Former Ohio Justice to Join Jones Day

COLUMBUS, Jan. 3 -- The global law firm Jones Day announced today that former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Yvette McGee Brown will join as a partner in the firm's Columbus office where she will be part of Jones Day's Business and Tort Litigation practice. She served on the Court from January 2011 through December of 2012 after a long and distinguished judicial and public service career.

"As we continue to expand our capabilities throughout the Midwest, Yvette brings a terrific judicial perspective to our world class litigation practice," said Lyle Ganske, the partner responsible for coordinating the Firm's activities in Cleveland, Columbus, and Pittsburgh. "Her experience will be extremely valuable to our clients dealing with disputes throughout Ohio, the broader Midwest region, and around the world."

Justice McGee Brown brings experience deciding complex constitutional cases, regulatory, utility, health care and contract cases. She was first elected to the Franklin County Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations and Juvenile division, in 1992. She served on the Common Pleas Court until 2002, when she retired from the bench to create the Center for Child and Family Advocacy at Nationwide Children's Hospital. The Center is a nationally recognized multi-disciplinary child abuse and family violence program that co-locates prevention, assessment, treatment, research and advocacy services for children and families experiencing abuse. It redefines how hospitals, law enforcement and social welfare groups respond to children and families caught in the cycle of abuse. Justice McGee Brown also brings experience as a corporate leader, having served as a public company director for M/I Homes and on the board of Fifth Third Bank of Central Ohio.

"Yvette's arrival is a testament to the type of lawyers we have here in Columbus and throughout the firm," said Liza Kessler, Partner-in-Charge of Jones Day's Columbus office. "Not only does she have significant judicial experience at both the trial and appellate levels, but she is also a giant in the Columbus community with a well-deserved reputation for public service.  Yvette is an effective advocate who can relate to and connect with judges and juries and we are very excited about the talent she brings to Jones Day for our clients throughout the state of Ohio and around the world."

“I'm very excited to join Jones Day as the next step in my legal career," said Justice McGee Brown. "The opportunity to combine my diverse legal and public service experience with a law firm that has exceptional legal talent and a strong commitment to civic engagement is a great fit for me. I look forward to contributing my skills to such an outstanding team of lawyers and helping clients in Columbus and throughout Ohio."

Justice McGee Brown has been an active community leader in Columbus and throughout Ohio. She has served on the boards of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Ohio University, the OSU Wexner Medical Center, the National Council of the OSU Moritz College of Law, M/I Homes Inc., and Fifth Third Bank of Central Ohio. She is the former chair of the United Way of Central Ohio, The Ohio State University Alumni Association and the YWCA Columbus Board of Directors. In 2008, Justice McGee Brown was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame.

Among her many honors are the Ohio University Medal of Merit, and the Phillip's Medal for Community Service, the Ohio State University Distinguished Service Award, the Champion of Children Award from the Columbus Montessori Education Center, the YWCA Woman of Achievement Award, the Women of Color Foundation Woman of the Year, and the Girl Scout Great award. She was recently recognized as an Odds Changer by the National Children's Defense Fund.

Justice McGee Brown graduated from Ohio University in 1982 with a B.S. degree in journalism, and earned her J.D. from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 1985. She has honorary doctorate degrees from Ohio Dominican University, Wilberforce University, and Central State University.

Jones Day is a global law firm practicing in the major centers of business and finance throughout the world. Ranked among the world's best and most integrated law firms, and perennially ranked among the best in client service, Jones Day acts as principal outside counsel to, or provides significant legal representation for, approximately half of the Fortune 500, the Fortune Global 500, and FT Global 500.