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Brouse McDowell adds two attorneys to growing practice group
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: June 10, 2020
As law firms across the country institute pay cuts, furloughs, layoffs and other cost-cutting measures to mitigate the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Brouse McDowell is taking a different approach, adding two new attorneys to its business restructuring, bankruptcy and commercial law practice group.
Associate Douglas Walters and partner Julie Kaplan Zurn started at the firm on April 28 and May 1 respectively.
“The pandemic has not changed our hiring approach,” said Managing Partner Daniel Glessner. “We have never grown for the sake of growing, but instead look to grow when it makes sense and when we are presented with the right opportunities.
“For example, we had been trying to fill an attorney position in the commercial practice area before COVID-19 because one of our attorneys left to take a government job,” he said. “As it happened during the crisis, we were presented with two high-quality candidates, who practice in an area that has traditionally been one of our strengths.”
In both instances, Glessner said the interviews were conducted remotely.
“Julie is coming into the Akron office, so I have had the chance to meet her and I look forward to meeting Doug in the near future,” said Glessner.
Bridget Franklin, a partner and chair of Brouse McDowell’s business restructuring, bankruptcy and commercial law group was also involved in the hiring process.
“We were looking for strong candidates who could contribute to the team and meet the needs of our clients,” said Franklin. “While we were initially looking for one attorney, we were lucky enough to find two great fits.
“Julie has a lot of experience and a varied background,” said Franklin. “She is a big asset to the firm and someone we were confident could jump right in and not only assist our clients but expand her own platform.
“Doug comes to us as a mid-level associate with training in bankruptcy and commercial restructuring, which is difficult to find. Bankruptcy and restructuring work are both very unique so it’s important to have people like Doug and Julie who are truly committed to it.”
Zurn, who has operated her own firm since December 2014, said she is excited to offer her clients the benefits of a full service law firm.
“Given the unfortunate economic circumstances many are facing, I believe my area of practice will get much busier and I want to provide my clients with the best possible resources,” said Zurn. “Brouse’s core values and my core values align in many ways. They are committed to excellence, integrity, client service and community involvement, which are a great fit culturally.”
Born in University Heights, Ohio, she received her bachelor’s degree in international relations, economic and commercial policy studies from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
After obtaining her juris doctorate from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 1996, she began working as a law clerk for now-retired U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Marilyn Shea-Stonum, who served in the Northern District of Ohio.
Zurn then joined the Cleveland office of a large law firm as an associate. Five years later, she returned to U.S. Bankruptcy Court, serving as Judge Shea-Stonum’s career law clerk until the judge retired in 2014.
During her time as a solo practitioner, Zurn represented small businesses and individuals in a variety of bankruptcy matters and out of court restructurings.
“I have been lucky enough to work in all facets of the practice area,” said Zurn. “I’ve represented creditors, debtors and trustees in federal and state courts.
“As a young law student the area called out to me and that has not changed for the past 24 years,” she said. “In law school, I was fortunate to have the fabulous Nancy Rapoport as my bankruptcy professor. From the first day of class, I found the area so intriguing.
“I think the measure of a society is how it treats the most unfortunate and bankruptcy is a place where an attorney can help people get back on track,” said Zurn.
A Chapter 7 trustee, Zurn is a member of the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees and the Akron Bar Association’s Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section.
Outside of the legal profession, the Bath Township resident is on the board of trustees and serves as president of Women of Reform Judaism at Temple Israel Akron.
“We are a Family Promise organization so we provide housing and assistance to families who are homeless,” said Zurn. “I have done a lot of volunteer work with Family Promise through my congregation.”
Walters will be working out of the Cleveland office. He grew up in Avon Lake, Ohio and received his bachelor’s degree in political science from The Ohio State University.
He began his legal career in 2015 as a business restructuring and bankruptcy associate at Thompson Hine in Cleveland after receiving his juris doctorate from Wake Forest University School of Law in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
“I was always interested in commercial litigation but wanted to develop expertise in a more specialized area of the law. Business restructuring and bankruptcy turned out to be the perfect fit,” said Walters.
Prior to starting at Brouse McDowell, he worked as an associate at a boutique business law firm.
“I am grateful that I have experience at both large and small firms,” said Walters. “I am excited to join Brouse which offers all of the resources of a big firm with the family environment of a small firm.”
While he has been working from home, Walters said he is hoping he’ll get the chance to go into the office in the near future so he can meet everyone in person.
“It’s an exciting opportunity,” he said. “I am looking forward to building my career at Brouse and contributing to the growth of the firm. I am also looking forward to learning from Julie, our practice group chair Bridget Franklin and former managing partner Marc Merklin.”
As for the future, Glessner isn’t ruling out any additional attorney hires.
“We are always looking for high-quality candidates to complement our core strengths and we will continue to do so,” said Glessner.