Login | April 26, 2025
Roderick Linton Belfance welcomes two DR attorneys
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: April 18, 2025
Roderick Linton Belfance recently added depth to its domestic relations practice, hiring two seasoned attorneys.
Solo practitioners John Dohner and Robert H. Brown joined the Akron office of the full-service law firm on March 1.
Both attorneys are certified in family relations law by the Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA) and are fellows of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML).
“Together Bob and John have decades of domestic relations experience and are extremely well respected by Summit County legal professionals,” said Roderick Linton Belfance Managing Partner and Principal Bill Chris.
“They are both a wonderful fit for the firm and will complement our experienced domestic relations practice group,” said Chris. “Given that we are a full-service firm, they will now be able to refer their clients who need assistance outside of domestic relations work to our attorneys.”
It was Brown who initiated the process, reaching out to Chris to see if the firm was hiring. At the time both he and Dohner were working out an office in Quaker Square.
“They were the last two tenants in the building and they had been asked to leave,” said Chris. “Bob told me they wanted a firm with a great reputation and good people. How do you say no to that? It was just one of those things that worked out well for everyone.”
“This is a great place to finish my career,” said Brown, of counsel at Roderick Linton Belfance. “It’s a nice place to work and I’ve known a lot of the people here for many years.”
“I have known Bob Brown for many years and I can say without reservation that he is a person of integrity,” said Roderick Linton Belfance Principal Kay Belfance. “Bob is experienced, skilled and a formidable advocate for his clients. I am delighted to welcome him to our firm and look forward to working together.”
Dohner said joining Roderick Linton Belfance (RLB) was a great opportunity that came at the “perfect” time.
“The firm has a stellar reputation,” said Dohner, a principal at RLB. “Bob and I are both very happy to be here.
“We bring a great deal of experience and recognition as good lawyers and I believe we can add a lot to their domestic relations practice.”
A native of West Akron, Dohner earned his bachelor’s degree in special education and his juris doctor from The University of Akron.
Prior to starting law school, he worked for local, state and private residential agencies on the deinstitutionalization of people with developmental disabilities.
It was while serving as program director for Metropolitan Akron Residential Services that he made the decision to get his law degree.
“A client of the agency I was with had gotten into some trouble with the law,” said Dohner. “During the hearing in juvenile court I witnessed his attorney doing less than a stellar job. I thought to myself I could get up there now without a law degree and do much better.
“So I decided to take the LSAT the next month, and by the fall I was in law school. ”
After graduating from Akron Law, he joined Segedy, Umbaugh & Sharp as an associate, where he primarily focused on domestic relations work.
“They were a general practice firm, but no one there was particularly fond of domestic relations work so they gave it to me,” said Dohner. “I liked it, and as it turned out I was good at it.”
He became a partner at the firm, which then became known as Umbaugh, Sharp & Dohner.
Dohner moved to Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs after then managing partner Robert Briggs contacted him about handling the firm’s domestic relations work.
He started as an associate and then became a full shareholder in the mid-90s.
In February 2000, he started his own practice, renting space from Brown, who owned a building in downtown Akron at Forge Street and Fir Hill.
About three years later, the building was sold to The University of Akron and the two moved into a 120-year-old office building at Quaker Square, which at one time held the executive offices of the Quaker Oats Company.
“When the university was ready to sell the building we were told we had to move out,” said Dohner. “Bob mentioned the idea of joining Roderick Linton Belfance.”
Several years earlier he served as co-counsel on a matter with RLB Principal Lisa Carey Dean.
“Moving to Roderick Linton Belfance made great sense for us,” said Dohner. “Bob and I know many of the attorneys, and their integrity and the high quality of their legal work. I feel fortunate they welcomed us in.”
A longtime member of the Ohio State and Akron bar associations, Dohner chaired the Akron Bar’s Family Law Section twice--from 1991-92 and again in 2015-16.
He is a frequent lecturer on family law issues and has been an expert witness in many cases involving family law issues.
In the late 90s he was among the first group of lawyers to earn the designation of Family Relations Law Specialist from the OSBA.
In 1999 he was accepted as a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.
Dohner has three adult children and four grandchildren.
He spent 25 years on the Board of Zoning and Building Appeals in Hudson, including serving as vice chair and chair.
He is also a past chair and former longtime board member of the Arc of Summit County (now the Arc of Ohio), which advocates on behalf of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“At Roderick Linton Belfance I will continue to find unique strategies to help our clients through their difficult legal issues,” said Dohner. “I look forward to working in this collaborative environment.”
Brown is also an Akron native.
He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from The University of Akron and his juris doctor from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1965.
Unlike Dohner, he’s been a solo practitioner his entire career.
For more than 25 years, Brown has focused almost exclusively on domestic relations work.
“I really enjoy the practice area,” said Brown. “The people I represent are going through one of the worst times of their lives and I find it very satisfying when I am able to help them resolve their issues, which sometimes involve millions of dollars.”
A 60-year member of both the Akron and Ohio State bar associations, Brown is also a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers as well as a certified specialist in family relations law.
In 2018, he was presented with the Akron Bar Association’s Professionalism Award.
Brown, who remarried a few years ago, lives in Akron with his wife Theresa.
He has two adult children and two grandchildren.
Looking back on his lengthy career, he said he wouldn’t change a thing.
“I’ve had a very good life professionally and personally,” said Brown. “I’ve always tried to treat people the way I would want to be treated under similar circumstances.
“From a legal standpoint, I’ve accomplished a great deal, including being recognized with the Professionalism Award.”
He said he plans to continue practicing for the foreseeable future.
“As long as my health holds out and people keep calling, I will continue to come into the office,” Brown said. “I get up at 5:30 in the morning and look forward to my day.
“I’ve told my closest friends and colleagues that if it looks like I’m slipping, just let me know and I’m out of here.”