Keating Muething & Klekamp Elects Seven New Partners
The Cincinnati law firm of Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL (KMK Law®) is pleased to announce that it has elected seven new partners: Amanda Stubblefield Burton, Adam J. Centner, Sarah Vonderbrink Geiger, Shannon D. Lawson, John M. Milligan, Emily Wurtenberger Schott, and Ross D. Taylor.
Amanda Stubblefield Burton practices in the firm’s Litigation Group, representing clients in high-stakes matters in federal and state courts. Burton’s practice is focused on defending companies in complex commercial disputes and class-action litigation, and she has particular experience in financial-services and consumer-protection matters. Burton also has significant experience in complex contractual disputes and constitutional litigation. She is experienced in all stages of litigation—from pre-dispute investigation and resolution, to pre-trial briefing and discovery, to appeals and settlements. Prior to joining KMK, Burton served as a law clerk to the Hon. David L. Bunning, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. Burton earned her law degree from the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law in 2014, where she graduated magna cum laude, and was elected into the Order of the Coif. She earned a B.A in History, summa cum laude, from Eastern Kentucky University in 2011. Burton is admitted to practice law in Ohio and Kentucky.
Adam J. Centner practices in the firm’s Private Client Services Group, assisting clients with estate planning, tax, rental real estate, and nonprofit matters. Centner counsels individuals and families on matters relating to estate planning and wealth transfer, asset protection, income and estate tax planning, probate avoidance, and business succession. Centner assists nonprofit organizations in formation, tax-exemption, and administrative matters. He has formed and successfully obtained tax exemption for a variety of public charities and private foundations. He also assists charitable organizations with the release or modification of gift restrictions, as well as the negotiation and preparation of gift agreements on behalf of donors and donees. Centner earned his J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, cum laude, in 2012. He earned his B.A. from Miami University in 2008. Centner is admitted to practice law in Ohio.
Sarah Vonderbrink Geiger practices in the firm’s Litigation Group where she has experience representing a wide variety of clients in litigation, including both public and private companies, small businesses, and individuals. Geiger’s practice is concentrated in the areas of class action/FLSA collective litigation, personal injury/wrongful death litigation, tort defense litigation, and general business and commercial dispute litigation. She also has experience advising trustees of mass tort settlement trusts on issues relating to trust administration. Geiger has experience in all aspects of litigation, including depositions, oral argument, motion practice, written discovery, trial preparation, trial, and appellate litigation. She has litigated cases within federal and state courts, appellate courts, and in private mediation and arbitration throughout the country. Geiger earned her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2014. She earned her B.A. from the University of Richmond, cum laude, in 2010. Geiger is admitted to practice law in Ohio and Kentucky.
Shannon D. Lawson practices in the firm’s Business Representation & Transactions Group, assisting clients with all aspects of their commercial financing and equipment leasing needs. Lawson has successfully negotiated and structured numerous transactions—and has become the go-to source for clients when it comes to solving their complex legal issues within finance and leasing. His services include commercial finance, equipment leasing, and mergers and acquisitions. Lawson has extensive experience with secured transactions, asset-based loans, syndicated credit facilities, equipment financing, law firm financing and third-party legal opinions. Lawson earned his J.D. from the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law in 2014. He earned his B.S. from Delaware State University, cum laude, in 2002. Lawson is admitted to practice law in Ohio.
John M. Milligan practices in the firm’s Labor & Employment Group where he regularly counsels clients as to best labor and employment practices, litigation avoidance, dispute resolution techniques, records retention, contract drafting, and negotiations with investigators, agencies, employees, and unions. In addition to advising clients pre-suit or in a preventative capacity, Milligan is an experienced litigator. He has handled numerous labor and employment related lawsuits, charges, grievances, and arbitrations throughout the country and has significant experience representing employers in litigation involving claims under Title VII, ADEA, ADA, FLSA, FCRA, and FMLA. In addition, Milligan leads the firm’s Maritime and Admiralty practice, representing maritime clients in all legal matters and advising as to Jones Act and general maritime claims. Milligan earned his J.D. from Salmon P. Chase College of Law, Northern Kentucky University in 2012 where he received the program’s Employment and Labor Law Concentration certificate with a particular focus on private labor negotiations. He earned his B.A. from Miami University in 2009. Milligan is admitted to practice law in all federal and state courts in Ohio and Kentucky, routinely receives admission to other state’s courts via the pro hac process, and regularly practices before the EEOC, OCRC, NLRB, and other state and federal agencies.
Emily Wurtenberger Schott assists clients with commercial real estate matters, including the acquisition, sale, financing, development and leasing of commercial properties. She represents borrowers and lenders in financing transactions, landlords and tenants in leasing matters, and purchasers and sellers in property transfers. In addition to her experience negotiating conventional financing, Schott has advised both lenders and borrowers with respect to construction and permanent loan documentation for low-income housing tax credit and new market tax credit transactions. Schott has also represented owners, architects and contractors in connection with the negotiation of construction contracts and architect agreements, particularly AIA documents. Schott earned her J.D. from Vanderbilt Law School in 2014. She earned her B.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame in 2011. Schott is admitted to practice law in Ohio and Texas.
Ross D. Taylor is a member of the firm’s Commercial Finance & Reorganization Group. His practice is focused on secured and unsecured commercial lending, equipment leasing, real estate financing, and structured finance transactions. Taylor has represented banks, insurance companies, leasing companies, and corporate borrowers in a variety of financing transactions, including leveraged, single-investor and synthetic leases of aircraft, rolling stock, vessels and other equipment, manufacturing and cogeneration facilities; single bank and syndicated credit facilities, including participations; airport infrastructure financings; project finance; private placements; and residual value support. He also counsels clients with respect to loan and lease restructurings and workouts. Taylor earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1988. He earned his B.S. from Northern Illinois University, with University Honors, in 1985. Taylor is admitted to practice law in Illinois and Colorado.
About Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
The law firm of Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL (KMK Law®), based in Cincinnati, Ohio, is a nationally-recognized law firm delivering sophisticated legal solutions to businesses of all sizes—from Fortune 50 corporations to start-up companies. Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers®2021 recognized KMK as a leading law firm in Ohio in Banking & Finance, Bankruptcy & Restructuring, Corporate and Mergers & Acquisitions, Labor & Employment, and General Commercial Litigation. KMK Law earned five National Rankings in Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law, Land Use & Zoning Law, Project Finance Law and Venture Capital Law and 40 Metropolitan Rankings in the U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers publication of its 2021 “Best Law Firms” Report. Founded in 1954, KMK has approximately 130 lawyers and a support staff of 150 employees. Additional information is available at www.kmklaw.com.
