Four attorneys elected as Members at McDonald Hopkins

CLEVELAND, Oct. 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- McDonald Hopkins LLC has announced the election of four attorneys to the firm's membership.

McDonald Hopkins, with offices in Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Chicago, West Palm Beach and Miami, named Alexa Guevara (West Palm Beach), Joshua Gadharf (Detroit), Jason Harley (Columbus) and Ilirjan Pipa (Cleveland) members, effective October 1, 2017.

"This year we are privileged to recognize and promote four attorneys for their expertise, consistently high-level of client service and their entrepreneurial spirit," said Shawn M. Riley, president of McDonald Hopkins. "All four attorneys are rising stars who have demonstrated leadership qualities and expertise in their practice areas."

Alexa Guevara (West Palm Beach) has experience representing developers of commercial, residential, retail and equestrian projects in financing, leasing, sale/leaseback, acquisition, workout and development transactions. 

She has represented property owners, contractors and sub-contractors in various construction and related service agreements and Florida Construction Lien Law Compliance. Guevara also has represented developers and non-profit organizations in projects financed with historic and new market tax credits.

She also has experience representing private and institutional lenders in short term and permanent financing transactions, workout negotiations and forbearance arrangements, loan purchase and sale transactions.

Guevara earned a J.D. from the University of Florida in 2002 and received a B.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame in 1997.

Joshua Gadharf (Detroit) is in the Business Restructuring Services Department and counsels clients on strategic alternatives in distressed business settings.  He regularly represents public and private companies, directors, officers, lenders, creditors, shareholders and strategic and financial investors. Gadharf's debtor practice involves advising companies and their boards of directors in business restructurings scenarios ranging from out-of-court restructurings to Chapter 11 reorganizations and liquidations. He also regularly advises boards and management teams on strategic, corporate and governance matters and regularly litigates in federal and state courts.

Selected for inclusion as a Michigan Rising Star (2015-2017) by Super Lawyers, Gadharf is a member of the Turnaround Management Association, Turnaround Management Association – NextGen and the American Bankruptcy Institute.

Gadharf earned a J.D., with honors, from Illinois Institute of Technology's Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2008. He received a B.A., with honors, from Washington University in St. Louis in 2003.

Jason Harley (Columbus) is experienced in complex litigation matters in the areas of construction, general business, and oil and gas. Prior to entering the legal profession, Harley gained experience in the construction industry as a project engineer for a mechanical contractor and a project lead for an MEP design engineering firm.

Recognized by Super Lawyers as an OhioRising Star (2014-2017), Harley is a member of the American Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association, Columbus Bar Association, the Associated General Contractors of Ohio and the Builders Exchange of Central Ohio.

Harley earned a J.D., magna cum laude, from Capital University Law School in 2008. He received a B.S. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 2002.  

Ilirjan Pipa (Cleveland) has significant experience in securities, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and general corporate transactions.

He has represented public and private companies operating in a variety of industries related to negotiating and drafting M&A transaction documents and offering documents, negotiating and drafting general corporate agreements and drafting and filing the 1933 Act and 1934 Act filings for public companies. 

Fluent in Albanian, Pipa received his J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, an M.B.A. from Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Management and his B.A. from Baldwin Wallace University.

About McDonald Hopkins
Founded in 1930, McDonald Hopkins is a business advisory and advocacy law firm with locations in Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Miami, and West Palm Beach. With more than 50 service and industry teams, the firm has the expertise and knowledge to meet the growing number of legal and business challenges our clients face. For more information about McDonald Hopkins, visit mcdonaldhopkins.com.

CONTACT:
Deborah W. Kelm
McDonald Hopkins LLC
600 Superior Avenue, East, Suite 2100
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Phone: 216.348.5733
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE McDonald Hopkins LLC