Benesch is expanding its presence in Columbus with the addition of four attorneys. The firm is pleased to welcome Andy Bojko and Laura Hult, who join Benesch as partners in the Commercial Finance & Banking Practice Group, along with senior associate Michael Farrell and mid-level associate Amy Ovecka. Hult also joins the firm’s Corporate & Securities Practice Group.
Bojko, Hult, Farrell, and Ovecka join an impressive practice rapidly making a name for itself nationwide. The group integrates with the corporate, commercial, bankruptcy, and real estate experience of our current team and focuses directly on meeting the legal and business needs of commercial lenders and financial institutions. Benesch has been a staple in Columbus since 1986 and is rapidly expanding its footprint in the city to meet the growing needs of its clients. Adding these capabilities to our already deep bench strength in Columbus across our core practice groups will significantly enhance our profile in the local community.
“We’re excited about adding these corporate and commercial finance professionals to the firm,” said Gregg Eisenberg, Managing Partner and Executive Committee Member. “They are outstanding resources to help guide our middle-market and growing clients through the key transactions that will position them for success in this still-uncertain economy.”
“Our current growth in Columbus is unparalleled in our history,” said Frank Carsonie, Partner in Charge Columbus, Chair Benesch Healthcare + and Executive Committee Member. “We will continue to capitalize on our momentum to bring extraordinary talent to this office who will meaningfully contribute to our constant efforts to drive value to our clients in Columbus and across the entire firm.”
This team works closely together and have practices that often overlap, allowing them to respond swiftly to any issues that arise for Benesch’s clients.
In his practice, Bojko provides counsel to lenders, administrative agents, and borrowers in matters involving middle-market debt financings, broadly syndicated debt financings, and asset-based lending, as well as ESOP financings, mezzanine debt, and acquisition financings. Additionally, Bojko handles a variety of real estate matters, with a particular emphasis on construction and permanent loans, leasing, and acquisitions and divestitures.
Bojko’s work has been recognized by clients and peers alike. He was named Columbus, Ohio’s 2021 “Lawyer of the Year” in Commercial Finance by Best Lawyers®. He has been noted as one of America’s Leading Business Lawyers by Chambers USA, by The Best Lawyers in America®, and by Ohio Super Lawyers® — Rising Stars Edition.
Bojko graduated from University of Notre Dame Law School, where he served as Assistant Executive Editor at Notre Dame Law Review, and from Princeton University, where he was a member of the men’s varsity soccer team.
In her practice, Hult advises investors, lenders, and administrative agents in structuring, negotiating, and protecting their debt and equity investments. She shepherds middle-market companies and their stakeholders through a variety of critical growth transactions, such as mergers and acquisitions (both buy-side and sell-side), recapitalizations, and other liquidity events, including private equity, mezzanine lending, and institutional and syndicated transactions. Hult also works with clients in workout or restructuring scenarios and negotiates with critical constituents to gain economic visibility and preserve investment value.
Hult’s skills in Banking and Finance have been recognized by Chambers USA since 2014. She has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Commercial Finance Law since 2018. She is a member of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), where she serves on the board of the Columbus Chapter and as Chair of its Diversity & Inclusion Committee. She also serves on the board of the Action for Children organization.
Hult graduated from the Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law, and from the University of Michigan, where she received a full ride scholarship as a Division 1 athlete in rowing. Hult is also a graduate of Oxford University’s Comparative Law Program.
Farrell represents clients across a wide variety of industries, including banking, financial services, technology, security, manufacturing, and professional services. He has advised national financial institutions, private equity funds, mezzanine debt funds, and corporate borrowers in connection with senior secured loans, ABL facilities, second lien loans, subordinated mezzanine loans, workout and restructuring scenarios, warrant issuances, equity co-investments, and venture capital financing. Farrell was listed in in The Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch in 2021 in the area of Corporate Law.
Farrell graduated from the Washington University School of Law and from Case Western Reserve University with an M.S. in Finance and B.A. in Economics.
Ovecka represents and advises banks, commercial borrowers, and other financial institutions in secured and unsecured lending transactions, including senior and subordinated debt financing, mezzanine financing, and acquisition financing. Her clients include businesses across industries such as manufacturing, engineering, tech, and agriculture.
Ovecka graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she served as an Executive Editor of the Journal of Constitutional Law and received the Pro Bono Volunteer of the Year award for her commitment to the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project, and from The Ohio State University, where she was a John Glenn Fellow. She is also certified as a Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers.
Since making its debut on the AmLaw 200 list in 2016, Benesch has advanced 27 places and is currently ranked at number 168.