McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Liffman Co., LPA is pleased to announce the election and promotion of Colin R. Ray to Principal of the firm, effective January 1, 2025. Colin began working at McCarthy Lebit in 2016 as a litigation associate and has devoted the majority of his practice to personal injury, medical malpractice, and wrongful death matters.
As a litigator, Colin conducts and defends depositions and all phases of pretrial. He has successfully litigated a variety of matters on behalf of clients in state, federal, and appellate courts. Colin also negotiates and successfully resolves matters for clients outside the courtroom. Colin’s practice encompasses a range of cases, with a focus that shifts depending on current priorities. While medical malpractice cases make up a smaller portion of his caseload, they require a significant amount of attention due to the complexity of the field. He also handles a variety of general negligence cases, primarily involving car and truck accidents. In addition, Colin works on premises liability cases, addressing situations where businesses or property owners create or maintain hazardous conditions. He is also dedicated to representing victims in sexual abuse cases, holding individuals accountable for causing severe harm to juveniles and young adults. In each case, he works closely with his clients and counsels them through all proceedings.
In his new role as Principal, Colin plans to further expand his medical knowledge to enhance his work on medical malpractice cases while also focusing on maintaining his docket within premises and motor vehicle liability and expanding his work with victims of sexual abuse. He will continue to serve on the firm’s Law Clerk Committee, overseeing the hiring process and working closely with the firm’s law clerks, a responsibility he has described as both rewarding and challenging.
Since joining McCarthy Lebit, Colin has collaborated closely with his mentor Christian Patno, who is head of the firm’s Personal Injury & Wrongful Death practice group. “In my 34 years of practice, Colin is the most experienced, respected, and dedicated trial lawyer who has worked under me. He also has the highest combined number of depositions, jury trials, and appellate court victories among his peers. Additionally, Colin is a leader in the trial community, having served in various board of director and officer roles,” said Principal Christian Patno.
In recent years (2019-2023), Colin was recognized by Ohio Super Lawyers® on the “Ones to Watch” list in the area of “Personal Injury General: Plaintiff.” In the 2025 Edition, Colin was honored with inclusion on the Ohio Super Lawyers® list in the same category of “Personal Injury General: Plaintiff.” Colin has also received recognition on the Best Lawyers® Rising Stars list in the areas of “Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs” and “Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs” for the past two years.
Colin is a member of the Geauga County Bar Association, as well as the Cleveland Academy of Trial Attorneys where he holds a leadership role as secretary. He is also a member of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, the Ohio Association for Justice, and the American Association for Justice. Colin earned his J.D. from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law after obtaining his bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University.
“It has been a great privilege to work with my mentor Chris Patno and our assistant, Amy, over the past several years. It has allowed me the freedom to be creative and take on some unusual and difficult cases and gain extensive, valuable experience along the way. I am looking forward to continuing to be a lifelong learner to better assist my clients and continue to deliver excellent results for them,” said Colin Ray.