Industries & Practices
Public Sector
We help governments and schools serve their communities effectively and efficiently.
Providing cutting-edge legal services to public entities has been a key component of our foundation for more than 70 years. We have established ourselves as a go-to law firm for public sector law and have dozens of attorneys who focus their practice exclusively on public law matters.
As one of the largest public law firms in Ohio, Bricker represents more than 1,000 political subdivisions, including:
- State agencies
- Counties
- Municipalities
- Townships
- School districts
- Libraries
- Colleges, universities and public hospitals
- Port authorities
- Special purpose districts
Advanced analytics technology for public sector cl...
Through the use of advanced analytics technology, the litigation support team has enabled public sector clients to reduce the amount of time spent fulfilling public records requests by 58%, allowin...
MoreFinancings and refinancings for institutions of hi...
Serve as bond counsel and issuer counsel to community colleges, public and private institutions and universities across Ohio seeking to take advantage of the low-interest rate environment in order ...
MoreBond counsel for Ohio community college for culina...
Served as bond counsel to an Ohio community college in connection with the tax-exempt financing of their new, cutting-edge culinary arts center.
MoreCommunity college $300 million voted bond issue
Served as bond counsel to an Ohio community college for its first issue of general obligation bonds approved by the Ohio county voters in a $300 million voted bond issue dedicated to financing a ph...
MoreResolution of civil rights charges against city an...
Represented a municipality and police officers sued for civil rights violations nearly two years after an allegedly unconstitutional traffic stop. The federal lawsuit and the disciplinary issues as...
MoreMunicipal collective bargaining agreement
Represented city in a politically charged case involving questions of government separation of power and authority following a municipal court judge’s ordering of the city’s finance dir...
MorePublic entity embezzlement investigations
Counseled a municipality through a series of special investigations arising from employee embezzlement. Developed a strategy for addressing unlawful communications between city council and former c...
MoreAge discrimination claim settlement
Represented a public transportation system against a claim of age discrimination following a large-scale corporate realignment. Successfully negotiated a settlement prior to undertaking costly disc...
MoreConstruction procurement training
Present internal client training to key organization representatives, project managers and in-house counsel relating to construction bidding and procurement laws and best practices. ...
MoreTask order construction manager at risk agreement
Prepared the requests for qualifications, requests for proposals and specialized contract documents for task order construction manager at risk arrangements for public and private entities inc...
MoreAreas of Focus
Public Finance
Bricker & Eckler is recognized by the state and its various political subdivisions, as well as by the underwriting community, as a law firm with a national caliber bond counsel opinion. We excel in both routine and complex financial transactions, including bonds, notes, and certificates of indebtedness issued by government or on behalf of all types of nonprofits.
MoreEducation Law
We have the largest group of attorneys in Ohio dedicated to the practice of education law. Our clients include more than 200 school districts throughout Ohio, along with educational service centers, information technology centers, colleges and universities, and other education-related entities. The breadth of our collective experience — complemented by our ability to call on attorneys in construction, public finance, government relations, and other practice groups — enables us to personalize our services to address the unique needs of each client in a cost-effective manner.
MoreEconomic Development
We partner with cities, counties, villages and more to find creative and realistic funding options. Our team helps governments acquire the resources they need to create and maintain jobs through special programs established by Ohio law, including tax increment financing (TIF) and joint economic development districts (JEDD). We also assist private property owners in obtaining PACE financing for energy efficiency and alternative energy improvements.
MoreConstruction
We provide a full range of construction law services to public entities. Our attorneys, many with engineering and construction management backgrounds, counsel on all aspects of construction projects including schools, libraries, jails, public hospitals, recreation centers, and other public capital projects of all sizes and complexities.
MoreGovernment Relations
Our skilled lawyer-lobbyists assist political subdivisions, as well as public and private agencies, to navigate legislative, administrative and regulatory challenges. We use firsthand knowledge of complex election, ethics, lobbying and contracting law to build productive relationships with officials and advocate on behalf of clients’ public policy interests.
MoreEmployment & Labor
Whether supporting a small municipality or a regional public hospital system, our attorneys provide insightful employment advice and successful representation. By working together with our public sector clients, anticipating complications and assisting them in preventative measures, we are able to help them maintain a flexible employment operation.
MoreTaxation
Our attorneys help our public sector clients navigate the complexities of ever-changing tax laws. We represent clients in property tax valuation litigation, counsel them on property tax exemption laws and advise them on the tax implications of complex economic development projects. The breadth of our attorneys’ interdisciplinary experience allows us to uniquely address our public sector clients’ needs.
MoreEminent Domain
We work with entities, such as pipeline and public utility companies, in eminent domain proceedings. From counseling clients through the right-of-way acquisition process and negotiations to representing them in state and federal court appropriation cases, our attorneys combine significant eminent domain experience with the knowledge of our client’s business/project needs to achieve favorable outcomes.
People
Laura G. Anthony
Partner & Education Law Chair
John Caleb Bell, CRE®
Partner & Public Finance Practice Group Chair
Brad E. Bennett
Of Counsel
Amelia N. Blankenship
Of Counsel
Melissa Martinez Bondy
Partner
Laura J. Bowman
Partner
Diana S. Brown
Partner
Holli J. Burnett
Paralegal
Melissa M. Carleton
Partner & Higher Education Chair
Tyler J. Compton
Associate
William T. Conard II
Partner
Brodi J. Conover
Partner
Janet K. Cooper
Of Counsel
Kate Vivian Davis
Senior Attorney
Nicole M. Donovsky
Partner
Mark Evans, P.E.
Partner & Construction Practice Group Chair
Price D. Finley
Partner
John Flis
Associate
Alexander N. Fowler
Of Counsel
Dane A. Gaschen
Partner
Susan E. Geary
Of Counsel
Warren I. Grody
Senior Attorney
Joseph Hall
Higher Education Specialist
Jeffry D. Harris
Of Counsel
Olivia G. Holbrook
Staff Attorney
Benjamin B. Hyden
Partner
Mike Jacoby, CEcD
Economic Development Consultant
Christopher B. Jones
PACE Financing Consultant
Rebecca A. Joseph
Attorney
Colin J. Kalvas
Partner
Tarik M. Kershah
Partner
Marie-Joëlle C. Khouzam
Partner
Julia E. Konieczny
Associate
Glenn S. Krassen
Of Counsel
David J. Lampe
Partner
Gregory J. Lestini
Partner & Financial Services/Insurance Chair
Jacquelin R. Lewis
Partner
Samuel Lewis, P.E., S.E.
Associate
Rachael N. Mains
Associate
M. Shannon Martin
Partner
William D. Mason
Of Counsel
Robert F. McCarthy
Partner
Christopher L. McCloskey
Partner & Public Sector Industry Group Chair
Sarah E. McNally
Owner’s Representative, INCompliance
Beverly A. Meyer
Partner & Political Subdivisions Chair
Brock A. Miskimen
Of Counsel
Austin W. Musser
Partner
Joel Nielsen
Higher Education Specialist
Joshua D. Nolan
Partner & Higher Education Chair
Sarah E. O’Dea
Of Counsel
Susan L. Oppenheimer
Senior Attorney
Izaak S. Orlansky
Staff Attorney
Karen "Katy" W. Osborn
Of Counsel
Rebecca C. Princehorn
Partner
Benjamin J. Reeb
Staff Attorney
Danyel P. Rickman
Associate
Casey L. Rieth
Partner
Joseph E. Riley, P.E.
Staff Attorney
Michael Ringle
Staff Attorney
Paul S. Rutter
Partner
Arthur P. Schoulties
Of Counsel
Larry D. Scurlock
Sr. Public Finance Analyst
Adam W. Seeley
Associate
Carly M. Sherman
Associate
Doug Shevelow
Partner
Christopher N. Slagle
Partner & Government Relations Chair
William M. Somodi
Associate
Matthew L. Stout
Partner
Jason R. Stuckey
Partner
Catherine M. Swartz
Partner
Leah Thorsen
Associate
Jason Tiemeier
Senior Associate
Jessica K. Turner
Associate
Maximalian C. Ungerman
Staff Attorney
Benjamin J. Yoder
Partner