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Roderick Linton Belfance adds new partner to its ranks

SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter

Published: April 23, 2014

Longtime Medina attorney Theodore Lesiak had a bit of a preview before he joined Roderick Linton Belfance because he had already worked with some of the attorneys beforehand.

Managing his own firm Lesiak Hensal & Hathcock for a number of years, Lesiak had already established a presence in the local legal communtiy. It was the election of his wife and partner Jennifer Hensal to Ohio’s 9th District Court of Appeals that led to the breakup of the Medina firm.

“I thought Roderick Linton Belfance would be a good fit based on my prior relationships and it turns out I was right,” said Lesiak.

He joined the ranks as of counsel in March 2013 and a year later he made partner.

“I’ve known Ted for several years,” said William Chris, a partner at Roderick Linton Belfance. “He is a wonderful law partner. He’s smart and has a lot of contacts in the community, which is something I also have, and together the two of us know almost everyone in the legal community.

“We would have made him partner from day one but we wanted to have a trial period to make sure it was right for all of us and now that we know it’s a perfect match we decided it was time for him to be partner.”

At Roderick Linton, Lesiak handles a variety of matters ranging from corporate and commercial law and civil litigation to municipal and government law, real estate and development, personal injury and domestic relations.

“I enjoy working with our corporate clients,” said Lesiak. “I handle all their needs, even litigation if it comes up.”

He said he enjoys trying cases.

“I like the competition and the give and take with other lawyers. There are cases that you win and those that you don’t but either way you are dealing with attorneys who are putting their best foot forward and it gives you a chance to match your best against theirs and I really like that and I always have.”

A Medina native, Lesiak graduated from The University of Akron School of Law in 1989, accepting a clerkship for Judge Daniel B. Quillin of the 9th District Court of Appeals. Prior to starting his own practice, he was managing partner at Oberholtzer, Filous & Lesiak.

“In Medina I was able to choose the cases. Roderick has given me the opportunity to do the same thing but with a lot of support.”

Although Chris and Lesiak don’t work together often, Chris said Lesiak is a great resource if he encounters a problem and needs to bounce it off someone.

Lesiak is also law director in the village of Seville, sometimes calling upon the firm to help him out if there is an overflow of work.

“Seville has had a contract with me since 2003,” he said. “I really enjoy my work for the village because it allows me to build something and legal work can often be a bit adversarial.”

Lesiak, who has lived in West Akron for over six years, is a board member of the Greater Akron Baseball Hall of Fame, which he also represents along with the Roy Hobbs Foundation. He has been honored as the Medina County United Way Pro Bono Attorney of the Year and has served as a member of the city of Medina’s Charter Review Commission, the Medina County Free Clinic, the Knights of Columbus as well as being a coach for various youth sports.

Last December Roderick Linton moved from 1 Cascade Plaza to the 10th floor of Akron Centre Plaza at 50 S. Main St. as part of its goal to grow the firm.

Founded in 1885, Roderick Linton Belfance currently has 25 lawyers.

“It’s a great place to work, people who come here stay here,” said Chris, who is on an expansion committee with Lesiak.

“We are looking to add attorneys and create satellite offices in different parts of Summit, Cuyahoga, Medina and Portage counties,” said Lesiak.


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