Kegler Brown Hill + Ritter

09/11/2026

Join Kegler Brown at the 2026 Smart Business Dealmakers Conference on September 24 at the Hilton Columbus Downtown, where business leaders, investors, advisors, and deal professionals will gather to discuss the forces shaping today’s M&A market.

Our own Steve Barsotti will be joining a panel on “Structuring the Deal: How Strategic Buyers, Private Equity, and Family Offices Bridge Valuation Gaps Differently.” The conversation will explore how successful buyers are using earnouts, seller financing, equity rollovers, and other creative structures to bridge valuation gaps and complete transactions in a competitive market.

If you're involved in buying, selling, investing in, or scaling businesses, this is one of Central Ohio’s premier opportunities to hear from experienced dealmakers and connect with fellow executives, investors, and advisors.

Register using promo code KEGLER250 to receive $250 off your conference ticket: https://www.smartbusinessdealmakers.com/columbus/event?promo=KEGLER250

09/11/2026

What does responsible growth actually look like for a restaurant brand? At Ohio Restaurant & Hospitality Alliance's Legal Center LIVE, Steve Barsotti, Kacie Davis, Jacob Dobres, and Brendan Feheley joined a panel on financing, franchising, and employment considerations for growing hospitality businesses, built around one framework: Control, Discipline, Growth.

Read the full article here: https://www.keglerbrown.com/publications/control-discipline-growth-restaurant-brand-strategy

Kegler Brown attorneys share key takeaways on financing, franchising, and employment considerations for restaurant brands pursuing growth, from ORHA Legal Center LIVE.

09/09/2026

Our new office in Findlay marks the next chapter in Kegler Brown's service to clients across northwestern Ohio.

Abby Wilson has joined the firm to lead the new Findlay office, bringing with her over a decade of experience advising individuals, families, fiduciaries and business owners on estate planning, trust and estate administration, charitable giving, asset protection, long-term care planning, real estate matters, and business and agricultural succession planning.

Joining Abby are legal assistants Maven Reynolds and Alicia Distel. Together, they bring deep roots in the Findlay community and a wealth of legal, business and client service experience.

Learn more about our newest office and team: https://www.keglerbrown.com/news/kegler-brown-expands-northwest-ohio-presence-with-new-findlay-office

09/03/2026

We were proud to sponsor ORHA Legal Center LIVE and join the panel discussion on growth in the restaurant and hospitality industry.

Jacob Dobres moderated a conversation with Steve Barsotti, Kacie Davis, and Brendan Feheley on financing, franchising, and employment considerations for growing brands, built around one framework: Control, Discipline, Growth.

Thank you to Ohio Restaurant & Hospitality Alliance for having us, and to everyone who joined the conversation. We're not done talking about this one, look for a follow-up article soon, digging deeper into our discussion on what it takes to grow a restaurant brand responsibly.

Learn more about what we do in the Restaurant + Retail industry: https://www.keglerbrown.com/restaurants-retail

09/02/2026

Join Vinita Mehra + Kegler Brown's Global Business team on September 15 as we host a visiting business delegation from Ghana for a luncheon and conversation focused on international trade, investment, and business growth. The program will feature discussion around doing business in the United States, economic development opportunities in Ohio, and pathways for collaboration with companies from Ghana.

The delegation is being led by the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), an organization dedicated to supporting entrepreneurship and business growth throughout Ghana. We look forward to bringing together business leaders, economic development professionals, and members of Ohio's business community for this unique exchange of ideas and opportunities.

Space is limited and reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn more about the event and how to reserve your seat here: https://www.keglerbrown.com/events/a-conversation-with-ghanas-business-delegation

08/31/2026

We were proud to sponsor Racquets for RMHC event in support of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio.

A big thanks to Abi Dalesandro, Angela Lanctot, Joe Colvin, and Steve Tugend for representing the firm on the tennis and pickleball courts while helping raise support for families served by RMHC.

The official match results may remain confidential, but we can confirm our team had a great time supporting a great cause!

08/27/2026

Ohio just gave lenders a new way to take crypto as collateral.

Kegler Brown directors Matt Zofchak and Maria Mariano Guthrie break down what H.B. 195 means for lenders, businesses, and investors in Law360.

The law adds Article 12 to Ohio's UCC, allowing lenders to perfect a security interest in cryptocurrency, NFTs, and other digital assets by obtaining control, not just by filing a financing statement.

Before this, lenders had no clear playbook for taking digital assets as collateral in Ohio. Now they do, but only if their documentation and processes catch up.

With the law taking effect in early October, Matt and Maria outline what banks, credit unions, fintech companies, and counsel should be doing right now:

→ Updating loan forms and security agreements for digital asset collateral
→ Building control agreement templates with custodians and exchanges
→ Reviewing existing facilities for reperfection issues
→ Tracking multistate adoption gaps for cross-border deals

Read the full breakdown on Law360: https://www.law360.com/articles/2514455

08/25/2026

Last week, members of Kegler Brown's Real Estate team welcomed clients, colleagues, and friends to the Bullpen Suite at Huntington Park for an afternoon with the Columbus Clippers.

Along with getting a break from the rain, we also got to enjoy a double-header (the previous night’s game got rained out), and it was great to re-connect with peers from across the real estate industry and strengthen the relationships that make our work meaningful.

Thank you to everyone who joined us – and thanks to the Clippers for helping us put on such a fantastic event – we appreciate the opportunity to spend time together outside the office and look forward to seeing you again soon.

08/24/2026

Last week, Michael Schottenstein, chair of Kegler Brown's Real Estate + Finance Practice, moderated a panel discussion at Bisnow's Columbus State of the Market event. The program brought together developers, investors, lenders, and industry leaders to discuss the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping Central Ohio's real estate market.

Commercial real estate is constantly evolving, and conversations about what's next are more valuable than ever – so thank you to Bisnow for the opportunity to participate in such a thoughtful and timely discussion, and to everyone who joined that conversation.

08/21/2026

The future is bright at Kegler Brown! Six associates have been recognized in the 2027 Best Lawyers® "Ones to Watch" rankings, which honor lawyers early in their careers for outstanding professional excellence.

Their recognition complements our 33 attorneys named to the 2027 Best Lawyers® list, reflecting the depth of talent and service across the firm.

Learn more about this year's honorees: https://www.keglerbrown.com/news/kegler-brown-attorneys-recognized-in-2027-best-lawyers-ones-to-watch