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3 Harrington, Hoppe & Mitchell attorneys named Super Lawyers/Rising Stars
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: January 8, 2015
Seeing one’s name published on the Super Lawyers list is something that no more than 5 percent of attorneys in a single state achieve each year. Over at Youngstown-based Harrington, Hoppe & Mitchell two longtime practitioners have been selected as Ohio Super Lawyers in 2014 and an associate was chosen as a Rising Star.
“I would like to think that all of our attorneys are pretty exceptional at the firm,” said Harrington, Hoppe & Mitchell Managing Partner Kevin Murphy. “It’s so nice that three have been publicly recognized by their peers.”
Every year Super Lawyers candidates are nominated in each state by their attorney peers who have personally observed them excelling at their crafts. Lawyers can choose those in their own firm, but the recommendations only count if each in-firm ballot is matched by at least one outside entry. The nominations and evaluations are combined with third party research and each attorney is evaluated based on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement.
The lists are published annually in state and regional editions of Super Lawyers Magazines and in inserts and special advertising sections in top city and regional magazines and newspapers.
In the case of Harrington, Hoppe & Mitchell partners James L. Blomstrom and Frederick S. (“Fritz”) Coombs III, both have made the list on multiple occasions.
This is the 12th year in a row for Blomstrom who was recognized for business litigation. He joined the constituent firm of Harrington, Huxley & Smith in 1975 after receiving his juris doctor from the University of Chicago Law School and serving as a law clerk in the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
In addition to business litigation, Blomstrom handles civil litigation, employment/labor, oil and gas and medical malpractice matters. The National Board of Trial Advocacy has certified him in Civil Trial Law Advocacy.
“I am certainly happy about being chosen as a Super Lawyer again,” said Blomstrom, who is originally from Youngstown and now lives in Liberty Township. “I am devoted to my clients and as devoted to doing things the correct way. I dot all my i’s and cross all my t’s.
“About 15 years ago, I started putting more emphasis on commercial and business litigation,” said Blomstrom. “I like litigation because it involves putting a puzzle together and I like puzzles. I really like the people I practice with and I enjoy the work.”
For Coombs this is his sixth consecutive year as a Super Lawyer. Born and raised in Youngstown, he is a graduate of The Ohio State University Mortiz College of Law. Coombs joined Harrington, Huxley & Smith the same year as Blomstrom. A certified specialist in creditors’ rights law, his other practice areas include business litigation and restructuring. This year Super Lawyers selected Coombs for his business bankruptcy and business creditor debtor rights work.
“It’s nice to know that my fellow practitioners think I know what I am doing,” said Coombs. “There are a lot of factors involved in making the Super Lawyers list. You have to be a master of your craft and a professional who treats other lawyers, clients and the court with respect.
“The firm has a wide variety of lawyers who can pretty much address any legal problem a client might have. We have a good synergy as far as utilizing the knowledge and experience of all the attorneys in the firm. We also know when to refer our client to another attorney at the firm when the problem is not within our area of expertise.”
In addition to Blomstrom and Coombs, civil litigation and employment associate Matthew Ries has been designated a Rising Star.
The selection process for Rising Stars is the same, however, to qualify the attorney must be either 40 or younger or in practice for ten years or less. A maximum of 2.5 percent of a state’s lawyers make the Rising Stars list.
Ries received his juris doctor from Capital University Law School, joining Harrington, Hoppe & Mitchell in May 2013. He works out of the firm’s Warren office.
“I was pleasantly surprised,” said Ries. “I don’t know who nominated me but it’s nice that when you spend a good portion of your career working until 11 or 12 at night that someone recognizes your hard work.
“There is often a perception that young lawyers don’t know what they are doing or are not as experienced. It’s nice to have your work product validated.”
Ries said he is grateful to be able to work in his hometown of Warren for a firm that gives him the tools to succeed.
“The firm not only provides guidance and support but also the discretion to develop myself as an attorney. It’s a great firm full of competent lawyers with a lot of experience and I am very fortunate to be able to draw and build upon all its resources.”