ROBERT J. HANNA
Partner, Cleveland
216-696-3463 (direct dial)
216-408-3419 (cell)
216-592-5009 (fax)
robert.hanna@tuckerellis.com
PRACTICE AREAS
Trial; Business Litigation, Chair; Antitrust & Competition Law;
Class Action Litigation
BAR ADMISSIONS
Ohio (1986)
United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio
United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio
United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
EDUCATION
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 1986)
Cleveland State University (M.B.A., 1983)
Ohio Wesleyan University (B.A., 1981)
ROBERT J. HANNA is a Partner in the Cleveland office of Tucker Ellis & West LLP and chair of its Business
Litigation group. He is a trial lawyer with broad experience in all aspects of the business litigation practice group.
Much of his practice has focused recently on antitrust, patent infringement, unfair competition, non-competition
agreements, trade secret, real estate litigation, and other business- related torts. He has extensive experience in
matters involving securities litigation, antitrust, class actions, professional liability, accountants, broker-dealers,
officers and directors, and manufacturing disputes. He has tried cases in California, Michigan, and West Virginia,
as well as in courts throughout Ohio. He has significant experience in alternative forms of dispute resolution
including mediation and arbitration before the FINRA (formerly NASD), AAA, CPR and the federal and state
court systems. Rob routinely counsels and lectures on electronic discovery, trade secrets, non-competition, and
UCC warranty matters.
Rob is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and the Cleveland Bar Association. On behalf of the
Cleveland Bar Association, he has been asked to serve as chair of several trial committees prosecuting
disciplinary violations by attorneys. He is a life-long Clevelander and, with four children, finds himself regularly
coaching youth sports in basketball, volleyball, and baseball.
CIVIC & PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT
Women’s Center of Great Cleveland, Board of Directors
Lawyers Guild of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, Officer and Executive Committee Member
Padua Franciscan High School, Education Affairs Committee
INDUSTRIES REPRESENTED
Accounting Firms
Banks
Broker / Dealer & Securities
Computer Systems Design
Firms
Computers & Electronics
Consumer Products
Electrical Equipment
Fabricated Metal Products
Financial Investment
Companies
Franchising
Golf Courses
Hotels / Resorts
Insurance Carriers
Medical Professionals
Non-Profit Organizations
Plastics & Rubber
Restaurants
Transportation Equipment
TUCKER ELLIS & WEST LLP
1150 Huntington Building · 925 Euclid Avenue · Cleveland, OH 44115
www.tuckerellis.com
KARL A. BEKENY
Counsel, Cleveland
216-696-2699 (direct dial)
216-592-5009 (fax)
karl.bekeny@tuckerellis.com
PRACTICE AREAS
Trial; Appellate & Legal Issues; Business Litigation; Class
Action Litigation; Financial Institutions; Insurance
BAR ADMISSIONS
Ohio (2002)
Wisconsin (2002)
United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio
United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio
EDUCATION
University of Wisconsin (J.D., cum laude, 2002)
The College of Wooster (B.A., magna cum laude, 1999)
Phi Beta Kappa
KARL A. BEKENY is Counsel in the Cleveland office of Tucker Ellis & West LLP. As a member of the
firm's Appellate & Legal Issues group, Karl has experience in a wide array of interesting areas of the law.
Karl practices extensively in the areas of commercial litigation and product liability defense and
frequently represents financial institutions in litigation ranging from trust administration to real estate
matters. Most recently, Karl successfully represented several banking associations as Amici before the
Ohio Supreme Court regarding the uniform mortgage documents.
Karl also has a broad spectrum of experience in the insurance industry. As a member of the Special
Counsel team representing the Ohio Department of Insurance, Karl has represented the Department on a
wide range of issues. When representing insurers, Karl is often involved in coverage disputes, rescission
claims, and insurance bad faith actions. Karl primarily represents foreign and domestic insurers in
connection with claims involving directors and officers' liability and commercial general liability.
Karl is a native Clevelander who enjoys being involved in his community; whether it is through the
Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association's Justice for All Committee, Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, or
attending many of the musical offerings of Cleveland with his wife, a classical musician. In 2006, Karl was
the co-recipient of the "Justice for All Award" for outstanding volunteer service and commitment to the
community of Greater Cleveland.
Karl is a member of the Federal Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association, State Bar of
Wisconsin, and Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association.
TUCKER ELLIS & WEST LLP
1150 Huntington Building · 925 Euclid Avenue · Cleveland, OH 44115
www.tuckerellis.com
TUCKER ELLIS & WEST LLP
Karl A. Bekeny continued
CIVIC & PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT
Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Justice for All
Committee, Chair (2007-2008)
Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
Chair (2003-2005)
William K. Thomas Inn of Court
Associate (2006-2009)
INDUSTRIES REPRESENTED
Banks
Construction
Consumer Products
Fabricated Metal Products
Funds & Trusts
Government
Insurance Carriers
Machinery
Medical Devices
Nonprofit Organizations
Performing Arts
Private Households & Individuals
Real Estate
Religious Organizations
TUCKER ELLIS & WEST LLP
1150 Huntington Building · 925 Euclid Avenue · Cleveland, OH 44115
www.tuckerellis.com
MICHAEL J. RUTTINGER
Associate, Cleveland
216-696-4456 (direct dial)
216-592-5009 (fax)
michael.ruttinger@tuckerellis.com
PRACTICE AREAS
Trial; Appellate & Legal Issues; Class Action Litigation;
Business Litigation
BAR ADMISSIONS
Ohio (2008)
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit (2008)
EDUCATION
University of Michigan (J.D., magna cum laude, 2008)
Order of the Coif
Michigan Law Review, Contributing Editor
Federalist Society, Director, 2008 National Student Symposium
College of Wooster (B.A., summa cum laude, 2005)
Phi Beta Kappa
Aileen Dunham Prize in History
David L. Carpenter Pre-Law Award Recipient
MICHAEL J. RUTTINGER is an Associate in the Cleveland office of Tucker Ellis & West LLP, where his
practice focuses on appellate & legal issues.
Mr. Ruttinger worked with Tucker Ellis & West as a law clerk in the summers of 2006 & 2007. While
attending law school at the University of Michigan, he joined the Michigan Law Review as an editor and
participated in the Campbell Moot Court competition. After graduation, he served as a law clerk to the
Honorable Deborah Cook, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
In his free time, Michael enjoys following Cleveland’s sporting teams, playing recreational basketball and
football, and recently ran the Cleveland and Akron marathons.
CIVIC & PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT
Ohio State Bar Association
Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
PUBLICATIONS
“Commerce Clause Limits on State Antitrust Laws”, Michigan Law Review, 106 MICH.L.REV.545 (2007)
TUCKER ELLIS & WEST LLP
1150 Huntington Building · 925 Euclid Avenue · Cleveland, OH 44115
www.tuckerellis.com