Mediation Experience + Qualifications
Lori is a highly regarded attorney with extensive experience as both a trial lawyer and qualified mediator. With more than 25 years of experience in dispute resolution, she focuses her mediation practice on routine and complex business disputes and employment matters. As a trial lawyer, Lori has represented plaintiffs and defendants and has a broad knowledge of legal issues and subject matter, court and jury dynamics, and the various emotional and economic factors at play in business and employment disputes.
Litigation Experience
From her beginnings as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Judge David A. Nelson on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, Lori has built a distinguished career as a litigator. Having grown up as a “general litigator,” Lori has litigated diverse disputes, including banking, real estate and mortgage-backed securities cases; patent, trade secrets, non-compete and antitrust cases; breach of contract and business tort cases; Fair Labor Standards Act collective actions; single-plaintiff employment cases; business partner/shareholder disputes; defamation actions; agricultural disputes; and federal housing law disputes. Her active involvement in such litigation has equipped her with an ability to grasp new subject matters comfortably and bring common sense to the matter. As outside general counsel to a commercial furniture manufacturer and other businesses, Lori brings a practical approach to her work. According to attorney rating service Chambers USA, “In the heat of litigation, [Lori] maintains a very good sense of objectivity and a resolve to find a solution.' As one client reports, 'She understands my business and comes up with creative solutions.'”
Mediation Work
As a mediator, Lori brings her wealth of experience, exceptional listening skills, and discernment to facilitate and evaluate potential resolutions. Her background as a trial lawyer positions her to navigate conflicts with a deep understanding of the legal landscape. Lori recognizes the importance of comprehending the facts, anticipating potential outcomes, and understanding the personalities and interests involved. Chambers USA reports that Lori is praised for being able to “engender confidence and trust” and exhibits an “obvious awareness of not only legal issues, but also business considerations and risk assessment.” Lori's distinguished career is marked by her active involvement in trial advocacy and leadership roles. Her reputation as a highly skilled mediator is not solely rooted in her legal acumen, but also in her years as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, allowing her to understand business and employee issues as a businessperson and an attorney. As a mother of two young adults, Lori is calm and approachable, with a cultivated ability to recognize, acknowledge and dial-down emotions. Lori’s mediation style flexes between facilitation and evaluation, depending on the needs of the matter, the personalities of the participants, and the stage of the mediation.
Industry Recognition
Beyond her mediation expertise, Lori has attained significant success in her litigation career. Her adept navigation of the complexities inherent in legal matters, combined with her steadfast commitment to securing favorable outcomes and to professional conduct, has earned her a noteworthy standing within the legal community. Lori was selected as a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, where she co-founded the Complex Commercial Litigation Institute. Lori is consistently named one of the "Top 100" attorneys in Ohio and one of the "Top 50" women attorneys in Ohio by Super Lawyers, a prestigious peer-review service. Moreover, Lori has ranked among the "Top 5" attorneys in Columbus, regardless of practice area or gender, by Super Lawyers for the past two years.
Lori is trained and recognized as a certified mediator by the Institute for Conflict Management, and has served as mediator for dozens of matters as a designated mediator of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.