Paul L. Jackson
President, Shareholder
222 South Main Street
Suite 400
Akron, OH 44308
P 330.849.6657
F 330.376.4577
P 330.849.6657 | F 330.376.4577
Overview
Paul helps businesses respond to the full range of employment challenges. He guides them through complex employee benefit and regulatory compliance matters. He negotiates collective bargaining agreements. And he helps employers navigate virtually every type of employment-related issue, from hiring to firing and everything in-between. Paul has particular strengths defending clients in federal and state court cases involving discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination (including whistleblower claims), wage and hour matters, workplace safety matters, and state law torts through all stages of litigation, including appeal.
Paul has prevailed in numerous jury trials and dozens of arbitrations on behalf of large employers, medium-sized businesses, and municipalities. In one highly emotional case that drew attention from national media, he defended a smaller city against claims of racism and harassment in its fire department, bringing the matter to a successful conclusion. After his client received a defense verdict, the employee remained with the fire department as an integral part of the team.
Clients appreciate his commitment to their goals and success, like the mid-sized manufacturing company that had less than a day and a half to renegotiate a union contract before workers walked out on strike. Under Paul’s leadership, the company and union stayed in negotiations – more than 20 hours straight – until they’d reached an agreement to avoid the strike and keep production lines running. He has negotiated over 75 collective bargaining agreements, prevailed in dozens of labor arbitrations, and regularly handles traditional labor law matters adverse to labor unions, including NLRB proceedings, union avoidance, and organizing campaigns.
Along with serving as President of Roetzel & Andress, Paul is a member of the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee.
Experience
- Has a long history in representing public universities as to employment/discrimination, Title IX and investigatory matters
- Successfully represented a public university against a Title IX claim of unequal support in an athletic program
- Represented public universities against Title IX claims alleging discrimination in an education program
- Tried case to a defense verdict on behalf of a company in a lawsuit in which an employee claimed race and age discrimination in response to a Reduction in Force (RIF).
- Led the successful defense of an employer against a Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) collective action claiming that employer had not paid for travel time between work assignments.
- Obtained a defense verdict for a city as to claims of harassment brought by an employee.
- Successfully represented a large non-profit before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against a claim that the employer had unlawfully interfered with a union election.
Services
- Employment Litigation
- Labor Relations
- Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation
- Employment Services & Counseling
Industries
Education
-
The University of Akron School of Law,
J.D.
- summa cum laude
-
The University of Akron,
B.S.,
Accounting
- summa cum laude
Credentials
Bar Admissions
- Ohio
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
Certifications
- Certified as a Specialist for Labor and Employment Law by the Ohio State Bar Association
Recognitions
- AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
- Named to The Best Lawyers in America® for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law (2025); Employment Law - Management (2013-2025); Labor Law - Management (2013-2023); Labor Law - Union (2013-2023); and Litigation -Labor and Employment (2024-2025)
- Selected as an "Ohio Super Lawyer" by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine (2004-2024)
- Passed all parts of American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) examination
Affiliations
Professional Affiliations
- Akron Bar Association
- Ohio State Bar Association
Community Affiliations
- Community Support Services, Past Board President
- United Disability Services, Past Board President
- All-American Soap Box Derby, Honorary Director
- United Way Administrative Committee, Member
- Grace Church of Rootstown, Chairman of the Board of Elders
Insights
Alerts
Minimum Salary Amounts for Overtime Exemptions Set to Increase Again as of January 1 (Oct 25, 2024)
U.S. Court of Appeals Throws Out and Simplifies Federal Tip Credit Rule (Aug 26, 2024)
United States Supreme Court Holds That Involuntary Job Transfers Can Violate Title VII (Apr 26, 2024)
Department of Labor Raises Threshold Limits for Bona Fide Exempt Employees in Final Rule (Apr 24, 2024)
Federal Trade Commission Follows Through on Promise to Issue Rule Banning Virtually All Non-Compete Agreements (Apr 23, 2024)
Article
ERISA Compliance - Smart Business Akron/Canton (2007)
Presentations
"And the Pendulum Swings (Back): The Union Boom" - Roetzel Labor & Employment Symposium: State of the Workplace 2023 (September 2023)
"And the Pendulum Swings (Back): The Union Boom" - Roetzel Labor & Employment Symposium: Transformation of the Workplace (2022)
"Top 10 Employment Law Developments 2020" - Roetzel 2020 Employment Law Briefing Webinar (November 2020)
"Things Your Employment Lawyers Want you to Know!" - Akron Area Society for Human Resource Management Legal Update (August 2020)
"Fiduciary Webinar" - Enzo Financial & Roetzel Webinar (July 2020)
Firm News
100 Roetzel Attorneys Named 2025 Best Lawyers®, “Ones to Watch” (Aug 15, 2024)
19 Roetzel Attorneys Named Ohio Super Lawyers/Rising Stars (Dec 29, 2023)
Roetzel & Andress Earns Recognition in 2024 Best Lawyers (Aug 17, 2023)
22 Roetzel Attorneys Named 2023 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars (Dec 29, 2022)
Roetzel Attorneys Recognized in 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America® (Aug 18, 2022)
Services
- Employment Litigation
- Labor Relations
- Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation
- Employment Services & Counseling
Industries
Overview
Paul helps businesses respond to the full range of employment challenges. He guides them through complex employee benefit and regulatory compliance matters. He negotiates collective bargaining agreements. And he helps employers navigate virtually every type of employment-related issue, from hiring to firing and everything in-between. Paul has particular strengths defending clients in federal and state court cases involving discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination (including whistleblower claims), wage and hour matters, workplace safety matters, and state law torts through all stages of litigation, including appeal.
Paul has prevailed in numerous jury trials and dozens of arbitrations on behalf of large employers, medium-sized businesses, and municipalities. In one highly emotional case that drew attention from national media, he defended a smaller city against claims of racism and harassment in its fire department, bringing the matter to a successful conclusion. After his client received a defense verdict, the employee remained with the fire department as an integral part of the team.
Clients appreciate his commitment to their goals and success, like the mid-sized manufacturing company that had less than a day and a half to renegotiate a union contract before workers walked out on strike. Under Paul’s leadership, the company and union stayed in negotiations – more than 20 hours straight – until they’d reached an agreement to avoid the strike and keep production lines running. He has negotiated over 75 collective bargaining agreements, prevailed in dozens of labor arbitrations, and regularly handles traditional labor law matters adverse to labor unions, including NLRB proceedings, union avoidance, and organizing campaigns.
Along with serving as President of Roetzel & Andress, Paul is a member of the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee.
Experience
- Has a long history in representing public universities as to employment/discrimination, Title IX and investigatory matters
- Successfully represented a public university against a Title IX claim of unequal support in an athletic program
- Represented public universities against Title IX claims alleging discrimination in an education program
- Tried case to a defense verdict on behalf of a company in a lawsuit in which an employee claimed race and age discrimination in response to a Reduction in Force (RIF).
- Led the successful defense of an employer against a Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) collective action claiming that employer had not paid for travel time between work assignments.
- Obtained a defense verdict for a city as to claims of harassment brought by an employee.
- Successfully represented a large non-profit before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against a claim that the employer had unlawfully interfered with a union election.
Education
-
The University of Akron School of Law,
J.D.
- summa cum laude
-
The University of Akron,
B.S.,
Accounting
- summa cum laude
Credentials
Bar Admissions
- Ohio
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
Certifications
- Certified as a Specialist for Labor and Employment Law by the Ohio State Bar Association
Recognitions
- AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
- Named to The Best Lawyers in America® for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law (2025); Employment Law - Management (2013-2025); Labor Law - Management (2013-2023); Labor Law - Union (2013-2023); and Litigation -Labor and Employment (2024-2025)
- Selected as an "Ohio Super Lawyer" by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine (2004-2024)
- Passed all parts of American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) examination
Affiliations
Professional Affiliations
- Akron Bar Association
- Ohio State Bar Association
Community Affiliations
- Community Support Services, Past Board President
- United Disability Services, Past Board President
- All-American Soap Box Derby, Honorary Director
- United Way Administrative Committee, Member
- Grace Church of Rootstown, Chairman of the Board of Elders
Insights
Alerts
Minimum Salary Amounts for Overtime Exemptions Set to Increase Again as of January 1 (Oct 25, 2024)
U.S. Court of Appeals Throws Out and Simplifies Federal Tip Credit Rule (Aug 26, 2024)
United States Supreme Court Holds That Involuntary Job Transfers Can Violate Title VII (Apr 26, 2024)
Department of Labor Raises Threshold Limits for Bona Fide Exempt Employees in Final Rule (Apr 24, 2024)
Federal Trade Commission Follows Through on Promise to Issue Rule Banning Virtually All Non-Compete Agreements (Apr 23, 2024)
Article
ERISA Compliance - Smart Business Akron/Canton (2007)
Presentations
"And the Pendulum Swings (Back): The Union Boom" - Roetzel Labor & Employment Symposium: State of the Workplace 2023 (September 2023)
"And the Pendulum Swings (Back): The Union Boom" - Roetzel Labor & Employment Symposium: Transformation of the Workplace (2022)
"Top 10 Employment Law Developments 2020" - Roetzel 2020 Employment Law Briefing Webinar (November 2020)
"Things Your Employment Lawyers Want you to Know!" - Akron Area Society for Human Resource Management Legal Update (August 2020)
"Fiduciary Webinar" - Enzo Financial & Roetzel Webinar (July 2020)
Firm News
100 Roetzel Attorneys Named 2025 Best Lawyers®, “Ones to Watch” (Aug 15, 2024)
19 Roetzel Attorneys Named Ohio Super Lawyers/Rising Stars (Dec 29, 2023)
Roetzel & Andress Earns Recognition in 2024 Best Lawyers (Aug 17, 2023)
22 Roetzel Attorneys Named 2023 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars (Dec 29, 2022)
Roetzel Attorneys Recognized in 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America® (Aug 18, 2022)