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Brennan, Manna & Diamond Law Firm Promotes Four Attorneys in Akron and Jacksonville Offices

Blog Post

(Akron, Ohio and Jacksonville, Florida) – Brennan Manna Diamond (BMD), a business law firm with eight offices in Ohio, Florida and Arizona, has announced that Duriya (DD) Dhinojwala and Adrian Ribovich have been promoted from Partner to Member. Darren Jones and Bryan Meek have also been promoted from Associate Attorney to Partner.

Duriya (DD) Dhinojwala is an attorney in BMD’s Akron, Ohio office, having joined the firm in 2017. She focuses her practice on immigration law, creditor’s rights and bankruptcy. DD has represented clients in federal and state courts and has experience in mediation and arbitration proceedings. She also represents corporations, colleges, universities, governmental entities, as well as individuals, in all aspects of the immigration process by preparing and guiding them in all steps related to filing a petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). DD is a member of the Akron, Medina and Ohio State Bar Associations, as well as the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

DD was a Crain’s Cleveland 2020 Woman of Note. She co-chairs the firm’s Pro-Bono Committee and is a board member for Community Legal Aid in Akron. She is also the past chair and vice chair of India Sunday School in Akron. DD looks forward to joining a dynamic group of members who support the legal needs of our community and growing her immigration and bankruptcy practice.

Adrian Ribovich is an attorney in BMD’s Akron, Ohio office and focuses his practice in general corporate transactional law, tax, real estate and estate planning. His clients include non-profits, developers and title companies. He manages securities, registered offerings and private placement offerings. Adrian also assists restaurants and bars in the application and transfer process for liquor licenses and has significant experience forming non-profit organizations in the State of Ohio, including applying for income tax exemption with the IRS.

Adrian was excited to join BMD as an associate in 2010, transferring from a boutique firm in Toledo, Ohio. He saw opportunity at BMD, with its larger suite of practices and the ability to be involved in more complex transactions. Adrian is looking forward to expanding his practice and keeping the momentum going in 2021.

Darren Jones is an attorney in BMD’s Jacksonville, Florida office, focusing his practice on commercial litigation and real estate law. Joining the firm in 2013 from a national business law firm, he brings experience in a variety of civil actions in State and Federal court including contract disputes, construction litigation, complex class action defense, real property disputes, employment and labor litigation, creditor’s rights, eminent domain and condemnation matters.

Darren also works with financial institutions and property owners on real estate and transactional matters. He is a member of the Florida, Jacksonville and American Bar Associations.

Bryan Meek is an attorney in BMD’s Akron, Ohio office and focuses his practice in both employment and labor and healthcare law. He counsels a wide range of healthcare industry clients on issues such as contract disputes and government and private payor appeals and disputes. Bryan's labor & employment practice focuses on advising business owners and human resource departments relative to matters involving the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as both state and federal discrimination laws. He enjoys assisting start-up companies and other entities with employment and healthcare compliance. Bryan oversees the firm’s Summer Associate Program and also assisted in launching the firm’s Title IX practice. 

Bryan is a member of the Akron Bar Association Labor and Employment and Healthcare Law Sections, as well as the Ohio State and American Bar Associations. Bryan also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Tuesday Musical in Akron, Ohio. In 2021, he is looking forward to the return of live sports and music.

Brennan, Manna & Diamond was founded in 2000 with the goal of combining highly skilled, talented attorneys with practical experience in business matters to create a new way to provide legal and business services to its clients.

BMD’s access to a network of successful business entrepreneurs, consultants and developers allows for innovative solutions, symbiotic partnerships and sound legal and business advice for our clients. With 70 attorneys in eight offices – BMD serves clients of all types and sizes in numerous industry sectors nationwide. For more information, visit www.bmdllc.com.


Entourage Effect and Shield Compliance Join the ICLC

In a continuation of its recent growth, only a bit more than a year after its organization, the ICLC is pleased to announce the addition of 3 more new participants. One of these is a commercial bank. In accordance with our commitment to our bank participants, they are not identified outside the Community unless they specifically authorize it. The other 2, Entourage Effect Capital (EEC) and Shield Compliance, are each well known within the cannabis industry and will enhance the ICLC’s potential value to its participants, enriching the spectrum of relevant and accretive cannabis industry experience, skillsets and perspectives available to them.

Trulieve Tax Announcement and the ICLC Growth Spurt

On March 12, leading cannabis tax lawyer James Mann made an extremely timely virtual presentation to ICLC participants regarding the announcement by Trulieve of its receipt of more than $100 million of tax refunds in connection with a challenge to what it owes under Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code.

Another Big Move Out of the Shadows; First Citizens Bank, the nation’s 19th largest, poised to enter the Cannabis Market

A commentary on cannabis and hemp dated January 12, 2024 posted by First Citizens Bank on its website reflects the decision by the Bank to extend its very substantial hemp/CBD platform into the cannabis space.

A Closer Look at Cannabis

At the Nov. 30 Akron Roundtable event "A Closer Look at Cannabis," moderated by Andrew Meyer, deputy editor of news Ideastream Public Media, a varied group of panelists spoke about expected and potential outcomes and efforts of marijuana legalization.

Out of the Shadows - Cannabis Going Mainstream

BMD Phoenix Office Managing Partner, Stephen Lenn, recently discussed today's cannabis industry at an Akron Roundtable as part of their "Bringing it Home" series.