Ronald S. Okada
Ron Okada is the Partner-in-Charge of the firm’s Chicago office. He serves as the firm’s Professional Development Partner and is responsible for directing and coordinating the firm’s efforts in diversity, recruiting, associate training and retention, admission and integration of lateral partners and pro bono activities. In addition, Mr. Okada is currently the Firmwide Hiring Partner and Chair of the Diversity Committee, and has served as the Coordinator of the Cleveland Office Litigation Practice Group. He also has served on the firm’s Policy Committee, the governing body of Baker & Hostetler LLP.
Mr. Okada practices in the litigation area with an emphasis on complex commercial litigation. He has extensive experience in both federal and state courts and is a member of the firm’s Class Action Defense Team. He has defended companies in numerous consumer class actions in a variety of industries. He has defended a public company against class claims of trust fund mismanagement and has defended automobile insurance companies in class actions challenging various aspects of the claims handling process including the exclusion of claims for alleged diminished value, the payment of interest on settlement amounts and the obtaining of salvage titles in total loss situations. Mr. Okada also has defended a major pharmaceutical company in a class action seeking damages under the FMLA, represented a manufacturer in a class action alleging race discrimination in the hiring and placement of temporary employees, and defended the primary defendant in a class action asserting ERISA claims for retiree medical benefits. Mr. Okada brings a practical, focused and results-oriented approach to the class action arena. He has been successful on behalf of various clients in defeating motions for class certification and in obtaining affirmances of those decisions on appeal.
In addition, Mr. Okada has served as lead trial counsel in employment litigation involving a variety of issues, some of which have included age, race and sex discrimination, sexual harassment, negligent hiring/supervision, false imprisonment, restoration rights under the FMLA, overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act, benefits under ERISA, trade secrets and the enforceability of employment agreements and covenants not to compete.
Mr. Okada is a member of the American, Ohio and Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Associations.