Firm News

Weltman, Weinberg & Reis Co., LPA (Weltman) congratulates Jim Kozelek, a partner in the commercial collection group of Weltman who manages the Columbus office, on being appointed as Chairman of the Midwestern Section of the Commercial Law League of America (CLLA).

Jim's active involvement in the CLLA highlights his commercial law leadership abilities. Previously Vice Chair and a member of the Executive Council of the Midwestern Region, Jim was sworn in as Chairman during the 2014 CLLA Annual Convention and Midwest Meeting in Chicago April 24-26. In his position, Jim will chair a leadership counsel totaling eight officers and 15 executive council members. He will assist with the coordination of the CLLA National Convention and top flight educational programs. Jim also serves as Secretary of the Creditors' Rights Section of the CLLA.

The Midwest section currently has 323 members from the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin and the Canadian Provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The primary function of the Midwest section is to support the overall vision of the CLLA in promoting uniformity of legislation in matters affecting commercial law; elevating the standards and improving the practice of commercial law; encouraging the highest standards of conduct among its members and in the profession at large; and to foster amongst its members the feeling of fraternity and mutual confidence.

Jim is the Managing Partner of Weltman's Columbus office. He practices in Commercial Collections with a focus on arbitration and is a member of the Commercial Banking, Commercial Business, Special Collections and Commercial/Agency Services Groups. Jim earned his B.A. in English from The Ohio State University in 1997 and his J.D. cum laude and Order of the Curia from Capital University Law School in 2001. A member of the American, Ohio State and Columbus Bar Associations, Jim is licensed in Ohio and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court (Southern District of Ohio) and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Jim is a member of the Commercial Law League, the Columbus Bar Foundation (Fellow) and sits on the Board of Directors for First Service Federal Credit Union. Jim was selected for inclusion in Ohio Rising Stars (2010-2011), and is a Martindale-Hubbell "BV" Peer Review Rated Attorney. His community involvement incudes the YWCA Family Center, Mid-Ohio Foodbank and Whetstone Community Recreation Council (President).

About the CLLA
Since 1895, the not-for-profit Commercial Law League of America has connected experienced attorneys with credit grantors, lending institutions and other commercial credit, bankruptcy and general finance industry members through networking, education, legislative advocacy and specialized legal services. The association's members include attorneys, collection agencies, judges, accountants, trustees, turnaround managers, and other credit and finance experts. For more information on the CLLA, please visit www.CLLA.org.