Charles D. Niehaus

Managing Partner

Charles D. Niehaus has represented corporate and business clients for over 20 years on a wide range of business issues including securities, venture capital, corporate, banking, international law, and renewable energy matters.

Chuck's principal focus includes:

-Advising clients in all aspects of corporate formation, including preparing limited liability company agreements, executive employment agreements, employee equity plans, and securities compliance.
-Representation of start-up companies in venture capital financing. Preparation of Private Placement Memorandum and Series A, B, and C stage financing documents.
-Representation of financial institutions in formation, acquisitions, shareholder matters, commercial lending, bank litigation, and regulatory compliance.
-Acquisition, financing, development, and regulatory issues for biodiesel, ethanol, photovoltaic, solar, and other alternative energy companies.
-Assist clients in the implementation of global expansion and sourcing strategies throughout Europe and Asia.

Experience
Chuck graduated from the University of Toledo Law School (J.D., 1986) and Lawrence Technological University (B.S., Civil Engineering, 1982). He is a member of the Toledo Bar Association and the Ohio Bar Association.

Areas of Practice
-Banking
-Venture Capital
-Securities
-Renewable Energy
-International Law

Admissions
-State Bar of Ohio, 1986

Education
-J.D., The University of Toledo, 1986
-B.S. in Civil Engineering, Lawrence Technological University, 1982

Professional Involvement
-Toledo Bar Association
-Ohio State Bar Association
-American Bar Association

The University of Toledo
Juris Doctorate ,

Clare C. Armbruster

Of Counsel

Clare practices in the areas of employee benefits and qualified retirement plans. Clare also prepares Affirmative Action Plans for contractors with federal and state government contracts and assists in-house managers in developing and administering Affirmative Action Plans. She prepares and coordinates employers' responses to the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and the Ohio Department of Administrative Services. Clare attends on-site AAP audits when necessary. She also handles ERISA litigation.

Clare received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from Bucknell University in 1983 and a law degree cum laude from The Ohio State University College of Law in 1986.



Areas of Practice
-Federal and State Contractor Compliance
-Employment and Labor Law


Professional Memberships
-Toledo Bar Association


Representative Clients
-Pilkington North America, Inc.
-Croghan Colonial Bank
-Capitol Aluminum & Glass Corporation
-MSC Engineered Materials and Solutions Group


Community Involvement
-Chairman of Board, Friends of Lucas County Children Services
-Junior League of Toledo
-President, St. John's Jesuit High School Mother's Club

Patricia A. Wise

Of Counsel

Patricia A. Wise is a labor and employment lawyer at Niehaus & Associates, Ltd., and is certified by the Ohio State Bar Association as a specialist in that area of practice. Patty has received Martindale-Hubbell's AV-Preeminent rating for her legal ability and high ethical standards. She represents clients of all sizes in a variety of businesses, industries, and professions and focuses her practice on the areas of:

-Employment and Labor Law
-Business Litigation and Banking
-Civil Rights


Experience
Patty is a former senior vice president and in-house counsel for a billion dollar bank holding company and continues to serve many financial institution clients. She is a frequent speaker for state banking associations and serves on the faculty of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

In addition to her legal practice, Patty has been a Visiting Professor or Adjunct Professor at The University of Toledo College of Law since 1999, teaching employment law as well as civil and political rights. Patty trains and speaks extensively on employment law issues. She recently completed the second edition of her book, Understanding and Preventing Workplace Retaliation, published by the Thompson Publishing Group, Inc. and her article "Tweet, Tweet, You're Fired," was published in the ABA's Employment and Labor Relations Law Journal in 2009.

In 2006, Patty was appointed by the Supreme Court of Ohio to serve as a member of the Board on the Unauthorized Practice of Law. In addition, she served as Special Counsel for the Ohio Attorney General from 2003 to 2007.



Areas of Practice
-Employment and Labor Law
-Business Litigation
-Civil Rights


Admissions
-U.S. Supreme Court, 2006
-U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1988
-U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, 1988


Education
-J.D., University of Toledo, 1985
-Graduate Degree, Stonier Graduate School of Banking, University of Delaware, 1993
-B.A.C., Bowling Green State University, 1982


Professional Involvement
-Federal Bar Association
-Ohio State Bar Association
-Toledo Bar Association
-Ohio Management Lawyers Association
-National Association of College and University Attorneys


Civic and Cultural Involvement
-Owens Community College
-YMCA of Greater Toledo
-Toledo Community Foundation
-Hospice of Northwest Ohio
-Maumee Valley Country Day School


Publications:
-"Tweet, Tweet, You're Fired," ABA Employment and Labor Relations Law, Section of Litigation, Vol. 7 No. 4, Summer 2009
-Understanding and Preventing Workplace Retaliation, Thompson Publishing Group, 2000, 2007 (2nd Edition)
-"Coming Soon to a Court Near You: Changes in Employment Law," Ohio Record, Spring 2008
-"Uneven Odds for Employers Attempting to Get Even - The Status of Retaliation Claims After Burlington Northern," Inter Alia, Federal Bar Association, N.D.O.C., Fall 2007
-"Employers Pay for Retaliation," Ohio Record, Summer 2004
-"Fair Labor Standards Act Revisions," Ohio Record, Summer 2004
-"Disabilities Act Compliance Needn't Disable Your Bank," ABA Banking Journal, July 1997
-"Guidelines on How to Discipline and Discharge Employees Safely and Effectively," Ohio Banking News, August 1997
-"Bridging the Gap from Affirmative Action to Cultural Diversity: The Legal Societal, and Cultural Issues," 1993


Awards and Honors
-Inaugural Award, Public Service Commitment, University of Toledo College of Law Alumni, 2007
-Women of Toledo, St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center Auxiliary, 2004
-Outstanding Achievement in Trusteeship, Ohio Association of Community Colleges Excellence Awards, 2003
-Milestones: A Tribute to Women, Award for Achievements in Business, 2000
-Outstanding Community Service Award, Ohio State Bar Association, District 4, 1999
-Alumni Community Service Award, BGSU Alumni Association, 1996
-Inaugural Award, "Twenty Under 40" Community Leadership Award, Toledo Jaycees, 1996
-Ohio State Bar Association, Fellow, Class of 1999
-AV rated: Martindale-Hubbell's highest rating awarded for legal ability, ethics, and professionalism

University of Toledo
Juris Doctorate ,

Brian C. Kalas

Attorney

Mr. Kalas' practice focuses primarily in the areas of general business transactions and corporate representation, banking, securities, creditor's rights and commercial litigation with an emphasis on:

-General representation of business clients in all corporate matters including formation, contract drafting and review and commercial litigation.
-Representation of creditors and debtor-companies with all matters involving loan modification, loan workout and refinancing.
-Representation of financial institutions and banks in commercial lending, negotiable instruments, bank litigation and enforcement actions.
-Representation of clients in business and commercial litigation, mediation and arbitration throughout the United States.
Representation of business clients in commercial real estate transactions.


Experience:
Mr. Kalas graduated from the University of Toledo College of Law (J.D., 1999) and Bowling Green State University (M.A., Policy History). Prior to joining Niehaus & Associates, Ltd., Mr. Kalas practiced in the area of general business and corporate law in various capacities including as a partner in a medium-sized law firm where he managed a significant banking and creditor's right practice and an associate attorney in the corporate/securities/banking section with the law firm of Dickinson Wright in Detroit, Michigan.

Mr. Kalas is admitted to practice in Ohio and in Michigan. He has practiced extensively throughout the state of Michigan in general corporate matters, commercial litigation, real estate and creditor's rights. He is a member of the Toledo Bar Association, Ohio Bar Association and Michigan Bar Association.



Areas of Practice:
-Corporate
-Securities
-Banking
-Creditor's Rights
-Real Estate
-Commercial Litigation


Education:
-B.S., Eastern Michigan University, 1994
-M.A., Bowling Green State University, 1996
-J.D., The University of Toledo, 1999

Admissions:
-Ohio, 1999
-Michigan, 2000


Professional Involvement:
-Toledo Bar Association
-Ohio Bar Association
-Michigan Bar Association

The University of Toledo
Juris Doctorate ,

Jessica L. Bilius

Associate

Ms. Bilius practices in the areas of employment, labor and general business law. Her practice focuses on:

-Representing employers in employment and labor litigation, mediation, and arbitration including administrative hearings and appeals.
-Analyzing complex issues of federal and state law related to all aspects of the employment relationship including drafting employment agreements and employee handbooks and counseling employers regarding compliance with federal and state employment laws.
-Representing corporate clients in a variety of business matters including contract negotiation and drafting, mergers and acquisitions, equity raises and shareholder issues, and financial matters related to institutional and alternative financing and credit facilities.
-Advising clients regarding choice of entity, corporate formation, and corporate governance matters.

Experience
Ms. Bilius graduated from the Ohio Northern University (J.D. 2013) and The University of Toledo (B.B.A. 2008). Prior to joining Niehaus & Associates, Ltd., Ms. Bilius clerked in the legal department of a regional health and insurance system and with a large Columbus law firm focusing in healthcare, labor and employment, litigation, and business contracting and acquisitions. Additionally, Ms. Bilius worked as an analyst where she was responsible for examining detailed financial statements, creating software programs, and managing contract renewals.

Ms. Bilius graduated in the top 5% of her class, was on the Ohio Northern University Law Review editorial board, and was an advocate on the Moot Court Trial team. Ms. Bilius is a member of the Toledo Bar Association and the Ohio Bar Association.



Areas of practice
-Employment and Labor Law
-Commercial Litigation
-Creditor's Rights
-Corporate


Admissions
-State Bar of Ohio, 2013
-U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, 2013


Education
-J.D. Ohio Northern University, 2013
-B.B.A. University of Toledo, 2008


Professional Involvement
-Toledo Bar Association
-Ohio State Bar Association

Ohio Northern University
Juris Doctorate ,

Scot A. Hinshaw

Mr. Hinshaw's practice focuses on employment and labor law and commercial litigation, with an emphasis on:

Counseling clients on compliance under employment protection statutes, including the Fair Labor Standards, the National Labor Relations Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, ERISA, and other state and federal statutes.
Advising clients regarding best practices in reductions in force, terminations, and workplace investigations, including whistleblower, sexual harassment, and employee misconduct situations.
Drafting and revising employment contracts, handbooks, policies, and restrictive covenants and management policies for various industries.
Advising both businesses and individuals concerning noncompete, non-solicit, non-disclosure and trade secret issues, including participation in litigation to enforce and defend contractual provisions, and both statutory and common law duties.
Drafting and advising clients with regard to executive and independent contractor agreements.
Representing unionized employers in many aspects of the collective bargaining relationship, including contract interpretation, contract bargaining, grievances, arbitration and defense of unfair labor practices.
Providing training for human resources and management employees within various industries on ADA, FMLA, anti-discrimination statutes, personnel management, union relations and other issues.
Experience

Prior to joining Niehaus, Wise and Kalas, Ltd., Mr. Hinshaw practiced employment and labor law at large firms in Detroit, Chicago and Washington, DC. His experience includes acting as first and second-chair for jury trials, injunction hearings, and labor and commercial arbitrations. Mr. Hinshaw has also briefed and argued appeals before the District of Columbia and Sixth Circuit federal courts of appeals. He has litigated and appeared pro hac vice in numerous cases throughout the United States.

Areas of practice
-Employment and Labor
-Trade Secrets and Noncompetition
-Collective and Class Actions
-Commercial Litigation

Admissions
-State Bar of Maryland, 1999 (inactive)
-State Bar of District of Columbia, 2000 (inactive)
-State Bar of Illinois, 2010
-State Bar of Michigan, 2014
-U.S. Supreme Court
-U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
-U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
-U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
-U.S. District Courts, Central District of Illinois; District of Columbia; District of Maryland; Eastern District of Michigan; Western District of Michigan; Northern District of Illinois (trial bar)

Education
-J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1999
-B.A., University of Maryland, 1996

Professional Involvement
-American Bar Association
-Michigan Bar Association

Georgetown University Law Center
Juris Doctorate, 1999