Shows
Shoveling SmokeEp 30 | An Overview of the First and Latest Recreational Cannabis States: What to Learn and What’s NextIn the 13 years since Colorado legalized recreational cannabis, the industry has exploded in multiple states across the country. With Ohio as the latest to open its doors to the cannabis industry, Frantz Ward Of Counsel Mia Garcia and Partners Thomas Haren and Keenan Jones examine Colorado’s established cannabis industry and look forward to the expanding industry in Ohio.
2025-04-1629 minShoveling SmokeExecutive Orders and DEI: A New Landscape for EmployersThe new Trump administration has already implemented significant changes to DEI policies, EEOC enforcement policies, and federal contractor requirements. Join Frantz Ward Partners Megan Bennett and Andrew Cleves as they break down the latest executive orders and discuss new compliance obligations businesses should consider moving forward.
2025-03-0319 minShoveling SmokeSmart Hiring or Smart Risks? AI's Impact on Employment LawArtificial intelligence is reshaping how employers screen candidates and make hiring decisions—but with this power comes responsibility. Join Frantz Ward Partner Megan Bennett and Associate Stacey Sanderson as they explore the intersection of AI and employment law. Discover how is AI changing workplace dynamics, the legal implications of its use in hiring, and the risks of bias and discrimination. From real-world cases to emerging regulations, they provide practical guidance for employers looking to integrate AI into their hiring processes while ensuring fairness and compliance.
2024-12-0516 minShoveling SmokeBuilding a Secure Future: Cyber Defense in ConstructionCybersecurity isn't just a tech issue—it's a construction imperative. Join Frantz Ward Partner Brad Reed and Associate Brad Ouambo as they uncover the vulnerabilities within the industry and share actionable advice on defending against cyber attacks. Equip yourself with the knowledge to safeguard your projects and data.
2024-11-0730 minShoveling SmokeFollowing the Rule: A Guide to Recent FTC DevelopmentsWith the Federal Trade Commission recently issuing their “Final Rule,” this leaves employers facing a lot of unknowns along with impending questions about the state of their companies. Labor and Employment Practice Group Chair Brian Kelly and Andrew Cleves join host Mike Smith to delve into what kinds of non-compete clauses will be barred by this rule and what this means for employers moving forward.
2024-08-2620 minShoveling SmokeDo You Hear That? Employers Facing Rise in OSHA section 11(c) Whistleblower ComplaintsIn recent years, the number of OSHA Whistleblower complaints has been steadily on the rise, but why? In the newest episode of Shoveling Smoke, Frantz Ward Partner Christina Niro joins host Chris Koehler as they discuss current trends, how an OSHA whistleblower complaint gets filed and investigated, and how to prepare for and defend against them.
2023-08-0118 minShoveling SmokeLabor and Employment Updates in 2023 – A Preview of Frantz Ward’s Annual Labor SeminarThe labor and employment fields seem like they’re in a constant state of change. If you’re looking for an update, why not learn from the best? Labor & Employment Practice Group Partner Christina Niro joins host Chris Koehler as she summarizes some of the recent labor and employment updates that will be covered during the firm’s upcoming annual L&E seminar, “Avoiding Panda-monium in the Workplace,” happening June 14, 2023.
2023-05-0915 minShoveling SmokeFilling the Employment Gap: A Conversation with Team NEO’s Jacob DuritskyAs businesses continue to face challenges in locating and retaining employees, it’s clear that a key to the growth and success of Northeast Ohio’s economy is the development of the workforce and talent to fill existing job opportunities and those on the horizon. Team NEO’s Jacob Duritsky joins Frantz Ward’s Chris Koehler to discuss Team NEO’s 2022 Aligning Opportunities report, which provides data-driven insights into our region’s talent demand/supply gap. We address the results of the research and how businesses and employees can capitalize on those insights to close the gap to make the region mor...
2022-12-0726 minShoveling SmokeHR Evolved: How Attorneys can Partner with HR Professionals in a Constantly Changing WorldHuman Resources is an ever-changing field and the Pandemic only seemed to demonstrate this further. From updating guidelines, to updating technology, the evolution of HR in the last few years alone is enough to put even the most ardent of HR professionals through the wringer. Now more than ever, HR professionals are relying on their attorneys, both in-house and outside counsel, to partner with them to navigate difficult issues. To help better make sense of it all, Chief People and Human Resources Officer for Equity Trust, Amy Hall, joins the podcast to discuss the change and development of HR...
2022-09-2731 minShoveling SmokeWhere There's A Will, There's A WayWill my family be taken care of when I am no longer around? Who will take care of me if I become incapacitated? Although these are questions we often don’t like to consider, the Covid-19 pandemic woke many people up to the need to have an estate plan in place. Frantz Ward attorney Rick Humiston joins the podcast to discuss the basic elements of Estate Planning as well as some additional planning suggestions for business owners.
2022-07-1215 minShoveling SmokeReading the Fine Print: Making Your Terms and Conditions Match Your Business Goals and RisksAs Pete Seeger said, "Education is when you read the fine print; experience is what you get when you don't." As world events continue to have lingering impacts on the transaction of business, some companies are learning the hard way that their contractual Terms and Conditions don't align with their current business risks and goals. Terms and Conditions are not "one size fits all," so it's important to evaluate them regularly and to tailor them to your company's current business needs. Frantz Ward attorney Alanna Guy joins the podcast to discuss the foundational elements of partnering with clients to...
2022-04-2619 minShoveling SmokeBusiness Law Update: A Primer on Ohio’s Revised LLC ActOhio recently modernized its laws governing limited liability companies through the Revised Limited Liability Company Act. The revised regulations apply to all Ohio limited liability companies, regardless of when organized, making it crucial for Ohio LLCs to understand the changes and their potential impact. Frantz Ward attorney Michael Gibbons joins the podcast to highlight the key changes and the impact those can have on LLCs in Ohio.
2022-04-0515 minShoveling SmokeUnpacking the Packing: A Perspective on the Efforts to Expand the Supreme CourtControversy regarding the claimed increased partisanship of the U.S. Supreme Court and efforts to change the Court’s makeup by expanding its numbers continues to be in the headlines. So Shoveling Smoke thought it would be interesting to take a historical and constitutional look at how the Court’s number was established, how it has been the subject of threatened changes in the past, and what the Committee established by President Biden had to say about the issue. Frantz Ward partner Greg Farkas joins the podcast to walk us through these issues and give us an idea of the p...
2022-03-0128 minShoveling SmokePublic-Private Sector Collaboration as a Means to Economic Development: A Blueprint from the Shaker Heights Development FundGreat things can happen when government and the private sector combine forces to address a problem that neither can effectively address on its own. Nick Fedor, Executive Director of the Shaker Heights Development Corporation, joins the podcast to discuss how his organization is doing just that by sponsoring a real estate development fund allowing private investment in order to redevelop an emerging commercial district of Shaker Heights. Frantz Ward partner Karl May also joins to explain how they were able to navigate the securities and regulatory issues posed by this innovative investment offering.
2021-11-0926 minShoveling SmokeThe Basics for Building Your WorkforceAs a business grows, a very exciting step is adding the company’s first employees, but it is also one that should be very intentional and well-considered. Frantz Ward attorney Megan Bennett joins the podcast to discuss the importance of developing job descriptions, considering the terms “employee” and “independent contractor,” and how to develop policies and procedures to ensure a legally compliant business.
2021-10-1913 minShoveling SmokeHot! Hot! Hot! Don’t get Burned by the Perils of Buying and Selling Residential Real EstateThe residential real estate market in Cleveland continues to boom, with home price values increasing by more than 10-20% in northeast Ohio over the past few years. So Shoveling Smoke thought this would be a good time to review the nuts and bolts of the residential real estate transaction and to identify the possible pitfalls that come with buying in a hot market. To cover those topics, we invited Frantz Ward partner Mark Rodio to give us some valuable insight on these issues from both a buyer and seller perspective. Mark will also give us some commentary on how...
2021-09-2824 minShoveling SmokeYou Came Up With a Great Business Idea During the Pandemic - Now What?A fledging business doesn't just need a solid business plan; it also needs a strong legal foundation. This foundation is not "one size fits all," so it's important to tailor your choices to your specific industry and your risk tolerance, long-term goals and budget. Frantz Ward attorney Alanna Guy joins the podcast to discuss the building blocks necessary to start a new business, from choosing and forming the appropriate legal entity, to preparing documents for managing the entity, to considering what other safeguards might be necessary to set your business up for long-term success.
2021-09-0719 minShoveling SmokeCriminal Sentencing Reform: A Conversation with Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Michael DonnellyIn light of the wide disparity of sentences for felonies across Ohio, the Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission has developed and is implementing a Criminal Sentencing Database designed to provide judges with data to rely upon when crafting sentences. Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Michael Donnelly, one of the leading advocates of the program, joins the podcast to discuss the initiative’s importance to all Ohioans, not just for those involved in the criminal justice system, and explain how the program brings more fairness and transparency to sentencing. Frantz Ward’s Managing Partner, Chris Keim, also Co-Chair of the Cleveland Metrop...
2021-08-1726 minShoveling SmokeScoring Big for the CLE: A Conversation with David Gilbert, President and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Sports CommissionCleveland's profile as a destination city continues to grow and no entity is more responsible for that success than The Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. Shoveling Smoke welcomes guests David Gilbert, GCSC's and Destination Cleveland's President and CEO, and Christopher Keim, Frantz Ward's Managing Partner and member of the GCSC Board of Trustees. Together, we discuss the challenges and rewards of attracting sports events - like the NFL draft, NBA All-Star Game and NCAA basketball tournaments - to Cleveland, the economic and intangible impacts such events have on our city and how partnerships with the business community and other city...
2021-07-2032 minShoveling SmokeSpurring Economic Growth in Northeast Ohio: A Conversation with Bill Koehler of Team NEOFrantz Ward is proud to partner with Team NEO, the business and economic development organization focused on accelerating economic growth and job creation throughout the 18 counties of Northeast Ohio. Bill Koehler, the organization's CEO, joins the podcast to discuss the economic outlook for the region, how the public and private sectors are working together to both attract new businesses and help existing businesses, and the resources that are available to companies in their growth initiatives.
2021-06-2920 minShoveling SmokeLooking from the Outside In: A Conversation with In-House Counsel Kelley BarnettFormer Frantz Ward partner Kelley Barnett has seen it all – from trying major felony cases as a Cuyahoga County Prosecutor to becoming a top commercial trial lawyer at Frantz Ward to serving in her current role as vice-president and corporate counsel for labor and employment at AmTrust Financial Services. In this episode, she sits down with her former colleagues to discuss the keys to success in her transitions to each role. She also provides insight as how to build strong relationships between attorneys and their business clients.
2021-06-0818 minShoveling SmokeDon't Learn Safety by Accident: A Look at Worker Safety and OSHA Initiatives Under the Biden AdministrationContinuing our discussions about what the legal landscape may look like under the Biden administration, Frantz Ward Labor and Employment Partner Christina Niro joins us to discuss what we can expect in terms of workplace safety initiatives and the work of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. We will discuss anticipated increases in OSHA inspections, new rules and regulations that may arise and the potential expansion of workforce-related programs. We will also check in to see how the ongoing COVID pandemic may impact this arena.
2021-05-1817 minShoveling SmokeBreaking Up Is Hard To Do: Navigating the Domestic Relations ArenaFrantz WardDomestic Relations Partner Katie Arthurs joins us to explain the divorce and dissolution process, to discuss the best strategies for navigating the difficult and often painful challenges that arise in a divorce, and to provide important insights on how you can best protect your businesses from being impacted by such events.
2021-04-2722 minShoveling SmokeOrder in the Court: A Conversation with Judge Brendan Sheehan of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common PleasShoveling Smoke is pleased to welcome The Honorable Brendan J. Sheehan, Administrative Judge of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas and our first outside guest for the podcast. Host Partner Chris Koehler discusses Judge Sheehan’s unique perspectives on several topics, including the judge’s personal experiences, court operations and trials during COVID, the status of the new jail/justice center project, and other services provided by the court system.
2021-04-1327 minShoveling SmokeChanging of the Guard, Part 3: Tax Law Outlook Under the Biden AdministrationA new presidential administration and a shift in control of the Senate mean changes in the legal landscape as well. In Part 3 of our series on the anticipated changes due to the new look in Washington, Frantz Ward Partner Matt Kadish provides a civics lesson and explains why it’s particularly hard to read the tea leaves on tax issues this year. But he has some predictions on what changes we are likely to see, when they’ll occur, and the variables that will affect the outcome.
2021-03-3022 minShoveling SmokeChanging of the Guard, Part 2: Health Care Outlook under the Biden AdministrationIn Part 2 of this three-part series discussing the anticipated changes in the laws and regulations we can expect during the Biden administration, Frantz Ward Partner Craig Haran provides insight on how things will progress on the health care front, discussing how the administration will handle implementation of policies and laws relating to the ACA, COVID relief, Medicare, Medicaid and other hot topic issues.
2021-03-1622 minShoveling SmokeChanging of the Guard, Part 1: Employment Law Outlook under the Biden AdministrationA new presidential administration and a shift in control of the Senate mean changes in the legal landscape as well. This three-part series will address the anticipated changes in the laws and regulations related to employment, health care and tax issues, and at the agencies responsible for enforcement of those laws. In Part 1, Frantz Ward Partner Brian Kelly guides us through the outlook on the labor and employment law front.
2021-03-0223 minShoveling SmokeForgiveness is Divine: Looking at the 2021 PPPFrantz Ward partner Melissa Jones provides insight on the new rules and regulations of the 2021 version of the PPP and gives some ideas as to how your company’s participation in the PPP might help your bottom line.
2021-02-1619 minShoveling SmokeA Dose of Prevention – COVID Vaccine Primer for EmployersNow that the COVID-19 vaccine is poised for a more widespread roll-out, employers are finally able to develop plans to get their employees back to the workplace. But the vaccine will present employment law issues: Can you mandate that your employees get vaccinated? What do you do if they refuse? Frantz Ward attorney Megan Bennett answers those questions and more to help employers navigate the reopening of their businesses.
2021-02-0614 minShoveling SmokeWhere Have You Gone Mrs. Pfalsgraf?Understanding Premises Liability in the COVID world. Frantz Ward Partner Pat Haggerty provides insights on protecting your business from potential liability for claims from people supposedly contracting COVID while on your property. We will discuss the types of claims you may face and the preventive strategies that will minimize your risks.
2021-02-0218 minShoveling SmokeIntroducing: Shoveling Smoke - A Frantz Ward LawcastShoveling Smoke – A Frantz Ward Lawcast is a podcast series created by Frantz Ward LLP, a full-service law firm in Cleveland, Ohio. Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes said that "lawyers spend a great deal of their time shoveling smoke." One interpretation of his remark is that lawyers take a vague concept or principle and give it shape, clearing away the smoke. Our podcast series will focus on current legal issues and news items that may affect your business, your community or you as an individual. Our attorneys – sometimes with a judge, client or other...
2021-01-2201 min