GREGORY J. O’BRIEN is a partner in the Cleveland office of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP.  His practice primarily involves the representation of private and public employers in corporate and commercial matters.  His practice also includes the defense of financial services companies in matters involving federal lending law, including the Truth in Lending Act, Real-Estate Settlement Procedures Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act.  Mr. O’Brien also serves as Law Director for the City of Independence.  Mr. O’Brien received his undergraduate degree from the University of Toledo and his J.D. from Cleveland-Marshall Collect of Law, graduating magna cum laude.  He is admitted to practice before the bars of the United States Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, and the State of Ohio.  He was selected by Cincinnati Magazine as a 2005 and 2006 Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Star.