Joan practices in the area of litigation and workers’ compensation, focusing on litigation at the administrative, trial court, and appellate levels. She has extensive experience in advising clients on all aspects of workers’ compensation law, including administrative hearings, safety violations, investigations, compliance and alternative dispute resolution for state-fund and self-insured employers. She previously served as an assistant attorney general in the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Ohio Attorney General’s office before joining Dinsmore in 1989.

She has had articles published in The Workers’ Compensation Journal of Ohio, Ohio Lawyer, and The Business Courier. Joan is a frequent speaker on workers’ compensation issues for trade groups, clients, third-party administrators, bar associations, the Ohio BWC and CLE presentations. She currently sits on the council of the OSBA workers' compensation section and serves on the Board of Directors of Kids' Chance of Ohio.

Bar Admissions

Ohio

U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio

Education

• Capital University School of Law (J.D.)
• University of Maryland (B.A.)

• Board Certified in Workers’ Compensation Law by the Ohio State Bar Association (1998-2023)
• Peer Review Rated AV in Martindale – Hubbell
• Best Lawyers^®
  • "Lawyer of the Year" in Cincinnati for Workers Compensation Law (2017)
  • Workers' Compensation Law - Employers (2021-2024)
• Top 50 Women Lawyers in Ohio by Law & Politics
• Top 25 Women Lawyers in Cincinnati by Law & Politics
• Ohio Super Lawyers^®
  • For Workers' Compensation (2021)
• Service Award from Capital University Law Alumni Association (1999)

• Ohio State Bar Association, Workers’ Compensation Committee past chairperson
• Ohio Industrial Commission Rules Advisory Committee, past member
• Cincinnati Bar Association, Workers’ Compensation Committee past chairperson
• Cincinnati Academy of Leadership for Lawyers, Class II
• Capital University Law School, Alumni Governing Board past chairperson
• Ohio Chamber of Commerce, Workers’ Compensation Committee
• Southwest Ohio Self-Insurers Association
• Cincinnati Regional Chamber WE Lead, Class 7
• Ohio Joint Task Force on Gender Fairness
• Kids' Chance of Ohio, Board of Directors