Ryan T. Smith

Representative Experience

• Served as lead counsel in the successful defense of class grievance arbitration on behalf of an area hospital system regarding the closure of specialty units.
• Represented a university in collective bargaining negotiations with four separate unions.
• Represented multi-employer manufacturing association in collective bargaining negotiations with the United Steelworkers Union.
• Won a preliminary injunction hearing on behalf of a physician and a large hospital system against allegations of wrongful interference with a non-competition agreement.
• Served as lead negotiator for area hospital systems in bargaining contracts with nurses and support personnel.
• Obtained summary judgment for a hospital system in the successful defense of employment discrimination claims by former employees.
• Serve as primary labor and employment counsel for an area hospital system to provide daily counseling regarding performance and conduct issues, draft and review employment policies and contracts, and advise and represent the hospital concerning collective bargaining matters and labor arbitrations.
• Obtained summary dismissal on behalf of area employer in wage and hour collective action involving approximately 2,000 putative class members.

• Involved in all aspects of labor law for local public school districts and municipalities including, representing employers in unfair labor practice charges before State Employment Relations Board, processing grievances and advising on disciplinary investigations and proceedings, and representing employers in contract negotiations and labor arbitrations.

Education & Admissions

Education

• The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2011
• Miami University, B.S., 2007

Bar and Court Admissions

• State of Ohio
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
• U.S District Court, Southern District of Indiana
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit

Involvement

Professional Affiliations

• Cleveland Employment American Inn of Court, Member (2017 – Present)
• Ohio State Bar Association, Council of Delegates (2018 – Present)
• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, 3Rs Program
• Ohio Public Employer Labor Relations Association (OPELRA) Newsletter (Winter 2014)
• Dayton Bar Association Leadership Development Program, Graduate (Class of 2013)

Community Involvement

• College Now Mentoring Program, Mentor (2019 – Present)
• West Side Catholic Center, Volunteer

Awards & Honors

• Recognized by Chambers USA in the Labor and Employment category (2021)
• Named to The Best Lawyers in America® Ones to Watch list in Labor & Employment Law-Management and Litigation-Labor & Employment (2021 – 2024)
• Named to the Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Stars list (2018 – 2021)

Publications

• “Labor Law Developments Clear the Path for Growing Unionization in Cannabis,” (Co-Author) Cannabis Business Times (March 2024)

• “EEOC Identifies Strategic Enforcement Issues for Next Five Years,” Frantz Ward Labor & Employment Law Navigator (October 2023)
• “On Again, Off Again: NLRB Holds that Employers May Not Discontinue Dues Deductions Upon Expiration of a Collective Bargaining Agreement,” Frantz Ward Labor & Employment Navigator (October 2022)
• “Ohio Legislature Passes Senate Bill 47 to Clarify Ohio’s Overtime Law – But in the Process, Leaves Unanswered Questions and Potentially Expands Employers’ Overtime Obligations,” Frantz Ward Labor & Employment Navigator (April 2022)
• “Recent Decisions Highlight Inconsistencies As Courts Try To Determine The Circumstances In Which Covid-19 Constitutes A “Disability” Under The ADA,” Frantz Ward Labor & Employment Navigator (April 2022)
• “NLRB General Counsel Sets the Stage for Major Change to Handbook Rules,” (Co-Author) Frantz Ward Labor & Employment Navigator (March 2022)
• “Timeout! NLRB General Counsel Says Student-Athletes Are Employees Who Can Unionize,” (Co-Author) Frantz Ward Labor & Employment Navigator (October 2021)
• “NLRB GC sends another warning shot, indicating full panoply of remedies are available,” (Co-Author) Frantz Ward Labor & Employment Navigator (September 2021)
• “NLRB General Counsel Issues 10(j) Warning Notice,” Frantz Ward Labor & Employment Navigator (August 2021)
• “NLRB General Counsel Releases Issue Priorities Memorandum,” (Co-Author) Frantz Ward Labor & Employment Navigator (August 2021)
• “NLRB’s General Motors Decision Facilitates Return to Workplace Civility,” Frantz Ward Labor & Employment Navigator (July 2020)
• “EEOC Announces Deadline for Employers to Submit 2019 and 2020 EEO-1 Data,” Frantz Ward Labor & Employment Navigator (April 2021)
• “Department of Labor Updates Informal Guidance as to Families First Coronavirus Response Act,” Frantz Ward Client Alert (March 2020)
• “Families First Coronavirus Act Signed Into Law,” Frantz Ward Client Alert (March 2020)
• “Families First Coronavirus Response Act,” Frantz Ward Labor & Employment Navigator (March 2020)
• “Not Quite Bulletproof: Recent Decisions Remind Employers to Draft Mandatory Arbitration Agreements Carefully Despite Strong Supreme Court Approval,” Frantz Ward Labor & Employment Navigator (February 2020)
• “NLRB Issues Welcome Changes to Union Election Procedures,” Frantz Ward Labor & Employment Navigator (December 2019)
• “U.S. Department of Labor Announces Proposed Rules Regarding Tip Credits and Tip Pooling,” Frantz Ward Labor and Employment Navigator (October 2019)
• “Reminder and Insights Regarding the Deadline to Submit EEO-1 Component-2 Pay Data By September 30, 2019,” Frantz Ward Labor and Employment Navigator (September 2019)
• “Reminder and Insights Regarding the Deadine to Submit EEO-1 Component-2 Pay Data By September 30, 2019,” Ohio Manufacturing Association Newsletter (September 2019)
• “Trends in Wage and Hour Litigation: Employer Time-Rounding Policies,” Ohio Matters (July/August 2019)
• “Revisiting Agreements to Shorten the Time Period for Filing Employment Lawsuits,” Frantz Ward Labor and Employment Navigator (July 2019)
• “U.S. Supreme Court to Decide Whether Title VII Includes Workplace Gay and Transgender Protection,” Frantz Ward Labor & Employment Navigator (April 2019)
• “What to Do with Exiting Employees’ Unused Vacation Time?  Stick to Your Policy, Says Ohio Court of Appeals,” Frantz Ward Labor & Employment Navigator (July 2018)
• “Trump’s New NLRB General Counsel Signals Close Scrutiny of Obama-Era Labor Decisions,” Frantz Ward Labor & Employment Navigator (December 2017)
• “Obama-Era Workplace Laws on the Decline: Overtime Rule, Form EEO-1 Revisions Invalidated,” Frantz Ward Labor & Employment Navigator (September 2017)
• “Distance Yourself: Avoiding Joint Employer Liability,” Properties Magazine (July 2017)

• “Asking Job Applicants for Salary Histories? Use Caution,” Frantz Ward Labor & Employment Navigator (June 2017)
• “Halt! Federal Court Blocks New Overtime Rule, Prevents Changes From Taking Effect on December 1,”  Frantz Ward Labor & Employment Navigator (November 2016)
• “Department of Labor Issues Final Rule Requiring Federal Contractors to Provide Employees Paid Sick Leave,” Frantz Ward Labor & Employment Navigator (October 2016)
• “A Cadillac or a Lemon? Public-Sector Collective Bargaining, The Affordable Care Act, and The Mandatory Excise Tax on High-End Healthcare Plans,” Ohio Public Employers Labor Relations Association (OPELRA) Newsletter (Winter 2014)
• “MySpace or MyEmployer’s Space? Protecting Ownership of Employees’ Corporate Social Media Activity,” Miami Valley Human Resources Association (MVHRA) Newsletter (February 2014)
• “The Technology Paradox in the Workplace: Tips for Balancing the Legal Risks and Rewards of Monitoring Employees’ Electronic Activities on Company Devices and Networks,” Miami Valley Human Resources Association (MVHRA) Newsletter (November 2013)
• “The Affordable Care Act—Surviving Implementation,” Focus Magazine, Dayton Chamber of Commerce (Spring 2013)
• “What You Know Can Hurt You: Conducting Effective Interviews While Limiting Legal Exposure,” The Young Lawyer, American Bar Association (2013)

Presentations & Lectures

• Co-Presenter, “Avoiding Ill-Eagle Hiring Practices,” Frantz Ward Labor & Employment Seminar (June 2023)
• Co-Presenter, “Leave Issues Today: Analyzing the Interaction of the ADA, FMLA, and Today’s COVID Leave Issues,” Frantz Ward Labor and Employment Seminar (June 2022)
• “Vaccine Passports & HR Issues,” Ohio Cast Metals Association, HR Committee (June 2021)
• “Construction Labor Today: Recent and Upcoming Policy, Legislative, Regulatory, and Administrative Updates,” Advice From the Trench Frantz Ward Construction Webinar (May 2021)
• “COVID-19 Vaccine Policies and Pitfalls,” Construction Employers Association (CEA) Webinar (March 2020)
• “Forging a New Path: Rethinking Disability Accommodations in Light of the Pandemic, Changing Technology, and Other Emerging Issues,” Frantz Ward Labor and Employment Webinar (November 2020)
• “COVID Commentary: Unemployment and Workers’ Compensation Issues,” Frantz Ward Webinar (May 2020)
• “Wage and Hour Developments: New Overtime Rules, FLSA Litigation Trends and Proactive Steps to Avoid Liability,” Frantz Ward Labor and Employment Law Seminar, Cleveland, OH (May 2019)
• “What You Know Can Hurt You: Conducting Effective Interviews While Limiting Legal Exposure,” The Young Lawyer, American Bar Association (2013)
• “Mammoth Complications in Compensation,” Frantz Ward Labor and Employment Law Seminar, Cleveland, OH (May 2018)
• “Medical Marijuana in Ohio,” Regional Chamber of Commerce HR Hot Topics (July 2017)
• Panelist, “Lost in the Rainforest? You’re Not Alone: Substance Abuse and Drug Testing,” Frantz Ward Labor and Employment Law Seminar, Cleveland, OH (May 2017)
• “HR Hot Topics: FLSA & Part-Time Workers’ Bill of Rights,” Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, Poland, OH (December 2016)

Media Coverage

• Mentioned in, “Frantz Ward Elects Reed, Smith to Partnership,“ Properties Magazine(February 2021)
• Mentioned in, “Lawyers, Firms Receive Recognition,” Cleveland Jewish News (January 2021)