Managing Partner
Managing Director
Chief Title Officer
Director of Operations
Title & Escrow Officer
Title & Escrow Officer
Senior Escrow Officer
Escrow Officer
Administrator / Financial Manager
Director of External Affairs
Account Manager
Administrative Assistant
Rick is the Managing Director of Sikora Law. Rick’s practice is focused entirely on real estate law. Rick handles real estate transactions and resolves disputes for real estate companies. Rick’s extensive experience litigating hundreds of real estate disputes has helped shape his approach, advice, and mindset related to our real estate transactional Clients by providing practical and common sense solutions to avoid deal landmines and focus on issues that actually matter. He also handles title claims and direct litigation for title insurance companies. Rick spearheads deal documentation for developers, lenders, owners, tenants, brokers, and other corporate and individual Clients involving development issues, commercial landlord-tenant matters. From a transactional perspective, Rick helps clients navigate in a cost-effective manner through acquisitions, sales, leasing, loan document review, financing, title and survey review, and closing coordination.
Rick has been selected as an Ohio Rising Star by Super Lawyers in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. Rick is a member of the Real Property Law Committee of the Columbus Bar Association. He is a Board Member of the Central Ohio Chapter of NAIOP, and he previously served as Legislative Chair for the Chapter. Rick’s prior experience includes a judicial clerkship with the Seventh District Court of Appeals. He obtained his law degree magna cum laude from Capital University Law School, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration magna cum laude from The Ohio State University.
Mike is a major advocate for real estate companies in cases, regulatory and legislative matters, and on deals. Mike has appeared in most of the common pleas courts in Ohio, Federal Court in the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and The Ohio Supreme Court. Mike graduated from Capital University Law School magna cum laude, where he was Moot Court Champion, Chief Justice of the Moot Court Board, and was published in the Law Review.
Mike graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, as a Finance Major. Mike previously worked for a real estate boutique law firm, a litigation boutique firm, and a statewide corporate defense firm. Prior to attending law school, Mike worked for Andersen Consulting, Pizzuti Realty, and Buckeye Real Estate Property Management.
Mike was chosen as an Ohio Super Lawyer or Super Lawyer Rising Star for 7 times, most recently in 2019. Mike was also named one of Crain’s Cleveland Business Forty Under Forty Award Recipients in 2011. Mike is a Past President of the Ohio Land Title Association, former Chair of the Ohio Land Title Association Education Committee (4 years), former Chair-Elect of the Chair of the Education Committee and Trustee of the Northern Ohio Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (7 years), past President of the Northern Ohio Chapter of NAIOP (which won NAIOP Chapter of the Year for that year), and Ohio State Bar Association, and Real Property Section Council. Mike will Chair the Ohio State Bar Association Real Property Section Council from 2021-2022.
Mike is also a licensed title insurance agent and real estate salesperson (inactive status). He has written numerous articles and given many presentations on subjects of interest to the real estate industry. He is also the Editor of the Lexis-Nexis Treatise in Ohio Real Property Law & Practice (since 2018). His background in real estate and passion for litigation makes him well-suited to handle disputes and to structure deals for real estate companies.
Lisa is the Legal Assistant in our Cleveland office. She supports our attorneys and firm administrator. Lisa has 20 years of experience with litigation matters and working with lawyers to finalize many forms of legal documents. She is able to help our Clients in every aspect of their matter.
Lisa lives in Westlake with her husband and four children. She enjoys reading, listening to music and making memories with her family.
Tammy Besece has been in the title insurance business since 1985. Prior to forming her own company, Tammy was Vice President of Hummel Title Agency Inc. for eight years. Prior to this she was Director of the commercial department at American Realty Title Assurance Company.
Okema began her career in real estate title in 1999, becoming an escrow officer and notary public after serving in various capacities. Over nearly 25 years in the industry, she has gained valuable experience with residential, commercial, existing and new build real estate transactions. Okema enjoys providing excellent service to partners and clients on their journey to achieving the American Dream.
Cara receives almost straight 10s on Client satisfaction surveys. She began her work in the real estate title industry in 1992, more than 25 years ago, becoming an escrow officer after several years in the business. She also obtained her FHA/VA Direct Endorsed Underwriting Licensing. Soon thereafter, she became a branch manager for a title agency and then managed the operations of another title agency.During the latter portion of her career in the title industry, Cara managed the relationships with and many transactions for builders and commercial real estate developers. She takes great pride in her work and in doing whatever she can to service the needs of our clients, so they have the peace of mind knowing that all of the bases are covered.
Chris started working in the title business in 1986, typing Title Insurance Policies and Commitments. She moved to Cleveland in 1993 and started working full time as an Escrow Assistant and was quickly promoted to Escrow Officer, within a year. Chris has closed transactions for developers, as well as companies involved in the healthcare industry, and non-profits. She has significant experience with 1031 exchanges and tax credit transactions. Chris graduated from Kent State University in 1989 with a BA in Accounting.
Briana Bryant, MPA is an experienced strategic communications and public relations professional with more than 15 years of strategic storytelling, marketing, change management and award-winning public relations experience.
Prior to joining Sikora Law and Omni Title, Bryant led the Alabama market expansion for NP Strategy, a southeast boutique PR firm. She previously led internal and external communications for Southern Research, an $85 million high-growth life sciences research organization based in Birmingham, Al. With a reputation as a “builder” and storyteller, Bryant thrives in high stakes scenarios where she can create new programs and processes that drive widespread impacts.
As an advocate for social and industry impact, Bryant is dedicated to mentoring students, developing the next generation of leaders, promoting her profession and giving back to the community. Along with volunteering time to numerous committees and projects focused on promoting diversity, equity and belonging, she has served in local and national leadership roles in the Public Relations Council of Alabama and Public Relations Student Society of America chapters. She now serves as chair on the board of directors for the Alabama Chapter of PRSA and chair-elect for PRSA’s Southeast District board of directors. She also serves on the Institute for Public Relations Elevate research cohort, is a member of the Shades Valley Rotary Club PR committee and is a Policy Fellow with the Alabama Women’s Foundation.
Bryant has been recognized across the industry for her leadership, academic and career achievements. She was named Women’s Empowerment Champion by PR News, and has received multiple Medallion Awards from the Public Relations Council of Alabama for her work leading client campaigns and developing PR strategies. She was honored as a Rising Star Alumni by the UAB National Alumni Society and was named Outstanding Student by her alma mater three times. A native of the Los Angeles area, Bryant recently relocated to the Cleveland, Ohio area. She received a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s in communications from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She credits her love of her new home to Cleveland’s endless cultural and outdoor pursuits.
Doug is one of the most knowledgeable and experienced commercial title professionals in Ohio, having served as title point-person on many large and intricate transactions, some of which are landmarks in our major metropolitan areas. He a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College and DePaul University College of Law. Doug has been handling complex commercial real estate title transactions since 1989. He has worked extensively with attorneys, buyers, sellers, and underwriters to find solutions to a wide range of title insurance issues. Doug has been a speaker for various professional organizations on the latest real estate title matters. He is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, American Land Title Association, and the Ohio Land Title Association
Elaine’s 27 years of title industry experience ranges from real estate closings, to 15 years owning and operating a Columbus based residential title agency.
Annie has been in the title insurance industry since 1996.
Ray is a Certified Public Accountant with over 20 years of experience administering law firms and managing their financials. Before joining our firm, Ray worked for a commercial real estate developer. In his time away from work, Ray enjoys working on cars and spending time with his family.
