Founded 1964.
The Law Offices of McCown, Fisher & Cremeans opened its doors in 1964 in Ironton, Ohio — three blocks from the Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas. The firm has practiced continuously for over six decades, weathering six decades of economic cycles, generational shifts in the Ohio bar, and the steady evolution of Ohio law.
Our second office at 220 4th Street in Chesapeake serves clients in eastern Lawrence County and the Tri-State communities along US-52, immediately across from Huntington, West Virginia.
The Three Partners
The firm is led by three partners, each with a distinct practice focus that complements the others. Together they cover most of life's legal needs — from a first OVI charge to a multi-generational estate plan, from a contested custody case to a complex commercial litigation matter.
Mark K. McCown — Managing Partner
Mark K. McCown is the firm's Managing Partner and has practiced law since 1997. A graduate of Georgetown University Law Center (J.D., 1997) and Miami University of Ohio (B.A. cum laude, 1994), Mark brings the rigor of an East Coast legal education to a Southern Ohio courtroom-driven practice. He leads the firm's criminal defense (through our dedicated site mfcdefender.com), OVI defense (through our dedicated site mfcdui.com), and complex civil practice. He also serves as a Director on the Board of the Ohio Bar Liability Insurance Company, the legal-malpractice carrier owned by Ohio attorneys. Read Mark's full bio →
Frederick C. Fisher, Jr. — Partner
Frederick C. Fisher, Jr. is a seasoned partner whose practice spans civil litigation, real estate, estate planning, landlord/tenant law, contract disputes, and general civil practice. With decades of experience in Southern Ohio courtrooms and at closing tables, Derick handles the firm's transactional, real-estate, and complex civil matters. He is the firm's lead counsel for residential and commercial real-estate transactions, will and trust drafting, and contested civil litigation. Read Derick's full bio →
Brian M. Cremeans — Partner
Brian M. Cremeans has practiced in Southern Ohio for over a decade. A graduate of Charlotte School of Law (J.D., 2014) and Ohio University (B.A. History, 2010), Brian leads the firm's OVI defense, family-law, and general criminal-defense practice. He is an active National College for DUI Defense (NCDD) member, a NHTSA Field Sobriety Instructor, and ARIDE-trained as of 2023. Read Brian's full bio →
How We Practice
Two things define how the firm operates:
1. We Take Fewer Cases. We Go Deeper.
We are not a high-volume mill. Every matter receives the preparation it deserves — investigation, research, drafting, and courtroom work that holds up under pressure.
2. Coordinated Across Practice Areas.
Many matters touch more than one area of law — a family-law case with criminal exposure, an estate dispute with a real-estate component, a business breakup with both contract and litigation pieces. We coordinate across our practice groups so the strategy is coherent and the right attorney is doing the right work at the right time.
3. We Charge What's Fair, and We Discuss It Openly.
Fees vary by practice area and case complexity. We discuss them openly during the initial consultation — before you make any commitment. Some matters are flat-fee; some (certain civil litigation) are contingency; some (complex litigation, contested estates) are hourly. We tell you which up front.
The OVI Practice — Our Dedicated Defense Site
OVI / DUI defense is the firm's primary criminal defense practice, led by Mark McCown and Brian Cremeans. Both partners hold NCDD membership, NHTSA Field Sobriety Instructor credentials, and ARIDE training — meaning they are qualified to teach the same field-sobriety protocols Ohio State Highway Patrol uses to administer roadside testing. Because the OVI practice has its own standards, statutes, and timelines (the 30-day Administrative License Suspension hearing window in particular), we maintain a dedicated OVI defense site at mfcdui.com. If your matter involves OVI, that's the right starting point. For all other criminal defense matters, visit our dedicated criminal defense site at mfcdefender.com.
Service Area
For our broader practice we serve Lawrence, Scioto, Gallia, and Jackson Counties. For criminal defense and OVI matters, our footprint extends to a nine-county footprint across Southern Ohio (adding Athens, Adams, Meigs, Pike, and Ross). Detailed coverage is on our Service Area page.
Schedule a Consultation
Call (740) 532-8744 for the Ironton office or (740) 867-3166 for Chesapeake. Or use the contact form and we'll respond — usually within the same business day.