James A. Amodio is the primary shareholder of Brown and Amodio.  Jim has been with the firm since 1982.  He is a graduate of Hofstra University on Long Island and earned his law degree from the University of Michigan, graduating with high honors.  Immediately after law school, Jim worked for several years at the distinguished law firm of Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue (now known simply as Jones Day).  Jim’s practice is concentrated in the areas of real estate, business formation, estate planning and contracts.  He is also the owner of AFC Title Agency, Inc. which issues title insurance as an agent of Stewart Title Guaranty Company.

His estate planning practice runs the gamut from simple wills and powers of attorney to complex trusts, including irrevocable life insurance trusts and trust for the benefit of children and grandchildren.  In recent years, as mortgage foreclosures in Medina County have accelerated, Jim has become more active in assisting individuals in defending foreclosure actions, as well as continuing to represent creditors in such proceedings.

He belongs to a number of professional organizations, including the Ohio State and Medina County Bar Associations, as well as the Medina County Estate Planning Council.  He served as President of the Medina County Bar Association in 1990.

Maryann C. Chandler is an Associate Attorney for Brown and Amodio.  She earned her law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, graduating cum laude, in the top quarter of her class.  During law school Maryann was a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable James L. Kimbler, Judge of the Medina County Common Pleas Court, where she researched and wrote legal opinions.  Maryann earned her B.A. degree from Cleveland State University, where she graduated magna cum laude.

Maryann began her legal career as an Assistant County Prosecutor for Medina County, Civil Division.  In that position she was responsible for prosecuting all of the foreclosure cases in the County, in addition to collecting unpaid fees and court costs on behalf of various County agencies.  She also represented the Auditor in defending its Board of Revisions decisions and provided legal opinions.

In 2005, Maryann joined Brown and Amodio, where she practices primarily in the areas of real estate law, including land use planning and zoning, family law, consumer law and collection matters. 

As a real estate attorney, Maryann has litigated many zoning disputes, including the defense of zoning violations on behalf of businesses and individuals before various County and City Boards and local Courts.  She advises clients on the development of vacant land from the beginning of the transaction to the end by negotiating the details of the purchase and providing advice on zoning regulation compliance.  She also works with developers and Homeowner’s Associations in drafting deed restrictions and giving advice in connection with homeowner disputes.  Using her experience gained while serving as Medina County Prosecutor, Maryann represents commercial and residential clients in connection with tax valuation cases before County Boards of Revisions. 

Maryann also counsels her contractor and builder clients by drafting contracts which comply with the technical requirements of Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act and Home Solicitation Sales Act.  This is an area of law in which she has litigated and lectured.

Her family law practice encompasses the preparation of prenuptial agreements, filing divorces, dissolutions and legal separation actions.  She also represents clients in interstate child custody disputes, child support and spousal support modifications.

Maryann is a member of the Medina County Bar Association, Ohio Bar Association and an active participant in Community Legal Aid’s Volunteer Legal Services Program representing low income and indigent individuals.

Aaron Harrison received his law degree from Case Western Reserve University and his B.A. from Ohio Northern University.  He was admitted to the practice of law in 2005.  Aaron has practiced in Medina for his entire career.  He spent the early part of his career as an associate with Critchfield, Critchfield & Johnston, and later founded the Law Office of Aaron M. Harrison, which merged with Brown and Amodio in the fall of 2010.

Aaron’s practice areas include business law, probate and estate planning, real estate and civil litigation, with an emphasis on business and probate matters.  In the course of his corporate practice, he has worked with companies of various sizes in transactions including mergers and acquisitions and various types of re-structurings.  He counsels closely held and family-owned businesses regarding succession planning strategies. Aaron has also assisted many non-profit organizations in formation matters as well as assisting them in securing 501(c)(3) status.

Aaron is a member of the Medina County Bar Association, where he serves as Secretary.  He is currently the vice president of the Medina County Estate Planning Council and is also a member of the Ohio State and American Bar Associations and the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. He was raised on a farm outside of Fostoria, Ohio. He currently resides in Montville Township, with his wife Kelly, who is an art teacher with Brunswick City Schools.