Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP is pleased to announce that the following 15 lateral attorneys have joined its Indianapolis office effective April 16.

Partners

• Jeffrey A. Abrams
• Thomas R. Biehl
• Kiamesha-Sylvia G. Colom
• Melvin R. Daniel
• Peter S. French
• Andrew A. Kleiman
• Jeffrey Kosc
• Andi M. Metzel
• James H. Schwarz

Associates

• Kevin J. Burns
• Patrick F.X. Fitzpatrick, Jr.
• Paul Obszanski

Of Counsel

• Lindsey Rothrock

Senior Counsel

• Norman R. Newman
• Gary P. Price

Jeffrey A. Abrams is a partner in Taft’s Real Estate practice group and represents banks and lending institutions, developers, landlords, tenants, builders, contractors and all types of business owners. He has represented companies and lenders in documenting different types of transactions, including acquisition and development of land, shopping centers, office and industrial buildings, acquisition of businesses, development loans, construction loans and leases for various property types. Abrams is a fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers and is listed in Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America and Indiana Super Lawyers. He is a graduate of Indiana University McKinney School of Law and Miami University.

Thomas R. Biehl is a partner in Taft’s Labor & Employment practice group. He has a broad range of experience counseling employers and handling traditional labor matters, including collective bargaining negotiations, union representation and decertification elections, labor arbitrations, work stoppages, and unfair labor practice charges. Biehl is a graduate of the University of Toledo College of Law and Ohio State University.

Kiamesha-Sylvia G. Colom is a partner in Taft’s Real Estate practice group and focuses her practice in the areas of real estate transactions (acquisitions, dispositions, development, leasing, sale leaseback transactions and real estate municipality work), real estate lending and commercial finance transactions (conventional, SBA and USDA lending), M/W/V/DBE certifications and related business transactions. Colom received a J.D. from Indiana University McKinney School of Law, a M.S. Ed. from Mercy College and a B.A. from Manhattanville College. She is listed as an Up and Coming Lawyer in Chambers USA and an Indiana Rising Star in Super Lawyers and was recognized by the Indianapolis Business Journal as Forty Under 40 in 2018.

Melvin R. Daniel is a partner in Taft’s Public Law practice group and has extensive experience in municipal law and related planning and zoning. He advises municipal clients on all issues relating to local government and economic development. Daniel is also experienced in all types of court trials, jury trials and motion practice. He is a graduate of Indiana University McKinney School of Law and Indiana State University and is listed in Best Lawyers in America.

Peter S. French is a partner in Taft’s Litigation practice group and represents clients in federal and state court lawsuits in jurisdictions across the U.S. He advises manufacturers, software companies, large commercial real estate developers, construction contractors, insurance companies and many other businesses in a wide variety of complex litigation matters. French received a J.D. and a certificate in Environmental Law from Tulane University School of Law and an A.B. from The College of William & Mary.

Andrew A. Kleiman is a partner in Taft’s Real Estate practice group and represents developers, commercial lenders, business owners, entrepreneurs and municipalities. He has represented numerous real estate developers and lending institutions with construction, permanent financing and commercial matters, leasing and purchase and sale transactions and general commercial lending. Kleiman is listed in Chambers USA and is a graduate of Indiana University McKinney School of Law and Indiana University.

Jeffrey Kosc is a partner in Taft’s Intellectual Property practice group. He concentrates his practice on transactional and litigation matters in the areas of intellectual property, information technology, data security, privacy, e-commerce, telecommunications, and advertising, sweepstakes and promotions. He also represents clients in the negotiation of technology transfer, license and procurement agreements. Kosc is a graduate of DePaul University College of Law and Colby College.

Andi M. Metzel is a partner in Taft’s Litigation practice group. She is an experienced litigator and focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation, including shareholder and corporate governance disputes, fraud, RICO, land use, construction, shareholder derivative suits, business torts, supply chain, class actions, product liability, trade secrets and non-compete disputes. Metzel is listed in Best Lawyers in America and Indiana Super Lawyers. She received a J.D. from Indiana University McKinney School of Law and a B.A. from Franklin College. Metzel also attended Acadia University for International Relations, Politics and participated in the United Nations program at Drew University.

James H. Schwarz is a partner in Taft’s Real Estate practice group and represents real estate developers in the acquisition, development, financing, leasing and sale of real estate. He also has experience negotiating leases for regional developers, as well as ground leases for hotel sites adjacent to retail developments. Schwarz is a fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers and is listed in Chambers USA and Indiana Super Lawyers. He is a graduate of Indiana University McKinney School of Law and Indiana University.

Kevin J. Burns is an associate in Taft’s Business & Finance practice group and focuses his practice on transactional and general corporate work including, M&A, drafting and reviewing commercial contracts, and working with companies regarding corporate governance. He is a graduate of Indiana University McKinney School of Law and Indiana University. Prior to attending law school, Burns was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bulgaria.

Patrick F.X. Fitzpatrick, Jr. is an associate in Taft’s Litigation practice group. His practice encompasses a broad range of complex commercial disputes in which he litigated as lead and second chair counsel at the trial and appellate levels. He also has experience before various alternative dispute resolution tribunals. Fitzpatrick served as law clerk for Justice Roberto A. Rivera-Soto, Supreme Court of New Jersey. He received a J.D. from Fordham University and a B.A. from Fairfield University.

Paul Obszanski is an associate in Taft’s Business & Finance practice group. He focuses his practice on corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and other strategic transactions. He has experience in real estate lending, loan documentation, and leasing. Obszanski is a Certified Public Accountant and a graduate of Indiana University McKinney School of Law and Indiana University-Fort Wayne.

Lindsey Rothrock is of counsel in Taft’s Intellectual Property practice group. She represents and advises clients with regard to federal and international trademark prosecution, trademark and copyright infringement and enforcement issues. She also counsels clients with regard to general operations and commercial strategy as they relate to Intellectual Property concerns, including negotiating licensing agreements, asset purchase agreements, confidentiality agreements, and assignments. Rothrock is a graduate of DePaul University College of Law and Indiana University.

Norman R. Newman is senior counsel in Taft’s Real Estate practice group. He represents both local and national developers of all types of real estate development projects, including shopping centers, industrial parks, office buildings, apartment projects and residential subdivisions, and in all phases of such projects, including land acquisition, zoning, leasing, environmental compliance, financing and construction. Newman is a fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers and is listed in Best Lawyers in America and Indiana Super Lawyers. He received an A.B. from Indiana University and a J.D., with distinction, from the Indiana University McKinney School of Law where he is now an adjunct professor.

Gary P. Price is senior counsel in Taft’s Litigation practice group and has broad experience as a trial lawyer, from civil rights cases to complex commercial litigation, and is also a registered mediator. He has tried to judgment or verdict cases involving a wide range of legal subject matter. Price is a graduate of Indiana University McKinney School of Law and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and is listed in Indiana Super Lawyers.

Taft has 121 attorneys in Indianapolis and 440 firm wide across 10 main offices. In 2017, Taft added 51 lateral attorneys across a wide range of disciplines.