about Donald Brey
Don brings over forty years of experience advising and representing clients in the areas of litigation and administrative law, ethics, and campaign and election law. He is frequently sought out to advise and represent judges, lawyers and those who deal with the government on how to meet their ethical and legal duties, including defending clients against claims that they have failed to do so.
Don appears routinely on behalf of his clients before the Ohio Elections Commission, the Ohio Ethics Commission, the Inspector General’s office, and the Joint Legislative Ethics Commission. He also handles cases before the Ohio Supreme Court’s Board of Ethics and Grievances, the Disciplinary Counsel and bar association Certified Grievance Committees. He is a well- respected counselor in the area of ethics and professional responsibility and has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America® as one of the top lawyers in the administrative and litigation practices.
His administration law and litigation practice has been wide and varies from business disputes, licensing matters and election contents to First Amendment and other constitutional disputes, extraordinary writ actions and Appellate and Supreme Court cases.
Don frequently advises and represents religious and other non-profit organizations on a wide variety of issues. He advises office holders, candidates and other politically active individuals and organizations on campaign finance law compliance issues regarding appropriate fundraising and spending, candidate filings, as well as avoiding or defending slander or libel charges during a campaign. Don has perennially been recognized as an Ohio Super Lawyer in the area of Political Law for his work in this area.
Services
- Litigation
- Public Law
- Campaign and Election Law
- Ethics and Professional Liability
education & admissions
Education
Yale Law School, J.D.
Ohio Wesleyan University, B.A., summa cum laude, 1977
Bar & Court Admissions
Ohio, 1981
Ohio 6th Circuit Court of Appeals
Northern District of Ohio
Southern District of Ohio
U.S. Supreme Court
professional & community activities
Professional
Ohio Bar Association
Columbus Bar Association
Federalist Society
Community
Coming Home Network International (Board Member)
Museum of Catholic Art & History (Board Member)
Center of Care (Board Member)
Knights of Malta
honors
AV Peer Review Rating, Martindale Hubbell
Ohio Super Lawyers® (2004-present)
The Best Lawyers in America® (2007 -present)
Lawyer of The Year, The Best Lawyers in America® (2012, 2019) (Administrative Law; Litigation – First Amendment)