“Although I never wanted to handle divorce cases, ironically I now help my clients through business divorces, which can be just as intense and bitter! When partners or shareholders break up, or a trusted employee takes business or trade secrets to a competitor, my clients can feel just as betrayed as in a marriage break up, and need a lawyer with experience, skill, tenacity and wisdom to help them.”
Barry W. Fissel has been a litigator with Eastman & Smith for over 34 years, and since the late 1980s has concentrated on partnership, shareholder and employment disputes, often involving injunctions, covenants not to compete, trade secrets or employee benefits (ERISA).
“Top Secret - Safeguarding What Gives Your Company an Edge" is a popular seminar given by Mr. Fissel. He recently has spoken on hot topics related to trade secrets protection and enforcement of non-compete agreements, to the Association of Corporate Counsel, OSBA Corporate Counsel Section, the annual CLE event of the College of Business Administration at Bowling Green State University, University of Toledo Center for Family & Privately-Held Business, Toledo Intellectual Property Law Association and the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce.
He attended The Ohio State University in the Archie Griffin era, graduating in 1978, and earned his J.D. from The University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1981, where he was an editor of the University of Cincinnati Law Review. Mr. Fissel is licensed in Ohio, is admitted to practice in the Sixth Circuit, and has litigated in federal district courts in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana.
His “favorite time of the day” is studying the Bible to be “thoroughly equipped.” (2 Tim. 3:16-17.) He has served churches as an elder, LifeGroup Leader and teacher. Mr. Fissel has been blessed to be married to his high school sweetheart Paulette since 1977, and they are enamored with their first two grandsons born in 2014. Mr. Fissel also enjoys cooking, travel, golf and tennis.
He also has achieved large recoveries in wrongful death and personal injury litigation.