CLEVELAND (May 5, 2010) — Ulmer & Berne LLP announced today that Peter A. Rome and Neil W. Gurney have been selected to Co-Chair the Firm’s Business Law Practice. With over 50 attorneys, the Business Law Practice represents public companies, private equity groups (and their portfolio companies and investors), hedge funds, and financial institutions as well as entrepreneurs, early stage ventures, emerging growth companies and middle market businesses. 

"Peter and Neil are both strong attorneys with proven leadership skills," stated Kip Reader, the Firm's managing partner. "They will continue to grow the practice while maintaining the highest level of service and value to our clients."

Peter A. Rome oversees the Firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity/Venture Capital and Corporate Finance Practices. He also serves as Marketing Partner Co-Chair for Ulmer & Berne.  Peter works with entrepreneurs, emerging businesses, private equity funds (including their portfolio companies and investors) and public companies to help them achieve their goals. He helps clients in all stages of business – from strategic planning to debt and equity financings, board and governance counseling, executive and incentive compensation, technology and complex business transactions and other commercial arrangements, mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances, corporate succession planning and divestitures. Peter received his J.D., with high honors, from George Washington University and his B.A., magna cum laude, from Tufts University.

Neil W. Gurney has over 30 years of legal experience and focuses his practice on business and real estate transactions, as well as estate and tax planning for business owners. He serves as general counsel to numerous owner-managed, privately held businesses, including those which own, develop and manage real estate (both residential and commercial). He handles all aspects of sophisticated business and real estate acquisitions and sales, financings (debt and equity, taxable and tax-exempt) and refinancings. He has represented owners in connection with complicated tax-deferred transactions and low-income housing projects utilizing tax-credit equity, and has significant experience with numerous governmental loan programs. Neil received both his J.D. and B.A., summa cum laude, from The Ohio State University.

Ulmer & Berne, established in 1908, is a full-service Midwest regional firm with 175 attorneys in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Chicago. Ulmer & Berne represents publicly traded and privately held companies, financial institutions, pharmaceutical and other life science companies, family businesses, international joint ventures and affiliations, institutional investors, venture and emerging businesses, public bodies and nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit www.ulmer.com.