Dolores (Lola) Garcia

Partner | Co-Group Leader, Business Litigation

Lola is a dedicated first-chair trial lawyer who handles complex commercial litigation matters. She counsels business clients both before and after litigation arises on
wide-ranging issues involving business disputes, commercial contract interpretation, and compliance issues. She has represented large and small organizations, including financial institutions, real estate developers, health care facilities and providers, and manufacturers in state and federal courts. Lola has particular experience in defending companies subject to government investigation and follow-on civil and criminal litigation. A former Assistant United States Attorney, Lola has extensive experience with litigation involving various state and federal statutes regulating business conduct and competition, including investigations and pre-suit analyses related to each of
these areas.

Education & Admissions

Education

  • Grinnell College

    (B.A., 2006)

  • Harvard Law School

    (J.D., 2009)

Admissions

  • State of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit

Experience

  • Represents municipal owned utility in significant litigation challenging the municipality’s ability to provide service to extraterritorial customers under the Ohio Constitution.
  • Represents international company regarding potential federal criminal claims related to shortfall in anti-dumping duties and countervailing duties.
  • Represented a payment processor in civil enforcement action by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in federal district court. Though action is still pending against other parties, the court struck all causes of action that the CFPB brought against the payment processor defendant.
  • Represented multiple homeowners in claims regarding their right to beach access in a wealthy suburb of Cleveland. Lola took the case to trial and prevailed on the land-ownership claims.
  • Represented national chain in Ohio-wide litigation regarding effect of newly-passed statute that undercut client’s ability to do business in the state.
  • Represented national retail chain in complex landlord-tenant dispute through trial and appellate proceedings.
  • Represents broker-dealers in FINRA arbitrations involving requests for expungement, allegations of discrimination, and other employment-related matters.
  • Represented commercial policyholders against their insurers in negotiations and active litigation in state and federal courts and in domestic and international arbitration Matters that have involved a range of complex coverage issues including the interpretation of general liability policies, excess policies, commercial crime policy coverage, and bad faith claims.

Publications & Presentations

Presentations

  • “Diversity in Leadership: How to Navigate the Legal Field,” The Midwest Region of the National Black Law Students Association (MWBLSA) Academic and Leadership Retreat (September 2023)
  • “The Real Deal: Sharing Perspectives from Female Law Firm Leaders,” Panelist, FDCC Ladder Down Cleveland (August 2023)
  • “Women at the Intersection of Diverse Identity and Experiences in the Law,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association’s International Women’s Day Conversation (March 2021)
  • “Cracking the Old Boys Network: Finding, Building, and Marketing Your Own Practice,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association’s Racial Equity and the Law Talks (July 2020)
  • “The Perils of Being a Bad Egg: DeCoster and the Responsible Corporate Officer Doctrine,” ABA Business Law Section’s Director & Officer Liability Committee meeting (September 2017)

Involvement

Professional Affiliations

  • Norman S. Minor Bar Association (Treasurer; Past Vice President)
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (Diversity & Inclusion Committee)
  • National Bar Association

Community Involvement

  • Providence House (Board of Directors, 2022-present)
  • SPACES (Board of Directors, 2021-present)
  • Cleveland Bridge Builders (Class of 2018)
  • Near West Family Network (Former Board Member)
  • Minds Matter of Cleveland (Board Trustee, Senior Vice President, Student Programming, 2012-2014)

Firm Involvement

  • Co-Group Leader, Business Litigation

Honors

  • Named to The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation (2024)
  • Named to the Ohio Super Lawyers list (2023)
  • Named to Corporate Counsel Business Journal’s 50 Women to Watch List (2023)
  • Case Western Reserve University Latinx Law Students Association Trailblazer Award Recipient (2023)
  • Named a “Latino Leader Worth Watching” by Profiles in Diversity Journal (2022)
  • Named to the Crain’s Cleveland Business list of “Notables in Law” (2022)
  • Named one of the Most Influential Black Lawyers in America by Savoy Magazine (2022)
  • Named to the Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Stars list (2019)
  • Named to AmMore Consulting’s list of “100+ Latinos Cleveland Must Know” (2020)
  • YWCA Women of Professional Excellence (2020)