JOAN M. BURDA is a lawyer with a solo practice in Lakewood, Ohio. She limits her practice to estate planning and small business law. Ms. Burda is nationally recognized for her work in addressing legal issues affecting the LGBT community. She is the author of the award-winning book, Estate Planning for Same-Sex Couples, Third Edition (ABA 2015, 2012, 2004). She is also the author of Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Clients: A Lawyer's Guide (ABA 2008). Ms. Burda has written numerous articles on LGBT legal issues and she is a frequent speaker on these issues to bar associations and other organizations domestically and internationally. She is a regular panelist at Lavender Law, the annual law conference sponsored by the National Lesbian and Gay Bar Association. Ms. Burda is an adjunct professor of law at Case Western Reserve University School of Law where she teaches "Sexual Orientation and the Law." She also teaches civil procedure, contracts and administrative law in the legal studies program at Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, Ohio. She graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law in Malibu, California. Ms. Burda is a member of the American Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association, the National LGBT Bar Association and the American Society of Journalists and Authors. (Canton and Independence locations)

DAVID L. DINGWELL is a partner in the law firm of Tzangas Plakas Mannos Ltd., where he practices in the areas of general business and real estate litigation, probate and estate planning, probate litigation, and employment litigation. Mr. Dingwell is also a member of the Board of Professional Conduct and is a past chairman. He previously served as counsel for the Stark County Bar Association in disciplinary proceedings before the Ohio Supreme Court's Board of Professional Conduct. Mr. Dingwell has written and presented lectures to the state and regional seminars of the Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, the Stark County Academy of Trial Lawyers, the Stark County Bar Association, the Area Agency on Aging, and other organizations. He is a member of the Stark County Bar Association (president 2012-2013), the Ohio Association for Justice, the Stark County Association for Justice, and the Ohio State Bar Association. Mr. Dingwell earned his B.A. degree from the University of Kansas and his J.D. degree from the University of Akron. (Canton location)

DAVID DUPLAIN is an attorney at his firm, DuPlain Law. Including his years as a legal accountant, Mr. DuPlain has more than 17 years of experience in the area of estate planning and administration. Along with handling standard estate and trust matters, he handles all manners of more highly sophisticated, complex, and nuanced trust drafting and funding. Mr. DuPlain counsels clients and other attorneys on gift and estate taxation, generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax, lifetime transfer planning, and charitable endowment planning. He also advises business owners on corporate restructuring, business succession planning and recapitalization, and how to maintain proper corporate records. Mr. DuPlain earned his B.S. degree from Kent State University, and his M.Tax. and J.D. degrees from the University of Akron. (Canton and Independence locations)

THOMAS I. HAUSMAN is an attorney in private practice at The Law Offices of Thomas I. Hausman, LLC, where he counsels a variety of clients on partnership, estate planning, tax controversy, and corporate tax matters. He has represented many clients in connection with the formation, management, operation and liquidation of partnerships and limited liability companies; the sale of partnership interests; the reorganization of partnerships and limited liability companies; and the allocation of profits and losses among partners. Mr. Hausman also practices in the areas of estate planning and tax controversy work before the Appeals Office of the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Tax Court. He was the administrative director of the graduate tax (LL.M.) program and a faculty member of Case Western Reserve University Law School, where he taught courses in partnership tax, estate planning, and corporate tax. Mr. Hausman is currently an adjunct professor at CWRU Law School, where he teaches estate planning, partnership and corporate tax. He is a member of the Tax Specialty Board of the Ohio State Bar Association, which is responsible for making recommendations to the Ohio Supreme Court for the certification of a lawyer as a tax specialist. Mr. Hausman is a member of the Tax Section of the American Bar Association, where he has for many years been a member of the Partnership Tax Committee. (Independence location)

DIANA D. JANCURA is the founding owner of the law firm Jancura & Associates, LLC, based in Sheffield Lake. She focuses her practice in the areas of estate planning, trust and estate administration, post-mortem planning, guardianships, small businesses and residential real estate. Ms. Jancura is a member of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association where she served as chair of the Estate Planning and Probate Section, and for the past 15 years she is chair of Sheffield Lake Zoning Board of Appeals where she has helped modernize and update local ordinances to encourage development of the town’s coast along Lake Erie and encourage business and commerce within her city. She earned her B.A. degree from Cleveland State University and her J.D. degree Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. (Independence location)

JAMES L. KOEWLER JR. is the founder of The Koewler Law Firm, where his main areas of practice include elder law, special needs and Medicaid planning, and veterans disability. He is a member of the Ohio State, American, Cleveland Metropolitan, and Akron bar associations. Mr. Koewler is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. He earned his B.S. degree from Purdue University and his J.D. degree from Indiana University. (Canton and Independence locations)

DANIEL J. McGUIRE is counsel with Mansour Gavin L.P.A., in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. McGuire is an experienced trusts and estates attorney, helping clients obtain solutions based on their unique situations, concerns and goals. He has represented clients in the entire wealth spectrum and is adept at advising clients to address changing circumstances that require planning for the future. Mr. McGuire is licensed in Ohio and Florida. Before joining Mansour Gavin L.P.A., he was involved on the administrative side of trusts, ensuring the stated goals and intentions of trust grantors were correctly interpreted and executed. Mr. McGuire has served as a mentor to newer trust officers, teaching the practicalities of trust administration, and providing them an accelerated education in the field. He is a member of The Florida Bar, and Ohio and Cleveland Metropolitan bar associations. Mr. McGuire received his B.A. degree from The College of Wooster and earned his J.D. degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. (Independence location)

AMY L. PAPESH is an attorney with the law firm of Elk & Elk Co., Ltd. She focuses her practice on probate administration and estate planning, and heads the firm's Probate Division. Ms. Papesh has previously lectured for National Business Institute on probate matters. She is admitted to practice in the states of Ohio and Florida; and is a member of the Ohio State, Cleveland Metropolitan and Portage County bar associations. Ms. Papesh is also a member of the Lawyer's Guild of the Catholic Dioceses of Cleveland. She is a trustee for the Aurora Baseball League and also for the Aurora Schools Foundation. Ms. Papesh earned her B.A. degree from John Carroll University and her J.D. degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. (Canton location)

ADRIAN C. RIBOVICH is a partner in the law firm of Brennan Manna & Diamond LLC, in the firm's Akron office. His practice is focused on general corporate law, governance issues, asset and stock purchase agreements, commercial real estate purchases and sales, commercial lease negotiations, and commercial loan workouts. Mr. Ribovich earned his B.A. degree from the College of Wooster; his M.B.A. degree, with honors, from the University of Toledo; his L.L.M. degree in taxation from Wayne State University; and his J.D. degree from the University of Toledo School of Law. Mr. Ribovich is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association. (Canton location)