YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Harrington, Hoppe & Mitchell Ltd., the area’s largest law firm, today announced that three of its member attorneys are included in the 2009 editions of lists that recognize the top lawyers in Ohio.

Attorneys James L. Blomstrom and Ned C. Gold Jr. appear on the 2009 Super Lawyers list, as published by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine. Attorney Matthew D. Gurbach appears on the publisher’s 2009 Rising Stars list.

The Ohio Super Lawyers list is published annually, based on balloting by attorneys throughout the Buckeye State. About 5 percent of the state’s attorneys appear on the list.

The Rising Stars list is compiled in similar fashion, recognizing outstanding attorneys age 40 or younger, or in practice 10 years or less. About 2.5 percent of Ohio lawyers appear on the Rising Stars list.

Blomstrom, based in HHM’s Youngstown office, was recognized in the area of business litigation. He has been named to the Ohio Super Lawyers list in each of the past six years. Blomstrom has practiced law for more than 30 years. In addition to business litigation, he also works in malpractice defense. He is certified in Civil Trial Law Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

Blomstrom graduated from the University of Chicago School of Law and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a Liberty resident.

Gold, based in HHM’s Warren office, was recognized in the area of employment and labor law. He has been named to the Ohio Super Lawyers list four times. Gold has practiced law in Ohio for more than 40 years. He is certified as a specialist in labor and employment law by the Ohio State Bar Association.

Gold graduated from St. Louis University with a bachelor’s degree in 1963 and earned his juris doctorate there in 1966. He later served as a U.S. Air Force captain in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps.

Gurbach, based in the firm’s Youngstown office, was recognized in the area of civil litigation defense. This is his second appearance on the Rising Stars list. He has practiced law in Ohio since 2003, and practices in the areas of civil litigation, medical malpractice defense and business, construction and employment litigation.

Gurbach graduated from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland in 2003. In 2000, he earned an undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Youngstown State University. He is a Liberty resident.

The Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists are being published in the January editions of Ohio Super Lawyers, Northern Ohio Live and Cincinnati magazines, and also appear online at www.superlawyers.com. Super Lawyers magazines are published in all 50 states by Minneapolis-based Key Professional Media, which also publishes regional editions of Law & Politics and Super Doctors magazines.

Harrington, Hoppe & Mitchell Ltd. is the area’s largest law firm, with nearly 30 attorneys at offices in Youngstown, Warren and Salem. The firm provides legal solutions to corporations, other businesses, non-profit organizations, government agencies and individuals.

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For more information, contact:
Paul Dutton, Esq., Harrington, Hoppe & Mitchell, Ltd., (330) 744-1111 or pdutton@hhmlaw.com or
Dan J. Pecchia, Pecchia Communications LLC, (330) 720-6912, or dan@pecchiacomm.com