Experience

• Principal, The Lefton Group, LLC (Established February 2014)
• Partner, Brouse McDowell (July 2008 to February 2014)
• General Counsel, Akron Beacon Journal (2006 to June 2008)

Also at the Beacon Journal Publishing Company

• 2000 – 2006: Associate General Counsel
• 1997 – 2000: Labor Relations Manager
• 1980 – 1997: Journalist

Career Highlights

Successful solutions in the following areas:

• Litigation involving public access to government records.
• Defense of defamation and privacy claims.
• Litigation involving breach of contract, unfair competition, violation of non-compete claims.
• Litigation involving retaliation, wrongful discharge claims.
• Unfair labor practice charges stemming from decertification petition.
• Arbitration of contract interpretation case involving Workers’ Compensation calculation.
• Arbitration of contract interpretation case involving seniority scheduling.
• Litigation alleging violation of Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act.
• Responsible for all legal and labor affairs as in-house counsel for 1,200-employee media company.

Bar Admissions

• Supreme Court of Ohio.
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
• U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• U.S. Supreme Court.

Education

• B.A., Miami University.
• J.D., University of Akron School of Law.
• EMBA, Ashland University.

Honors & Awards

• SuperLawyer designation in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
• Distinguished Leader Award, 2013, Leadership Akron.

Professional Affiliations

• Akron Bar Association Foundation, Board of Governors, 2011 – 2015.
• Ohio Bar Association, member, 1997 – present. Frequent presenter at Media Law conference.
• Summit County Public Defender’s Commission, 2011 – present.

Community Involvement

• Board of Trustees, Stark State College, 2019 – present.
• Board of Directors, Akron Roundtable, 2015 – present.
• Board of Directors, Goodwill, Inc., 2009 – 2018. Honorary director, 2019 – present.
• Board of Directors, Project Learn, Inc., 2008 – 2014; board president in 2013-2014.
• Leadership Akron, Class XXIII.
• Member, Akron Rotary, 2017 – present.
• Member, Greater Akron Chamber Small Business Council, 2015 – present.
• Founding member, WUTNGA, 2014 – present.
• Women’s Endowment Fund Advisory Board, of Akron Community Foundation, 2004-2013.
• Co-Chair, Women’s Endowment Fund campaign to raise $2.013 million in 2013.

Email: [email protected]

Office: 330-864-2003

Cell: 330-606-8299