Education

• Cornell University

  (B.S., with distinction, 1986)

• Harvard Law School

  (J.D., 1989)

Admissions

• State of Ohio
• State of Illinois
• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
• U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
• U.S. District Court, District of Arizona
• U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

• Representation of national and regional companies in non-competition/non-solicitation, trade secrets and employee raiding litigation.
• Representation of national and regional companies in employment discrimination and wrongful termination litigation.
• Representation of national and regional companies in employment tort, commercial and unfair competition litigation.
• Counseling of numerous clients with respect to employment agreements, employment policies, termination decisions, and compliance with federal and state discrimination laws.

• O’Donnell v. Genzyme Corp., 2016 WL 430015 (6th Cir. 1991) (affirming grant of summary judgment)
• O’Donnell v. Genzyme Corp., 2015 WL 11109719 (N.Dist. Ohio 2015) (summary judgment granted in wrongful termination/retaliation case)
• Magnum Steel & Trading, LLC, et al. v. Gerald Mink, et al., 2013-Ohio-2431 (9th Dist. 2013) (affirming judgments rendered by the court and the jury in a tortious interference and trade secret misappropriation case)
• In Re: Kenneth W. Bryant, Debtor, No. 11-30834-LMK, United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Pensacola Division, 2012 WL 2935365, July 3, 2012 (dismissal of Chapter 7 bankruptcy case)
• Century Business Services, et al. v. Thomas L. Barton, et al., 2011-Ohio-5917 (8th Dist. 2011) (affirming judgments rendered by the court and the jury in restrictive covenant case)
• Century Business Services v. Bryant, No. 1:01-CV-02166, United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 30899, March 31, 2010 (breach of contract, Lanham Act)
• Sollitt. v. KeyCorp, No. 1:09-CV-43, United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 74217, August 21, 2009 (public policy tort claim)
• Schemmer v. Chartone, Inc., No. 1:05CV2923, United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 35020, April 29, 2008
• Dobbins v. NASD, No. 5:06CV2968, United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, 2007 U. S. Dist. LEXIS 61767, August 22, 2007
• Hilliard v. Saul, No. 3:06-0454, United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Nashville Division, 2007 U. S. Dist. LEXIS 12456, February 2, 2007
• Kaz Co. v. Esselte Corp., No. 5:05CV814, United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 28299, November 17, 2005
• Sullivan v. Kodsi, No. 1-04-1508, Appellate Court of Illinois, First District, Fourth Division, 359 Ill. App. 3d 1005; 836 N.E. 2d 125; 2005 Ill. App. LEXIS 901; 296 Ill. Dec. 710, September 8, 2005
• Century Business Services v. William Urban, 179 Ohio App. 3d 111, 2008-Ohio-5744 (8^th Dist. 2008) (enforceability of restrictive covenants)
• Margulies v. Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, 2007-Ohio-1601 (class certification)
• Rucker v. Everen Securities, Inc., 102 Ohio St.3d 1247, 2004-Ohio-3719 (promissory estoppel)
• Rucker v. Everen Securities, Inc., 2003-Ohio-1166 (promissory estoppel)
• Century Business Services v. Moore, No. 82378, Court of Appeals of Ohio, Eighth Appellate District, Cuyahoga County, 2003-Ohio-3809; 2003 Ohio App. Lexis 3438, July 17, 2003
• Century Business Services v. Bryant, No. 01-4142, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 69 Fed. Appx. 306; 2003 U.S. App. Lexis 13877, July 8, 2003
• Margulies v. Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, No. 81737, Court of Appeals of Ohio, Eighth Appellate District, Cuyahoga County, 2003 Ohio 1959; 2003 Ohio App. Lexis 1870, April 17, 2003
• Century Business Services v. Bryant, No. 80508, Court of Appeals of Ohio, Eighth Appellate District, Cuyahoga County, 2002 Ohio 2967; Ohio App. Lexis 2932, June 13, 2002
• Mortgage Information Services v. Kitchens, No. 3:01-CV-106-V, United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Charlotte Division, 210 F.R.D. 562; 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20358; 52 Fed. R. Serv. 3d, May 15, 2002
• Ormond v. City of Solon, No. 79223, Court of Appeals of Ohio, Eighth Appellate District, Cuyahoga County, 2001 Ohio App. Lexis 4654, October 18, 2001
• George v. Realty One Property Management, No. 78929, Court of Appeals of Ohio, Eighth Appellate District, Cuyahoga County, 2001 Ohio App. Lexis 3960, September 6, 2001
• Mundell v. Landstyles, No. 78829, Court of Appeals of Ohio, Eighth Appellate District, Cuyahoga County, 2001 Ohio App. Lexis 3961, September 6, 2001
• Ormond v. Rollinbrook Estates Homeowners Association, Court of Appeals of Ohio, Eighth Appellate District, Cuyahoga County, 2000 Ohio App. Lexis 5731, December  7, 2001
• Kassouf v. White, No. 75446, Court of Appeals of Ohio, Eighth Appellate District, Cuyahoga County, 2000 Ohio App. Lexis 751, March 2, 2000
• Fleet Business Credit Corporation v. National City Leasing Corporation, No. 99 C 5501, United States District Court of the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, 191 F.R.D. 568; 1999 U.S. Dist. Lexis 19849, December 20, 1999
• Richardson Electronics. v. Arius, Inc., No. 95-525, Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District, 674 So. 2d 143; 1996 Fla. App. LEXIS 4990, April 30, 1996
• Metz v. Independent Trust Corporation, 994 F.2d 395 (7th Cir. 1993) (breach of trust agreement)
• McNamee v. Federated Equipment & Supply Company, 286 Ill. App.3d 806 (1st Dist. 1997) (contribution claim in product liability action)

Publications

• “How to Select a Business Litigator,” Columbus CEO Magazine (August 2004)
• “Reference Checks and the Law,” Council on Education and Management Newsletter (April 2004)
•  Employment Discrimination Law, Contributor (1998, 2001)
• “Employment Practices Liability Insurance: You Better Shop Around,” The Employment Law Strategist (April 1999)

Presentations

• “Discovery Do’s and Don’ts,” Ulmer Webinar (May 2023)
• “Litigation Challenges in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Ulmer Webinar (May 2020)
• “Reopening the Workplace V2: New Updates,” CBIZ Webinar (May 2020)
• “The Anatomy of a Whistleblower Action: Procedure, Practice Pointers, and Avoiding Pitfalls,” Ulmer, Hot Topics in Financial Services & Securities Litigation Webinar (December 2019)
• “Becoming a FINRA Arbitrator,” FINRA Lunch and Learn (November 2019)
• “How to Argue a TRO Motion,” Cleveland Employment Inn of Court (February 2019)
• “The New Landscape for Trade Secret Lawsuits and Some Lessons from the Trenches,” Ulmer Litigation Conference (September 2017)
• “Setting the Permanent Record Straight: Trying U-5 Defamation Cases,” Ulmer & Berne, Financial Services & Securities Litigation Hot Topics 2015 (November 2015)
• “Dodd-Frank and Sarbanes-Oxley Whistleblower Investigations and Litigation: Preventing and Defending Whistleblower Claims,” Association of Corporate Counsel, Central Ohio Chapter (September 2015)
• “A Fresh Look at Some Restrictive Covenant Issues, ” Hot Topics in Financial Services & Securities Litigation (October 2014)
• “Navigating Non-Compete and Non-Disclosure Agreements,” AICPA Global Manufacturing Conference (September 2014)
• “What Happens When the Whistle Blows?,” Financial Services Hot Topics (December 2013)
• “Restrictive Covenants: How Do Courts View Them?” (November 2012)
• “Enforcing Non-Competition Agreements: You Be the Judge,” Ohio State Bar Association’s 49^th Annual Midwest Labor and Employment Seminar (Fall 2012)
• “What Should the Boss Know About You?,” The Sound of Ideas Cleveland Public Radio [WCPN / WVIZ / Ideastream] (November 2011)
• “Reductions in Force: Age, WARN Act and Other Considerations,” OSBA Midwest Labor and Employment Seminar (October 2011)
• “Career Panel: A Career In The Law,” Hudson Community First and The Burton D. Morgan Foundation (January 2011)
• “Resolving Non-Competition Cases Before a Breach, With Views from the Bench,” Ohio State Bar Association’s 47^th Annual Midwest Labor and Employment Law Seminar (Fall 2010)
• “Controlling the Costs of Arbitration and Effective Presentation at Arbitration,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (November 2008)
• “Employment Contracts: Drafting Critical Provisions, Including Executive Compensation, Noncompete and Proprietary Information Provisions,” 45^th Annual Midwest Labor and Employment Law Seminar (October 2008)
• “Employment Agreement Basics and Restrictive Covenants,” OSBA Midwest Labor and Employment Seminar (October 2008)
• “FINRA:  A New Era of Securities Arbitration and Litigation,” KeyCorp Law Group Attorneys Meeting (October 2007)
• “The Top Ten Legal Developments Affecting HR in the Past Year and What to Watch in 2008,” HRACO Fall Legal Update (September 2007)
• “Orientation Essentials” (October 2006)
• “Non-Competes: Do They Work?,” Rockwell Automation (August 2006)
• “FMLA: Intermittent Leaves and Reduced Leave Schedules” (July 2006)
• “Winning Trade Secret Cases,” PriceWaterhouseCoopers General Counsel Forum (August 2005)
• “What to Do When Employees Leave for a Competitor: Protecting Valuable Business Interests,” Council on Education in Management (August 2005)
• “The Family and Medical Leave Act: The Basics and Beyond” (July 2005)
• “Non-Compete Agreements: Do They Work?” (October 2004)
• “Hiring and Firing Guidelines” (June 2004)
• “Saying Goodbye & Meaning It – How to Terminate Employees the Right Way” (February 2003)
• “Injunctive Relief in Unfair Competition Matters” (December 2002)
• “Cross-Examining the Plaintiff’s Economic Expert” (May 2002)
• “New Developments in State and Federal Employment Law: Business Immigration Issues, HIPAA, OFCCP, NLRB, and More” (March 2002)
• “When All Else Fails – Anatomy of a Court Action” (December 2001)
• “Employment Agreements” (May 2001)
• “What to Do When the Friday Afternoon Call Comes in From the Client Who Wants You to Seek an Injunction Against a Departing Employee First Thing Monday Morning: DON’T PANIC … PREPARE” (April 2001)
• “How to Avoid Discrimination Charges Based on the Latest Title VII Decisions” (Summer 2000)
• “Handling Non-Competes in the Insurance Industry” (Spring 2000)
• “Safeguarding Your Company’s Trade Secrets” (Spring 2000)
• “Workplace Violence: Training Managers; Minimizing Supervisor Liability when Implementing Terminations” (Winter 2000)
• “Litigating Employee Restrictive Covenants Under Ohio Law” (Spring 1999)
• “Protecting the (Trade) Secrets to Your Success” (Winter 1998)
• “Raiding or Recruiting; Protecting or Defending: Finding the Balance in Employee Recruiting, Customer Solicitation and Trade Secret Management” (Spring 1996)
• “Pirates, Prisoners, and Spies — Covenants Not To Compete and Trade Secrets” (Fall 1994)

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• American Bar Association (Labor and Employment Law Section)
• Ohio State Bar Association (Labor and Employment Law Section)
• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
• American Inns of Court (William K. Thomas Chapter) (Master of the Bench, President 2010-2011)
• Cleveland Employment American Inn of Court (Member)
• 8th District Judicial Conference (Life Member)
• The Lawyers Guild

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association The 3Rs – Rights, Responsibilities, and Realities Program (High School Classroom Volunteer 2017-present)
• United Way of Greater Cleveland (Campaign Cabinet, 2015)
• Country Club of Hudson (Member, Board of Trustees 2005-2011, 2017-present; President 2009-2010)
• American Cancer Society – Cuyahoga Area (Member, Board of Trustees 2005-2008)

• Vice Chair, Litigation Department
• Co-Group Leader, Business Litigation
• Member, Management Committee
• Member, Compensation Committee

HONORS

• Ranked as one of Ohio’s “Leaders in Their Field” in Labor & Employment by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2021-2023)
• Named to The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation – Labor and Employment; Commercial Litigation; Employment Law – Management (2010-2023)
• Named a “State Litigation Star” in Ohio by Benchmark Litigation (2016-2023)
• Named a “Labor & Employment Star” by Benchmark Litigation (2019-2022)
• AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated – Martindale-Hubbell®
• Named to the Ohio Super Lawyers list (2007-2023)
• Recognized as one of the top 100 lawyers in the state of Ohio by Super Lawyers (2011, 2019-2023)
• Recognized as one of the top 50 lawyers in the city of Cleveland by Super Lawyers (2012, 2019-2023)

Jeff plays softball in a forty and over league. He is an avid golfer and collects sports memorabilia. Jeff loves to read and spend time with his family.

• Chambers USA 2023 Report Gives Ulmer Top Marks
• Ohio Super Lawyers Recognizes 69 Ulmer Attorneys in 2023 Lists
• Benchmark Litigation Honors Several Ulmer Partners in 2023 Reports
• Ulmer Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© 2023 Report
• Ulmer Earns Top Marks in Chambers USA 2022 Report
• Ohio Super Lawyers Recognizes Ulmer Attorneys in 2022 Lists
• Benchmark Litigation Honors Several Ulmer Partners in Latest Reports
• Ulmer Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© 2022 Report
• Ulmer & Berne Honored in Chambers USA 2021 Edition
• Ulmer Partners Jeffrey S. Dunlap and Douglas K. Sesnowitz Elected to Ulmer & Berne’s Management Committee
• Benchmark Litigation Gives Ulmer High Marks in Newest Reports
• Ohio Super Lawyers Honors Ulmer Attorneys in 2020 Lists
• Ulmer Receives Numerous Honors in Newest Reports from Benchmark Litigation
• Best Lawyers® 2020: 60 Ulmer Attorneys Recognized, Two Partners Named “Lawyer of the Year”