Keating Muething & Klekamp Elects Seven New Partners
The Cincinnati law firm of Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL (KMK Law®) is pleased to announce that it has elected seven new partners: Christopher S. Brinkman, Gregory P. Hartmann, Kelly E. MacDonald, Zachary K. Peterson, Gregory J. Robinson, Richard C. Spoor, and Taylor V. Trout.
Christopher S. Brinkman practices in the firm's Business Representation & Transactions Group with a concentration in venture capital transactions, start-ups & growth companies, securities, and mergers and acquisitions. In his practice, Brinkman assists both private and public companies with a variety of corporate and securities related matters. Brinkman frequently serves as outside general counsel to start-up companies and venture-backed companies, and is experienced in guiding such companies and their founders through the various phases of development. He has specific experience in business formation and planning, intellectual property protection, issuing equity-based incentives to service providers, seed-stage and venture capital financings, and exit transactions. Brinkman also advises venture capital funds and their managers through fund formations, negotiations with portfolio investments, and fund dissolutions. Brinkman earned his J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law, magna cum laude, in 2015. He earned his B.S. from Indiana University in 2009. Brinkman is admitted to practice law in Ohio.
Gregory P. Hartmann advises clients on complex litigation matters in connection with sophisticated public-private projects. He is a trusted advisor with 20 years of diversified experience as an attorney, former government official, and a private consultant for Ohio government relations. Hartmann, a former Hamilton County Commissioner, began his career as a Hamilton County Prosecutor. He gained significant experience in the courtroom, handling hundreds of criminal cases in Juvenile, Municipal, Grand Jury, and Common Pleas divisions. After years of trial practice, Hartmann managed court operations and more than 330 employees as Hamilton County Clerk of Courts. Prior to joining KMK Law in 2019, Hartmann entered into private practice as a Partner at Shea Hartmann LLP and acted as President of GHSW Consulting Partners. Hartmann earned his J.D. from Pepperdine University College of Law, cum laude, in 1997. He earned his B.A. from Washington and Lee University in 1989. Hartmann is admitted to practice law in Ohio.
Kelly E. MacDonald practices in the firm’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Group. MacDonald advises clients on all aspects of health plans, welfare plans, and qualified retirement plans (including defined benefit plans, 401(k) plans, employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), and profit sharing plans), including the design, implementation, administration, operation, and termination of benefit plans. She has experience advising on the legal compliance of Affordable Care Act (ACA), ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA privacy, security, breach notification and portability issues, as well as compliance with tax laws and regulations, and other applicable laws. MacDonald also advises clients on ERISA fiduciary matters, matters involving the IRS, Department of Labor (DOL) and PBGC, reporting obligations, and qualified plan corrections under governmental correction programs. She has extensive experience with employee benefit matters in the context of mergers, acquisitions, divestures, and other corporate transactions. MacDonald earned her J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 2013. She earned her B.S. from the University of Dayton in 2010. MacDonald is admitted to practice law in Ohio.
Zachary K. Peterson practices in the firm's Business Representation and Transactions Group, focusing on understanding his clients’ individual businesses and tailoring legal solutions to fit them. He focuses his current practice on representing companies on a wide range of corporate matters, including mergers, acquisitions, and divestures, as well as business formation, organization, and other commercial transactions. Peterson also regularly counsels clients on day-to-day legal matters, negotiation of key contracts, and overall business strategies. He also brings significant general and government-defense litigation experience. Prior to joining KMK Law, Peterson served as General Legal Counsel and Chief Financial Officer of a well-known, mid-sized company in Cincinnati. Peterson earned his J.D. from Salmon P. Chase College of Law, Northern Kentucky University, summa cum laude, in 2012. He earned his B.S. from Miami University in 2006. Peterson is admitted to practice law in Ohio and Kentucky.
Gregory J. Robinson practices in the firm’s Labor and Employment Group. He assists his clients in navigating the complex world of workplace laws and regulations. Robinson has counseled clients on a wide array of employment matters, including wage and hour disputes, discrimination charges, retaliation charges, severance agreements, non-competition agreements, trade-secret protection, and violations of safety regulations, representing clients in jurisdictions across the county. He has significant experience in representing clients in matters related to workers compensation, advising employers regarding premium payments, payroll audits, and coverage requirements. Robinson has represented clients both in administrative hearings as well as in Court. In addition, his practice further focuses on assisting employers develop workplace policies which put them on the path to success. Robinson earned his J.D. from Vanderbilt Law School in 2013. He earned his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame in 2010. Robinson is admitted to practice law in Ohio and the District of Columbia.
Richard C. Spoor practices in the firm’s Real Estate Group with an emphasis on advising public and private clients on complex real estate development financing transactions. Spoor advises public entities, underwriters, and private clients on economic development projects, public finance transactions, tax incentives, and public private partnerships. Spoor has served as bond and special counsel, underwriter’s counsel, and purchaser’s counsel for both public entities and private clients in connection with the issuance of both tax-exempt and taxable municipal debt. Spoor’s real estate practice includes advising private clients on matters of land use and zoning as well as general municipal law. Spoor earned his J.D. from William & Mary Law School in 2014, and his B.A. from Thomas More College, summa cum laude, in 2011. Spoor is admitted to practice law in Ohio.
Taylor V. Trout practices in the firm’s Litigation Group. Trout has significant business, commercial, and real estate litigation experience. His wide-ranging litigation practice includes, among other areas, representing individuals and both private and publicly-held companies in the prosecution and defense of disputes related to contracts, construction, real estate and development, zoning, insurance coverage, and personal injury. He litigates matters before state and federal courts, private and court-sponsored mediation, and court-ordered and private arbitration. Trout also advises clients on pre-dispute matters such as risk and loss prevention. Trout earned his J.D. from the University of Akron School of Law in 2015, magna cum laude, where he served as a member of the Akron Law Review. Trout earned his B.A. from The College of Wooster Ohio in 2012. Trout is admitted to practice law in Ohio.
About Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
The law firm of Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL (KMK Law®), based in Cincinnati, Ohio, is a nationally-recognized law firm delivering sophisticated legal solutions to businesses of all sizes—from Fortune 50 corporations to start-up companies. Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers® 2021 recognized KMK as a leading law firm in Ohio in Banking & Finance, Bankruptcy & Restructuring, Corporate and Mergers & Acquisitions, Labor & Employment, and General Commercial Litigation. KMK Law earned four National Rankings in Corporate Law, Land Use & Zoning Law, Project Finance Law and Venture Capital Law and 40 Metropolitan Rankings in the U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers publication of its 2022 “Best Law Firms” Report. Founded in 1954, KMK has approximately 130 lawyers and a support staff of 150 employees. Additional information is available at www.kmklaw.com.
