Alexander C. Karcher

Of Counsel
Columbus
41 South High Street
Huntington Center, 21st Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
P 614.636.1966
F 614.463.9792
P 614.636.1966 | F 614.463.9792

Overview

Alex’s practice is focused on the modern supply chain, assisting transportation and logistics clients in a wide array of matters, including regulatory and compliance, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (and state equivalent) audit representation, safety consulting, contract review and drafting – such as broker-carrier, shipper-carrier, independent contractor/owner operator, and warehousing agreements – and obtainment of state and federal motor carrier and brokerage authorities. In addition, a large portion of Alex’s practice involves transactional matters, including due diligence work specific to transactions involving significant transportation components. Having handled a variety of business-to-business and transportation-related cases, such as prosecution and defense of Carmack claims, and employment disputes, Alex is also an experienced litigator in state and federal courts throughout the country.

Experience
  • Obtained a six-figure judgment against the State of Ohio Department of Transportation for damages caused to client’s power unit and property by a snow plow driver 
  • Obtained a $250,000 judgment against a large Amazon freight broker and successfully obtained the dismissal of the freight broker’s six-figure counterclaims 
  • Favorably defended a motor carrier/broker client and resolved a $12,000,000 breach of contract claim brought on behalf of a major freight broker alleging violations of a non-solicitation and non-competition clause 
  • Successfully consulted with a large tanker client following an adverse tanker explosion to rebuild the motor carrier’s safety and compliance program, thereby avoiding any adverse audit findings
Services

Industries

Education

  1. The Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law, J.D.
    • Degree Certificate Recipient, Moritz College of Law Alternative Dispute Resolution Program
    • The Ohio State University Journal of Criminal Law, Staff Editor
    • CALI Award in Excellence, Pre-Trial Litigation
    • CALI Award in Excellence, E-Discovery Law
    • Research Assistant to Dean Nancy H. Rogers, Divided Community Project
    • Ohio Supreme Court Certified Mediator
    • President, Moritz College of Law Truancy Mediation Project
       
  2. Carthage College, B.A., History
    • cum laude

Credentials

Bar Admissions
  1. Ohio
  2. Wisconsin
Court Admissions
  1. U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
  2. U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
  3. U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
  4. U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
  5. U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
Certifications
  • Mediation Certification, Ohio Supreme Court

Recognitions

  • Nomination and Graduate of the Ohio Trucking Association Emerge OTA Leadership Program (2020-2021)
  • Selected to Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Transportation Law (2024)
  • Central Ohio's Top Lawyers, Columbus CEO Magazine (2022)

Affiliations

Professional Affiliations
  • The Ohio Trucking Association,
    • Board of Trustees, Member
    • Safety Council, Member & Vice-Chair (Present)
  • The Transportation Lawyers Association, Diversity Equity & Inclusion Committee and Association Member (Present)
  • Conference of Freight Counsel, Member
  • Columbus Bar Association, Member
  • Toledo Bar Association, Member
  • National LGBT Bar Association, Member

Insights

  1. Article
    Identifying a Community Spirit - Co-Author, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law's Divided Community Project (April 2019)
  2. Presentations
    "Fleet Safety Policies and Procedures" - Ohio Trucking Safety Council (October 2023)
    "COVID-19 Protocol for Trucking Companies" - Ohio Trucking Association (2021)
    "Updates to Ohio Independent Contractor Laws and Bureau of Workers' Compensation Considerations" - Ohio Trucking Association (2021)
    "In-Cab Technologies" - Ohio Trucking Association (2019)
  3. Firm News
    15 Roetzel Attorneys Named Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (Aug 17, 2023)
    Roetzel Expands Transportation & Logistics Team with Addition of Columbus Attorneys Greg Melick and Alex Karcher (Jan 21, 2022)

Overview

Alex’s practice is focused on the modern supply chain, assisting transportation and logistics clients in a wide array of matters, including regulatory and compliance, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (and state equivalent) audit representation, safety consulting, contract review and drafting – such as broker-carrier, shipper-carrier, independent contractor/owner operator, and warehousing agreements – and obtainment of state and federal motor carrier and brokerage authorities. In addition, a large portion of Alex’s practice involves transactional matters, including due diligence work specific to transactions involving significant transportation components. Having handled a variety of business-to-business and transportation-related cases, such as prosecution and defense of Carmack claims, and employment disputes, Alex is also an experienced litigator in state and federal courts throughout the country.

Experience
  • Obtained a six-figure judgment against the State of Ohio Department of Transportation for damages caused to client’s power unit and property by a snow plow driver 
  • Obtained a $250,000 judgment against a large Amazon freight broker and successfully obtained the dismissal of the freight broker’s six-figure counterclaims 
  • Favorably defended a motor carrier/broker client and resolved a $12,000,000 breach of contract claim brought on behalf of a major freight broker alleging violations of a non-solicitation and non-competition clause 
  • Successfully consulted with a large tanker client following an adverse tanker explosion to rebuild the motor carrier’s safety and compliance program, thereby avoiding any adverse audit findings

Education

  1. The Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law, J.D.
    • Degree Certificate Recipient, Moritz College of Law Alternative Dispute Resolution Program
    • The Ohio State University Journal of Criminal Law, Staff Editor
    • CALI Award in Excellence, Pre-Trial Litigation
    • CALI Award in Excellence, E-Discovery Law
    • Research Assistant to Dean Nancy H. Rogers, Divided Community Project
    • Ohio Supreme Court Certified Mediator
    • President, Moritz College of Law Truancy Mediation Project
       
  2. Carthage College, B.A., History
    • cum laude

Credentials

Bar Admissions
  1. Ohio
  2. Wisconsin
Court Admissions
  1. U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
  2. U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
  3. U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
  4. U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
  5. U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
Certifications
  • Mediation Certification, Ohio Supreme Court

Recognitions

  • Nomination and Graduate of the Ohio Trucking Association Emerge OTA Leadership Program (2020-2021)
  • Selected to Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Transportation Law (2024)
  • Central Ohio's Top Lawyers, Columbus CEO Magazine (2022)

Affiliations

Professional Affiliations
  • The Ohio Trucking Association,
    • Board of Trustees, Member
    • Safety Council, Member & Vice-Chair (Present)
  • The Transportation Lawyers Association, Diversity Equity & Inclusion Committee and Association Member (Present)
  • Conference of Freight Counsel, Member
  • Columbus Bar Association, Member
  • Toledo Bar Association, Member
  • National LGBT Bar Association, Member

Insights

  1. Article
    Identifying a Community Spirit - Co-Author, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law's Divided Community Project (April 2019)
  2. Presentations
    "Fleet Safety Policies and Procedures" - Ohio Trucking Safety Council (October 2023)
    "COVID-19 Protocol for Trucking Companies" - Ohio Trucking Association (2021)
    "Updates to Ohio Independent Contractor Laws and Bureau of Workers' Compensation Considerations" - Ohio Trucking Association (2021)
    "In-Cab Technologies" - Ohio Trucking Association (2019)
  3. Firm News
    15 Roetzel Attorneys Named Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (Aug 17, 2023)
    Roetzel Expands Transportation & Logistics Team with Addition of Columbus Attorneys Greg Melick and Alex Karcher (Jan 21, 2022)