Bricker & Eckler celebrates new Marietta office with ribbon-cutting and reception

Left to Right: Sara Bonnette (MACC Ambassador), Charlotte Keim (Marietta Area Chamber of Commerce), Kurt Tunnell (Bricker & Eckler), Carla Starcher (Bricker & Eckler), Christopher Slagle (Bricker & Eckler), Flite H. Freimann (Bricker & Eckler), David White (Washington County Commissioner), Matt Warnock (Bricker & Eckler), Tina Adams (MACC Ambassador), Ryan Smith (Bricker & Eckler), Ron Feathers (Washington County Commissioner), and Mike McCauley (Marietta City Council).

MARIETTA, OHIO (Sept. 10, 2013) - Bricker & Eckler LLP unveiled the firm’s newest location in Ohio at 258 Front Street in downtown Marietta with a ribbon-cutting event and open house on Tues., Sept. 10.

“Marietta and the surrounding region is poised for tremendous growth, and with that growth comes both opportunity and challenges,” said Kurt Tunnell, Bricker’s managing partner. “Working with so many clients in the region over a quarter century, we believe we can be helpful in making sure that success is sustained for the long term.”

“It’s a grand day when we can open a business like this in Marietta. The firm has taken the time to get involved in our community in addition to practicing law. Welcome back home, Bricker!” said Charlotte Keim, Marietta Chamber of Commerce president.

“Bricker & Eckler is known for providing legal services throughout the state of Ohio on issues ranging from oil and gas, to health care, utilities and more,” said Congressman Bill Johnson. “I congratulate them on the opening of the Marietta office. I wish them many years of continued success.”

The growing oil and natural gas boom has played an important role in the firm selecting Marietta as its newest office location. During the course of the past several years, the firm has helped organize the Southeastern Ohio Landowners Association (SEOLA). Through its work with SEOLA, Bricker has successfully negotiated and closed ten leasing deals with six different oil and gas companies involving nearly 70,000 acres.

“For some time, many of our attorneys have been coming to Southeast Ohio regularly for two reasons -- the clients we have here and our personal commitment to the region,” said Chris Slagle, partner in charge of the Marietta office. “For many of us, this effort is a truly personal investment in the places we are from and where our families still live. We will continue to assist clients in the region with health care, education law, economic development efforts, public finance and public sector issues, as well as shale oil and gas leasing and litigation issues.”

The office includes one attorney, Flite Freimann, and an office manager, Carla Starcher. Freimann is a litigator with considerable experience in oil and gas, lease forfeitures and negotiations, and mineral ownership disputes. Starcher comes to the firm after serving as the Vienna City Clerk in West Virginia for 27 years. In addition, attorney Christopher Slagle will serve as the partner in charge of the Marietta office. Slagle, a native of Gallipolis, is chair of the firm’s Government Relations group, and focuses his practice on helping clients with issues surrounding energy, utilities, real estate, and banking.

Bricker’s ties and commitment to Southeast Ohio run deep. The firm has more than 350 active clients in the Southeast Ohio region. In Washington County alone, Bricker has worked with Marietta Memorial Hospital and Marietta College, as well as the Belpre, Wolf Creek and Frontier school districts and the Washington County Career Center.

More than 25 Bricker attorneys were born in or have family connections to the area.

Bricker & Eckler has been closely involved in a variety of charitable and economic development efforts in Southeast Ohio. The firm works closely with the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO), a regional community foundation serving 32 counties in Appalachian Ohio. Additionally, the firm helped the Ohio Appalachian Business Council in the formation of the Appalachian Partnership for Economic Growth (APEG), the regional economic development agency working directly with JobsOhio to create jobs and economic development opportunities in Southeastern Ohio. Bricker & Eckler has also been a proud sponsor of the iBelieve Foundation and its mission to help children in Southeastern Ohio achieve their dreams of going to college.

The open house event on Tuesday attracted more than 200 community leaders, and featured a “Taste of Marietta” reception showcasing food and drink from local establishments Austyn’s, Thrive Café, Third Street Deli, The Galley, Putnam Chocolates, Marietta Brewing Company, and Weber’s Market.

About Bricker & Eckler:

Named to The National Law Journal’s “2013 Midsize Hot List," Bricker & Eckler is one of Ohio’s leading law firms. Located in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati-Dayton and Marietta, the firm represents a wide variety of clients, including businesses and corporations, nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies, health care entities, school districts, municipalities, banks and insurers. Bricker & Eckler has a long history of promoting and supporting diversity and inclusion, in our ongoing effort to reflect the communities and clients that we serve. Connect with us online on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.