CLEVELAND, Oct. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- McDonald Hopkins LLC, a business advisory and advocacy law firm with offices in Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Miami, and West Palm Beach, announces the election of four attorneys to the firm's membership.

Anne Owings Ford (Cleveland) - Member, Litigation

Michael J. Kaczka (Cleveland) - Member, Business Restructuring and Bankruptcy

Jessica T. Lifshitz (West Palm Beach) - Member, Business Law

Owen P. Quinn (Chicago) - Member, Litigation

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111003/CL79329)

"We are always gratified to see our attorneys advance in their careers," said Carl J. Grassi, president of McDonald Hopkins. "All four of these professionals are talented lawyers who have demonstrated their meaningful value to our clients. They have contributed to the growth of our firm and I am confident they will continue to help us thrive. In addition to these promotions, we continue to recruit attorneys for our national practice groups."

Anne Owings Ford (Cleveland), co-chair of the firm's Pro Bono and Public Service Committee, is a seasoned litigator who has experience in the law of products liability, insurance, employment, state and federal discrimination and more. She has successfully represented clients in federal and state trial and appellate courts around the country, as well as in alternative dispute resolution forums.  

Based in Cleveland, Ford was instrumental in the development of the McDonald Hopkins Juvenile Court Pro Se Clinic, which is an unprecedented collaboration with the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court and the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland to provide those in need with free legal assistance. She is also an active member of the firm's Women's Committee. Ford is a member of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio ADR Panel and serves as a neutral in matters referred by that Court for mediation. She further serves the Court as a member of the Advisory Group and the Civil Pro Bono Legal Services Program for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. Ford is an influential member of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, serving on that body's Board of Trustees, Executive Committee and Diversity Circle Steering Committee.

Ford has a J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree with distinction from the University of Michigan.

Michael J. Kaczka (Cleveland) practices law in the firm's Business Restructuring and Bankruptcy Services Department, which is one of the largest and most sophisticated restructuring and bankruptcy practices in the Great Lakes region. Kaczka focuses on commercial bankruptcy, corporate restructuring and creditors' rights. He represents debtors, creditors, creditor committees and liquidating trustees in business reorganizations including chapter 11 proceedings, state-related insolvencies, and out-of-court workouts and restructurings.

Kaczka received his J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from Washington and Lee University. Selected for inclusion in Ohio Rising Stars for the past three years, Kaczka serves on the board of the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Cleveland.

Jessica T. Lifshitz (West Palm Beach) practices law in the firm's Business Law Department. She is an experienced corporate attorney who specializes in real estate transactions, commercial finance and lending, and mergers and acquisitions. In real estate, Lifshitz represents landlords and tenants related to leasing, as well as buyers and sellers of commercial, retail and industrial facilities. In addition, her commercial finance experience includes representing lenders and borrowers in a variety of loan transactions.

Lifshitz has a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan.  She is based in the West Palm Beach office, which opened in 2004. McDonald Hopkins has a second office in South Florida, which opened in Miami in April 2011.

Owen P. Quinn (Chicago) is a litigator who specializes in construction law and real estate litigation as well as commercial and financial services litigation. He has counseled clients in matters involving contract disputes, fraud, civil conspiracy, restrictive covenants, improper solicitation, misappropriation of trade secrets, and product and premises liability. Quinn's construction litigation experience includes representing general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers in litigation involving defective and incomplete work, construction delays, payment disputes, and mechanic liens. He has been selected by Super Lawyers for inclusion as an Illinois Rising Star for the past two years.

Quinn has a J.D. and Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois.  He is based in the Chicago office, which opened in 2007, has 20 attorneys, and moved in January 2010 to a premier building on the Chicago River.

About McDonald Hopkins

McDonald Hopkins has more than 130 attorneys in six offices. The firm's comprehensive legal services are provided by teams of specialized attorneys and professionals in areas such as business law, litigation, business restructuring and bankruptcy, estate planning, government affairs, healthcare, intellectual property, labor and employment, and mergers and acquisitions. Service and industry specialties are designed to meet the growing challenges that clients face in an increasingly competitive environment.

For more information about McDonald Hopkins, visit www.mcdonaldhopkins.com.

CONTACT:
Deborah W. Kelm
McDonald Hopkins LLC
600 Superior Avenue, East, Suite 2100
Cleveland, OH 44114
Phone: 216.348.5733
Email: dkelm@mcdonaldhopkins.com

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Carl Grassi
https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=68943

SOURCE McDonald Hopkins LLC