Katz Teller

22 Best Lawyers awards

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Awarded Practice Areas

Bet-the-Company Litigation Commercial Litigation Litigation - Labor and Employment Litigation - Securities

Biography

Step into Bob Pitcairn’s office, and you will be greeted by classical music, an uncluttered desk, and a sense of calm not normally associated with litigation (or a litigator’s office).

But make no mistake, the business litigation Bob performs with surgical precision often has the highest stakes for his corporate and individual clients. Just as a surgeon would, Bob operates in these cases with a studied approach, a deliberate pace, a steady hand, and no fear of getting a little bloody in the process. For that reason, clients have entrusted Bob with their most significant problems, and Bob has been the sole or lead trial counsel in hundreds of civil lawsuits, mostly in the state and federal courts in Cincinnati.

Bob’s deft touch with complex litigation, in areas as far-ranging as antitrust, employment law, ERISA, patent, probate, securities and tax, and his poise and polish under pressure in commercial contract and business disputes, have led to local and national recognition as a top “bet-the-company” litigator. In 2007, he joined a select group when he was recognized by his peers in the state of Ohio as the top Ohio Super Lawyer® (the leading vote-getter in the entire state in the annual voting to determine who will be recognized in Super Lawyers Magazine), an honor he earned again in 2008.

In addition to Bob’s active litigation practice, he served as the chair of the firm's management committee from 2000 to 2012. Bob has been the head of the litigation practice group since the firm was founded and is a member of its shareholder compensation, professional responsibility and risk management committees.

Katz Teller

22 Best Lawyers awards

Katz Teller logo

Overview

  • English

  • University of Cincinnati, JD, graduated 1973

  • Ohio, 1973
  • Ohio, 1973, United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio
  • District of Columbia, 1978, United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
  • District of Columbia, 1985, United States Supreme Court

  • Austin E. Knowlton Foundation, Inc. - Trustee
  • Volunteer Lawyers for the Poor Foundation - Former Chair
  • English
  • Ohio, 1973
  • Ohio, 1973, United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio
  • District of Columbia, 1978, United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
  • District of Columbia, 1985, United States Supreme Court
  • Austin E. Knowlton Foundation, Inc. - Trustee
  • Volunteer Lawyers for the Poor Foundation - Former Chair
  • University of Cincinnati, JD, graduated 1973

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Litigation - Securities Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2015 - Litigation - Securities Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2014 - Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2013 - Litigation - Securities Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2012 - Bet-the-Company Litigation
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Litigation - Securities, Cincinnati (2025)
  • Litigation - Securities, Cincinnati (2015)
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation, Cincinnati (2014)
  • Litigation - Securities, Cincinnati (2013)
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation, Cincinnati (2012)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment
  • Litigation - Securities
Special Focus:
  • Employment
  • Management
Awards:
  • American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow, 1989-Present
  • Ohio Super Lawyers® "Number One in Ohio", 2007 & 2008
  • Recognized by Chambers USA as one of America’s leading lawyers
  • Recognized by Benchmark Litigation as a "Litigation Star"
  • Woodward/White's Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year, 2012 & 2014, Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Woodward/White's Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year, 2013 & 2015, Litigation-Securities
  • Recognized by Lawdragon, Inc. as one of the Leading Litigators in America
  • Law & Politics Media, Inc. Ohio Super Lawyer®, "Top 50 in Cincinnati" and "Top 100 in Ohio", 2004-2018
  • Woodward/White's Best Lawyers in America®, 1991-2018

Additional Information

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Case History

Cases
  • Eagle Picher
Represented Eagle Picher Industries in defending its Age-60 corporate pilot retirement policy in federal court jury trial.
  • Estate of Austin E. Knowlton
Represented the Estate of Austin E. Knowlton in defending what is believed to be the largest will contest action tried to a jury in Cincinnati.
  • Cincinnati Bengals
Represented the Cincinnati Bengals in defending the anti-trust action brought by public officials over the lease for Paul Brown Stadium.
  • Chiquita Brands
Represented Chiquita Brands in a commercial arbitration brought by International Paper involving interpretation and breach of contract allegations.
  • Pete Rose
Represented Pete Rose in federal jury trial concerning tax issues relating to gifts to coaches and trainers.

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