Overview

CJ’s clients appreciate his practical, business-minded approach to practicing law.  By leveraging his multi-faceted legal practice and extensive experience with complex transactions, CJ will home in on key issues and not get bogged down in minutia.  

CJ has substantial experience in all aspects of the M&A process, including buy-side and sell-side transactions, joint ventures, and other combinations.  Having successfully negotiated and closed on over $1 Billion in various asset, business and real estate transactions, trust that CJ can properly structure and negotiate your next transaction. 

CJ also provides general counsel services to businesses across a broad range of industries.  From large multi-state manufacturing companies and hospital systems to startups and privately held companies, CJ will add value as a business advisor and legal counselor to your business. 

CJ assists clients in all facets of the real estate development and acquisition process, from initial due diligence, entitlements and other acquisition issues to negotiating and drafting purchase and sale contracts, loan and closing documents. He is also experienced in all types of lease drafting and negotiation, having represented landlords and tenants in residential, commercial, office, retail and industrial leases.  

CJ has leveraged his multi-faceted government and public law experience to assist clients' interests in front of various state, county, municipal, township and village councils, trustees, boards and commissions. 

Representative Matters

Mergers and Acquisitions:

• Represented Olympic Steel in connection with its acquisition of a manufacturer of components for the service station canopy, solar and marine markets in North America, including but not limited to canopy panels, deck clips and long gutters & trims, headquartered in Georgia.
• Represented Olympic Steel in connection with the sale of substantially all of the company’s Detroit assets and operations.
• Represented Olympic Steel in connection with its acquisition of a stainless steel distribution and fabrication business headquartered in Georgia.
• Represented Olympic Steel in connection with its acquisition of a manufacturer of products constructed largely of coated carbon and stainless steel, headquartered in Kansas.
• Represented Olympic Steel in connection with its acquisition of a value-added fabrication services company, with offices in Arkansas and Oklahoma.
• Represented several financial consulting firms across several states in the sale of non-controlling ownership interests to private equity partners. 

General Counsel:

• Served as outside general counsel for two Ohio hospital systems with multiple locations throughout the State of Ohio.
• Served as outside general counsel for one of the world’s largest polymer manufacturers with offices and plants located in several states.
• Served as outside and in-house counsel for one of the largest privately held auto auctions in the State of Ohio with multiple locations throughout the State.
• Serve as general counsel for three Ohio non-profits.

 Real Estate:

• Successfully closed over $250 Million in multifamily real estate transactions for a client based in Dallas, Texas (2021 – 2022).
• Represented a client in its negotiation, inspection and purchase of 6.7 acres for a new specialty hospital in Beachwood, Ohio.
• Represented a client in the sale of its storage facility to private equity for $3.6 million.
• Represented a client in its negotiation, inspection and purchase of new corporate headquarters in Ravenna, Ohio.

 Government and Public Law:

• Represented the Ohio Development Services Agency in preparing Chapter 166 Direct Loans.
• Negotiated and drafted real estate leases for the relocation of two Summit County departments on behalf of the developer.
• Negotiated documents related to the City of Akron Sewer Project for a private school and other related property owners.
• Drafted several legal opinions at the request of area law directors related to municipal and other public law issues.

Community Involvement

• City of Green, City Council Member (2019 – Present)
• City of Green, City Council President (2024)
• Green Professionals Association, Co-Founder and President (2012-Present)
• Akron Bar Foundation, Board Member
  • Grants Committee
• 2019 Charter Review, City of Green
• Contributed over 160 hours to Community Legal Aid of Akron’s Pro Bono Bankruptcy Project and participated in the Wills for Heroes program in Summit County.
• While in law school, CJ served as assistant editor of the Constitutional Law Journal, director of the Inmate Assistance Program and captain of his moot court team.

Courts and Bar Associations

• American Bar Association
• Ohio State Bar Association
• Akron Bar Association

Presentations, Publications and Awards

• Real Estate Transactions: Avoiding the Top Mistakes, Presentation for the National Business Institute (May 30, 2018)
• Recognized by Ohio Super Lawyers as a Rising Star each year since 2020