ABOUT SHUMAKER

ABOUT SHUMAKER

Firm Background

Founded in 1925, Shumaker is a premier provider of legal and legislative services with a team of more than 300 lawyers and advisors, 60 paralegals, and 555 employees in its twelve offices located in Toledo, Columbus, and Akron, Ohio; Tampa, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Dade City, and St. Petersburg, Florida; Charleston and Greenville, South Carolina; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Bloomington, Minnesota.

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Shumaker provides quality legal counsel to our core constituency: individuals, small businesses, health care providers, nonprofit organizations, Fortune 500 companies, and international corporations. Our mission is to work on our clients' timetable and budget, focus on results, and keep our clients ahead of the curve.

Shumaker recruits and retains top graduates from leading law schools and provides young lawyers with specialized training in the areas in which they practice.

Many of our lawyers have advanced degrees in disciplines related to their practices and a number have clerked for federal and state trial and appellate court judges. One hundred thirty-five of our lawyers are listed in the prestigious publication, Best Lawyers in America.

Difference Maker 

Shumaker is focused on being a positive and impactful difference maker for our clients and in the communities we serve.

Shumaker has a long history of community support. The firm is a strong supporter of nonprofit organizations in each of its locations and firmly believes in giving back to the communities it serves.

The Leadership Shumaker program enables and encourages lawyers and staff to contribute both time and money to various public, private, and not-for-profit organizations that promote the general improvement of our neighborhoods and communities, benefit our most economically disadvantaged citizens, and promote the arts and other sources of economic development. We hope to make a positive difference in the communities in which we work and live.

Our Commitment

We understand that when selecting a law firm, most clients are primarily looking for four things:

  • A high level of quality, sophistication, and experience
  • A creative and imaginative approach that focuses on finding solutions, not problems
  • Accessible lawyers who give their clients priority treatment and extraordinary service
  • A fair, cost-effective price

Shumaker has met the expectations of business clients that require this level of service. For today's sophisticated clients, Shumaker offers a total package of quality, experience, value, responsiveness, and an uncompromising commitment to servicing the legal needs of every client.

That's been the tradition of Shumaker and remains our constant goal. This is what sets us apart.

Shumaker Empowering Change: Launch of Literacy Initiative Aims to Impact More Than 100,000 Lives

Shumaker is thrilled to announce the launch of its forward-thinking Make a Difference through Literacy Initiative, dedicated to transforming the lives of individuals through the power of words. Committed to fostering positive change, Shumaker aims to improve literacy for more than 100,000 individuals by 2025 as part of the firm’s centennial celebration.

In a world where literacy is a vital tool for success and confidence, Shumaker recognizes the need to address literacy gaps and ensure that everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. According to the 2022 National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) – the “Nation’s Report Card” – in Reading, only 32 percent of fourth graders in the U.S. are reading at a proficient level, and only 29 percent of eighth graders in the U.S. are reading at or above a proficient level.

"We believe that harnessing the power of words through literacy is the cornerstone of positive change," stated Jennifer Compton, Chair of Shumaker’s Management Committee and Sarasota Managing Partner. "Our literacy initiative is a concerted effort to break down barriers, ignite curiosity, stop cycles of dysfunction and empower individuals to shape their own destinies. By delivering the power of words to more than 100,000 lives, we are sowing the seeds of a brighter future for all of our communities."

The foundation of this initiative is structured around Shumaker’s commitment to making a difference in our communities since 1925, aligning with the firm’s core mission to be a positive and impactful difference maker for clients and in the communities it serves.

Through community partnerships, employee engagement, and the gift of time, Shumaker will implement a multifaceted approach to promote literacy within the communities it serves. The program will offer tailored learning resources, mentorship, and engaging activities designed to make reading and learning a captivating experience for participants of all ages.

As part of the program launch, Shumaker welcomes individuals, businesses, and institutions to us and have a hand in creating a lasting impact.

“Volunteers, donors, and advocates are crucial partners with Shumaker in the journey to transform lives and build a stronger, better-educated community. The sky is the limit, and the only limit is our own imagination,” Jennifer said.

Media Mentions

Shumaker Literacy News Releases

Three Shumaker attorneys to serve on 2024 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Programs.
Members of the Toledo office participated in the Toledo Pride Parade.

Shumaker is committed to attracting, retaining, and promoting individuals of diverse backgrounds to ensure that our firm reflects the clients we represent and our values of inclusion. We believe that embracing differences in ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status, religion, and other characteristics helps us consider the full range of perspectives our clients face and the goals they seek to achieve, allowing us to provide more creative, insightful, and complete guidance and counsel. By affirmatively embracing and appreciating those differences, we create a supportive working environment at Shumaker for all individuals of the firm.

    The firm is a member of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), which is an organization of more than 400 corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners—the leadership of the profession—who have dedicated themselves to creating a truly diverse U.S. legal profession. As a member of LCLD, the firm’s highest management has committed to attending the LCDC annual conference.

The firm has committed to seeking Mansfield Rule certification in 2023-2024, joining more than 360 law firms dedicated to creating a more inclusive legal profession and an environment where all lawyers feel they can thrive. Overseen by Diversity Lab, the Mansfield Rule seeks to increase and sustain diversity in law firm leadership by broadening the pool of candidates considered for leadership and governance roles, equity partner promotions, formal client pitch opportunities, and senior lateral positions. To achieve Mansfield Rule certification, participating firms must affirmatively consider at least 30 percent historically underrepresented lawyers—specifically, women lawyers, underrepresented racial and ethnic lawyers, LGBTQ+ lawyers, and lawyers with disabilities—for the aforementioned roles and opportunities. Participating firms must also develop and publish leadership job descriptions and election/appointment guidelines to ensure transparency in historically opaque advancement processes.

Consistent with our commitment to diversity and inclusion, Shumaker maintains a policy of equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment. No aspect of recruitment, hiring or employment with Shumaker will be influenced in any manner by race, color, sex/gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, religion, age, disability status, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, citizenship status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, work assignments, overtime assignments, compensation, training, transfers, leaves of absence, layoff, recall and termination.

Shumaker also strictly prohibits discrimination in the provision of employment opportunities, benefits or privileges, work conditions, or evaluation standards in employment if the basis of that discriminatory treatment is, in whole or in part, a protected category as described above. Discrimination in violation of this policy will be subject to severe sanctions up to and including termination.

Meet our Council on Diversity and Inclusion

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Diversity in Action

Shumaker’s commitment to diversity is reflected in the following measures

  1. Appointment of nine partners to our Council on Diversity and Inclusion to coordinate and direct our diversity initiatives.
  2. Creation of Shumaker’s Women’s Leadership Initiative, a firm-sponsored group dedicated to promoting, developing, and fostering the potential of our female lawyers, helping them to navigate a path to a successful and satisfying legal career at the Firm, and to serve as leaders within the legal and business communities.
  3. The firm is a member of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), which is an organization of more than 400 corporate chief l legal officers and law firm managing partners—the leadership of the profession—who have dedicated themselves to creating a truly diverse U.S. legal profession. As a member of LCLD, the firm’s highest management has committed to attending the LCLD annual conference.
  4. The firm is a seeking Mansfield Rule certification in 2023-2024, which is overseen by Diversity Lab. As a Mansfield Rule participant, the firm has committed to achieving certification by considering at least 30 percent historically underrepresented lawyers for designated leadership roles and activities that lead to advancement, as well as increasing transparency by internally publishing the criteria and processes for advancement to leadership.
  5. Membership and active participation in organizations that support diversity initiatives in our communities. Such organizations include, without limitation, racial, ethnic, disability, gender/LGBT, and age initiatives, including, without limitation, the Sarasota County Bar Association Council for Diversity and Inclusion, Equality Florida, Prevent Blindness Ohio, and the Ohio State Bar Association's Advisory Council on Diversity Initiatives.                
  6. Diversity in our hiring, advancement, and leadership practices for lawyers, as well as staff members, including our Summer Associate Program, Shumaker Diversity Scholarship, and the Shumaker Undergraduate Diversity Science Scholarship.
  7. Annual participation in the Toledo Bar Association’s Minority Clerkship Program.
  8. Annual participation in the Ohio State Bar Foundation Law and Leadership Program, a program to establish a pipeline into the legal profession for disadvantaged students from underserved schools.
  9. Cultivation of leadership opportunities among all lawyers and staff, recognizing the importance and benefit of diversity in leadership.
  10. Firm-wide participation in periodic diversity education seminars or training programs.
  11. Informal programs implemented firmwide to enhance our awareness and understanding of the importance and benefits of diversity among our workforce and promote inclusion.

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Members of Shumaker's Women's Leadership Initiative.

On International Women in Engineering Day, we celebrated our amazing female attorneys who hold engineering degrees and are leading the way for other women to follow.

Our Women’s Leadership Initiative fosters the development of our female lawyers at each stage of their careers. The Initiative is a networking group that enables women at Shumaker to learn from each other as they cultivate and enhance their leadership and business development skills. The Initiative ensures that gender diversity issues are taken into account and that women are represented in firm leadership. By doing so, we create a positive work environment and thereby, attract and retain women lawyers.

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Supporting our Work through Affiliations

Shumaker is an active member of a network of independent law firms that extend our ability to exchange professional information among members and serve our clients' needs, both nationally and internationally.

Global Advocaten

Shumaker is a member of Global Advocaten, a prestigious global law firm network of independent law firms in more than 27 countries.

Since 1990, Global Advocaten has developed and fostered long-term relationships between members to create a global network that clients can rely on.

See more >

The Toledo Group

We are a charter member of The Toledo Group, a national network of independent law firms that seeks to share experiences and best practices in law firm administration, practice management, technology deployment, and service delivery. Member firms are available to provide legal advice to clients in their respective jurisdictions around the country.

See more >

Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP Firm History

Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick was founded in 1925 by Harold W. Fraser (1872-1945), a native of Canada, who came to Toledo, Ohio in 1891 and entered the law office of E.W. Tollerton. Mr. Fraser was admitted to Ohio practice in 1894, although he did not become a United States citizen until 1897.

In 1896 Marshall and Fraser (the order of names chosen by the flip of a coin) was formed and became the first tenant in the Spitzer Building, located in downtown Toledo, occupying one large room on the fifth floor.

Marshall and Fraser was dissolved on January 31, 1925, and Mr. Fraser formed Fraser, Hiett & Wall consisting of three partners and four associates from the old firm: Harold W. Fraser, Stanley J. Hiett, Hampton G. Wall, Alonzo C. Ruihley, George R. Effler, John W. Winn, Jr. and Roscoe W. Shumaker. The firm practiced at 710 Home Bank Building.

In 1952 the current firm name was adopted. In 1960, Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick became the second tenant in the newly-constructed Libbey-Owens Ford Building at Madison and Michigan Avenues.

In 1981 the firm moved to a renovated warehouse, formerly known as the American Plumbers Supply Company Building. A new entrance was constructed and a new address assigned: 1000 Jackson.

In 1985 the ABA Journal awarded Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick First Prize for Civic Commitment for the extensive renovation and landscaping of the firm’s new quarters in Toledo. The prize was one of several awarded as part of the Journal’s first Law Office Design competition.

The building sits on three acres and is just northwest of the Lucas County Courthouse. The completed project cost $3.8 million and represents Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick’s commitment to downtown Toledo. A new two-story 15,000 square-foot addition in 1998 raised office space to 83,000 square feet.

Firm Name Changes

1925: Fraser, Hiett & Wall
1925: Fraser, Hiett, Wall & Effler
1935: Fraser, Effler, Shumaker & Winn
1943: Fraser, Shumaker, Kendrick & Winn
1948: Shumaker, Loop, Kendrick & Winn
1952: Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick
1996: Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP
2007: Shumaker (Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP d.b.a. Shumaker)

Office Locations - Year Established

1925: Toledo, Ohio
1985: Tampa, Florida
1988: Charlotte, North Carolina
1998: Columbus, Ohio
2009: Sarasota, Florida
2018: Charleston, South Carolina
2019: Tallahassee, Florida
2021: Greenville, South Carolina
2022: Dade City, Florida
2023: Akron, Ohio
2023: Bloomington, Minnesota
2024: St. Petersburg, Florida

Shumaker Empowering Change: Launch of Literacy Initiative Aims to Impact More Than 100,000 Lives

Shumaker is thrilled to announce the launch of its forward-thinking Make a Difference through Literacy Initiative, dedicated to transforming the lives of individuals through the power of words. Committed to fostering positive change, Shumaker aims to improve literacy for more than 100,000 individuals by 2025 as part of the firm’s centennial celebration.

In a world where literacy is a vital tool for success and confidence, Shumaker recognizes the need to address literacy gaps and ensure that everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. According to the 2022 National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) – the “Nation’s Report Card” – in Reading, only 32 percent of fourth graders in the U.S. are reading at a proficient level, and only 29 percent of eighth graders in the U.S. are reading at or above a proficient level.

"We believe that harnessing the power of words through literacy is the cornerstone of positive change," stated Jennifer Compton, Chair of Shumaker’s Management Committee and Sarasota Managing Partner. "Our literacy initiative is a concerted effort to break down barriers, ignite curiosity, stop cycles of dysfunction, and empower individuals to shape their own destinies. By delivering the power of words to more than 100,000 lives, we are sowing the seeds of a brighter future for all of our communities."

The foundation of this initiative is structured around Shumaker’s commitment to making a difference in its communities since 1925, aligning with the firm’s core mission to be a positive and impactful difference maker for clients and in the communities it serves.

Through community partnerships, employee engagement, and the gift of time, Shumaker will implement a multifaceted approach to promote literacy within the communities it serves. The program will offer tailored learning resources, mentorship, and engaging activities designed to make reading and learning a captivating experience for participants of all ages.

As part of the program launch, Shumaker welcomes individuals, businesses, and institutions to join in and have a hand in creating a lasting impact.

“Volunteers, donors, and advocates are crucial partners with Shumaker in the journey to transform lives and build a stronger, better-educated community. The sky is the limit, and the only limit is our own imagination,” Jennifer said.

Media Mentions

Nationally Recognized

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