Austinburg Lawyers

Sole practitioner focusing on Family Law (see below), practicing primarily in Lorain County and Cuyahoga County. Competent, compassionate, experienced representation with a sincere commitment to advocacy and the welfare of clients and children.

I am a partner and trial attorney at Rafidi, Pallante & Melewski, an Ohio based, multi-office boutique law firm that focuses on personal injury, business litigation and probate/trust litigation. In the past few years, I have had the honor of representing a family who lost their wife and mother to a trucking accident, a woman who experienced severe and debilitating injuries after she fell at a national retail store, a child who had to endure painful and unnecessary wounds as a result of medical malpractice, and numerous people who suffered neck, back and shoulder injuries in a car accident....

30 years experience practicing law. My practice consist in large part of divorce, dissolution, custody, modifications and appeals in domestic relations and Juvenile courts in Northern Ohio, including Cuyahoga, Lorain, Medina, and Lake Counties.

I am experienced in the following types of litigation: consumer protection, foreclosure, commercial litigation, collections, corporate disputes, criminal defense, personal injury, medical malpractice, appellate advocacy and also practices in the area of corporate law. I am a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, Cuyahoga County Bar Association. I am an active member of St. Adalbert’s Church in Berea, and was a member of the St. Adalbert’s Parish Council from 2009-2015. I am a member of the Lawyers Guild of the Cleveland Catholic Diocese, a Den Leader for Cub Scout Pack 107, a member of the Middleburg Heights...

I am an attorney, arbitrator and mediator with expertise in construction law, employment and labor law, litigation, and business disputes. I have litigated and served as a neutral in hundreds of cases involving construction disputes, commercial business disputes, and employment disputes. AV rated by Martindale Hubbell since 1994, signifying the highest standard of legal abilities and professional ethics and conduct. Member of the ADR Federal Court Panel for the Northern District of Ohio, the panel of arbitrators for the American Arbitration Association, serving as an employment, construction and commercial arbitrator, a member and former Chair of the Construction Advisory Council...

I am proud to have received an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which reflects my commitment to professional excellence. Throughout my career, I have participated in several notable cases, including Grace Cathedral, Inc v Testa at the Ohio Supreme Court and Acosta vs Cathedral Buffet at the 6th Circuit in 2018. My dedication to the field of law has earned me multiple awards. I have been named a SuperLawyer every year from 2012 to 2017, and again from 2020 to 2023. This recognition is a testament to my consistent dedication and performance. I have also held significant positions in various professional organizations, enhancing...

Frances Fitzgerald Allington, Esq. is an Ohio attorney who, having been a licensed real estate broker for twenty-two years prior to forming her law practice, deals largely with real estate law and litigation. This is not to the exclusion, however, of family law, business law and and general civil litigation. While best known for complex real estate litigation, Frances Allington presents her clients with a wide array of services and options for representation, and is always welcoming new clients. Ms. Allington has been a member of the Ohio Bar and in private practice since 1997, and earned her...

Since the beginning of my legal career, I have dedicated my skills to putting people’s lives back together. My typical client finds his or her life torn apart as a result of someone else’s carelessness, negligence, recklessness, or greed. Injuries are not always just a physical component. They are mentally exhausting. Often they create financial and emotional stress as well. I have successfully represented clients against insurance companies, banks, mortgage companies, real estate companies, trucking companies, Fortune 500 companies and local businesses as well as other individuals. I have been on the cutting edge of obtaining insurance coverage...

Philip D. Althouse has been a practicing attorney since 1991 and is currently a Senior Attorney in the Economic Justice Group at the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. He has successfully litigated cases against major financial institutions, mortgage companies, home improvement companies, automobile dealers, and other businesses on behalf of Northeast Ohio consumers in state and federal courts. He was author of the chapter on the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act for the Ohio Consumer Law Manual published by Thomson Reuters from 2010 through 2016. The manual is widely used among attorneys in Ohio and frequently cited as...

I have been in the practice of law for over two decades and have clients all over the United States and some overseas. I have years of jury trial experience against all kinds of opposing parties from multi-billion dollar corporations to the local county prosecutor's office. I am a member of the prestigious million dollar advocates forum which less than 1% of all trial lawyers are members of, and I have prevailed in litigation against companies such as big three auto manufacturers, steel makers, nuclear materials providers, and won cases against corporate giants like Kellog Brown and Root (KBR)and Halliburton....

Attorney Andrea C. Kryszak has been practicing law for more than ten years at Kryszak & Associates, which is formerly known as Lessing & Kryszak; the Law Offices of Robert E. Lessing, Jr.; and Lessing & White & Roig. She focuses her practice in the areas of Estate Planning, Estate and Trust Administration, Elder Law, Real Estate and Small Business law. Ms. Kryszak's commitment to the community is manifested by her involvement with the Lorain County Bar Association as a member of the Executive Committee (Vice President), the New Lawyer Committee (Chairperson), the Fee Arbitration Panel and the Judicial...

Attorney Jeffery S. Brown served his country in the United States Marine Corp after graduating high school. In 1997 he graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science in Economics. In 2001, he graduated from the Thomas Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan with his Juris Doctor. He is a member of the Lorain County Bar Association and the Ohio State Bar Association.

A Family Law Practice limited to: Divorce, Dissolution, Legal Separation, Allocation of Parental Rights and Responsibilities, Visitation/Companionship Time, Shared Parenting Plans, Child Support, Spousal Support, Parentage, Post-Decree Enforcement, Adoption, Juvenile Law, and Appellate Law.

Amy M. Logan was born and raised in Sandusky, Ohio and graduated from Perkins High School. She attended college at Bowling Green State University and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in business administration. Amy received her law degree in 2002 from the University of Toledo College of Law and is admitted to practice in Ohio and in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her Dalmatians and riding roller coasters.

David J. Michalski spent nearly 20 years as a commercial litigation attorney and partner at one of Cleveland's largest and most-respected law firms before forming his own firm, The Michalski Law Firm, LLC. David represents individuals and companies in all types of business, employment, real estate and investment-related disputes.

Attorney James Hausen graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree with honors in 1996 at the University of Akron. He passed the CPA exam in Ohio in 1996 on the first attempt. At that time less than 30% passed the whole CPA exam on the first attempt. He worked in accounting from 1996-1998 while pursuing his M.B.A. degree. He received his M.B.A. degree in 1998 when he decided to go to law school.
He graduated from the University of Akron School of Law in 2001 with a Juris Doctor and Master of Taxation degree and passed the bar exam...

Andrew Jaffe has been a licensed attorney since 1977. For the past seventeen years he has limited his practice to E-Commerce and Internet Law, advising and counseling his clients throughout the United States and the world on the intricacies of web related laws. Mr. Jaffe is able to help his clients wherever they reside, using local co-counsel only when needed to appear in court. Andy prides himself on providing individual representation and unparalleled service to all of his clients. While clients might be able to find another lawyer with Mr. Jaffe’s experience, the biggest difference between...

Attorney Mark Rafidi is the founding partner of Rafidi, Pallante & Melewski, LLC, formerly known as Amendolara & Rafidi, LLC. This Ohio-based law firm has multiple office locations that allow them to take on injury clients from Columbus, Canfield, and the entire state of Ohio. Although personal injury cases are their focus, they also concentrate on other areas of law including business counseling and corporate law. Throughout his career, Mr. Rafidi has negotiated many multi-million dollar contracts, and won multi-million dollar settlements and awards for his injury clients. He doesn’t just take on any case that comes his way. Attorney...

Patrick J. D'Andrea currently represents numerous landowners and small businesses in the Ohio Utica and Marcellus Shale Oil and Gas play including leases and leasing, amending existing leases, pipeline agreements and rights of way, oil and gas mineral sales, location agreements and much more. He has been involved in Business and Personal Injury cases and litigation for over 30 years. He has represented many fortune 500 companies in the Oil and Gas and Real Estate Development aspects of his business. He has litigated hundreds of business and personal injury cases. Previous: Director of Development, Summit County, Ohio, Akron City Councilman...

Lisa Owings graduated from The University of Akron School of Law with her Juris Doctor and Master of Laws in Intellectual Property. Lisa Owings practices primarily in debt defense. Attorney Owings is licensed in Ohio, Nebraska, North Dakota, Missouri, New Jersey, Utah, Wisconsin, Iowa, and North Carolina.

Attorney Matthew Marsalka graduated from Cleveland State University-Cleveland Marshall College of Law in 2012. Since then he has gained years of experience representing injured clients throughout Ohio.

Matthew ensures that he is available to clients and will take the time to explain complicated legal proceedings. He takes pride in obtaining the best possible results for his clients and understands that your case, whether big or small, deserves to be handled with the utmost attention. If you retain Marsalka Law, you will receive personalized and responsive representation.

Attorney Marsalka believes everyone deserves an...

Taylor Thatcher Law, LLC is a divorce practice dedicated to providing quality legal counsel, at a reduced cost, to clients with moderate financial resources who have traditionally been underserved by the Akron (Summit or Portage County) legal community. We offer lower retainers to get started on your case and donate some pro bono hours to our clients. Marriage terminations can be daunting. If you need help navigating our complex legal system, contact our office.

John J. Ready is a Certified Specialist in Family Relations Law, a charter member of The Center for Principled Family Advocacy, a member of the Cuyahoga County Guardian Ad Litem Program, and a frequent lecturer on continuing legal education topics. John J. Ready & Associates is a result-oriented firm that understands the nature of the financial, emotional, and relationship issues that arise during, and after, the termination of the marriage and offers a variety of services, including mediation, collaborative divorce, parent coordination, arbitration, and litigation to achieve realistic and optimal goals for their clients. Mr. Ready is admitted...

After years of representing big business both in and out of the courtroom, I decided to take all of my knowledge, experience, and expertise, and apply them to representing individuals in family law matters. Whether you anticipate an ugly divorce or an amicable one, a big law suit or small, I am ready to put my legal skills to work for you.

Robert McNamara initiated his legal career in Uniontown, Ohio, in 1982, after a five-year association with a firm in Akron, Ohio. Mr. McNamara has now associated with the Canton law firm of Arnold, Gruber & Haren, Ltd., and provides a full range of legal services at either the Uniontown or Canton office. Mr. McNamara’s experience results from work with major U.S. businesses coordinating the legal work for their subsidiaries including manufacturing companies and trucking companies, as well as doing work for their individual owners. Bob has hands on experience as he owned and operated a small trucking company early in his career. He has been involved...

Former Asst. Canton City Prosecutor (misdemeanors) Former Asst. Stark County Prosecutor (felonies) Over 100 jury trials Former Elected Official (Jackson Twp. Trustee), Adjunct Professor (Mount Union), Corporate Counsel Certified Agent by the National Football League Player's Association (NFLPA)

Russ McLaughlin has been engaged in the practice of law in the Lorain County and Cuyahoga County Ohio areas since 1974. In addition to the general practice of law, he has served as Special Counsel to two Ohio attorneys general, assistant prosecutor in the Lorain Municipal Court, Magistrate for the Lorain Municipal Court, acting judge in the Avon Lake and Lorain Municipal Courts, Law Director for the City of Avon, Special Counsel for the cities of Avon and Elyria, and counsel to the Avon Charter Review Committee. He has been an instructor of real estate and business law...