Attorneys

• Education General Counsel:  Provides comprehensive advice and counsel to boards of education throughout the state of Ohio, including advising on public records, open meetings and board policy and governance issues, ethics and contracting advice, contract drafting and interpretation, community and media relations, litigation preparation and avoidance. 
• Collective Bargaining:  Negotiates labor contracts on behalf of boards of education with teaching and nonteaching unions.  Represents boards in mediation, arbitration, fact-finding and proceedings before the State Employment Relations Board.  
• Employment Law:  Defends boards of education in complaints before the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and other state agencies; represents clients in all aspects of employment law, from managing internal complaints and investigations, day to day human resources issues, and complex litigation.   

• School Business Operations:  Provides proactive advice, review, drafting and negotiations regarding vendor contracts and strategic partnerships, risk assessment and management, and advice regarding financial issues.    
• Construction and Real Property:  Provides review, drafting and advice on school construction contract issues and disputes; property valuation before county boards of revision and the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals; territory transfers; competitive bidding and sale of property issues.   
• Investigations:  Provides guidance to administrators conducting investigations or directly assists with investigations into student and staff issues.   
• Litigation:  Represents boards of education through all phases of litigation, including employee and student discrimination and civil rights cases; constitutional claims, including equal protection; Section 1983 claims; retaliation claims; sexual harassment and Title IX claims; teacher termination and employee discharge cases; and student discipline and special education claims.   
• Student Matters:  Provides guidance and advice on various student matters, including bullying, parent complaints, student discipline, equity and diversity issues, and student records and privacy concerns. 

Super Lawyer Rising Star 2014-2019.

Derek frequently speaks and writes on the following topics:  

• Property tax and other real estate issues impacting school funding. 
• First Amendment free speech issues in schools. 

• Student and employee discipline. 
• General employment law matters and new legislation and other legal developments impacting public schools. 

Derek has presented for the following organizations: 

• Ohio School Boards Association 
• Ohio Association of School Business Officials 

• Ohio Association of Local School Superintendents 
• Ohio Association of School Personnel Administrators 
• Ohio University Leadership Project Superintendent Seminar 

• Ohio Council of School Board Attorneys, Member 
• Ohio School Boards Association Collective Bargaining Roundtable  

A former athlete, Derek continues to sharpen his competitive spirit through weightlifting and running.