Personalized and Cost-Effective Legal Services for Individuals and Businesses
About
We're the best in our field, and it's all thanks to the incredible relationships we've formed with our clients. Unlike our competitors, we're invested in developing a personal connection with each and every one of our customers, by providing quality service and being available to you 24/7. Get in touch with us when you're ready to learn more; we can't wait to meet you!
About Michele Raia
Proudly providing responsive, thorough, affordable and individualized legal services to each and every client.
Ms. Raia has been providing personalized and cost-effective legal services to individuals and companies for 35+ years. Her legal practice is focused on estate planning, probate, business, employment and real estate matters.
For her estate planning clients, Ms. Raia not only prepares the standard documents (Last Will and Testament, General Durable Power of Attorney, Living Will, Healthcare Power of Attorney), but also helps them understand the estate planning process, how to title their assets to reduce the need for probate and how to organize their affairs to make it easier for their family.
Ms. Raia represents new and existing companies of all sizes and industries. As a fellow entrepreneur and business owner, she truly understands the challenges companies face in today's environment, from both a legal and management perspective.
For clients who are starting a new business, she helps them see and understand the "big legal picture" of their business journey and guides them through each step of the process.
As part of this process, Ms. Raia prepares documents such as those noted below, along with a customized corporate binder to maintain all of their business documents:
Name and entity formation documents and filings
Licensing, franchise, joint venture and management agreements
Asset/stock purchasing agreements and related loan/transaction documents
Buy-sell/shareholder agreements, memberships/subscription agreements
Operating agreements, corporate regulations/by-laws
Commercial real estate agreements and leases
Demonstrated Experience. Diverse Expertise.
Having worked in general practice firms and served as in-house counsel for two large corporations, Ms. Raia developed a wide array of experience and expertise. As a result, she is able to work across multiple company departments to deliver advice and counsel on most of the legal issues her business clients encounter. Ms. Raia regularly advises clients on operational and employment legal matters; she helps clients' comply with continually changing business and employment laws/regulations; and she assists clients with their business growth, real estate and commercial transactions, acquisitions, licensing, franchising and restructuring.
As a trusted advisor, Ms. Raia has become an integral part of many of her clients' businesses and serves as their "outside" general counsel.
She routinely handles employment and contractual matters including the negotiation and preparation of the following:
- consulting/product/service agreements with customers and clients;
- new hire documents, employment contracts, independent contractor agreements;
- employee handbooks, compliance manuals and related training;
- non-compete, non-disclosure and confidentiality documents;
- termination, separation and severance documents;
- vendor/supplier/distributor/manufacturer contracts
Testimonials
"Michele Raia has provided legal services to us for over 20 years in a variety of personal and business matters including the purchase and sale of businesses, employment issues, real estate matters, corporate records/compliance, business transactions and estate planning documents. Michele is very responsive, efficient and explains legal issues in a clear and understandable manner without a lot of legalese. If she doesn’t know or have an immediate answer to a legal issue, she researches it and comes back with a detailed and complete strategy. I highly recommend Michele’s legal services."
Deb K.
"I have known and worked with Michele Raia for over 30 years both as a friend and as my attorney. She excels at being responsive, knowledgeable and strategic in her advice and counsel. Equally important, she handles matters with a high level of competence and careful analysis and explains legal issues, regulations and guidelines in language that is easy to understand and comprehend. Michele has helped me in a multiple of business matters spanning from complex transactions to serving in the role of an in-house counsel making sure that all of the employment, corporate and operational aspects of my businesses were up to date and compliant, as well as personal matters and estate planning. She is the person I call day or night…and always feel confident that I will receive timely and thorough advice and guidance. I believe you can’t ask more from an attorney than what Michele has provided to me over decades of service."
Donna Z.
"We worked with Michele Raia for 10 years in connection with our corporate records, lease, sale of our business and estate planning. Michele is very responsive, easy to work with, caring and concerned about all matters. When working on our lease, she was very patient and answered all of our questions in an understandable matter. For our estate planning, she provided very detailed checklists and guidelines that made the process much easier. She treated all of our matters as though they were her own and was invested in making sure she protected our interests and obtained an outcome that was most favorable for us. Michele has high integrity, is honest, tries to do things the right way, is a good communicator and negotiator and is very personable."
Brend and Bob S.
"I have worked with Michele Raia for over 20 years. I initially met Michele when she was providing legal services to the HR department at General Electric Lighting Division. Since then, she has provided legal assistance to me and my family for our estate planning, employment, personal and business matters. Michele is always responsive and there to guide us through legal issues – she even came to the nursing home to assist my father with his legal matters when he was ill. She’s a one-stop shop. I often refer others to Michele for legal matters."
Jean D.
"Michele Raia is an excellent corporate attorney. She was by our side from inception to, ultimately, the sale of our Company, over a 23 year period. Most importantly, at no time did we ever feel at a
disadvantage in any negotiation or contract review."
Rick C.
Focus & Credentials
Ms. Raia is proud and thankful to have so many clients who frequently refer new clients. She credits this to providing responsive, thorough, affordable and individualized legal services to each and every client.
Practice Areas
Business
Estate Planning and Probate
Employment Law
Residential and Commercial Real Estate
Education
J.D. Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, 1987
B.A., Miami University, 1984
Bar Admissions
State of Ohio, 1987
United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, 1987
Memberships
Ohio State Bar Association
Lake County Bar Association
Customer reviews
Daniel K.
"I honestly received the best service I could have asked for. They were super professional to deal with; they met all my needs and helped me a lot."
Ron H.
"The entire experience was so easy and friendly, and the price was very reasonable. I don't know what I would have done without them."
James F.
"I can't say enough good things about the quality of this company. Highly, highly recommend using them!"
Special features
Best Quality
We guarantee your full satisfaction
Family business
A professional, personalized experience
24/7 Support
Our phone support is always available to you
