Careers
December 7, 2020
The Supreme Court of Ohio has reappointed Darrell A. Clay, partner at Walter Haverfield, to chair the state’s Board of Commissioners on Character and Fitness. Clay, who has served on the Board since 2015, will serve as chair for his third term.
The Board of Commissioners on Character and Fitness is responsible for ensuring that each applicant for admission to the practice of law in Ohio possesses the requisite character, fitness, and moral qualifications for admission. The Board consists of 12 members, appointed by the Court, who must be members of the Ohio bar. Clay will serve as the appointee for the Sixth Appellate District of Ohio based on his residency in Ottawa County.
As Board Chair through Dec. 31, 2021, Clay will work closely with the Bar Admissions Office staff on issues that arise between the Board’s bi-annual meetings. At those meetings, he will preside over the presentation of reports from hearing panels and the Board’s subsequent deliberations and issuance of recommendations.
Clay focuses his practice on labor and employment, litigation and white collar criminal defense. With substantial experience before federal courts, state courts, and administrative tribunals around the country, he regularly handles civil and white collar criminal disputes for individuals, business entities and governmental bodies. In 2017-2018, Clay served as president of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, the largest metropolitan bar association in Ohio. He is President-elect of the Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association, and will serve as its President in 2021-2022.
Since 1932, Walter Haverfield attorneys have served as strategic counselors to private businesses, public entities and high-net-worth individuals, providing creative and customized solutions that deliver outstanding results at an exceptional value. Our track record has allowed us to sustain year-after-year growth. Walter Haverfield has more than doubled in the past decade to become one of Cleveland’s top ten law firms with additional offices located in Columbus, Mayfield Heights and Avon. Today, our team of 90 attorneys is focused primarily in the areas of business services, real estate, intellectual property, education, labor and employment, tax and wealth management, hospitality and liquor control law, litigation and public law.