ROETZEL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Associate / Columbus
- Member of the Firm
Aaron is a member of the firm's Education Law practice group. His practice is primarily focused in the area of education, public and administrative law. He has extensive experience with administrative hearings and investigative proceedings, advising governing boards, and providing general counsel on employment and discipline matters related to public sector employees. Aaron also has specific experience in conducting and reviewing school-based and administrative investigations. In addition, Aaron has spent a large portion of his career working with both in house and opposing counsel and presenting and providing guidance to professional licensing boards. Aaron is skilled at conducting negotiations, and reviewing contractual agreements and uses his experience to help school districts.
Job Titles:
- Healthcare Risk Management Article on Discovery Rules ( May 2, 2022 )
- Shareholder / Chicago
Adam focuses his practice on commercial and business litigation, representing a wide variety of clients ranging from individuals to small business owners to large corporations. He has a particular focus on investment disputes and business fraud claims, and has represented investors and investment companies as plaintiffs and defendants in lawsuits around the country. Adam regularly writes and presents on current issues relating to business fraud. He also has extensive experience litigating contract disputes, and has argued and tried multi-million dollar contract issues before judges and juries nationwide. Adam also has experience in advising clients in employment disputes relating to matters such as separation, severance, non-solicitation, and non-compete agreements.
Experience
Commercial Litigation
Adrienne focuses her practice on education law, providing guidance to schools on matters relating to the education of students with disabilities, including the evaluation of students with suspected disabilities and issues concerning compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). Adrienne reviews IEPs and ETRs for legal compliance, attends IEP and ETR team meeting when warranted, and handles all aspects of litigation concerning student matters. Adrienne also advises school districts regarding compliance with board policy and ethics rules and regulations. She also has experience in developing and implementing internal investigations when allegations of misconduct arise.
Prior to her work in the field of education, Adrienne represented businesses and individuals charged with and/or under investigation for white collar criminal offenses. Her work often involved crisis management and conducting investigations to determine what occurred, how, and when while determining what if any corrective actions should be taken.
Job Titles:
- Office Administrator
- Administrator of Roetzel 's Chicago
- Office Administrator, Chicago, Toledo and Washington
Agatha serves as the administrator of Roetzel's Chicago, Toledo and Washington, D.C. offices. She is responsible for daily administrative operations and management. Agatha is experienced in human resources, marketing, project and administrative management.
Languages
Polish
Education
DePaul University, B.A., Communications
Job Titles:
- Secretary - Treasurer, Shareholder, Practice Group Manager, Corporate, Tax and Transactional / Cleveland
For over 35 years, Albert has utilized his business and tax expertise to help clients find practical solutions to legal and business challenges.
He advises clients through the entirety of the business lifecycle, from early stage, entrepreneurial companies to high-growth private companies and publicly traded entities. Albert provides counsel on entity selection and formation, corporate governance, debt and equity structuring and financings, divestitures, joint ventures, strategic alliances, and succession planning. He has facilitated the acquisition of U.S. businesses and operations by international corporations and has also shepherded a number of companies through the complexities of a corporate reorganization.
Albert's experience includes the representation of shareholders whose interests and assets are at stake when disputes arise over breach of operating agreements, self-dealing and breaches of fiduciary duty, or failures to act in a company's best interest. He has handled countless such clashes between shareholders and corporate directors and C-suite officers, often managing to avoid costly litigation.
Albert is also an advocate for the creation and use of advisory boards to informally guide and advise company management by bringing together people of diverse background, experience, and expertise in any number of disciplines. Entrepreneurs and startup companies can particularly benefit from advisory boards, and Albert serves on many himself, providing an experienced business and legal perspective to those companies that are just getting off the ground.
Job Titles:
- Nominated for Secretary of Labor Position After Withdrawal of Andrew Puzder from Consideration ( Feb 17, 2017 )
Job Titles:
- Shareholder, Practice Group Manager, Employment Services / Akron
Aretta has decades of experience in labor and employment litigation matters that run the gamut from equitable relief, non-compete and trade secret violations to complex, multi-party employment and public accommodation discrimination cases. Aretta also assists clients with traditional labor issues including contract negotiation, fact finding, grievance, arbitration and unfair labor practice charges. Extensively experienced and knowledgeable in both state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination and harassment, Aretta represents private and public employers and individuals accused of age, handicap, and race discrimination, sexual harassment and sex discrimination, housing discrimination, and public accommodation discrimination throughout the State of Ohio. She has extensive trial experience in individual and multi-party cases, trying many cases through to verdict. Her representation has included serving as lead counsel in numerous employment law and discrimination matters for local and national clients. She also represents clients in administrative actions before both the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC).
In addition to her work as a litigator, Aretta counsels employers across a number of industries on employment-related matters, recognizing that prevention and compliance minimize the risk of future litigation. She also aids employers by conducting and/or supervising employee investigations when circumstances in the workplace warrant.
Aretta actively educates clients, human resource managers, and various trade and professional associations on numerous employment-related topics through in-person seminars, live webinars, and client alerts.
Experience
Served as lead counsel in numerous non-compete and trade secrets matters, including a jury trial victory resulting in a multi-million dollar verdict plus attorney fees and pre/post judgment interest
Served as lead counsel in multi-party racial discrimination/hostile environment trial
Served as lead counsel in multi-party practice and pattern sexual discrimination/sexual harassment housing discrimination trial
Served as lead counsel on behalf of a municipality in a housing discrimination matter
Served as lead counsel on behalf of a municipality in American with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility matters
Served as lead counsel in numerous federal and state courts relating to employment law matters
Lead counsel in responding to administrative charges of discrimination in both the state (OCRC) and federal (EEOC) context
Provides counseling to employers on employment-related matters
Ashley helps her clients run their associations efficiently and cost-effectively. Clients - many of whom she has represented for more than 15 years - rely on her practical and clear communication to structure and guide their day-to-day operations while laying the groundwork for a future clear of unexpected costs and complications. Ashley is Board Certified in Condominium and Planned Development Law by The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and has met the rigorous standards for experience and professionalism set in this area of law by the Florida Supreme Court.
For more than two decades, Ashley has provided practical, efficient representation to planned communities, including condominiums, homeowners' associations, country clubs (bundled and 617), hotels, mixed-use and industrial condominiums, and continuing care retirement communities. She has assisted hundreds of clients across the state with all aspects of their ongoing operations: she ensures compliance with Federal and Florida statutes and regulations and resolves employment, Fair Housing Act, and land-use issues. She helps them navigate their interaction with federal, Florida, and local agencies. She interprets and enforces governing documents and covenants, prepares amended documents, and negotiates contracts. And she represents them in arbitrations and mediations before the Division of Florida Condominiums.
Ashley regularly offers continuing education seminars and training to directors and community association managers - she is a Department of Business and Professional Regulation-approved presenter - on diverse topics including new legislation, Fair Housing Act, aging in place, employment, contracts, and covenant enforcement.
Ashley actively serves the YMCA of Collier County, having supported the Greater Marco and South Collier YMCAs, including as Capital Campaign Chair and two-time President of the South Collier chapter while sitting on its Board of Directors for nearly 20 years. Recognized with a Special Service Award by the Collier County Bar Foundation for her tireless efforts with the YMCA, she led the 2021 merger of the Naples and South Collier chapters.
Job Titles:
- & Andress Adds Shareholder
- Shareholder / Cleveland
For 30 years, Barry has defended employers of all sizes in litigation and administrative disputes: Wage and hour collective and class actions, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, unfair competition and trade secrets, non-competes, employee benefits, workers' compensation, defamation, privacy rights, and more. Focused on practical solutions, he draws upon creative legal strategies to help clients achieve their objectives in an efficient and cost-effective manner. In addition, clients rely on Barry to provide sensible counseling, strategic advice, and guidance on a broad range of compliance issues.
Barry has particular strengths defending wage and hour class and collective actions nationwide, including using offers of judgment as a precise tool to cut-off and end class and collective actions. Multiple times, he's resolved wage and hour cases for hundreds of thousands of dollars below what initially seemed feasible.
Clients appreciate Barry's ability to identify the strengths and weaknesses of their position, honestly assess risks and potential rewards, and develop a practical approach to resolving the claim. Barry does not laud clients' cases at the beginning, then ‘do a 180' with a different perspective as the case progresses. His analysis stays steady and consistent. For example, in one case where Barry represented a plaintiff, he advised the client the chances of winning were slim. The employer was so confident it offered $0 to settle the claim. His client nonetheless chose to take the case to trial. Barry executed an aggressive strategy that led to a jury verdict in the client's favor, followed by a real settlement from the employer.
He is a Certified Labor and Employment Law Specialist by the Ohio State Bar Association. He regularly provides employment law training to employers, including EEO and wage and hour training.
Experience
Defended multiple Illinois BIPA class actions, including one dismissed with no liability or payment
Ben concentrates his practice in estate planning, probate, asset protection planning, federal taxation and retirement benefit planning. He has lectured on many aspects of tax planning and has written numerous articles and a book on the subject. Ben is a regular contributor to several peer and professional journals. His articles have appeared in many publications, including Journal of Taxation, The Practical Accountant, Medical Economics, American Bar Association Journals and Chapter 4 of Callaghan & Co. He previously served four years as an agent with the Internal Revenue Service in Chicago, Illinois.
Ben counsels municipalities, public entities, planning commissions and private corporations on all aspects of public law. He currently serves as the Law Director for the Village of Cuyahoga Heights, the Law Director for the City of Chardon, and as the Village Solicitor for the Village of Lakemore. In these roles, Ben provides sound legal advice and direction to different branches of local government, ultimately impacting the economic development of several communities. In addition, he handles matters unique to college athletics, Title IX, and electronic gaming (e-sports).
Ben also maintains a litigation practice focused on labor and employment, land use, eminent domain, tort defense, and constitutional disputes. Prior to entering private practice, he served as a Law Clerk to the Administrative Law Judges in the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals.
Experience
Public Law
Job Titles:
- Announces New Partner - in - Charge of Ohio and New Office Partners - in - Charge in Northeast Ohio ( Nov 3, 2016 )
- Shareholder, Shareholder - in - Charge - Litigation / Akron
Brad is an accomplished litigator and counselor with 35 years of experience. His practice focuses on the defense of self-insured companies, insurance companies and/or their policyholders in cases involving wrongful death or serious injuries. Brad's experience is wide-ranging and diverse, including the defense of cases involving trucking or vehicular accidents, train derailments, explosions, airplane crashes, premises liability claims, civil rights claims, class action claims, products liability claims and professional liability claims. He has successfully defended corporations, long-term care facilities, medical professionals, insurance agents and brokers, title insurance agents, real estate agents, attorneys, and commercial property owners. He has developed considerable expertise in defending litigation involving traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other serious injuries.
Brad also provides advisory opinions to clients on insurance coverage issues and he has significant experience in representing insurance companies in insurance coverage litigation, including declaratory judgment actions, bad faith cases, and first party breach of contract cases. He also is called upon by the firm's insurance clients to assist in fraud and/or coverage investigations by taking examinations under oath. A growing part of Brad's practice is the representation of national retailers in premise liability claims. He is also a leading member of the firm's Emergency Response Team, providing immediate response capabilities, including planning, coordinating, and handling investigation and evidence preservation activities for transportation, retail, and industrial clients.
Brad has handled cases in virtually every county in the Buckeye state and his clients often get him involved in coordinating and attending mediations on pre-suit claims. His skills and experience have not gone unnoticed. His peers have designated him a "Super Lawyer" every year since 2004 for his expertise in defending personal injury claims. He has also been named to The Best Lawyers in America© for Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants on an annual basis since 2009. Brad has also been awarded the AV® Preeminent™ rating by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest available rating for legal ability and professional ethics.
Experience
Handled in excess of 50 first-chair jury trials in various courts throughout Ohio
Brian focuses his practice on various aspects of workers' compensation law and regularly attends hearings before all levels of the Industrial Commission. His clients include employers ranging from closely held corporations and family owned businesses, to Fortune 500 companies. He also represents businesses in the manufacturing, automotive, health care, hospitality, and retail industries. Brian assists clients with claims management and offers advice regarding the management of individual claims, as well as the management of the entire workers' compensation program for clients.
Experience
Professional experience is entirely in workers' compensation
Job Titles:
- Banking and Financial Services
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Shareholder / Cincinnati
Relying upon his extensive litigation background, Brian provides legal counsel to businesses and local governments out of Roetzel's Public Law Group. Having first chaired numerous bench and jury trials, Brian has significant trial and courtroom experience across the State of Ohio. That courtroom experience has positioned him to advise clients to anticipate conflict by soundly structuring business relationships and transactions with an eye toward risk.
For business clients navigating transactions, Brian provides strategic counsel in connection with mergers and acquisitions, entity formation and dissolution, contractual disputes, issues unique to nonprofits and religious institutions, shareholder derivative actions, and commercial lease agreements.
Brian has also spent a great deal of time advising the State of Ohio, local governments, public and private school districts, and colleges/universities in connection with economic development, eminent domain, Ohio's Sunshine Laws, land use and zoning code development and drafting, zoning compliance, school law and constitutional questions.
Given his proximity to many in the collegiate athletic world, as well as his familiarity with NCAA regulatory guidance pertaining to Name/Image/Likeness (NIL), Brian also advises institutions of higher education and third party collectives on NIL strategy and compliance. Most recently, he helped launch the first NIL collective benefiting University of Cincinnati student athletes and Greater Cincinnati Charities (Cincy Reigns). A former adjunct professor of "Legal Environments of Business" and "Corporate Ethics" at UC's Carl H. Lindner College of Business, he enjoys teaching and training stakeholders about compliance protocols, NIL infrastructure development, and how to leverage new NIL opportunities for maximum community impact.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee
Job Titles:
- Roll Back of Trump - Era Religious Contractor Exemption Rule ( Feb 16, 2021 )
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee
Job Titles:
- Shareholder in Charge
- Trust and Estates
Job Titles:
- Member of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee
Job Titles:
- Government Relations & Real Estate
- Shareholder in Charge
Job Titles:
- Member of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee
Job Titles:
- Member ( past President, 2003 - 2004 )
Job Titles:
- New Guidance on School Board and Employee
Job Titles:
- Restores the Presumption of Regularity for Executive Session Deliberations ( Jan 3, 2023 )
Job Titles:
- President Biden Orders OSHA to Issue Rule Requiring Large Employers to Mandate That Employees Get Vaccinated for COVID - 19 or Undergo Weekly Testing ( Sep 10, 2021 )
Job Titles:
- Member of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee
- Construction Law
Job Titles:
- Member of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee