Jan E. Hensel

Biography

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.

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/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