Meet our Team of Legal Professionals Focused on the Real Estate Industry

Rick is the Managing Director of Sikora Law. Rick’s practice is focused entirely on real estate law. Rick handles real estate transactions and resolves disputes for real estate companies. Rick’s extensive experience litigating hundreds of real estate disputes has helped shape his approach, advice, and mindset related to our real estate transactional Clients by providing practical and common sense solutions to avoid deal landmines and focus on issues that actually matter. He also handles title claims and direct litigation for title insurance companies. Rick spearheads deal documentation for developers, lenders, owners, tenants, brokers, and other corporate and individual Clients involving development issues, commercial landlord-tenant matters. From a transactional perspective, Rick helps clients navigate in a cost-effective manner through acquisitions, sales, leasing, loan document review, financing, title and survey review, and closing coordination.

Rick has been selected as an Ohio Rising Star by Super Lawyers in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. Rick is a member of the Real Property Law Committee of the Columbus Bar Association. He is a Board Member of the Central Ohio Chapter of NAIOP, and he previously served as Legislative Chair for the Chapter. Rick’s prior experience includes a judicial clerkship with the Seventh District Court of Appeals. He obtained his law degree magna cum laude from Capital University Law School, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration magna cum laude from The Ohio State University.

Mike is a major advocate for real estate companies in cases, regulatory and legislative matters, and on deals. Mike has appeared in most of the common pleas courts in Ohio, Federal Court in the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and The Ohio Supreme Court.  Mike graduated from Capital University Law School magna cum laude, where he was Moot Court Champion, Chief Justice of the Moot Court Board, and was published in the Law Review. 

Mike graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, as a Finance Major. Mike previously worked for a real estate boutique law firm, a litigation boutique firm, and a statewide corporate defense firm. Prior to attending law school, Mike worked for Andersen Consulting, Pizzuti Realty, and Buckeye Real Estate Property Management.

Mike was chosen as an Ohio Super Lawyer or Super Lawyer Rising Star for 7 times, most recently in 2019.  Mike was also named one of Crain’s Cleveland Business Forty Under Forty Award Recipients in 2011.   Mike is a Past President of the Ohio Land Title Association, former Chair of the Ohio Land Title Association Education Committee (4 years), former Chair-Elect of the Chair of the Education Committee and Trustee of the Northern Ohio Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (7 years), past President of the Northern Ohio Chapter of NAIOP (which won NAIOP Chapter of the Year for that year), and Ohio State Bar Association, and Real Property Section Council. Mike will Chair the Ohio State Bar Association Real Property Section Council from 2021-2022.

Mike is also a licensed title insurance agent and real estate salesperson (inactive status).  He has written numerous articles and given many presentations on subjects of interest to the real estate industry. He is also the Editor of the Lexis-Nexis Treatise in Ohio Real Property Law & Practice (since 2018).  His background in real estate and passion for litigation makes him well-suited to handle disputes and to structure deals for real estate companies.

Lisa is the Legal Assistant in our Cleveland office.  She supports our attorneys and firm administrator.  Lisa has 20 years of experience with litigation matters and working with lawyers to finalize many forms of legal documents.  She is able to help our Clients in every aspect of their matter. 

Lisa lives in Westlake with her husband and four children.  She enjoys reading, listening to music and making memories with her family.

George was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1998, the District of Columbia Bar in 1999, and is admitted in the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio, other federal District Courts, and the United States Courts of Appeals for the Second, Fifth, and Sixth Circuits. He is a seasoned and respected litigator, with considerable trial experience and successfully resolving matters prior to trial. George works primarily with our title insurance Clients and developer Clients. For our title insurance company Clients, George oversees title claims litigation and direct litigation matters. For our developer Clients, George handles construction disputes, development disputes, title disputes, and ADA and fair housing matters – proactively and reactively. George is an extremely well-respected litigator and dispute resolution attorney.

Briana Bryant, MPA is an experienced strategic communications and public relations professional with more than 15 years of strategic storytelling, marketing, change management and award-winning public relations experience. 

As Director of External Affairs for Sikora Law, Bryant leads the team in communications, public affairs, marketing and business development. 

Prior to joining Sikora Law, Bryant led the Alabama market expansion for NP Strategy, a southeast boutique PR firm. She previously led internal and external communications for Southern Research, an $85 million high-growth life sciences research organization based in Birmingham, Al. With a reputation as a “builder” and storyteller, Bryant thrives in high stakes scenarios where she can create new programs and processes that drive widespread impacts. 

As an advocate for social and industry impact, Bryant is dedicated to mentoring students, developing the next generation of leaders, promoting her profession and giving back to the community. Along with volunteering time to numerous committees and projects focused on promoting diversity, equity and belonging, she has served in local and national leadership roles in the Public Relations Council of Alabama and Public Relations Student Society of America  chapters. She now serves as chair on the board of directors for the Alabama Chapter of PRSA and chair-elect for PRSA’s Southeast District board of directors. She also serves on the Institute for Public Relations Elevate research cohort, is a member of the Shades Valley Rotary Club PR committee and is a Policy Fellow with the Alabama Women’s Foundation.

Bryant has been recognized across the industry for her leadership, academic and career achievements. She was named Women’s Empowerment Champion by PR News, and has received multiple Medallion Awards from the Public Relations Council of Alabama for her work leading client campaigns and developing PR strategies. She was honored as a Rising Star Alumni by the UAB National Alumni Society and was named Outstanding Student by her alma mater three times.

A native of the Los Angeles area, Bryant recently relocated to the Cleveland, Ohio area. She received a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s in communications from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She credits her love of her new home to Cleveland’s endless cultural and outdoor pursuits.

Alex is Sikora Law’s Paralegal based in our Central Ohio Office. Alex received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, with a Minor in Sociology, from Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa in 2008. Alex began her experience working in the legal profession as an intern at a Public Defender’s Office, then as a legal assistant to three independent attorneys in Dubuque, Iowa – focusing on multiple areas of law. Alex has been an integral part of the Sikora Law team since she joined in 2014. She always puts the needs of the client first and does whatever it takes to make the firm’s clients happy. Alex is the ultimate team player for our team and our Clients, and she prides herself on her communication effectiveness, her positive attitude, and project efficiency.

Alex represents title insurance companies, lenders, owners, developers, tenants, brokers, and other corporate and individual Clients involving land title issues, bankruptcy adversary proceedings, and many other types of disputes involving real estate. Alex also has significant experience defending underwriters and state agencies in complex class action proceedings and has successfully defended numerous employers in discrimination and wrongful discharge actions. Alex is a 1995 graduate of the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review. Alex was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1995, the Florida Bar in 1996, and is admitted in the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio, Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Southern District of Florida. Alex was also elected to the Bentleyville Village Council in 2015.

Alli hails from Northern Indiana, and worked as a Litigation Paralegal before joining our frim. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Legal Studies from Indiana University at South Bend. Alli is passionate about volunteering and plans to continue to stay involved in the community.

Ray is a Certified Public Accountant with over 20 years of experience administering law firms and managing their financials.  Before joining our firm, Ray worked for a commercial real estate developer.  In his time away from work, Ray enjoys working on cars and spending time with his family.

Frank has extensive experience in all aspects of commercial real estate and has handled a wide variety of commercial real estate transactions across the country. Prior to joining Sikora Law, Frank served as General Counsel for one of Greater Cleveland's largest privately held industrial property owner and developer. As General Counsel, Frank managed and oversaw all legal aspects of the company's approximately 25 million square foot portfolio serving over 800 tenants.

Outside of work, Frank enjoys playing and watching sports, outdoor activities, coaching youth sports, and spending time with his family. He and his wife Theresa live in Chesterland with their two children, Enzo and Lina.

Karen joins the administrative team at Sikora Law with billing, accounts payables, and other tasks that support our clients and our team.

Karen has over 30 years of experience in law firm administration and paralegal support. Before joining Ranallo & Aveni as a Paralegal/Office Manager in 2020, Karen was the Firm Administrator for an environmental boutique law firm in Cleveland that focused on environmental, energy, toxic tort, and construction litigation matters.

Lauren is a Law Clerk in our Cleveland Office. She attends Cleveland State College of Law and anticipates graduating in the Spring of 2024. She graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 2018 with Bachelors' Degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice. Prior to law school and joining Sikora Law, Lauren worked for the Legal Department of a large commercial real estate development company, and before that for Geauga County Job and Family Services.

She was born and raised in Wooster, Ohio but now lives on the east side of Cleveland with her fiance and two cats. During her free time, she enjoys trying new restaurants, practicing yoga, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Travis is an associate attorney in our Columbus office.  As an associate attorney, Travis is involved in all aspects of the litigation process, including advocacy through trial and appeal.  Travis has a passion for finding resolutions for our Clients.  Prior to joining Sikora Law, Travis was an associate attorney at an Am Law 200 litigation firm where he handled matters involving multi-million dollar medical disputes.

Travis graduated from Capital University Law School, where he was a member of the Law Review and Mock Trial team.  During law school, Travis clerked for both regional and local litigation firms.  Prior to attending law school, Travis earned his bachelor's degree from Otterbein University.

Bill Smith is among the most seasoned and respected real estate transactional lawyers in Ohio with many years of first-chair experience representing lenders, developers, and investors in all aspects of commercial real estate development, ownership, and financing. Bill has played a key role as lead attorney for structuring, closing and helping to monitor a variety of transactions, including construction loans and construction “miniperm” facilities, land acquisition and development loans, agented and multi-lender facilities, as well as individualized “one-off” transactions.

He has successfully represented a broad range of financial institutions regarding lending and portfolio management activities, including workout, forbearance, and enforcement matters. Bill has diliegently represented owners, users and developers of real property and related interests in a variety of transactional and advisory assignments, including single-site and portfolio acquisitions, dispositions and financings of real property and real property interests, leasing transactions, and retail leases for anchor and line stores.

A graduate of Washington & Lee University and The University of Virginia School of Law, Bill is admitted to practice in Ohio and is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association. Bill has served as a partner in a number of Cleveland-based law firms, including Jones Day, and is currently practicing as “Of Counsel” with Sikora Law LLC in Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Bill is rated “AV-Preeminent” in Martindale-Hubbell and has frequently been listed among the “Best Lawyers in America”.