SMEARMAN MARSHALL LLC

Wentworth “Jack” Marshall, Jr. focuses his practice in the areas of corporate and business law, probate, estate planning, and real estate. With over sixty years of experience, Jack provides Smearman Marshall’s clients with a wealth of knowledge in these areas. He has been rated “AV” through Martindale Hubbell’s peer rating service (Legal ability "Very High to Preeminent" and general ethical reputation "Very High").

Jack counsels a number of small and medium-sized businesses in the Cleveland area. The business aspect of the practice might find Jack assisting a client with a wide variety of employment, contract and business succession issues, from retention of key employees to sales or purchases of assets or stock.

Jack’s extensive real estate background enables him to advise clients on all aspects of transactions. During his career, Jack has successfully guided clients through leases or purchases of both residential and commercial properties.

Finally, Jack has advised families on wealth transfer avenues and estate planning. Jack has assisted clients with estate tax avoidance through trusts and with transferring assets through proper planning. His experience with probate has enabled clients to successfully carry out their loved one’s estate planning wishes.

Jack was the founding soccer coach at Fenn College, which later became Cleveland State University, and he was elected to Cleveland State’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994. His love for the game inspired him to found the Orange Crush Soccer Club, a youth travel soccer club, and he was involved with it for over 40 years. Jack is an active member of Lord of Life Lutheran Church.

Eric’s practice focuses on litigation, business law, probate and estate planning. He works closely with insurance companies to defend their insureds in litigation, and also handles coverage matters. Eric has represented cities and villages throughout Ohio in cases involving allegations of civil rights violations, police liability, land use and zoning, employment issues, and constitutional challenges to ordinances. Additionally, Eric represents major commercial transportation companies, and a number of small to mid-sized businesses in courts throughout Northern Ohio.

Eric’s business practice involves counseling business owners on topics of formation, employment or human relations issues, commercial real estate (leases and sales), contracts and business succession planning.

Finally, Eric has developed a strong background in probate and estate planning, going back to his initial years of practice. He counsels individuals and their families on planning for the successful transfer of their assets to loved ones. This includes wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. Eric also assists individuals after the death of a family member or loved one. He works with clients through this difficult time to ease the transfer of assets through probate or trust administration.

His involvement with the transfer of assets in estates led to an expertise with real estate transactions. Eric has been involved with residential sales, purchases and leases. He also counsel business clients on commercial leases and sales or purchases of real estate.

Eric has been rated “AV” through Martindale Hubbell’s peer rating service (Legal ability "Very High to Preeminent" and general ethical reputation "Very High").

Eric is an active member of his community. Eric serves as Vice-Chairman on the Planning Commission for the City of Middleburg Heights. He is a member of St. Bartholomew’s Parish, and the Lawyers Guild of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, and was a past member of its Executive Committee. Eric coached soccer, baseball and softball for many years, and the City of Middleburg Heights recognized Eric as its Coach of the Year in 2010.

Caitlin’s practice focuses upon litigation, business and employment law, probate administration, and estate planning. Her litigation experience helps to guide clients through the litigation process and insurance coverage matters. Caitlin’s representation of municipalities throughout Ohio focuses upon allegations of civil rights violations, police liability, employment issues and constitutional challenges to ordinances.

Drawing upon her prior experience, Caitlin assists our business clients with employment issues, including employee handbook reviews, employment discrimination claims and EEOC challenges. She also advises clients on contract analysis and formation, including non- competition agreements and severance agreements.

Caitlin also advises our clients on real estate issues, including landlord/tenant disputes, review and analysis of leases, both residential and commercial.

Caitlin’s practice also involves counseling individuals and families on wills, powers of attorney and other estate planning issues. She also helps families following the death of a loved one through asset transfers and probate administration.