Legal Eagles

The Legal Eagles promote professionalism, advance continuing legal education, assist St. Edward students, provide pro bono legal services, and celebrate outstanding members of our community.

Review Our Bylaws

Join Today!

To become a Legal Eagle, members commit to an annual $100 tax-deductible donation to St. Edward High School by June 30, which supports the Legal Eagles Endowed Scholarship.

Click here to join

The Legal Eagles host a variety of events:

• CLE event on the first Saturday of December
• Legal Eagles Luncheon
• Mock Trial Coaching
• And more!

2025-26 Legal Eagles Leadership

Mike VanNiel '91

Immediate Past President

Partner
Baker Hostetler

Areas of Expertise

Commercial Litigation
Restructuring & Bankruptcy
Business

Hon. Carl J. Mazzone '01

President

Judge

Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas

Brendan Heil '05

Luncheon Chair

Attorney
Bricker Graydon

Areas of Expertise

Litigation
Economic Development
Political Subdivisions

Edward Feran '80

CLE Seminar Chair

Kevin Butler '93

Board Liaison

Attorney
McDonald Hopkins

Areas of Expertise

Real Estate
Business
Government & Zoning

2024-25 Members

Mike Bona '09
Attorney
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell & Tummino LLP

Area of Expertise

Copyright / Patent / Trademark Law
Intellectual Property Law

Rob Cahill '93
Shareholder
Sutter O'Connell

Areas of Expertise

Products Liability
Commercial Litigation
Business

James Matthew Cain '60
Semi-Retired

Areas of Expertise

Litigation

Michael Cantu '08
Associate Attorney
Kohrman Jackson & Krantz

Areas of Expertise

Litigation
Mediation
School Law

John Ertle '80
Owner
Law Office of John Ertle

Areas of Expertise

Business Law
Estate Planning/Probate
Real Estate Law

Hon. Sean C. Gallagher '73
Judge

Ohio Court of Appeals

John Grecol '03
Attorney
Grecol Law

Areas of Expertise

Real Estate Transactions
Landlord / Tenant Disputes
Estate Planning

Hon. Kevin Kelley '86
Judge

Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas

Brian McDonough
Assistant United States Attorney
United States Department of Justice

Areas of Expertise

Criminal Law

Daniel McGowan
Attorney
Law Office of Daniel McGowan, LLC

Areas of Expertise

Estate and Trust Litigation

Bob Meader '83
Attorney
Robert Meader L.L.C.

Areas of Expertise

Criminal Law

Michael Murman '64
Lawyer
Law Office of Michael E. Murman

Areas of Expertise

Estate Planning/Probate
General Practice
Mediation

Matthew Norman
Partner
Gallagher Sharp

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Criminal Law
Litigation
Product Liability Law

Bryan O'Malley '80

Assistant Director of Law and Prosecutor, City of North Olmsted, and City of Parma Heights

Associate, Wegman Hessler Valore

Areas of Expertise

Municipal Law, Criminal Defense, General Litigation, Probate Administration, Estates and Trusts

Nick Ortiz '00
Associate
Walter Haverfield

Areas of Expertise

Real Estate Law

Hon. John Russo '83
Judge
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas

Ralph Skonce '72
Attorney at Law
Law Office of Ralph T. Skonce, Jr.

Areas of Expertise

Criminal Law
General Practice

Lowell Thompson III '17
Associate Attorney
LM Legal Group

Areas of Expertise

Business Law
Elder Law/Medicaid/Medicare
Real Estate Law

Anthony Zona '72
Attorney and Retired MSG US ARMY

Areas of Expertise

General Practice

Legal Eagles Awards

The Legal Eagles are proud to have recognized the following graduates and members of the legal community in years past:

Legal Eagles Man Of The Year Recipients

• 1994  Edward T. Clarke ’56
• 1995  Hon. Terrence O’Donnell ’64
• 1996  Ralph T. Skonce Jr. ’72
• 1997  Hon. John J. Donnelly ’61
• 1998  Hon. Patrick J. Carroll ’70
• 1999  Patrick F. Roche ’68
• 2000  Albert C. Sammon ’74
• 2001  J. Matthew Cain ’60
• 2002  Michael E. Murman ’64
• 2003  Hon. Timothy J. McGinty ’69
• 2004  John F. McCaffrey ’79
• 2005  Hon. Sean C. Gallagher ’73
• 2006  John J. Duffy ’61
• 2007  Scott E. Stewart ’69
• 2008  Cornelius J. O’Sullivan ’81
• 2009  Henry J. Hilow ’74
• 2010  Hon. John J. Russo ’83
• 2011  Regis E. McGann ’67
• 2012  James P. Sammon ’87
• 2013  James B. Niehaus ’76
• 2014  Hon. Brendan J. Sheehan ’85
• 2015  Mark Valponi '70
• 2016  Mike Gareau, Sr. '58
• 2017  John J. Wargo, Jr. '65
• 2018  Kevin M. Butler '93 
• 2019  Patrick F. Haggerty '73 
• 2020 Hon. Patrick F. Corrigan '70
• 2021 Bryan P. O'Malley '80
• 2022 Hon. Joseph J. Zone '72
• 2023 Daniel T. Clancy '55
• 2024 John A. Grecol '03
• 2025 Edward F. Feran '80

Legal Eagles Stewardship Award Recipients

• 2012 Pete Elliott '80, U.S. Marshal
• 2013 Mike McGrath '69, Cleveland Safety Director
• 2014 Brian Heffernan '78, Cleveland Police Commander
• 2015 Craig Tame '67, Office of the U.S. Attorney
• 2016 Brent Collins '78, Assistant Fire Chief, Cleveland Fire Department
• 2017 Frank Bova '78, Cuyahoga County Sheriff
• 2018 Michael J. O'Malley '67, Investigator Supervisor at Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office
• 2019 Matt Zone '81 Councilman, City of Cleveland
• 2021 Keith G. Sulzer '79, Chief Investigator for the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office
• 2022 Kevin J. Kelley '86, Cleveland City Council President
• 2023 Det. Richard E. Ginley '79
• 2024 James P. Newman '84, Bailiff, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court
• 2025 Dennis J. Walsh '73
• 2025 Mark F. Giuliano '79