Dana Weiss and Barbara Lum Join Benesch

Benesch is pleased to announce that Dana Weiss and Barbara Lum have joined the firm’s Cleveland office.

Dana Weiss joins the firm as a partner in the Real Estate & Environmental Practice Group. Dana focuses on numerous facets of real estate, real estate finance and commercial lending. She regularly counsels clients with regard to commercial and residential development involving new markets, low-income and historic tax credits, subordinate and other alternative financing, affordable and fair housing, and economic development incentives. Dana has advised senior and subordinate lenders in construction and permanent debt financing, and has acted as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, purchaser’s counsel, borrower’s counsel and issuer’s counsel on conduit municipal finance transactions, primarily in the area of affordable housing.

“I’m excited about the team of real estate attorneys we’re building in Cleveland,” said Jeff Wild, Real Estate & Environmental Practice Group Chair, Firm Administrative Partner, Executive Committee Member and Chief Strategy Officer. “Dana is a great colleague: excellent at what she does and a pleasure to work with.”

Dana received her J.D. from the Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, cum laude, in 2003 and her B.J. from the University of Texas at Austin in 1997.

Barbara joins the firm as a partner in the Litigation Practice Group and has experience defending clients in product liability and mass tort litigation, putative class actions, personal injury cases, and long-term care and nursing home litigation. She provides counsel on risk mitigation and avoidance strategies, as well as product warnings and instructions, warranties, and commercial terms and conditions.

The litigation practice group is the largest group in the firm with over 85 attorneys, including partners who come from AM Law 100 firms.

“Barbara is a sophisticated litigator who has handled numerous complex cases which strongly complements our existing practice. She is also client focused and practical in her approach to cases, and works hard to promote diversity in the legal profession,” said Joe Castrodale, Litigation Practice Group Chair, Executive Committee Member and Vice-Chair of the Firm. “She is a tremendous resource for our clients.”

Barbara received her J.D. from Boston University School of Law in 2009 and her B.A. from Dartmouth College in 2004.

Since January 2015, Benesch has welcomed over 122 new attorneys, 54 staff members and opened a new office in Chicago. The strategic addition of these attorneys and offices is another step in executing the firm’s aggressive growth plan and goal to continuously enhance the quality of service provided to clients.