Jeffrey J. Patter
Partner
Jeff is an experienced business attorney focusing primarily on business transactions, business services, and mergers and acquisitions. Throughout his career, he has represented businesses of all sizes and has negotiated numerous multimillion dollar sales and acquisitions of corporate entities. Jeff is also an experienced employment and labor law attorney representing businesses in all aspects of employment law.
In addition to his business and employment law acumen, Jeff is regularly involved in a wide array of litigation matters, in particular relating to his business and employment law skill, and he has experience with the discovery of electronically stored information. He has also headed projects involving real estate, international law, intellectual property, corporate compliance, and corporate governance.
As a result of his diverse business and corporate skills, Jeff additionally focuses on the organization and management of corporate legal affairs services for corporate clients. He previously served as General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer for Honda of America Mfg., Inc., where he was responsible for directing all of the corporation’s diverse legal matters, including directing and managing all company-related litigation.
Education & Admissions
Education
- University of Mount Union
(B.A., 1978)
- Capital University Law School
(J.D., 1981)
Admissions
- State of Ohio
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana
Experience
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
- Led a project for a $25 million purchase and resale of 5,000+ acres of undeveloped out-of-state real estate for resort development, and directed the financing/banking for the acquisition.
- Led a $100 million sale of an entity in China.
- Obtained injunctive relief for multiple clients in state and federal courts safeguarding and enforcing trade secret rights.
- Resolved a number of complaints and actions resulting from a workplace fatality.
- Negotiated the settlement of an adverse multimillion dollar age discrimination judgment at a substantial reduction of the judgment amount.
- Successfully defended and negotiated the settlement of an ERISA class action federal lawsuit.
- Successfully defended and resolved a multistate dispute and lawsuit regarding heavy equipment manufacturers, distributors, and dealers.
- Defended and resolved a wrongful discharge action by the executive director of a North American nonprofit entity and foundation.
Involvement
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- Columbus Bar Association
- Ohio State Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
- Resurrecting Lives Foundation (Volunteer)
- Columbus Speech & Hearing Center (Volunteer)
Honors
- Named to The Best Lawyers in America©, Litigation – Labor and Employment (2020-2023)
- BV Distinguished® Peer Review Rated – Martindale-Hubbell®