Meet Our Team
R. Chad Brenner, Managing Partner
Chad Brenner is the Managing Partner of Brenner Kaprosy Mitchell, L.L.P. licensed to practice law in Ohio. He specializes in estate and wealth planning and related tax law while maintaining an active practice in real estate and corporate law.
Mr. Brenner has extensive experience in the following areas:
- Estate planning for high-net-worth individuals and families;
- Asset protection planning using limited liability companies;
- Domestic asset protection trusts, spendthrift trusts;
- Intentionally defective non-grantor trusts;
- Transfers of closely-held business interests for succession planning using family limited partnerships, limited liability companies and related entities;
- Administration of trusts and estates, including the balancing of income tax and estate tax issues; and
- Structuring, financing, development and construction of nursing home, assisted living and independent living projects.
Mr. Brenner graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of Miami. He earned his Juris Doctorate from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1979.
T. David Mitchell, Partner
David Mitchell is a partner of Brenner Kaprosy Mitchell, L.L.P. He focuses his practice on real estate and corporate law. Mr. Mitchell has extensive experience in acquisitions and financing for both corporate and individual clients. He represents sellers and purchasers in the acquisition and sale of a variety of commercial real estate properties, including multifamily apartments, office buildings and unimproved land and is experienced in structuring and negotiating multifaceted transactions. He also represents borrowers in connection with all aspects of real estate financing, including loan restructuring. Mr. Mitchell advises clients in connection with deal structuring, including entity selection and formation. In addition, he assists companies with tax-deferred exchanges and leasing of real estate and the formation and dissolution of limited liability companies, partnerships and other ventures.
Mr. Mitchell began his law career as an associate at Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP in Cleveland, where he gained experience in the fields of bankruptcy, commercial law, corporate transactions (including mergers and acquisitions), real estate transactions, financing, divestitures and lease and contract negotiations. Over the next decade, Mr. Mitchell gained extensive experience in corporate, real estate and general business law by operating as a solo practitioner. In addition, he joined Reminger & Reminger Co., LPA in Cleveland, as the sole corporate attorney in the predominately litigation focused firm. At Reminger, Mr. Mitchell was responsible for a wide spectrum of transactional and contract-oriented work. In 2006, Mr. Mitchell joined Messrs. Brenner and Kaprosy to create Brenner Kaprosy Mitchell, L.L.P.
Michael D. McPhillips, Estate Planning & Tax Partner
Michael D. McPhillips is a tax partner of Brenner Kaprosy Mitchell, L.L.P. His practice includes tax and estate planning and trust, estate and probate administration, including the development of estate plans for the preservation of family wealth, succession of family businesses, charitable planning and advising fiduciaries on complex tax and administration issues.
Mr. McPhillips drafts taxed-advantaged trust structures and advises on sophisticated business succession techniques. He assists his clients regarding choice of entity planning, charitable giving and life insurance planning. His transactional tax practice includes assisting clients with entity selection and organization, concentrating on structuring transactions with a view toward maximizing tax benefits and achieving overall economic and ownership objectives. He uses his accounting background extensively in assisting clients with their tax and business matters.
Mr. McPhillips has represented taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service at the audit and appeal levels. In addition, he has assisted clients at the audit level before the Ohio Department of Taxation and with local tax authorities.
Mr. McPhillips is also a certified public accountant and began his career in tax for the accounting firm of Hausser & Taylor LLP in Cleveland, where he gained comprehensive experience in preparation and review of tax returns. In 1996, he joined the law firm of McGinty, Gibbons, Hilow & Spellacy Co. LP.A. in Cleveland as an associate and dealt primarily with structuring business acquisitions and divestitures, business successions and estate planning. He partnered with R. Chad Brenner, David V. Kaprosy and T. David Mitchell in 2006.
Kathleen A. McLaughlan, Partner
Kathleen A. McLaughlan is a Partner of Brenner Kaprosy Mitchell, L.L.P. as well as the Managing Director Biltmore Trust Company, serving on the Trust and Investment Committees of the Board of Directors. She concentrates her practice on estate planning and business succession planning, as well as trust and probate administration.
Ms. McLaughlan has extensive experience advising and interacting closely with clients, their families and businesses to create personalized estate plans with goals toward probate avoidance, minimizing estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer taxes, and orderly succession of personal, investment and business interests. She guides clients from the start of the process to the finish, making sure that any questions are answered and explained along the way.
In addition to preparing “basic” estate planning documents, Ms. McLaughlan is skilled in more complex estate issues which include advising clients on asset protection matters, international estate planning issues, charitable gifting, family corporate entities, grantor and non-grantor trusts, irrevocable trusts, special needs trusts, among other estate planning issues and/or tools that may be relevant to the client.
Ms. McLaughlan began her legal career at Ziegler Metzger LLP, in downtown Cleveland, where she focused her practice on estate planning and probate matters. She joined Brenner Kaprosy Mitchell, L.L.P. after having spent two years abroad in the United Kingdom with her husband and two children. She is an active volunteer in her west side community.
Maria H. Janda, Senior Estate Planning Paralegal
Maria Janda is a senior paralegal who specializes in estate planning, probate and trust administration. Her experience includes drafting wills, trusts and ancillary documents related to estate planning, as well as entity formation and corporate record keeping as needed in the estate planning process. She works directly with clients to determine their specific.
Ms. Janda assists clients with probate filings, if necessary. Her broad knowledge and extensive probate experience allow her to assist and advise personal representatives and answer questions concerning the Ohio and Florida probate process.
In addition, Ms. Janda is a Trust Officer of Biltmore Trust Company. She provides continuity in the client relationship between the law firm and Biltmore Trust Company.
Robin L. Vaughan, Accounting & HR Manager
Robin Vaughan is the accounting and HR manager at Brenner Kaprosy Mitchell, L.L.P. Her principal areas of practice are financial record keeping, client billing, paralegal and administrative services. Mrs. Vaughan is also responsible for the HR and payroll services for the firm. Mrs. Vaughan assists the attorneys in the firm with all aspects of accounting, billing and office administration. She works directly with clients, bankers, brokers and other third parties.
Prior to joining Brenner Kaprosy Mitchell, L.L.P., Mrs. Vaughan worked with private practice attorneys where she gained extensive knowledge in the legal field before focusing her attention in accounting. Mrs. Vaughan received a certificate from a secretarial/short-hand studies program, graduating in 1985. She is also a Notary Public.
Mackenzie Nicholson, Senior Paralegal
Rachelle L. Brenner, Operations Manager
Rachelle joined the firm in April 2022. She began her tenure as a captive management consultant, where she supports the operations of client self-insurance companies including compliance filings, navigating regulatory changes, and coordinating claims, among other responsibilities. Rachelle’s role expanded to include property management and analytical support for the real estate development group’s healthcare portfolio and ongoing oversight of law firm operations to identify opportunities to streamline firm processes. In addition, she has assisted in rolling out and maintaining new cyber control measures across multiple business units, helping to bolster organizational security.
Before joining the firm, Rachelle earned her MBA with a focus in healthcare finance from Case Western Reserve University in 2017 and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Economics from the College of Wooster in 2015.
Moxie Janda, Office Greeter and Mail Administration
Moxie is a critical member of our team specializing in client greeting and stress relief on those extra busy days! Her favorite pastimes include asking for belly scratches and performing many tricks when receiving treats. She is eager to assist in client meetings and provide a warm welcome to clients and employees.
Moxie’s area of expertise includes taking out the mail and kitchen clean-up.
Izzy Janda, Office Greeter and Shredder
Izzy is a dynamic member of the Brenner Kaprosy Mitchell, L.L.P. team, joining in December 2023. She is enthusiastic, compassionate, and loving – from the moment you enter our office, Izzy’s love of her workplace is infectious! While she is the youngest member of our team, she is a quick learner and aids all employees in their shredding and trash removal needs.