About Our Attorneys

James A. (Jim) Hammer, J. D.

Jim is a 1986 Magna Cum Laude graduate of the University of Toledo, and in the course of his law practice, he partnered with Chuck Kurfess and later with Jodie Stearns.

He has a diverse practice that includes business and real estate, collections, title insurance, estate and trust planning, family and juvenile law, and civil litigation.

Jim is a lifelong resident of Wood County and is married to Linda (Gardner) Hammer. Jim and Linda have four adult children. Jim is a member of the Wood County and Ohio State Bar Associations and is past Chairman of the Wood County Bar Association Grievance and Ethics Committee.

Julie Burton, J. D.

Julie graduated from Miami University and the University of Toledo Law School. Her practice focuses on real estate, probate, and estate planning. Julie served 12 years in the City of Bowling Green Planning Commission and 6 years in the City of Bowling Green Zoning Board of Appeals.

She is a member of the Bowling Green Church of the Nazarene. Julie is also a member of the Wood County Bar Association and the Bowling Green City Schools PTO.

Maria A. Sidiq Steiner, J. D.

Maria received her undergraduate degree from New York University (1999) and her law degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law (2003). She has been working with Stearns & Hammer since 2005.

Her areas of practice are real estate, estate planning and probate, collections, and general civil practice.

Cory B. Kuhlman, J. D.

Cory is a 2014 graduate of the University of Toledo. He began to practice with Stearns & Hammer upon graduation and in early 2016, partnered with Jim and Joel to acquire the law office of George Thompson in North Baltimore. His legal experience includes real estate, title insurance, trust and estate planning; civil litigation; personal injury; divorce and family law, and criminal defense.

Cory has lived in Wood County nearly his entire life and is married to Jessica (Molina) Kuhlman. Cory and Jessica have one young child. Cory is a member of the Wood County and Ohio State Bar Associations.

Lisa M. Rothenbuhler, J. D.

Lisa began working at Stearns and Hammer in 2018. She practices primarily in the areas of family and juvenile law, estate planning, and general civil litigation. She has worked extensively in matters involving divorce and child custody. She has also worked on personal injury cases and collection cases as well as business formation.

Mrs. Rothenbuhler earned her J.D. in 2016 from the University of Toledo College of Law. She earned her B.S in Education in 2012 from Bowling Green State University. She is admitted to the State Bar of Ohio and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

She resides in Wood County and is married to Reid Rothenbuhler. Mrs. Rothenbuhler is a member of the Wood County Bar Association, the Sandusky County Bar Association, the Toledo Bar Association, the Toledo Women’s Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, and the Ohio Women’s Bar Association.

Jeffery J. Dennis, J. D.

Jeff joined Stearns & Hammer in 2020. His areas of practice include: real estate; trust and estate planning; probate; divorce and family law; and general civil practice.

Jeff is a graduate of the University of Toledo College of Law ('20) and Bowling Green State University ('15). He was born and raised in rural Wood County and currently resides in Bowling Green with his wife, Jessica, and their one-year-old daughter, Reese.

Jeff is a member of the Wood County Bar Association, the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce, and currently serves as a member of Bowling Green City Council.

Kristen L. Endicott

Kristen graduated from Campbell University with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting. She has worked at Stearns & Hammer for over 18 years as a legal secretary.

Kristen has been married to her husband Brian for 18 years and they have two boys.

Katie Dible

Katie began working at Stearns & Hammer in 2021. She is a graduate of Bowling Green State University where she earned her bachelor's degree in 2018.

Katie has several years of experience in the fields of real estate and title insurance and works primarily with clients at the firm's title insurance company, Hammer Title Services, Ltd.