Five attorneys welcomed into the Bricker & Eckler partnership for 2021

The law firm of Bricker & Eckler LLP recently elected five new partners of the firm: Aaron Bruggeman, of the Barnesville office, and Colin Kalvas, Tarik Kershah, Paul Rutter and Tess Tannehill, all of the Columbus office.

Aaron M. Bruggeman has extensive experience throughout Ohio and West Virginia on various issues related to the development of the Marcellus and Utica Shale region. While his practice focuses primarily on oil and gas pipeline litigation, oil and gas lease litigation, and other energy-specific transactional matters, Aaron also has considerable experience in general commercial litigation and general real estate matters throughout Ohio. He has served as local counsel for national and international energy companies and energy generation facilities. Aaron is a frequent speaker on shale activities in Southeast Ohio and a lifelong resident of Barnesville, Ohio. He is committed to assisting clients navigate diverse issues related to the region, while furthering the growth and development of the local communities.

Colin J. Kalvas serves political subdivisions, financial institutions, developers and special purpose districts, such as special improvement districts and new community authorities, in many different capacities related to the issuance of bonds, securities law, federal income tax law, contracts, real property acquisition, development, leasing and governmental revenues. Colin has been at the forefront of developing property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing in Ohio. His PACE efforts include serving as counsel to PACE administrators and energy special improvement districts throughout Ohio, as well as serving as bond counsel and lender’s counsel to Ohio port authorities and other financial institutions that finance energy efficiency and clean energy projects through PACE. Colin also frequently represents port authorities on common bond fund, conduit and capital lease transactions.

Tarik M. Kershah represents public and private sector owners in all phases of the construction process, beginning with project delivery model selection through dispute resolution and litigation. He has represented hospitals, libraries, school districts, cities, villages and other political subdivisions, along with private entities, such as commercial developers, private clubs and condominium associations. His work includes negotiating and drafting contracts setting forth the rights and responsibilities of the various parties to complex construction projects. Tarik also counsels clients on contract administration, risk management and dispute avoidance. He has significant experience preparing and responding to claims in support of time and price adjustments to contracts. Tarik has successfully mediated and litigated large complex, multi-party construction disputes, including appellate work.

Paul S. Rutter practices in the areas of public finance and public law, emphasizing school and local government law. A significant portion of his practice is committed to serving as bond counsel for various school districts, municipalities, counties, townships, port authorities and other governmental entities in conjunction with the tax-exempt and taxable financing and refinancing of capital improvement projects, including general obligation, special assessment, utility revenue and 501(c)(3) conduit financings. He also serves as underwriters' counsel and borrowers' counsel in similar financings. Additionally, his practice includes working with municipalities and municipal charter commissions on various charter issues, including analyzing charter options, drafting charter provisions and advising on election issues.

Tess G. Tannehill advises clients on all facets of Ohio’s real property tax valuation and exemption laws, particularly as they apply to school districts, hospitals and other public entities. She also advises hospitals on resolving patient incapacity issues, including navigating the probate court process for establishing court-appointed guardianships. For nearly a decade, Tess has represented school districts, hospitals, universities, foundations and other property owners in hundreds of real property tax valuation and exemption disputes before most of Ohio’s 88 county boards of revision, the Ohio Department of Taxation, the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals and the Ohio Supreme Court. Tess is also a frequent presenter and author on property tax issues in Ohio.