Latest News - Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP

Taft Attorneys Frank Deveau and David Guevara Publish Book Titled “Environmental Liability and Insurance Recovery"

Kelly Sharpe — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:40:34 -0500

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Taft attorneys Frank J. Deveau and David L. Guevara, Ph.D., designed and edited a new book titled Environmental Liability and Insurance Recovery. The book was published in May 2012 by ABA Book Publishing and was sponsored by the ABA’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section.

Environmental law and insurance law demand the mastery of an intricately involved set of concepts, definitions, rules, and regulations – all of which are continuously developing. Environmental Liability and Insurance Recovery addresses the legal issues at the crossroads of environmental law and insurance law. Specifically, Environmental Liability and Insurance Recovery addresses the diverse ways in which a party may be exposed to environmental liability and how insurance coverage may provide financial support for such liability.

Frank J. Deveau serves as co-chair of Taft's Environmental practice group and represents clients in relation to all aspects of environmental law. For over 30 years he has advised and defended clients in relation to environmental litigation involving private parties, and federal and state government. A substantial amount of his practice has also involved all facets of environmental insurance recovery. Mr. Deveau has been routinely recognized as an Indiana Superlawyer and has been listed in Best Lawyers in America since 1991. He also was recently named Best Lawyers in America’s 2012 Environmental Lawyer of the year for Indianapolis.

David L. Guevara, Ph.D., is a member of the firm’s Environmental Law and Litigation practice groups and concentrates his practice in complex environmental litigation and insurance law. Mr. Guevara’s other publications include "The Application and Regulation of Institutional Controls in Indiana" in Implementing Institutional Controls at Brownfields and Other Contaminated Sites. Mr. Guevara serves as the Chair of the Environmental Law Section of the Indianapolis Bar Association. Mr. Guevara attended the University of Notre Dame Law School where he was the recipient of the Graham Law Fellowship. While at Notre Dame, Mr. Guevara was Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of College and University Law. Mr. Guevara was selected by Law & Politics Magazine as an Indiana Rising Star in 2012.

To purchase a copy of this book, please click here.

Taft Welcomes Associate Andrew Woods to the Dayton Office

Jen Mixson — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:19:41 -0500

DAYTON, OHIO – Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP is pleased to announce that Andrew M. Woods recently joined the firm’s Dayton office as an associate in the Private Client practice group. He focuses his practice on estate planning, probate, tax planning and tax litigation. Prior to joining Taft, Woods was a tax consultant for Deloitte Tax LLP’s International Tax Services group.

Woods received his J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and his B.S., cum laude, from the University of Arizona Eller College of Management. He is licensed to practice in Ohio.

About Taft

At Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, delivering outstanding legal performance to help clients succeed is what drives and motivates our more than 330 attorneys every day. Taft has offices in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Dayton, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; Covington, Kentucky; and Phoenix, Arizona. The firm practices across a wide range of industries, in virtually every area of law, including Business and Finance; Litigation; Labor and Employment; Intellectual Property; Business Restructuring, Bankruptcy and Creditor Rights; Environmental; Health and Life Sciences; Private Client Services; Real Estate; and Tax. With a proven track record of experience since 1885, the firm offers breadth and depth of legal expertise coupled with a trusted business perspective to help our clients, big and small, regionally, nationally and internationally, reach their goals.

Taft Attorneys Hicks and Berlin Recognized as Leadership in Law Honorees

Kelly Sharpe — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:34:08 -0500

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP is pleased to announce two Indianapolis attorneys were recently recognized as Leadership in Law honorees. Partner Robert J. Hicks was honored as a Distinguished Barrister and associate Keith R. Berlin was recognized as an Up and Coming Lawyer by The Indiana Lawyer.

The Indiana Lawyer annually honors Indiana attorneys who make meaningful contributions not only to the legal profession but to their communities and beyond. The Distinguished Barrister and Up and Coming Lawyer Awards honor such members of the legal community.

Mr. Hicks is partner-in-charge of Taft’s Indianapolis office. He focuses his practice on complex business and commercial transactions, private equity and venture capital transactions, mergers and acquisitions, structured financings, business advisory services, and structural tax matters. He is a 1986 graduate of the William and Mary Law School, Williamsburg, Virginia, and a 1984 graduate of Butler University, Indianapolis.

Mr. Berlin is an associate in Taft’s litigation and environmental practice groups. He is a litigator with significant experience in complex litigation, primarily in the environmental context. He received a B.A., magna cum laude, in Psychology from Southern Illinois University in 2005 and earned his juris doctorate, summa cum laude, from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in May 2008. Mr. Berlin is a member of the Indianapolis Bar Association and currently serves as the Chair of its Pro Bono Standing Committee (“PBSC”).

Taft Partner Edward Diller Elected to Downtown Cincinnati Inc. Board

Kelly Sharpe — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:51:35 -0500

Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP is pleased to announce that Edward D. Diller, partner-in-charge of Taft Stettinius & Hollister’s Cincinnati office, has been elected to the Board of Downtown Cincinnati Incorporated (DCI). DCI is a non-profit business organization with a mission to build a dynamic metropolitan center valued as the heart of the region. DCI provides leadership and advocacy for important issues that ensure long-term downtown vitality, and plays an important role in working with strong partners to improve downtown.

Mr. Diller has been an attorney in the Business and Finance Department at the law firm of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP since 1976, and a partner since 1984. He is a member of the firm’s Executive and Development Committees. Mr. Diller practices primarily in the areas of real estate, health care and general corporate law.

After receiving his undergraduate degree from Bluffton University, Mr. Diller attended the University of Oregon and later received his law degree from Harvard Law School. He is currently a Director of Messer, Inc., Messer Construction Company and Saturday Knight Ltd. From 2009 until 2011 he served as Moderator of the Mennonite Church USA. In addition to the DCI Board, he is a member of the Boards of Trustees of Cincinnati Museum Center (as well as secretary and chair of its Governance Committee), Mennonite Central Committee - US (as well as Treasurer), and the Dan Beard Council, Boy Scouts of America (previously serving as chair of the Board). For many years, he served on the Board and as Board Chair of Bluffton University and Family Service of the Cincinnati Area and the Family Service Foundation Board, and as Board Member and Vice-Chair of the Mennonite Education Agency.

Mr. Diller has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 1987 and has been included among the 100 Ohio Super Lawyers listings jointly developed by the publishers of Cincinnati Magazine and Law & Politics magazine. He also is listed in Chambers USA. He was named the Southwest Ohio region's Lawyer of the Year in Real Estate Law for the 2009 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

About Taft’s Community Involvement
Since the firm's founding, one of Taft's fundamental principles has been that giving back to the community is an integral part of what defines a responsible company and its employees. Today, Taft attorneys and staff are actively involved in more than 150 organizations in the communities where we live and work. From the arts and cultural groups to non-profits and professional organizations, the firm takes great pride in its volunteer service.

Taft Partner Ed Diller Re-elected to Board of Mennonite Central Committee

Kelly Sharpe — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:49:38 -0500

Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP is pleased to announce that Edward D. Diller, partner-in-charge of Taft Stettinius & Hollister’s Cincinnati office, has been re-elected to the Board of Mennonite Central Committee US and will serve as its Treasurer. Mennonite Central Committee US (MCC) is a worldwide ministry of Anabaptist churches which focus on disaster relief, sustainable economic development and peace and justice issues. MCC has workers or financial commitments in more than fifty countries around the world, including the U.S. and Canada.

Mr. Diller has been an attorney in the Business and Finance Department at the law firm of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP since 1976, and a partner since 1984. He is a member of the firm’s Executive and Development Committees. Mr. Diller practices primarily in the areas of real estate, health care and general corporate law.

After receiving his undergraduate degree from Bluffton University, Mr. Diller attended the University of Oregon and later received his law degree from Harvard Law School. He is currently a Director of Messer, Inc., Messer Construction Company and Saturday Knight Ltd. From 2009 until 2011 he served as Moderator of the Mennonite Church USA. In addition to the Mennonite Central Committee Board, he is a member of the Boards of Trustees of Cincinnati Museum Center (as well as secretary and chair of its Governance Committee), Downtown Cincinnati Inc. and the Dan Beard Council, Boy Scouts of America (previously serving as chair of the Board). For many years, he served on the Board and as Board Chair of Bluffton University and Family Service of the Cincinnati Area and the Family Service Foundation Board, and as a Board member and Vice-Chair of the Mennonite Education Agency.

Mr. Diller has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 1987 and has been included among the 100 Ohio Super Lawyers listings jointly developed by the publishers of Cincinnati Magazine and Law & Politics magazine. He also is listed in Chambers USA. He was named the Southwest Ohio region's Lawyer of the Year in Real Estate Law for the 2009 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

About Taft’s Community Involvement
Since the firm's founding, one of Taft's fundamental principles has been that giving back to the community is an integral part of what defines a responsible company and its employees. Today, Taft attorneys and staff are actively involved in more than 150 organizations in the communities where we live and work. From the arts and cultural groups to non-profits and professional organizations, the firm takes great pride in its volunteer service.