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Ira C. Kaplan

Executive Chairman of the Firm, Executive Committee Member
Cleveland
T.
216.363.4567
liamE
"[Ira is] a fantastic relationship builder who works hard to maintain those relationships." - Benesch client, Chambers USA
"[Ira is] a fantastic relationship builder who works hard to maintain those relationships." - Benesch client, Chambers USA

Ira focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions as well as public and private debt and equity financings. He also works extensively in the healthcare services sector, including dental service organizations (DSOs) and other healthcare services such as behavioral health, physician practice management, revenue cycle management, and home health companies.   

Ira 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 growth and liquidity. Ira serves as outside General Counsel to many of his clients and also represents private equity, and subordinated debt funds, family offices, as well as the portfolio companies of these funds and offices.

Ira is the firm’s Executive Chairman and serves as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Ira served as Managing Partner of the firm from 2008-2014. Prior to that, he served as Associate Managing Partner from 2007-2008. Ira has Co-Chaired the firm’s Corporate & Securities Group and Private Equity Group.

Representative Experience

  • Advised Radiological Service Training Institute (RSTI) in its sale of 100% of its equity interests to PartsSource, a Bain Capital-backed platform.  RSTI is in the business of providing radiological training products and services.
  • Represented Weinberg Capital Group and its platform company, Salt River Aviation, LLC, in its add-on acquisition of Phoenix Aviation Services, LLC d/b/a Aviocraft,  a premier maintenance, repair and overhaul ("MRO") provider specializing in batteries, chargers, communication devices, galley, relays and other aircraft accessories.
  • Represented Weinberg Capital Group, in its acquisition of Salt River Aviation, LLC, a niche provider of Auxiliary Power Units, APU teardown and disassembly services, APU Subcomponents and other airframe parts and components, targeting some of the largest commercial aircraft platforms today, including the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 families.
  • Represented Weinberg Capital Group in the sale of its interest in North American Kitchen Solutions, Inc. (dba Hoodmart).
  • Represented Aero 3, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“AeroRepair”), a portfolio company of Weinberg Capital Group (“Weinberg”), in the acquisition by GenNx360 Capital Partners.
  • Represented Norwalk Furniture in a transaction to give ownership to its employees through an employee stock ownership plan, or ESOP.
  • Represented Orbital Health in a $600,000 pre-seed venture capital investment leb by Comeback Capital and including Right Side Capital Management, EV Private Investments and GAM Investments. 
  • Represented Duramark Products Inc.(Formerly Ritrama USA), a market leader in the design and manufacture of self-adhesive materials, in the acquisition of the company’s Minnesota and South Carolina facilities by Mactac®. Mactac, a LINTEC Company, is a leading manufacturer and distributor of pressure-sensitive adhesive materials used in label printing, graphic design, packaging, and retail display, among others.
  • Represented Vizzle® (a/k/a Monarch Teaching Technologies), a web-based platform that includes visual, interactive lessons for special education students and students with autism, in its acquisition by Rethink Ed, an award-winning technology developer of cloud-based tools, training, and supports for students with special needs.
  • Represented the CEO and COO of an automotive products manufacturer during its acquisition by a private equity firm in connection with their employment agreements as well as their investments in the company.

  • Corporate & Securities
  • Contract Preparation, Negotiation & Compliance
  • Corporate Governance & Board Counseling
  • Domestic & International Joint Ventures
  • Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures
  • Capital Raising
  • Securities Compliance
  • Shareholder, Operating & Partnership Agreements
  • Private Equity
  • Private Equity/Health Care
  • Family Offices and Independent Sponsors
  • Dental/DSOs
  • Additive Manufacturing-3D Printing
  • Family Offices & Direct Investing
  • Private Equity
  • Dental Support Organizations (DSOs)
  • Healthcare Services
  • University of Rochester, 1976, B.A., Political Science
    • Scott Paper Scholarship Award
    • Student Life Award
  • George Washington University Law School, 1979, J.D.
  • Ohio
  • Listed, The Best Lawyers in America®, Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Venture Capital Law, 2006-2025
    • Named, Cleveland Mergers and Acquisitions Law Lawyer of the Year, The Best Lawyers in America®, 2021
    • Named Lawyer of the Year, Cleveland Venture Capital Law, The Best Lawyers in America®, 2016
    • Named Lawyer of the Year, Cleveland Mergers and Acquisitions Law, The Best Lawyers in America®, 2015

    • Named Lawyer of the Year, Cleveland Corporate Law, The Best Lawyers in America®, 2010

  • Listed, Cleveland Magazine 2022 - 2024 500 List
  • Listed, Crain’s 2023 Notable Nonprofit Board Leaders
  • Listed, Chambers USA Leading Lawyers, Corporate/M&A, 2011-2024
  • Listed, Ohio Super Lawyers 2004-2020
  • Recipient, 2019 Cleveland Jewish News Difference Makers Award
  • Recipient, Jewish Federation 2018 Gries Family Award
  • Recipient, 2018 Menorah Park David N. Myers Award
  • Recipient, Engage! Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Recipient, 2014 ORT America Jurisprudence Award
  • Listed, Leading Lawyers, Inside Business Magazine
  • AV®Rated, Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review
  • Executive Committee Member, United Way of Greater Cleveland
    • Co-Chair, Strategic Planning Committee
    • Past Vice Chair
    • Past Campaign Co-Chair
    • Past Loaned Executive Program Co-Chair
  • Board and Executive Committee Member, Jewish Federation of Cleveland
  • Board Chair, Mount Sinai Health Foundation
  • Member and Co-Chair, Health and Long-Term Care Committee, Jewish Federation of North America
  • Member, President's Circle, Cleveland American Jewish Committee
  • Advisory Board Member, Nonprofit Center of Lakeland Community College
  • Board Member, Board of Directors, Downtown Cleveland Alliance
  • Board Member and Past Board Chair, Engage! Cleveland
  • Board and Executive Committee Member and Past Board Chair, Bellefaire JCB
  • Board Member and Past Board Chair, Wingspan Care Group
  • Emeritus Board Member and Past Board Chair, Cleveland Leadership Center
  • Served, Governor's Third Frontier Task Force on Biotechnology
  • Member, Leadership Cleveland 
  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
  • Former Board and Executive Committee Member, Business Volunteers Unlimited
  • Former Executive Committee Member, Trustee and Past Board Chair, Menorah Park Center for Senior Living
  • Former Board Member, Trustee and Past Board Chair, Council Gardens 

Highlights

Ira Kaplan_Best Lawyers_2016
Kaplan Chambers 2016

Kaplan 2014 Chambers Logo
Martindale AV Rating
Kaplan Chambers 2017
Ira Kaplan_Best Lawyers_2016
Kaplan Chambers 2016

Kaplan 2014 Chambers Logo
Martindale AV Rating
Kaplan Chambers 2017
Ira Kaplan_Best Lawyers_2016
Kaplan Chambers 2016

Kaplan 2014 Chambers Logo
Articles and Presentations
May 5, 2025
Benesch’s Dental/DSO Intelligence Monthly Report: April 2025
April 21, 2025
Benesch’s Dental/DSO Intelligence Monthly Report: March/April 2025
February 25, 2025
DSO Market Trends and 2025 Outlook ADSO Webinar Recording

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News
February 11, 2025
Benesch Advises Cyprium Partners in Recapitalization of Remprex
December 5, 2024
Benesch Executive Chairman Ira Kaplan Featured in Crain’s Cleveland
October 9, 2024
Benesch Partner Ira Kaplan Elected to Downtown Cleveland Alliance Board

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