William A. "Bill" Nolan

William A. "Bill" Nolan


Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Recognized since 2006

Columbus, Ohio

Practice Areas

Education Law

Employment Law - Management

Labor Law - Management

Litigation - Labor and Employment

Navigate to map location for William A. "Bill" Nolan
Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Employment Law - Management Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2020 - Labor Law - Management Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2015 - Education Law
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Bill Nolan serves as managing partner of the firm’s Ohio office, which he opened in 2009. Bill works to bring attentiveness and clarity to bear on employment, contract and other disputes, but is most passionate about helping clients build teams, policies and processes to minimize the frequency, cost and severity of disputes.

Bill's litigation and trial work includes covenant not to compete and trade secret cases in many states. He regularly represents employers in discrimination and discharge cases, administrative claims, arbitration and mediation, as well as often acts as a neutral himself.Bill helps clients maneuver around ever-increasing legal mandates, and has distinctive experience in employee health and leave issues and the many laws that those issues implicate. He also works with clients to design systems and practices to manage these challenges.

Additionally, Bill counsels clients on a range of workplace issues, and conducts manager and workplace training to ensure legal compliance on the front lines. In 2018, he has given particular focus to tracking how employers and legislatures respond to #MeToo, and advocates that employers rethink their training models to better address persistent workplace behaviors.

Contact & Links
Location
  • 41 South High Street, Suite 3300
    Columbus, OH 43215-6104
Education
  • Cornell University, B.A., graduated 1984
  • Harvard University, J.D., graduated 1989
Bar Admissions
  • Ohio, 1989
Court Admissions
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Employment Law - Management Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2020 - Labor Law - Management Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2015 - Education Law
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Employment Law - Management, Columbus, OH (2024)
  • Labor Law - Management, Columbus, OH (2020)
  • Education Law, Columbus, OH (2015)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
  • Education Law
  • Employment Law - Management
  • Labor Law - Management
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment
Special Focus:
  • Covenants Not to Compete
  • COVID-19
  • Disability
  • Discrimination
  • Elementary and Secondary Education
  • Harassment
  • Higher Education
  • Labor
  • Labor and Employment
  • Litigation
  • Management
  • Trade Secrets
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Trade Secrets Law

Publications

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