Our Attorneys

Craig G. Pelini
cgp@pelini-law.com
330-305-6400 ext 126
 
Craig grew up in East Liverpool, Ohio where he was a very average high school football player.  He went to college at Washington & Jefferson, where he was a below average college football player.

Craig and his wife, Pam, have been married for 35 years, are the proud parents of three very above average daughters and the owners of two very spoiled dogs, Vinny and Luca.  Those puppies can be found in the office on most Saturday mornings.

Craig is a very average college football fan and a very below average golfer.

Craig has tried almost 200 jury trials in a variety of counties throughout the State of Ohio.  Those experiences, combined with the opportunity to work in a family atmosphere in the law firm, are the things that he is most proud of during the 20+ years of practice at this law firm.

I have had the privilege of working with and for some tremendous people; it is a wonderful thing how clients can become good friends.  I am very proud of the work that we do, the way we do that work, and with whom we do that work. 

Kristen E. Campbell
kec@pelini-law.com
330-305-6400 ext 131
 
Kristen spent her days at Duquesne University as a political science nerd. Never quite cracked the code of the one-way street system in Pittsburgh but still loves to return as a visitor to her adopted home city.
As a lifelong Buckeye fan was proud to attend The Ohio State University Moritz College of law. Developed a penchant for euchre, a taste for locally crafted beer, and the knowledge that fat-free dairy products and bread will not yield an edible grilled cheese sandwich.
Happy home life with husband Randy, step-son, daughter, and dogs who believe they rule the world. Loves to travel (although “travel” currently consists mostly of chauffeuring services for daughter and dogs). A next-level multi-tasker.

Paul B. Ricard
pbricard@pelini-law.com
330-305-6400 ext 129
 
Paul joined our firm in 2011 after receiving his JD, cum laude, from Michigan State University. Go Green! During his time in East Lansing, Paul specialized in civil and criminal litigation and was a member of both the Trial Practice Institute and Michigan State College of Law Moot Court Board. He gained early courtroom experience during law school while working for both the Washtenaw County Public Defender in Ann Arbor, and the Wayne County Prosecutor in Detroit.

Prior to attending law school, Paul received his BA from Miami University in Oxford, OH. He has an immense passion for the school and frequently reminds anyone listening that Miami was a University in Ohio when Florida belonged to Spain. While at Miami, Paul was a member of the Miami University Men’s Swimming and Diving Team where he broke three school records in distance freestyle events, won seven individual MAC titles, and finished 18th at the 2007 NCAA Championships. Paul was also named Miami University’s Male Athlete of the Year in 2007.

Paul currently resides in Copley, Ohio with his wife and son. He and his family are avid sports fans and love exploring all the great parks, restaurants, and activities that Northeast Ohio has to offer.

Craig M. Eoff
ceoff@pelini-law.com
330-305-6400 ext 134

When not practicing law or coaching the leaders of tomorrow on a softball or baseball field, Craig can usually be found dutifully exercising his role as our resident college football expert by doing his best to educate the likes of Eric Williams and Paul Ricard on all matters related to college football. Craig shows real passion for many of the things that he does and believes that he must not give up on Eric or Paul calling them “great guys that are just slightly misguided”.

Craig M. Eoff came to Pelini, Campbell & Ricard, LLC. in 2015. Craig primarily focuses his practice on commercial/business litigation, and litigation involving title insurance and issues of title insurance agents, labor and employment law, real estate transactions including HOPE VI funded projects as well as the acquisition and disposition of public housing, and business transactions including the purchase and sale of businesses and/or the assets of businesses.

Craig has successfully defended several multi-million dollar claims in Courts throughout Ohio and the United States in his litigation practice. Always aware of the balance between strong, aggressive and smart representation Craig understands the needs of his clients and works closely with them to ensure the most efficient and best use of their resources and time. Craig lives in Green, Ohio with his wife Cristina and their children, Katie and Cameron.

Craig has served as an assistant varsity baseball coach at Green High School and GlenOak High School and loves to talk baseball or football with anyone. Craig is also the head coach of a travel fast pitch softball team for Ohio Lightning and a travel baseball team known as the Eliminators.

Court Admissions:
Supreme Court of Ohio
United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

- Stark County Bar Association
- Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association
- American Baseball Coaches Association
- Stark County High School Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee
- Ohio Lightning Softball – Head Coach 
- Eliminators Baseball – Head Coach 

Education University of Akron, School of Law, Juris Doctorate, 1999
University of Akron, College of Business, Bachelor of Science Accounting, 1996

Gianna M. Calzola
giannac@pelini-law.com
330-305-6400 ext 136

Gianna obtained her BA degree with a minor in paralegal studies, cum laude, from the University of Cincinnati in 2014. While achieving her BA, she was a member of the Criminal Justice Society and her senior year she worked as a paralegal in a personal injury firm.

After undergrad Gianna went on to receive her JD from The University of Akron, School of Law in May 2017. While attending law school Gianna was a Law Clerk at Akron Municipal Court for over a year. She was later a Judicial Assistant at Summit County Court of Common Pleas. After graduating law school she took and successfully passed the Ohio bar exam in July, 2017.  

Erin E. Kelly
ekelly@pelini-law.com
330-305-6400 ext 133

Erin received her B.A. from Denison University and her J.D. from Michigan State University. After graduating from law school, Erin clerked for the Honorable Richard M. Rogers on the Third District Court of Appeals.

Erin has extensive experience in civil litigation including insurance defense and coverage, premises liability, complex commercial litigation, and construction litigation. Erin is also well-versed in Michigan’s No Fault statute and first party litigation as she practiced in Michigan for four years prior to returning home to Cleveland. Erin is licensed to practice law in Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois.

Erin currently lives in Lakewood, Ohio with her husband and two miniature dachshunds, Walter and Lucy.

Christian B. Ferrante
cbferrante@pelini-law.com
330-305-6400 ext 130

Prior to law school, Christian attended the University of Cincinnati where, much to his parents’ chagrin, he studied English Literature and Political Science. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in 2015, Christian applied his newly honed writing and critical thinking skills to the world of industrial operations management, rising to the level of operations manager for a national aluminum-sign manufacturer. In 2020, Chrisitan decided to return to school to pursue his dream of becoming an attorney.

During his time at the University of Akron School of Law, Christian had the privilege of externing for the Honorable Judge Michelle J. Sheehan of the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals in Cuyahoga County. After graduating cum laude in 2022, Christian spent his first few years working at a reputable plaintiff’s firm as a litigation associate, where he continued to develop his skills as a litigator and advocate for his clients.

Christian is an avid Guardians fan, and in his free time he enjoys cooking, playing guitar, and traveling with his lovely fiancée Christina.

Samantha Volek
svolek@pelini-law.com
(330) 305-6400 ext 146

Prior to attending Law School Samantha attended Youngstown State University. She received her BA in Psychology and Criminal Justice in 2015. Samantha then attended the University of Akron, School of Law and received her JD and a certificate in litigation in May 2018. While attending law school, she was a member of the Akron Law Trial Team and was a Law Clerk at Cincinnati Insurance Company. Samantha is licensed to practice law in Ohio.

Samantha grew up in Cleveland Ohio and is an avid Cleveland sports fan. In her free time, she enjoys playing golf, spending time with her family, friends, and boyfriend, attending Cleveland sporting events, and traveling.  
 

Joseph Ferrante
jferrante@pelini-law.com
330-305-6400 ext 127

Joe has more than 30 years of experience in handling complex commercial and insurance defense litigation and in providing excellent services to clients and claims representatives. He has tried numerous cases in multiple Ohio counties and argued cases before the Ohio Supreme Court and the Seventh, Eighth and Eleventh District Courts of Appeals.

He obtained his law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law after attending night classes while working full-time as a senior associate for a community planning agency. Joe received his master’s degree in social work from Case Western Reserve University and bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University. His only gripe about his undergraduate years is having to wear a sport coat to Falcon’s games when pledging his fraternity.

Joe will always be “Joey” to his large extended Italian family and his childhood friends. When he is not in the courtroom advocating on behalf of clients, Joe can be found in the kitchen creating delicious Mediterranean dishes with his Irish wife, Dympna, or praying with his two attorney sons, Jason and Ryan, for a winning Browns’ season.

Joe also is a classic rock fan and considers himself somewhat of a British Invasion expert. He has been known to creatively use songs of the era in closing arguments to win trials for his clients. 

John E. Vincent
jevincent@pelini-law.com
614-389-3605 ext 202
 
John received his B.A. in 1993 from Western Michigan University and his J.D. in 1999 from Capital University. He gained admission to the Ohio Bar in 1999 and also has admission before the United States District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

He is a member of the Ohio State and Columbus Bar Associations, as well as the Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys and the Council on Litigation Management. John is also a recipient of the Westfield Insurance Company "Golden Gavel Award" for outstanding Trial results.

John focuses his practice on civil litigation, including political subdivision liability, commercial/business litigation, and general tort liability and has defended claims of bad faith against insurers in courts throughout Ohio.

Joshua R. Bills
jrbills@pelini-law.com
614-389-3605 ext 201
 
PRACTICE AREAS
General Litigation
Insurance Coverage and Defense
Worker's Compensation
EDUCATION
Toledo College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1999
Miami University, 1996
BAR ADMISSIONS
Ohio, 1999
United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio, 2003
HONORS
Recipient of Westfield Insurance Co.'s "Golden Gavel” award for outstanding trial results.
Ohio Super Lawyer (2014-Present)
Ohio Super Lawyer Rising Star for Civil Litigation (2010, 2012, 2013)
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Columbus Bar Association
Ohio State Bar Association
Ohio Association of Civil Trial Lawyers (Board of Trustees Member 2014)
American Board of Trial Advocates (National Board Member 2015-Present)
INTERESTS
Outside of the office Josh enjoys playing golf, studying golf course architecture, oil painting and spending time with his family

Heather R. Zilka
hrzilka@pelini-law.com
614-389-3605

Heather has more than two decades of experience handling all aspects of civil litigation. Heather's main focus is insurance defense/general tort liability. She has experience in all types of cases including auto/motorcycle accidents, premises liability, construction, dram shop, contracts, bad faith, wrongful death, and product liability. Heather also has prior experience in criminal defense as well. 

As a former collegiate and high school athlete in volleyball and basketball, Heather puts her competitive nature to work in finding a winning approach that’s right for each client, whether that means seeking a settlement or taking a case to court. In her spare time, Heather likes to golf and stay active. She is a member of the local LPGA Amateur Golf Association. She is a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers and Penguins fan too.

Education:
Capital University Law School, J.D.
Washington and Jefferson College, B.A.

Bar/Court Admissions:
Ohio State Courts
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court 

Eric M. Hopkins
emhopkins@pelini-law.com 
614-389-3605 ext 204

Eric is a hardworking attorney with an honest background. The son of a U.S. Marine and a full-time working mother, Eric learned you need equal parts grit and good sense to be successful.

Eric put his grit and good sense to work at Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law. He graduated third in his class, represented the school on the moot court team, worked in the school’s legal clinics, and served on the law journal.

Since graduation, Eric has quickly become a seasoned litigator. For five years he served as an Assistant Attorney General, Eric represented the Ohio Department of Transportation in common pleas courts all across Ohio, from the river to the lake and most of the counites in between. He also litigated appeals in Ohio’s intermediate appellate courts as well as the Supreme Court of Ohio.

After leaving the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Eric had the honor to be the Staff Attorney for Judge Kim Brown on the Franklin County Common Pleas Court, General Division. His responsibilities included managing the civil docket in Ohio’s largest county, reviewing complex pleadings, and helping craft decisions on wide-ranging legal issues. This behind the bench experience helps him be a better advocate for his clients.

Eric is married to his best friend. Together they are raising three wonderful kids and an adorable—albeit pesky—hound. They are members of Orange Friends Church and enjoy road trips and being outdoors. 

Michael P. Marando
mmarando@pelini-law.com
330-702-9700

Michael focuses his practice on civil litigation (including in the areas of insurance defense and coverage, commercial disputes and litigation involving construction, real estate and probate matters) and on business and corporate law, representing individuals and companies.  He has found that handling both litigation and business/corporate law has given him a better perspective of representing clients in either area. 

Michael has tried a number of civil jury trials and otherwise litigated numerous civil cases in various counties in Ohio and Pennsylvania and in federal court.   Early in his career, he tried criminal jury trials and also served as an assistant city prosecutor.  

He is licensed to practice law in Ohio and Pennsylvania, the U. S. District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio, the U.S. Courts of Appeals, 6^th Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court.  

Michael and his wife, Mary Jo, have been married for 38 years and have one daughter.  In addition to spending time with his family, Michael enjoys watching sports, traveling, playing tennis and reading.

He achieved his undergraduate degree from Ohio University, cum laude, and his law degree from Ohio Northern University. While in college, he had a lot of fun playing intramural sports.  In law school, Michael was a member of the Law Review and a recipient of awards for excellence in constitutional law and criminal procedure.

Michael has been practicing law since 1977 and intends to continue to practice until he gets it right, which is probably a long way off. He likes working with and for his clients to figure out solutions for their legal issues.