Unpacking the Packing: A Perspective on the Efforts to Expand the Supreme Court
Season 01 Episode 18
Controversy regarding the claimed increased partisanship of the U.S. Supreme Court and efforts to change the Court’s makeup by expanding its numbers continues to be in the headlines. So Shoveling Smoke thought it would be interesting to take a historical and constitutional look at how the Court’s number was established, how it has been the subject of threatened changes in the past, and what the Committee established by President Biden had to say about the issue. Frantz Ward partner Greg Farkas joins the podcast to walk us through these issues and give us an idea of the practical pros and cons of what an expansion of the Court might mean.
Host: Michael E. Smith Guest: Gregory R. Farkas
Public-Private Collaboration as a Means to Economic Development – A Blueprint from the Shaker Heights Development Fund
Season 01 Episode 17
Great things can happen when government and the private sector combine forces to address a problem that neither can effectively address on its own. Nick Fedor, Executive Director of the Shaker Heights Development Corporation, joins the podcast to discuss how his organization is doing just that by sponsoring a real estate development fund allowing private investment in order to redevelop an emerging commercial district of Shaker Heights. Frantz Ward attorney Karl May also joins to explain how they were able to navigate the securities and regulatory issues posed by this innovative investment offering.
Host: Christopher C. Koehler Guests: Nick Fedor and Karl E. May
The Basics for Building Your Workforce
Season 01 Episode 16
As a business grows, a very exciting step is adding the company’s first employees, but it is also one that should be very intentional and well-considered. Frantz Ward attorney Megan Bennett joins the podcast to discuss the importance of developing job descriptions, considering the terms “employee” and “independent contractor,” and how to develop policies and procedures to ensure a legally compliant business.
Host: Alanna C. Guy Guest: Megan E. Bennett
Hot! Hot! Hot! Don’t get Burned by the Perils of Buying and Selling Residential Real Estate
Season 01 Episode 15
The residential real estate market in Cleveland continues to boom, with home price values increasing by more than 10-20% in northeast Ohio over the past few years. So Shoveling Smoke thought this would be a good time to review the nuts and bolts of the residential real estate transaction and to identify the possible pitfalls that come with buying in a hot market. To cover those topics, we invited Frantz Ward partner Mark Rodio to give us some commentary on how the COVID pandemic is impacting how residential real estate deals are getting done.
Host: Michael E. Smith Guest: Mark L. Rodio
You Came Up With a Great Business Idea During the Pandemic – Now What?
Season 01 Episode 14
A fledging business doesn’t just need a solid business plan; it also needs a strong legal foundation. This foundation is not “one size fits all,” so it’s important to tailor your choices to your specific industry and your risk tolerance, long-term goals and budget. Frantz Ward attorney Alanna Guy joins the podcast to discuss the building blocks necessary to start a new business, from choosing and forming the appropriate legal entity, to preparing documents for managing the entity, to considering what other safeguards might be necessary to set your business up for long-term success.
Host: Christopher C. Koehler Guest: Alanna C. Guy
Criminal Sentencing Reform: A Conversation with Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Michael Donnelly
Season 01 Episode 13
In light of the wide disparity of sentences for felonies across Ohio, the Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission has developed and is implementing a Criminal Sentencing Database designed to provide judges with data to rely upon when crafting sentences. Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Michael Donnelly, one of the leading advocates of the program, joins the podcast to discuss the initiative’s importance to all Ohioans, not just for those involved in the criminal justice system, and explain how the program brings more fairness and transparency to sentencing. Frantz Ward’s Managing Partner, Chris Keim, also Co-Chair of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association’s Racial Equity And the Law work group on Criminal Justice Reform, joins in the conversation to discuss the value of the program and report on his group’s role in its adoption by the courts.
Host: Christopher C. Koehler Guests: Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Michael Donnelley and Christopher G. Keim
Scoring Big for the CLE: A Conversation with David Gilbert, President and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission
Season 01 Episode 12
Cleveland’s profile as a destination city continues to grow and no entity is more responsible for that success than the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. Shoveling Smoke welcomes guests David Gilbert, GCSC’s and Destination Cleveland’s President and CEO, and Christopher Keim, Frantz Ward’s Managing Partner and member of the GCSC Board of Trustees. Together, we discuss the challenges and rewards of attracting sports events – like the NFL draft, NBA All-Star Game and NCAA basketball tournaments – to Cleveland, the economic and intangible impacts such events have on our city and how partnerships with the business community and other city constituents make it happen.
Host: Michael E. Smith Guests: David Gilbert and Christopher G. Keim
Spurring Economic Growth in Northeast Ohio: A Conversation with Bill Koehler of Team NEO
Season 01 Episode 11
Frantz Ward is proud to partner with Team NEO, the business and economic development organization focused on accelerating economic growth and job creation throughout the 18 counties of Northeast Ohio. Bill Koehler, the organization’s CEO, joins the podcast to discuss the economic outlook for the region, how the public and private sectors are working together to both attract new businesses and help existing businesses, and the resources that are available to companies in their growth initiatives.
Host: Christopher C. Koehler Guest: Bill Koehler
Looking from the Outside In: A Conversation with In-House Counsel Kelley Barnett
Season 01 Episode 10
Shoveling Smoke is pleased to welcome Former Frantz Ward Partner Kelley Barnett. Kelley has seen it all – from trying major felony cases as a Cuyahoga County Prosecutor to becoming a top commercial trial lawyer at Frantz Ward to serving in her current role as vice-president and corporate counsel for labor and employment at AmTrust Financial Services. In this episode, she sits down with her former colleagues to discuss the keys to success in her transitions to each role. She also provides insight as to how to build strong relationships between attorneys and their business clients.
Hosts: Michael E. Smith and Christopher C. Koehler Guest: Kelley J. Barnett
Don’t Learn Safety by Accident: A Look at Worker Safety and OSHA Initiatives Under the Biden Administration
Season 01 Episode 09
Continuing our discussions about what the legal landscape may look like under the Biden Administration, Frantz Ward Labor and Employment Partner Christina Niro joins us to discuss what we can expect in terms of workplace safety initiatives and the work of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. We will discuss anticipated increases in OSHA inspections, new rules and regulations that may arise and the potential expansion of workforce-related programs. We will also check in to see how the ongoing COVID pandemic may impact this arena.
Host: Michael E. Smith Guest: Christina E. Niro
