Frantz Ward attorneys Colleen Murnane, Melissa Jones and Jenifer Novak are participating in Lifebanc’s “Over The Edge” event to raise awareness about the importance and need for organ, eye and tissue donation. Members of the firm’s Women’s Initiative, these attorneys will rappel down the side of the 23-story Oswald Building in Downtown Cleveland – Colleen on Thursday, September 2 and Melissa and Jenifer on Friday, September 3.
Lifebanc is Northeast Ohio’s only nonprofit organ and tissue recovery organization serving over four million people and works with 80 hospitals in a 20-county area. Lifebanc began 35 years ago as one of the original seven independent organ procurement organizations in the U.S.
Colleen Murnane has been involved with the organization for over a decade having served in numerous roles on committees and the board, including President of the board. This is her second rappel to support Lifebanc. Colleen is a trusted advisor to companies of all sizes, from closely held family businesses to Fortune 500 companies. She is attuned to the particular needs of small to mid-sized companies and dedicates herself to understanding the ins and outs of her clients’ business. She counsels clients on anticipating and avoiding liabilities and managing their business risks in the areas of commercial contract, construction, product liability, business torts, class actions, and beer and alcohol regulations and operations. Colleen earned her J.D., summa cum laude, from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Boston College.
Melissa Jones has a personal connection to Lifebanc as a donor family through her young daughter. She has been involved with the organization for over a decade, having served on the planning committee for the organization’s Gift of Life Walk and Run and as a volunteer. This is her rappelling debut. Melissa focuses her legal practice in multiple disciplines of commercial credit management and enforcement remedies. She provides comprehensive representation to businesses nationwide in all phases of multifaceted recovery claims. Melissa is also highly skilled in lien management and foreclosure within the construction industry. She frequently lectures on the PPP loan, complex creditor’s rights procedures, including lien rights and remedies, and on ethics in the legal profession. Melissa earned her J.D. from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and her B.A., with Honors, from The Ohio State University.
Jenifer Novak has a personal connection to Lifebanc through her mother, brother and additional extended family and friends and has been involved with the organization for over two decades. This is her rappelling debut. Jenifer focuses her practice on defending general product liability claims, mass toxic torts, and general business disputes, including breach of contract and warranty claims in both federal and state courts. She is part of national coordinating counsel teams for several clients that manage asbestos and benzene toxic tort claims across the nation, as well as active local trial counsel in Ohio. Jenifer’s toxic tort practice also includes defending clients in the emerging cosmetic talc litigation. Jenifer earned her J.D. from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and her B.A. from Kent State University.
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