Erika focuses her practice on wealth transfer and estate planning matters, including business succession planning and all aspects of tax and business planning for owners of closely held businesses. She also counsels clients on general corporate, tax, transactional, and financing matters, estate and trust administration, issues relating to both charitable and non-charitable tax-exempt organizations, and the drafting and negotiation of premarital agreements. In the last several years, her practice has expanded to include fiduciary litigation, representing both trustees and beneficiaries with respect to the distribution of trust assets, interpretation of trust agreements, modification of trust and trust terminations.

Her clients include individuals, closely held, emerging and family businesses, a variety of corporations and other business entities, charities, nonprofit institutions, and professional practices. Erika is active in the community, having served on a number of nonprofit boards and committees.

Education

The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, J.D.

Miami University, B.S.B.

Distinctions

• AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
• Named The Best Lawyers in America® Columbus "Lawyer of the Year" for Litigation - Trusts & Estates (2013, 2020, 2022, 2024)
• Named The Best Lawyers in America® Columbus "Lawyer of the Year" for Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law (2017, 2021, 2025)
• Named The Best Lawyers in America® Columbus "Lawyer of the Year" for Trusts and Estates (2023)
• Named to The Best Lawyers in America® for Litigation - Trusts & Estates (2012-2026); Trusts and Estates (2012-2026); Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law (2016-2026); Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) (2025-2026); and Commercial Litigation (2025-2026)
• Selected as an "Ohio Super Lawyer" by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine (2004-2025)
• Selected as one of the "Top 50 Lawyers in Columbus" by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine (2016, 2020-2024)
• Selected as one of the "Top 50 Women Lawyers in Ohio" by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine (2011, 2012, 2016, 2019-2024)
• Selected as one of the "Top 25 Women Lawyers in Columbus" by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine (2010-2024)
• Selected as one of the "Top 100 Ohio Lawyers" by Ohio Super Lawyers (2020-2024)
• Recognized as a Columbus CEO Top Lawyer for Corporate Law (2024); Litigation-Trusts and Estates (2024) and Trusts and Estates (2024)
• Central Ohio's Top Lawyers, Columbus CEO Magazine (2021-2025)
• "Forty Under 40" award sponsored by Columbus Business First (2001)
• Leadership Columbus, Graduate (2000)

Professional Activities

• The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), Fellow
  • Planning Committee, Activities, 2016 Ohio Fellows Annual Meeting
• Columbus Estate Planning Council, Chair (2011-2013) and Planning Committee
• Ohio State Bar Association
• The Columbus Foundation Professional Council
• The Ohio State University Estate & Gift Planning Professional Advisory Council
• Columbus Rotary (2002-2007), Paul Harris Fellow
• Greater Columbus Salvation Army Advisory Board
  • Nominating Committee Chair
  • Former Executive Committee Member
  • Past Secretary and Resources Development Committee Chair
  • Finance Committee

News

Additional Items

• “A Trustee’s Duty to Inform Under Ohio Law: Who, What, When and Why?” – Probate Law Journal of Ohio, Volume 35, Issue 6 (July/August 2025)
• “Can’t We All Just Get Along? Tips for Avoiding Fiduciary Litigation” – American Bar Association – Business Torts & Unfair Competition Journal (Summer 2021)
• “Estate Planning Before, During and After Divorce” – Probate Law Journal of Ohio, Volume 29, Issue 6 (July/August 2019)
• “Avoiding Probate and Protecting Assets” – Columbus Business First (Nov 3, 2017)
• “A Trustee’s Duty to Inform Under Ohio Law: Who, What, When and Why?” – The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Ohio Meeting (April 2025)
• “The Effects of Divorce on Estate Planning” – The Pittsburgh Foundation (October 2023)
• “Hidden No More: The Rise of the Female Managing Partner” – Ohio Women’s Bar Association & Foundation Annual Meeting Panelist (May 2023)
• “The Intersection of Divorce and Estate Planning” – Columbus Estate Planning Council (February 2022)
• “What to Do with the Family Business” – Smart Business Dealmakers Conference Panelist, Columbus, Ohio (September 2021)
• “Webinar: Estate Planning Before Divorce, During Divorce and After the End of a Marriage” – Estate Planning Council of Cleveland (Feb 9, 2021)
• “Estate Planning Before Divorce, During Divorce and After the End of a Marriage” – The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Ohio Meeting (May 2019)
• “Estate Litigation” – Panel Discussion Sponsored by The Columbus Foundation (April 2019)
• “Smart Estate Planning: What You Should Do Now to Avoid Costly Mistakes Later” – Roetzel and Andress Executive & Corporate Counsel Forum (November 2018)
• “Estate and Probate Litigation: Why It Happens and How to Avoid It” – Fiduciary Litigation and Special Needs Seminar Sponsored by Park National Bank (June 2018)
• “Charitable Giving with Retirement Plan Benefits; Securing and Managing the Estate Planning Client Relationship; Estate and Probate Litigation: Why It Happens and How to Avoid It?” – 29th Annual Estate Planning & Charitable Giving Update Sponsored by The Columbus Foundation (October 2017)
• “Trust and Estate Litigation: Case Studies, Recommendations for Advisors and Drafting Tips to Avoid It” – Worthington Estate Planning Council (May 2017)
• “Planning Considerations for Unmarried Couples” – The Tri-County Estate Planning Council (April 2017)
• “Current Issues in Tax, Succession Planning and Wealth Transfer” – Panel Discussion Sponsored by The Ohio State University and Johnson Investment Counsel (June 2016)
• “Estate Planning for Children Born Via Assisted Reproductive Technology: Who is a Descendant, Who is a Parent and How to Draft for the Modern Family” – The Worthington Estate Planning Council (September 2015) and Ohio State Bar Association’s Annual Conference on Wealth Transfer (June 2015)

Outside the office, Erika spends as much time as she can with her daughter, a student at The Ohio State University, and their basset hound.  An avid baker and cook, she loves to entertain.  Erika enjoys traveling, learning about different cultures and exploring landscapes in and outside the U.S.  Near an east coast, she never misses a sunrise.  She’s a passionate sports fan, especially when it comes to Buckeye football and the Pittsburgh Steelers.