About

At Baker McClure Law & Title, LLC we are committed to providing expert legal service.  We give down-to-earth guidance in a professional and courteous manner.  Whether you are making personal decisions that relate to just you, or planning for the family, estate, or the business or farm, Baker McClure can help.

We clarify the options.  We design the right plan to maximize operational and tax advantages, while fostering wealth maintenance and transferability.  Whether it is estate planning through the use of trusts, or forming business entities, or even a complex real estate transaction, our office is here to help.

Get in touch

We know that finding the right attorney to represent you is a choice not to be taken lightly. That’s why we offer consultations to walk you through your needs, the scope of your goals, and your budget.

ATTORNEYS

Partner

Aaron M. Baker

Aaron Baker graduated with distinction from Pettit College of Law, Ohio Northern University. He received a degree in Political Science/Pre-Law and History from Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana and attended Crestview High School.  In 2010, he joined Steve Keister in practice.  

Aaron is the son of Darle and Linda Baker of rural Ohio City.  He is the brother of Joel (Amy) Baker and Seth (Anna) Baker of Van Wert.  Growing up on a farm, Aaron was active in 4-H and the Van Wert County Jr. Fair Board. Today Aaron serves on the Board of Trustees of the Business Development Corporation of Van Wert, Inc. (BDC) and Van Wert Health.  During his time at Indiana Wesleyan, Aaron interned for then-Congressman Mike Pence in Washington, D.C., was a member of the John Wesley Honors College and served as Student Government President.  Today he serves on the Board of Trustees of the Indiana Wesleyan Alumni Association.  At law school, Baker served as the Ohio Review Editor on the Ohio Northern Law Review and interned for the Honorable William C. Lee of the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana.

Aaron focuses on agricultural law and estate planning practice, together with practicing real estate, business and probate law.

Partner

Keri L. McClure

As a Van Wert native and farmer's daughter, Keri McClure can easily align her perspective with the local farm/small business community and offer vital insight to blend legal experience with business strategy to help achieve her clients' goals. She understands how to utilize business structure to limit liability and maximize benefits to her clients' objectives, be they management/succession planning, estate planning, and/or tax planning.

Keri joined the firm in January 2016 and became a partner of the firm in 2020. She is a graduate of Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law and she earned her bachelor's degree from Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. She is a graduate of Crestview High School. 

Keri is the daughter of Jim McClure and Lisa Counterman. She grew up working on the farm in rural Van Wert owned and operated by her father, Jim, and her grandfather, Glenn McClure. She is an avid water skier and has competed in numerous local, regional, national, and international events. Keri and her family still water ski in the summers and hold events at their lake in Van Wert known as "Pleasant Shores."

During law school, Keri served as the Articles Research Editor on the Ohio Northern Law Review, as a research/teaching assistant to multiple professors, and as a judicial extern of Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor at the Supreme Court of Ohio. Upon graduation, she was ranked second in her class and was named a member of the honorary Willis Society. 

Keri now resides near Convoy with her husband, Todd Akom, and their dogs, in the home that they built together and looks forward to many years of legal practice in service of Van Wert and the surrounding communities.

associate attorney

Collette Carcione

Collette Carcione graduated with distinction from Claude W. Pettit College of Law, Ohio Northern in 2009. She received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from The Ohio State University in 2005. With over 40 years’ experience in the field of law, Collette began her career working as an assistant to Donald J. Johnson. As he neared retirement, she completed her bachelor’s degree and then entered law school at Ohio Northern University, commuting from Van Wert and continuing to work.  Upon graduation, she joined Johnson in his practice. After his retirement in 2013, she continued as a sole practitioner, until joining the firm in 2021. 

Collette is the daughter of Mel and Carol Maas. She is married to Steve Carcione and has a son, Brett, as well as three step-daughters, Storm Mercer, Heidi Measley and Ebony Carcione. Collette graduated from Van Wert High School in 1974. She enjoys cooking, gardening and spending time with family. 

Collette currently serves as a member of the board of Thomas Edison and is the secretary of the Van Wert Salvation Army Advisory Board. She has served on the Northwest Ohio Bar Grievance Committee since 2013, the last two years as chairperson. 

Associate Attorney

Maryam E. Rezayat

maryam@keisterbaker.com

Maryam E. Rezayat is a graduate of The Ohio State Moritz College of Law. She received an undergraduate degree in Communication, with honors, from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. She also has a graduate-level certificate from The University of Denver Publishing Institute in Denver, Colorado.

Originally from Cincinnati, this big-city girl discovered Van Wert and the world of practicing law when Charles F. Koch of Koch Law Offices took her under his wing in April of 2019. She worked as an Associate Attorney in that office until joining the firm in 2021.

She practices primarily in the areas of real estate, estate planning, probate and trust administration and business law.

In her time at Wittenberg University, Maryam served as an Advisor at the university’s nationally accredited Writing Center, a staff member and eventual Editor-in-Chief of the university’s student newspaper, The Torch, and a research assistant to the Chair of the Communication Department.

While in law school, Maryam served as a staff editor of The Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law. She also interned for two consecutive summers with Pro Seniors, Inc., an Ohio nonprofit organization that provides legal and long-term care help to older adults. She looks forward to growing into the role of trusted advisor as she continues to serve clients in Van Wert and beyond.

Maryam is married to Tyler J. Turnwald, with whom she shares two dogs, four cats, and a school of fish in the home they renovated together. Rescuing and caring for animals is one of her life’s biggest passions.

Education

The Ohio State Moritz College of Law

Juris Doctor, 2013

The University of Denver Publishing Institute

Graduate-level Certificate, 2011

Wittenberg University

B.A., Communication, with Honors, 2010

Summa cum laude

Activities & Affiliations

• Van Wert County Bar Association, Member

• Main Street Van Wert, Design Subcommittee

Bar Admissions

• Ohio

counsel attorney

Stephen E. Keister—Retired

Stephen E. Keister is a 1974 graduate of Ohio Northern University’s Pettit College of Law.  He practiced law exclusively in the Van Wert, Ohio area since November, 1974.  He served as the Van Wert County Prosecuting Attorney from 1980-1988.  He served eighteen years as a member of the Van Wert County Hospital Board of Trustees and twenty years as a member of the Board of Directors for the Van Wert Visiting Nurses Association.  Also, Steve served as a former member of the Van Wert National Bank Board of Directors (now known as First Financial Bank).  

Steve retired from the firm in 2022.

Education

OHIO NORTHERN UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL
Juris Doctor, 1974

St. Joseph's College
B.A., English, 1970