Congratulations to Walter | Haverfield partner Christina Peer, who is featured in a special section of Crain’s Cleveland Business titled, “Northeast Ohio Notable Women in Law.” Crain’s recognized Peer for her strong education law practice as she and her team now represent nearly 15% of school districts in Ohio.

The Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA) has certified Walter | Haverfield Attorney Max Rieker as a labor and employment specialist. Rieker is one of two newly certified labor and employment specialists in the state.

Attorneys seeking certification must devote at least 25 percent of their practice to their particular field of law, submit five professional references, complete a minimum of 36 hours of specialized continuing legal education and pass a written exam.

“I have every reason to believe that being a certified labor and employment specialist will further my practice for years to come,” said Rieker, who spent eight years as in-house counsel for the Ohio’s Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association. “Plus, the process has given me a whole new respect for those who have been certified previously.”

Attorneys who have earned specialty certification must file annual reports showing they comply with program requirements. They must also be recertified every four to seven years.

There are currently 121 OSBA-certified labor and employment specialists in the state.

Walter | Haverfield Attorney Brendan Healy is the firm’s newest fellow in the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation (CMBF). Healy, who practices labor and employment law as well as public law, joins an elite group of five other Walter | Haverfield attorneys who are also fellows.

The CMBF extends nominations only to select members of the legal community who have at least 10 years of experience. The Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (CMBA) approves the nomination. The nominees must demonstrate the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. They must also contribute significantly to the advancement of justice in the Greater Cleveland community.

“It’s an honor to be selected as a CMBF fellow,” said Healy, who represents cities, villages, townships and government agencies throughout Ohio. “I am passionate about the work I do, and I look forward to expanding my service to the community in this new role.”

The CMBF funds the CMBA’s “Justice For All” programs, which promote education and workforce development, social justice, the arts and non-profits through volunteer service.

For the past four years, Ohio Super Lawyers has named Healy to its “Rising Stars” list.

In addition to representing public entities, Healy practices litigation in the areas of land use and zoning, civil rights, and employment and labor law.

The Commercial Real Estate Women, Inc. of Cleveland (CREW) recently awarded Irene MacDougall the Deborah Rocker Klausner Leadership Award. MacDougall, a partner at Walter | Haverfield in the public and structured finance group, is the sole recipient of this 2017 award, which is granted annually.

MacDougall received the recognition on the basis of her professional excellence and integrity, her legal expertise and innovative skills, and her commitment to diversity in the commercial real estate industry.

“Irene’s exceptional talent and positive values embody the qualifications that our leadership award recognizes,” said Cecilia Hyun, president of CREW Cleveland. “We are proud to honor her for her many professional and personal accomplishments and contributions to the community.”

MacDougall’s award is named after the late Deborah Rocker Klausner, who was the founding president of CREW Cleveland in 1988.

MacDougall manages complex, multi-party finance and development transactions in real estate, healthcare lending and public finance. Her many accomplishments include her work as developer’s counsel on the first phase of the Flats East Bank project. That phase, which totaled $275 million, consisted of 33 sources of funds, which MacDougall managed. MacDougall’s success on the project earned her the National Impact Award from CREW Network in 2011.

Since then, Crain’s Cleveland Business named MacDougall an influential woman in finance. And Super Lawyers included her in its “Top 50 Women” as well as its “Top 25 Women-Cleveland Area” Ohio attorneys lists for 2018.

“I’m so grateful to be honored for the work I love to do,” said MacDougall. “And it gives me great joy to know that my efforts inspire the next generation of commercial real estate attorneys.”

MacDougall has been a member of CREW Cleveland for the past seven years and is a past president of the Cleveland chapter.