Tugend serves as the chair of the firm’s government and legislative affairs practice group where he zealously lobbies at the federal, state and local level for his clients. He recently served a six-year tenure as vice president of government relations for the Columbus Chamber where he was the voice of the business community in public policy matters. Through his service there, he cultivated a substantial network of public and private sector relationships that he brought with him when joining Kegler Brown in 2011.
Government Affairs
Tugend is a 20-year veteran of legal, legislative and political matters. He has written and presented testimony to numerous legislative bodies at the federal, state and local level. He has been an advocate for his community by taking a team of community leaders to advocate the expansion of a military base, which ultimately grew by more than 1,000 jobs. Tugend also served as a part of a campaign team that secured voter approval for a transit tax levy. He has also been an advocate for businesses by breaking down barriers to doing business with government and stopping legislation that would have made the state a less friendly place to do business.
On the political front, Tugend is no novice. He managed a candidate’s statewide race, founded a corporate political action committee and has afforded political advice to a wide variety of candidates.
Administrative Law
Tugend is familiar with regulatory processes. He has negotiated with regulators in numerous states, has stopped harmful regulations from taking effect and has worked as a regulator.
Gaming Law
Tugend counsels gaming industry equipment managers and has been involved in multiple gaming ballot issues in Ohio.
Tugend serves as the chair of the firm’s government and legislative affairs practice group where he zealously lobbies at the federal, state and local level for his clients. He recently served a six-year tenure as vice president of government relations for the Columbus Chamber where he was the voice of the business community in public policy matters. Through his service there, he cultivated a substantial network of public and private sector relationships that he brought with him when joining Kegler Brown in 2011.
Government Affairs
Tugend is a 20-year veteran of legal, legislative and political matters. He has written and presented testimony to numerous legislative bodies at the federal, state and local level. He has been an advocate for his community by taking a team of community leaders to advocate the expansion of a military base, which ultimately grew by more than 1,000 jobs. Tugend also served as a part of a campaign team that secured voter approval for a transit tax levy. He has also been an advocate for businesses by breaking down barriers to doing business with government and stopping legislation that would have made the state a less friendly place to do business.
On the political front, Tugend is no novice. He managed a candidate’s statewide race, founded a corporate political action committee and has afforded political advice to a wide variety of candidates.
Administrative Law
Tugend is familiar with regulatory processes. He has negotiated with regulators in numerous states, has stopped harmful regulations from taking effect and has worked as a regulator.
Gaming Law
Tugend counsels gaming industry equipment managers and has been involved in multiple gaming ballot issues in Ohio
Career Highlights
- Supervised government relations operations in 17 states for Farmers Insurance
- Founder of Farmers Insurance of Columbus Political Action Committee
- Successfully advocated a movement that continued and expanded the Defense Supply Center Columbus (DSCC) base via a $1 million campaign aimed at the Pentagon, which ultimately sanctioned growth for an additional 1,000 jobs
- Served as local co-chair of successful campaign to defeat statewide ballot issue
- Served on Ohio Subrogation Rights Commission
Professional Memberships - Columbus Bar Association, member
- Ohio State Bar Association, member
- Capital University, President’s Advisory Board, member (2010-present)
- Columbus International Visitor’s Council, (2005-2008)
- Leadership Columbus, graduate (2009-2010)
- Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District, board member (2004-2008)
- Christ Lutheran Church, Congregation President (2006-2007)
- Columbus 2020 Civic Infrastructure Committee, member (2010-present)
- Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, Transportation Advisory Council (2004-2011)
- Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, Policy Roundtable (2006-present)
- United Way of Central Ohio, Public Policy Committee, member (2005-present)
- Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District, board member (2004-2008)
- Insurance Institute of Kentucky, vice chair (2003)
- Insurance Institute of Kentucky, Secretary/Treasurer (2002)
- Georgia Insurance Information Service, board member (2002-2004)
- Insurance Association of Connecticut, board member (2002-2004)
- Insurance Federation Of Pennsylvania, Property & Casualty committee (2002-2004)
Publications and Presentations
- “Understanding Transportation Improvement Districts,” presented to the Mid-Ohio Development Exchange, 2011
- “Redesigning Ohio,” presented to the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, Public Policy Committee, 2011
- “Advocating DSCC,” presented to the Columbus Rotary, 2004
Bar Admissions
Education
- Juris Doctorate (1991)
The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law - Bachelor of Arts, Russian Area Studies (1988)
Wittenburg University
Cum laude