Robert E. Blackham

Mr. Blackham is President and National Practice Group Chair for the firm’s Business Litigation, Employment, Creditors’ Rights, Real Estate, Business Services, Public Law, Health Care, Medical Defense, Product Liability and Transportation practice groups.  He represents employers in all facets of employment law and related litigation, and has handled numerous labor arbitrations for unionized employers on a local and national level.  His practice focuses on workplace injury, Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) claims, workers’ compensation, intentional tort, non-compete agreements and employee discrimination matters.  He has tried cases at all levels of the federal and state court.

• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
• U.S. Supreme Court

1987, J.D., Cleveland-Marshall College of Law

1984, B.A., The Ohio State University, Political Science

• Defends management in all facets of employment-related litigation
• Assists clients in implementing strategies designed to minimize exposure under laws such as the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), state fair employment statutes (i.e., the Ohio Civil Rights Act)
• Performs on-site audits to ensure compliance with OSHA requirements
• Statewide involvement in all aspects of defending workers’ compensation claims for both self-insured and state-funded employers
• Extensive experience before the Industrial Commission of Ohio
• Significant involvement in both civil litigation and appellate work in the workers’ compensation area
• Successful defense of numerous Violation of Specific Safety Regulation (VSSR) claims and intentional tort claims
• Prepares and reviews employee handbooks, employment agreements, arbitration agreements, non-competition and confidentiality agreements and severance plans
• Litigation of complex Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) charges before the Occupational Safety & Health Review Commission

RELATED SERVICES

• OSHA
• Workers’ Compensation
• Labor & Employment Litigation
• Liability Defense
• Employment Services
• Litigation
• Emergency Response & Crisis Management
• Environmental
• Corporate

• Selected as an “Ohio Super Lawyer” by Ohio Super Lawyers Magazine (2015)
• Certified as a Workers’ Compensation Law Specialist by the Ohio State Bar Association
• Board Certified as a Specialist in Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA)
• Board Certified in Pre-Trial Practice Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA)
• AV® Preeminent ™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
• Prevent Blindness Ohio, Person of Vision Award (2009)
• Member of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Fellows Committee
• American Diabetes Association Father of the Year Award winner (2012)

• Akron Bar Association
• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
• Ohio Self-Insurers Association (OSIA)
• Ohio State Bar Association
• Charter Fellow of the American College of Board Certified Attorneys
• Life Member of The Judicial Conference of the Eighth Judicial District

• Routinely presents to public and private companies on employment-related issues, including OSHA, EEOC, FLSA and workers’ compensation practice and procedures
• Lectured on workers’ compensation to the Ohio Self-Insurers Group
• Several presentations to self-insured and private employers’ groups

• Dollar Bank, Director
• Aurora Baseball and Football Associations, Pro bono legal counsel (1994-present)
• American Heart Association, Leadership Team (2010-2012)
• Cuyahoga County Public Library Foundation, Board (2007-2010)