Chad E. Willits

Chad represents individuals and business clients in employment discrimination, insurance coverage, insurance defense, and other civil litigation matters – including jury trials – in state and federal courts throughout Ohio, Indiana, and other states.

Chad’s litigation experience includes the representation of clients in wage & hour, Family Medical Leave Act, and employment discrimination matters in state and federal courts, and in proceedings before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Ohio Civil Rights Commission, and Indiana Civil Rights Commission.  He also handles matters involving breach of contract, non-compete agreements, trade secrets, and other commercial claims in state and federal courts and in arbitration proceedings.

Chad also defends insurance carriers in 1^st-party insurance coverage matters involving allegations of bad faith, breach of contract, declaratory judgment, and unfair claims practices.  Chad represents individual and business insurance policy-holders in a wide variety of 3^rd-party tort and other civil claims involving fire loss, dwelling damage, personal property loss, negligence, assault & battery, premises liability, product liability, automobile liability, and animal liability.  

He has extensive experience with private and court-ordered alternative dispute resolution methods (ADR), including mediation and arbitration proceedings in several states. 

He has also handled labor disputes before the National Labor Relations Board; safety disputes before the Occupational Safety & Health Administration; and unemployment proceedings before the Ohio Department of Jobs & Family Services, Unemployment Review Commission, and Ohio courts.

To proactively prevent claims, Chad counsels companies and individual employees regarding employment law and HR issues, and he drafts workplace policies, employee handbooks, confidentiality/trade secrets/non-competition/non-solicitation agreements, and other employment contracts. He conducts management and workforce training seminars regarding employment policies & practices, EEO compliance, workplace investigations, and complaint handling.

Chad also trains insurance claims personnel regarding risk management, claims handling, and the defense of 1^st and 3^rd party insurance litigation.

Chad formerly served on the Board of Directors for the local SHRM affiliate, the Greater Cincinnati Human Resources Association, now CincySHRM. In that role, he chaired a committee that coordinated monthly programming on a variety of human resources and legal topics for HR professionals and business executives.

Honors & Recognitions

Recognized as Rising Star by Ohio Super Lawyers Magazine, 2007 & 2009

Rated AV® Preeminent™: Very Highly Rated in Both Legal Ability and Ethical Standards by Martindale Hubbell Peer Review

Cincinnati Academy of Leadership for Lawyers, CALL Class IX (2005)           

B.S.A. Eagle Scout

Community & Professional

Ohio Bar Association           

Indiana Bar Association           

Cincinnati Bar Association           

Greater Cincinnati Human Resources Association

 Society for Human Resource Management           

Claims & Litigation Management Alliance              

Queen City Hockey Association | Tri-State Spartans Youth Ice Hockey Coach & Volunteer

News

Speaking Engagements

Publications

Reminger Reports