Robert Blackham

Growing up in Vermilion, OH, you had your choice of the military, the steel mill, or the Ford plant. Dad was a Marine Drill Instructor―one of those flat-topped guys you see hollering at terrified recruits in war movies. During high school, I worked the Ford line assembling van engines. I love the energy of an active factory floor. After working hard for 8 months, Ford promoted me; I may still hold the Ford record as the youngest Supervisor of hourly workers. We were all laid off during the 1980s oil embargo so I found my way into OSU where I worked security at night and graduated in 3 years. The next step was law school… mostly because of a girl. While there, I ran an apartment building, mopping floors and doing general maintenance at night, and attending school and serving as a Law Clerk at a small firm by day. I guess the point is, deep down I’m just a hard-working blue-collar guy with a law degree and I’m proud to work at a firm that embodies those characteristics. Most of us at Roetzel grew up with a chip on our shoulder. I like handling cases against lawyers who were born with a silver spoon, because I’m going to out-work and out-hustle them every time. We’re just as smart as our competitors, but in a tough corporate fight I’ll pick a hard-scrabble kid who worked his way through a city school to stand by my side every time. At Roetzel we’re focused on client service because we take nothing for granted. We’re honored to serve. As Chair, I have a simple philosophy―I give credit where it’s due, admit when I’m wrong, and lead by example. I’ve tried 30 cases to verdict and am one of the few Ohio lawyers to have dual certification by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a specialist in both Civil Trial Law and Civil Pre-Trial Practice and be a certified specialist in Ohio Worker's Comp. I enjoy running the firm but I’m never giving up my litigation practice; I’m committed to always being there for my clients. They’re my friends, I’m not going to let them down.