Shurtz, Richard J.

Attorney Joel A. Holt joined the Firm as an associate in 2011.  Attorney Holt utilizes his broad life and legal experience to advise clients in multiple facets of the law, including: Corporate and Business Law, Civil and Business Litigation, Appellate Advocacy, Securities Law, Real Estate / Zoning Law, Education Law and Administrative Hearings and Appeals.  Attorney Holt strives to provide clients with compassionate, practical, and well-reasoned legal advice.

A native of northern Wisconsin, Attorney Holt served honorably in the United States Air Force and received the Air Force Achievement Medal for Meritorious Service and the Air Force Humanitarian Service Medal.  Upon his discharge, Attorney Holt relocated to Ohio to attend law school. Attorney Holt graduated from the University of Akron School of Law, magna cum laude, in 2005.  While in law school, Attorney Holt sat on the editorial board of, and was published in, the Akron Law Review.

At the beginning of his career, Attorney Holt acted as a staff attorney for the Honorable Judge Beth Whitmore of the Ninth District Court of Appeals in Akron, Ohio.  At the expiration of his term, Attorney Holt transitioned to law practice at the Akron firm of Brennan, Manna & Diamond, LLC.  There, his practice focused on business / civil litigation and appellate advocacy.  Attorney Holt has briefed and argued multiple appeals before the Ohio appellate courts.  Attorney Holt has also prosecuted and briefed appeals to the Ohio Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Attorney Holt has also practiced with the Westlake, Ohio law firm of Joseph D. Carney & Associates, LLC.  There, Attorney Holt specialized in appellate advocacy, business / civil litigation, and securities law, including filing securities fraud cases, defending broker-dealers in SEC and FINRA enforcement actions, and regulatory compliance. 

Attorney Holt is also active in church, civic, and charitable activities, including Compassion International, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, and The Daughter Project, a Toledo based recovery home for adolescent victims of human trafficking.

Military
.The United States Air Force, honorable discharge, 2002