Tucker Ellis LLP is pleased to announce that Tom Ostrowski has been named Partner-in-Charge of the firm’s Cleveland office and Ashley Brandt has been named Partner-in-Charge of its Chicago office. The appointments—effective January 1, 2026—reflect the firm’s continued focus on collaborative leadership, client-first service, and strategic growth across key markets.

“In Tom and Ashley, we have two leaders who exemplify the Tucker Ellis ethos of excellence, collegiality, and purpose,” said James Mizgala, the firm’s incoming Managing Partner. “They are trusted counselors who put clients first, develop our people, and strengthen the communities where we live and work. With Tom’s record of building and mentoring high-performing finance teams and Ashley’s experience guiding complex, highly regulated businesses, they are exactly the leaders to advance our growth and sustain the culture that defines us.”

Mr. Ostrowski is an accomplished finance lawyer concentrating on commercial banking and corporate finance matters, including middle-market lending, syndicated and agented credit facilities, asset-based lending, healthcare lending, structured finance, and real estate financing. He also represents private equity funds and their portfolio companies, as well as subordinated lenders. During his seven-year tenure as Tucker Ellis’s Finance Practice Group Leader, he guided the team through a period of significant growth and transformation. A former social studies teacher, Mr. Ostrowski has long devoted his time to mentoring associates and guiding future lawyers. He is deeply engaged in the Cleveland community, having served for many years on the board of America SCORES Cleveland—where he is currently a member of its advisory board—and he is a former advisory board member of Campus International School. He is also active in the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association.

“I’m honored to have been selected to lead our Cleveland office,” said Mr. Ostrowski. “Cleveland is where our firm was founded, and I’m excited to have the opportunity to strengthen our ties to the Northeast Ohio community. Drawing on my experience in various leadership roles and many years of practice, I look forward to supporting our lawyers and staff as we deepen client relationships, as well as collaboration, training, and empowering our teams to deliver exceptional results.”

Mr. Brandt leads a nationally recognized practice focused on the intersection of regulation, commerce, and innovation in the food, beverage, and hospitality industries. He represents breweries, distilleries, wholesalers, and brand owners across the country and is widely regarded for his experience guiding clients through the emerging hemp and cannabis beverage markets. His work spans regulatory strategy, distribution and franchise law, licensing, and commercial transactions. In addition to his client work, Mr. Brandt authors the Libation Law Blog, a respected source of industry and legal insight. He serves on the editorial board of the Illinois Bar Journal and as vice chair of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Section on Administrative Law. Dedicated to the creative and entrepreneurial communities he serves, he works with Lawyers for the Creative Arts, the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild, the Brewers Association, and the Illinois Judges Foundation’s Lawyers Auxiliary Committee.

“Chicago has always been more than a market for our firm—it’s a proving ground for innovation, collaboration, and the kind of entrepreneurial thinking that drives our clients forward,” said Mr. Brandt. “The work happening here defines where the legal industry is headed, and I’m eager to help our team continue building a future-focused office that reflects the best of Tucker Ellis—practical, creative, and closely connected to the communities we serve.”