News Release

Five McGlinchey Stafford Attorneys Recognized in Ohio Super Lawyers 2018

December 12, 2017

McGlinchey Stafford PLLC is pleased to announce that five attorneys in the firm’s Cleveland office have been named to the 2018 editions of Ohio Super Lawyers and Ohio Super Lawyers “Rising Stars.”

• Nicholas J. Kopcho, Associate, named to Ohio Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” in the areas of Business Litigation, Consumer Law, Creditor Debtor Rights: Business, and Banking
• Bryan Kostura, Member, named to Ohio Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” in the areas of Business Litigation, Creditor Debtor Rights: Business, and Criminal Defense: White Collar
• James W. Sandy, Associate, named to Ohio Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” in the areas of Business Litigation, Appellate, Consumer Law, Creditor Debtor Rights: Business, and Civil Litigation: Defense
• Richik Sarkar, Member, named to Ohio Super Lawyers in the areas of Business Litigation, Appellate, Consumer Law, General Litigation, Civil Litigation: Defense, and Banking
• David Waxman, Of Counsel, named to Ohio Super Lawyers in the areas of Real Estate: Business, Environmental, and Business/Corporate

Kopcho, Kostura, Sandy, Sarkar, and Waxman join 61 other McGlinchey Stafford attorneys who have received the distinction of being included in Super Lawyers and the publication’s “Rising Stars” lists across the United States. The firm’s Cleveland team has extensive experience in the areas of consumer financial services, commercial litigation, and transactional matters, and includes some of the state’s top consumer financial services attorneys as recognized by clients and peers in local and national publications.

Kopcho is a commercial litigator who regularly defends businesses in real estate, contractual, and consumer disputes in state and federal court. His practice includes defending against inquiries from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, claims brought under the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, and the Truth In Lending Act. He received his J.D. from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 2013 and his B.S. from State University of New York at Buffalo in 2002.

Kostura represents both publicly traded and private companies in civil litigation matters, with a particular focus on consumer financial services litigation. A Major in the United States Army Reserves, he serves as the Deputy Regional Defense Counsel in the 16th Legal Operations Detachment. Kostura received his J.D. from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 2004 and his B.A. in Political Science from John Carroll University in 2001.

Sandy focuses his practice on consumer financial services, business litigation, and commercial litigation. He has experience representing clients in both state and federal court, and defended claims under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, and the Truth In Lending Act. He is a 2008 graduate of the University of Cincinnati College of Law and a 2005 graduate of the University of Dayton.

Sarkar maintains a broad, varied litigation practice in which he directs litigation; special projects such as organizational updates, policies, strategies, and investigations; and crisis management for a variety of clients across several industries, ranging from sports and media agencies to local, regional, and global financial institutions. He has particular experience handling complex litigation and business matters relating to commercial and consumer regulations, contracts, and practices. Sarkar received his J.D. from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 1998, his M.S.W. from the University of Michigan in 1994, and his B.A., with honors, from the University of Michigan in 1993.

Waxman has acted as real estate and environmental counsel for individuals, closely-held businesses, educational institutions, public libraries, and Fortune 100 companies on matters pertaining to real estate acquisition, development, redevelopment, construction, financing and leasing, environmental compliance and insurance, construction, and business acquisitions and divestitures. He is a 1986 graduate of the University of Toledo College of Law and a 1982 graduate of The Ohio State University.

Super Lawyers has listed outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement since the publication’s founding in 1991. To be included in a state publication, lawyers are subject to a nomination process, a peer-review survey by practice area, and independent research on candidates. The top five percent of attorneys in each state, as nominated by their peers, are then reviewed by an independent research team that focuses on professional accomplishments, peer recognition, and community involvement. The Mid-South edition of Super Lawyers and its “Rising Stars” list includes attorneys from Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee.