Joseph Boatwright Email & Phone Number

• Manage transactions, labor and employment matters, budget and finance matters, litigation and other issues on behalf of Cuyahoga County, an entity with an annual budget of $1.3 billion, a convention center, approximately 5,000 employees, and numerous departments and agencies. • Provide legal advice on various matters to the County Executive, County Council, and other County Departments, including the County Finance and Budget Committee, and County Investment Advisory Committee.

Cleveland/Akron, Ohio Area

Cleveland/Akron, Ohio Area

• Advised clients regarding general business matters relating to employment and commercial litigation.• Counseled businesses regarding day-to-day employment issues and human resources issues involving Title VII, Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Family Medical Leave Act, Fair Labor Standards Act and other laws.• Prepared and negotiated numerous agreements on behalf of clients including, but not limited to, loan documents, forbearance agreements, purchase agreements, sales contracts, operating agreements, indemnity agreements, employment contracts, settlement agreements and releases, non-compete agreements, partnership agreements, contracts for the sale of goods, service contracts and confidential agreements.• Represented publicly traded companies, private companies, not-for-profits, law enforcement agencies and public entities in employment litigation, business/commercial litigation, tort litigation and civil rights litigation at trial and on appeal in state and federal court and in arbitration.• Represented employers before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Civil Rights Commission, Bureau of Workers Compensation and Unemployment Commission.• Researched and prepared legal updates to clients relative to various emerging issues, trends and regulatory issues in order to help clients meet their business objectives.• Advised companies regarding the legal implications of social media.• Presented to companies at Continuing Legal Education Seminars regarding new/proposed legislation and new case law that could impact their business.• Represented clients in investigations before the Ohio Department of Commerce, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and the Department of Justice.• Advised companies regarding employee non-compete and non-solicit issues.

Cleveland/Akron, Ohio Area

• Represented private companies, not-for-profits, publicly traded companies, law enforcement agencies, and other public entities in employment litigation, business/commercial litigation, tort litigation and civil rights litigation at trial and on appeal in state and federal court and in arbitration.• Argued several cases before the Court of Appeals of Ohio, Eighth Appellate District, Cuyahoga County.• Argued before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.• Lead internal investigations regarding workplace misconduct while representing companies.• Counseled businesses regarding day-to-day employment issues and human resources issues involving Title VII, Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Family Medical Leave Act, Fair Labor Standards Act and other laws.• Ensured that clients preserved, found and managed relevant electronically stored information to comply with the latest trends and laws regarding electronic discovery.• Presented to companies at Continuing Legal Education Seminars regarding new/proposed legislation and new case law that could impact their business.• Researched and prepared legal updates to clients relative to various emerging issues, trends and regulatory issues in order to help clients meet their business objectives.

Cleveland/Akron, Ohio Area

• Represented public school districts in employment litigation, business/commercial litigation, tort litigation and civil rights litigation at trial and on appeal in state and federal court and in arbitration.• Tried several cases to verdict in court and in arbitration.• Authored the appellate briefs in several cases before the Court of Appeals of Ohio, Fifth Appellate District, Stark County.• Represented employers before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Civil Rights Commission, Bureau of Workers Compensation and Unemployment Commission.• Attended board meetings of various public entities as legal counsel to the board.• Handled responses to public records requests and dealt with issues involving Ohio’s Open Meetings Act.• Presented at Continuing Legal Education Seminars regarding new/proposed legislation and new case law that could impact their business.

Cleveland/Akron, Ohio Area

• Represented companies in employment litigation, business/commercial litigation, tort litigation and civil rights litigation at trial and on appeal in state and federal court and in arbitration.• Tried several cases to verdict in court and in arbitration.

J.D., Law

B.A.