NEWCOMER - Key Persons
John S. Shaffer, born in Lyons, Ohio, June 10, 1957; admitted to bar, 1981, Ohio. Education: Ohio Northern University (B.A., 1978, with highest distinction); The Ohio State University (J.D., 1981). Member: Williams County, Bar Association, Northwestern Ohio, Bar Association (President, 1988-1989) and Ohio State, Bar Association (Member: Workers Compensation Committee, 1985-present, Council of Delegates, 2007-2008).
Michael W. Spangler was born in October, 1959, in Bryan, Ohio, and graduated from Bryan High School in 1978. He then graduated from Lander College in Greenwood, South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education, after which he taught high school the following year at Ware Shoals High School where he helped coach that school's varsity football team to a State Championship that year. In 1983, Michael W. Spangler then entered the University Of South Carolina School Of Law in Columbia, SC, and graduated with his Juris Doctorate in 1986.
Mr. Spangler returned to Williams County, Ohio, in the fall of 1986, where he began his legal career with Newcomer, Shaffer, Spangler, and Breininger, the only firm for which he has ever worked. He became a partner in 1991.
For more than the past 30 years, Mr. Spangler has been representing the interests of residents of northwestern Ohio in a wide variety of matters. The primary areas of his practice are estate planning and administration, real estate taxation, and elder law. He is particularly interested in estate administration and real estate matters that involve agricultural lands and conservation practices.
Mr. Spangler was admitted to the Ohio Bar Association in 1986. He is a member and former president of the Northwest Ohio Bar Association. For more than 30 years he was an active member of the Northwest Ohio Bar Certified Local Grievance Committee and its former president. He is also a member of the Williams County, Ohio Bar Association and former president of that organization.
Michael W. Spangler resides just outside of Bryan, Ohio, with his wife, Julie. Their children and grandchildren are scattered across the country and they enjoy every chance to travel and visit them. When he is not in one of his offices, he is most likely to be found either in his woodworking shop or outdoors. He and his former law partner, David C. Newcomer, own and operate a portable saw mill with which they harvest and produce premium hardwoods for themselves and area craftsmen.
Mr. Spangler's real passion is chasing upland birds. He is a Pheasants Forever member, and a founding member of the Williams County, Ohio chapter, which is now 30 years strong. He remains very active in the affairs of the local Pheasants Forever chapter, and often is involved with area landowners who participate in conservation and related practices through the local Farm Service Agency.
Taylor G. Vance joined the firm in 2022 as an associate attorney. Taylor was born in Bryan, Ohio, raised in Defiance County, and graduated from Fairview High School in 2009. He received his Bachelor's Degree from Ohio Northern University in 2013 and continued his education at Ohio Northern University earning his Juris Doctorate in 2016.
Taylor joins the firm after practicing in Marion, Ohio with a firm which focused on real estate issues and probate matters. He is accepting new clients and represents both individuals and business clients in a broad range of legal matters, including the areas of estate planning, estate administration, agricultural law, real estate matters, personal injury, domestic relations, business law, guardianships, wrongful death, appeals and other cases advancing his general practice. Taylor is active in Williams County, Defiance County, and the surrounding areas. He is a member of both the Ohio State and Williams County Bar Associations
Taylor and his wife Amanda and are the proud parents of one son. In addition to his professional pursuits Taylor is active in his church. He is a lifetime member of the Fairview Athletic Boosters. In his free time Taylor enjoys traveling and spending time with his family.