Samuel Lillard

Samuel is a seasoned trial attorney and a fierce litigator for his clients in his practice area of employment defense. Samuel has tried more than 300 bench trials, 15 jury trials, and argued more than 30 cases before Ohio’s Appellate Courts, the Ohio Supreme Court, and the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Despite his assertive style toward high stakes employment cases, Samuel is easily approachable with a warm demeanor and a disciplined ability to listen. You will find that Samuel is not only attentive to your concerns, and very responsive to your queries, but also is genuinely interested in you and your business. This style has allowed Samuel to provide insightful advice to his clients to avoid disputes before they occur. These traits also make Samuel an effective negotiator and advisor to clients and associations on employment policy options and practices.

As a former Assistant Ohio Attorney General and Assistant Prosecutor, Samuel understands government regulations, their limits, and how the agencies operate. With more than 25 years of experience in representing employers in all Ohio, Michigan, and federal courts, as well as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, the Department of Labor, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and a myriad of state and local agencies, Samuel is often able to achieve his goal of resolving his client’s cases at the earliest opportunity and with the least amount of cost.

Samuel is a frequent public speaker and lecturer on various employment and personnel matters, including issues that arise under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), drug testing policies, workplace safety, sexual harassment avoidance, employee discipline, wage and hour matters, protecting trade secrets and confidential corporate materials, and the drafting and enforcement of non-compete/nondisclosure agreements.

Samuel is an allied member of the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association, and a frequent lecturer to the hospitality industry on various employment topics, including public accommodations under the ADA.

Samuel also works with the Ohio Assisted Living Association and is one of their frequent contributors on employment issues for that industry.

Samuel been included by his peers in Ohio Super Lawyers^® every year since 2009. He is an Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA) Board Certified Specialist in Labor and Employment Law since 2002.