Publications & Media

Why did you become an attorney?

I was smitten by the oral advocacy on the old television lawyer shows such as "Perry Mason." No one in my family had gone to college, so I had no template. It was a naive choice that proved perfect for me. I have loved and still love my career as an advocate.

What's your biggest challenge? 

Balancing the intense time de­ mands of a busy litigation practice with life outside the practice

How do you measure success? 

Professional success is, in my view, measured by (1) achieving the clients' goals; (2) winning tough cases; (3) settling those cases that can be settled on terms favorable to the client; (4) performing at the highest level in every case; (5) forming strong bonds of trust and confidence with clients; (6) maintaining the highest level of integrity and professionalism; and (7) being in a firm of outstanding lawyers and staff with a culture of caring.

What trends do you see in litigation?

The information revolution has produced an explosion in the number of documents that must be preserved, produced and re­ viewed in every business case. As a result, events are documented more thoroughly than ever before, aiding in the search for truth. However, the cost of preserving, producing and reviewing the mountain of electronic stored information has dramatically in­ creased the cost of litigation.

Name something most people don't know about you.

I am an amateur classical pianist. I began studying piano at age 7 and continued extensive study and practice through college, giving a senior recital in 1967. After law school, the demands of law practice and family pushed piano practice to the side. But recently I have begun again to prepare to give another recital, my first in 45 years It has been fun to return to the discipline.

Thomas W. Hill, Director
Kegler, Brown, Hill & Ritter Co., LPA

Education

Undergraduate: Grinnell College, bachelor of arts (1967)

Law School: Cornell University Law School, Juris Doctor (1970)

Associations: American College of Trial Lawyers fellow, 1998 to present; National Moot Court Competition Committee chairman, 2009 to present; Columbus Bar Association; Columbus Bar Foundation trustee, 2010 to present; Ohio State Bar Association; American Bar Association

Practice Areas: Complex business litigation

Types of Clients Represented: Businesses of all sizes, ranging from small closely held businesses to large publicly traded corporations

Previous Jobs: None. I joined the firm directly out of law school in June 1970.

Family: My wife, Laurie, and I have been married for 46 years. We have two children, Adam (age 42) and Julie (age 39) and five grandchildren - three boys (Andrew, Spencer and Jonathan Hill) and two girls (Rachel and Lucy Barton).

Two Notable Cases: 

• Stuckey v. Online Resources Corporation - Represented plaintiff asserting claims for breach of contract and securities fraud. Trial in federal court in Columbus in 2012 resulted in judgment for plaintiff for $18,115,494.34.
• Amoco v. Borden Defended Borden in a $525 million lawsuit brought by Amoco alleging fraud in sale of industrial property containing industrial wastes with elevated levels of radioactivity. Defense verdict for Borden after six-week jury trial in federal court in Galveston, Texas.

AV-Rated Since: May 6,1985