Samantha “Sami” Nash, left, and Gabriela “Gabby” Toscano are the next generation of legal experts in Kocher & Barney’s 130-year history. (Submitted photo)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

PORT CLINTON – When Gabriela “Gabby” Toscano and Samantha “Sami” Nash walked into the first day of orientation at the University of Toledo College of Law, they formed an instant connection. Today, the two young attorneys are honing their careers at Ottawa County’s oldest law firm, Kocher & Barney, which was founded in 1895. When Toscano joined the firm in 2022 and Nash followed in 2023, they became the next generation to join the history of Kocher & Barney.

Both women are grateful for the opportunity to work for a law firm that is buoyed by history. They walk the halls that attorneys have walked for 130 years and can draw from the expertise of longtime attorneys John Kocher and James Barney.

“I am absolutely in love with this firm, from the people to the physical building,” Toscano said. “I like the general history of being part of an old law firm, but more than the physical history is John. He is so knowledgeable. He’s lived through decades of law. He has an endless amount of resources to tap into, and Jim is another great resource.”

The Kocher & Barney law firm in downtown Port Clinton encompasses over a hundred years of legal service to the community. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

Toscano and Nash glean invaluable knowledge working in the shadows of Kocher and Barney.

“I wanted extra guidance from people with experience. I drive here 45 minutes every day – that’s how much I love it. The legal staff to the other attorneys – everyone is incredible. It’s like a family,” Nash said. “The building has an old-time New York law office feel. Everyone is close-knit. I’ve never seen that before.”

Kocher and Barney create an atmosphere of respect and compassion at the firm.

“John and Jim are incredible people as human beings. They care about you as a person, and they care about their clients. That’s a cultural thing you don’t see in all law firms,” Toscano said. “John and Jim have taught us to care and not see clients as numbers or dollar signs, and that is invaluable.”

Gabriela “Gabby” Toscano focuses on everything from real estate to CPS cases at Kocher & Barney. (Submitted photo)

Both women had their sites on becoming attorneys from a young age, but Nash’s interest in the profession was born in trauma. When she was about seven, her mother’s friend was murdered.

“It was a high-profile case, so it was videoed. I watched all the trials with my mom,” she said.

The experience stirred a desire to become a prosecuting attorney, but when she interned with a criminal defense firm, her future took a different direction.

“I learned that everyone deserves a right to due process,” she said.

Now, criminal defense is her focus at Kocher & Barney. She finds the work rewarding, especially when she has the opportunity to defend a completely innocent person accused of a crime.

“I had a client who was in her sixties who was beat up by her granddaughter’s boyfriend. She had never been in trouble in her life,” Nash said.

The boyfriend also attacked the client’s husband. The client fought back and then found herself facing charges.

Samantha “Sami” Nash was inspired to become an attorney after her mother’s friend was brutally murdered. (Submitted photo)

“The prosecutor dismissed the case two days before trial,” Nash said. “It was good to defend someone who was truly innocent. That showed me that my job is worth it. It’s why I’m doing what I’m doing.”

Toscano focuses on real estate, municipal law, criminal cases and juvenile delinquency cases.

“Real estate is my jam. It’s putting a puzzle together,” she said. “What I love about municipal work is, it’s always different. I do zoning to employment. I’m wearing all these hats. There’s lots of research, and I love research. Seven out of eight times, there’s no clear answer. You gather information and give your best opinion.”

Toscano also handles abuse, neglect and delinquency cases that involve Child Protective Services (CPS). She said CPS cases encompass an attorney for the parent, a guardian ad litem who represents the best interests of the child, and an attorney for the child who represents the child’s wishes. Toscano serves as the latter.

“I represent children in those cases. It’s hard because CPS doesn’t get involved unless it’s pretty bad,” she said. “Because some counties require a lawyer for all children in CPS cases, I’ve had clients as young as six months old. I had to guess what they would want. But the majority have been 8 to 14, and they are able to communicate their wishes. I sit with them and play with them, and eventually you get there.”

Both women are thankful to be a part of the Kocher & Barney law firm and to be practicing in Ottawa County.

“This county is fantastic to practice in,” Nash said.