About the Charitable Law Section

Bret joined the Charitable Law Section of the Attorney General's Office in September 2021. His work focuses on civil investigations and enforcement involving charitable trusts and fiduciary duties, charitable fundraising, and gambling.
 
During law school, Bret served as a legal extern for the Federal Communications Commission, The Ohio State University’s Office of University Compliance & Integrity, and the Supreme Court of Ohio.
 

BAR ADMISSIONS

• State of Ohio (2021)

EDUCATION

• The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, J.D. (2021)
  • Executive Articles Editor, Ohio State Law Journal
• The Ohio State University, M.A., Public Policy and Management (2021)
• The Ohio State University, B.S., Political Science & Economics (2017)

Leah joined the Attorney General's Charitable Law section in 2014. She represents the Attorney General in civil litigation that ensures money donated to charities has been spent on charitable purposes and stops individuals from fraudulently collecting money from the public.

Leah is also involved in the Section's work regulating and licensing bingo to charitable organizations throughout the state. She has been heavily involved in administrative hearings rejecting or revoking bingo licenses for organizations that fail to follow the requirements.

Leah first joined the Attorney General's Office in 2004 in the Civil Rights Section, where she represented the Dayton Region of the Ohio Civil Rights Commission for three years. While there, she litigated employment and housing discrimination cases in our state and federal courts.

After that, Leah worked in the Attorney General's Health and Human Services Section for eight years. There she represented state health agencies and regulatory boards, and gained considerable experience and knowledge of administrative law. Leah also defended numerous federal appeals and arbitration proceedings brought before the United States Department of Education under the Randolph Sheppard Act. In addition to having represented many agency boards and commissions, she has assisted clients with drafting rules, conducting public hearings and navigating the various procedures of the Joint Commission on Agency Rule Review.

BAR ADMISSIONS

• State of Ohio (2002)
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio (2005)

EDUCATION

• Capital University Law School, J.D., Order of the Curia (2002)
  • Moot Court, Brief Writer
  • Women in the Law, Board Committee
• Capital University, B.S. (1989)

Tammy joined the Attorney General's Office Charitable Law Section in September 2017. Tammy assists the Charitable Law Section in civil investigations and enforcement involving charitable trusts and fiduciary duties, charitable fundraising, and gambling.

Before joining the Ohio Attorney General's Office, Tammy served as a law clerk for the Honorable Randy T. Rogers at the Butler County Probate Court. She also served as a legal intern at the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office Appellate Division and as an instructor for the Law and Leadership Institute which provides programming throughout the state.

In addition to her work in the Charitable Law Section, Tammy also serves as a Bar Examination Tutor at the University of Dayton School of Law.

BAR ADMISSIONS

• State of Ohio (2017)

EDUCATION

• University of Dayton School of Law, J.D., cum laude (2017)
  • Business Editor and Staff Writer, University of Dayton Law Review (2015-17)
• University of Cincinnati, B.A., Social Work, cum laude (2014)

Lance is a Principal Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Ohio Attorney General’s Charitable Law Section. He conducts investigations and enforcement actions involving charitable trusts and other not-for-profit entities. 
 
Lance comes to the Charitable Law Section with extensive experience in the not-for-profit sector. Most recently, he served as independent investigator for fraud and corruption in projects funded by the World Bank. He otherwise has worked in many capacities on anti-corruption and governance and compliance issues for international agencies, banks and not-for-profit entities that provide or receive foreign aid. 
 
Before entering public service, Lance was a partner in a global law firm based in New York doing criminal defense, civil litigation and internal investigations into multinational companies and banks for fraud and corruption. Lance has litigated multi-district cases in state and federal trial and appeals courts across the United States; and he served for ten years on the Criminal Justice Act Panel in the Southern District of New York representing indigent criminal defendants pro bono. 
 

BAR ADMISSIONS

• U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
• State of Ohio
• State of New York 

EDUCATION

• Harvard Law School (1990)
• Brandeis University, summa cum laude (1987)

Todd has been with the Charitable Law Section since 2011. He mostly handles probate litigation involving charitable assets such as the termination or reformation of charitable trusts, will contests and breaches of fiduciary duties. In addition, he handles litigation and notifications involving the release and modification of institutional funds. The charitable trusts and institutional funds range in value from tens of thousands to tens of millions of dollars, and the matters he works on involve many of Ohio's universities, foundations, cultural institutions, religious communities, and hospitals.

Todd's probate expertise is routinely sought out by those practicing in that area. He was a key member of the team Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine created in response to media coverage of court-appointed guardians ignoring their duty and often taking financial advantage of their charges. Todd was on the team that authored the Ohio Guardianship Guide which is routinely shared in probate courts throughout the state and provided to everyone appointed to the role of guardian.

In 2010, Todd worked as a magistrate in the Franklin County Probate Court. In that role he appointed guardians, presided over adoptions, name changes, and matters involving estates.

Todd previously worked in the Environmental Enforcement Section and the Health and Human Services Section of the Attorney General's Office between 1999 and 2010. He represented the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Medicaid program in appeals involving benefit determination, audits of health care providers, matters affecting health care providers' provider agreements, and litigation involving rates paid to providers. In the Environmental Section, he mostly worked on enforcing the water pollution control laws as well as administrative appeals involving National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits, permits to install, and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Rules. He also negotiated some consent decrees involving Air Pollution and Solid Waste.

BAR ADMISSIONS

• State of Ohio (2000)
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio

EDUCATION

• University of Toledo College of Law, J.D. (1999)
• University of Pennsylvania, B.A., History (1990)
  • Minors in Economics and Political Science

Liza joined the Charitable Law Section of the Ohio Attorney General in February 2021. Before joining the Ohio Attorney General's Office, Liza served as a staff attorney for the Ohio Department of Education where she conducted investigations of educator misconduct and negotiated disciplinary settlements. Liza also helped draft the revised Licensure Code of Professional Conduct for Ohio Educators, officially adopted by the Ohio State Board of Education in September 2019.  

Liza started her legal career as the Outreach Program Coordinator for the Ohio Innocence Project, a nonprofit legal clinic within the University of Cincinnati College of Law that investigates claims of actual innocence and represents wrongfully convicted individuals in actions for post-conviction relief. Liza later served as a staff attorney for the program, supervising investigations and pursing legal remedies on behalf of clients in court.

BAR ADMISSIONS

• State of Ohio

EDUCATION

• University of Cincinnati College of Law, J.D. (2013)
• Ohio University, B.A., Philosophy and English (2009)

Marilyn joined the Charitable Law Section of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office in January 2021. Prior to joining the attorney general’s office, she practiced business and commercial litigation at a large Cleveland law firm where she gained trial and appellate experience. After leaving private practice, Marilyn served as a judicial clerk to the Eighth District Court of Appeals of Ohio and the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Ohio. In addition to her work in the Charitable Law Section, Marilyn volunteers as a moot court coach for Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. 

BAR ADMISSIONS

• State of Ohio (2016)
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio

EDUCATION

• Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, J.D., summa cum laude, salutatorian (2016)
  • Cleveland State Law Review, Executive Editor
  • Cleveland-Marshall Moot Court Team
• Cleveland State University, B.A., summa cum laude, Art History (2011)

Charles joined the Attorney General's Office in 2003. He leads the Administrative Law Unit and his clients include the Ohio Liquor Control Commission, the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Liquor Control, the Ohio Investigative Unit, the Ohio State Racing Commission, the Ohio Casino Control Commission, and the Ohio Lottery Commission. In addition to defending his clients in lawsuits and other original actions, he has represented various clients in numerous administrative hearings and has defended over one hundred appeals to state and federal court. Charles manages the lawyers and administrative professionals involved in providing services to his unit's diverse set of clients and oversees procedural changes aimed at ensuring effectiveness in providing services in a high-volume practice.

Prior to joining the Ohio Attorney General's Office, Charles was in private practice and served as a Judge Advocate in the United States Army. After more than 36 years of service, he recently retired from the Army Reserve at the rank of Colonel. His last assignment was as the General Counsel to a large Command with units located in 26 states and one overseas location. His military service includes deployments to Iraq in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm (1990-91) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (2007-2008), and to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (2011-2012).

Charles has been involved in various initiatives aimed at providing services to veterans through the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and the general community.

BAR ADMISSIONS

• State of Ohio (1994)
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces

EDUCATION

• Capital University Law School, J.D. (1994)
• The Ohio State University, B.A., Criminology (1987)
  • Distinguished Military Graduate
  • George C. Marshall Award Recipient

Matthew Green is a Principal Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Ohio Attorney General's Charitable Law Section. In that capacity, Matt has been involved in numerous civil investigations and enforcement actions involving charitable trusts, charitable solicitation, and Ohio’s charitable gaming laws.

Because of his extensive litigation experience, Matt serves as a resource for other lawyers in developing strategies on handling unusual fact patterns. He is also recognized for taking creative approaches to his cases, resulting in improved outcomes for the public. Matt is also called upon to assist in unusual and non-routine cases when they arrive.

Prior to joining the Charitable Law Section, Matt was a member of the Office's Executive Agencies Section and Opinions Section. While at Executive Agencies, Matt represented a variety of State clients, including the Department of Administrative Services, the Public Employees Retirement System, the Department of Commerce, and the Development Services Agency. In the Opinions Section, Matt researched and wrote on a diverse set of state-law topics in response to formal opinion requests to the Attorney General. Matt was also a member of the Office's Major Appeals Group from 2010 through 2014.

Prior to joining the Office, Matt spent time as a litigation associate at a large law firm in Columbus and one in Cleveland. Matt also clerked for the Federal Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Wilmington, Delaware, during the 2003-2004 term. Matt has a variety of first and second chair litigation experiences representing numerous types of public and private entities, involving a wide array of substantive matters.

BAR ADMISSIONS

• State of Ohio (2002)
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio

EDUCATION

• The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, J.D., summa cum laude
• The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business, B.S., Business Administration, summa cum laude

Abby joined the Attorney General's Office in March 2012. She began her work in the Charitable Law Section with a focus on civil investigations and enforcement involving charitable trusts and fiduciary duties, gambling, and charitable fundraising. Abby currently focuses her work on nonprofit and hospital transactions and mergers and is a leading expert in the Section on charitable registration issues and how they intersect with IRS provisions affecting exempt organizations.

She leads the section's five-year rule-review process and coordinates all hearings before the Joint Commission on Agency Rule Review on changes to the Ohio Administrative Code. Abby frequently provides training to charitable organizations about board governance and fiduciary duties and also serves as one of the section's public records attorneys.

Prior to joining the Attorney General's Office, she worked for a large, national charity that provides advocacy and programming for at-risk children. In addition to her work in the Charitable Law Section, Abby serves as a mentor to the Attorney General’s Teen Ambassador Board and volunteers with the Office's Pro Bono Seniors Program.

BAR ADMISSIONS

• State of Ohio (2011)
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio

EDUCATION

• The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, J.D. (2011)
  • Entrepreneurial Business Law Journal
  • Phillip C. Jessup International Moot Court Team
• The College of Wooster, B.A., cum laude, Philosophy (2008)

Megan joined the Charitable Law Section of the Attorney General's Office in October 2020. She assists the Charitable Law Section in civil investigations and enforcement involving charitable trusts and fiduciary duties, charitable fundraising, and gambling.

During law school, Megan served as a legal extern for The Center for Balanced Living, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and the Ohio Hospital Association. She also clerked for a law firm in Columbus.

BAR ADMISSIONS

• State of Ohio (2020)

EDUCATION

• Capital University Law School, J.D., summa cum laude (2020)
  • Editor-in-Chief, Capital University Law Review
• Franklin University, M.H.A. (2016)
• The Ohio State University, B.S., Biochemistry (2015)

Joe joined the Ohio Attorney General's Office in June, 2015. Joe currently works in the Administrative Law Unit of the Attorney General’s Charitable Law Section. He primarily represents the Ohio Casino Control Commission, but the unit also serves as counsel for the Ohio Lottery Commission and the Ohio Racing Commission. He also pursues cases involving violations of Ohio liquor control law before the Ohio Liquor Control Commission, and provides representation on appeals filed protesting actions taken by his clients.

Joe has also been involved in a number of enforcement actions taken against Ohio charitable organizations that were breaching their fiduciary duties or failing to follow legal requirements associated with bingo licenses.

Prior to joining the Attorney General's Office, Joe served as an Assistant City Prosecutor for the City of Delaware, Ohio, and, for a period of time, simultaneously operated his own private law practice. Before that, Joe worked for a mid-sized Columbus law firm where he handled a wide array of clients and cases ranging from defending civil actions for commercial and business entities, municipalities and townships; pursuing real property valuation cases for numerous school districts throughout the State of Ohio; as well as representing individual clients.

Joe started his legal career serving as a Staff Attorney and Magistrate for the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas. Before beginning his legal career, Joe also served for five years in the Legislative Clerk's Office of the Ohio House of Representatives.

BAR ADMISSIONS

• State of Ohio (2000)
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio

EDUCATION

• Capital University Law School, J.D., cum laude, Order of the Curia (2000)
• The Ohio State University, B.A., Political Science (1991)

Bill Sieck is a Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Ohio Attorney General's Charitable Law Section. Bill joined the Attorney General’s Office in June 2018. Working with skilled investigators and accountants, he applies his extensive litigation experience to serve the public by investigating and resolving complaints involving charitable trusts, charitable solicitations, and Ohio's charitable gaming laws.

Bill also helps nonprofit leaders focus on providing charitable services that strengthen Ohio's communities by providing training about board governance and fiduciary duties.

Prior to joining the Attorney General's Office, Bill was of counsel at a large law firm in Columbus, where he gained deep experience across a broad spectrum of commercial and business litigation in state and federal courts in Ohio. His practice also included significant work in administrative matters at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and appeals of those matters to the Ohio Supreme Court.

From 1999-2000, Bill served as a judicial clerk in the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

BAR ADMISSIONS

• State of Ohio (2000)
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit

EDUCATION

• The University of Pennsylvania Law School, J.D., cum laude, Law Review, Order of the Coif, and Keedy Cup Moot Court Finalist
• The University of Chicago, B.A., United States History, cum laude

Ricardo joined the Ohio Attorney General's Office, Charitable Law Section in September 2018. Ricardo assists the section in civil investigations and enforcement involving charitable trusts and fiducidary duties, charitable fundraising, and gambling.

Before joining the Ohio Attorney General's Office, Ricardo served as a law clerk for the Honorable R. David Proctor at the Federal District Court for the Southern District of Alabama. He also worked as a legal intern at the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General & Reporter, the Office of the Ohio Attorney General, and the Federal Trade Commission before returning to Ohio upon his graduation. Ricardo proudly served as a member of the Ohio National Guard.

BAR ADMISSIONS

• State of Ohio (2018)
• United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio (2018)

EDUCATION

• The University of Alabama School of Law, J.D. (2018)
• Auburn University, B.A., Philosophy (2014)

Christine Staab joined the Charitable Law Section in 2021. She works primarily in the Administrative Law Unit representing the Ohio Liquor Control Commission, the Ohio Division of Liquor Control, the Ohio Investigative Unit, the Ohio State Racing Commission, and the Ohio Casino Control Commission. Christine previously worked in the Collections Enforcement Section beginning in 2013 and has represented various clients over the years, with her primary clients being the Department of Taxation and Department of Insurance. In Collections Enforcement, she conducted civil litigation to collect monies owed to state agencies, as well as representing the State in administrative hearings against liquor permit holders not in compliance with tax liabilities.  She also is a licensed insurance agent and worked in her family’s insurance agency through law school and until joining the Attorney General’s Office.
 

BAR ADMISSIONS

• State of Ohio (2011)

EDUCATION

• Capital University Law School, J.D. (2011)
• The Ohio State University, B.S., Business Administration and Marketing, (2008)

Thad works as a senior assistant attorney general in the Charitable Law Section. Since joining the attorney general's office in 2017, Thad has handled a variety of charitable trust investigations. He has negotiated settlements and pursued other enforcement actions to help recover and protect charitable funds, stop fraudulent activity, and improve the board governance practices of nonprofits. In his role as criminal team lead, Thad coordinates requests for assistance from other law enforcement agencies.

Before joining the Attorney General's Office, Thad worked as an assistant prosecuting attorney in the Clark County Prosecutor's Office and advised local government officials with virtually all aspects of county government. His work there centered on diverse issues including employment law, contract matters and general litigation. He has also worked for a legal document review firm and assisted with electronic discovery in complex anti-trust matters.

As a law student, Thad worked as a summer associate for a large Columbus law firm and interned at the Family and Youth Law Center, Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio, and Public Children Services Association of Ohio.

BAR ADMISSIONS

• State of Ohio (2012)

EDUCATION

• Capital University Law School, J.D., summa cum laude (2012)
  • Capital University Law Review
• The Ohio State University, B.A., Political Science, cum laude (2007)