U.S. courts and state medical boards across the United States.

The Employment Law Group provides legal strategies and systems to protect entrepreneurs from costly start-up mistakes as well as providing the established business with services and information to aid compliance with ever changing Employment Regulations.

Some of the areas of most concern include:

• Employment Advertising
• Employment Interview Guidelines
• Employment Standards Within The Workplace
• Privacy Issues
• Wage And Promotion Policies
• Retirement And Employee Savings Plans
• Employee Handbooks
• Employment Agreements
• Discrimination Problems
• Sexual Harassment Issues
• Termination Processes

In the intellectual property law area SS&E counsels clients on trade­mark, copyright and trade secret protection as communicated through the written word, the spoken word, images, internet sites, electronic programming and duplicates or recordings or transmissions thereof.

SS&E on a routine basis prepares applications, registrations and renewals for tradenames and servicemarks for domestic and international markets.

In the technology field the firm represents business clients in connec­tion with the protection, licensure, and the purchase and sale of proprietary rights that may include products, processes, images and general property rights.  The firm also advises business clients on Y2K-related issues.

Related activities include affidavits of use and intent to use, infringe­ment investigation, cease and desist notices and litigation procedures on behalf of plaintiff or defendant in infringement actions.

Commercial Law and Bankruptcy

Lawyers that  deal with the practical aspects of running a business from start-up to collection of accounts receivable, to sale or the best recovery, as a creditor or debtor in bankruptcy or liquidation. Some of the areas covered by this group includes:

·        Advice, counseling and business planning on the formation of business organizations.

·        Negotiation, drafting and execution of all types of business agreements involving the buying, selling and leasing of busi­nesses, real estate or personal property and partnership and employment agreements.

·        Provide collection services for commercial, retail, financial, legal, manufacturing and real estate management companies.

·        Represent creditors, businesses and consumers in Federal Bankruptcy proceedings under Chapters 7, 11 and 13, and filings for corporate liquidations.

·        Negotiate settlements and/or litigate disputes in contract, tort, employment and discrimination matters.

Since its founding business and corporate law has been a major factor in the SS&E legal practice.

Also, included in this division is securities law, merger and acquisition, commercial law, health care law, insurance law, franchise law, non-profit law and intellectual property law.

Today the firm continues with a unique mix of business clients, representing some Fortune 500 Companies, many COSE type organizations in the medium to smaller range for which it provides for a full array of business legal services and the individual entrepreneurs.

SS&E, also, has a client base in the government, school, municipal, foundation and professional fields.  One example is its representation of an association of over 1000 physicians practicing both traditional and alternative medicine.

Regardless of the type of business the pace is faster and more complicated with the issuance of regulations that seem to change daily, requiring today’s business owners and managers to obtain practical, quick and expert legal advice.  Whether starting a new business, purchasing one, or finding new ways to improve and protect an existing enterprise, owners rely on advice from SS&E because the firm understands business, as well as the legislation, documentation and risks.

The firm’s resources include a full range of corporate and business law services available to our clients.  The firm represents business entities of all types and sizes from sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies, to corporations from all industries from manufacturing to health care enterprises.

SS&E deals with the public and private sale of securities and compliance reporting required on federal and state levels.  The firm also has experience in representing brokers and syndicates.

Regarding mergers and acquisitions, SS&E has experience in all phases of the purchase, sale and combination of business and companies, including assistance in the structuring of such transactions.

The firm can help in establishing personnel procedures, terms and conditions of sale, product warranties and other procedures, with the assurance that these activities are completed in accordance with standard industry practices.  Business representation requires expert understanding of the latest tax, employment and environmental laws.  The firm maintains competent, experienced professionals who provide timely assistance to business.