Jan E. Hensel

Partner

Jan counsels and defends employers in all aspects of employment law. She consults with employers of all sizes to help them comply with the myriad of state and federal employment laws that affect the workplace, including the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Title VII, and the Ohio Civil Rights Act. Jan frequently conducts onsite trainings and seminars to ensure that clients avoid employment pitfalls. She works closely with her clients to help them identify issues before they become problems and solve problems after they arise.

She is also an experienced workplace investigator. Jan frequently conducts investigations into claims of discrimination, harassment, and other workplace issues for firm clients, and as an independent third-party investigator. She has completed a two-week training institute conducted by the Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI), and in November 2021 became an AWI Certificate holder.

Jan has more than 30 years of experience litigating employment law cases in state and federal courts, representing employers before state and federal enforcement agencies, counselling employers on workplace issues, and conducting workplace investigations. She has tried cases and presented appeals in state and federal courts throughout Ohio and has represented clients before the Ohio Supreme Court.

Her courtroom experience includes representing employers in defending claims arising out of the FLSA, FMLA, ADA, ADEA, Title VII, wrongful discharge claims, breach of contract claims, and in non-competition litigation.

Jan is a frequent author, speaker, and trainer on employment law related topics.

Prior to joining the firm, she served as chair of the Employment & Workers’ Compensation practice group and the Diversity Committee at Buckingham, Doolittle and Burroughs.

Credentials

Education

The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law (J.D., with honors, 1988)

The Ohio State University (B.A., 1983)

Bar admissions

  • Ohio

Court admissions

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

Affiliations and memberships

  • Ohio State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Committee
  • Columbus Bar Association, Labor and Employment Committee
  • Association of Workplace Investigators
  • Women Lawyers of Franklin County
  • Ohio Women’s Bar Association

Distinctions

  • Peer Review Rated AV in Martindale-Hubbell
    • Preeminent Women Lawyers, Bar Register of (2013)
  • Chambers USA®: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Labor & Employment
  • 10 Lawyers of the Year in Ohio, Lawyers Weekly (1999)
  • Ohio Super Lawyers®
    • For Employment & Labor (2021)
    • Top 25 Women Attorneys, Columbus (2013, 2022, 2023)
  • Top Lawyers by Columbus CEO magazine
  • Best Lawyers®
    • Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment (2022,2024)
  • Certified Instructor, Ohio Judicial College

Publications
  • January 13, 2021

    Ohio’s HB 352 Simplifies and Clarifies Anti-Discrimination Statute

  • November 25, 2020

    Can Employers Mandate Employees to Take a COVID-19 Vaccine?

News
  • December 17, 2025

    30 Dinsmore Attorneys Named 2026 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

  • August 21, 2025

    260 Dinsmore Attorneys Listed as 2026 Best Lawyers®, Ones to Watch

  • December 17, 2024

    35 Dinsmore Attorneys Named 2025 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

  • August 15, 2024

    250+ Dinsmore Attorneys Named 2025 Best Lawyers ®, Ones to Watch

  • June 10, 2024

    Dinsmore Expands its Chambers and Partners Rankings with Top Honors Across Multiple States and Practice Areas

  • December 29, 2023

    Ohio Super Lawyers Recognizes 30 Dinsmore Attorneys on 2024 List

  • August 17, 2023

    200+ Dinsmore Attorneys Named 2024 Best Lawyers®, “Ones to Watch”

  • June 6, 2023

    Dinsmore’s Chambers USA 2023 Rankings Show Continued Growth Across the Firm

  • December 29, 2022

    Ohio Super Lawyers Honors 36 Dinsmore Attorneys

  • August 18, 2022

    2023 Best Lawyers® List Recognizes 190 Dinsmore & Shohl Attorneys

Events
  • March 2, 2023

    Sticky Business – Understanding the Emerging Cannabis Industry and its Impact on Employers

  • November 5, 2021

    OSBA Corporate Counsel Institute – CLE

  • November 20, 2020

    In-House and General Counsel Virtual Symposium

  • November 18, 2020

    Preparing for the Next Business Interruption: Best Practices and Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic