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FitzGerald Appoints Cuyahoga County's First Law Director
Media contact:
Nicole Dailey Jones, (216) 263-4602; ndjones@cuyahogacounty.us
John Kohlstrand, (216) 698-2099; jkohlstrand@cuyahogacounty.us
CLEVELAND – Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald today named Majeed G. Makhlouf as Cuyahoga County’s first Law Director.
Makhlouf is a partner in the Cleveland office of the regional law firm of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP. He will bring a wealth of experience to his new position having advised and represented numerous political subdivisions in Ohio since 2002, including the cities of Independence, Beachwood, Strongsville, Euclid, Wooster, and Bay Village; the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority; and the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Mayfield, and Nordonia School Districts.
“Majeed will be a tremendous asset to our new county government," said FitzGerald. “His experience in public and municipal law as well as his background in business law will prove invaluable to our new county government as we rebuild it one block at a time.”
City of Independence Mayor Gregory Kurtz stated: “Majeed is an excellent choice to serve as our county’s first Law Director. My only concern is losing Majeed’s invaluable legal counsel to the City during his tenure in county government, but I fully understand his commitment to public service and the need to answer when duty calls.”
Kenneth A. Kraus, City of Strongsville Law Director and President of the Cuyahoga County Law Directors Association, stated: “Based upon my professional involvement with Majeed over the years and his extensive municipal law expertise, I am confident that he is a superb choice as the first Law Director for our new Cuyahoga County government.”
City of Euclid Law Director Christopher Frey agreed, stating: “Majeed is an outstanding lawyer. He is the right choice at the right time to serve as Cuyahoga County’s first Law Director at this critical juncture of its history.”
Stephen M. O’Bryan, partner in charge of the Cleveland office of Taft, and a past president of both the Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association and the Cuyahoga County Law Directors Association, explained: “I have worked closely with Majeed, and it did not take long to recognize his legal talent and, particularly, his grasp of public law and civic issues. His willingness to interrupt his successful and growing private law practice and newly achieved partnership to fulfill this public duty continues the tradition of firm partners dedicated to public service, including Senator Robert A. Taft nationally and Mayor Walter C. Kelley in Cuyahoga County.”
Makhlouf has been repeatedly selected by Law & Politics magazine since 2005 as a Super Lawyers Rising Star. Benchmark Litigation named him a Future Star in 2008. Inside Business magazine named him as one of 15 Young Legal Leaders (High Bars) in Northeast Ohio.
Makhlouf is also active in promoting diversity in the legal profession. On a national level, Makhlouf was recently named a Fellow with the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. Locally, he co-chairs the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association’s Diversity Action Committee.
Makhlouf received his law degree from The Ohio State University College of Law, where he served as the Articles and Symposium Editor of the Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution. He received his undergraduate degree in international economics and management and in political science from Hiram College, graduating cum laude.
Nicole Dailey Jones, (216) 263-4602; ndjones@cuyahogacounty.us
John Kohlstrand, (216) 698-2099; jkohlstrand@cuyahogacounty.us
CLEVELAND – Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald today named Majeed G. Makhlouf as Cuyahoga County’s first Law Director.
Makhlouf is a partner in the Cleveland office of the regional law firm of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP. He will bring a wealth of experience to his new position having advised and represented numerous political subdivisions in Ohio since 2002, including the cities of Independence, Beachwood, Strongsville, Euclid, Wooster, and Bay Village; the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority; and the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Mayfield, and Nordonia School Districts.
“Majeed will be a tremendous asset to our new county government," said FitzGerald. “His experience in public and municipal law as well as his background in business law will prove invaluable to our new county government as we rebuild it one block at a time.”
City of Independence Mayor Gregory Kurtz stated: “Majeed is an excellent choice to serve as our county’s first Law Director. My only concern is losing Majeed’s invaluable legal counsel to the City during his tenure in county government, but I fully understand his commitment to public service and the need to answer when duty calls.”
Kenneth A. Kraus, City of Strongsville Law Director and President of the Cuyahoga County Law Directors Association, stated: “Based upon my professional involvement with Majeed over the years and his extensive municipal law expertise, I am confident that he is a superb choice as the first Law Director for our new Cuyahoga County government.”
City of Euclid Law Director Christopher Frey agreed, stating: “Majeed is an outstanding lawyer. He is the right choice at the right time to serve as Cuyahoga County’s first Law Director at this critical juncture of its history.”
Stephen M. O’Bryan, partner in charge of the Cleveland office of Taft, and a past president of both the Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association and the Cuyahoga County Law Directors Association, explained: “I have worked closely with Majeed, and it did not take long to recognize his legal talent and, particularly, his grasp of public law and civic issues. His willingness to interrupt his successful and growing private law practice and newly achieved partnership to fulfill this public duty continues the tradition of firm partners dedicated to public service, including Senator Robert A. Taft nationally and Mayor Walter C. Kelley in Cuyahoga County.”
Makhlouf has been repeatedly selected by Law & Politics magazine since 2005 as a Super Lawyers Rising Star. Benchmark Litigation named him a Future Star in 2008. Inside Business magazine named him as one of 15 Young Legal Leaders (High Bars) in Northeast Ohio.
Makhlouf is also active in promoting diversity in the legal profession. On a national level, Makhlouf was recently named a Fellow with the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. Locally, he co-chairs the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association’s Diversity Action Committee.
Makhlouf received his law degree from The Ohio State University College of Law, where he served as the Articles and Symposium Editor of the Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution. He received his undergraduate degree in international economics and management and in political science from Hiram College, graduating cum laude.
