Larry James has been at the heart of the Columbus business, legal, civic, and political scene for the last thirty years. He is a respected litigator, as well as an advisor to local and national leaders. In recognition of his many achievements, the law firm changed its name from Crabbe, Brown, Jones, Potts & Schmidt to Crabbe, Brown & James in January 2001. In 2011, The Ohio State University selected Mr. James as lead counsel to represent its student athletes in NCAA investigations. In 2013, Armen Keteyian published his book The System: The Glory and Scandal of Big-Time College Football, a chapter of which is dedicated to Larry’s work in representing the OSU football players. In 2012, Mr. James and his wife, Donna, were awarded the American Red Cross of Greater Columbus’ Humanitarians of the Year Award. In 2015, noted journalist Wil Haygood published his award-winning book Showdown: Thurgood Marshall and the Supreme Court Nomination That Changed America, which he dedicated to Mr. James. Mr. James is a life member of the Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference, and he has served as General Counsel of the National Fraternal Order of Police since 2001. He is also co-founder of the African-American Leadership Academy and a member of the Board of Trustees of Kenyon College. Practice Areas Business/Corporate General Defense Litigation Employment Law Professional Accomplishments 2014-2020 Board Member of Franklin County Guardianship Services 2011-2021 Trustee of the Kenyon College Board 2018-2019 Chair United Way Tocqueville 2018 Chair of Harlem Renaissance 100 Year Celebration for the City of Columbus 2009-2018 President of the Lincoln Theatre Association Board 2012-2015 Board Member Cleveland Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2003-2010 Founder & Chair of the African American Leadership Academy 2002-2005 Board of Trustees Greater Columbus Arts Council 1987-2005 President Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Performing & Cultural Arts 2002-2004 Co-Chair Neighborhood School Development Partnership for the Columbus Public Schools 1992-2002 Board of Trustees Columbus Museum of Art 1992-1997 Board Member Rickenbacker Port Authority 1992-1996 Board of Trustees Greater Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau 1992-1995 Board of Trustees Columbus Zoo 1990-1992 Board of Directors Contemporary American Theater Company (CATCO) 1989-1992 Member Ohio Supreme Court’s Board of Bar Examiners 1987-1989 Board of Trustees Columbus Urban League 1985-1989 Board of Trustees Veteran’s Memorial 1984-1989 Chairman Ohio Elections Commission
Bar Admissions United States Court of Appeals First, Fourth, Sixth, Seventh, and Ninth Circuits United States Supreme Court United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan Boards & Commissions 2018 Chair of Harlem Renaissance Celebration 2014-Present Board Member of Franklin County Guardianship Services 2011-Present Trustee of the Kenyon College Board 2009-2018 President of the Lincoln Theatre Association Board Education Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Juris Doctor, 1977 Wittenberg University, B.A. Political Science, 1974
Ikechukwu "Ike" Ekeke, JD, LLM, Criminal Lawyer turned IP Strategist, founded ECS&S, LLC. ECS&S, LLC strives to provide consultations, strategies, and solutions to people and businesses regarding starting a business, protecting their intellectual property and brands, and negotiating and mediating disputes.
Though Ike no longer teaches at Case Western Reserve University School of Law (CWRU Law) or its Clinics within Milton A. Kramer Law Clinic, Ike contributes to his alma mater when he remotely coaches the CWRU Law Black Law Student Association Mock Trial Team, who under his stewardship won 3rd Place at the National Competition in 2019 and multiple regional awards in other years.
Additionally, Ike investigates complaints made by the citizens of Cincinnati regarding constitutional and administrative violations as well as supervises the legal internship program for the Citizen's Complaint Authority in Cincinnati.
David represents clients in the construction, health care, and insurance industries in breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, indemnification, and subrogation actions among others. He has also represented clients in the banking, technology, and food production industries in various civil cases, including breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, and securities actions, as well as clients in the food service and manufacturing industries in employment litigation and employment counseling matters. He has assisted in all parts of litigation practice, including serving as second-chair counsel in a jury trial, briefing and arguing an appeal before the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals, taking depositions, conducting written discovery, and arguing pretrial motions. Related Practices Litigation Education University of Michigan Law School, 2015, J.D. Dean’s Scholarship University of Michigan, 2013, B.A. in Philosophy High Honors Credentials Ohio U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio Recognitions Listed, The Best Lawyers in America©: Ones to Watch, Commercial Litigation, 2022
Shaka S.J. Sadler is an associate of Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C. and a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She concentrates her practice in the area of general litigation with a particular emphasis in employment and labor law.
Ms. Sadler has ample experience representing private and public sector employers in both state and federal court. She handles a wide range of employment and labor matters, including discrimination disputes, wage and hour cases, and wrongful termination claims. Ms. Sadler also counsels employers in an array of complex employment and labor matters involving union grievances, labor relations, non-compete agreements, employee discipline, and reductions in force.
Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Sadler practiced locally in Cleveland.
Bar Admissions
Education
- Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D. (2016)
- Allegheny College, B.S. (2012)
Depth and variation describe the public finance practice of John over the past 30 years. He has participated in traditional issue, economic development, and health care transactions and served as bond, underwriter, disclosure, and bank counsel for the issuance of tax-exempt and taxable bonds, notes and lease obligations in transactions throughout Ohio and Kentucky. He has served as bond and/or disclosure counsel for every general obligation, economic development revenue, and water revenue bond issue of the City of Cincinnati since 2006. He also has served as bond and disclosure counsel for the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government for every general obligation issue since 2008. In 2017, he led the Dinsmore team which was selected as bond and disclosure counsel for the City of Dayton. Additionally, he has served as bond, underwriter, and/or bank counsel for traditional issue financings related to schools and universities, transportation, and water and sewer projects. These include bond and lease structures for new money transactions, advance refundings (including crossover structures), and current refundings. These financings have included features such as governmental master trust agreements and subordinated debt. As bond, underwriter, and/or bank counsel for health care & other 501(c)(3) conduit transactions, John has experience with financing structures involving master trust indentures, leases, and financing agreements for private placements. Prior to entering into private practice, John participated in public finance transactions in various positions with the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Education University of Kentucky College of Law (J.D., 1982) Morehead State University (B.A., cum laude, 1979) Bar Admissions Ohio Kentucky Georgia District of Columbia Affiliations/Memberships National Association of Bond Lawyers Association for Governmental Leasing & Finance Cincinnati Bar Association Black Lawyers Association of Cincinnati Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC), board member Cincinnati Art Museum, board member Morehead State University Foundation, Inc., board member Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance, board member American College of Bond Counsel, Membership Selection Committee Thelma Merchant Scholarship Foundation, Inc., founder Distinctions Ohio Super Lawyers ®