Witschey Witschey & Firestine Co., LPA (WWF) and Palecek, McIlvaine, Hoffmann and Morse (PMHM) today announced that the lawyers of the two firms will be joining together effective November 1, 2023.
The combined firm will operate under the name Witschey Witschey & Firestine, Co., LPA and will add three attorneys, including Mary Jo Morse, Brandon Davis and Emily Davis to the five lawyers and staff of paralegals at Witschey Witschey & Firestine. Post combination, the firm will have 8 attorneys and staff offices in both Akron and Wadsworth. This transaction combines the two firms’ practices, similar firm cultures, and a shared emphasis on exceptional client service.
Palecek, McIlvaine, Hoffmann & Morse has roots in the Wadsworth community dating back to 1971. It has been an iconic firm in Wadsworth and enjoys a reputation of exceptional service to clients and a long-time commitment to the Wadsworth community and surrounding areas. Witschey Witschey & Firestine Co., LPA, founded in Akron in 1996 by Wadsworth natives and brothers, Frank Witschey and Jeffrey Witschey
added Attorney David Firestine as a partner in 2005. It likewise enjoys a reputation of exceptional service to its clients. The combined firm will concentrate its practice to the areas of business law including entity creation, mergers, acquisitions and business succession planning; real estate including transactions, zoning, land use and development planning, construction, and oil and gas. The firm will continue both firms’ estate planning, complex trust and estates, and probate practices. WWF will continue its litigation services in all of those areas where it has enjoyed significant defense verdicts, record plaintiff verdicts, and creative settlements for its many and diverse clients.
Frank Witschey, WWF’s president, says “WWF and its personnel are excited to launch this combined firm and have a presence in Wadsworth, Akron and surrounding areas. Wadsworth is a growing community with individuals and a diverse presence of businesses that will benefit from the combined synergy of the two firms. Witschey added “the new firm will continue involvement in and commitment to the Wadsworth community.” Mary Jo Morse, Vice-President of PMHM added her thoughts concerning the combined firm. “I am excited for the support the Witschey firm will give in continuing our firm’s tradition of providing exceptional legal services to the Wadsworth community”.
Although primarily handling matters in Summit, Medina, Cuyahoga, Stark, Portage, and Wayne Counties, both firms handle significant matters for businesses, governmental entities, and individuals throughout the State of Ohio. WWF also handles matters throughout the United States for its Ohio clients engaging in out of state business and has taken on the representation of clients located outside of Ohio who have come to recognize the firm’s commitment to excellent and efficient legal representation.
The lawyers in the two firms are committed to the communities they serve in leadership roles for community organizations, churches, youth sports, charitable organizations and local schools. Notably, attorney Betsy Hartschuh from the Witschey Firm and her husband are founders of the Akron Children’s Museum and Betsy is a Board Member of Leadership Akron. Attorney Emily Davis is Chairperson of Wadsworth Main Street Design Committee. Attorney Jeffrey Witschey is a Board Member of the Holmes County and State of Ohio Historical Preservation of St. Genevieve Church and Cemetery. Brandon Davis is an active member of the Wadsworth Chamber of Commerce. Frank Witschey serves on the Board of The
Village of Saint Edward Assisted Living Community- Wadsworth. The attorneys’ commitments to the local communities equal their commitment to client service.
