Jon is a partner in the Vorys Columbus and Cincinnati offices and a member of the labor and employment group.  Jon defends clients in federal and state court in litigation arising from employment discrimination laws, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), as well as other statutory and common law claims.  Jon also is involved in all aspects of traditional labor law, including practice before the National Labor Relations Board, union avoidance, defense of unfair labor practice charges, collective bargaining negotiations, and labor arbitrations.  In addition, he counsels clients on issues pertaining to employee handbooks, reductions-in-force, terminations, employment agreements, severance agreements, and other aspects of the employer-employee relationship.

Career highlights include:

• Successfully defending employers in many federal and state court actions brought pursuant to statutory and common law claims, including at the appellate level
• Successfully negotiating numerous collective bargaining agreements in several different industries

Jon is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, the Columbus Bar Association and the Columbus Bar Foundation.

Jon has spoken frequently on topics related to sexual and other forms of harassment, employment discrimination, employment at will, workplace investigations, union avoidance, exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act and issues arising from the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Jon received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School and his B.S. from Duke University.

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

• Ballet Met, Board of Trustees, Member, 2004-2011; Executive Committee, 2006-2011
• Columbus Speech and Hearing Center, Member, Board of Trustees, 1992-2000; President, 1996-1997
• Buckeye Ranch, Board of Trustees, 1992-1998

Vorys

Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP provides business and legal counsel to clients throughout the United States and around the world. Since its founding in 1909, our firm has grown into one of the largest law firms in the country, with nearly 375 attorneys who are located in seven offices in Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.

Our firm is proud to represent thousands of clients, who range from start-up businesses to Fortune 500 corporations, from non-profit organizations to governmental entities and industry trade groups, and from individuals needing estate planning advice to defendants embroiled in sprawling, multi-state class action litigation. We offer each of those clients – large and small – an unflagging commitment to excellent legal representation and outstanding client service.

Our practices span the spectrum of legal services, and include all forms of litigation, labor and employment law, corporate law, commercial law, and tax law. The ranks of our lawyers include Fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers, dozens of former federal and state law clerks, and individuals selected by their peers to head state and national organizations focused on antitrust, bankruptcy, and trial practice, among other areas.

We work with our clients to structure and finance corporate transactions, to negotiate real estate acquisitions and franchising arrangements, to develop and implement labor and employment law policies and practices, to comply with health care regulatory requirements, and to identify and avoid potential environmental problems. Our lawyers focus on recognizing emerging legal issues and developing approaches that allow our clients to conduct their businesses and activities in ways that minimize the risk of future liability.

When our clients become involved in disputes, they entrust our trial lawyers with litigation of the most complex and challenging legal issues. Our lawyers have tried matters in federal and state courts across the country and have argued cases before the United States Supreme Court. Whether the cases involve toxic tort issues, claims of employment discrimination, allegations of criminal activity, asserted violations of the securities laws, or large-scale computer data breaches, our trial lawyers provide our clients with creative and efficient representation that has achieved superior results.

Our lawyers come from the finest law schools in the country, and we offer them a culture that is committed to diversity, collegiality, teamwork, professional development, community involvement, and pro bono activities. Our firm has been a leader in recruiting and encouraging diverse talents. Our firm is one of the few large law firms to have received the prestigious Pro Bono Publico award from the American Bar Association, reflecting our deep commitment to pro bono work.