Ohio has a thriving real estate market, from the commercial corridors of Columbus and Cleveland to the development pipelines stretching across Cincinnati and beyond. Whether you are closing a major acquisition, navigating a complex lease, or working through a financing deal, the attorney you choose plays a big role in how smoothly things go.
Finding a qualified real estate lawyer in Ohio is not just about credentials on paper. It is about finding someone with the right experience for your deal, a track record in the Ohio market, and the kind of practical judgment that holds up under pressure.
The lawyers on this list were selected based on their rankings in Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, ACREL fellowship, and years of sustained recognition in Ohio’s real estate legal market. Each one has built a reputation through real results.
1. Jeffrey J. Wild: Band 1, Real Estate (Ohio) | Benesch, Cleveland
Jeffrey Wild is one of the most recognized real estate attorneys in Ohio, holding a Band 1 ranking from Chambers USA for 16 consecutive years. He focuses on commercial real estate transactions including development, acquisitions, dispositions, financings, and joint ventures. His client base includes major publicly traded REITs, private equity funds, institutional investors, and family offices, with deal sizes ranging from $10 million to over $1 billion. Chambers describes him as a lawyer who is particularly adept at handling real estate transactions and finding creative solutions for complex problems.
2. Jared E. Oakes: Band 2, Real Estate (Ohio) | Benesch, Cleveland
Jared Oakes has held a Band 2 Chambers USA ranking in Ohio real estate for 17 consecutive years. He is a Fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL) and represents REITs, institutional investors, lenders, private equity funds, and developers. Chambers highlights his particular skill in handling complex development and sophisticated financing work, including distressed debt. He is also listed in Best Lawyers in America and on the 2025 Ohio Super Lawyers list.
3. Karla M. Rogers: Band 3, Real Estate (Ohio) | Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP, Cleveland
Karla Rogers is Co-Chair of the Real Estate group at Calfee and has been recognized by Chambers USA for 13 consecutive years. Her practice covers real estate acquisitions, divestitures, commercial leasing, financing transactions, and zoning compliance. Chambers reviewers consistently note her responsiveness and the thoroughness of her advisory work. She joined Calfee in 1998 and has been a partner since 2009, building one of the more reliable real estate practices in the Cleveland market.
4. Charles McCreary: Senior Statesperson, Real Estate (Ohio) | Bricker Graydon Wyatt LLP, Columbus
Charles McCreary holds the Chambers USA Senior Statesperson designation in Ohio real estate and has been recognized for 17 consecutive years. He advises lenders and developers on a wide range of property financing matters. The Senior Statesperson designation reflects a level of sustained recognition that goes beyond standard band rankings, and McCreary has earned it through decades of active, high-quality work across the Ohio market.
5. Gary S. Desberg: Band 3, Real Estate (Ohio) | Singerman, Mills, Desberg & Kauntz Co. LPA, Beachwood
Gary Desberg is a Band 3 Chambers USA-ranked attorney described in the guide as outstanding and a very strong lawyer. His practice spans commercial real estate transactions with a focus on partnerships, commercial lending, and portfolio acquisitions. He is also listed in Best Lawyers in America for Real Estate Law. Desberg brings decades of transactional experience to clients across northeast Ohio and has built a consistent track record in the Cleveland and Beachwood markets.
6. Robert C. Ondak Jr.: Band 4, Real Estate (Ohio) | Benesch, Cleveland
Robert Ondak is a Chambers USA Band 4-ranked attorney and leads Benesch’s leasing team, representing retail, office, and industrial clients nationwide. His work spans commercial leasing, development, purchase and sale agreements, and construction lending. Chambers calls him an outstanding lawyer, and he is listed in Best Lawyers in America for Real Estate Law and recognized as a 2025 Thomson Reuters Stand-Out Lawyer. He brings deep expertise in lease-side transactions that many clients find hard to match.
7. Stephen C. Mixter: Band 4, Real Estate (Ohio) | MixterLaw LLC, Ohio
Stephen Mixter holds a Chambers USA Band 4 ranking in Ohio real estate and runs his own firm, MixterLaw LLC. He specializes in corporate real estate matters, regularly acting for developers and financial institutions in property acquisitions, leasings, and financings. His focused, boutique approach gives clients direct access to a Chambers-ranked attorney with hands-on experience across a wide range of commercial real estate transactions throughout Ohio.
How to Choose the Right Real Estate Lawyer in Ohio
Ohio’s real estate market moves fast, and deals can get complicated quickly. Whether you are working on a commercial acquisition in Columbus, a development project in Cleveland, or a financing deal in Cincinnati, the right attorney can make the difference between a clean close and a costly delay.
Each lawyer on this list has earned recognition from the most respected independent ranking bodies in the legal industry. What sets them apart is not just their credentials but their depth of experience in the specific types of deals Ohio’s market demands: commercial leasing, development financing, portfolio acquisitions, and institutional transactions.
If you are working on a deal that requires serious legal guidance, start with this list. The lawyers featured here have the experience, the track record, and the market knowledge to help you move forward with confidence.
