December CBA Report

member services For more information on any of your benefits, please contact Membership at (513) 699-1406 or mymembership@cincybar.org . A comprehensive list of all benefits can be found at www.cincybar.org. SPOTLIGHT ON: James C. Kezele Attorney, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL (KMK Law®) What is your practice area? Environmental What law school did you attend? The University of Dayton School of Law What led you to a career as an attorney? My dad was an attorney and then a judge for various Native Amer- ican Tribes in New Mexico. I vividly remember reading books or coloring under his bench when he was presiding. I remember my dad being a good problem solver and I quickly learned of his repu- tation as being a fair judge. I was proud to see him in that capacity and it made me gravitate to the same profession. Why do you belong to the CBA? I grew up in New Mexico, went to college in California, and worked for the Department of Justice in Denver, Colorado before going to law school in Dayton. I am a true Cincinnati transplant. The Cincinnati Bar is comprised of very talented and congenial attorneys who have made me feel part of the Cincinnati legal community since I joined the Association. Think back to when you just graduated from law school- if you could give yourself any advice, what would it be? Manage your time well: As an attorney this is paramount, though I do not always do it well, it allows me to get work done on time, maintain balance between work and home, and make sure I am responsive to the needs of my clients and my family. Tell us about your family. My remarkably supportive wife, Katie, is a Pilates instructor and oncology social worker. We’ve been married for 10 years. We are blessed with two beautiful children Brady (6) and Julianne (3). What is your favorite thing about practicing law? Problem solving. I love that our profession allows us the oppor- tunity to use our intellect, experience, and creativity to find solutions. Our clients confide in us for counsel when they are navigating an issue that, no matter the size, creates stress and uncertainty in their lives. To find a solution is endlessly rewarding. What is your favorite activity outside of work? If I’m not at work, I ammaximizing time with my family. We love going on bike rides and exploring the Ault Park trails. I also love working on the house and yard, cooking and entertaining. SPOTLIGHTING OUR MEMBERS: C onnecting. B elonging. A ccelerating The series “Spotlighting our Members: Connecting. Belonging. Accelerating” is an opportunity for readers to get to know CBA member colleagues, with the purpose of shining a spotlight on our region’s legal community. This introduction of members is meant to support one of the CBA’s most intrinsic duties as champions of the legal profession. Members are selected at random and are provided with a list of questions and the opportunity to select a photo of themselves for inclusion. Upon participation in the series, each member will receive a “thank you” gift delivered to their workplace by the CBA membership team! SPOTLIGHT ON: Eric Munas Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office What is your practice area? I work in the Civil Division of the Pros- ecutor’s office which provides me the opportunity to work in a variety of areas. To those who are unfa- miliar, I like to describe the job as a sort of “general counsel” for the county. I review and negotiate contracts, research and write legal opinions, and defend lawsuits against county departments, officials, and employees. One of my more significant practice areas is eminent domain. Sewer projects and road improve- ments often require the acquisition of land (or at least easements on land), and when the government can’t come to an agreement with the property owner through negotiations, our office files a land appropriations action in state court. I also maintain a small private practice in the areas of probate and contracting. What law school did you attend? University of Cincinnati College of Law What led you to a career as an attorney? When I was a kid, my parents often said I would make a good lawyer because I always dissected what they told me. I never really considered it until I was halfway through undergrad at Ohio State. I had always been a decent writer and felt that if I became an attorney I could use that skill in my career and would further have an opportunity to become more involved in my community. What is your favorite thing to do in Cincinnati? I’m a big Cincinnati sports fan, so going to Reds and Bengals games is at the top of my list, and with FC Cincinnati joining the MLS next year, I’ll have even more major league games to attend. I’m also an amateur home brewer, so I really enjoy the great craft beer scene in the city. What are you currently reading, or what book would you recommend others read? I’m currently reading My Beer Year by Lucy Burningham, but if homebrewing isn’t your thing I’d highly recommend 1861: The Civil War Awakening by Adam Goodheart. It is a very interesting read and puts the spotlight on situations and historical figures that you probably didn’t learn about in history class. 20 l December 2018 CBA REPORT www.CincyBar.org