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
- Employee Benefits & ERISA
- Employment Law Training
- Executive Compensation
- Labor Relations
- Wage & Hour Compliance
- Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation
- Employment
- Benefits Claims Litigation
- Equal Opportunity / Anti-Discrimination Law
- Workplace Audits
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 Employment Law - Management (2013-2022); Labor Law - Management (2013-2022); and Labor Law - Union (2013-2022)
- Selected as an "Ohio Super Lawyer" by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine (2004-2022)
- 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
Juneteenth – A Legal Holiday in Ohio for Non-Teaching School District Employees? (May 11, 2022)
504 Regulations Will Be Amended: Get Your Comments In (May 10, 2022)
Legislation Passed by House of Representatives Would Expand Retirement Benefits (May 2, 2022)
Will Ohio Be Next in Allowing High School Athletes to Profit From NIL? (May 2, 2022)
Limitations on School District Participation in Tax Valuation Disputes Will Be Law (Apr 22, 2022)
Article
ERISA Compliance - Smart Business Akron/Canton (2007)
Presentations
"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)
"An Update on the Ever-Changing Legal Requirements for Employee Benefits and A Closer Look at Fiduciary Duty Claims" - Roetzel's Executive & Corporate Counsel Forum (November 2019)
"Fair Labor Standards Act as of 2019: Developments and Practical Solutions" - Roetzel Employment Services Webinar (2019)
Firm News
Twenty-Seven Roetzel Attorneys Selected to 2022 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars List (Dec 30, 2021)
74 Roetzel Attorneys Named 2022 Best Lawyers in America®; 18 Recognized as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (Aug 19, 2021)
Roetzel & Andress Seeks Mansfield Rule Certification to Boost Diversity (Jul 6, 2021)
Thirty Roetzel Attorneys Selected to 2021 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars List (Dec 8, 2020)
Seventy Roetzel Attorneys Named to 2021 The Best Lawyers in America© List; Ten Named “Lawyer of the Year” (Aug 20, 2020)
Services
- Employment Litigation
- Employee Benefits & ERISA
- Employment Law Training
- Executive Compensation
- Labor Relations
- Wage & Hour Compliance
- Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation
- Employment
- Benefits Claims Litigation
- Equal Opportunity / Anti-Discrimination Law
- Workplace Audits
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 Employment Law - Management (2013-2022); Labor Law - Management (2013-2022); and Labor Law - Union (2013-2022)
- Selected as an "Ohio Super Lawyer" by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine (2004-2022)
- 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
Juneteenth – A Legal Holiday in Ohio for Non-Teaching School District Employees? (May 11, 2022)
504 Regulations Will Be Amended: Get Your Comments In (May 10, 2022)
Legislation Passed by House of Representatives Would Expand Retirement Benefits (May 2, 2022)
Will Ohio Be Next in Allowing High School Athletes to Profit From NIL? (May 2, 2022)
Limitations on School District Participation in Tax Valuation Disputes Will Be Law (Apr 22, 2022)
Article
ERISA Compliance - Smart Business Akron/Canton (2007)
Presentations
"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)
"An Update on the Ever-Changing Legal Requirements for Employee Benefits and A Closer Look at Fiduciary Duty Claims" - Roetzel's Executive & Corporate Counsel Forum (November 2019)
"Fair Labor Standards Act as of 2019: Developments and Practical Solutions" - Roetzel Employment Services Webinar (2019)
Firm News
Twenty-Seven Roetzel Attorneys Selected to 2022 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars List (Dec 30, 2021)
74 Roetzel Attorneys Named 2022 Best Lawyers in America®; 18 Recognized as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (Aug 19, 2021)
Roetzel & Andress Seeks Mansfield Rule Certification to Boost Diversity (Jul 6, 2021)
Thirty Roetzel Attorneys Selected to 2021 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars List (Dec 8, 2020)
Seventy Roetzel Attorneys Named to 2021 The Best Lawyers in America© List; Ten Named “Lawyer of the Year” (Aug 20, 2020)