Summary of My Professional Experience

After admission to the practice of law in 1969, I litigated extensively both in Ohio courts and in various federal district and circuit courts. The largest portion of the work has been in contract litigation, most often disputes involving either common-law contracts — like insurance policies and agreements typically governing corporate acquisitions and divestitures — and commercial contracts. For well over 20 years, I was one of two lawyers to whom Dana Corporation assigned cases around the country in which the company had an especially heightened interest.

Throughout the most active years of my career, I consulted frequently with lawyers who represented clients in criminal, civil-rights, insurance-coverage, antitrust, or a smattering of other kinds of cases and disputes. Sometimes, I joined them as co-counsel at trial. Sometimes, they referred the entire matter to me. But most often, they simply sought advice on questions pertaining either to evidence law or the interpretation of contracts and statutes. I was also involved in prison-reform litigation in Ohio, Georgia, Texas, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

Twice in my career, an Ohio attorney general — one Democratic and one Republican —appointed me to serve as Chief Counsel, the only person in Ohio to have been appointed to that position by attorneys general from each major political party. I was also a member of the Ohio Constitution Modernization Commission, and I chaired the Ohio Supreme Court’s Rules Advisory Committee, now known as the Commission on the Rule of Practice & Procedure.

In Martindale-Hubbell’s peer-reviewed ratings, I have been consistently rated as preeminent for legal ability and listed with carrying the highest ranking for ethical standards. Until my withdrawal for full-time practice, I was listed annually in The Best Lawyers in America and in Ohio Super Lawyers. The latter once recognized rated me as one of its Top 100 lawyers in the state. 

I have published articles in law reviews at Harvard, Case Western, Cleveland State, Toledo, and Akron as well as in journals published by the American and Ohio bar associations and by other organizations.