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BMD Grows Cleveland Office with Five New Attorneys | Welcomes Esports, Media & Entertainment Law Practice

News Article

[Cleveland, OH, May 29, 2024] Brennan Manna Diamond (BMD) – an entrepreneurial business law firm with 90 attorneys in 12 offices across Ohio, Florida, Arizona, and Michigan – is proud to announce significant updates reflecting its commitment to Cleveland’s growth and development.

Expanding Legal Expertise: BMD's Cleveland office welcomes five distinguished attorneys, reinforcing the firm's dedication to serving Northeast Ohio with excellence. Joining the team are Members Shelly LaSalvia, Scott Norcross, Kirk Roessler, and Michael Sneeringer, as well as Partner Paige Rabatin. With extensive experience spanning a variety of practice areas such as Banking & Finance, Bankruptcy & Creditor’s Rights, Business & Corporate Law, Esports & Entertainment Law, Litigation, Real Estate, and Trusts & Estates, their addition bolsters BMD’s leadership and expertise within these key industries further solidifying the firm’s presence in Cleveland.

Kate Hickner, BMD’s Cleveland Office Managing Partner, expressed her gratitude stating, “The growth of our Cleveland office is exciting. Our attorneys are not only skilled advisors and strong advocates but are also genuinely kind people making a positive impact within our community.”      

Pioneering New Frontiers: Scott Norcross and Paige Rabatin will spearhead the establishment of BMD’s Esports, Media & Entertainment practice area.

With the addition of this practice group, BMD’s legal team is committed to championing the aspirations of entrepreneurs, athletes, and individuals navigating both traditional sports and the burgeoning esports industry. Armed with extensive experience in negotiating contracts, orchestrating deals, and providing comprehensive outside general counsel services to these niche and ancillary supporting industries and sectors, such as entertainment and marketing, the Esports team empowers clients to seize opportunities and unlock their full potential in these dynamic arenas. Leveraging their track record in venture capital and private equity investments, Norcross and Rabatin assist clients in securing pivotal capital for transformative projects, propelling innovation, and catalyzing growth.

Welcome New BMD Cleveland Attorneys:

About Shelly LaSalvia
With more than 15 years of experience, Shelly joins BMD as a Member focusing her practice on creditor/debtor law, business law, and real estate law. Shelly provides legal counsel to corporate clients in various areas such as acquisitions, dispositions, capital raises, fund formation, commercial finance, private equity, joint ventures, succession planning, and bankruptcy and creditors' rights services.

About Scott Norcross
Joining BMD as a member, Scott is a go-to attorney for business and real estate, as well as esports, gaming, and traditional sports, including player representation. Scott is a trusted esports advisor, facilitating deals that maximize clients' opportunities in the rapidly expanding industry.

About Kirk Roessler
With more than three decades of experience, Kirk joins BMD as a Member specializing in corporate, real estate, and commercial finance matters. He offers invaluable counsel to small and middle-market businesses, contributing to their success and growth.

About Michael Sneeringer
Michael joins BMD as a Member focusing his practice on estate planning, estate administration, and wealth preservation within the Estate, Tax & Wealth Planning sector. With a commitment to protecting clients’ assets and legacies, Michael adds depth to BMD’s established Estate, Tax & Wealth Planning practice group.

About Paige Rabatin
Joining BMD as a Partner, Paige advises clients in commercial business transactions, real estate transactions, athletics, and entertainment matters. She excels in negotiating favorable deals for clients in the sports and entertainment industries and provides guidance in traditional disputes, corporate transactions, and commercial property deals.

Investing in Cleveland’s Future: Tony Manna, Co-Founder and Chairman of BMD and Founder and Chairman of both M7 Holdings, LLC and Signet, LLC, is thrilled with the growth in BMD’s Cleveland office while looking forward to the advancement of "Cornerstone at League Park," adjacent to Cleveland’s historic League Park. This landmark development will house the headquarters of Manna family investment office, M7 Holdings. The project will begin development later this year.

About M7
As a global investment office specializing in private equity capital formation, venture capital and angel investments, and real estate development, M7 Holdings is poised to contribute to Cleveland's economic growth and prosperity. With these initiatives, BMD reaffirms its position as a driving force for legal excellence and economic development in Cleveland.

About BMD
Brennan, Manna & Diamond was founded in 2000 with the goal of combining highly skilled, talented attorneys with practical experience in business matters, to create a new way to provide legal and business services to its clients. BMD’s access to a network of successful business entrepreneurs, consultants and developers allows for innovative solutions, symbiotic partnerships, and sound legal and business advice. BMD serves clients of all types and sizes in numerous industry sectors nationwide, in the areas of: Business and Corporate; Construction Law; Employment and Labor; Finance; Government Affairs; Healthcare; Immigration; Intellectual Property; International Law; Litigation; M&A; Real Estate; Tax, Estate, Asset Protection and Wealth Management and more. For additional information, please visit www.bmdllc.com


Jury Awards Care Center $225,000

Congratulations to Scott Sandrock on the jury verdict in favor of our client. The verdict stems from the lawsuit filed on behalf of our client against Spectrum Cable for fraud in connection with business services. The jury awarded Plaintiff $22,000 for compensatory damages, plus $225,000 in punitive damages and recovery of attorney fees in favor of our client.

BMD Beefs Up its Attorney Force with 7 New Hires

Founded in 2000 by three entrepreneurial and business-minded attorneys to provide a legal platform for companies and entrepreneurs in a wide variety of industries, Brennan Manna Diamond (BMD) has been in growth mode ever since. The firm, which began in Akron with just seven attorneys, now has three Ohio and two Florida offices as well as an international location in Shanghai, China through a joint venture with the law firm Jade & Fountain. BMD recently added seven more lawyers, six who are located in the Akron office.

Akron Devil Strip Becomes First US News Co-op

Starting Nov. 1, Akronites can become part owners of The Akron Devil Strip. With the legal guidance of BMD's legal team, Matthew A. Heinle, Esq. and Michael D. De Matteis, Esq., the arts and culture magazine is breaking ground as the first news co-op in the United States.

Community Legal Aid honoring BMD Attorneys Duriya Dhinojwala and Michael Steel "Pro Bono Attorneys of the Year"

Community Legal Aid honoring BMD Attorneys Duriya Dhinojwala and Michael Steel "Pro Bono Attorneys of the Year"

Brennan Manna Diamond Welcomes Seven New Attorneys

Brennan Manna Diamond (BMD) is pleased to welcome the following attorneys: in our Akron office, Blake R. Gerney, David J. Hrina, Matthew R. Duncan, Hamilton DeSaussure, Jr., Stephen E. Matasich and Paul C. Filon; and in our Cleveland office, Russell T. Rendall.