Nuts & Bolts - Best Practices

This webinar will discuss best practices of Ohio Workers' Compensation issues.

Melissa Black, Of Counsel at Dinsmore & Shohl LLP’s Columbus office counsels employers in workers’ compensation matters, including Industrial Commission hearings, court appeals, retaliation claims, workplace safety, settlements, and post-injury investigations. Her clients include state-funded and self-insured employers.

She is familiar with the labyrinth of administrative systems employers must navigate when dealing with workers’ compensation matters, including the Industrial Commission of Ohio and the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. She knows how to navigate businesses and companies through these and other processes while also ensuring they meet their professional goals. When a workers’ compensation matter proceeds to a court of common pleas, she utilizes her litigation and jury trial experience to vigorously defend against claims.

Jared Buker is an associate attorney in the Columbus office of Dinsmore & Shohl LLP, where he focuses his practice on workers’ compensation, employment, labor, and administrative law. He counsels clients ranging from small businesses to national and international companies on issues involving workplace injuries, labor disputes, company policy, retaliation claims, FMLA, the Americans with Disabilities Act, OSHA, and the Fair Labor Standards Act. When working with a client, Jared starts by gaining an understanding of their business, including their short- and long-term goals, and he uses this information to craft a legal strategy that meets the client’s short- and long-term needs.

His experience includes practicing in state and federal court, as well as before administrative agencies like the Ohio Industrial Commission, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, the Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, and the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission.

Jared earned his B.A., magna cum laude, from Youngstown State University, and J.D., cum laude, from Capital University Law School. While in law school, he was the Executive Articles editor of the Capital University Law Review, Volume 43, and recipient of the Dean’s Excellence Award in 2013. He is a member of the Ohio State and Columbus Bar Associations and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.

J. Andrew Recker (Andy) is an associate attorney in Dinsmore & Shohl LLP's Cincinnati office where he focuses his practice on workers' compensation defense and represents employers in both administrative proceedings before the Ohio Industrial Commission and court proceedings in Ohio courts. He has obtained favorable jury verdicts for employers in Ohio courts and is a strong advocate for employers in both the hearing room and courtroom. Prior to law school, Andy handled liability and casualty claims for Safeco insurance company and Macy’s department stores. Currently, he has leadership roles with the Cincinnati Bar Association’s workers’ compensation committee and actively speaks and presents to trade associations, bar associations third party administrators, employers and employer groups throughout the state.