Columbus, OH

James E. Arnold

James E. Arnold is recognized as one of Ohio's top trial lawyers. He was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2005, which is limited to the top 1% of trial lawyers in the United States. He was inducted into the International College of Trial Lawyers in 2016, which is limited to the top 500 trial lawyers in the United States under the age of 70. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America in six different fields (Securities Litigation, Bet-The-Company Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation, Commercial Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation (both plaintiffs and defense). Best Lawyers recognized him as the Securities Litigation Lawyer of the Year in 2012, Intellectual Property Lawyer of the Year in 2014, and Bet-The Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year in 2013 and 2021. In addition, Mr. Arnold has been recognized by Ohio Super Lawyers continuously from 2004-2023, frequently naming him among the top 10 trial lawyers in the State (ranked first in 2012). Columbus' Business First has consistently ranked him among the top 5 lawyers in the City of Columbus.

Michael J. Rourke

Michael J. Rourke is recognized as one of the top personal injury lawyers in Ohio, having successfully recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for clients in medical malpractice, truck and car litigation, and product liability cases. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and has been consistently honored by Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America since 2002.

John Fitch

John Fitch is a top-rated Ohio personal injury lawyer with over thirty years of experience. John Fitch is the principal and founder of The Fitch Law Firm, and has handled hundreds of complex damage cases, including catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases arising out of automobile, medical negligence and product liability claims. John Fitch Fitch is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer review rating possible and has been awarded a 10/10 Superb Rating by independent attorney review organization AVVO.

Bernard Layne III

Bernard Layne III, a founding partner of Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC, grew up in West Virginia and was instilled with values of hard work and education. He became a successful legal advocate for injured working-class individuals in West Virginia and Ohio. He earned a baseball scholarship to the University of Charleston, where he was recognized as the top Political Science student and served as Student Body President. He holds a Master of Arts in Sociology from The Ohio University and a Juris Doctor from The University of Dayton School of Law (1999). His career has focused on protecting the rights of injured and disadvantaged citizens, successfully litigating against corporate entities in cases involving asbestos, coal mining negligence, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and product liability. In 2021, he helped expand the firm to Columbus, OH. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the West Virginia Association for Justice (WVAJ) in 2005 and served as its president from 2013-2014. He is also a member of the American Association for Justice and the Southern Trial Lawyers organization. He was appointed to the University of Charleston Board of Trustees and named Alumnus of the Year in 2014. He holds an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell (2013) and has been recognized by West Virginia Super Lawyers since 2018. He is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

Brian G. Miller

Brian G. Miller is the founder and President of Brian G. Miller Co., LLC, an Ohio personal injury law firm. He focuses on representing individuals injured due to negligence, with a comprehensive practice including motor vehicle accidents, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, construction injuries, premises liability, workplace injuries, general negligence, slip and fall accidents, dog bites, and motorcycle/pedestrian accidents. He has achieved significant verdicts, including a nearly $35 million verdict in 2017, and serves as outside counsel to the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets. Brian has extensive trial experience as a former Assistant Franklin County Prosecutor and is recognized by numerous legal organizations for his skills.

Bob DeRose

Bob DeRose is Partner-in-Charge of Barkan Meizlish DeRose Cox, LLP's Workplace Litigation Department. He specializes in wage & hour/overtime issues, employment matters, and consumer claims. A 1991 graduate of the University of Dayton School of Law, he has recovered over $100 million in wages for employees. He has argued before state and federal courts, including the Ohio Supreme Court and multiple federal courts of appeals. He is a former President of the Ohio Association for Justice and the Workers Injury Law and Advocacy Group (WILG). He has been named one of the Best Lawyers in America since 2011 and a Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Ohio since 2007, and an Ohio Super Lawyer since 2005. He was voted Columbus' Lawyer of the Year in Employment Law by U.S. News and World Report in 2022 and 2023.

W. Cagney McCormick

W. Cagney McCormick has zealously represents injured plaintiffs across the nation since 2012. Our firm is the largest headquartered personal injury firm in North Texas working in over 16 states on a daily basis. He is the only Personal Injury attorney in the country licensed in 11 states and one federal district. Mr. McCormick is a native of the South Dallas area growing up in Desoto, Red Oak, Lancaster & Waxahachie while also spending time in California. W. Cagney McCormick has worked over 100,000 insurance claims for injured clients throughout the nation. He is the only Personal Injury Attorney in America to be licensed in 11 states and two federal districts. Mr. McCormick is a native of the South Dallas area growing up in Ellis County, Texas. He attended the University of Texas at Austin for his undergraduate degree. Mr. McCormick attended evening classes at St. Mary’s School of Law in San Antonio while working full-time at Dell Inc. In addition to managing a full-time corporate job and night school, Mr. McCormick completed a thesis focusing on cybersecurity law. His thesis was later published by Southern Methodist University School of Law. He spent extra time working in the school’s Center for Terrorism Law. When Mr. McCormick returned to the DFW area, he initiated the McCormick Law College Scholarship Program starting at Waxahachie High School in 2016. Each year successful students at WHS who attend the University of Texas at Austin are rewarded with college scholarships. McCormick Law Firm is also a proud sponsor of the WHS Cheer Squad, Fort Worth Stock Show, 95.9 The Ranch: Ranch Bash, WHS Special Olympics, and various donations to back-to-school causes throughout DFW.