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John Merchant

Depth and variation describe the public finance practice of John over the past 30 years. He has participated in traditional issue, economic development, and health care transactions and served as bond, underwriter, disclosure, and bank counsel for the issuance of tax-exempt and taxable bonds, notes and lease obligations in transactions throughout Ohio and Kentucky. He has served as bond and/or disclosure counsel for every general obligation, economic development revenue, and water revenue bond issue of the City of Cincinnati since 2006. He also has served as bond and disclosure counsel for the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government for every general obligation issue since 2008. In 2017, he led the Dinsmore team which was selected as bond and disclosure counsel for the City of Dayton. Additionally, he has served as bond, underwriter, and/or bank counsel for traditional issue financings related to schools and universities, transportation, and water and sewer projects. These include bond and lease structures for new money transactions, advance refundings (including crossover structures), and current refundings. These financings have included features such as governmental master trust agreements and subordinated debt. As bond, underwriter, and/or bank counsel for health care & other 501(c)(3) conduit transactions, John has experience with financing structures involving master trust indentures, leases, and financing agreements for private placements. Prior to entering into private practice, John participated in public finance transactions in various positions with the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Education University of Kentucky College of Law (J.D., 1982) Morehead State University (B.A., cum laude, 1979) Bar Admissions Ohio Kentucky Georgia District of Columbia Affiliations/Memberships National Association of Bond Lawyers Association for Governmental Leasing & Finance Cincinnati Bar Association Black Lawyers Association of Cincinnati Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC), board member Cincinnati Art Museum, board member Morehead State University Foundation, Inc., board member Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance, board member American College of Bond Counsel, Membership Selection Committee Thelma Merchant Scholarship Foundation, Inc., founder Distinctions Ohio Super Lawyers ®

Taylor Lonas

Taylor is licensed in Texas and Ohio and advises clients on general corporate matters, mergers and acquisitions, and commercial transactions. An alumna of the Diverse Attorney Pipeline Program and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Taylor is an advocate of equity for historically marginalized populations and is driven by a deep commitment to community impact and creating meaningful, people‑centered change.

During law school, Taylor was active in numerous organizations, including writing for the Journal of Consumer and Commercial Law, and a member of the Black Law Students Association, the Sports and Entertainment Law Organization, the Intellectual Property Student Organization and the First-Generation Law Students Organization. In addition, she received the University of Houston Law Center Distinguished Service Award (2024), was a Leadership Council for Legal Diversity (LCLD) Scholar, and was the recipient of numerous prestigious scholarships, including the Association of Corporate Counsel Houston Scholarship, the National Association of Women Judges Access to Justice Scholarship, and the Houston Lawyers Association Scholarship.

Current Memberships: Cincinnati Bar Association (Young Lawyers Section), Urban League of Young Professionals (Executive Board), Black Lawyers Association of Cincinnati (BLAC), Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association (BESLA), Black Women in Law (BWL), and Diverse Attorney Pipeline Program (Mentor).

In January 2026, Taylor was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Gray Road Christian Academy. She is an active voting member of board initiatives including determining strategic vision, policies, marketing, legal compliance, and fundraising initiatives for the August 2026 launch of the educational institution.

Mia Guy

Mia Guy is an associate in our Tax Strategy & Benefits Group, based in our Cleveland office.

Mia earned her J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. While in law school, Mia participated in the Community Development Clinic at the Milton A. Kramer Law Clinic Center. She also served as the events chair for the Black Law Student Association and a Backus scholar for the JumpStart Program. In addition, she received the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Public Interest Law Scholarship and Witherite Law Group Making a Difference Scholarship. Mia graduated magna cum laude from Syracuse University with a B.A. in African American studies, women’s and gender studies, and citizenship and civic engagement. She also spent the summer abroad studying the influence and dynamic of Black culture, literature and experience in Paris.

Danielle Stone

Danielle is a seasoned civil litigation attorney with experience in personal injury, product liability, wrongful death, insurance law, and toxic tort cases. She has demonstrated leadership as first-chair counsel in a four-day personal injury jury trial, successfully managing all aspects, from voir dire to final statements, and cross-examinations to evidence presentation.

Danielle is skilled in drafting various legal documents, including motions for summary judgment, motions to dismiss, briefs, affidavits, and complaints. She is also experienced in navigating settlement negotiations and mediations, ensuring favorable outcomes through well-prepared agreements and releases.

In addition, Danielle is well-versed in pre-trial discovery, handling the preparation and exchange of interrogatories, requests for production of documents, and requests for admissions. She has consistently managed depositions effectively, with her case handling frequently leading to dismissals or favorable settlements.

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Lauryn Robinson

Lauryn has experience handling a variety of complex commercial litigation in state and federal court. 

As a member of Benesch’s litigation practice group, Lauryn supports Benesch’s partners by drafting and reviewing documents, conducting legal research, compiling exhibits, preparing for depositions and pre-trial matters, and assisting with trial and post-trial proceedings. Lauryn is skilled at providing practical, actionable advice on a quick timeframe, and frequently researches novel retail and e-commerce issues, both for the purposes of litigation and risk-mitigation. She has experience participating in numerous court hearings and independently defending a civil matter through summary judgment.

While in law school, Lauryn served as a Judicial Extern to the Honorable Melody Stewart of the Supreme Court of Ohio. Lauryn also served as the Vice Chairperson of the CSU Moot Court Team as well as an executive board member for the CSU Chapter of the Black Law Students’ Association.

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