Athens, OH

Ethan Vessels is a trial lawyer who has recovered over $80 million for clients. He is board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and inducted into the American Board of Trial Advocates. He has been recognized as a SuperLawyer and a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. He practices in high-stakes civil cases, including personal injury, wrongful death, insurance disputes, and oil and gas litigation, in Ohio and West Virginia.

John P. Lavelle, a founding attorney at Lavelle and Rittenhouse, has over 40 years of legal experience. He graduated from Middle Tennessee State University and Cumberland School of Law. Licensed in Ohio and Montana, he has served as Special Counsel to Ohio Attorney Generals and practiced before the Supreme Court of the United States. His practice emphasizes criminal defense and personal injury, and he is a member of several bar associations.

William Fields retired from law practice in 2004. During his career, he focused on estate planning and probate. He held several distinguished positions, including Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and President of the Washington County Bar Association.

"Rusty" Robert R. Rittenhouse is an Athens native and associate attorney at Lavelle and Rittenhouse, joining in 2005. He earned his Bachelor's degree from Ohio University and his J.D. from The University of Dayton School of Law. He is a member of the Ohio State and Athens County Bar Associations, serves on the Athens City School Board, and acts as a judge for the Athens County Municipal Court. His practice areas include Landlord-Tenant issues, Business Formation, Personal Injury, Estate Administration, and Real Estate transactions.

Jonathan Dehmlow focuses on estate planning, trust administration, probate, elder law, real estate, contract law, oil and gas law, and adoptions. He also assists with small and family business entities. He practiced in Colorado Springs before joining the firm in Marietta in 2000 and later partnering with Ethan Vessels.

Sky Pettey is an Athens native who joined Lavelle and Rittenhouse in 2001. He holds a Bachelor's degree from Oberlin College and a J.D. from Ohio State University College of Law, where he was Managing Editor of The Ohio State University Journal on Dispute Resolution. Recognized as a 'Rising Star' by SuperLawyers magazine in 2011, he handles criminal, civil litigation, probate, and estate planning cases. He is licensed in Ohio and federal courts and is a Commissioner on the Ohio Supreme Court Commission on Continuing Legal Education.