Sivinski & Smith, LLC
Sivinski & Smith provides aggressive, experienced, and effective legal representation to every person served, so they feel confident that their rights are protected, their interests are served, and their results are maximized.
Firm Overview
Aggressive: Because each and every person we represent deserves an attorney that believes in them, and that their rights deserve aggressive protection.
Experienced: Because we have experience standing up to and prevailing against the biggest law firms and multinational corporations.
Effective: Because we identify our clients' goals and actively use our skills and expertise to help them obtain those goals, maximizing their results.
The attorneys of Sivinski & Smith focus their practice on serving the working women and men of Ohio and their families because they hold the firm belief that it is an honorable and noble goal of law to level the playing field and obtain victories for those who must face companies, prosecutors, or employers with large resources.
Despite propaganda to the contrary to push down working men and women, it is right and it is just to demand fairness, the right to be heard, vindication, and compensation for what one is owed. By fighting to balance the scales of justice, the attorneys of Sivinski & Smith find themselves rewarded with pride and personal satisfaction.
The attorneys of Sivinski & Smith provide legal counsel and trial lawyer experience in a variety of areas, while focusing their practice on representing labor unions, multiemployer pension and welfare plans (ERISA plans), and people who may have experienced personal injuries, work related injury, asbestos-related diseases including mesothelioma, wrongful death, criminal charges, a DUI/OVI, family law issues, and appeals to unemployment compensation claims.
Whether you are a labor union seeking support and advice during contract negotiations, arbitrations, or unfair labor practice charges, have been injured by your employer or in an auto accident, require assistance with a divorce or custody dispute, or have been forced to defend yourself against criminal charges, the attorneys of Sivinski & Smith look forward to receiving your telephone call to schedule a free consultation, as well as the opportunity to bring their experience of taking on large multi-national corporations to find you the best possible resolution to your legal concerns.
Main Office
8905 Lake Ave.
4th Floor
Cleveland
OH
44102
- 800-641-1970
- 216-651-0800
Fees
Yes, Sivinski & Smith offers free initial consultations
Sivinski and Smith offers a variety of fee options. Many criminal matters, unemployment matters, and certain family law matters can be offered for a fixed fee.
Dependent upon the area of law. Typically range between $120 and $180.
Office Information
8:30AM to 5:00PM, Monday through Friday. After hours by appointment.
Jamie Hlebak
Yes
Other Offices
-
Sivinski & Smith, LLC - Brian J. Smith
222 Bucyrus Ave.
Huron, OH 44839
Despite propaganda to the contrary to push down working men and women, it is right and it is just to demand fairness, the right to be heard, vindication, and compensation for what one is owed. By fighting to balance the scales of justice, the attorneys of Sivinski & Smith find themselves rewarded with pride and personal satisfaction.
Despite propaganda to the contrary to push down working men and women, it is right and it is just to demand fairness, the right to be heard, vindication, and compensation for what one is owed. By fighting to balance the scales of justice, the attorneys of Sivinski & Smith find themselves rewarded with pride and personal satisfaction.
The criminal defense attorneys of Sivinski & Smith use their knowledge of the criminal process and the potential implications on other aspects of life, as well as their experience as trial lawyers, to protect your rights and ensure the best possible resolution for you is obtained. The attorneys at Sivinski & Smith do not represent "clients," they represent people by providing them with the legal knowledge required to navigate the criminal process, the legal experience to fully understand their options to make their own decisions without pressure, and the trial lawyer experience to aggressively take the matter through trial.
How did your firm decide on the primary area of practice(s)?
The attorneys of Sivinski & Smith focus their practice on serving the working women and men of Ohio and their families because they hold the firm belief that it is an honorable and noble goal of law to level the playing field and obtain victories for those who must face companies, prosecutors, or employers with large resources.
Despite propaganda to the contrary to push down working men and women, it is right and it is just to demand fairness, the right to be heard, vindication, and compensation for what one is owed. By fighting to balance the scales of justice, the attorneys of Sivinski & Smith find themselves rewarded with pride and personal satisfaction.
What experience or education distinguishes your lawyers from others
We are trial lawyers because we have extensive court room experience effectively persuading judges and juries, and we are fully prepared to take every case we accept through trial if needed to protect the rights and interests of the people we represent. At Sivinski & Smith, you can be represented by a certified Civil Trial Advocate, a member of the ATLA Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and an attorney rated as a Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers Magazine.
We have extensive experience representing working men and women, obtaining maximum compensation for them, and taking on the largest insurance companies, multi-national corporations, and government agencies to do so.
What distinguishes your law firm from others?
Sivinski and Smith are aggressive, because each and every person we represent deserves an attorney that believes in them, and that their rights deserve aggressive protection.
Sivinski and Smith are experienced, because we have experience standing up to and prevailing against the biggest law firms and multinational corporations.
Sivinski and Smith are effective, because we identify our clients' goals and actively use our skills and expertise to help them obtain those goals, maximizing their results.
What is your firm's point of view regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
It is our goal to help clients to educate themselves on the legal issues that affect them, to know their options and the consequences of those options, to to make the best educated decisions possible.
Is your firm willing to review documents prepared by clients?
Absolutely.
How frequently does your firm use mediation, arbitration, or collaborative law to resolve cases?
We use mediation, arbitration, and collaborative law frequently to resolve cases, provided such alternative dispute resolution mechanisms are appropriate for the case and the client wishes to take advantage of such mechanisms.
Is your firm willing to help a client with one discrete part of a case, without taking on the whole case?
Most often it is difficult to segregate one discrete part of a case, as each part is intertwined with the case as a whole. However, we are certainly willing to do so when appropriate and desired by a client.
What are your policies about dividing work within the firm to make the process most cost-effective for the client?
Each of the attorneys at Sivinski & Smith is competent and effective in all aspects of every case, though each also has their own particular strengths. One attorney is always selected as a lead to represent each person, and this decision is made primarily by the client. We also work together to pull on each of our strengths to provide the most effective legal representation possible, in the most cost effective manner possible.
Is your firm willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
Yes, we are willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves.
What are your firm's strengths and style?
Sivinski & Smith provides aggressive, experienced, and effective legal representation to every person served, so they feel confident that their rights are protected, their interests are served, and their results are maximized.
We are aggressive, because each and every person we represent deserves an attorney that believes in them, and that their rights deserve aggressive protection.
We are experienced, because we have experience standing up to and prevailing against the biggest law firms and multinational corporations.
We are effective, because we identify our clients' goals and actively use our skills and expertise to help them obtain those goals, maximizing their results.
We are also trial lawyers because we have extensive court room experience effectively persuading judges and juries, and we are fully prepared to take every case we accept through trial if needed to protect the rights and interests of the people we represent. At Sivinski & Smith, you can be represented by a certified Civil Trial Advocate, a member of the ATLA Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and an attorney rated as a Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers Magazine.
How did your firm decide on the primary area of practice(s)
The attorneys of Sivinski & Smith focus their practice on serving the working women and men of Ohio and their families because they hold the firm belief that it is an honorable and noble goal of law to level the playing field and obtain victories for those who must face companies, prosecutors, or employers with large resources.
Despite propaganda to the contrary to push down working men and women, it is right and it is just to demand fairness, the right to be heard, vindication, and compensation for what one is owed. By fighting to balance the scales of justice, the attorneys of Sivinski & Smith find themselves rewarded with pride and personal satisfaction.
Brian Smith
In addition to his role as a union labor lawyer, Mr. Smith uses his trial and negotiation skills in a general practice where he has developed expertise in representing men and women in criminal matters, domestic relations and family law matters, unemployment appeals, and drafting wills and trusts. He resides in Huron, Ohio, helping Sivinski & Smith, LLC to easily reach its resources along the northern coast of Ohio, from Cleveland to Toledo.
Brian J. Smith graduated from Kent State University in 1996 with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology. He earned his law degree from the University of Akron School of Law, where he graduated summa cum laude in 2005. While at Akron, Mr. Smith served as an assistant and associate of the Law Review, having an article of his own published in 2005. After graduating, Mr. Smith served as an instructor at Akron, preparing law students for the rigors of legal research, writing and oral arguments. While studying at Akron, Mr. Smith was awarded the Ernest Karam Award of Academic Excellence, the Federal Bar Association Constitutional Law Award, and multiple Excellence for the Future Awards.
Brian J. Smith is a member of the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Ohio Employment Lawyers Association, and the Cleveland Employment Lawyers Association. Mr. Smith is currently admitted to practice in the State of Ohio, the United States District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
- Bar Number: 0079861
Ohio , 2005
- University of Akron School of Law
JD , 2005
Brian J. Smith earned his law degree from the University of Akron School of Law, where he graduated summa cum laude in 2005. While at Akron, Mr. Smith served as an assistant and associate of the Law Review, having an article of his own published in 2005. While studying at Akron, Mr. Smith was awarded the Ernest Karam Award of Academic Excellence, the Federal Bar Association Constitutional Law Award, and multiple Excellence for the Future Awards.
John Sivinski
Mr. Sivinski's reputation as a skilled and sophisticated litigator has enabled him to negotiate settlements in excess of $100 Million Dollars for injured clients. Mr. Sivinski has also achieved national recognition for his widespread work on behalf of plaintiffs in asbestos litigation, where he has tried cases in many states, most notably, Ohio and Florida.
Prior to work in asbestos, Mr. Sivinski also represented unions on various labor law issues. In addition to the Ohio Bar, Mr. Sivinski is admitted to practice law before the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern District of Ohio, the 6th and 7th Circuit Courts of Appeals and has argued cases before numerous Ohio Courts of Appeal.
- Bar Number: 0036712
Ohio , 1986
- Case Western Reserve School of Law
JD , 1986
John Sivinski earned his law degree from Case Western Reserve School of Law, where he graduated cum laude in 1986.
Jeremy Samuels
- Bar Number: 0086684
Ohio , 2010
- Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
JD , 2010
Jeremy Samuels earned his law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, where he graduated cum laude in 2010. While attending law school, Mr. Samuels served as a writer with The Gavel, worked on Cleveland-Marshall's school newspaper, and was active on Cleveland-Marshall's Trial Team.
* Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the state agency that licenses lawyers. Any past disbarments and suspensions (with possible exceptions for minor violations or nonpayment of dues, in our discretion) will be indicated accordingly in the badge. Member attorneys are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any state licensing agency.
Videos
Sivinski & Smith, LLC - Experiences, Aggressive, Effective Attorneys
Articles Written
Ohio DUI / OVI Penalties
Created On: 07/18/2012
The penalties for DUI’s (now called OVI’s) in Ohio depend upon whether one refused or submitted to a test, the number of prior convictions, and the level of any tests taken.
Quitting and Receiving Unemployment Benefits
Created On: 07/17/2012
To quit a job and receive unemployment, one must establish that they had just cause to quit.
Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Find us on Google+
Watch us on YouTube
Listen to us on iTunes