Joseph L. "Joe" Trauth, Jr.

Joseph L. "Joe" Trauth, Jr.


Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL

Recognized since 2007

Cincinnati, Ohio

Practice Areas

Land Use and Zoning Law

Litigation - Land Use and Zoning

Litigation - Real Estate

Real Estate Law

Navigate to map location for Joseph L. "Joe" Trauth, Jr. Call Joseph L. "Joe" Trauth, Jr. at 513-579-6400
Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2021 - Litigation - Land Use and Zoning Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2018 - Litigation - Land Use and Zoning Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2016 - Litigation - Real Estate Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2015 - Land Use and Zoning Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2014 - Litigation - Land Use and Zoning Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2013 - Land Use and Zoning Law
Spinning circle Big letter B

Joe Trauth's practice is concentrated in areas of civil litigation, zoning and planning law and real estate law. He has been extremely successful in major rezoning for local and national clients and in obtaining real estate property tax reductions for major commercial properties in this region. He has also handled major eminent domain cases and construction cases.

From 1967-1969, Joe served in the United States Peace Corps in Western Samoa as Assistant to the Director of Economic Development and from 1971-1973 served as an Assistant to United States Congressman W. J. Keating.

Representative Matters
  • Represented Procter & Gamble with regard to the valuation of its headquarter buildings located in downtown Cincinnati, and successfully obtained a reduction in the taxable valuation.
  • Represented General Electric Aircraft Engines with regard to its facility in Evendale, Ohio, constituting 415 acres and 6,000,000 square feet under roof. Mr. Trauth ultimately obtained a reduction to the County's original valuation saving the corporation thousands of dollars each year since 1992.
  • Handled cases for Rumpke Landfill, Inc. involving the rezoning for a major expansion of the Colerain Township, Hamilton County, Ohio Rumpke landfill expanding their landfill area by 65 acres and creating a planned light industrial district of 73 acres.
  • Obtained regulatory approval for the Star 64 1,000-foot TV/radio tower in the City of Cincinnati at the top of Winton Hill near North Bend Road.
  • Prevailed in six separate court proceedings over an eight-year period representing Duke Realty and the W.O. Brisben Company rezoning the southeast quadrant of I-71 and Pfeiffer Road from single family to office zoning, allowing for a 225,000 square foot office development which is now the headquarters of Ohio National. He obtained a settlement with the City of Montgomery for its unconstitutional zoning of the property.
  • Represented Costco, handling their rezoning and land use issues in Deerfield Township, Warren County, Ohio, and the City of Springdale in Hamilton County, Ohio.
  • Represented Home Depot in Deerfield Township, Warren County, and in West Chester Township, Butler County, and several of their other locations.
  • Represented IKEA in West Chester Township to obtain regulatory land use approvals.
  • Represents a major national retailer in land-use, real estate transactions and litigation.
    Awards & Recognitions
    - AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
    -Named to Ohio Super Lawyers, 2004-2013
    -Named Cincy Leading Lawyer, 2006
    -Named the "Cincinnati Best Lawyers' Land Use & Zoning Lawyer of the Year," 2013

    Professional and Community Involvement
    -Cincinnati Bar Association
    -Kentucky Bar Association
    -Ohio Attorneys for Justice
    -Ohio State Bar Association
    -American Arbitration Association, Panel of Arbitrators
    -Volunteer Lawyers for the Poor Foundation, Trustee; Founding Trustee and former Chairman, 1987-1989
    -Citizens for Community Values, Board of Directors
    -River City Correctional Center Facilities, Governing Board
    -The Thomas Geiger House, Board of Directors

Contact & Links
Location
  • One East Fourth Street, Suite 1400
    Cincinnati, OH 45202
Languages
  • English
Demographics
  • Gender: Male
  • Ethnicity: White
Education
  • University of Cincinnati, graduated 1973
Bar Admissions
  • Ohio, Ohio State Bar Association
  • Kentucky, Kentucky Bar Association
Affiliations
  • Thomas Geiger House for Homeless Women and Children - Board Member
  • River City Correctional Facility Governing Board - Board Member
  • Citizens for Community Values - Chairman of the Board
  • Volunteer Lawyers for the Poor - Founding and current Trustee

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2021 - Litigation - Land Use and Zoning Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2018 - Litigation - Land Use and Zoning Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2016 - Litigation - Real Estate Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2015 - Land Use and Zoning Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2014 - Litigation - Land Use and Zoning Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2013 - Land Use and Zoning Law
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Litigation - Land Use and Zoning, Cincinnati (2021)
  • Litigation - Land Use and Zoning, Cincinnati (2018)
  • Litigation - Real Estate, Cincinnati (2016)
  • Land Use and Zoning Law, Cincinnati (2015)
  • Litigation - Land Use and Zoning, Cincinnati (2014)
  • Land Use and Zoning Law, Cincinnati (2013)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
  • Land Use and Zoning Law
  • Litigation - Land Use and Zoning
  • Litigation - Real Estate
  • Real Estate Law
Special Focus:
  • 1031 Exchange
  • Administrative
  • Commercial
  • Condemnation
  • Construction
  • Development
  • Eminent Domain
  • Government Relations
  • Land Use
  • Litigation
  • Master Planned Communities
  • Planned Real Estate
  • Real Estate
  • Real Property Law
  • Residential
  • Tax Certiorari
  • Zoning

Publications

Your browser is not fully compatible with our automatic printer friendly formatting.

Please use the print button to print this profile page.

Spinning circle Big letter B