Benesch Names New Managing Partner

CLEVELAND, OHIO – January 1, 2008 – Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP announced that Ira C. Kaplan has been named Managing Partner of the firm.Kaplan succeeds James M. Hill, who has held the position since 1999 and who has been named Executive Chairman of the firm.

“Ira is an extremely successful attorney and a fine leader,” said Hill. “Thanks to his strong leadership and the skills and experience of our attorneys, we are well positioned to continue the excellent growth we’ve achieved over the past few years.”

“I am honored to have been selected for this role and look forward to helping expand the firm’s national and international presence,” said Kaplan.”Jim Hill has done a wonderful job over the past eight years.Through his leadership and our great team here at Benesch, we have grown our firm significantly.We plan to build on that foundation and to continue to expand our reach through both organic and geographic growth.Jim will continue to be an integral element in that strategy as Executive Chairman of our firm.”

In addition to serving as Managing Partner, Mr. Kaplan is also Co-Chair of the Private Equity Group and serves as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He has Co-Chaired the firm’s Middle Market Group and is a member of the firm’s Diversity Initiative Committee.

He focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions as well as public and private debt and equity financings. Mr. Kaplan represents both publicly and privately held companies at various stages of growth. He has been involved in planning for growth companies, helping to position them for various stages of private financing and anticipated public offerings. Mr. Kaplan also represents private equity, subordinated debt and venture funds as well as portfolio companies of such funds.

Mr. Kaplan has been an attorney with Benesch since 1979.He received his B.A. from University of Rochester and his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School.He and his wife, Amy, reside in Shaker Heights.They have three children, Andrew, 24, Rachel, 22 and Emily, 20.Mr. Kaplan is a trustee of The Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland, Menorah Park Center for Senior Living, Council Gardens and e-City.He has been named an Ohio Super Lawyer® and a Best Lawyer® for the past 3 years.He was a member of the Leadership Cleveland Class of 2003.Mr. Kaplan is an author and frequent speaker on topics including mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance.

With offices in Cleveland, Columbus, Philadelphia, Shanghai and Wilmington, Benesch’s practice and industry groups include Business Reorganization, the China Group, Compensation & Benefits, Construction, Corporate & Securities, Estate Planning and Probate, Franchising, Health Care, Insurance, Intellectual Property, Labor & Employment, Litigation, Loan Transactions, Polymer Industry, Private Equity, Public Law, Real Estate & Environmental, Tax and Transportation & Logistics. For more information, visit www.bfca.com.