Joseph D.  Wheeler
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Dinsmore Adds 4 Associates in Columbus

January 21, 2020News Releases

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP continues to grow its presence in Columbus. The office has grown with the addition of four new associates: Joshua M. Cartee, H. Devon Collins, Scott T. Surovjak and Joseph D. Wheeler.

The new arrivals bring Dinsmore’s Columbus roster to 80 attorneys, making it the national firm’s second-largest office. It is the fourth-largest law firm in the Capital City, according to the 2019-2020 Columbus Business First book of lists.

Prior to joining Dinsmore, Cartee worked as an assistant attorney general, enforcing Ohio’s minimum wage and prevailing wage laws on behalf of the Department of Commerce. He focuses his practice on commercial litigation. Preceding his legal career, Cartee served on city council in Chillicothe, Ohio. He earned his J.D. from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, acting as the Ohio State Law Journal chief articles editor. Cartee didn’t always plan to being an attorney; he attended Oberlin College with dreams of becoming a concert pianist but majored in political science, which started his legal path.

H. Devon Collins started the year at Dinsmore coming from Littler Mendelson, P.C., where he represented employers in litigation and administrative investigations by the EEOC, OCRC, and OSHA. His experience representing employers in litigation and trials is a welcome addition to the firm’s labor department. Collins received his J.D. from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, where he served as editor-in-chief of the Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law, and B.A. in political science from Otterbein University, where he was president of the Rotaract Club and the Alpha Lambda Delta and Phi Eta Sigma National Honorary Society chapters.

Surovjak comes from Ice Miller LLP and focuses his practice on real estate law. Surovjak earned his J.D. from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and B.A. in political science from The Ohio State University. Prior to joining his legal profession, Surovjak was a political campaigner and played a part in three Democratic presidential races. When he’s not in the office, you can probably find Scott strolling through Columbus’ Short North neighborhood with his spouse, twin children, and dog.

Wheeler also earned his J.D. from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, where he was managing editor of the Ohio State Law Journal. After graduation, Wheeler spent a year as a legal fellow for OhioHealth, then continued his career as an associate with Porter Writer Morris & Arthur LLP. He joins Dinsmore’s health care practice group. His experience advising clients with operational fraud and abuse concerns and assisting defense of a False Claims Act qui tam action will help build his career. Prior to law school, Wheeler worked in field artillery and counterintelligence for the U.S. Army. He was an honor graduate from the Leadership Training course.