Summary

Justin focuses his practice on a wide range of labor and employment matters. His experience includes noncompetition and trade secrets litigation; lawsuits and administrative charges involving race, sex, age, disability, and religious discrimination; wage and hour matters under the Fair Labor Standards Act and various state laws; National Labor Relations Act claims, union elections and union organizing campaigns; negotiation of collective bargaining agreements and arbitration of union grievances; military leave; employee handbooks and workplace policies; electronic discovery and recordkeeping issues; and other issues relating to employment relationships.

Justin is passionate about helping employers navigate the daily challenges of compliance and mitigation of the risks that employment law creates for all organizations. When disputes do end up in court or in other proceedings, Justin’s extensive litigation experience — including multiple jury and bench trials — enables him to provide effective counsel to Taft’s clients.

Justin speaks regularly on developing and emerging issues affecting labor and employment policy, compliance, and best practices for management. He has published numerous articles on a variety of labor and employment topics and has been quoted on employment law matters in newspapers and other media.

In addition to his practice, Justin has served as a member of the executive committee for the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber’s Alumni Network. He is also past chair of the board of directors of OneSource (formerly known as ReSource), a nonprofit organization that supports other nonprofits with consulting services and the distribution of donated goods and furniture. Justin was also chair of the Leadership Cincinnati Steering Committee from 2017 to 2019, was a founding co-chair of ProKids Young Professionals, served on the board of directors of the Hearing, Speech and Deaf Center of Greater Cincinnati and is a past president of the board of trustees of The Friends of the William Howard Taft Birthplace.

Justin graduated cum laude from Miami University and earned his J.D., cum laude, from the Washington and Lee University School of Law, where he was Editor in Chief of the Washington and Lee Law Review.

Awards

  • Honoree, Best Lawyers in America (2024)

  • Honoree, Ohio Super Lawyers, Employment & Labor

    (2015 – present)

  • Honoree, Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Stars

    (2005 – 2006, 2010 – 2011, 2013 – 2014)

  • Class 36 Graduate, Leadership Cincinnati (2012 – 2013)

  • Class XV Member, Cincinnati Academy of Leadership for Lawyers (CALL) (2011)

  • Class 3 Member, C-Change Leadership Program (2008)

  • Leading Lawyers Honoree, Cincy Magazine, Civil Litigation, Commercial, Corporation, Employment

    (2021 – present)

All Service Areas

Education

  • Washington and Lee University School of Law (1999)
  • Miami University (1996)

Admissions

  • Federal - 6th Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Federal - Southern District of Ohio
  • Federal - Northern District of Illinois
  • Federal - 10th Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Federal - 11th Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Federal - Northern District of Ohio
  • State - Ohio

Speeches and Publications

  • Speaker, “How to Respond to an Evolving Workforce,” 39th Annual Labor-Management Conference: Building Labor-Management Relationships Through Cooperation and Knowledge, Northern Kentucky University (May 2022)

Professional Affiliations

  • Cincinnati Academy of Leadership for Lawyers (CALL)

    Member, Class XV (2011)

  • C-Change Leadership Program

    Member, Class 3 (2008)

  • Leadership Cincinnati

    Member, Class 36 (2012 – 2013)

  • Leadership Cincinnati

    Former Chair, Steering Committee (2017 – 2019)
    Former Co-Chair, Steering Committee, Experiences Subcommittee (2015 – 2017)
    Former Co-Chair, Steering Committee, Leading for a Just Community Subcommittee
    (2014 – 2015)

  • Hamilton County Law Library Resource Board

    Board Member (2016 – present)

  • Cincinnati Law Library Association

    Member, Board of Directors (2016 – present)

  • Cincinnati Bar Association

    Member, Admissions Committee (2019 – present)
    Member, Grievance Committee (2014 – 2019)

Community Involvement

  • OneSource

    Board Member (2012 – 2023)
    Chair (2020 – 2022)

  • Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce

    Member, Executive Committee, Alumni Network (2017 – present)