Rittgers Rittgers & Nakajima

Attorney Eric P. Allen

Bar Admissions:

• Ohio, 1989
• West Virginia, 1987
• U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1989
• U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1993
• Kentucky, 2002
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio

Education:

• University of Toledo College of Law, Toledo, Ohio
  
  • J.D. - 1987
  • Honors: cum laude
• Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
  
  • B.A. - 1984
  • Honors: magna cum laude

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Ohio Association for Justice, 2000 to Present
• American Association for Justice, 2000 to Present
• N.O.S.S.C.R.
• Cincinnati Bar Association

Languages Spoken:

• English

Attorney J.R. Bernans

Bar Admissions:

• Bar Name, Year Admitted One
• Bar Name, Year Admitted Two

Education:

• University of Cincinnati College of Law, Cincinnati, Ohio
  
  • J.D.
  • Honors: magna cum laude
  • Honors: Order of the Coif
• University of Cincinnati, Carl H. Linder College of Business
  
  • B.A.
  • Honors: summa cum laude

Attorney Kourtney Brueckner

Bar Admissions:

• Ohio, 2017
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 2018

Education:

• Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law, Ada, Ohio
  
  • J.D.
  • Honors: Dan Guy Appellate Advocacy Competition, Semi-Finalist
• University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
  
  • B.A.
  • Honors: Phi Alpha Delta, Vice President of External Affairs, Social Chair
  • Honors: Mock Trial, Vice President, Captain, Opening Attorney
  • Honors: Model United Nations, Head Delegate
  • Honors: Chi Omega Women’s Fraternity, New Member Educator
  • Major: Political Science
  • Major: International Affairs

Languages Spoken:

• English
• Spanish

Attorney Jake Michael Cropper

Bar Admissions:

• Ohio, 2023
• Kentucky, 2023

Education:

• University of Dayton School of Law, Dayton, Ohio
  
  • J.D.
• Mount St. Joseph University, Cincinnati, Ohio
  
  • B.A. and B.S. - 2019
  • Honors: Dean's List
  • Honors: With High Honors
  • Major: History and Legal Studies

Attorney Juliette Gaffney Dame

Bar Admissions:

• U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 2007
• Ohio, 2006

Education:

• University of Dayton School of Law, Dayton, Ohio
  
  • J.D. - 2006
• Drew University, Madison, New Jersey
  
  • B.A. - 1996
  • Honors: Dean's List
  • Major: Political Science

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Ohio Bar Association
• Butler County Bar Association
• Warren County Bar Association
• Cincinnati Academy of Collaborative Professions

Languages Spoken:

• English

Attorney Nicholas D. Graman

Bar Admissions:

• Ohio, 2007
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 2010

Education:

• University of Cincinnati College of Law, Cincinnati, Ohio
  
  • J.D. - 2007
• Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio
  
  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Honors: cum laude
  • Honors: With Honors
  • Major: History

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Warren County Bar Association
• Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Ohio Association for Justice
• Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, Member, 2007 to Present

Languages Spoken:

• English

Attorney Steve Kilburn

Bar Admissions:

• Ohio, 2013
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 2014

Education:

• University of Dayton School of Law, Dayton, Ohio
  
  • J.D. - 2013
• Eastern Kentucky University
  
  • B.A. - 2010
  • Honors: Magna Cum Laude

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Ohio Bar Association, 2013 to Present
• Warren County Bar Association, 2013 to Present

Attorney Lindsay A. Lawrence

Bar Admissions:

• U.S. Supreme Court
• Ohio
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio
• Kentucky
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky
• U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit

Education:

• Salmon P. Chase College of Law, Highland Heights, Kentucky
  
  • J.D.
  • Honors: Semi-finalist in the American Association for Justice National Trial Advocacy Competition
  • Honors: Child Welfare & Adoption Law National Moot Court Competition: National Champions, Best Overall Brief
  • Honors: National Order of Barristers for Recognition for Her Excellence in Trial Advocacy
• University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
  
  • B.A., Bachelor of Arts
  • Major: Communication
  • Minor: Public Relations

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Ohio Association for Justice 2022-2023, Vice President
• Ohio Association for Justice 2021-2022, Treasurer
• American Association for Justice (AAJ), Board of Governors Revitalization Member, 2018 - 2022
• American Association for Justice (AAJ), Member
• Medical Negligence Litigation Group (AAJ), Member
• Professional Negligence Section (AAJ), Member
• Professional Negligence Section (AAJ), Content Editor – Present
• Birth Trauma Litigation Group (AAJ), Member
• American Association for Justice (AAJ), Election Committee - Present
• American Association for Justice (AAJ) (New Lawyers Division), Fundraising Committee Co-Chair, 2016 - Present, Public Service Committee, 2017 - Present
• American Association for Justice (AAJ), Membership Oversight Committee (MOC), 2017 - Present
• American Association for Justice (AAJ) Law Schools Committee, 2018 - Present
• Kentucky Justice Association (KJA), Member
• Kentucky Justice Association (KJA), Co-Chair Young Lawyers Section, 2016 - 2017
• Ohio Association for Justice (OAJ), Board of Trustees, 2016 - Present
• Ohio Association for Justice (OAJ), Member
• Southwest Ohio Trial Lawyers Association, Member
• Cincinnati Bar Association (CBA), Member
• Northern Kentucky Bar Association (NKBA), Member
• Salmon P. Chase American Inn of Court, Law Student Liaison, 2017-2020
• Salmon P. Chase Inn of Court, Executive Committee , 2012 – Present
• Salmon P. Chase Inn of Court, Treasurer, 2020-Present
• Cincinnati Bar Association (CBA), Co-Chair Mock Trial Committee , 2015 - 2017
• Salmon P. Chase College of Law, Alumni Board
• Cincinnati Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Tomorrow’s Leaders Vice Chair, 2017 - 2019
• Cincinnati’s Finest Under 50 – Cincinnati Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
• Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA)
• Kentucky Bar Association (KBA)
• Cincinnati Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Tomorrow’s Leaders Chair , 2020 - Present
• Ohio Association for Justice 2020-2021, Secretary

Attorney Gus Lazares

Bar Admissions:

• Ohio
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio
• U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit

Education:

• Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law, Columbus, Ohio
  
  • J.D.
  • Honors: George A. Spiegelberg Award for Nation’s Top Oral Advocate (Awarded by the American College of Trial Lawyers)
  • Honors: CALI Award for Top Grade in Depositions, Pretrial Litigation, Appellate Advocacy and Lawyers & the Media
  • Honors: Extern for The Honorable Judge Walter Rice of the Southern District of Ohio
• Miami University
  
  • Honors: All-American Mock Trial Attorney Award (from the American Mock Trial Association)
  • Honors: Harrison Scholar (full four-year scholarship)
  • Honors: Phi Beta Kappa

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Ohio Association for Justice, Member
• Cincinnati Bar Association, Member

Attorney Wesley Matthew Nakajima

Bar Admissions:

• Ohio, 2009
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio
• Kentucky, 2009
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana
• U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
• Federal Claims Court
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky
• U.S. District Court Western District of Kentucky

Education:

• Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law, Highland Heights, Kentucky
  
  • J.D. - 2008
  • Honors: magna cum laude
• Northern Kentucky University
  
  • LL.D. - 2008
• Bellarmine University , Louisville, Kentucky
  
  • B.A. - 2004
  • Honors: cum laude
  • Honors: Dean's List
  • Honors: With High Honors
  • Major: Economics

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• The Ohio Association of Justice, Member, 2009 to Present
• The Kentucky Justice Associations, Board of Governor 2009-2016
• American Association of Justice , Member, 2009 to Present
• Ohio Trial Lawyers Association, Member, 2014 to Present
• The Kentucky Justice Associations, Member, 2009

Languages Spoken:

• English

Attorney Edward C. Perry

Bar Admissions:

• Ohio, 1991
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 2000

Education:

• Capital University Law School, Columbus, Ohio
  
  • J.D.
• Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio
  
  • B.A.

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Cincinnati Bar Association
• Ohio State Bar Association

Attorney Ellen B. Rittgers

Bar Admissions:

• Ohio, 1979

Education:

• University of Cincinnati College of Law, Cincinnati, Ohio
  
  • J.D. - 1979
• Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
  
  • 1976

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Warren County Bar Association, President, 2007 to Present
• Southwest Ohio Collaborative Law Association, Member, Present
• The Cincinnati Association of Collaborative Professionals, Committed Member, Present

Languages Spoken:

• English

Attorney Charles H. Rittgers

Bar Admissions:

• Ohio, 1978
• U.S. Federal Courts, 1980

Education:

• University of Cincinnati College of Law, Cincinnati, Ohio
  
  • J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence, 1978
• Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
  
  • B.A., Bachelor of Arts - 1973
• Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio
  
  • M.S., Master of Science - 1978

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Past President), Member, 1987 to Present
• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2019 to Present
• American Association for Justice, 1983 to Present
• Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, Member, 1984 to Present
• Warren County Bar Association, Past President
• Greater Cincinnati Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Former Board Member
• National DUI College, Founding Member, 2019 to Present
• Ohio Association of Justice, 2019 to Present

Languages Spoken:

• English

Attorney Charles M. Rittgers

Education:

• University of Cincinnati College of Law, Cincinnati, Ohio
  Honors: Honorable Michael R. Barrett at the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
  Honors: Alumni Planning Committee
  Dartmouth College
  Lebanon High School

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Multi Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Member
• Ohio Association for Justice, Member
• Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member

Attorney Samantha K. Rittgers

Bar Admissions:

• Ohio, 2015

Education:

• Salmon P. Chase College of Law, Highland Heights, Kentucky
  
  • J.D.
  • Honors: Summa Cum Laude
  • Honors: Honorable Michael R. Barrett at the United States District Court
• Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, Kentucky
  
  • B.A.
  • Honors: summa cum laude
  • Honors: Dean's List
  • Major: Political Science

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• SHRM-CP (Society for Human Resource Management), Member, 2019-2022

Attorney Justin Sanders

Bar Admissions:

• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, pro hac vice
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, pro hac vice
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio
• U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit

Attorney Neal D. Schuett

Bar Admissions:

• Ohio, 2010
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 2014

Education:

• University of Iowa College of Law, Iowa City, Iowa
  
  • J.D. - 2006
• University of Iowa, Iowa City
  
  • B.B.A. - 2003
  • Honors: Dean's List
  • Honors: Honors Program
  • Honors: Two-time American Mock Trial Association National Champion
  • Major: Business-MIS; Religious Studies
• University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
  
  • B.A. - 2002

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Ohio Bar Association
• Greater Cincinnati Bar Association
• Butler County Bar Association
• Visiting Assistant Professor, Miami University
• American Mock Trial Association, Board of Directors
• Academy of Legal Studies in Business

Attorney Joseph W. Shea III

Bar Admissions:

• Ohio, 1974
• Kentucky, 1999
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 1975
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky, 2000
• U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1979
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1984

Education:

• Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law, Highland Heights, Kentucky
  
  • J.D. - 1974
  • Honors: National Moot Court
• University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
  
  • B.A. - 1969
  • Major: Philosophy

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Supreme Court of Ohio, Member, Board of Bar Examiners, 1984 - 1989
• Chief Justice Thomas Moyer, Supreme Court of Ohio, Chief Bar Examination Examiner, 1989 - 1990
• Chief Justice Thomas Moyer, Special Re-Appointment as Supreme Court Examiner, 1991
• Ohio State Bar Association, Chairman, Ethical Advertising, Marketing and Solicitation Committee, 2008 - 2009
• National Board of Trial Advocacy, National Certification Examiner, 1984 - 1987
• National Board of Trial Advocacy, National Certification Examiner, 1991
• National Board of Trial Advocacy, National Certification Examiner, 1994
• National Board of Trial Advocacy, National Certification Examiner, 1997
• National Board of Trial Advocacy, National Certification Examiner, 2001
• National Board of Trial Advocacy, National Certification Examiner, 2003
• Governor's (Ohio) Insurance Task Force, 1984 - 1986
• American Inns of Court, Master, Potter Stewart Chapter, 1993 - 1998
• American Inns of Court, Emeritus Master, Potter Stewart Chapter, 1998 - Present
• American College of Trial Lawyers, Member, 1999 - Present
• American Board Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Advocate, 1989 - Present
• American Board Trial Advocates, National Board of Directors, 1989 - Present
• National Board of Trial Advocacy, Diplomat, 1984 - 2009
• National Board of Trial Advocacy, Ohio State Representative, 1990 - Present
• International Society of Barristers, Fellow, 1994 - Present
• American Board of Trial Advocacy (ABOTA), Cincinnati Chapter Elected as Chapter's Representative, 1989 - Present
• ABOTA Cincinnati Chapter Secretary, 1989 - Present
• OAJ (Youngest President Ever Elected in Academy History), President, 1981 - 1982
• OAJ, Board of Governors, 1983 - 1998
• Indian Hill Schools Booster Board, President, 1997 - 1998
• National Board of Specialty Certification, Nationwide Bar Examiner, 1990 - 2009

Attorney Barbara L. Strady

Bar Admissions:

• Ohio, 1991
• Kentucky, 2000
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 1991
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky, 2006
• U.S. Supreme Court, 2017

Education:

• University of Dayton School of Law, Dayton, Ohio
  
  • J.D. - 1990
• University of Dayton, Ohio
  
  • B.S. - 1987

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Ohio State Bar Association
• Kentucky Bar Association
• Dayton Bar Association
• Mid Miami Valley Bar Association, President, 2016
• Nation’s Top Once Percent Attorney
• Negligence Law Committee, Past Chair
• Miami Valley Trial Lawyers Association
• Ohio Association for Justice, Trustee, 2006 to Present
• Ohio State Bar Foundation, Member and Trustee

Attorney Kevin Tierney

Bar Admissions:

• Ohio

Attorney Michael D. Weisensel

Bar Admissions:

• Ohio, 1997
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio

Education:

• University of Akron School of Law, Akron, Ohio
  
  • J.D. - 1996
• State University of New York, Brockport, New York
  
  • B.S. - 1992

Testimonials

I have needed the Rittgers & Rittgers firm on two separate occasions, in 2002 for a DUI charge that went to a jury trial and now in dealing with two separate incidents in Butler and Hamilton counties. My father is a local judge and was in private practice for many years. Both times he suggested Rittgers & Rittgers and both times I used their services. I was found not guilty of a DUI after taking it to a jury trial on the advice of Charlie Rittgers Sr. In my latest situations Charlie Rittgers Jr. brought both to a more than satisfactory resolution. I have nothing but the best to say about this firm and I would suggest that anyone who finds themselves in need of legal counsel take their case to Rittgers & Rittgers.

- Scott Peeler

He gave me my life back. I can think of no higher praise. He knows the law and he listens and fights for his client. His advice is sound and in the client's best interest. Thank you Mr. Rittgers.

- Bill

A Wonderful Law Firm. I recently had a legal issue arise which was very touchy for me, and I was referred to Rittgers & Rittgers as THE firm to contact in Warren county. Several people suggested Rittgers & Rittgers, and the strongest recommendation came from a lawyer who did not have expertise in the area that I needed. Charles Rittgers Sr. was extremely easy to work with and was able to resolve my issue most effectively. Everyone else that I came into contact with at the firm was equally professional. I most wholeheartedly recommend Rittgers & Rittgers to anyone looking for a lawyer.

- Tim O.

Charlie and his entire staff are caring and focused on good results. I came to the law firm to find a good injury lawyer for a friend of mine. The firm was the best firm we interviewed and the result they obtained was greater than either of us expected. The case was settled before trial.

- Jan

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