G. Ross Bridgman
Columbus Office
Mr. Bridgman is a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and a member of the labor and employment practice group. Mr. Bridgman has represented large and small employers in employment litigation regarding termination, age, race sex, religious and disability discrimination matters, unlawful retaliation, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), breach of employment contract, breach of covenants not to compete and trade secrets. He also advises large and small employers on compliance with both state and federal legislation governing and regulating employment. Mr. Bridgman has represented employers in labor and labor litigation matters including collective bargaining (state and federal), administrative proceedings before both the State Employee Relations Board (SERB) and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), in arbitrations involving collective bargaining agreements and the administration of such agreements. He also counsels employers with respect to union organizational campaigns, representation, elections, strikes and picketing.
Mr. Bridgman also represents employers in the manufacturing and healthcare industries, as well as public and private colleges and universities with respect to their employment and labor litigation and labor issues. In addition he advises colleges and universities regarding university governance, student rights, discipline, faculty tenure, academic freedom, corporate compliance, state and federal regulatory compliance, including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Title IX, Title VI, Executive Order 11246, regulations of the Department of Education, the Cleary Act, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
In addition, Mr. Bridgman represents trade associations whose members are providers of mental health and drug/alcohol treatment services and service providers to the mentally retarded and developmentally disabled. He also represents individual providers in matters concerning certification and licensure and in administrative proceedings before the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services, the Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and the Ohio Department of Drug and Addiction Services.
Career highlights include:
- Representing since 1994 a large Cleveland based manufacturing company on a regional basis in its employment cases in Connecticut, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska
- Appearing before the Ohio Supreme Court in matters involving sovereign immunity, disability discrimination, prevailing wage law, public records and federal preemption
- Successfully defending public and private institutions in employment litigation and litigation arising out of tenure and promotion decisions
- Initiating and settling litigation which has and will result in fundamental changes in Medicaid administration and contract administration for providers of behavioral healthcare and MRDD (Mentally Retarded and Developmentally Disabled) services in Ohio
Mr. Bridgman is a member of the American Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Columbus Bar Association, the Ohio Management Lawyers Association and the National Association of College & University Attorneys. He is also a Fellow of The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, Inc.
Mr. Bridgman has made numerous law and policy related presentations in the state of Ohio and nationally concerning employment, labor, labor standards and alternative dispute resolution. He has also presented to the Ohio Council of Behavioral Healthcare Providers and the Ohio Provider Resource Association on topics concerning employment, labor, labor standards, behavioral healthcare, Medicaid and state law contracting.
Mr. Bridgman received his J.D. from the Northwestern University School of Law and was a member of the Northwestern Law Review and served on its Editorial Board. He received his B.A. cum laude and with honors from Yale University.
Honors and Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America, Labor and Employment Law, 1995–2008
- Ohio Super Lawyers, Employment and Labor, 2004-2008
- Chambers and Partners, Leading Lawyer in Labor and Employment, 2007-2008
- Fellow of The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers since 2003