Carl J. Grassi

Carl serves as corporate counsel and business advisor to a number of middle-market and growth companies.  He has extensive experience assisting clients in areas of complex mergers and acquisitions, choice of entity planning, business succession planning, financing and structuring ESOPs, executive compensation and tax planning, creation of family limited partnerships, formation and use of limited liability companies, and IRS controversies. 

Carl authors the Small Business “Tax Tips” column for Crain’s Cleveland Business and has written other articles for national publications.  He frequently speaks on business planning related topics for business owners, accountants and lawyers.

• Certified Public Accountant
• American Bar Association
• Federal Bar Association
• International Lawyers Network
• Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation 

• "Managing Benefit Levels in an ESOP Company," The ESOP Association 2012 Las Vegas Conference & Trade Show, November 8-9, 2012
• "Effects of Alternative Financing Structures on ESOP Value and Participant Benefits," The ESOP Association 2011 Las Vegas Conference & Trade Show, November 3-4, 2011
• "Double Dip or Not? – Finding your way in tough economic times," McDonald Hopkins Roundtable, September 2011
• "ESOPs as Acquisition Tools," The ESOP Association 2010 Las Vegas Conference & Trade Show, November 4-5, 2010

• Named one of the Best Lawyers in America (2011-2013)
• "AV” Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Honoree, Ohio Cancer Research Associates (2011)

• The 50 Club of Cleveland
• American ORT, Cleveland Chapter (Past Director)
• BVU | The Center for Nonprofit Excellence (Board Member)
• Easter Seals of Northeast Ohio (Past Board Member)
• Greater Cleveland Film Commission (Board Member)
• Greater Cleveland Sports Commission (Board of Trustees and Executive Committee)
• Greater Cleveland Western Region United Way Campaign (Co-Chair 2009 and 2010)
• Lake Erie College (Board Chair)
• Leadership Lake County (Class of 1998)